"three sisters" meaning in English

See three sisters in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

Etymology: A calque from an Iroquoian language, compare Mohawk áhsen nikontatenò:sen, Oneida áshʌnaɂtekutahnú·tele, and Onondaga ahsę́ naˀdegųdęhnų́·dæ·ˀ. First attested in 1850 in the context of Iroquoian mythology (see quote below). Use in reference to the plants themselves first attested in the 1890s (see also below). Etymology templates: {{glossary|calque}} calque, {{cog|moh|áhsen nikontatenò:sen}} Mohawk áhsen nikontatenò:sen, {{cog|one|áshʌnaɂtekutahnú·tele}} Oneida áshʌnaɂtekutahnú·tele, {{cog|ono|ahsę́ naˀdegųdęhnų́·dæ·ˀ}} Onondaga ahsę́ naˀdegųdęhnų́·dæ·ˀ Head templates: {{en-noun|p}} three sisters pl (plural only)
  1. (US, Canada, agriculture, horticulture) The combination of maize (corn), pole beans (Phaseolus vulgaris or climbing beans, string beans, etc.), and squash (i.e. pumpkin), especially when planted together in intertwined plantings. Tags: Canada, US, plural, plural-only Categories (topical): Agriculture, Horticulture Categories (lifeform): Cucurbitas, Maize (crop), Phaseolus beans
    Sense id: en-three_sisters-en-noun-Ns-Vu2r~ Disambiguation of Cucurbitas: 73 16 11 Disambiguation of Maize (crop): 79 14 7 Disambiguation of Phaseolus beans: 78 17 4 Categories (other): American English, Canadian English, English entries with incorrect language header, English entries with language name categories using raw markup, English entries with topic categories using raw markup, English pluralia tantum, English quotations with omitted translation, English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 70 20 10 Disambiguation of English entries with language name categories using raw markup: 70 19 11 Disambiguation of English entries with topic categories using raw markup: 74 15 10 Disambiguation of English pluralia tantum: 62 23 15 Disambiguation of English quotations with omitted translation: 70 20 10 Disambiguation of English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys: 68 21 11 Topics: agriculture, business, horticulture, lifestyle
  2. (obsolete, Iroquois mythology) The spirits or gods of corn, beans, and squash considered collectively. Tags: obsolete, plural, plural-only Categories (topical): Mythology
    Sense id: en-three_sisters-en-noun-~L7o074F
  3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see three, sisters. Tags: plural, plural-only Related terms: milpa, intercropping
    Sense id: en-three_sisters-en-noun-~~yup5Xp

Download JSON data for three sisters meaning in English (7.6kB)

