trichotomy

trichotomy Definition

tri·choto·my (trī kät′ə mē)

noun

division into three parts, elements, groups, etc.

Etymology: Gr tricha, threefold (< treis, three), after dichotomy

trichotomy Related Forms

tri·chot′o·mize′ (-mīz′) transitive verb -·mized′, -·miz′·ing tri·chot′o·mous adjective tri·chot′o·mously adverb

trichotomy Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

thesis: But hard comparisons raise the issue of the truth of the trichotomy thesis, and it has been challenged in two ways.

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