a. Theol. [f. TRI- + L. persōna PERSON + -AL.] Consisting of or existing in three persons: said of the Godhead (see PERSON sb. 7 a); also, relating to the three persons of the Godhead.
1641. Milton, Reform., II. Wks. 1851, III. 68. Thou … one Tri-personall Godhead, looke upon this thy poore and almost spent, and expiring Church.
1859. G. Bush, Swedenborg’s Doctr. (1875), 25. Those who oppose the tripersonal scheme [of the Trinity] will be accused of rejecting a Trinity in any sense whatever.
1871. H. Macmillan, True Vine, iii. (1872), 88. In our creation as body, soul, and spirit, God exhibited the tri-personal aspect of His nature.
Hence Tripersonalism, the doctrine or theory of three persons in the Godhead; Tripersonalist, one who holds this doctrine; Tripersonality, the condition of being tripersonal, existence in three persons; Tripersonally adv., in a tripersonal manner, in three persons.
1886. N. F. Ravlin, Progress. Th. Gt. Subj., i. 14. Jesus whom the tripersonalists believe to be God, did not speak the truth, if the popular doctrine of *tripersonalism is true.
1846. Worcester cites Clissold for *Tripersonalist.
1855. Smedley, etc., Occult Sciences, 109. The modern Jews, in opposition to the tripersonalists, consider the whole as attributes.
1673. Milton, True Relig., 7. *Tripersonality [see TRINUNITY].
1836. Carlyon, Early Years, 290. Now the Tri-personality of the Deity is the very corner-stone of our religion.
1901. R. C. Moberly, Atonement & Personality, viii. 154. The Three Persons are neither Three Gods, nor Three parts of God. Rather they are God Threefoldly, God *Tri-personally.