{
  "etymology_templates": [
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      "name": "glossary"
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      "args": {
        "1": "moh",
        "2": "áhsen nikontatenò:sen"
      },
      "expansion": "Mohawk áhsen nikontatenò:sen",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "one",
        "2": "áshʌnaɂtekutahnú·tele"
      },
      "expansion": "Oneida áshʌnaɂtekutahnú·tele",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "ono",
        "2": "ahsę́ naˀdegųdęhnų́·dæ·ˀ"
      },
      "expansion": "Onondaga ahsę́ naˀdegųdęhnų́·dæ·ˀ",
      "name": "cog"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "A calque from an Iroquoian language, compare Mohawk áhsen nikontatenò:sen, Oneida áshʌnaɂtekutahnú·tele, and Onondaga ahsę́ naˀdegųdęhnų́·dæ·ˀ.\nFirst attested in 1850 in the context of Iroquoian mythology (see quote below). Use in reference to the plants themselves first attested in the 1890s (see also below).",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
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      "expansion": "three sisters pl (plural only)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
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  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
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      "categories": [
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          "kind": "other",
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          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
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          "kind": "other",
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          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
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          "kind": "topical",
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          "name": "Agriculture",
          "orig": "en:Agriculture",
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            "Fundamental"
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          "source": "w"
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            "Botany",
            "Applied sciences",
            "Biology",
            "Sciences",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "70 20 10",
          "kind": "other",
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          "parents": [
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          "_dis": "74 15 10",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with topic categories using raw markup",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with topic categories using raw markup",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
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          "_dis": "62 23 15",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English pluralia tantum",
          "parents": [
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            "Nouns",
            "Lemmas"
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          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "70 20 10",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English quotations with omitted translation",
          "parents": [
            "Quotations with omitted translation",
            "Entry maintenance"
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          "_dis": "68 21 11",
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          "parents": [
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          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "73 16 11",
          "kind": "lifeform",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Cucurbitas",
          "orig": "en:Cucurbitas",
          "parents": [
            "Gourd family plants",
            "Cucurbitales order plants",
            "Plants",
            "Lifeforms",
            "All topics",
            "Life",
            "Fundamental",
            "Nature"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "79 14 7",
          "kind": "lifeform",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Maize (crop)",
          "orig": "en:Maize (crop)",
          "parents": [
            "Agriculture",
            "Grains",
            "Applied sciences",
            "Foods",
            "Grasses",
            "Sciences",
            "Eating",
            "Food and drink",
            "Commelinids",
            "All topics",
            "Human behaviour",
            "Plants",
            "Fundamental",
            "Human",
            "Lifeforms",
            "Life",
            "Nature"
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          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "78 17 4",
          "kind": "lifeform",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Phaseolus beans",
          "orig": "en:Phaseolus beans",
          "parents": [
            "Phaseoleae tribe plants",
            "Vegetables",
            "Legumes",
            "Foods",
            "Plants",
            "Fabales order plants",
            "Shrubs",
            "Trees",
            "Eating",
            "Food and drink",
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            "Human",
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          "source": "w+disamb"
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        {
          "ref": "[1892, William M. Beauchamp, “Iroquois Stories”, in The Iroquois Trail, or Footprints of the Six Nations, […], Fayetteville: H. C. Beauchamp, →LCCN, page 128",
          "text": "One beautiful idea relates to the corn, beans and squashes, all indigenous plants which are called three sisters as well as their life or supporters. The thought is a happy one, for they grow together, and were always important in Indian life.]",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2012, Gail Damerow, The Perfect Pumpkin: Growing/Cooking/Carving, Storey Publishing, page 56",
          "text": "The three sisters work together as companion plants in many ways. Growing wide-spreading pumpkin vine among vertically oriented corn and beans saves space.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2012, Kathleen O’Dwyer, Breathing Blue: Giving my life to Spirit and Spirit to my life, AuthorHouse, page 151",
          "text": "She gave me specifics on what to plant and the layout of the garden. Traditional Native American plants, heirloom varieties only, no GMOs allowed. Use the three sisters approach for planting corn, squash and beans, ilito onions would ring the interior of the fence and sunflowers would stand tall.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The combination of maize (corn), pole beans (Phaseolus vulgaris or climbing beans, string beans, etc.), and squash (i.e. pumpkin), especially when planted together in intertwined plantings."
      ],
      "id": "en-three_sisters-en-noun-Ns-Vu2r~",
      "links": [
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          "agriculture",
          "agriculture"
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        [
          "horticulture",
          "horticulture"
        ],
        [
          "maize",
          "maize"
        ],
        [
          "corn",
          "corn"
        ],
        [
          "pole bean",
          "pole bean"
        ],
        [
          "Phaseolus vulgaris",
          "Phaseolus vulgaris#Translingual"
        ],
        [
          "climbing bean",
          "climbing bean"
        ],
        [
          "string bean",
          "string bean"
        ],
        [
          "squash",
          "squash"
        ],
        [
          "pumpkin",
          "pumpkin"
        ],
        [
          "intertwine",
          "intertwine"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(US, Canada, agriculture, horticulture) The combination of maize (corn), pole beans (Phaseolus vulgaris or climbing beans, string beans, etc.), and squash (i.e. pumpkin), especially when planted together in intertwined plantings."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Canada",
        "US",
        "plural",
        "plural-only"
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      "topics": [
        "agriculture",
        "business",
        "horticulture",
        "lifestyle"
      ]
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          "orig": "en:Mythology",
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            "Society",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
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          "source": "w"
