[a. F. triplication (Godef.), or ad. L. triplicātiōn-em, n. of action from triplicāre to TRIPLICATE.]
1. The action or process of making threefold, or multiplying by three; also, the result of this.
1610. Healey, St. Aug. Citie of God, XIX. ii. (1620), 708. These twelue sects are produced by the triplication of these foure.
1674. Jeake, Arith. (1696), 24. Triplication … is to add the given number to the double of the same.
1798. W. Palgrave, Lett., in Parr’s Wks. (1828), VIII. 103. The triplication of the assessed taxes.
1893. Nation (N. Y.), 23 March, 213/3. A duplication or triplication of teachers of theology entered into my ideal of the school.
2. a. Civil and Canon Law. The plaintiff’s reply to the defendant’s duplication, corresponding to the surrejoinder at common law. b. In Common Law sometimes applied (after Britton) to the rejoinder.
[1292. Britton, III. xiv. § 6. Et si le pleyntif die, qe il fust seisi par acun feffement, a ceo soit respoundu par triplicacioun, cum desus est dit.]
a. 1577. Sir T. Smith, Commw. Eng. (1609), 67. Where the law is not doubtful, according to the matter conteyned in the declaration, answer, replication, rejoynder, or triplication, the Judge out of hand decideth it.
1651. W. G., trans. Cowel’s Inst., 243. Our Lawyers call a Duplication, as well in the Chancery, as in other Courts a Rejoinder, and a Triplication a Sur-rejoinder.
1726. Ayliffe, Parergon, 251. There are also Triplications, which the Plaintiff objects to the Defendant’s Duplication.
1865. Nichols, Britton, II. 116. Nevertheless in some cases the plaintiff may have a valid replication…. But the tenant may answer by way of triplication, that [etc.].
1880. Muirhead, Gaius, IV. § 128. If this … for any reason be really inequitable to the pursuer, still another clause is necessary on the other side for his relief, which is called a triplication.
1895. Pollock & Maitland, Hist. Eng. Law, II. ix. § 4. 613. The exception may be met by a replication, the replication by a triplication and so on ad infinitum.
transf. 1593. G. Harvey, Pierces Super., Wks. (Grosart), II. 112. For any my briefe Triplication, he will prouide a Quadruplication at large.
1621. [see DUPLICATION 3 b].
1649. Roberts, Clavis Bibl., 344. Eliphas his Triplication, or third Opposition against Job.
