trichotomy

tri·chot·o·my

[trih-kot-uh-mee]
noun, plural tri·chot·o·mies.
1.
division into three parts, classes, categories, etc.
2.
an instance of such a division, as in thought, structure, or object.
3.
the three-part division of human beings into body, spirit, and soul.

Origin:
1600–10; < Neo-Latin trichotomia < Greek trích(a) in three parts + Neo-Latin -tomia -tomy

trich·o·tom·ic [trik-uh-tom-ik] , tri·chot·o·mous, adjective
tri·chot·o·mous·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To trichotomy
00:10
Trichotomy is always a great word to know.
So is bezoar. Does it mean:
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
Collins
World English Dictionary
trichotomy (traɪˈkɒtəmɪ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n , pl -mies
1.  division into three categories
2.  theol the division of man into body, spirit, and soul
 
[C17: probably from New Latin trichotomia, from Greek trikhotomein to divide into three, from trikha triple + temnein to cut]
 
trichotomic
 
adj
 
tri'chotomous
 
adj
 
tri'chotomously
 
adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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