triad

Where does the word "triad" come from? It comes from Greek trias, and was adopted directly into English (1540s).

Triad’s story begins in Greek: trias meant “set of three.” A group of three, from 'treis', three. It reached English by 1540s as triad. Chinese secret societies were named 'Triads' by the British in the 1800s, from the triangle symbol linking heaven, earth and humankind. Today, triad means a group or set of three.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient trias "set of three", a group of three, from 'treis', three.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1540s triad "set of three", Chinese secret societies were named 'Triads' by the British in the 1800s, from the triangle symbol linking heaven, earth and humankind.