Etymograph

English

tri-mode

From tri- + mode.

Formed from tri- + mode

Proto-Indo-European *tri- ‘three, threefold’

Proto-Italic *tri- ‘three, tri-’

English tri-

Proto-Indo-European *med- ‘to measure’

Proto-Indo-European *mod-ós ‘measure’

Proto-Italic *modos

Latin modus ‘measure’

Old French mode

English mode

Today it means

adj Of a train or locomotive: Designed to operate on electricity on electrified lines, or diesel-electric power (from a diesel generator) or battery power on non-electrified lines.

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “tri-mode”. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.

Etymograph / tri-mode

Shirt and support for this word