tredelt

Tredelt is an adjective used in Norwegian, Swedish and Danish to describe something that is divided into three parts or consists of three components. The term is neutral and widely applicable across domains such as law, governance, architecture and design.

A tredelt structure implies three distinct sections that are conceptually equal or functionally complementary; the parts may be equal in size or different in function. In governance and law, tredelt can describe a tripartite arrangement, such as a government, council or commission whose powers are distributed among three groups. In design, architecture and publishing, tredelt layouts organize space or content into three segments or columns. In education or literature, a tredelt argument or analysis may be organized around three points or stages. In some Scandinavian contexts, the term may also appear to denote a three-part musical form, though more common terms exist in music theory.

Etymology: tredelt derives from tre meaning "three" and delt meaning "divided," with cognates across the Scandinavian languages. The closest English equivalents are tripartite or three-part. See also: tripartite, triadic, three-part.