Pros. [f. TRI-, after DISTICH; cf. Gr. τριστιχία a union of three verses, f. τρίστιχος three-rowed, f. τρι- three + στίχος row.] A group of three lines of verse; a stanza of three lines.
1813. T. Busby, trans. Lucretius, II. VI. Comm., p. ix. Much of the thought contained in the subjoined tristich of Ovid, is evidently derived from the original of this.
1864. Pusey, Lect. Daniel, vi. 316. Ps. x … has 3 tristichs (verses divided into 3).
1886. C. A. Briggs, Messianic Proph., III. ii. 82, note. In the third part, a tristich, the three sons appear.
Hence Tristichic a., characterized by tristichs.
1882–3. Schaff’s Encycl. Relig. Knowl., III. 1955. A closed train of thought which is unrolled after the distichic and tristichic ground-form of the rhythmical period.
