Chapter CDLIV: Prologue (105)

TERBIC Ter"bic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or containing, terbium; also, designating certain of its compounds.

TERBIUM Ter"bi*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Ytterby, in Sweden. See Erbium.] (Chem.)

Defn: A rare metallic element, of uncertain identification, supposed to exist in certain minerals, as gadolinite and samarskite, with other rare ytterbium earth. Symbol Tr or Tb. Atomic weight 150.

TERCE Terce, n.

Defn: See Tierce.

TERCEL Ter"cel, n.

Defn: See Tiercel. Called also tarsel, tassel. Chaucer.

TERCELET Terce"let, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A male hawk or eagle; a tiercelet. Chaucer.

TERCELLENE Ter"cel*lene, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small male hawk. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

TERCENTENARY Ter*cen"te*na*ry, a. Etym: [L. ter thirce + E. centenary.]

Defn: Including, or relating to, an interval of three hundred years. -- n.

Defn: The three hundredth anniversary of any event; also, a celebration of such an anniversary.

TERCET Ter"cet, n. Etym: [F., fr. It. terzetto, dim. of terzo, third, L. tertius. See Tierce, and cf. Terzetto.]

1. (Mus.)

Defn: A triplet. Hiles.

2. (Poetry)

Defn: A triplet; a group of three lines.

TERCINE Ter"cine, n. Etym: [F., from L. tertius the third.] (Bot.)

Defn: A cellular layer derived from the nucleus of an ovule and surrounding the embryo sac. Cf. Quintine.

TEREBATE Ter"e*bate, n.

Defn: A salt of terebic acid.

TEREBENE Ter"e*bene, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A polymeric modification of terpene, obtained as a white crystalline camphorlike substance; -- called also camphene. By extension, any one of a group of related substances.

TEREBENTHENE Ter`e*ben"thene, n. (Chem.)

Defn: Oil of turpentine. See Turpentine.

TEREBIC Te*reb"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or obtained from, terbenthene (oil of turpentine); specifically, designating an acid, C7H10O4, obtained by the oxidation of terbenthene with nitric acid, as a white crystalline substance.

TEREBILENIC Ter`e*bi*len"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, a complex acid, C7H8O4, obtained as a white crystalline substance by a modified oxidation of terebic acid.

TEREBINTH Ter"e*binth, n. Etym: [L. terbinthus, Gr. térébinthe. Cf. Turpentine.] (Bot.)

Defn: The turpentine tree.

TEREBINTHIC Ter`e*bin"thic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to turpentine; resembling turpentine; terbinthine; as, terbinthic qualities.

TEREBINTHINATE Ter`e*bin"thi*nate, a.

Defn: Impregnating with the qualities of turpentine; terbinthine.

TEREBINTHINE Ter`e*bin"thine, a. Etym: [L. terbinthinus, Gr.

Defn: Of or pertaining to turpentine; consisting of turpentine, or partaking of its qualities.

TEREBRA Ter"e*bra, n.; pl. E. Terebras, L. Terebræ. Etym: [L., a borer.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of marine gastropods having a long, tapering spire. They belong to the Toxoglossa. Called also auger shell.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The boring ovipositor of a hymenopterous insect.

TEREBRANT Ter"e*brant, a. Etym: [L. terebrans, -antis, p.pr.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Boring, or adapted for boring; -- said of certain Hymenoptera, as the sawflies.

TEREBRANTIA Ter`e*bran"ti*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of Hymenoptera including those which have an ovipositor adapted for perforating plants. It includes the sawflies.

TEREBRATE Ter"e*brate, v. t. Etym: [L. terebratus, p.p. of terebrare, from terebra a borer, terere to rub.]

Defn: To perforate; to bore; to pierce. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

TEREBRATING Ter"e*bra`ting, a.

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Boring; perforating; -- applied to molluskas which form holes in rocks, wood, etc.

2. (Med.)

Defn: Boring; piercing; -- applied to certain kinds of pain, especially to those of locomotor ataxia.

TEREBRATION Ter`e*bra"tion, n. Etym: [L. terebratio.]

Defn: The act of terebrating, or boring. [R.] Bacon.

TEREBRATULA Ter`e*brat"u*la, n.; pl. Terebratulæ. Etym: [Nl., dim. fr. terebratus, p.p., perforated.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of brachiopods which includes many living and some fossil species. The larger valve has a perforated beak, through which projects a short peduncle for attachment. Called also lamp shell.

TEREBRATULID Ter`e*brat"u*lid, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of Terebratula or allied genera. Used also adjectively.

TEREBRATULIFORM Ter`e*bra*tu"li*form, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having the general form of a terebratula shell.

TEREDINE Ter"e*dine, n. Etym: [F. térédine.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A borer; the teredo.

TEREDO Te*re"do, n.; pl. E. Teredos, L. Teredines. Etym: [L., a worm that gnaws wood, clothes, etc.; akin to Gr. terere to rub.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of long, slender, wormlike bivalve mollusks which bore into submerged wood, such as the piles of wharves, bottoms of ships, etc.; -- called also shipworm. See Shipworm. See Illust. in App.

TEREK Ter"ek, n. [Because found on the Terek River in the Caucasus.]

Defn: A sandpiper (Terekia cinerea) of the Old World, breeding in the far north of eastern Europe and Asia and migrating to South Africa and Australia. It frequents rivers.

TEREPHTHALATE Ter*eph"tha*late, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of terephthalic acid.

TEREPHTHALIC Ter`eph*thal"ic, a. Etym: [Terebene + phthalic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, a dibasic acid of the aromatic series, metameric with phthalic acid, and obtained, as a tasteless white crystalline powder, by the oxidation of oil of turpentine; -- called also paraphthalic acid. Cf. Phthalic.

TERET Ter"et, a.

Defn: Round; terete. [Obs.] Fotherby.

TERETE Te*rete", a. Etym: [L. teres, -etis, rounded off, properly, rubbed off, fr. terere to rub.]

Defn: Cylindrical and slightly tapering; columnar, as some stems of plants.

TERETIAL Te*re"tial, a. Etym: [See Terete.] (Anat.)

Defn: Rounded; as, the teretial tracts in the floor of the fourth ventricle of the brain of some fishes. Owen.

TERETOUS Ter"e*tous, a.

Defn: Terete. [Obs.]

TERGAL Ter"gal, a. Etym: [L. tergum the back.] (Anat. & Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to back, or tergum. See Dorsal.

TERGANT Ter"gant, a. (Her.)

Defn: Showing the back; as, the eagle tergant. [Written also tergiant.]

TERGEMINAL; TERGEMINATE Ter*gem"i*nal, Ter*gem"i*nate, a. Etym: [See Tergeminous.] (Bot.)

Defn: Thrice twin; having three pairs of leaflets.

TERGEMINOUS Ter*gem"i*nous, a. Etym: [L. tergeminus; ter thrice + geminus doubled at birth, twin-born. Cf. Trigeminous.]

Defn: Threefold; thrice-paired. Blount.

TERGIFEROUS Ter*gif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. tergum the back + -ferous.]

