a. and sb. Also 4–7 tryne. [a. F. trin, trine (13th c. in Littré):—L. trīn-us threefold, f. trēs, tria three.]
A. adj. 1. Threefold; triple.
Trine compass, threefold space, i.e., heaven, earth, and sea.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Sec. Nun’s T., 45. The eterneel loue and pees That of the tryne compas lord and gyde is.
c. 1450. Cov. Myst., ix. (1841), 88. Recomendyng me to that Godhyd that is tryne in trone.
a. 1500. Bellenden, in Bannatyne Poems (Hunter. Cl.), 8/153. Thow Godheid trine, rignand in vnitie.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Trine, trinus, of three years old, or pertaining to the number three.
1675. Baxter, Cath. Theol., I. I. 40. By his Trine influx of Power, Wisdom, and Goodness.
a. 1711. Ken, Hymns Festiv., Poet. Wks. 1721, I. 248. To teach the Faith of Godhead Trine.
1735. Berkeley, Reasons, § 17. The trine dimensions of a cube generated by motion.
1868. Gladstone, Juv. Mundi, viii. (1870), 227. He [Zeus] is the governor of the air…; the eldest of the trine brotherhood.
b. Trine immersion (also trin-immersion), the immersion of a person three times in baptism, in the name of the three Persons of the Trinity. So trine affusion, aspersion.
1637. Gillespie, Eng. Pop. Cerem., II. ix. 37. When the Arrians abused Trin-immersion in Baptisme. Ibid. The Ceremony of Trin-immersion.
1657. J. Watts, Dipper Sprinkled, 54. She hath given over her old way of the Trine-immersion, and is upon the new path of Trine-aspersion.
1884. G. T. Stokes, in Contemp. Rev., April, 600. If immersion cannot be used, trine affusion may suffice, accompanied by fasting.
2. Astrol. Denoting the ‘aspect’ of two heavenly bodies which are a third part of the zodiac, i.e., 120°, distant from each other. Also, Connected with or relating to a trine aspect. Also fig. Favorable, benign: cf. quots. 1581, 1614 in B. 2.
1477. Norton, Ord. Alch., vi., in Ashm., Theat. Chem. Brit. (1652), 100. Cause them to looke with a Trine aspect.
1594. Blundevil, Exerc., IV. xliv. (1636), 502. You shall find the Moone to be in a trine aspect with the Sunne.
1605. Drayton, Man in Moon, 459. How the Signes in their Triplicities, Be simpathizing in their Trine consents.
1609. C. Butler, Fem. Mon., v. (1623), L j. If hir Princely Grace Vouchsafe with Trine Aspect reply to make.
1790. Sibly, Occult Sc. (1792), I. 143. A trine aspect, Δ.
B. sb. 1. A group of three; a triad.
1552. Lyndesay, Monarche, 5681. Gregor, Ambrose, and Augustyne, With Confessoris, ane tryumphand tryne.
1591. Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. ii. 383. Rightly may we call those Trines (Fire, Aire and Water) but Heav’n’s Concubines.
c. 1614. Sir W. Mure, Dido & Æneas, III. 291. O furyes! O Vindictive tryne.
a. 1711. Ken, Hymns Evang., Poet. Wks. 1721, I. 40. Believe, repent, and love, this easy Trine.
1874. A. J. Ellis, in Phil. Trans., XXIII. 16. A duodene … consists of 12 tones, forming four trines of major Thirds arranged in three quaternions of Fifths.
b. spec. The Trinity; in first quot. = TRINITY 1 b.
a. 1568. Bannatyne Poems (Hunter. Cl.), 79/7. Off a will, substance, and equalite,… To be laud in tryne and vnite.
1613. W. Browne, Brit. Past., I. v. Thou by whose hand the sacred Trine did bring Us out of bonds.
a. 1711. Ken, Hymnarium, Poet. Wks. 1721, II. 68. O holy, holy, holy Trine, Me for thyself refine.
1827. Keble, Chr. Y., Trin. Sunday. Eternal One, Almighty Trine!
2. Astrol. A trine aspect. Phr. in trine.
1581. N. Woodes, Conflict Consc., II. i. B iij. Now murthering Mars … With amiable tryne, apply to my beame.
1614. Tomkis, Albumazar, II. iii. Coniunctions, And fortunate aspects of Trine and Sextile.
1761. Brit. Mag., II. 465. The planets, with their conjunctions, oppositions, signs, circles, cycles, trines, and trigons.
1837. Whewell, Hist. Induct. Sc. (1857), I. 176. When she was nearly in trine, and in sextile with the sun.
3. pl. Three children (or young) at a birth; triplets.
1628–9. Faversham Par. Reg. (MS.). Samuell … Elizabeth … Marie … Trines of John Juyce [and] Susan.
1706. All Saints, Canterb. Par. Reg. (MS.). Jane and Mary 2 of ye trines of Wm Plummer [buried].
1844. Stephens, Bk. Farm, II. 610. The two lambs which constituted the trines were … taken away to relieve the ewes.
1867. J. Campbell, Balmerino, IV. v. 325. He … baptized in the parish three times trines.
