"divided in three," early 15c., from Latin tripartitus "divided into three parts," from tri- "three" (see three) + partitus, past participle of partiri "to divide" (from pars "a part, piece, a share," from PIE root *pere- (2) "to grant, allot").
a tripartite treaty
a tripartite division
trinket
trinomial
trio
triolet
trip
tripartite
tripe
triple
triplet
triplicate
tripod