triptych
|trip-tich|
/ˈtrɪptɪk/
three-fold; three-panel
Etymology
'triptych' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'triptychos', where 'tri-' meant 'three' and 'ptyche' meant 'fold'.
'triptych' passed into Medieval Latin as 'triptychon' and into Old French as 'triptyque', and eventually entered English as 'triptych'.
Initially, it referred to a 'three-fold' object (something folded in three); over time it came to mean specifically a three-panel work of art or a set of three related works.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a work of art (such as a painting or relief) composed of three panels, often hinged together, especially an altarpiece.
The museum displayed a 15th-century triptych depicting scenes from the life of Christ.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/06 09:10