(a) Cardinal number as adj.: three; also, as adv.: ~ so, three times as (evil, much); (b) an indeterminately small number, a few; a or) two or ~, twein or ~, etc.; (c) in proverbs and prov. expressions.

In phrases and combs.: (a) ~ degres of comparisoun, the grammatical degrees of adjectival comparison; ~ dimensiounes, the three dimensions of solids; ~ divine (principal) vertues, the three theological virtues; ~ enemies of man-kinde, ~ (strong) enemies, the three enemies of man (i.e., the world, the flesh, and the devil); ~ estates, the three medieval political classes; ~ hedes (persounes), persounes ~, the Persons of the Trinity; ~ kinges, the Magi; ~ menes song, a contrapuntal song for three voices; ~ (shape) susteres, the Fates; ~ states, the major classes of the Church; furies ~, the Furies; (b) ~ daies (monthes, yeres, etc.): three days (months, years, etc.); also, for three days, etc.; (c) ~ sith(es, ~ time(s, three times; also, on three occasions; bi times ~, on three occasions; (d) a) ~ mile, for a distance of three miles; (e) ~ manere (wise), in three ways; ?three times as much [2nd quot.].

In cpds.: (a) ~ corner wise, in a triangular manner; ~ daies, lasting three days; ~ double, sixfold; ~ fot, having three feet; ~ hirne, triangular, trigonal; ~ night olde, of the moon: having waxed for three nights; ~ square, q.v.; (b) with p.ppl.: ~ braunched, trifurcate; ~ corneled, triangular, trigonal; ~ cornered, q.v.; ~ departed (parted), having three parts; ~ egged (foted, heded, leved, pointed, tothed), having three edges (feet, heads, leaves, points, teeth); ~ quartered, made in three sections; ~ shafted, made with a tri-stranded thread; ~ tonged, having three tongues, speaking three languages; ~ weied place, a crossroads; (c) ~ hal-peni (worth, three halfpennies' worth; ~ peni nail, a nail of the size selling at threepence a hundred; ~ peni worth, three pennies' worth.

Cardinal number as noun: (a) three people, castles, etc.;—sometimes in proverbs; also, the three Persons of the Trinity; also, with early gen. or in of periphrasis: three (of his sons), three cups (of water), etc.; ~ the best, three of the best (horses); lesse of ~, a set of three persons; (b) ~ and ~, in groups of three; bi two bi ~, two or three times; chaine of ~, ?a group of three people; er passen ~ and five, ?before long; on (in, o, of) ~, into three parts; the ~ first, the first three; thei (hem, ye, etc.) ~, they (them, you, etc.) three; (c) three as an abstract number; thrice ~; (d) a three in dice; (e) as a time of day.

In compound numbers: (a) ~ and thriti, ~ hundred (thousand), ~ score (and ten, ~ hundred and five and sixti, etc.; thousandes ~, three thousand; (b) ~ and twentieth, ~ hundredethe; (c) ~ quarteres.

In surnames and place names [see Smith PNElem.2.213].