Obs. [OE. orig. þrines, þrynes, -nis, -nys (in obl. case -nesse, -nysse) = OHG. drinissa, f. þri-, combining stem of þré, þréo, THREE + -NESS; later with nn, after THRIN, þrinnes, þrynnys; in ME. eventually THRIMNESS, q.v.] Threefold condition, threeness; the Trinity.
a. 800. Cynewulf, Crist, 379. Heah and haliʓ heofon-cund þrynes.
8[?]. Halsuncge, in Rituale Dunelm., 114. Ic eow halsiʓe … for ða haliʓan ðrinesse.
c. 900. trans. Bæda’s Eccl. Hist., IV. xix. [xvii.] (1890), 312. We ondettað … Fæder & Sunu & Haliʓne Gast, Þriʓnisse in Annisse … ond Annesse in þære Þriʓnesse.
971. Blickl. Hom., iii. (1880), 29. Of þæm meʓene þære Halʓan Þrynesse. Ibid., xix. (1880), 249. On þære Halʓan Þrynnysse.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., I. 10. Ðeos þrynnys is an God. Ibid., 288. Þæs mannes sawl hæfð on hire ʓecynde þære Halʓan þrynnysse anlicnysse.
a. 1300. Athanasian Creed, in Hickes, Thesaurus (1725), I. 233. Ðat o god inne þrinnesse And þrinness in onnesse Wurchip we þe more and lesse.