Defn: Carrying or bearing upon the back. Tergiferous plants (Bot.), plants which bear their seeds on the back of their leaves, as ferns.

TERGITE Ter"gite, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The dorsal portion of an arthromere or somite of an articulate animal. See Illust. under Coleoptera.

TERGIVERSATE Ter"gi*ver*sate, v. i. Etym: [L. tergiversatus, p.p. of tergiversari to turn one's back, to shift; tergum back + versare, freq. of vertere to turn. See Verse.]

Defn: To shift; to practice evasion; to use subterfuges; to shuffle. [R.] Bailey.

TERGIVERSATION Ter`gi*ver*sa"tion, n. Etym: [L. tergiversario: cf. F. tergiversation.]

1. The act of tergiversating; a shifting; shift; subterfuge; evasion. Writing is to be preferred before verbal conferences, as being freer from passions and tergiversations. Abp. Bramhall.

2. Fickleness of conduct; inconstancy; change. The colonel, after all his tergiversations, lost his life in the king's service. Clarendon.

TERGIVERSATOR Ter"gi*ver*sa`tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: One who tergiversates; one who suffles, or practices evasion.

TERGUM Ter"gum, n.; pl. Terga. Etym: [L., the back.] (Zoöl.) (a) The back of an animal. (b) The dorsal piece of a somite of an articulate animal. (c) One of the dorsal plates of the operculum of a cirriped.

TERIN Te"rin, n. Etym: [F. tarin, Prov. F. tairin, térin, probably from the Picard tère tender.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small yellow singing bird, with an ash-colored head; the European siskin. Called also tarin.

TERM Term, n. Etym: [F. terme, L. termen, -inis, terminus, a boundary limit, end; akin to Gr. Thrum a tuft, and cf. Terminus, Determine, Exterminate.]

1. That which limits the extent of anything; limit; extremity; bound; boundary. Corruption is a reciprocal to generation, and they two are as nature's two terms, or boundaries. Bacon.

2. The time for which anything lasts; any limited time; as, a term of five years; the term of life.

3. In universities, schools, etc., a definite continuous period during which instruction is regularly given to students; as, the school year is divided into three terms.

4. (Geom.)

Defn: A point, line, or superficies, that limits; as, a line is the term of a superficies, and a superficies is the term of a solid.

5. (Law)

Defn: A fixed period of time; a prescribed duration; as: (a) The limitation of an estate; or rather, the whole time for which an estate is granted, as for the term of a life or lives, or for a term of years. (b) A space of time granted to a debtor for discharging his obligation. (c) The time in which a court is held or is open for the trial of causes. Bouvier.

Note: In England, there were formerly four terms in the year, during which the superior courts were open: Hilary term, beginning on the 11th and ending on the 31st of January; Easter term, beginning on the 15th of April, and ending on the 8th of May; Trinity term, beginning on the 22d day of May, and ending on the 12th of June; Michaelmas term, beginning on the 2d and ending on the 25th day of November. The rest of the year was called vacation. But this division has been practically abolished by the Judicature Acts of 1873, 1875, which provide for the more convenient arrangement of the terms and vacations. In the United States, the terms to be observed by the tribunals of justice are prescribed by the statutes of Congress and of the several States.

6. (Logic)

Defn: The subject or the predicate of a proposition; one of the three component parts of a syllogism, each one of which is used twice. The subject and predicate of a proposition are, after Aristotle, together called its terms or extremes. Sir W. Hamilton.

Note: The predicate of the conclusion is called the major term, because it is the most general, and the subject of the conclusion is called the minor term, because it is less general. These are called the extermes; and the third term, introduced as a common measure between them, is called the mean or middle term. Thus in the following syllogism, --Every vegetable is combustible; Every tree is a vegetable; Therefore every tree is combustible, -combustible, the predicate of the conclusion, is the major term; tree is the minor term; vegetable is the middle term.

7. A word or expression; specifically, one that has a precisely limited meaning in certain relations and uses, or is peculiar to a science, art, profession, or the like; as, a technical term. "Terms quaint of law." Chaucer. In painting, the greatest beauties can not always be expressed for want of terms. Dryden.

8. (Arch.)

Defn: A quadrangular pillar, adorned on the top with the figure of a head, as of a man, woman, or satyr; -- called also terminal figure. See Terminus, n., 2 and 3.

Note: The pillar part frequently tapers downward, or is narrowest at the base. Terms rudely carved were formerly used for landmarks or boundaries. Gwilt.

9. (Alg.)

Defn: A member of a compound quantity; as, a or b in a + b; ab or cd in ab - cd.

10. pl. (Med.)

Defn: The menses.

11. pl. (Law)

Defn: Propositions or promises, as in contracts, which, when assented to or accepted by another, settle the contract and bind the parties; conditions.

12. (Law)

Defn: In Scotland, the time fixed for the payment of rents.

Note: Terms legal and conventional in Scotland correspond to quarter days in England and Ireland. There are two legal terms -- Whitsunday, May 15, and Martinmas, Nov. 11; and two conventional terms -- Candlemas, Feb. 2, and Lammas day, Aug. 1. Mozley & W.

13. (Naut.)

Defn: A piece of carved work placed under each end of the taffrail. J. Knowels. In term, in set terms; in formal phrase. [Obs.] I can not speak in term. Chaucer. -- Term fee (Law) (a), a fee by the term, chargeable to a suitor, or by law fixed and taxable in the costs of a cause for each or any term it is in court. -- Terms of a proportion (Math.), the four members of which it is composed. -- To bring to terms, to compel (one) to agree, assent, or submit; to force (one) to come to terms. -- To make terms, to come to terms; to make an agreement: to agree.

Syn. -- Limit; bound; boundary; condition; stipulation; word; expression. -- Term, Word. These are more frequently interchanged than almost any other vocables that occur of the language. There is, however, a difference between them which is worthy of being kept in mind. Word is generic; it denotes an utterance which represents or expresses our thoughts and feelings. Term originally denoted one of the two essential members of a proposition in logic, and hence signifies a word of specific meaning, and applicable to a definite class of objects. Thus, we may speak of a scientific or a technical term, and of stating things in distinct terms. Thus we say, "the term minister literally denotes servant;" "an exact definition of terms is essential to clearness of thought;" "no term of reproach can sufficiently express my indignation;" "every art has its peculiar and distinctive terms," etc. So also we say, "purity of style depends on the choice of words, and precision of style on a clear understanding of the terms used." Term is chiefly applied to verbs, nouns, and adjectives, these being capable of standing as terms in a logical proposition; while prepositions and conjunctions, which can never be so employed, are rarely spoken of as terms, but simply as words.

TERM Term, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Termed; p. pr. & vb. n. Terming.] Etym: [See Term, n., and cf. Terminate.]

Defn: To apply a term to; to name; to call; to denominate. Men term what is beyond the limits of the universe "imaginary space." Locke.

TERMA Ter"ma, n. Etym: [NL. See Term, n.] (Anat.)

Defn: The terminal lamina, or thin ventral part, of the anterior wall of the third ventricle of the brain. B. G. Wilder.

