a., adv. (sb.) Forms: see THREE and -FOLD. [OE. þrífeald, þrýfeald: = OFris. thrífald, obs. Du. drijvoud, OHG., MHG. drivalt, ON. þrífaldr: see THREE and -FOLD.]
A. adj. 1. Consisting of three combined in one, or one thrice repeated; comprising three kinds, parts, divisions, or branches; triple.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., II. 606. Nis se Ælmihtiʓa God na ðryfeald, ac is Ðrynnys.
c. 1200. Twelfth Cent. Hom., 136. Crist arerde þreo men of deaþe to life, & þa þreo tacnoden þene ðreofealde deaþ þare sunfule sawle.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 65. God bad us turnen to him, and þat us bihoueð to don on þrefold wise.
13[?]. Cursor M., 25943 (Cott.). And for we sin on maners thre, Vr scrift aght thrifald for to be.
1434. Misyn, Mending Life, i. 107. Þis is þe threfold rope þat vnnethis may be brokyn.
a. 1600. Scot. Poems 16th C. (1801), II. 192. His popish pride, and threefald crowne.
c. 1709. Prior, 1st Hymn Callimachus, 66. The three-fold empire Of Heaven, of ocean, and deep hell beneath.
1793. Martyn, Lang. Bot., Terna folia, three-fold leaves, in threes, or three and three.
1857. Toulmin Smith, Parish, 104. Highways, bridges, and military defence, constituted the three fold conditions (trinoda necessitas) always … attached to the tenure of land.
2. Three times as great or numerous.
c. 1200. Ormin, 14034. Twafald oþerr þrefald mett Þa fetless alle tokenn.
1858. Lardner, Hand-bk. Nat. Phil., 158. If the compressing force be increased in a threefold proportion, the volume of the air compressed will be diminished in a threefold proportion.
1870. Bryant, Iliad, I. v. 140. A threefold courage now Inspired him.
B. adv.
1. In a threefold manner, triply; † in threes, three together (obs.); † in three ways (obs.); in or into three parts (now rare).
c. 1020. Rule St. Benet, i. (Logeman), 10. Þa twyfealde þreofealde oððe soðes anlepie gangende butan hyrde.
13[?]. Cursor M., 26069 (Cott.). Als þe sin es wroght Thre-fald, wit word, dede, and thoght.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, Her., C vij b. Rather it shall be calde a cros threfolde partitid flurri.
1558. Phaër, Æneid, IV. L j. On the threefoldshapen dame, And on Diana’s virgins faces three she doth exclame.
1855. Tennyson, Brook, 73. The chestnut, when the shell Divides threefold to show the fruit within.
2. Three times, thrice (in amount); three times or thrice as much. See also THICK adv. 6.
c. 1400. Brut, 299. Ȝet were þey threfold so meny of hem as of Englisshe men.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., I. i. 116. ’Tis threefold too little. Ibid. (1594), Rich. III., II. ii. 86. Alas! you three, on me threefold distrest: Power all your teares.
C. sb. A name for the plant buckbean (Menyanthes trifoliata), from its threefold leaves. dial.
1788. W. Marshall, Yorksh., II. Gloss. (E.D.S.), Threefold, Menyanthes trifoliata, bogbean, buckbean.
1876. in Robinson, Whitby Gloss.
Hence Threefolded a. (rare), threefold (whence Threefoldedness = threefoldness); Threefoldly adv., in a threefold manner; Threefoldness, the quality or condition of being threefold.
1528. Roy, Rede me, etc. (Arb.), 29. Fye on his golden *three folded crowne.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet., 6 b. Quintilian giueth warnyng to vse this threfolded order.
1905. Chr. Progress, Feb., 22. The word Trinity means *Threefoldedness.
a. 901. Laws of Ælfred, c. 39 § 2. ʓif syxhyndum þissa hwæðer ʓelimpe, *ðriefealdlice arise be ðare cierliscan bote.
13[?]. Cursor M., 25939 (Cott.). Man he sinnes threfaldli, Þat es in thoght, in word, in wark.
c. 1450. Mirour Saluacioun, 1591. How the feend temptede crist threfaldelye.
1901. R. C. Moberly, Atonem. & Person., viii. 154. The Three Persons [in the Trinity] are neither Three Gods, nor Three parts of God. Rather they are God Threefoldly.
1856. Faber, Creator & Creature, II. i. (1886), 110. The *Threefoldness of Persons and the Unity of Essence.
