triliteral

American  

[trahy-lit-er-uhl] / traɪˈlɪt ər əl /

adjective

1. using or consisting of three letters.

2. (of Semitic roots) consisting of three consonants.

---

noun

1. a triliteral word or root.

triliteral British  

/ traɪˈlɪtərəl /

adjective

1. having three letters

2. (of a word root in Semitic languages) consisting of three consonants

---

noun

1. a word root of three consonants

Etymology

Origin of triliteral

First recorded in 1745–55; tri- + literal

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

triliteral

For 90 years Britons have adventured out to India and returned a-homing upon steamers bearing the triliteral device, "P. & O."

From Time Magazine Archive

The triliteral name of God in the Brahminical mysteries, and equivalent among the Hindoos to the tetragrammaton of the Jews.

From The Symbolism of Freemasonry by Albert G. Mackey

Thus, like them, he distinguishes triliteral, biliteral, and even uniliteral roots; but contrary to them, he maintains that contracted and quiescent verbs are triliteral and not biliteral.

From Rashi by Adele Szold

As Egyptian roots seldom exceeded three letters, there was no need for triliteral phonograms to spell them.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 1 "Edwardes" to "Ehrenbreitstein" by Various

Macrobius says that it was an admitted axiom among the Heathen, that the triliteral ΙΑΩ was the sacred name of the Supreme God.

From Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry by Albert Pike

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---