TERMAGANCY Ter"ma*gan*cy, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being termagant; turbulence; tumultuousness; as, a violent termagancy of temper.

TERMAGANT Ter"ma*gant, n. Etym: [OE. Trivigant, Termagant, Termagant (in sense 1), OF. Tervagan; cf. It. Trivigante.]

1. An imaginary being supposed by the Christians to be a Mohammedan deity or false god. He is represented in the ancient moralities, farces, and puppet shows as extremely vociferous and tumultous. [Obs.] Chaucer. "And oftentimes by Termagant and Mahound [Mahomet] swore." Spenser. The lesser part on Christ believed well, On Termagant the more, and on Mahound. Fairfax.

2. A boisterous, brawling, turbulent person; -- formerly applied to both sexes, now only to women. This terrible termagant, this Nero, this Pharaoh. Bale (1543). The slave of an imperious and reckless termagant. Macaulay.

TERMAGANT Ter"ma*gant, a.

Defn: Tumultuous; turbulent; boisterous; furious; quarrelsome; scolding. -- Ter"ma*gant*ly, adv. A termagant, imperious, prodigal, profligate wench. Arbuthnot.

TERMATARIUM Ter`ma*ta"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL. See Termes.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any nest or dwelling of termes, or white ants.

TERMATARY Ter"ma*ta*ry, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Termatarium.

TERM DAY Term day.

Defn: A day which is a term (as for payment of rent), or is a day in a term, as of the sitting of a court; esp., one of a series of special days, designated by scientists of different nations or stations, for making synoptic magnetic, meteorological, or other physical observations.

TERMER Term"er, n.

1. One who resorted to London during the law term only, in order to practice tricks, to carry on intrigues, or the like. [Obs.] [Written also termor.] B. Jonson.

2. (Law)

Defn: One who has an estate for a term of years or for life.

TERMES Ter"mes, n.; pl. Termities. Etym: [L. termes, tarmes, -itis, a woodworm. Cf. Termite.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of Pseudoneuroptera including the white ants, or termites. See Termite.

TERMINABLE Ter"mi*na*ble, a. Etym: [See Terminate.]

Defn: Capable of being terminated or bounded; limitable. -- Ter"mi*na*ble*ness, n. Terminable annuity, an annuity for a stated, definite number of years; -- distinguished from life annuity, and perpetual annuity.

TERMINAL Ter"mi*nal, a. Etym: [L. terminals: cf. F. terminal. See Term, n.]

1. Of or pertaining to the end or extremity; forming the extremity; as, a terminal edge.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Growing at the end of a branch or stem; terminating; as, a terminal bud, flower, or spike. Terminal moraine. See the Note under Moraine. -- Terminal statue. See Terminus, n., 2 and 3. -- Terminal velocity. (a) The velocity acquired at the end of a body's motion. (b) The limit toward which the velocity of a body approaches, as of a body falling through the air.

TERMINAL Ter"mi*nal, n.

1. That which terminates or ends; termination; extremity.

2. (Eccl.)

Defn: Either of the ends of the conducting circuit of an electrical apparatus, as an inductorium, dynamo, or electric motor, usually provided with binding screws for the attachment of wires by which a current may be conveyed into or from the machine; a pole.

TERMINALIA Ter`mi*na"li*a, n. pl. Etym: [L.] (Rom. Antiq.)

Defn: A festival celebrated annually by the Romans on February 23 in honor of Terminus, the god of boundaries.

TERMINANT Ter"mi*nant, n. Etym: [L. terminans, p.pr. of terminare.]

Defn: Termination; ending. [R.] Puttenham.

TERMINATE Ter"mi*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Terminated; p. pr. & vb. n. Terminating.] Etym: [L. terminatus, p.p. of terminare. See Term.]

1. To set a term or limit to; to form the extreme point or side of; to bound; to limit; as, to terminate a surface by a line.

2. To put an end to; to make to cease; as, to terminate an effort, or a controversy.

3. Hence, to put the finishing touch to; to bring to completion; to perfect. During this interval of calm and prosperity, he [Michael Angelo] terminated two figures of slaves, destined for the tomb, in an incomparable style of art. J. S. Harford.

TERMINATE Ter"mi*nate, v. i.

1. To be limited in space by a point, line, or surface; to stop short; to end; to cease; as, the torrid zone terminates at the tropics.

2. To come to a limit in time; to end; to close. The wisdom of this world, its designs and efficacy, terminate on zhis side heaven. South.

TERMINATION Ter`mi*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. terminatio a bounding, fixing, determining: cf. F. terminasion, OF. also termination. See Term.]

1. The act of terminating, or of limiting or setting bounds; the act of ending or concluding; as, a voluntary termination of hostilities.

2. That which ends or bounds; limit in space or extent; bound; end; as, the termination of a line.

3. End in time or existence; as, the termination of the year, or of life; the termination of happiness.

4. End; conclusion; result. Hallam.

5. Last purpose of design. [R.]

6. A word; a term. [R. & Obs.] Shak.

7. (Gram.)

Defn: The ending of a word; a final syllable or letter; the part added to a stem in inflection.

TERMINATIONAL Ter`mi*na"tion*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to termination; forming a termination.

TERMINATIVE Ter"mi*na*tive, a.

Defn: Tending or serving to terminate; terminating; determining; definitive. Bp. Rust. -- Ter"mi*na*tive*ly, adv. Jer. Taylor.

TERMINATOR Ter"mi*na`tor, n. Etym: [L., he who limits or sets bounds.]

1. One who, or that which, terminates.

2. (Astron.)

Defn: The dividing line between the illuminated and the unilluminated part of the moon.

TERMINATORY Ter"mi*na*to*ry, a.

Defn: Terminative.

TERMINE Ter"mine, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. terminer.]

Defn: To terminate. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

TERMINER Ter"mi*ner, n. Etym: [F. terminer to bound, limit, end. See Terminate.] (Law)

Defn: A determining; as, in oyer and terminer. See Oyer.

TERMINISM Ter"mi*nism, n.

Defn: The doctrine held by the Terminists.

TERMINIST Ter"mi*nist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. terministe.] (Theol.)

Defn: One of a class of theologians who maintain that God has fixed a certain term for the probation of individual persons, during which period, and no longer, they have the offer to grace. Murdock.

TERMINOLOGICAL Ter`mi*no*log"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to terminology. -- Ter`mi*no*log"ic*al*ly, adv.

TERMINOLOGY Ter`mi*nol"o*gy, n. Etym: [L. terminus term + -logy: cf. F. terminologie.]

1. The doctrine of terms; a theory of terms or appellations; a treatise on terms.

2. The terms actually used in any business, art, science, or the like; nomenclature; technical terms; as, the terminology of chemistry. The barbarous effect produced by a German structure of sentence, and a terminology altogether new. De Quincey.

TERM INSURANCE Term insurance.

Defn: Insurance for a specified term providing for no payment to the insured except upon losses during the term, and becoming void upon its expiration.

TERMINUS Ter"mi*nus, n.; pl. Termini. Etym: [L. See Term.]

