Trinity

Forms: 3–6 trinite, -yte, (4 trinte, 4–6 trynite, -yte, 5 trynete), 4 trini-, tryni-, 5 trynytee; 4–5 trenite, (4 -ete, 4–6 -yte, 6 -eti, -etee, -ytie); 4–6 trynitie, 6 triniti, 6–7 trinitie, 6– trinity. Also β. 5 ternyte, 6 ternitie. [a. OF. trinite (in 11th c. trinitiet, -itet), also trinetei, trenite, ternite (= Pr., Sp. trinidad, Pg. trindade, It. trinità):—L. trīnitāt-em (nom. trīnitās) ‘a triad, a trio,’ in Christian use from Tertullian (195–220), f. trīnus: see TRINE. Also in other langs. from L., e.g., Ir. trionnoid, Gael. trionaid, Welsh trindod; Ger. trinität.

  L. trīnitās in Christian use rendered Gr. τριάς, used in this sense by Theophilus of Antioch, fl. 180, and by Clement of Alexandria, c. 150–212. After Tertullian (Adv. Prax., xxv.) L. trīnitās is used by Cyprian, Hilary, Marius Victorinus, Priscillian, Jerome, Augustine, and others.]

  1.  The state of being threefold, threefoldness, threeness. a. in non-theological sense.

c. 1425[?].  Lucidarie, vi. (1909), 6. Nyne ordres of aungels … Whi nyne of angels? For þe trynyte þat is in hem in þe nombre of nyne, þat is þries þre.

1850.  Robertson, Serm., Ser. III. iv. (1872), 52. It is a trinity—a division in the mind of God.

  b.  spec. in theological use: applied to the existence of one God in three persons. (In early use esp. in phr. ‘God in trinity,’ i.e., in threeness.)

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 2708. Toward him com childir thre, Liknes o god in trinité.

c. 1320.  R. Brunne, Medit., 1. Alle myȝty god yn trynyte, Now & euer wyþ vs be.

c. 1400.  Ywaine & Gaw., 2205. Thorgh grace of god in trenyte, I sal the wreke of tham al thre.

c. 1450.  Merlin, i. 8. Belevest thow not in the fadir, sone, and holy goste, and that these thre persones be oon god in trynite?

1548–9.  (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Athanasian Creed. So that … the vnitie in trinitie, and the trinitie in vnitie, is to be wurshipped.

1673.  Milton, True Relig., Wks. 1851, V. 410. For terms of Trinity, Triunity, Co-essentiality, Tripersonality, and the like, they reject them as Scholastic Notions, not to be found in Scripture.

1719.  Waterland, Vind. Christ’s Div., xxii. 336. As to Those who take Trinity and Tritheism for Synonymous Terms, They may go on to value Themselves upon it.

1907.  Sanday, Life Christ in Rec. Research, V. ix. 232. The doctrine of the Trinity is essentially a doctrine of Trinity in Unity. The basal truth is that God is one.

  2.  The three ‘persons’ or modes of being of the Godhead as conceived in orthodox Christian belief; the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as constituting one God; the triune God. (Now always with capital T; often the Holy Trinity, the Blessed Trinity.)

  (There is possibly an instance of an early form trineteð = ONF. trinitet, in Layamon 29533; but both MSS. are defective, one reading merely ðes nome, and the other … nete his name (the rest being burnt).)

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 26. Ȝette me ham, holi þrumnesse Trinite, iþe wurðschipe of þe.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 129. (Gött.). Þat es, þe haly trinite, Þat all has wroght wit his beute.

1390.  Gower, Conf., III. 87. The hihe almyhti Trinite, Which is o god in unite.

c. 1450.  Lydg., Merita Missæ, 46, in Lay Folks Mass Bk., App. v. 149. Wershipe Ewyr the Ternyte.

1516.  in Acts Parlt. Scotl. (1875), XII. 37/1. Ȝoure hienes … quhais grace … the trinite have in his blissit keping.

1587.  Golding, De Mornay, xxxiv. (1592), 552. The Kingdome whose king is the Trinitie, whose Lawe is Charitie, and whose measure is eternitie.

1677.  Gale, Crt. Gentiles, II. III. 48. I shal not denie but that these blind heathens … might have some … imperfect traditions concerning a Trinitie.

1827.  Heber, Hymn, ‘Holy, holy, holy,’ i. God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

1849.  R. I. Wilberforce, Doctr. Holy Bapt. (1850), 18. It was the Second, not the Third Person of the Ever-blessed Trinity who became the Incarnate Mediator.

  b.  A symbolical figure representing the three persons of the Godhead.

1496–7.  Rec. St. Mary at Hill, 33. Item, a gylt Table of the Trynete, for to sett on the high Aulter. Ibid. (1503–4), 252. Payd to the glassyng of þe gret vynddow vythe þe Trenyte in the southe yell [= aisle].

[c. 1828.  Berry, Encycl. Her., I. Gloss., Trinity, the heraldic device for the representation thereof is composed of roundles and lines.]

  c.  ellipt. The festival of the Holy Trinity; Trinity Sunday (see 6).

[1215–30.  S. Osmundi Consuet., xxi. 4, in Reg. S. Osmund (Rolls), I. 38. Festum Sanctæ Trinitatis.]

c. 1290.  St. Brendan, 229, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 225. Þo com atte trinite þis gode man.

13[?].  Guy Warw. (A.), 705. It was at þe holy trinite, Þerl dubbed sir Gij þe fre.

1624.  Laud, Diary, 6 June. Second Sunday after Trinity, I preached at Westminster.

  3.  Any combination or set of three (persons, beings, things, principles, etc.) forming a unity, or closely connected; a triad, trio.

1542.  St. Papers Hen. VIII., IX. 251. We might ones be joyned to gidre in a ternitie, as the Pope thEmpereur and the King of Portugal be.

1633.  G. Herbert, Temple, Starre, v. Then with our trinitie of light, Motion, and heat, let’s take our flight.

1694.  F. Bragge, Disc. Parables, iii. 84. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; that Trinity which the generality of men adore.

a. 1711.  Ken, Hymns Festiv., Poet. Wks. 1721, I. 268. Thus coalesce in sacred Lays, A Trinity, Love, Joy, and Praise.

1883.  W. Binns, in Chr. Globe, 13 Sept., 823/2. Siva, the destroying deity of the Indian trinity.

1906.  Petrie, Relig. Anc. Egypt, xii. 79. The formal theology of the schools which grouped gods together in trinities or enneads.

  4.  In full, Herb Trinity (med.L. herba Trinitatis): an old name for a. the heart’s-ease or pansy, Viola tricolor, from the three colors of the flower; b. Anemone Hepatica, from the three-lobed leaf.

1597.  Gerarde, Herbal, I. ccxcix. 703. Harts ease is named … of others Herba Trinitatis or Herbe Trinitie, by reason of the triple colour of the flowers. Ibid., II. ccclxxxvii. 1032. Noble Liuerwoort is called Hepatica trifolia,… and Herbe Trinitie.

a. 1700.  B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Hearts-ease,… an Herb called by some the Trinity,… or Pansies.

1864.  N. & Q., 3rd Ser. V. 60/2. The well known name of Herb Trinity given to the Anemone hepatica.

  5.  Colloquial abbreviation for Trinity College.

1757.  Gray, Lett., 17 April. The Duke of Bedford is now here [Cambridge] to settle his son at Trinity. Ibid. (c. 1765), Satire, 11. The Master of Trinity To him bears affinity.

  6.  attrib. Dedicated to or connected with the worship of the Holy Trinity, as Trinity aisle, altar, guild, light; bearing a figure or symbol of the Trinity, as Trinity ring, window; occurring (blossoming, etc.) about the season of Trinity Sunday (see below), as Trinity fair, honeysuckle, tide; belonging to or connected with the Trinity House (see below), as Trinity Brethren (sb. pl.), Corporation, due, high-water mark, man, pilot, standard, waterman, yacht; also † Trinity grass, an old name for some species of trefoil; Trinity-herb = herb trinity (see 4 a); Trinity House, shortened title of a guild or fraternity originally established at Deptford, incorporated in the reign of Henry VIII., having the official regulation of British shipping; Trinity Monday (rare), the day after Trinity Sunday; Trinity Sunday, the Sunday next after Whit-Sunday, observed as a festival in honor of the Trinity; Trinity term, the fourth of the terms or sessions of the High Court of Justice in England: see TERM sb. 5; since 1873 called officially Trinity Sittings, and now beginning on the Tuesday following Trinity Sunday; also one of the university terms, which at Oxford is continuous with Easter term, the two being reckoned for most purposes as one.

