a. and sb. Antiq. [ad, Gr. τριετηρικός L. trietēricus, f. τριετηρίς a festival celebrated every third, i.e., alternate, year, f. τρι- three + ἔρος year.]
A. adj. Taking place every alternate year, as the festivals of Bacchus and other divinities.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Trieterick..., that is every third year.
1847. Leitch, trans. C. O. Müller’s Anc. Art, § 390. The Mænads at the trieteric festival on Mount Parnassus thought they descried the satyrs and heard their music.
1852. Grote, Greece, II. lxxv. IX. 477, note. The Isthmian games were trietêric, that is celebrated in every alternate year.
1911. Athenæum, 15 April, 493/3. Dr. Farnell has … a theory of ‘trieteric’ agricultural rites.
B. sb. (Also pl.) A festival, esp. of Bacchus, celebrated every alternate year.
1592. R. D., Hypnerotomachia, 90 b. As in the daunce called Thiasus, in the trieteric [pr. -ie; orig. Trieterici] of Bacchus.
1627. May, Lucan, V. 86. To whome in mixed sacrifice The Theban wiues at Delphos solemnize Their trieterickes.
So † Trieterical, Trieterican adjs. Obs. = A.
1646. J. Gregory, Notes & Observ., xxi. 106. The trietericall sports,… that is the mysteries of Bacchus.
1775. Ash, Suppl., Trieterican, belonging to the trieterica.
