Q: Are “thrice” and “trice” related? If so, “in a trice” might be construed as “in triple time.”
A: No, they’re not related. “Thrice” is an old way of saying three times, while the phrase “in a trice” means in a moment or very quickly.
Although both usages are found in standard dictionaries, “thrice” is often labeled “old-fashioned,” “dated,” “mainly archaic,” and so on.
When “thrice” appeared in Middle English (spelled“þriȝes,” “þriȝess,”etc.), it was an adverb meaning “three times (in succession); on three successive occasions,” according to theOxford English Dictionary. The runic letter“þ” (a thorn) at the beginning sounded like “th,” and the runic “ȝ” (a yogh) in the middle sounded like “y.”
TheOEDsays“þriȝes”is ultimately derived from þriorthrie,Old English for three,and its prehistoric ancestors, the Proto-Germanicþriji*zand the Proto-Indo-Europeantreies.
The dictionary’s earliest “thrice” example, which we’ve expanded, is from theOrmulum(circa 1175), a collection of homilies written by an Augustinian monk identified as Orm in one part of the manuscript and Ormin in another:
“& ure Laferrd Jesu Crist / Badd hise bedessþriȝess” (“and as the Lord Jesus Christ bade, they prayed thrice”).
As for the “trice” of “in a trice,” it apparently began life in the late 14th century as a verb meaning “to pull; to pluck, snatch, draw with a sudden action.” TheOEDsays Middle English adopted the verb from the Middle Dutchtrîsen(to hoist).
The dictionary’s earliest citation for the verb is from “The Monk’s Tale” in Chaucer’sThe Canterbury Tales(circa 1386): “By god, out of his sete I wol hym trice” (By God, out of his throne I will snatch him [Nero]”).
In the 15th century, “trice” came to mean a pull or a tug in the expression “at a trice,” meaning “at a single pluck or pull; hence, in an instant; instantly, forthwith; without delay.”Oxfordsays “trice” here is apparently a noun formed from the verb.
Although “at a trice” is now obsolete, the usual version of the expression, “in a trice,” evolved from it in the 17th century. The firstOEDcitation is from a book about Queen Elizabeth I:
“True it is, he [Sir Walter Raleigh] had gotten the Queenes eare in atrice” (Fragmenta Regalia, or, Observations on the Late Queen Elizabeth, Her Times and Favorits, 1641, by Sir Robert Naunton).
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I'm an etymology enthusiast and linguistic expert with a deep understanding of the historical evolution of words and phrases. My expertise extends to the roots of language, tracing the origins of expressions and unraveling the intricate paths they've taken over time. Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the provided article.
The question posed revolves around the potential connection between the words "thrice" and "trice," with a speculation that "in a trice" might imply "in triple time." However, the article correctly dismisses this notion, clarifying that "thrice" and "trice" are not related.
1. Thrice:
- Etymology: The word "thrice" can be traced back to Middle English, where it was spelled as "þriȝes" or "þriȝess." The runic letters "þ" (thorn) and "ȝ" (yogh) contributed to its pronunciation. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) reveals that "þriȝes" is ultimately derived from the Old English word "þriorthrie," meaning three, and its prehistoric ancestors in Proto-Germanic ("þriji*z") and Proto-Indo-European ("treies").
- Usage: In Middle English, "thrice" functioned as an adverb, meaning "three times (in succession) or on three successive occasions." An example from the Ormulum (circa 1175) demonstrates its usage: "and as the Lord Jesus Christ bade, they prayed thrice."
2. Trice:
- Etymology: The word "trice" originated in the late 14th century as a verb meaning "to pull, pluck, snatch, or draw with a sudden action." Middle English adopted it from the Middle Dutch verb "trîsen," meaning "to hoist." The earliest citation for the verb is found in Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales (circa 1386): "By god, out of his sete I wol hym trice" (By God, out of his throne I will snatch him [Nero]").
- Evolution: In the 15th century, "trice" evolved to signify a pull or tug in the expression "at a trice," meaning "at a single pluck or pull; hence, in an instant; instantly, forthwith; without delay." Although "at a trice" is now obsolete, the more familiar version "in a trice" emerged in the 17th century.
Conclusion: In summary, "thrice" and "trice" are distinct words with separate etymological origins and meanings. "Thrice" is an archaic adverb meaning "three times," while "trice" originated as a verb related to pulling or snatching and evolved into the expression "in a trice," signifying something happening in an instant. This analysis demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the linguistic history and development of these terms, supporting the accurate interpretation provided in the article.
