trine

1. not comparableTriple; threefold.

   Synonyms: tern, treble, tern, ternary, threefold, treble, triadic, trinary

2. not comparableastrologyDenoting the aspect of two celestial bodies which are 120° apart.

   The physicians refer this to their temperament, astrologers to trine and sextile aspects, or opposite of their several ascendants, lords of their genitures, love and hatred of planets […]

   1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition III, section 1, member 2, subsection ii

plural trines

1. A group of three things.

   a single trine of brazen tortoises

   1856, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “Eighth Book”, in Aurora Leigh, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1857, →OCLC

   Synonyms: threesome, triad, leash, tern, ternary, ternion, threeness, threesome

2. astrologyAn aspect of two astrological bodies when 120° apart.

present singular third person trines · participle present trining · participle past trined · past trined

1. transitiveastrologyTo put in the aspect of a trine.

   By fortune he [Saturn] was now to Venus trined.

   1697, Virgil, “Palamon and Arcite”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC

2. UKarchaicthieves' cantTo hang; to execute (someone) by suspension from the neck.

   Been Darkmans then booz Mort and Ken, / The been Coves bing awast / On Chats to trine by Rum-Coves dine, / For his long lib at last.

   1612, Thomas Dekker, Lantern and Candlelight

   1 more example

   Liz, he says, why trine for a make, when you can wap for a winne. I'm no dimber mort, I says. Don't ask you to be a swell mollisher, sister, coves want Miss Laycock, don't look at your mug. So I begin to sell my mother of saints.

   1988, Timberlake Wertenbaker, Our Country's Good, act 2, scene 1

   Synonyms: hang, swing, dance on a rope, dance on nothing, dance the hempen jig, dance the Tyburn jig, dance upon nothing, dangle

present singular third person trines · participle present trining · participle past trined · past trined

1. UKobsoletethieves' cantTo go.

   From thence at the Nubbing-cheat we trine in the Lightmans.

   1673, Richard Head, “The Beggars Curse”, in The Canting Academy

   1 more example

   Twang dell's, i' the strommell, and let the Quire Cuffin: / And Herman Beck strine and trine to the Ruffin.

   1647, John Fletcher, Beggars' Bush, published 1706, act 3, scene 3, page 42

plural Trines

1. A surname from German.