triptych
noun
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Triptych Has Greek Roots
A painted or carved triptych typically has three hinged panels, and the two outer panels can be folded in towards the central one. A literary or musical triptych generally consists of three closely related or contrasting themes or parts. Triptych derives from the Greek triptychos ("having three folds"), formed by combining tri- ("three") and ptychē ("fold" or "layer"). Although triptych originally described a specific type of Roman writing tablet that had three hinged sections, it is not surprising that the idea was generalized first to a type of painting, and then to anything composed of three parts.
Examples of triptych in a Sentence
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 June 2025
The images Thompson took of Handler and Andrew Stern — from a triptych of Andrew’s varying facial expressions to one of Handler tossing her arms affectionately around him — reflect that serendipity.
—Malina Saval, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2025
The slender openings between each triptych frame of the quadriptych reveal the rolling hills, verdant fields, and woodlands, drawing us even closer to the monumental installation and underscoring the poetic alliance of sculpture and landscape that defines the ethos of Storm King.
—Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
Maria is the third film in Larraín’s English-language triptych exploring iconic female protagonists, following 2016’s Jackie and 2021’s Spencer.
—Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Triptych.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/triptych. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.
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