tertian
English
Etymology
Originally Middle English as part of the collocation fever cum terciane, after Latin febris cum tertiana, from tertius (“third”).
Adjective
tertian (not comparable)
- Of a fever, characterised by paroxysms every third day.
- (music) Pertaining to the mean-tone temperament, in which major thirds are perfectly in tune.
Noun
tertian (plural tertians)
- A tertian fever.
- 1603, John Florio, transl.; Michel de Montaigne, chapter 12, in The Essayes, […], book II, printed at London: By Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], OCLC 946730821:
- And although we feele it not, it is not to bee doubted, if a continuall ague may in the end suppresse our mind, a tertian will also (according to her measure and proportion) breed some alteration in it.
- 1819, Lord Byron, Don Juan, Canto 1:
- He died of the slow fever call'd the tertian, / And left his widow to her own aversion.
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- The puncheon, an old wine cask, three of which made a tun.
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