thrice

Everyday

1. (old-fashioned) Thrice means three times: he knocked thrice. tree →
2. Thrice can also be used before a word to mean very or extremely, as in "thrice-lovely". tree →

In the lessons

Old stories, fairy tales, poems and the Bible use «thrice»; in modern talk people say «three times». Maths: thrice a number means the number multiplied by 3. Bible: Jesus told Peter he would deny him thrice before the cock crowed. Compare: once, twice, thrice, then «four times».

Examples

• The knight knocked thrice on the castle door. tree →
• Thrice the witch stirred the pot. tree →
• Thrice 4 is 12. tree →
• Peter denied knowing Jesus thrice. tree →
• He was thrice champion. tree →
• In modern English we usually say «three times», not «thrice». tree →
• Then the thrice-lovely Nastasia herself leaped into the vats. tree →

Note

Old-fashioned; in school maths write «three times» or «×3». There is no «fource»: after thrice, say «four times», «five times». Maths: thrice 7 = 21.

In Jewish tradition

Old stories, fairy tales, poems and the Bible use «thrice»; in modern talk people say «three times». Maths: thrice a number means the number multiplied by 3. Bible: Jesus told Peter he would deny him thrice before the cock crowed. Compare: once, twice, thrice, then «four times».

Examples

• Lo, all these things doth God work, twice, yea thrice, with a man, (Writings JOB.33.29, JPS 1917) tree →
• And he said unto the king of Israel: 'Smite upon the ground'; and he smote thrice, and stayed. (Prophets 2KI.13.18, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the man of God was wroth with him, and said: 'Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Aram till thou hadst consumed it; whereas now thou shalt smite Aram but thrice.' (Prophets 2KI.13.19, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Old-fashioned; in school maths write «three times» or «×3». There is no «fource»: after thrice, say «four times», «five times». Maths: thrice 7 = 21.