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trilogy

[tril-uh-jee]
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noun, plural tril·o·gies.
  1. a series or group of three plays, novels, operas, etc., that, although individually complete, are closely related in theme, sequence, or the like.
  2. (in ancient Greek drama) a series of three complete and usually related tragedies performed at the festival of Dionysus and forming a tetralogy with the satyr play.
  3. a group of three related things.

Origin of trilogy

From the Greek word trilogía, dating back to 1655–65. See tri-, -logy
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

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British Dictionary definitions for trilogy

trilogy

noun plural -gies
  1. a series of three related works, esp in literature, etc
  2. (in ancient Greece) a series of three tragedies performed together at the Dionysian festivals

Word Origin

C19: from Greek trilogia; see tri-, -logy
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for trilogy

n.

"any series of three related works," 1660s, from Greek trilogia "series of three related tragedies performed at Athens at the festival of Dionysus," from tri- "three" (see three) + logos "story" (see logos).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper