division into three parts, elements, groups, etc.
Origin of trichotomyClassical Greek tricha, threefold ( from treis, three), after dichotomy
- Division into three parts or elements.
- A system based on three parts or elements, especially the theological description of humans as consisting of body, soul, and spirit.
Origin of trichotomyNew Latin trichotomia Greek trikha in three parts ; see trei- in Indo-European roots.New Latin -tomia -tomy
- Division or separation into three groups or pieces.
- (algebra) the following property of an order relation (e.g., "less than"): for any two elements (of a given algebraic structure) there are exactly three possibilities: either the first element is less than the second one, the second element is less than the first one, or the two elements are equal.