▪ I. † thrie, thrye, adv. Obs.
Forms: α. 1 þriwa, ðriᵹa, ðriᵹe, ðria, 2 þreowe, 3 þreie, 3–4 þrie, 4–5 þrye, thrie, (4 thry), 5 thrye. β. 3 þrien, þreoien, 4 thrien.
[OE. þr{iacu}wa, ðr{iacu}ᵹa = OFris. thrî(i)a, OS. thrîuuo, thrîio. Like tw{iacu}wa, etc., not found outside the Saxon-Frisian group of WGer., and of obscure formation. They seem to have the form of genitival advbs., twi-a, þri-a, with the gap between i and a variously filled up by w and ᵹ (again lost in ME.), and lengthened by assimilation to þr{iacu}, three. See further under twie.]
Three times; thrice.
| α c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Mark xiv. 30 Ðria [Rushw. ðriᵹe] mec ðu bist onsæcc. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. ibid., Þriwa [c 1160 Hatton Gosp., þreowe] wiðsæcst min. c 1020 Rule St. Benet ix. (Logeman) 38 Oðer sidon þriwa is to singanne. c 1205 Lay. 17432 Þrie he eode abuten. Ibid. 26066 Arður & þe scucke biurnen hit þreie a-buten. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 10056 Þer on he smot þrie þe wrecche to gret pine. c 1375 Cursor M. 13627 (Fairf.) Quy quarto sulde I tel ȝou mare? Twy or thry I talde ȝou are. c 1460 Compl. Criste 88 in Pol. Rel. & L. Poems 164 The devylle me tempttyd neuer but thrye, But þou me temptyst frome day to daye. ? a 1500 Chester Pl. (Shaks. Soc.) II. 25 Or the cocke have crowen thrye Thou shalte forsake my companye. |
| β c 1205 Lay. 14338 Þenne cusseoð heo þreoien. Ibid. 14352 Þat maide..þrien hine custe. 13.. Judas 33 in Rel. Ant. I. 144 Thou wolt fursake me thrien, ar the coc him crowe. |
▪ II. thrie, þrie
obs. form of three.