Three , n.
1. The number greater by a unit than two; three units or objects.
2. A symbol representing three units, as 3 or iii.
Rule of three. (Arith.)
See under Rule, n.
Three (?), a. [OE.
þre, þreo, þri,
AS. þrī, masc., þreó, fem. and neut.; akin to OFries. thre, OS. thria, threa, D.
drie, G. drei, OHG.
drī, Icel. þrīr, Dan.
& Sw. tre, Goth. þreis, Lith. trys, Ir., Gael. & W. tri, Russ. tri, L. tres, Gr.
trei^s, Skr. tri.
√301. Cf. 3d Drilling, Tern, a., Third, Thirteen,
Thirty, Tierce, Trey, Tri-, Triad, Trinity, Tripod.]
One more than two; two and one. "I offer thee three things." 2 Sam. xxiv.
12.
Three solemn aisles approach the shrine.
Keble. &fist; Three is often joined with other words, forming compounds
signifying divided into, composed of, or containing, three parts, portions, organs, or the like; as, three-branched, three-capsuled, three-celled, three-cleft, three-edged, three-foot, three- footed, three-forked, three-grained, three-headed, three-legged, three-mouthed, three-nooked,
three-petaled, three-pronged, three-ribbed, three-seeded, three-stringed, three-toed, and the like.
Hear it pronounced