1. Literally, a boundary; a border; a limit.

2. (Myth.)

Defn: The Roman divinity who presided over boundaries, whose statue was properly a short pillar terminating in the bust of a man, woman, satyr, or the like, but often merely a post or stone stuck in the ground on a boundary line.

3. Hence, any post or stone marking a boundary; a term. See Term, 8.

4. Either end of a railroad line; also, the station house, or the town or city, at that place.

TERMITE Ter"mite, n.; pl. Termites. Etym: [F. See Termes.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of pseudoneoropterous insects belonging to Termes and allied genera; -- called also white ant. See Illust. of White ant.

Note: They are very abundant in tropical countries, and are noted for their destructive habits, their large nests, their remarkable social instincts, and their division of labor among the polymorphic individuals of several kinds. Besides the males and females, each nest has ordinary workers, and large-headed individuals called soldiers.

TERMLESS Term"less, a.

1. Having no term or end; unlimited; boundless; unending; as, termless time. [R.] "Termless joys." Sir W. Raleigh.

2. Inexpressible; indescribable. [R.] Shak.

TERMLY Term"ly, a.

Defn: Occurring every term; as, a termly fee. [R.] Bacon.

TERMLY Term"ly, adv.

Defn: Term by term; every term. [R.] "Fees . . . that are termly given." Bacon.

TERMONOLOGY Ter`mo*nol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]

Defn: Terminology. [R.]

TERMOR Term"or, n. (Law)

Defn: Same as Termer, 2.

TERM POLICY Term policy.

Defn: A policy of term insurance.

TERN Tern, n. Etym: [Dan. terne, tærne; akin to Sw. tärna, Icel. ; cf. NL. sterna.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of long-winged aquatic birds, allied to the gulls, and belonging to Sterna and various allied genera.

Note: Terns differ from gulls chiefly in their graceful form, in their weaker and more slender bills and feet, and their longer and more pointed wings. The tail is usually forked. Most of the species are white with the back and wings pale gray, and often with a dark head. The common European tern (Sterna hirundo) is found also in Asia and America. Among other American species are the arctic tern (S. paradisæa), the roseate tern (S. Dougalli), the least tern (S. Antillarum), the royal tern (S. maxima), and the sooty tern (S. fuliginosa). Hooded tern. See Fairy bird, under Fairy. -- Marsh tern, any tern of the genus Hydrochelidon. They frequent marshes and rivers and feed largely upon insects. -- River tern, any tern belonging to Seëna or allied genera which frequent rivers. -- Sea tern, any tern of the genus Thalasseus. Terns of this genus have very long, pointed wings, and chiefly frequent seas and the mouths of large rivers.

TERN Tern, a. Etym: [L. pl. terni three each, three; akin to tres three. See Three, and cf. Trine.]

Defn: Threefold; triple; consisting of three; ternate. Tern flowers (Bot.), flowers growing three and three together. -- Tern leaves (Bot.), leaves arranged in threes, or three by three, or having three in each whorl or set. -- Tern peduncles (Bot.), three peduncles growing together from the same axis. -- Tern schooner (Naut.), a three-masted schooner.

TERN Tern, n. Etym: [F. terne. See Tern, a.]

Defn: That which consists of, or pertains to, three things or numbers together; especially, a prize in a lottery resulting from the favorable combination of three numbers in the drawing; also, the three numbers themselves. She'd win a tern in Thursday's lottery. Mrs. Browning.

TERNARY Ter"na*ry, a. Etym: [L. ternarius, fr. terni. See Tern, a.]

1. Proceeding by threes; consisting of three; as, the ternary number was anciently esteemed a symbol of perfection, and held in great veneration.

2. (Chem.)

Defn: Containing, or consisting of, three different parts, as elements, atoms, groups, or radicals, which are regarded as having different functions or relations in the molecule; thus, sodic hydroxide, NaOH, is a ternary compound.

TERNARY Ter"na*ry, n.; pl. Ternaries (.

Defn: A ternion; the number three; three things taken together; a triad. Some in ternaries, some in pairs, and some single. Holder.

TERNATE Ter"nate, a. Etym: [NL. ternatus, fr. L. terni three each. See Tern, a.]

Defn: Having the parts arranged by threes; as, ternate branches, leaves, or flowers. -- Ter"nate*ly, adv.

TERNEPLATE Terne"plate`, n. Etym: [See Tern, a., and Plate.]

Defn: Thin iron sheets coated with an alloy of lead and tin; -- so called because made up of three metals.

TERNION Ter"ni*on, n. Etym: [L. ternio, fr. terni three each. See Tern, a.]

Defn: The number three; three things together; a ternary. Bp. Hall.

TERPENE Ter"pene, n. Etym: [See Turpentine.] (Chem.)

Defn: Any one of a series of isomeric hydrocarbons of pleasant aromatic odor, occurring especially in coniferous plants and represented by oil of turpentine, but including also certain hydrocarbons found in some essential oils.

TERPENTIC Ter*pen"tic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Terpenylic.

TERPENYLIC Ter`pe*nyl"ic, a. Etym: [Terpene + -yl + -ic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, an acid, C8H12O4 (called also terpentic acid), homologous with terebic acid, and obtained as a white crystalline substance by the oxidation of oil of turpentine with chromic acid.

TERPILENE Ter"pi*lene, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A polymeric form of terpene, resembling terbene.

TERPIN Ter"pin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A white crystalline substance regarded as a hydrate of oil of turpentine.

TERPINOL Ter"pin*ol, n. Etym: [Terpin + L. oleum oil.] (Chem.)

Defn: Any oil substance having a hyacinthine odor, obtained by the action of acids on terpin, and regarded as a related hydrate.

TERPSICHORE Terp*sich"o*re, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Gr. Myth.)

Defn: The Muse who presided over the choral song and the dance, especially the latter.

TERPSICHOREAN Terp`sich*o*re"an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Terpsichore; of or pertaining to dancing.

TERRA Ter"ra, n. Etym: [It. & L. See Terrace.]

Defn: The earth; earth. Terra alba Etym: [L., white earth] (Com.), a white amorphous earthy substance consisting of burnt gypsum, aluminium silicate (kaolin), or some similar ingredient, as magnesia. It is sometimes used to adulterate certain foods, spices, candies, paints, etc. -- Terra cotta. Etym: [It., fr. terra earth + cotta, fem. of cotto cooked, L. coctus, p.p. of coquere to cook. See Cook, n.] Baked clay; a kind of hard pottery used for statues, architectural decorations, figures, vases, and the like. -- Terræ filius Etym: [L., son of the earth], formerly, one appointed to write a satirical Latin poem at the public acts in the University of Oxford; -- not unlike the prevaricator at Cambridge, England. -- Terra firma Etym: [L.], firm or solid earth, as opposed to water. -- Terra Japonica. Etym: [NL.] Same as Gambier. It was formerly supposed to be a kind of earth from Japan. -- Terra Lemnia Etym: [L., Lemnian earth], Lemnian earth. See under Lemnian. -- Terra ponderosa Etym: [L., ponderous earth] (Min.), barite, or heavy spar. -- Terra di Sienna. See Sienna.

