termn.

Brit.

/təːm/, U.S.

/tərm/

Forms: Middle English terem, Middle English tereme, Middle English tierme, Middle English (1500s Scottish) teryme, Middle English 1600s teerme, Middle English–1600s (1700s Scottish) tearme, Middle English–1800s terme, Middle English– term, 1500s–1700s (1800s English regional (northern)) tearm, 1600s (1800s English regional (northern) and Irish English) tarm, 1800s teeram (English regional (northern)), 1800s–1900s tierm (English regional (northern)); also Scottish pre-1700 tayrme, pre-1700 teirme, pre-1700 terrme, pre-1700 teyrme, pre-1700 1700s tarme, 1700s tarm, 1800s– tairm.

Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French terme.

Etymology: < Anglo-Norman term, tearme, Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French, French terme, Old French (Flanders) tierme fixed point in time at which something is to happen (c1050), extremity, completion of the period of pregnancy, period of time having definite limits, date at which a payment of money is due (all 12th cent.), end, cessation (late 12th cent.; end of the 13th cent. with reference to death, in li termes de ma vie ), boundary, confine, territory, stipulated condition or requirement (all 13th cent. and usually in plural), period of tenure (c1300 or earlier), word, expression (early 14th cent. or earlier; late 14th cent. specifically with reference to technical expressions, and (in plural) in sense ‘manner of expression, way of speaking’), (in plural) state, situation, circumstances (c1340), (in plural) relationship with another person (c1340; frequently in bons termes , mauvais termes ), goal, (in logic) any of the propositions in a syllogism (both late 14th cent.), periodic payment, rent (first half of the 15th cent. or earlier), statue or bust of the Roman god Terminus (1535), in Anglo-Norman also interest in land or property that lasts for a fixed period (late 13th cent. or earlier), period during which a court is in session (c1300 or earlier), session of a law court during each of four specified periods (first half of the 14th cent. or earlier), period of instruction in school or university (15th cent. or earlier) < either classical Latin terminus (with syncope of the medial syllable and assimilation of consonants) or perhaps the closely related classical Latin termin- , termen (see notes). Compare later termine n.Latin influence on English senses. The semantic development of the English noun was influenced by the senses (chiefly in post-classical Latin) of classical Latin terminus boundary marker, furthest point, frontier, endmost point, extremity, limit, extent, end, god presiding over boundaries and landmarks, in post-classical Latin also in logical and mathematical senses (6th cent. in Boethius; see note below on Greek influence on Latin senses), territory (Vulgate), fixed date or point in time (frequently from 8th cent. in British sources), fixed period of time (from 10th cent. in British sources), condition, stipulation (from 11th cent. in British sources), (in astrology) portion of the zodiac (from 12th cent. in British sources), word, expression (especially in technical vocabulary) (frequently from 13th cent. in British and continental sources), legal or academic term (frequently from 13th cent. in British sources), term day (frequently from 13th cent. in British sources, especially in legal use), life estate or interest (14th cent. in a British source). Greek influence on Latin senses. The use of terminus in post-classical Latin with reference to logic, mathematics, and language (compare branch IV.) was significantly influenced by that of ancient Greek ὅρος boundary, boundary marker, limit (see horizon n.), which was used by Aristotle in the sense ‘term of a proposition’, probably as an extension of an earlier sense ‘term of a mathematical ratio’ (in Aristotle and Euclid, and earlier in a text by the mathematician Archytas), which may itself have developed from a sense ‘note forming the boundary of a musical interval’ (in Plato). For further discussion see W. D. Ross in Aristotle Prior & Posterior Analytics (1949) 290. Aristotle also used the word with the sense ‘definition’. The senses of classical Latin terminus correspond quite closely with the core senses of ὅρος , and in post-classical Latin, terminus was therefore used by Boethius to translate the logical and mathematical senses of ὅρος from works by Aristotle and Nicomachus of Gerasa respectively, and to translate its sense ‘definition’ from the Topica of Aristotle. The latter use gave rise to the application, widespread in the 13th cent., of terminus to any word used in a definite or limited sense: for examples, see A. Maierù Terminologia logica della tarda scolastica (1972) 682-5. Latin etymology. For the further etymology of classical Latin terminus see terminus n. The rare classical Latin termin-, termen (neuter) boundary marker, god presiding over such a marker, end or limit (of a period of time), in post-classical Latin also fixed date or point in time (11th cent. in British sources, or earlier) is < the same Italic base. Parallels in other languages. Compare Old Occitan terme (12th cent.), Catalan terme (11th cent.), Spanish término (first half of the 12th cent.), Portuguese término end, end point, limited period of time, extremity (13th cent.), termo end, end point, border, region, expression, condition, fixed date in time (14th cent.), Italian termine (early 13th cent.), †termino (13th cent.). Compare also ( < French) Middle Dutch term, teerm (Dutch term), German Term (early 15th cent.), all in a similar range of senses, and also Middle Low German term, tirm, Middle High German terme, tirme, both in senses ‘boundary’ and ‘boundary marker’. Variation in vowel quantity in Middle English. The testimony of 16th- and 17th-cent. orthoepists shows that the quantity of the stressed vowel appears to have varied in Middle English; see E. J. Dobson Eng. Pronunc. 1500–1700 (ed. 2, 1968) II. §8.(2).

I. A point in time; a span of time.

a. A fixed point of time at which something is to be done, or which is the beginning or end of a period; a set or appointed time or date, esp. for payment of money due. Now historical except as in sense 1b.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > particular time > [noun] > an appointed or fixed time, day, or date

tidea900

stemOE

stevena1225

term?c1225

dayc1300

term dayc1300

stagea1325

hourc1380

setnessa1400

tryst1488

journeyc1500

big day1827

trysting day1842

?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 155 Ed halden oðeres. hure ouer his richte terme nis hit reaflac strong.

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 5777 Þe welisse king..sende him þes wolues fram ȝere to ȝere, Þre þousend at certein terme.

1398 in C. Innes Liber Sancte Marie de Melros (1837) 490 [Gif] defaut be of þir paymentis..ovre runnene ande ganeby sex wowkis daye eftir þe lymite terme.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 5939 Sett vs term wen We sal for þe prai.

1479 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 51 x marcs at too termes of the yeer.

a1500 (?c1450) Merlin iii. 41 Vortiger..somowned his peple a-geyn the tierme that Merlyn hadde seide.

1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. lxix. 190 They all haue..their set..termes before which they had no being at all.

1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ i. vi. §3 There was no certainty in the ancient Græcian history, because they had no certain term..from whence to deduce their accounts.

1683 P. Rycaut tr. Plutarch Compar. Numa with Lycurgus in J. Dryden et al. tr. Plutarch Lives I. 269 He..would fix no set term of age, when Men or Women should be esteemed capable of giving their consents to each other in Marriage.

1727 A. Hamilton New Acct. E. Indies II. xlvii. 188 When the Term of Payment came, they eloped.

1793 tr. P.-A. Grouvelle in Message President U.S. to Congr. 7 State securities..reimbursable on a given term.

1827 W. Scott Chron. Canongate ii Fortune is apt to circumduce the term upon us.

1889 Cases Court of Session 4th Ser. 16 55 We must see whether there is anything in the phrase ‘respectively’ which can create for John Lundie junior a different term of payment from the terms at which his brothers are to receive their shares.

