the three tongues
Preserved but no longer current.
Those in which, the inscription on the Cross were written, viz. Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. In the Middle Ages it was considered that a thorough knowledge of these was necessary before one could begin to understand theology.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “the three tongues” mean?
Those in which, the inscription on the Cross were written, viz. Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. In the Middle Ages it was considered that a thorough knowledge of these was necessary before one could begin to understand theology.
Is “the three tongues” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.