TERRACE Ter"race, n. Etym: [F. terrasse (cf. Sp. terraza, It. terrazza), fr. L. terra the earth, probably for tersa, originally meaning, dry land, and akin to torrere to parch, E. torrid, and thirst. See Thirst, and cf. Fumitory, Inter, v., Patterre, Terrier, Trass, Tureen, Turmeric.]

1. A raised level space, shelf, or platform of earth, supported on one or more sides by a wall, a bank of tuft, or the like, whether designed for use or pleasure.

2. A balcony, especially a large and uncovered one.

3. A flat roof to a house; as, the buildings of the Oriental nations are covered with terraces.

4. A street, or a row of houses, on a bank or the side of a hill; hence, any street, or row of houses.

5. (Geol.)

Defn: A level plain, usually with a steep front, bordering a river, a lake, or sometimes the sea.

Note: Many rivers are bordered by a series of terraces at different levels, indicating the flood plains at successive periods in their history. Terrace epoch. (Geol.) See Drift epoch, under Drift, a.

TERRACE Ter"race, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Terraced; p. pr. & vb. n. Terracing.]

Defn: To form into a terrace or terraces; to furnish with a terrace or terraces, as, to terrace a garden, or a building. Sir H. Wotton. Clermont's terraced height, and Esher's groves. Thomson.

TERRACULTURE Ter"ra*cul`ture, n. Etym: [L. terra the earth + cultura.]

Defn: Cultivation on the earth; agriculture. [R.] -- Ter`ra*cul"tur*al, a. [R.]

TERRA INCOGNITA Ter"ra in*cog"ni*ta. [L.]

Defn: An unknown land; unexplored country.

The enormous tracts lying outside China proper, still almost terræ incognitæ. A. R. Colquhoun.

TERRANE Ter"rane, n. Etym: [F. terrain, from L. terra earth.] (Geol.)

Defn: A group of rocks having a common age or origin; -- nearly equivalent to formation, but used somewhat less comprehensively.

TERRAPIN Ter"ra*pin, n. Etym: [Probably of American Indian origin.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of tortoises living in fresh and brackish waters. Many of them are valued for food. [Written also terapin, terrapen, terrapene, and turapen.]

Note: The yellow-bellied terrapin (Pseudemys acebra) of the Southern United States, the red-bellied terrapin (Pseudemys rugosa), native of the tributaries Chesapeake Bay (called also potter, slider, and redfender), and the diamond-back or salt-marsh terrapin (Malaclemmys palustris), are the most important American species. The diamond-back terrapin is native of nearly the whole of the Atlantic coast of the United States. Alligator terrapin, the snapping turtle. -- Mud terrapin, any one of numerous species of American tortoises of the genus Cinosternon. -- Painted terrapin, the painted turtle. See under Painted. -- Speckled terrapin, a small fresh-water American terrapin (Chelopus guttatus) having the carapace black with round yellow spots; -- called also spotted turtle.

TERRAQUEOUS Ter*ra"que*ous, a. Etym: [L. terra the earth + E. aqueous.]

Defn: Consisting of land and water; as, the earth is a terraqueous globe. Cudworth. The grand terraqueous spectacle From center to circumference unveiled. Wordsworth.

TERRAR Ter"rar, n. Etym: [LL. terrarius liber. See Terrier a collection of acknowledgments.] (O. Eng. Law)

Defn: See 2d Terrier, 2.

TERRAS Ter"ras, n. (Min.)

Defn: See .

TERREEN Ter*reen", n.

Defn: See Turren.

TERREITY Ter*re"i*ty, n.

Defn: Quality of being earthy; earthiness. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

TERREL Ter"rel, n. Etym: [NL. terrella, from L. terra the earth.]

Defn: A spherical magnet so placed that its poles, equator, etc., correspond to those of the earth. [Obs.] Chambers.

TERREMOTE Terre"mote`, n. Etym: [OF. terremote, terremoete, fr. L. terra the earth + movere, motum, to move.]

Defn: An earthquake. [Obs.] Gower.

TERRENE Ter*rene", n.

Defn: A tureen. [Obs.] Walpole.

TERRENE Ter*rene", a. Etym: [L. terrenus, fr. terra the earth. See Terrace.]

1. Of or pertaining to the earth; earthy; as, terrene substance. Holland.

2. Earthy; terrestrial. God set before him a mortal and immortal life, a nature celestial and terrene. Sir W. Raleigh. Be true and faithful to the king and his heirs, and truth and faith to bear of life and limb, and terrene honor. O. Eng. Oath of Allegiance, quoted by Blackstone. Common conceptions of the matters which lie at the basis of our terrene experience. Hickok.

TERRENE Ter*rene", n. Etym: [L. terrenum land, ground: cf. F. terrain.]

1. The earth's surface; the earth. [Poetic] Tenfold the length of this terrene. Milton.

2. (Surv.)

Defn: The surface of the ground.

TERRENITY Ter*ren"i*ty, n.

Defn: Earthiness; worldliness. [Obs.] "A dull and low terrenity." Feltham.

TERREOUS Ter"re*ous, a. Etym: [L. terreus, fr. terra the earth. See Terrace.]

Defn: Consisting of earth; earthy; as, terreous substances; terreous particles. [Obs.]

TERREPLEIN Terre"plein`, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. terra earth + planus even, level, plain.] (Fort.)

Defn: The top, platform, or horizontal surface, of a rampart, on which the cannon are placed. See Illust. of Casemate.

TERRESTRE Ter*res"tre, a. Etym: [OE., from OF. & F. terrestre.]

Defn: Terrestrial; earthly. [Obs.] "His paradise terrestre." Chaucer.

TERRESTRIAL Ter*res"tri*al, a. Etym: [L. terrestris, from terra the earth. See Terrace.]

1. Of or pertaining to the earth; existing on the earth; earthly; as, terrestrial animals. "Bodies terrestrial." 1 Cor. xv. 40.

2. Representing, or consisting of, the earth; as, a terrestrial globe. "The dark terrestrial ball." Addison.

3. Of or pertaining to the world, or to the present state; sublunary; mundane. Vain labors of terrestrial wit. Spenser. A genius bright and base, Of towering talents, and terrestrial aims. Young.

4. Consisting of land, in distinction from water; belonging to, or inhabiting, the land or ground, in distinction from trees, water, or the like; as, terrestrial serpents. The terrestrial parts of the globe. Woodward.

5. Adapted for the observation of objects on land and on the earth; as, a terrestrial telescope, in distinction from an astronomical telescope. -- Ter*res"tri*al*ly, adv. -- Ter*res"tri*al*ness, n.

TERRESTRIAL Ter*res"tri*al, n.

Defn: An inhabitant of the earth.

TERRESTRIFY Ter*res"tri*fy, v. t. Etym: [L. terrestris terrestrial + -fy.]

Defn: To convert or reduce into a condition like that of the earth; to make earthy. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

TERRESTRIOUS Ter*res"tri*ous, a. Etym: [See Terrestrial.]