1995 P. S. Baker & M. Lapidge Byrhtferth's Enchiridion 141 (heading) De Terminibvs Pasche Inveniendis... Finding the Easter term.

b. spec. Chiefly (and now only) Scottish. Each of the quarterly days fixed by custom on which some tenancies begin and end and the payment of wages, rent, interest, etc., fall due, esp. Whitsunday and Martinmas; = term day n. 2. Formerly also English regional (northern): either of two days (Whitsunday and Martinmas) on which hiring fairs were held and servants and farm labourers hired, typically for the next six months (obsolete except in term time n. 2).Formerly also applied (in e.g. quot. a1475) to the English quarter days (see quarter day n.).The quarterly terms in Scotland, fixed by statute in 1690 and 1693, are Candlemas (2 February), Whitsunday (15 May), Lammas (1 August), and Martinmas (11 November). When the Gregorian calendar was introduced in 1752, Old Style dating was observed in most parts of Scotland for the terms, making the dates practically in use eleven days later. Under the Removal Terms (Scotland) Act (1886) the ‘removal terms’ for moving house were fixed as 28 May and 28 November, the dates fixed in 1690 and 1693 remaining for the purposes of rent, interest, etc.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > payment > [noun] > periodic payment > time of

term1393

Whitsunday1450

quarter1644

term day1681

term time1770

1393 in C. Innes Registrum Honoris de Morton (1853) II. 193 [He] sal pay..at the terme of Martimes nest folowande.

1434 ( in C. Rogers Chartulary Priory of Coldstream (1879) 43 Payand till ws zerli xls...at thua vsuel termes of ye zher y^t is to say Qwitsonday and Martimes.

a1475 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Godstow Nunnery (1905) i. 104 xij. d. of rente yerely..to be resceived of Raf Marchaunte and his heires at ij. termes of the yere, that is to sey, vj. d. at the fest of oure lady in Marche and vj. d. at the fest of seynt Michell.

1584 Exch. Rolls Scot. XXI. 600 Sa far as thay ar detbound of the said Witsounday terme.

1633 Proclam. Charles I 28 June (single sheet) The Provest and Bayliffs of each burgh, to make payment of the taxt and stent thereof, to the sayd Collector generall,..having his power to receive the same at the sayd feast and tearm of Martinmasse.

1670 R. Graham Angliæ Speculum Morale 30 By the next Term [he] is presented with an Execution, from his Taylor, or Landlord.

1721 Session Bk. Rothesay (1931) 307 The Session..hereby doe agree the treasurer should give the said John Glass fourty pounds Scots to a tearm and take his bond..for it.

1776 Scheme for Widows & Children Ministers Associate Synod 4 After the first term of payment of the rates that shall fall due by the respective contributors,..each of them shall be liable to pay a full year's rate, at every succeeding term of Candlemas during his life.

1837 J. G. Lockhart Mem. Life Scott xxvi The term of Martinmas, always a critical one in Scotland, had passed before this letter reached Edinburgh.

1881 J. Sargisson Joe Scoap's Jurneh 77 He dudn't knoa bit he wad a hire't meh, theer an then, well t'teeram.

1921 V. Jacob Bonnie Joann 31 A week, come Monday, brings the tairm.

2012 C. Van Der Merwe & A.-L. Verbeke Time-limited Interests Land ii. vi. 309 Where the tenant takes entry on Whitsunday (28 May) 2011, the first legal term on which rent is due is Whitsunday 2012.

2. A portion of time having definite limits; esp. a set or appointed period of office, imprisonment, investment, etc.; the length of time for which something lasts or is intended to last, duration; span of (remaining) life. Formerly also (Scottish): †the period of time from one term day to the next (obsolete). Cf. for term of life at Phrases 9.See also long-term adj., short-term adj.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > [noun] > stretch, period, or portion of time

tidea900

while971

fristOE

stemOE

throwOE

timeOE

selea1250

piecec1300

termc1300

stagea1325

whilesc1330

space?a1400

racec1400

spacec1405

termine1420

parodya1425

timea1425

continuancec1440

thrallc1450

espace1483

space of timec1500

tracta1513

stead1596

reach1654

amidst1664

stretch1698

spell1728

track1835

lifetime1875

time slice1938

society > occupation and work > position or job > [noun] > period of office

whilec1449

limmu1862

term1868

c1300 (c1250) Floris & Blauncheflur (Cambr.) (1966) 432 Bituene þis & þe þridde day..; þulke terme him þuȝte long.

c1330 (?a1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) p. 614 (MED) His bedes he bad wiþ gode wille To Iesu heuen king, & when his term was nere gon His knaue he cleped to him anon.

1399 in Rec. Parl. Scotl. to 1707 (2007) 1399/1/3 The duc of Rothesay be the kyngis lieutenande..for the terme of thre yhere.

1445–6 Rolls of Parl.: Henry VI (Electronic ed.) Parl. Feb. 1445 §44. m. 6 Departyng of servauntz..atte ende of theire termes.

?1483 W. Caxton tr. Caton ii. sig. eiiij The prophete demaunded terme and space for to answer..And the kynge gafe hym terme of thre dayes.

1569 in W. M. Bryce Sc. Grey Friars (1909) II. 119 For all the dayis, space and tarmes of thre yeiris.

1579 G. Fenton tr. F. Guicciardini Hist. Guicciardin ix. 503 He had called backe his men at armes from Verona, for that the tearme was expired for the which he had promised them to Caesar.

1610 R. Jones Muses Gardin xiv. sig. E2 Full many louely tearms did passe in merrie glee.

1713 Abstr. Acct. Proc. Inquisition in Portugal 12 The Deceased, after the Expiration of that term of Days, is either acquitted or condemned, in the same manner as if he had been alive.

1781 Transl. & Paraphr. Sacred Script. (Gen. Assembly Church of Scotl.) 23 As long as life its term extends, Hope's blest dominion never ends.

1823 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto X lxvi. 86 Seven years (the usual term of transportation).

1868 M. E. Grant Duff Polit. Surv. 164 Presidents elected for a term of years.

1920 E. Wallace Daffodil Myst. iii. 29 Twice Sam had gone down for a short term, and once for a long term of imprisonment.

1967 Appraisal Terminol. & Handbk. (Amer. Inst. Real Estate Appraisers) (ed. 5) 41 Compound amount of an invested sum, the sum accumulated at the end of the term, consisting of the original and the reinvested interest accumulations.

2010 U.S. Black Engineer & Information Technol. Spring 16/1 Nearly a year and half into his term, Obama has kept his promise with an ambitious science agenda.

3. Law. An interest in land or property for a fixed period; a period of tenure. More fully term of (also for) years.attendant term, outstanding term, satisfied term, etc.: see the first element.

ΘΚΠ

society > law > legal concepts > [noun] > interest > in property

statea1400

term1424

estate1439

real estatea1642

chattel-interest1767

1424 in F. J. Furnivall Fifty Earliest Eng. Wills (1882) 58 (MED) I wul þat Thomas my sone haue my termes þat I haf of Westminster in þe personage of Okeham.

1456 in A. Clark Lincoln Diocese Documents (1914) 89 (MED) I woll that herry Barton haue the termes of the place that I holde of Iohn Apethorp, after the tenure of my Indenture.

1592 W. West Symbolæogr.: 1st Pt. §41. B iv b A Particuler estate which is but onely a terme, is an estate determinable by limitation of time.

a1642 R. Callis Reading of Statute of Sewers (1647) iii. 160 The..Commissioners for lack of payment of such lot & charge, to Decree and Ordain the said Lands and Tenements from the owner,..to any person or persons for term of years, term of life, Fee simple, or Fee tail.

1737 W. Lee Ess. Value of Leases & Annuities i. 20 In the Case then where a Term for Years is existing at a small Rent, the Term and Reversion may be and are considered as separate Estates.

1766 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. II. ix. 143 Every estate which must expire at a period certain and prefixed,..is an estate for years. And therefore this estate is frequently called a term.

1825 J. Ram Outl. Law Tenure & Tenancy v. 38 A term of years is personal property. A tenant for years is possessed of the term.

1870 Woodfall's Law Landl. & Tenant (ed. 11) 42 A man possessed of a term of years in right of his wife..has power to grant and convey the same.

1908 Forum Jan. 112 The measure of damages was the difference between the value of the term..immediately before and immediately after the damage.

