Etymology From Middle English trine, from Middle French trin, from Latin trīnus.
1
Triple; threefold.
2
Astrology, Human sciences, Mysticism, Philosophy, Sciences Denoting the aspect of two celestial bodies which are 120° apart.
The physicians refer this to their temperament, astrologers to trine and sextile aspects, or opposite of their several ascendants, lords of their genitures, love and hatred of planets […]1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition III, section 1, member 2, subsection ii:
Etymology From Middle English trine, from Middle French trin, from Latin trīnus.
1
A group of three things.
a single trine of brazen tortoises1856, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “Eighth Book”, in Aurora Leigh, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1857, →OCLC:
2
Astrology, Human sciences, Mysticism, Philosophy, Sciences An aspect of two astrological bodies when 120° apart.
trine
verb
Etymology From Middle English trine, from Middle French trin, from Latin trīnus.
By fortune he [Saturn] was now to Venus trined.1697, Virgil, “Palamon and Arcite”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
2
UK, Archaic To hang; to execute (someone) by suspension from the neck.
Been Darkmans then booz Mort and Ken, / The been Coves bing awast / On Chats to trine by Rum-Coves dine, / For his long lib at last.1612, Thomas Dekker, Lantern and Candlelight:
Liz, he says, why trine for a make, when you can wap for a winne. I'm no dimber mort, I says. Don't ask you to be a swell mollisher, sister, coves want Miss Laycock, don't look at your mug. So I begin to sell my mother of saints.1988, Timberlake Wertenbaker, Our Country's Good, act 2, scene 1:
Twang dell's, i' the strommell, and let the Quire Cuffin: / And Herman Beck strine and trine to the Ruffin.1647, John Fletcher, Beggars' Bush, published 1706, act 3, scene 3, page 42:
From thence at the Nubbing-cheat we trine in the Lightmans.1673, Richard Head, “The Beggars Curse”, in The Canting Academy: