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third
third / [unvoicedth]ərd/ • ordinal number constituting number three in a sequence; 3rd: the third century the third of October Edward the Third. ∎ (a third/one third) each of three equal parts into which something is or may be divided: a third of a mile. ∎ the third finisher or position in a race or competition: Hill finished third. ∎ the third in a sequence of a vehicle's gears: he took the corner in third. ∎ Baseball third base. ∎ the third grade of a school. ∎ thirdly (used to introduce a third point or reason): second, they are lightly regulated; and third, they do business with nonresident clients. ∎ Mus. an interval spanning three consecutive notes in a diatonic scale, e.g., C to E (major third, equal to two tones) or A to C (minor third, equal to a tone and a semitone). ∎ Mus. the note that is higher by this interval than the tonic of a diatonic scale or root of a chord. ∎ Brit. a place in the third-highest grade in an examination, esp. that for a degree. PHRASES: third time is a charm (or Brit. third time lucky) used to express the hope that, after twice failing to accomplish something, one may succeed in the third attempt. |
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"third." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "third." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-third.html "third." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-third.html |
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third
third ordinal of the numeral three OE.; sb. third part XIV; musical interval XVI. OE. (late Nhb.) þird(d)a, -e, var. of þridda = OS. thriddio (Du. derde), OHG. dritto (G. dritte), ON. þriði, Goth. þridja :- Gmc. *þriðjaz :- IE. *tritjós (cf. Skr. tṛtī́ya-, Gr. trítos, L. tertius, OSl. tretij, W. trydydd), f. stem of THREE.
Hence thirdly (-LY2) XVI. third-rate XVII. thirteen OE. þrēotīene = OS. thriutein (Du. dertien), OHG. drīzehan (G. dreizehn), ON. þrettán. thirteenth OE. þrēo-, þrīetēoða, ME. þritteþe, þreottenþe (XII), þrittenþe (XIV). þirttenth (XV), thirteenth (XVI); see -TH2. thirty OE. þrītiġ = OS. thrītig (Du. dertig), OHG. drízzug (G. dreissig), ON. þrírtegr, Goth. (acc.) þrins tiguns; see -TY2. thirtieth OE. þrītigoða, þritteogoða. |
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "third." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "third." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-third.html T. F. HOAD. "third." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-third.html |
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third
third (noun). Melodic and harmonic interval, reckoned as taking 3 steps in scale (major or minor) counting bottom and top notes, thus, major third (C up to E) or minor third (C up to E♭) or diminished third (C♯ up to E♭).
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MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "third." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "third." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O76-third.html MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "third." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O76-third.html |
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third
third
•absurd, bird, Byrd, curd, engird, gird, Heard, herd, Kurd, misheard, nerd, overheard, reheard, third, turd, undergird, undeterred, unheard, unstirred, word
•blackbird • yardbird • cage bird
•jailbird • seabird • ladybird
•dickybird • mockingbird • whirlybird
•hummingbird • nightbird • songbird
•shorebird • bluebird • lovebird
•lyrebird • bowerbird • thunderbird
•waterbird • weaverbird • Sigurd
•swineherd • cowherd • goatherd
•potsherd • catchword • password
•headword • swear word • keyword
•byword • watchword • crossword
•foreword • loanword • buzzword
•afterword
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Cite this article
"third." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "third." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-third.html "third." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-third.html |
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