2011 A. Olong Land Law in Nigeria (ed. 2) i. 24 The Governor may grant to a Nigerian citizen a term of years in a land to hold, use and occupy, subject to payments of rent to the State.

a. Law. Each of the four periods in the year (in England and Wales, Hilary, Easter, Trinity, and Michaelmas term: see the first elements), alternating with vacations, during which judicial business is transacted. Also without article, esp. in in term. Now usually superseded in official use in England and Wales by sitting: see note below.Recorded earliest in term time n. 1a.The length of the legal terms varied over time. Under the Supreme Court of Judicature Act 1873 (36 & 37 Vict., c. 66) these terms were abolished, and under the Supreme Court of Judicature Act 1875 (38 & 39 Vict., c. 77) they were replaced by four sittings (Hilary, Easter, Trinity, and Michaelmas; cf. sitting n. 3a), of fixed length and date of commencement. However, in the Inns of Court the legal year is still divided into terms (of the same name as the court sittings but shorter in length), and ‘term’ is still commonly used unofficially and informally by lawyers to refer to a sitting.

ΘΚΠ

society > education > educational administration > [noun] > session or term

half-yearc907

season?a1400

Michael term?1406

term1429

Michaelmas term1439

Easter term1530

Hilary1577

summer term1659

session1714

half1820

semester1826

by-term1883

Trinity term1899

winterim1964

society > law > administration of justice > judicial body, assembly, or court > a or the session of a court > [noun] > period when courts sit

season?a1400

term1429

term time1429

1429–30 Rolls of Parl.: Henry VI (Electronic ed.) Parl. Sept. 1429 §27. m. 11 That oute of the terme tyme, no thyng shal be sped in the counseill.

a1433 in W. P. Baildon Sel. Cases Chancery (1896) 129 Graunt your forseid bedwoman that she may haue..a writ that is called sub pena..to be byfore the forseid Chaunceller the Trinite terme next comyng.

c1475 Wisdom (Folger) (1969) l. 790 (MED) At Westmyster, wythowt varyance, Þe nex terme xall me sore avawnce.

?1564 Anno quinto reginæ Elizabethe (new ed.) f. 58 Euery writte of Excomunicado capiendo that shalbe graunted and awarded out of the hygh Courte of Chauncery..shalbe made in the time of the Terme.

1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 431 At certaine set times (wee call them Tearmes) yearely causes are heard and tried.

1672 T. Manley Νομοθετης: Cowell's Interpreter sig. Zb Dies Juridici are all dayes..given in Term to the Parties in Court. Dies non Juridici are all Sundayes in the year, besides, in the several Terms particular dayes.

1708 Rastell's Termes de la Ley (new ed.) at Grand Day Grand Days are those which are solemnly kept in every Term in the Inns of Court and Chancery.

1794 W. Godwin Caleb Williams I. vi. 119 By affidavits, motions, pleas, demurrers, flaws and appeals, to protract the question from term to term and from court to court.

1834 W. Bagley Pract. at Chambers of Judges of Courts Common Law (1837) i. 4 Those proceedings which are the subject of motions to the court in term, but which may..be matter of application to a judge out of term when the court is not sitting.

1882 E. A. Jacob Analyt. Digest Law & Pract. VIII. 12953/1 The terms into which the legal year was formerly divided are kept alive by s. 26 of the Judicature Act, 1873, in cases where they are used as a measure for determining the time within which any act is required to be done.

1911 Encycl. Brit. XIV. 585/1 The period of study prior to call [to the bar] must not be less than twelve terms, equivalent to about three years.

1962 Amer. Jrnl. Legal Hist. 6 315 In one term, Michaelmas 1598, he struck four times at abuses related to procedural deceleration in four cases.

a2011 R. Waterhouse Child Another Cent. (2013) xxiv. 277 My turn came on 2 April, the penultimate day of that term, when I was sitting with Lord Justice Roch and Mr Justice Bennett.

†b. In extended use: the session of a law court during such a period; the court in session. Obsolete.In later use perhaps simply a contextual use of sense 4a.

ΘΚΠ

society > law > administration of justice > judicial body, assembly, or court > a or the session of a court > [noun]

court1297

term1525

justice day1616

1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles II. cciv. f. cclx/2 Than Mychelmas came, and the generall counsayle began, suche as englysshe men call the terme.

1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. lxiiij In the beginnyng of this yere, Trinite terme was begon at Oxenford, where it continued but one day, and was again adiourned to Westminster.

1591 R. Greene Notable Discouery of Coosenage To Rdr. sig. B2 The poore man that commeth to the Tearme to try his right.

1647 D. Jenkins To Honorable Societies Grayes-Jnne 21 in Severall Papers At Yorke the Termes were kept for seaven yeares, in Edward the first's time.

1798 New & Gen. Biogr. Dict. (rev. ed.) IV. 539 He..managed the trial of sir W. Raleigh at Winchester, whither the term was adjourned on account of the plague being at London.

1827 A. N. Royall Tennessean ii. 11 I was committed to prison, to await my trial at the ensuing term of the city court.

c. Each of the periods of the year during which instruction is given in a school, college, or university, usually separated by a period of vacation. Also without article.Hilary term, Michaelmas term, summer term, Trinity term, etc.: see the first element. See also Easter term n. 2(b).

ΘΚΠ

society > education > educational administration > [noun] > session or term > term-time

term1577

term time1602

1577 W. Harrison Hist. Descr. Islande Brit. iii. i. f. 96^v/2, in R. Holinshed Chron. I Out of the terme in our Uniuersities the schoolers dine at tenne.

1600 Abp. G. Abbot Expos. Prophet Ionah ix. 186 The Termes of our Vniuersitie are reckened in that manner.

1665 G. Evans Let. 8 Oct. in J. Worthington Diary & Corr. (1855) II. i. 179 Cambridge is almost disuniversitied, and either there will be no winter term, or nothing to do in it.

1715 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1901) V. 133 I cannot wag out of Oxford till the Term is ended.

1775 J. Hely-Hutchinson Acct. Regulations Trinity-College, Dublin 6 The Common Law Professor is to Lecture twice in the Week in each Term.

1842 T. Arnold in Life & Corr. (1844) II. x. 323 I am obliged to give up..the hope of coming to Oxford this term.

1867 Mrs. H. Wood Orville Coll. II. i. 2 The explanation..which he had deemed it well to defer until the term should be over.

1934 M. McLuhan Let. 4 Oct. (1987) 19 In term there are 2 ‘halls’. Seniors sit last and I shall likely be among them.

1957 M. R. Proctor Eng. University Novel ii. 11 Young noblemen playing the gallant during the festivities at the end of term before the Long Vacation.

2014 Spalding Guardian (Nexis) 10 July The new club..started this term at the school.

d. New Zealand colloquial. In plural. The requirement of attendance and satisfactory completion of set work as a prerequisite to sitting final degree examinations, esp. in to pass terms, to fail terms, etc. Cf. Phrases 5a(a).

ΚΠ

1897 Nelson (N.Z.) Evening Mail 3 Feb. 2 Miss B. Graham, B.A., intimates that she is prepared to coach candidates for terms, matriculation, and for teachers D and E certificate examinations.

1919 Wairarapa (N.Z.) Age 13 Sept. 5 Case 1. Has received grants for six years. Has passed first year's Terms only.

1959 G. Slatter Gun in my Hand 37 The Old Prof..gave me ‘terms’ out of the kindness of his heart, but it was no use.

1962 M. K. Joseph Pound of Saffron ii. 38 You know the way he barks at you like a sergeant-major and then sees you don't miss terms.

2003 N. Z. Herald (Nexis) 17 Nov. [He] gained top university marks in New Zealand for Latin III..but didn't get a degree until years later because he had failed terms for History I.

