English
three
Three comes from Middle English thre, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *tréyes.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*tréyesreconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*þrīzreconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*þrīʀreconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150þrī
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500thre
- Englishearliest quotation 1912three
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*tréyesreconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*þrīzreconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*þrīʀreconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150þrī
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500thre
- Englishearliest quotation 1912three
Earliest quotation: 1912, Zane Grey, New York: “Venters began to count them—one—two—three—four—on up to sixteen.”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *tréyes
distribution, contribute, tribute, tribe, tribal, trio, trinity, tribunal, tri, tribune, trey, tern, tres, troika, triplex, 11 more
Today it means
num A numerical value equal to 3; the number following two and preceding four.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *tréyes / three