Defn: Terrestrial. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

TERRET Ter"ret, n.

Defn: One of the rings on the top of the saddle of a harness, through which the reins pass.

TERRE-TENANT Terre"-ten`ant, n. Etym: [F. terre earth, land + tenant, p.pr. of tenir to hold.] (Law)

Defn: One who has the actual possession of land; the occupant. [Written also ter-tenant.]

TERRE-VERTE Terre"-verte`, n. Etym: [F., fr. terre earth + vert, verte, green.]

Defn: An olive-green earth used as a pigment. See Glauconite.

TERRIBLE Ter"ri*ble, a. Etym: [F., fr. L. terribilis, fr. terrere to frighten. See Terror.]

1. Adapted or likely to excite terror, awe, or dread; dreadful; formidable. Prudent in peace, and terrible in war. Prior. Thou shalt not be affrighted at them; for the Lord thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible. Deut. vii. 21.

2. Excessive; extreme; severe. [Colloq.] The terrible coldness of the season. Clarendon.

Syn. -- Terrific; fearful; frightful; formidable; dreadful; horrible; shocking; awful. -- Ter"ri*ble*ness, n. -- Ter"ri*bly, adv.

TERRICOLAE Ter*ric"o*læ, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. terra + colere to inhabit.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of annelids including the common earthworms and allied species.

TERRIENNIAK Ter`ri*en"ni*ak, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The arctic fox.

TERRIER Ter"ri*er, n. Etym: [CF. L. terere to rub, to rub away, terebra a borer.]

Defn: An auger or borer. [Obs.]

TERRIER Ter"ri*er, n.

1. Etym: [F. terrier, chien terrier, from terre the earth, L. terra; cf. F. terrier a burrow, LL. terrarium a hillock (hence the sense, a mound thrown up in making a burrow, a burrow). See Terrace, and cf. Terrier, 2.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of a breed of small dogs, which includes several distinct subbreeds, some of which, such as the Skye terrier and Yorkshire terrier, have long hair and drooping ears, while others, at the English and the black-and-tan terriers, have short, close, smooth hair and upright ears.

Note: Most kinds of terriers are noted for their courage, the acuteness of their sense of smell, their propensity to hunt burrowing animals, and their activity in destroying rats, etc. See Fox terrier, under Fox.

2. Etym: [F. terrier, papier terrier, LL. terrarius liber, i.e., a book belonging or pertaining to land or landed estates. See Terrier, 1, and cf. Terrar.] (Law) (a) Formerly, a collection of acknowledgments of the vassals or tenants of a lordship, containing the rents and services they owed to the lord, and the like. (b) In modern usage, a book or roll in which the lands of private persons or corporations are described by their site, boundaries, number of acres, or the like. [Written also terrar.]

TERRIFIC Ter*rif"ic, a. Etym: [L. terrificus; fr. terrere to frighten + facere to make. See Terror, and Fact.]

Defn: Causing terror; adapted to excite great fear or dread; terrible; as, a terrific form; a terrific sight.

TERRIFICAL Ter*rif"ic*al, a.

Defn: Terrific. [R.]

TERRIFICALLY Ter*rif"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a terrific manner.

TERRIFY Ter"ri*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Terrified; p. pr. & vb. n. Terrifying.] Etym: [L. terrere to frighten + -fy: cf. F. terrifier, L. terrificare. See Terrific, and -fy.]

1. To make terrible. [Obs.] If the law, instead of aggravating and terrifying sin, shall give out license, it foils itself. Milton.

2. To alarm or shock with fear; to frighten. When ye shall hear of wars . . . be not terrified. Luke xxi. 9.

TERRIGENOUS Ter*rig"e*nous, a. Etym: [L. terrigena, terrigenus; terra the earth + genere, gignere, to bring forth.]

Defn: Earthborn; produced by the earth.

TERRINE Ter*rine", n. [F. See Tureen.]

1. A dish or pan, originally of earthenware, such as those in which various dishes are cooked and served; esp., an earthenware jar containing some table delicacy and sold with its contents.

2. (Cookery) A kind of ragout formerly cooked and served in the same dish; also, a dish consisting of several meats braised together and served in a terrine.

3. A soup tureen.

TERRITORIAL Ter`ri*to"ri*al, a. Etym: [L. territorialis: cf. F. territorial.]

1. Of or pertaining to territory or land; as, territorial limits; territorial jurisdiction.

2. Limited to a certain district; as, right may be personal or territorial.

3. Of or pertaining to all or any of the Territories of the United States, or to any district similarly organized elsewhere; as, Territorial governments.

TERRITORIALIZE Ter`ri*to"ri*al*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Territorialized; p. pr. & vb. n. Territorializing.]

1. To enlarge by extension of territory.

2. To reduce to the condition of a territory.

TERRITORIALLY Ter`ri*to"ri*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In regard to territory; by means of territory.

TERRITORIAL WATERS Ter`ri*to"ri*al wa"ters. (Internat. Law)

Defn: The waters under the territorial jurisdiction of a state; specif., the belt (often called the marine belt or territorial sea) of sea subject to such jurisdiction, and subject only to the right of innocent passage by the vessels of other states.

Perhaps it may be said without impropriety that a state has theoretically the right to extend its territorial waters from time to time at its will with the increased range of guns. Whether it would in practice be judicious to do so . . . is a widely different matter . . . . In any case the custom of regulating a line three miles from land as defining the boundary of marginal territorial waters is so far fixed that a state must be supposed to accept it in absence of express notice. W. E. Hall.

TERRITORIED Ter"ri*to*ried, a.

Defn: Possessed of territory. [R.]

TERRITORY Ter"ri*to*ry, n.; pl. Territories. Etym: [L. territorium, from terra the earth: cf. F. territoire. See Terrace.]

1. A large extent or tract of land; a region; a country; a district. He looked, and saw wide territory spread Before him -- towns, and rural works between. Milton.

2. The extent of land belonging to, or under the dominion of, a prince, state, or other form of government; often, a tract of land lying at a distance from the parent country or from the seat of government; as, the territory of a State; the territories of the East India Company.

3. In the United States, a portion of the country not included within the limits of any State, and not yet admitted as a State into the Union, but organized with a separate legislature, under a Territorial governor and other officers appointed by the President and Senate of the United States. In Canada, a similarly organized portion of the country not yet formed into a Province.

TERROR Ter"ror, n. Etym: [L. terror, akin to terrere to frighten, for tersere; akin to Gr. tras to tremble, to be afraid, Russ. triasti to shake: cf. F. terreur. Cf. Deter.]

1. Extreme fear; fear that agitates body and mind; violent dread; fright. Terror seized the rebel host. Milton.

2. That which excites dread; a cause of extreme fear. Those enormous terrors of the Nile. Prior. Rulers are not a terror to good works. Rom. xiii. 3. There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats. Shak.

Note: Terror is used in the formation of compounds which are generally self-explaining: as, terror-fraught, terror-giving, terror- smitten, terror-stricken, terror-struck, and the like. King of terrors, death. Job xviii. 14. -- Reign of Terror. (F. Hist.) See in Dictionary of Noted Names in Fiction.