†a. In plural. Menstrual periods; the menstrual discharge; menstruation. Cf. time n. 27. Obsolete.In later use apparently only in monthly terms; cf. monthly adj. 3.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > the body > organs of excretion > discharge of menses > [noun]

purgationa1398

superfluities of the mothera1398

termsc1450

the custom of women1560

visit1653

menstruation1754

lunation1822

periodicity1848

friend1889

the curse1930

the world > relative properties > relationship > correlation > [noun] > mutuality or reciprocity > standing, footing, or mutual relations

termsc1450

c1450 in W. R. Dawson Leechbk. (1934) 124 (MED) Make a suppository þeroff, and it shall make a woman to haue hyre termes.

1545 T. Raynald in tr. E. Roesslin Byrth of Mankynde i. sig. H.ii^v Termes..be called in latyn menstrua... In Englysh they be named termes because they returne eftsoones at certayne seasons, times & termes.

1598 J. Mosan tr. C. Wirsung Praxis Med. Vniuersalis iii. xix. 483 Some do aduise.., if in case that a woman hath not had her termes a long time, that her vaine is to bee opened besides her little Toe.

1637 R. Basset Curiosities i. 24 Her Terms are turned into milk, and that Milke doth nourish the fruite in the wombe.

1682 G. Hartman Digby's Choice Coll. Rare Secrets ii. 259 It provokes the Terms.

1714 tr. H. Joutel Jrnl. Last Voy. M. de la Sale 143 When the Women have their Terms, they leave the Company of their Husbands.

1772 Antisiphylitic 13 Nor is there any occasion for women to intermit it [sc. this Medicine] during their terms, except they should flow too copiously.

1858 Chicago Med. Jrnl. 1 197 Her monthly terms first appeared in her sixteenth year.

1915 Anthropol. Papers Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 13 52 To this day, many pagan Menomini positively refuse to eat in Christian homes for fear of losing their powers through partaking of food prepared by a woman undergoing her monthly terms.

b. The full length of a normal pregnancy; the completion of this period; the time at which it ends, or is due to end, in labour; = full term n. 1. Now frequently in at term, to term. See also Compounds 3.In humans the normal duration of pregnancy is considered to be between 37 and 42 weeks.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > source or principle of life > birth > confinement > [noun] > childbirth or delivery > time of

timeOE

term?a1540

bearing time1587

full term1607

feminonucleus1884

?a1540 (c1460) G. Hay tr. Buik King Alexander the Conquerour (1986–90) l. 18277 Scho was with barne, and till hir terme weill neir.

1590 C. Hooke Child-birth or Womans Lect. sig. B^v Comparing the estate of Ierusalem besieged by Zenacherib, and not able of it selfe to defend it selfe, to woman trauailing of Childe at the full ende of her tearme.

1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. xxx. xiv. 396 There be certaine little wormes found breeding in the common coich-grasse, called Gramen, which if a woman weare about her necke, serve very effectually, to cause her for to keep her infant within the wombe the ordinarie tearme.

1682 Eng. Midwife Enlarged 22 So do we see Women brought to bed six weeks and 2 months before, and sometimes as long after their ordinary term.

1752 W. Smellie Treat. Midwifery I. iii. 126 The common term of pregnancy is limited to nine solar months, reckoning from the last discharge of the Catamenia.

1822 J. M. Good Study Med. IV. 176 If the exclusion [of the fœtus] take place..during any part of the last three months before the completion of the natural term, [it is usually called] Premature Labour.

1844 L. S. Costello Béarn & Pyrenees: Legendary Tour II. 62 The Princess of Navarre, being near her term.

1879 J. M. Duncan Clin. Lect. Dis. Women ii. 20 The dangers attendant upon delivery of a child at or near term.

1955 Sci. News Let. 13 Aug. 110/1 The need for enough protein to help her carry her baby to term has been widely recognized.

1990 Brain 113 420 The patient..was born at term.

2004 Pop. Sci. Jan. 64/1 (caption) The project twice created cloned embryos [from a pet dog], but the pregnancies didn't go to term.

II. A condition or stipulation; a state or situation.

a. A condition under which something may be done, settled, agreed, or granted; a stipulated requirement or limitation. Usually in plural; also in terms and conditions. Cf. Phrases 2b.In quot. 1746: a condition or prerequisite of something.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > agreement > [noun] > terms of agreement

termc1350

meanc1425

articles?1507

capitulation1529

quarter1615

the mind > language > speech > agreement > [noun] > terms of agreement > a condition or stipulation

mannerc1400

covenantc1440

conditionala1533

authorament1607

requisition1620

postulatum1639

thingum1649

qualification1660

ultimatum1733

requirement1737

term1746

stipulation1750

contingency1818

precondition1825

chapter1864

c1350 (a1333) William of Shoreham Poems (1902) 120 Þo þat he scholde y-offred by In þe templo domini, Ase laȝe ȝef þe termes.

c1425 (c1400) Laud Troy-bk. l. 79 How fele termes and trewes Where take be-twene Troyens and Gruwes.

a1500 ( in C. Monro Lett. Margaret of Anjou (1863) 30 (MED) As touching the paiement of the some of x ml marcs be the saide Kinge of Scotland, owing, as be terme runnen, after the stablement of the same, [etc.].

1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. ix. xxii. 805/1 Many Gentlemen..came to the Protector and entred into termes and conditions of Peace.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) v. ii. 325 Wee haue consented to all tearmes of reason.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost x. 751 Unable to performe Thy terms too hard, by which I was to hold The good I sought not.

1718 Mem. Life J. Kettlewell iii. lxvi. 353 The Church doth..prescribe her Terms of Communion.

1746 J. Wesley Serm. Several Occasions I. 96 This Faith is the Term or Condition of Justification.

1833 Times 5 July 4/4 The only difficulty was the adjusting of the terms and conditions of the charter.

1898 Author 1 Sept. 83/2 No literary agent would dare to consent to such terms, not one.

1964 C. Chaplin My Autobiogr. x. 169 Sennett began to talk of renewing my contract, and wanted to know my terms.

1998 Which? Aug. 15/1 Another important term in the extended warranties for used cars was one excluding claims for consequential loss.

2004 .net Christmas 34/1 Not all pornography is illegal, but it's never a bad idea to have a no-adult-content rule in your terms and conditions.

b. spec. In plural. Conditions with regard to payment for goods or services; (hence) payment offered, or charges made.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > payment > [noun] > conditions of payment

term1600

lay1712

payment term1926

1600 B. Jonson Every Man out of his Humor iii. i. sig. I They..giue a man the hardest termes for his money, that euer you knew.

1670 R. Coke Disc. Trade 50 The Dutch have Pitch, Tar, Hemp..in greater quantities, and for less terms than the English can, out of Norway.

1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 132. ⁋6 The terms offered were such as I should willingly have accepted.

1844 Ld. Brougham Albert Lunel II. vii. 167 I was not very nice as to terms, and agreed for my board and fifty louis a-year.

1893 Pop. Sci. Monthly Mar. 665 The managers of Bethel..secured upon easy terms the two valleys which lay nearest their estate.

1950 Billboard 11 Mar. 98/1 (advt.) Terms: 25% with order, balance C.O.D. or check in advance. Satisfaction guaranteed.

2012 J. Hodges Rent vs Own ii. vii. 103 In a bustling economy, lenders may extend credit and loans to lower-scoring borrowers and do so for fairly reasonable terms.

†7. In plural. Condition, state; situation, circumstances; (in weakened sense in Shakespeare) relation, respect (occasionally also in singular). Obsolete.With quot. 1600 cf. Phrases 1d(b).