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      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1850 December 14, “The Iroquois Confederation”, in Evert A. Duyckinck, George L. Duyckinck, editors, The Literary World, volume 7, number 202, quoting Lewis H. Morgan, League of the Ho-dé-no-sau-nee, or Iroquois, New York, page 474",
          "text": "Perhaps the most beautiful conception in the mythology of the Iroquois, is that in relation to the Three Sisters, the Spirit of Corn, the Spirit of Beans, and the Spirit of Squashes.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1895, Dorothy Tanner, “The Things of the Garden”, in Legends from the Red Man's Forest, Chicago: A. Flanagan, page 69",
          "text": "They used to tell of three sisters who lived in the gardens, and watched over the corn, beans and squashes. We know that these vegetables live in the same soil; and the Indians said it was because the three sisters loved to be together, and never quarreled.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The spirits or gods of corn, beans, and squash considered collectively."
      ],
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      "qualifier": "Iroquois mythology",
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        "(obsolete, Iroquois mythology) The spirits or gods of corn, beans, and squash considered collectively."
      ],
      "tags": [
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        "plural",
        "plural-only"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see three, sisters."
      ],
      "id": "en-three_sisters-en-noun-~~yup5Xp",
      "links": [
        [
          "three",
          "three#English"
        ],
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          "sisters#English"
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      "related": [
        {
          "_dis1": "14 10 76",
          "word": "milpa"
        },
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          "_dis1": "14 10 76",
          "word": "intercropping"
        }
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        "plural-only"
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  "wikipedia": [
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  "word": "three sisters"
}
{
  "categories": [
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    "English entries with incorrect language header",
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      "name": "cog"
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      "args": {
        "1": "ono",
        "2": "ahsę́ naˀdegųdęhnų́·dæ·ˀ"
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      "name": "cog"
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  "etymology_text": "A calque from an Iroquoian language, compare Mohawk áhsen nikontatenò:sen, Oneida áshʌnaɂtekutahnú·tele, and Onondaga ahsę́ naˀdegųdęhnų́·dæ·ˀ.\nFirst attested in 1850 in the context of Iroquoian mythology (see quote below). Use in reference to the plants themselves first attested in the 1890s (see also below).",
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  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "milpa"
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    {
      "word": "intercropping"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
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        "American English",
        "Canadian English",
        "English terms with quotations",
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      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "[1892, William M. Beauchamp, “Iroquois Stories”, in The Iroquois Trail, or Footprints of the Six Nations, […], Fayetteville: H. C. Beauchamp, →LCCN, page 128",
          "text": "One beautiful idea relates to the corn, beans and squashes, all indigenous plants which are called three sisters as well as their life or supporters. The thought is a happy one, for they grow together, and were always important in Indian life.]",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2012, Gail Damerow, The Perfect Pumpkin: Growing/Cooking/Carving, Storey Publishing, page 56",
          "text": "The three sisters work together as companion plants in many ways. Growing wide-spreading pumpkin vine among vertically oriented corn and beans saves space.",
          "type": "quotation"
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        {
          "ref": "2012, Kathleen O’Dwyer, Breathing Blue: Giving my life to Spirit and Spirit to my life, AuthorHouse, page 151",
          "text": "She gave me specifics on what to plant and the layout of the garden. Traditional Native American plants, heirloom varieties only, no GMOs allowed. Use the three sisters approach for planting corn, squash and beans, ilito onions would ring the interior of the fence and sunflowers would stand tall.",
          "type": "quotation"
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      ],
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        "The combination of maize (corn), pole beans (Phaseolus vulgaris or climbing beans, string beans, etc.), and squash (i.e. pumpkin), especially when planted together in intertwined plantings."
      ],
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          "agriculture",
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          "maize"
        ],
        [
          "corn",
          "corn"
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        [
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          "pole bean"
        ],
        [
          "Phaseolus vulgaris",
          "Phaseolus vulgaris#Translingual"
        ],
        [
          "climbing bean",
          "climbing bean"
        ],
        [
          "string bean",
          "string bean"
        ],
        [
          "squash",
          "squash"
        ],
        [
          "pumpkin",
          "pumpkin"
        ],
        [
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          "intertwine"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(US, Canada, agriculture, horticulture) The combination of maize (corn), pole beans (Phaseolus vulgaris or climbing beans, string beans, etc.), and squash (i.e. pumpkin), especially when planted together in intertwined plantings."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Canada",
        "US",
        "plural",
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      "topics": [
        "agriculture",
        "business",
        "horticulture",
        "lifestyle"
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          "ref": "1850 December 14, “The Iroquois Confederation”, in Evert A. Duyckinck, George L. Duyckinck, editors, The Literary World, volume 7, number 202, quoting Lewis H. Morgan, League of the Ho-dé-no-sau-nee, or Iroquois, New York, page 474",
          "text": "Perhaps the most beautiful conception in the mythology of the Iroquois, is that in relation to the Three Sisters, the Spirit of Corn, the Spirit of Beans, and the Spirit of Squashes.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1895, Dorothy Tanner, “The Things of the Garden”, in Legends from the Red Man's Forest, Chicago: A. Flanagan, page 69",
          "text": "They used to tell of three sisters who lived in the gardens, and watched over the corn, beans and squashes. We know that these vegetables live in the same soil; and the Indians said it was because the three sisters loved to be together, and never quarreled.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The spirits or gods of corn, beans, and squash considered collectively."
      ],
      "links": [
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          "mythology",
          "mythology"
        ]
      ],
      "qualifier": "Iroquois mythology",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(obsolete, Iroquois mythology) The spirits or gods of corn, beans, and squash considered collectively."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "obsolete",
        "plural",
        "plural-only"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see three, sisters."
      ],
      "links": [
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          "three",
          "three#English"
        ],
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          "sisters#English"
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        "plural-only"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "wikipedia": [
    "Iroquoian language"
  ],
  "word": "three sisters"
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-04-30 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-04-21 using wiktextract (210104c and c9440ce). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

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