1579.  in Cranage, Churches Shropsh. (1912), II. 945. Towards the reparations of the wyndoo in the *triniti ylle [= aisle].

1536.  in Luton Trinity Guild (1906), 214. Item payd to the paynter for makynge of a border for the *trenyte awter … 6s.

1860.  Coote, Admiralty Practice, 59. The Court will direct the attendance of the *Trinity Brethren to be written for. Ibid. The Court is assisted by two elder Brethren of the *Trinity Corporation at the hearing of every suit for collisions.

1783.  in Late Meas. Ship-Owners in Coal-Trade (1786), 63. *Trinity dues per Cocket.

1507.  in Charters &c. Edinb. (1871), 191. Thair said *Trinite faires yeirlie to begin on the Monninday next eftir Trinitie Sonday.

1545.  Elyot, Lagopus, an herbe of the kynd of trefoyles called *trinitie grasse.

1657.  C. Beck, Univ. Char., L viij. Trinity grass or hare-foot.

1423.  Coventry Leet Bk., 47. The brethren and systren of the *Trinyte guylde of Couentre.

1566.  Act 8 Eliz., c. 13 § 1. The … Mayster Wardens and Assistauntes of the *Trinytie Howse … shall … set up suche … Beakons, Markes and Signes for the Sea … as to them shall seeme moost meete.

a. 1642.  Sir W. Monson, Naval Tracts, III. (1704), 339/1. A Master is to be chosen by the Trinity-House.

1534.  in Luton Trinity Guild (1906), 206. Item payd for xij li. wex for y^e *trenytie lyght … 6s.

1698–9.  Act 11 Will. III., c. 21 § 2. Every Person … who … shall be employed in … navigating any Lighter … on the River Thames (*Trinity Man Fisherman Ballast Man … excepted).

1771.  Order Bk. B. Junior Bursar Trinity Coll. Oxford, 39 (MS.). May 27 … *Trinity Monday. Ordered that a general Court be held at Wroxton, Oct. 29.

1819.  J. H. Newman, Lett. (1891), I. 37. If there be one time of the year in which the glory of our college is humbled, and all appearance of goodness fades away, it is on Trinity Monday.

1867.  Freeman, in Stephens, Life (1895), I. vi. 386. So we shall anyhow meet on Trinity Monday.

a. 1903.  ‘H. S. Merriman,’ Last Hope, i. He suppressed a yawn as he contemplated the tottering headstones of certain master-mariners and *Trinity-pilots taking their long rest in the immediate vicinity.

1877.  W. Jones, Finger-ring, 487. A rare and curious *‘Trinity’ ring, turned out of one piece of ivory.

1837.  Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl., I. 33/1. 16 feet under the high-water of *Trinity standard.

1426–7.  Rec. St. Mary at Hill, 65. Þe monday after *Trenite sonday.

1911.  Encycl. Brit. (ed. 11), XXVII. 286. From Trinity Sunday onwards all Sundays until the close of the ecclesiastical year are reckoned as ‘after Trinity.’

1540.  Act 32 Hen. VIII., c. 21 § 2. The full terme of the said *Trinitie Terme shall … begynne … the Fryeday next after Corpus Christi day.

1669.  [see HILARY].

1899.  Oxford Univ. Cal., May 20. Oxford Trinity or Act Term begins. May 30, Trinity Law Term begins.

1511.  Pilton Churchw. Acc. (Som. Rec. Soc.), 61. Item for ij tapers agenst *trinyte tide … xx^d.

1841.  L. J. Bernays, trans. Couard’s Serm. Ch. Hist., xii. 154. During the coming Trinity tide.

1724.  Lond. Gaz., No. 6249/9. Thomas Measant,… *Trinity-Waterman.

1525–6.  Rec. St. Mary at Hill, 332. For mendyng of the *trynite wyndowe of the Sowthe side of the church.

1825.  Hone, Every-day Bk., I. 726. The *Trinity-yacht … lay off St. George’s.

  Hence Trinityhood (nonce-wd.), the condition or character of being a trinity.

1886.  Trinitas Trinitatum, xxvii. 267. We have seen the Majesty of the Divine Trinityhood vindicated, in the triumph of the Second Adam over Satan.