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > circumstance or circumstances > [noun]

thingeOE

to-tagc12..

estrec1300

casec1325

aboutstanding1340

circumstancec1380

termsa1382

conditionc1384

befalla1492

weather1603

attendant1607

belonginga1616

circumstantial1647

incident1649

incidence1670

incidental1707

attitude1744

circs1883

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Ecclus. xxi. 21 As an hous set out of termes [L. domus exterminata], so a wisdam to a fool.

c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. vi. 16 Ypocritis..putten her facis out of kyndly termys [L. exterminant facies suas], that thei seme fastynge to men.

1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 6 He found the comon wealth turmoyled with seditions..and..the house of Ægeus in very ill termes also.

1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice ii. i. 13 In termes of choyse I am not soly led By nice direction of a maydens eyes.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) i. i. 38 Be iudge..Whether I, in any iust tearme am assign'd to loue the Moore.

1642 D. Rogers Naaman Ep. Ded. sig. A2^v They lived at poore termes.

1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso ii. xcii. 384 He..shewed..him in his naked tearms of devillish hypocrisie.

8. In plural. With modifying descriptive word or phrase, e.g. good terms, equal terms, terms of intimacy, etc., and preceded by on, upon, or in: a relationship or standing (with another person or party) of the specified kind; a good, equal, etc., footing.

a. With in. Now somewhat rare.See also in speaking terms at speaking n. Compounds 3.

ΚΠ

1548 in J. Maclean Life Sir T. Seymour (1869) 142 Fforasmuche as we doo stande in verye doubtefull tearmes with ffraunce, and yet there is no playne warre.

1613 R. Dallington Aphorismes Ciuill & Militarie v. xvi. 311 Neither part must be secure, but stand vpon like guard of diffidence, as when they were in tearmes of greatest deffiance.

1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures xiii. 42 Though we stood in the terms of good friends with them.

a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 317 William fell to be in ill terms with his mother.

1753 S. Hopkins Hist. Mem. Housatunnuk Indians 164 It is of vast Importance to the British Provinces..in America,..that they be in good Terms with the Indians.

1805 R. Forsyth Beauties Scotl. II. 348 At that time the Scottish king, Malcolm, was in bad terms with many of his barons.

1880 Crit. Ess. Hindoo Law Adoption iv. 107 There is no evidence to show that he was ever in bad terms with his wife.

1951 R. Sereno Let. 14 Apr. in D. M. Giangreco & K. Moore Dear Harry (1999) i. 29 Any person who'll go to the trouble of reading it, will have no reason of keeping in terms of friendship with the author.

2006 Gameaxis Unwired Oct. 16/1 Being in good terms with the Pope will help you on your cause.

b. With on or upon.See also on first name terms at first name adj., nodding terms n. at nodding n. Compounds, on speaking terms at speaking n. Compounds 3.

ΚΠ

1596 ‘L. Pyott’ tr. A. Sylvain Orator lvi. 244 Oftentimes there chanced such braules betweene them, that his factor and he were vpon tearmes of parting.

1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 v. i. 10 'Tis not wel, That you and I should meet vpon such tearmes As now we meete.

1669 R. Montagu in Hist. MSS Comm.: Rep. MSS Duke of Buccleuch (1899) I. 422 in Parl. Papers (C. 9244) XLVI. 1 I was the willinger to put you upon good terms with her.

1672 J. Dryden Conquest Granada ii. iii. i. 106 The brave own faults when good success is giv'n: For then they come on equal terms to Heav'n.

1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson i. ix. 92 At war, or at least on ill terms with their Spanish neighbours.

1758 J. Armstrong Sketches 64 I could live upon good Terms even with a Deist; provided he keeps within the Bounds of Decency.

1804 Sydney Gaz. 27 May 4 The numerous natives in those parts are on the most friendly terms with the Europeans.

1877 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (ed. 3) II. vii. 97 On the closest terms of friendship.

1929 A. L. Rowse Diary 8 Sept. (2003) 50 He is on good terms with the youths of the village and can talk their dialect with them.

2013 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 27 Sept. 4 Thanks to the handicap system in golf, severely injured players can compete on equal terms with golfers of all abilities.

III. A physical or conceptual limit or end point; a space or span bounded by such limits.

a. That which limits the extent of something; a limit, an end point, a boundary. Usually in plural. Now rare or archaic.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > edge, border, or margin > boundary > [noun] > land-boundary > of a region or territory

terma1382

frontier1413

rind1530

terminus?1605

barrier1709

bound-line1850

borderline1869

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Isa. v. 14 Helle spredde abrod his soule, and openede his mouth with oute any terme [L. termino].

?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1869) II. 51 That water of Seuerne..was somme tyme a terme [L. terminus] of Englonde and of Wales.

1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende f. liii^v/1 Fro the laste termes of egipte vnto the vtterist endes of the same.

a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) ii. §8. 11 (MED) The termes of the erth beltis in all the erth.

1570 H. Billingsley tr. Euclid Elements Geom. i. f. 1^v Pointes..are..only the termes and endes of quantitie.

1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §328 Corruption is a Reciprocall to Generation: and they two, are as Natures two Terms or Boundaries.

1656 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. II. viii. 99 A superficies is the terme of a body... A Line is the terme of a Superficies... A point is the terme of a line.

1701 tr. F. Burgersdijck Introd. Art Logick i. v. 12 A Term is an Extremity or Bound.

1782 Watts's Improvem. Mind (rev. ed.) ii. v. 54 Shape is but the Term and Boundary of Dimension.

1818 P. B. Shelley Revolt of Islam vi. xviii. 137 At the decline of day Winding above the mountain's snowy term New banners shone.

1864 A. Bain Senses & Intellect (ed. 2) i. ii. 202 The power of movement without contact or resistance, except at the extreme terms.

1958 A. Watts Nature, Man & Woman ii. 57 Facts are the terms or limits—somewhat as hot and cold are the upper and lower terms (that is, termini or ends) of the field of temperature.

1981 G. H. Hartman Saving Text i. 1 Thought seems always to be extending or delimiting ‘terms’ or ‘boundaries’.

†b. The territory encompassed by a border; (also) a part of a country, district, etc. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1961) Josh. i. 4 Al þe lond of etheus vnto þe greet see aȝeyns þe sonne goynge doun shal be ȝoure terme [L. terminus].

c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Joel iii. 4 What to me and ȝou, Tyrus, and Sydon, and alle the terme [L. terminus] of Palestynys?

c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 61 (MED) Hit bi-tydde sum-tyme in þe termes of Jude Jonas joyned watz.

c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 4038 (MED) Quat in þis time may ȝe take if ȝe oure termes entre?

c. Furthest or utmost limit (of something heading in a particular direction), end; esp. conclusion, cessation; end of duration or existence (cf. branch I.). Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > end or conclusion > [noun] > a limit, end, or term

endc1000

pointc1330

terma1398

datec1400

limec1420

period1554

full stopa1586

stopa1586

coda1836

mop1945

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. i. xvi. 53 Þeiȝ he [sc. God] be hendeles in hymself, ȝit by hys endeles vertue he endeþ and ordeyneth ende and termes to alle þinges.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 11287 At þe terme of fourti dais..þai bar þe child..vn-to þe temple.

1481 W. Caxton tr. Myrrour of Worlde iii. xxi. sig. m6^v No goodes what someuer they be shal neuer haue terme ne ende [in heaven].

a1500 Legend of Cross in Medium Ævum (1965) 34 217 (MED) Moises vnderstode that the terme of his lyf nyghed.

1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Dec. 127 So now my yeare drawes to his latter terme.

1645 J. Milton On University Carrier ii, in Poems 29 Too long vacation hastned on his term.

1693 P. Strachan Map Little World App. iii. 26 He..declares his fixed Resolution, to the Term of his Lives End.

1757 Revol. Modesty 115 Streaming Tears..being the Marks, and Term of their Happiness.

1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall II. xxiv. 446 He had now reached the term of his prosperity.