Syn. -- Alarm; fright; consternation; dread; dismay. See Alarm.

TERRORISM Ter"ror*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. terrorisme.]

Defn: The act of terrorizing, or state of being terrorized; a mode of government by terror or intimidation. Jefferson.

Defn: The practise of coercing governments to accede to political demands by committing violence on civilian targets; any similar use of violence to achieve goals.

TERRORIST Ter"ror*ist, n. Etym: [F. terroriste.]

Defn: One who governs by terrorism or intimidation; specifically, an agent or partisan of the revolutionary tribunal during the Reign of Terror in France. Burke.

TERRORIZE Ter"ror*ize, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. terroriser.]

Defn: To impress with terror; to coerce by intimidation. Humiliated by the tyranny of foreign despotism, and terrorized by ecclesiastical authority. J. A. Symonds.

TERRORLESS Ter"ror*less, a.

Defn: Free from terror. Poe.

TERRY Ter"ry, n.

Defn: A kind of heavy colored fabric, either all silk, or silk and worsted, or silk and cotton, often called terry velvet, used for upholstery and trimmings.

TERSANCTUS Ter*sanc"tus, n. Etym: [L. ter thrice + sanctus holy.] (Eccl.)

Defn: An ancient ascription of praise (containing the word "Holy" -- in its Latin form, "Sanctus" -- thrice repeated), used in the Mass of the Roman Catholic Church and before the prayer of consecration in the communion service of the Church of England and the Protestant Episcopal Church. Cf. Trisagion.

TERSE Terse, a. [Compar. Terser; superl. Tersest.] Etym: [L. tersus, p.p. of tergere to rub or wipe off.]

1. Appearing as if rubbed or wiped off; rubbed; smooth; polished. [Obs.] Many stones, . . . although terse and smooth, have not this power attractive. Sir T. Browne.

2. Refined; accomplished; -- said of persons. [R. & Obs.] "Your polite and terse gallants." Massinger.

3. Elegantly concise; free of superfluous words; polished to smoothness; as, terse language; a terse style. Terse, luminous, and dignified eloquence. Macaulay. A poet, too, was there, whose verse Was tender, musical, and terse. Longfellow.

Syn. -- Neat; concise; compact. Terse, Concise. Terse was defined by Johnson "cleanly written", i. e., free from blemishes, neat or smooth. Its present sense is "free from excrescences," and hence, compact, with smoothness, grace, or elegance, as in the following lones of Whitehead: - "In eight terse lines has Phædrus told (So frugal were the bards of old) A tale of goats; and closed with grace, Plan, moral, all, in that short space." It differs from concise in not implying, perhaps, quite as much condensation, but chiefly in the additional idea of "grace or elegance." -- Terse"ly, adv. -- Terse"ness, n.

TERSULPHIDE Ter*sul"phide, n. Etym: [Pref. ter- + sulphide.] (Chem.)

Defn: A trisulphide.

TERSULPHURET Ter*sul"phu*ret, n. Etym: [Pref. ter- + sulphuret.] (Chem.)

Defn: A trisulphide. [R.]

TER-TENANT Ter"-ten`ant, n.

Defn: See Terre-tenant.

TERTIAL Ter"tial, a. & n. Etym: [From L. tertius third, the tertial feathers being feathers of the third row. See Tierce.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Tertiary.

TERTIAN Ter"tian, a. Etym: [L. tertianus, from tertius the third. See Tierce.] (Med.)

Defn: Occurring every third day; as, a tertian fever.

TERTIAN Ter"tian, n. Etym: [L. tertiana (sc. febris): cf. OF. tertiane.]

1. (Med.)

Defn: A disease, especially an intermittent fever, which returns every third day, reckoning inclusively, or in which the intermission lasts one day.

2. A liquid measure formerly used for wine, equal to seventy imperial, or eighty-four wine, gallons, being one third of a tun.

TERTIARY Ter"ti*a*ry, a. Etym: [L. tertiarius containing a third part, fr. tertius third: cf. F. tertiaire. See Tierce.]

1. Being of the third formation, order, or rank; third; as, a tertiary use of a word. Trench.

2. (Chem.)

Defn: Possessing some quality in the third degree; having been subjected to the substitution of three atoms or radicals; as, a tertiary alcohol, amine, or salt. Cf. Primary, and Secondary. (CH3)3C.OH.

3. (Geol.)

Defn: Later than, or subsequent to, the Secondary.

4. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Growing on the innermost joint of a bird's wing; tertial; -- said of quills. Tertiary age. (Geol.) See under Age, 8. -- Tertiary color, a color produced by the mixture of two secondaries. "The so-called tertiary colors are citrine, russet, and olive." Fairholt. -- Tertiary period. (Geol.) (a) The first period of the age of mammals, or of the Cenozoic era. (b) The rock formation of that period; -- called also Tertiary formation. See the Chart of Geology. -- Tertiary syphilis (Med.), the third and last stage of syphilis, in which it invades the bones and internal organs.

TERTIARY Ter"ti*a*ry, n.; pl. Tertiaries (.

1. (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: A member of the Third Order in any monastic system; as, the Franciscan tertiaries; the Dominican tertiaries; the Carmelite tertiaries. See Third Order, under Third. Addis & Arnold.

2. (Geol.)

Defn: The Tertiary era, period, or formation.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the quill feathers which are borne upon the basal joint of the wing of a bird. See Illust. of Bird.

TERTIATE Ter"ti*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. tertiatus, p.p. of tertiare to do for the third time, fr. tertius the third.]

1. To do or perform for the third time. [Obs. & R.] Johnson.

2. (Gun.)

Defn: To examine, as the thickness of the metal at the muzzle of a gun; or, in general, to examine the thickness of, as ordnance, in order to ascertain its strength.

TERTIUM QUID Ter"ti*um quid. [L.]

Defn: A third somewhat; something mediating, or regarded as being, between two diverse or incompatible substances, natures, or positions.

TERUTERO Ter`u*ter"o, n. Etym: [Probably so named from its city.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The South American lapwing (Vanellus Cayennensis). Its wings are furnished with short spurs. Called also Cayenne lapwing.

TERZA RIMA Ter"za ri"ma. Etym: [It., a third or triple rhyme.]

Defn: A peculiar and complicated system of versification, borrowed by the early Italian poets from the Troubadours.

TERZETTO Ter*zet"to, n. Etym: [It., dim. of terzo the third, L. tertius. See Tierce.] (Mus.)

Defn: A composition in three voice parts; a vocal (rarely an instrumental) trio.

TESLA COIL; TESLA TRANSFORMER Tes"la coil, Tes"la trans*form"er. [After N. Tesla, American electrician.] (Elec.)

Defn: A transformer without iron, for high frequency alternating or oscillating currents; an oscillation transformer.

TESSELAR Tes"sel*ar, a. Etym: [L. tessella a small square piece, a little cube, dim. of tessera a square piece of stone, wood, etc., a die.]

Defn: Formed of tesseræ, as a mosaic.

