Tri~

Tri is a prefix, nothing earth shattering there, it generally depicts a word that has a reference to the number three.

There is a wonderful illustration and definition located on Wiktionary, a site that is patterned after Wikipedia, the only difference being that the site defines words and English (among other languages) grammar. An absolute heaven for English afficionados.

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tri-

When I think of the prefix try I can't help but think of words like trinity, triune, trilogy and of course the most obvious- tricycle. All words encompassing the concept of three.

As we were having this conversation the other day my children and I were brain-storming tri- words. All the usual suspects were there and then we came up with the word trick.

The definition of trick that we were thinking of is a magic trick, which then leads me to the hypothesis that a magic trick might be based on the premise of the number three. An interesting thought to say the least, a question from my children, yet once again one that I didn't have an answer for.

The magic of this conversation, at least for me, was not in the origin or the meaning of the word trick. No, the meaning and the magic of this conversation was that my children were critically thinking and could follow a line of reasoning. I wish I could take full credit for this modern miracle occuring in an age when most children's ultimate skill is knowing what every feature on a cell phone or any digital appliance, is for that matter. But I can't. It takes a village to raise a child and while I yet may be the chief in our village, it still takes a village... and maybe a few magic tricks as well to raise a child.