1824 J. Bowring tr. A. von Chamisso Peter Schlemihl vi. 90 I saw no bounds, no outlet, no term to my terrible misery.

1881 B. Jowett tr. Thucydides Hist. Peloponnesian War I. 123 That the term of their happiness is likewise the term of their life.

1959 Rev. Politics 21 394 If we do not recover this ability our culture will soon reach its term.

d. That to which movement or action is directed or tends; an object, an end, a goal. Occasionally also: a starting point, an origin. Now somewhat rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > intention > [noun] > intention or purpose > end, purpose, or object

willeOE

errand?c1225

purposec1300

endc1305

emprisec1330

intentc1340

use1340

conclusionc1374

studya1382

pointc1385

causec1386

gamea1393

term?c1400

businessc1405

finec1405

intentionc1410

object?a1425

obtent?a1475

drift1526

intend1526

respect1528

flight1530

finality?1541

stop1551

scope1559

butt?1571

bent1579

aiming point1587

pursuitc1592

aim1595

devotion1597

meaning1605

maina1610

attempt1610

design1615

purport1616

terminusa1617

intendment1635

pretence1649

ettle1790

big (also great) idea1846

objective1878

objective1882

the name of the game1910

the object of the exercise1958

thrust1968

the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > beginning > [noun] > starting-point

terminus a quo1549

starting place1570

terma1628

salient motion1664

salient pointa1682

punctum saliens1695

starting point1782

Adam and Eve1793

starting ground1802

point of departure1804

baseline1836

point de départ1848

zero1849

start point1860

jumping-board1878

jumping-off board1914

jumping-off point1927

starting block1932

square one1952

?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (BL Add. 10340) (1868) iii. met. ix. l. 2451 O fadir..þou þi self art bygynnynge, berere, ledere, paþ and terme [L. terminus].

c1425 Bk. Found. St. Bartholomew's (1923) 39 (MED) We be come for oure synnys to the butte and terme or marke of vniuersall kynde of man.

a1500 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Life Man (Stowe) l. 16548 (MED) Thow art the Restynge place off my verray hope and the ffynal terme off my desolacion.

1551 S. Gardiner Explic. Catholique Fayth f. 108^v Wherin eche chaunge hath his special ende and terme, (whervnto).

a1628 J. Preston New Covenant (1629) i. vi. 184 There must be a place, a terme to which you walke... Againe; There must be a place, or terme from which a man comes.

a1677 T. Manton Serm. (1693) IV. ii. 1002 The term and end of the Journey.

a1769 R. Riccaltoun Notes Galatians in Wks. (1772) III. 33 The term from which they removed, was the Gospel which Paul preached.

1801 Asiatic Ann. Reg. 1800 Hist. India 2/2 The island of Ceylon..was the usual term of their navigation.

1849 M. Arnold Strayed Reveller, & Other Poems 51 Vehement actions without scope or term.

1954 J. V. McGlynn tr. St. Thomas Aquinas Truth II. xviii. 355 Animal generation is said to reach its term when the animal, with all its members perfect and distinct, is developed from the seed of the animal in which all its members pre-existed virtually.

1990 V. Kuic & R. J. Thompson tr. Y. R. Simon Introd. Metaphysics Knowl. i. 31 Its [sc. the faculty of knowing] relation with the term toward which its whole nature propels it.

10. Astrology. Any of five divisions of each sign of the zodiac, each associated with a particular planet and forming a region in which the influence of that planet is increased, or affects that of another planet. Occasionally also in plural. Now rare and chiefly historical.

ΘΚΠ

the world > the universe > celestial sphere > zone of celestial sphere > [noun] > Zodiac > sign of zodiac > as seat of planet

housea1393

mansionc1395

termc1405

the world > the universe > heavenly body > as influence on mankind > [noun] > influence > planet as > situation of > term

termc1405

c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Franklin's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 580 He..knew the arisyng of his Moone wel And in whos face, and terme, and euerydel.

c1450 Treat. Elections of Times (Ashm.) in Middle Eng. Dict. at Terme Termys of planettis bene certen nombris of greis in euery signe, in which degreis a planet makith gret impression.

?1547 A. Borde Pryncyples Astron. vi. sig. B.ii^v Mars in Tauro hath, ii fortitudes. A triplicite and a terme.

1588 J. Harvey Discoursiue Probl. conc. Prophesies ii. 121 Or perhaps are the superior planets conioined in the first Terme of Aries?

1652 J. Gaule Πυς-μαντια 264 There was Venus in termes, and in the house of Saturne.

1697 J. Partridge Defectio Geniturarum i. iii. 54 The Terms of the Planets..are Points in the Zodiack, and are only to be considered when Bodies are directed therein.

1726 S. Penseyre New Guide Astrol. 13 If a Planet be in his Term, it rather denotes the Shape and Quality of the Querent, than of the Wealth, Power and Dignity of the Party signified by that Planet.

1784 E. Sibly New & Compl. Illustr. Astrol. i. 137 A planet in his own term is strong; and..the more dignities he gains therein, the stronger will his influence be.

1819 J. Wilson Compl. Dict. Astrol. 382 Terms are certain degrees in a sign, supposed to possess the power of altering the nature of a planet to that of the planet in the term of which it is posited.

1879 ‘Raphael’ Guide Astrol. II. ii. 40 Observe the planets which have domination in such degree according to triplicity, house, exaltation, term, and face, or configuration.

1913 J. S. P. Tatlock in Anniv. Papers Kittredge 344 At exactly the same time..the moon would enter the fourth term of Cancer, which includes degrees 20–26 and belongs to Jupiter.

1987 S. J. Tester Hist. Western Astrol. iv. 73 Each sign is then divided into five terms of eight, seven, six, five and four degrees—thirty in all.

2005 Mountain Astrologer Feb. (Mercury Direct section) 12/2 Here you can see, for each planet, the Ruler, Exaltation, Triplicity, Term, Face, and Detriment lords and its dignity score, with peregrine planets noted.

IV. A word or expression, and related senses.

11.

a. A word or phrase used in a precise sense in a particular subject or field, or by a particular group of people; a technical expression; a piece of jargon.hunting-term, inkhorn term, schoolboy-term, sea-term, technical term, trade-term, etc.: see the first element. See also term of art n. at art n.¹ 10c.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > a language > register > [noun] > jargon > word in

terma1387

trash name1603

technic1764

technicality1787

technicism1799

buzz-phrase1977

fuzzword1983

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1869) II. 95 (MED) I holde hit be worthy to write here and expowne meny termes [L. vocabula] of þese lawes.

c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Franklin's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 558 I ne kan no termes of Astrologye.

1486 Bk. St. Albans sig. dij Som folke mysuse this terme draw. and say that thayr hauke will draw to the Ryuer.

a1500 (c1477) T. Norton Ordinal of Alchemy (BL Add.) (1975) l. 1730 Euery science hath his propre termys.

1590 J. Smythe Certain Disc. Weapons 2 b To vse our ancient termes belonging to matters of warre.

1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. xxxiv. xiv. 515 This stone is to be found..scattered here and there in small peeces by way of bubbation (for that is the tearm they use).

1678 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. vi. 107 (heading) An Explanation of Terms used among Joyners.

1710 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum II Vale of a Pump, at Sea, is the Term for the Trough by which the Water runs from the Pump along the Ship sides, to the Scupper-holes.

1789 C. Burney Gen. Hist. Music III. 176 This term [sc. ricercare], which implied any work of fancy, and original invention, was succeeded by Fantasia.

1811 J. Farey Gen. View Agric. Derbyshire I. 440 Cank Stone.—By this term the Miners..mean any unusually hard, compact and brittle stone.

1876 P. G. Tait Lect. Recent Adv. in Physical Sci. (ed. 2) i. 1 Explanation of new scientific terms.

1912 Amer. Practitioner 46 256 Von Pirquet, in 1905 coined the term allergy, signifying altered reaction.

1951 R. Mayer Artist's Handbk. (new ed.) 434 Imprimatura, a veil or thin glaze of colour applied to a ground as a preliminary coating. Term not in very wide use.

