|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
three
three three acres and a cow regarded as the requirement for self-sufficiency; as a political slogan associated with the radical politician Jesse Collings (1831–1920) and his land reform campaign begun in 1885. Collings used the phrase in the House of Commons, 26 January 1886; it had also been used earlier by Joseph Chamberlain.
Three Graces in classical Greek mythology, three beautiful goddesses (Aglaia, Thalia, and Euphrosyne), daughters of Zeus. They were believed to personify and bestow charm, grace, and beauty. Three Kings the Magi, who came from the East to worship the new-born Christ. They are also known as The Three Kings of Cologne, from a prevalent belief that their bodies were preserved at that city, having been removed thither in 1164 from Milan, where they were alleged to have been discovered in 1158. three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead proverbial saying, mid 16th century; meaning that the only way to keep a secret is to tell no-one else. Three Mile Island an island in the Susquehanna River near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, site of a nuclear power station. In 1979 an accident caused damage to the reactor core, provoking strong reactions against the nuclear industry in the US. three-mile limit the limit of territorial waters for Britain, America, and other states. Three Musketeers in Dumas' novel Les Trois Mousquetaires (1844), Athos, Porthos, and Aramis befriend the young D'Artagnan, and assist him in defeating the scheming agent of Cardinal Richelieu; in extended use, the phrase means three close associates. three R's reading, writing, and (a)rithmetic; a phrase said to have originated in a toast by Sir William Curtis (1752–1829). three removals are as bad as a fire proverbial saying, mid 18th century; meaning that moving house is so disruptive and unsettling, that the effects of doing it three times are as destructive as a house fire. three sheets in the wind very drunk; a sheet is a rope or chain attached to the lower corner of a sail for securing the sail or altering its direction relative to the wind. three strikes (and you're out) legislation which provides that an offender's third felony is punishable by life imprisonment or other severe sentence, a phrase which developed in the US in the 1980s, and which comes from the terminology of baseball, in which a batter who has had three strikes, or three fair opportunities of hitting the ball, is out. three things are not to be trusted; a cow's horn, a dog's tooth, and a horse's hoof proverbial saying, late 14th century; meaning that one may be gored, bitten, or kicked without warning. Three Wise Men another name for the Magi. See also bad things come in threes, Three Kings of Cologne, the Three Magi, three wise monkeys at monkey, rule of three, two is company, but three is none. |
|
|
Cite this article
ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "three." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "three." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-three.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "three." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-three.html |
|
three
three / [unvoicedth]rē/ • cardinal number equivalent to the sum of one and two; one more than two; 3: her three children a crew of three a three-bedroom house all three of them are buried there. (Roman numeral: iii, III) ∎ a group or unit of three people or things: students clustered in twos or threes. ∎ three years old: she is only three. ∎ three o'clock: I'll come at three. ∎ a size of garment or other merchandise denoted by three. ∎ a playing card or domino with three pips. |
|
|
Cite this article
"three." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "three." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-three.html "three." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-three.html |
|
three
three Like other numbers three had a symbolic significance in the biblical tradition; it suggested completeness: heaven, earth, and the underworld, for example. Three major feasts are mentioned (Exod. 23: 14–19); the sanctuary was divided into three parts (1 Kgs. 6: 2–22); Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and nights (Jonah 1: 17); and in the NT Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day, or ‘after three days’ (Matt. 12: 40; 27: 63; Luke 24: 46; 1 Cor. 15: 4). In Christian theology, the Godhead is a Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
|
|
|
Cite this article
W. R. F. BROWNING. "three." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. W. R. F. BROWNING. "three." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-three.html W. R. F. BROWNING. "three." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-three.html |
|
three
three OE. þrī(e) m., þrīo, þrēo f., n. = OS. thria, threa, thriu (Du. drie), OHG. drī drīo, driu (G. drei), ON. þrír, þriár, þriú, Goth. *þreis, þrija :- Gmc. *þrijiz :- IE. *trejes, whence also L. trēs, Gr. treîs, Skr. tráya-, etc.
|
|
|
Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "three." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "three." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-three.html T. F. HOAD. "three." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-three.html |
|
three
three. See TRIPLISM.
|
|
|
Cite this article
JAMES MacKILLOP. "three." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAMES MacKILLOP. "three." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-three.html JAMES MacKILLOP. "three." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-three.html |
|
three
three
•absentee, addressee, adoptee, agree, allottee, amputee, appellee, appointee, appraisee, après-ski, assignee, attendee, bailee, bain-marie, Bangui, bargee, bawbee, be, Bea, bee, bootee, bouquet garni, bourgeoisie, Brie, BSc, buckshee, Capri, cc, chimpanzee, cohabitee, conferee, consignee, consultee, Cree, debauchee, decree, dedicatee, Dee, degree, deportee, dernier cri, detainee, devisee, devotee, divorcee, draftee, dree, Dundee, dungaree, eau-de-vie, emcee, employee, endorsee, en famille, ennui, enrollee, escapee, esprit, evacuee, examinee, expellee, fee, fiddle-de-dee, flea, flee, fleur-de-lis, foresee, franchisee, free, fusee (US fuzee), Gardaí, garnishee, gee, ghee, glee, goatee, grandee, Grand Prix, grantee, Guarani, guarantee, he, indictee, inductee, internee, interviewee, invitee, jamboree, Jaycee, jeu d'esprit, key, knee, Lea, lee, legatee, Leigh, lessee, Ley, licensee, loanee, lychee, manatee, Manichee, maquis, Marie, marquee, me, Midi, mortgagee, MSc, nominee, obligee, Otomi, parolee, Parsee, parti pris, patentee, Pawnee, payee, pea, pee, permittee, plc, plea, pledgee, pollee, presentee, promisee, quay, ratatouille, referee, refugee, releasee, repartee, retiree, returnee, rupee, scot-free, scree, sea, secondee, see, settee, Shanxi, Shawnee, shchi, she, shea, si, sirree, ski, spree, standee, suttee, tant pis, tea, tee, tee-hee, Tennessee, testee, the, thee, three, thuggee, Tiree, Torquay, trainee, Tralee, transferee, tree, Trincomalee, trustee, tutee, twee, Twi, undersea, vestee, vis-à-vis, wagon-lit, Waikiki, warrantee, we, wee, whee, whoopee, ye, yippee, Zuider Zee
|
|
|
Cite this article
"three." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "three." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-three.html "three." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-three.html |
|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries:
HighBeam™ Research, Inc. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
The Encyclopedia.com advertising network includes:
