Trilateral
/traɪˈlætərəl/noun
Having three sides or involving three parties.
Did you know?Its first element comes from Latin tri-, from the same ancient root behind three, trinity, and triangle, while the second comes from latus, meaning “side,” so the word is a perfectly literal “three-sided” formation.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*tréyes
“three”
Latin
Latin
tri-
“three (as a prefix)”
Latin
Latin
latus
“side; broad side”
Late Latin
Latin
trilateralis
“three-sided”
17th Century
English
trilateral
“three-sided; involving three parties”
Modern English
English
trilateral
“relating to three sides or three parties”