1997 Network World 27 Jan. 66/2 We need clear, useful terms that technology consumers will understand.

b. More widely: any word or phrase expressing a particular idea or concept, or denoting a particular object; an expression (for something). Often with modifying word or phrase, as abstract term, general term, term of abuse, term of endearment, etc.generic term, proprietary term, etc.: see the first element. See also contradiction in terms at contradiction n. 5b.In quot. c1400²: a saying, proverb.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > linguistics > linguistic unit > phrase > [noun] > term or expression

wordeOE

terma1398

conveyance1586

epithet1600

terminations1600

notion1655

description1826

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. ii. xviii. 83 ‘Orisoun’ is a straunge terme and moche i-vsid in astronomye. [No corresponding sentence in the Latin original.]

c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) l. 1733 To teche þe of ‘Techal,’ þat terme þus menes ‘Þy wale rengne is walt in weȝtes to heng.’

c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xii. l. 237 (MED) Ac of briddes and of bestes men by olde tyme Ensamples token and termes.

1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 27 A trewe louer vseth neuer suche termes as ye speke of.

1490 W. Caxton in tr. Boke yf Eneydos sig. Aj Some gentylmen..desired me te vse olde and homely termes in my translacyons.

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 518/1 I disconsolate... This terme is nat yet [= no longer] comenly used.

1592 A. Day Eng. Secretorie (rev. ed.) i. sig. B3^v Aptnes of wordes and Sentences, consisteth in choyce and good tearmes.

1605 Famous Hist. Capt. Stukeley sig. L Can there issue from your lips a tearme, So base and beggarly, as that of flight.

1653 H. Holcroft tr. Procopius Persian Wars i. 2 in tr. Procopius Hist. Warres Justinian The Archers in Homer's time (whose Profession grew to be a tearm of reproach).

1715 L. Theobald tr. Aristophanes Clouds v. 57 Go on, run thro' your List of Defamation, and invent new Terms of Abuse; you cannot please me better.

1765 Ld. Kames Elements Crit. (ed. 3) II. App. 501 Perceiving is a general term for hearing, seeing, tasting, touching, smelling.

1823 I. D'Israeli Curiosities of Lit. 2nd Ser. II. 11 In politics, what evils have resulted from abstract terms to which no ideas are affixed!

1883 H. Drummond Nat. Law in Spiritual World (1884) vii. 235 The apostles..accepted the term in its simple literal sense.

1920 M. Mitchell Let. 26 Mar. in Dynamo going to Waste (1985) 80 Cold-blooded, shallow, reckless, to say nothing of being an inveterate ‘necker’ (polite term for mush artists).

1959 I. Gershwin Lyrics on Several Occasions 95 Many a swain dreams up a special term of endearment for his inamorata.

2007 Working Mother Dec. 50/1 (advt.) Many people use the term ‘flu’ to mean any combination of these symptoms, such as the common cold.

12. In plural. Words or expressions collectively (usually of a specified kind); manner of expression, way of speaking; language. Chiefly preceded by in.See also in no uncertain terms at uncertain adj. 4b.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > [noun] > mode of expression

manner of speakinga1387

termsc1400

parlancec1475

locution1483

diction1563

couching1571

dictamenta1572

dialect1579

style1594

phraseology1604

phrasing1611

expression1628

language1643

wording1649

routine1676

mode1779

verbiage1792

parle1793

verbiagerie1817

vocabulation1859

phraseography1899

lexis1950

c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 917 (MED) Now schal we semlych se sleȝtez of þewez & þe teccheles termes of talkyng noble.

c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Reeve's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) Prol. l. 63 Right in his cherles termes wol I speke.

1489 W. Caxton tr. C. de Pisan Bk. Fayttes of Armes ii. xx. sig. I.iij Thys present werke hathe spoken in general termes.

1567 W. Allen Treat. Def. Priesthod 64 The..text of holy scripture: conteining Christes woordes to S. Peter,..giueth the chief of all his Apostles in more ample termes and beneficial clauses this power and prerogatiue.

1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream iv. i. 57 She, in milde tearmes, begd my patience.

1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan iii. xxxiii. 205 Which question is also propounded sometimes in other terms.

1759 W. Robertson Hist. Scotl. I. v. 415 The accusation..was conceived in the strongest terms.

1777 J. Peddle Abuses hearing Word of God 25 At other times, ye discommend a truly rational and orthodox discourse..because conveyed in simple terms.

1827 R. Pollok Course of Time I. ii. 42 Thus the prohibition ran,..in terms of plainest truth.

1885 Athenæum 23 May 660 Of the dialogue we can speak in terms of the very highest praise.

1927 A. Conan Doyle Case-bk. Sherlock Holmes 27 His hard, dry statement needs some little editing to soften it into the terms of real life.

1967 J. Wain Smaller Sky 21 You're telling me, in pretty unmistakable terms, to mind my own business.

2006 Computer Weekly 21 Nov. 36/2 They need to simplify their elevator pitches and communicate in layman's terms.

13. Logic. Each of the two basic elements (subject and predicate) of a proposition; each of the three elements of this kind combined in the premises of a syllogism (see major term n. at major adj. and n.¹ Compounds, minor term n. at minor adj. and n. Compounds 2, middle term n. 2).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > logic > logical proposition > term of a proposition > [noun]

term1551

limit1599

rheme1892

1551 T. Wilson Rule of Reason sig. Giiij^v There ought not to be mo termes in an argumentacion [= syllogism] then thre, for otherwise there is no good argument.

1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding iv. vi. 299 General Propositions..are then only capable of Certainty, when the Terms used in them, stand for such Ideas, whose agreement or disagreement..is capable to be discovered by us.

1725 I. Watts Logick iii. i The matter of which a syllogism is made up, is three propositions; and these three propositions are made up of three ideas, or terms, variously joined.

1771 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. liv. 229 He changes the terms of the proposition.

1827 R. Whately Elements Logic (ed. 2) i. ii. §2. 57 Each proposition containing two terms; of these terms, that which is spoken of is called the subject; that which is said of it, the predicate; and these two are called the terms (or extremes) because, logically, the Subject is placed first, and the Predicate last: and, in the middle, the Copula, which indicates the act of judgment.

1884 Universal Instructor III. 142/1 As a result of comparing ‘sensible’ things and ‘philosophers’ with one and the same term ‘men’, we are able to make a comparison of the two terms ‘philosophers’ and ‘sensible (things)’.

1954 Philos. Sci. 21 348 Any term distributed in the conclusion must be distributed in the premises.

2012 D. Jackson & P. Newberry Crit. Thinking vii. 179 The conclusion requires two terms, winged animals and dinosaurs.

14.

a. Mathematics.

(a) A quantity or expression that is the numerator or denominator of a fraction, or the antecedent or consequent of a ratio.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > [noun]

i-telc1000

telc1000

numberc1300

suma1387

quantitya1398

umberc1400

value1543

term1552

terminus?a1560

quantum1567

valuation1636

numerality1646

numeration1646

numerical1760

numeric1878

naturality1942

the world > relative properties > number > mathematical notation or symbol > [noun] > figure

rimeeOE

figure?c1225

numberc1300

digit?a1400

digitalc1450

cipher1530

term1552

terminus?a1560

significant figure1614

small figuresa1652

numeral1654

monasa1690

binary digit1796

nomial1828

supplement1868

1552 R. Record Ground of Artes (rev. ed.) ii. sig. R.j The fourth kynd of reduction, where greater termes of fractions bee reduced into smaller in numbre.

1570 H. Billingsley tr. Euclid Elements Geom. v. f. 127, (margin) In proportions two quantities required, which are called termes.

