trichotomous

adjective tri·chot·o·mous \trī-ˈkä-tə-məs\

Definition of TRICHOTOMOUS

: divided or dividing into three parts or into threes <trichotomous branching>

— tri·chot·o·mous·ly adverb

Origin of TRICHOTOMOUS

Late Greek trichotomein to trisect, from Greek tricha in three (akin to treis three) + -tomein (akin to temnein to cut) — more at three, tome

First Known Use: 1800

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