English
trichotomy
Trichotomy comes from Ancient Greek τριχοτομία.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτριχοτομίαtrikhotomía
- Englishtodaytrichotomy
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτριχοτομίαtrikhotomía
- Englishtodaytrichotomy
A compound of τρίχα ‘in three parts’ + τόμος ‘slice, piece’ + -ία
Proto-Indo-European *tri- ‘three’
Proto-Indo-European *trís ‘thrice (three times)’
Proto-Hellenic *trís
Ancient Greek τρίς ‘thrice’
Ancient Greek τρίχα ‘in three parts’
Proto-Indo-European *temh₁- ‘to cut’
Proto-Indo-European *tm̥-né-h₁-ti
Ancient Greek τέμνω ‘to cut’
Ancient Greek τόμος ‘slice, piece’
Every English word from Ancient Greek τριχοτομία
Today it means
noun Division or separation into three groups or pieces.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek τριχοτομία / trichotomy