trī̆plex, ĭcis (abl. regularly triplici; triplice, Prud. Apoth. 383; Ven. Carm. 7, 4, 12), adj. [ter-plico], threefold, triple.
I Lit.
A Adj. : Plato triplicem finxit animum, Cic. Tusc. 1, 10, 20: philosophandi ratio triplex, id. Ac. 1, 5, 19: nec me pastoris Iberi Forma triplex, nec forma triplex tua, Cerbere, movit, Ov. M. 9, 185: cuspis, i. e. Neptune’s trident , id. ib. 12, 594: mundus (because made up of sky, land, and sea), id. ib. 12, 40: regnum (because shared among Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto), Ov. id. ib. 5, 368: vultus Dianae (because also Luna and Hecate; v. triceps and triformis), Ov. id. H. 12, 79: triplicem aciem instruere, to draw up an army in three lines or columns , to form a triple line , Caes. B. G. 1, 24; so, acies, id. ib. 1, 51; id. B. C. 1, 41; 1, 83 al.; cf. comically: paravi copias duplices, triplices dolos. perfidias, Plaut. Ps. 2, 1, 5: vallus, Auct. B. Alex. 2, 3: murus, Verg. A. 6, 549; Ov. F. 3, 801: aes, Verg. A. 10, 784; Hor. C. 1, 3, 9: triplici stant ordine dentes, Ov. M. 3, 34 et saep. — Poet., of three like persons or things belonging together: triplices Sorores, the three sisters , i. e. the Fates , Ov. M. 8, 452; called triplices deae, id. ib. 2, 654; cf.: quae ratum triplici pollice netis opus, i. e. the finger of the three Fates , id. Ib. 76: poenarum deae triplices, i. e. the Furies , id. M. 8, 481: Minyeïdes, i. e. the three daughters of Minyas , id. ib. 4, 425: greges, three bands of Bacchantes , Prop. 3, 17 (4, 16), 24; cf. gens, three clans , Verg. A. 10, 202. —
B Substt.
1 trī̆plex , ĭcis, n., three times as much , a threefold portion , triple : sume tibi decies; tibi tantundem; tibi triplex, Hor. S. 2 3, 237; cf.: pediti in singulos dati centeni (denarii), duplex centurioni, triplex equiti, Liv. 45, 40, 5; 45, 43, 7: olei veteris triplex adicitur, Scrib. Comp. 218. —
2 trī̆plĭces , ĭum, m. (sc. codicilli), a writing-tablet with three leaves , Cic. Att. 13, 8, 1; Mart. 7, 72, 2; 10, 87, 6; 14, 6, 1.—*
II Transf., very great or strong : triplici fluctu, Sall. Fragm. ap. Serv. Verg. A. 1, 116 ( id. H. 4, 23 Dietsch). — Adv.: trĭplĭcĭ-ter , in a threefold manner , in three ways : commutare, Auct. Her. 4, 42, 54: l littera tripliciter sonat, Mart. Cap. 3, 54.