ternion

9.9

A group of three people or things seen as one

noun
/ˈtɜrnɪən/

Archaic

: ternión

The artist completed a ternion of paintings to explore the theme in depth.

Examples

A ternion of knights rode into the courtyard, their armor shining in the sunlight.
The ternion of friends enjoyed their weekend getaway.
In ancient texts, a ternion often symbolizes balance and harmony among three forces.
A ternion of musicians performed at the festival.
A ternion of musicians performed beautifully at the festival, captivating the audience with their harmonies.
The ternion of mountains stood majestically against the clear blue sky, each peak distinct and towering.
In the game, you need to find a ternion of treasures hidden throughout the ancient ruins.

Synonyms

three

vsternion

∞ 1.0

The number that comes after two and before four

also refers to a set or group rather than only the numeral

triad

vsternion

32 6.1

A group of three people or things seen together

is broader, naming the number as well as such grouped sets

trinity

vsternion

5 6.3

A group of three people or things seen as one unit

is a wider label that can mean both number and group

trine

vsternion

Archaic

1 9.9

A group of three things

is the standard modern term rather than an older form

trinary

vsternion

1 7.4

A group of three people or things

also covers the abstract number itself, not only grouped items

Surface Forms

ternion singular

ternions plural

Morphology

ternion = tern + ion

Although historically built from the combining form 'tern' (three) + the noun-forming '-ion', 'tern' is not a productive standalone English base for most learners, so the meaning 'set of three' is not transparently deducible by an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Ternion comes from an old Latin word terni meaning 'three', and it is like the familiar word trio. So a ternion is simply a group or set of three.