three adjective [OE. þre, þreo, þri, AS. þrī, masc., þreó, fem. and neut.; akin to OFries. thre, OS. thria, threa, D. drie, G. drei, OHG. drī, Icel. þrīr, Dan. & Sw. tre, Goth. þreis, Lith. trys, Ir., Gael. & W. tri, Russ. tri, L. tres, Gr. τρεῖς, Skr. tri. √301. Cf. 3d Drilling, Tern, adjective, Third, Thirteen, Thirty, Tierce, Trey, Tri-, Triad, Trinity, Tripod.]

One more than two; two and one.

“I offer thee three things.” 2 Sam. xxiv. 12.

Three solemn aisles approach the shrine. Keble.

☞ Three is often joined with other words, forming compounds signifying divided into, composed of, or containing, three parts, portions, organs, or the like; as, three-branched, three-capsuled, three-celled, three-cleft, three-edged, three-foot, three-footed, three-forked, three-grained, three-headed, three-legged, three-mouthed, three-nooked, three-petaled, three-pronged, three-ribbed, three-seeded, three-stringed, three-toed, and the like. Three noun

1. The number greater by a unit than two; three units or objects.

2. A symbol representing three units, as 3 or iii.

Rule of three (Arith.)

See under Rule, noun