\Three\, a. [OE. [thorn]re, [thorn]reo, [thorn]ri, AS.
[thorn]r[=i], masc., [thorn]re['o], fem. and neut.; akin to
OFries. thre, OS. thria, threa, D. drie, G. drei, OHG.
dr[=i], Icel. [thorn]r[=i]r, Dan. & Sw. tre, Goth.
[thorn]reis, Lith. trys, Ir., Gael. & W. tri, Russ. tri, L.
tres, Gr. trei^s, Skr. tri. [root]301. Cf. 3d {Drilling},
{Tern}, a., {Third}, {Thirteen}, {Thirty}, {Tierce}, {Trey},
{Tri-}, {Triad}, {Trinity}, {Tripod}.]
One more than two; two and one. ``I offer thee three
things.'' --2 Sam. xxiv. 12.
      Three solemn aisles approach the shrine. --Keble.
Note: Three is often joined with other words, forming
      compounds signifying divided into, composed of, or
      containing, three parts, portions, organs, or the like;
      as, three-branched, three-capsuled, three-celled,
      three-cleft, three-edged, three-foot, three-footed,
      three-forked, three-grained, three-headed,
      three-legged, three-mouthed, three-nooked,
      three-petaled, three-pronged, three-ribbed,
      three-seeded, three-stringed, three-toed, and the like.

\Three\, n.
1. The number greater by a unit than two; three units or
   objects.
2. A symbol representing three units, as 3 or iii.
{Rule of three}. (Arith.) See under {Rule}, n.