TESSELLATA Tes`sel*la"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Tessellate.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of Crinoidea including numerous fossil species in which the body is covered with tessellated plates.

TESSELLATE Tes"sel*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tessellated; p. pr. & vb. n. Tessellating.] Etym: [L. tessellatus tessellated. See Tessellar.]

Defn: To form into squares or checkers; to lay with checkered work. The floors are sometimes of wood, tessellated after the fashion of France. Macaulay.

TESSELLATE Tes"sel*late, a. Etym: [L. tesselatus.]

Defn: Tessellated.

TESSELLATED Tes"sel*la`ted, a.

1. Formed of little squares, as mosaic work; checkered; as, a tessellated pavement.

2. (Bot. & Zoöl.)

Defn: Marked like a checkerboard; as, a tessellated leaf.

TESSELLATION Tes`sel*la"tion, n.

Defn: The act of tessellating; also, the mosaic work so formed. J. Forsyth.

TESSERA Tes"se*ra, n.; pl. Tesseræ. Etym: [L., a square piece, a die. See Tessellar.]

Defn: A small piece of marble, glass, earthenware, or the like, having a square, or nearly square, face, used by the ancients for mosaic, as for making pavements, for ornamenting walls, and like purposes; also, a similar piece of ivory, bone, wood, etc., used as a ticket of admission to theaters, or as a certificate for successful gladiators, and as a token for various other purposes. Fairholt.

TESSERAIC Tes`se*ra"ic, a.

Defn: Diversified by squares; done in mosaic; tessellated. [Obs.] Sir R. Atkyns (1712).

TESSERAL Tes"se*ral, a.

1. Of, pertaining to, or containing, tesseræ.

2. (Crystallog.)

Defn: Isometric.

TESSULAR Tes"su*lar, a. (Crystallog.)

Defn: Tesseral.

TEST Test, n. Etym: [OE. test test, or cupel, potsherd, F. têt, from L. testum an earthen vessel; akin to testa a piece of burned clay, an earthen pot, a potsherd, perhaps for tersta, and akin to torrere to patch, terra earth (cf. Thirst, and Terrace), but cf. Zend tasta cup. Cf. Test a shell, Testaceous, Tester a covering, a coin, Testy, Tête- à-tête.]

1. (Metal.)

Defn: A cupel or cupelling hearth in which precious metals are melted for trial and refinement. Our ingots, tests, and many mo. Chaucer.

2. Examination or trial by the cupel; hence, any critical examination or decisive trial; as, to put a man's assertions to a test. "Bring me to the test." Shak.

3. Means of trial; as, absence is a test of love. Each test every light her muse will bear. Dryden.

4. That with which anything is compared for proof of its genuineness; a touchstone; a standard. Life, force, and beauty must to all impart, At once the source, and end, and test of art. Pope.

5. Discriminative characteristic; standard of judgment; ground of admission or exclusion. Our test excludes your tribe from benefit. Dryden.

6. Judgment; distinction; discrimination. Who would excel, when few can make a test Betwixt indifferent writing and the best Dryden.

7. (Chem.)

Defn: A reaction employed to recognize or distinguish any particular substance or constituent of a compound, as the production of some characteristic precipitate; also, the reagent employed to produce such reaction; thus, the ordinary test for sulphuric acid is the production of a white insoluble precipitate of barium sulphate by means of some soluble barium salt. Test act (Eng. Law), an act of the English Parliament prescribing a form of oath and declaration against transubstantiation, which all officers, civil and military, were formerly obliged to take within six months after their admission to office. They were obliged also to receive the sacrament according to the usage of the Church of England. Blackstone. -- Test object (Optics), an object which tests the power or quality of a microscope or telescope, by requiring a certain degree of excellence in the instrument to determine its existence or its peculiar texture or markings. -- Test paper. (a) (Chem.) Paper prepared for use in testing for certain substances by being saturated with a reagent which changes color in some specific way when acted upon by those substances; thus, litmus paper is turned red by acids, and blue by alkalies, turmeric paper is turned brown by alkalies, etc. (b) (Law) An instrument admitted as a standard or comparison of handwriting in those jurisdictions in which comparison of hands is permitted as a mode of proving handwriting. -- Test tube. (Chem.) (a) A simple tube of thin glass, closed at one end, for heating solutions and for performing ordinary reactions. (b) A graduated tube.

Syn. -- Criterion; standard; experience; proof; experiment; trial. -- Test, Trial. Trial is the wider term; test is a searching and decisive trial. It is derived from the Latin testa (earthen pot), which term was early applied to the fining pot, or crucible, in which metals are melted for trial and refinement. Hence the peculiar force of the word, as indicating a trial or criterion of the most decisive kind. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial shall better publish his commediation. Shak. Thy virtue, prince, has stood the test of fortune, Like purest gold, that tortured in the furnace, Comes out more bright, and brings forth all its weight. Addison.

TEST Test, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tested; p. pr. & vb. n. Testing.]

1. (Metal.)

Defn: To refine, as gold or silver, in a test, or cupel; to subject to cupellation.

2. To put to the proof; to prove the truth, genuineness, or quality of by experiment, or by some principle or standard; to try; as, to test the soundness of a principle; to test the validity of an argument. Experience is the surest standard by which to test the real tendency of the existing constitution. Washington.

3. (Chem.)

Defn: To examine or try, as by the use of some reagent; as, to test a solution by litmus paper.

TEST Test, n. Etym: [L. testis. Cf. Testament, Testify.]

Defn: A witness. [Obs.] Prelates and great lords of England, who were for the more surety tests of that deed. Ld. Berners.

TEST Test, v. i. Etym: [L. testari. See Testament.]

Defn: To make a testament, or will. [Obs.]

TEST; TESTA Test, Tes"ta, n.; pl. E. Tests, L. Testæ. Etym: [L. testa a piece of burned clay, a broken piece of earthenware, a shell. See Test a cupel.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The external hard or firm covering of many invertebrate animals.

Note: The test of crustaceans and insects is composed largely of chitin; in mollusks it is composed chiefly of calcium carbonate, and is called the shell.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: The outer integument of a seed; the episperm, or spermoderm.

TESTABLE Test"a*ble, a. Etym: [See Testament.]

1. Capable of being tested or proved.

2. Capable of being devised, or given by will.

TESTACEA Tes*ta"ce*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. testaceum a shelled anumal. See Testaceous.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Invertebrate animals covered with shells, especially mollusks; shellfish.

TESTACEAN Tes*ta"cean, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Onr of the Testacea.

TESTACEOGRAPHY Tes*ta`ce*og"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Testacea + -graphy: cf. F. testacéographie.]

Defn: The science which treats of testaceans, or shellfish; the description of shellfish. [R.]

TESTACEOLOGY Tes*ta`ce*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Testacea + -logy: cf. F. testacéologie.]

Defn: The science of testaceous mollusks; conchology. [R.]

TESTACEOUS Tes*ta"ceous, a. Etym: [L. testaceus, fr. testa a shell. See Testa.]

1. Of or pertaining to shells; consisted of a hard shell, or having a hard shell.

2. (Bot. & Zoöl.)