Friday word: Trifecta

[med_cat]

I've always thought this word simply meant "triple", but the etymology turned out to be more complex than that, as you can read below:
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trifecta noun tri·fec·ta \trī-ˈfek-tə, ˈtrī-ˌ\

1: a variation of the perfecta (a bet in which the bettor picks the first and second place finishers in order) in which a bettor wins by selecting the first three finishers of a race in the correct order of finish

2: triple  <achieved a show-business trifecta :  a platinum record, hit TV series, and an Oscar>

Examples

trifecta for meteorologically induced misery: hazy, hot, and humid>

Friday's Trifecta: Supermoon, Solar Eclipse, Spring Equinox (today's article from National Geographic, which can be read here

Etymology:
tri- + perfecta, American Spanish quiniela perfecta perfect quiniela

quiniela: a bet in which the bettor picks the first and second place finishers but need not designate their order of finish in order to win; American Spanish quiniela, a game of chance resembling a lottery

First Known Use: 1974

Comments

[murielle.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid I use it incorrectly...and always will. 😉

[med_cat]

How do you use it then, if I may ask? :)

(Also, your icon is very cute...is it _that_ cold where you are? ;))

[murielle.livejournal.com]

Most often I use the word when discussing three auto-immune diseases I have. Although independent, people can get two, or in my case three of them together.

The picture describes the weather tonight, but I can't complain as we've had a blissfully mild winter. First day of spring not so good.

:-)

[med_cat]

Actually, you _are_ using the word correctly, b/c its 2nd meaning is "triple", as you can see in the post and some of the examples :)

Three autoimmune diseases, though...sorry to hear that :(

Re: picture, I see, and hope spring weather is coming your way!

[murielle.livejournal.com]

Ah! I was right. (Gobsmacked!) That is so convenient, now I don't have to try to figure out something else to say. :-)

Thank you. Humans are so adaptable, we can get used to just about anything.

I was foggy all day, today. Fall weather in spring. That's what we get for being so close to the mountains. ;-)

[med_cat]

:)