1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. i. ii. 34 As 16 to 7: So is 8 to what? Here..the second Term is less than the first.

1699 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 21 352 Subtractive Ratio is that whose Terms are dispos'd to Subtraction, that is, to Division.

1756 J. Simson Elements of Euclid Notes 390 The quantity or exponent of a ratio..is the number which multiplied into the consequent term of a ratio produces the antecedent.

1796 Mathem. Dict. I. 2 To abbreviate fractions in arithmetic and algebra, is to lessen proportionally their terms, or the numerator and denominator.

1842 W. Smith Dict. Greek & Rom. Antiq. 624/2 Each of the four ratios..is superparticular; i.e., the two terms of each differ from one another by unity.

1914 E. Oberg Arithm. Simplified (‘Machinery’ Ref. Bk. No. 137) ii. 23 The numerator and denominator of the fraction are called the terms of the fraction.

1961 H. L. L. Busard tr. N. Oresme Quaestiones Super Geometriam Euclidis 73 A ratio between two things may become infinite in two ways: 1° because the antecedent term becomes infinite; 2° because the consequent term approaches zero.

2012 K. Snyder & C. Keegan Pharmacol. for Surg. Technologist (ed. 3) iii. 42/1 We say that a and b are the terms of the fraction where a is the numerator and b is the denominator.

(b) lowest (also †least) terms (chiefly in phrases to reduce to its lowest terms, in its lowest terms, etc.): the form of a fraction or ratio in which the constituent terms have no common factor other than 1; (also figurative) the most basic or fundamental level or interpretation.

ΚΠ

1570 J. Dee in H. Billingsley tr. Euclid Elements Geom. xii. sig. GGg.ij Therefore FG is to A, as 6, to 4: which in the least termes, is, as 3 to 2.

1624 H. Wotton Elements Archit. i. 58 The sides of a Rectangular Triangle, which the Ancient Schoole did expresse in lowest tearmes, by the numbers of 3. 4. and 5.

a1690 S. Jeake Λογιστικηλογία (1696) 48 The new Fraction..will not be in its least terms, unless such Heterologal terms be first abbreviated to their lowest.

1730 W. Webster tr. P. Hoste Compend. Course Pract. Math. I. xiii. 143 To reduce a fraction into its lowest terms.

1836 A. Turnbull Arithm. made Easy ix. 113 In such cases it is better to divide the terms at once, as it would require considerable calculation to find the least terms by the process pointed out above.

1887 Amer. Jrnl. Math. 9 215 It is assumed that the fraction U ÷ V is in its least terms.

1956 P. A. Jorgensen Shakespeare's Mil. World (1973) vi. 263 Reduced to its lowest terms, his behavior resembles that of the rude, graceless soldier type.

2008 R. Wingard-Nelson Decimals & Fractions iii. 11 Factors help you write equivalent fractions and reduce fractions to lowest terms.

2010 Bull. Symbolic Logic 16 365 Notice that a rational number n/m has a well-defined integer value modulo 7 so long as the denominator m is not divisible by 7 when expressed in least terms.

(a) Mathematics. Each of the elements forming a mathematical sequence or progression.

ΚΠ

1623 J. Johnson Arithmatick i. ii. 38 (heading) To find any middle Terme, or any other Terme in a Geometricall Progression.

1670 J. Collins Let. 19 July in I. Newton Corr. (1959) I. 37 The totall of some of the tearmes of that Series may be obtained by tables as a helpe.

1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) at Term of a Progression (in Mathem.) is every Member of the Progression, whether it be Arithmetical, or Geometrical.

1734 J. Harris's tr. Pardies's Short Plain Elements Geom. (new ed.) iii. 145 When the Terms of the Progression are continual Proportionals..then the Progression is call'd Geometrical, as 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32.

1793 T. Malton New Royal Road Geom. 6 1, 3, 12, and 36 are proportional Numbers; and, taken thus, or alternately, by changing the two middle Terms (as 1 to 12, so is 3 to 36) 'tis still the same.

1866 W. T. Brande & G. W. Cox Dict. Sci., Lit. & Art (new ed.) II. 96/1 Harmonic Progression or Series, a series of numbers such that any three consecutive terms are in harmonic proportion.

1903 B. Russell Princ. Math. xxxvi. 296 A series of this type..is denumerable, that is, by taking its terms in a suitable order..we can give them a one–one correspondence with the finite integers.

1951 W. W. Elliott & E. R. C. Miles College Math. (ed. 2) ix. 126 A geometric progression is a sequence of numbers in which each term after the first is obtained from the preceding one by multiplying it by a fixed number.

2015 K. Morrison et al. Higher Math. GCSE for OCR Student Bk. iv. 40 You can find the next term in the sequence by working out what the difference is between each term.

(b) gen. A member of or item in a series or succession. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > [noun] > a series or succession > member or item in a series

article1606

link1732

term1792

member1816

serie1840

1792 Encycl. Brit. (Dublin ed.) X. 522/1 The body then dies by little and little: its motion gradually diminishes; life is extinguished by successive gradations, and death is only the last term in the succession.

1841–8 F. Myers Catholic Thoughts II. iii. iii. 8 The Bible contains a series [of revelations] of which the earliest terms are the least.

1863 C. Lyell Geol. Evid. Antiq. Man xxi. 419 Certain genera of plants..consist of a continuous series of varieties, between the terms of which no intermediate forms can be intercalated.

1949 Mind 58 41 It seems to me that serialists tend to take the terms of a self-series..as unanalysed units.

c. Mathematics. In an algebraic expression: each of the components that are connected by elementary signs of arithmetic (except when these occur as part of a subsidiary expression or equation), esp. those of addition and subtraction.

ΚΠ

1660 W. Leybourn tr. J. de Billy in Arithmetick, Vulgar, Decimal, & Instrumental (new ed.) iv. v. 362 I consider therefore in this term of the equation, the number of roots which is 2.

1700 J. Raphson tr. J. C. Sturm Mathesis Enucleata 11 Des Cartes..requires as a necessary Condition, the ejection of the second Term in the given Equation.

1760 W. S. Powell Def. Observ. 14 To find the high powers of the roots of equations having many terms by Newton's rule, is perhaps somewhat tedious.

1806 C. Hutton Course Math. (ed. 5) I. 13 Both the multiplier and multiplicand, are, in general, named the Terms or Factors.

1859 B. Smith Arith. & Algebra (ed. 6) 194 When several quantities are connected together by the signs + and −, or either of them, each of these quantities is called a Term.

1936 R. S. Glasgow Princ. Radio Engin. v. 102 By the definition of impedance, it is seen that the term √L /C is of the nature of an impedance.

1979 Nature 18 Oct. 528/1 Hart pointed out that a calculation of N by means of the so-called Drake equation is essentially impossible owing to the orders of magnitude uncertainty in many of the terms.

2015 K. Morrison et al. Found. Math. GCSE for OCR Student Bk. vii. 90 To multiply two brackets together each term in the first bracket must be multiplied by each term in the second bracket.

d. Physics. Originally (in spectroscopy): each of a set of numbers determined for a given spectrum in such a way that the wave number of each observed spectral line can be written as the difference between two such numbers (now rare). In later use (in quantum physics): each set of atomic states for a given atom in which every state has the same energy, configuration of electrons, orbital quantum number, and spin quantum number; cf. term symbol n. (b) at Compounds 4. Also more fully spectral term, atomic term.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > physics > atomic physics > [noun] > atomic state

term1915

the world > matter > physics > atomic physics > decomposition of light, spectrum > [noun] > component of wave number

term1915

1915 Astrophysical Jrnl. 41 324 The difference in ‘wave-number’..between the limit of the series and each member is called the ‘term’... The limit itself is commonly a ‘term’ of some other series.

1922 A. D. Udden tr. N. Bohr Theory of Spectra ii. ii. 30 The arrangement of the states in horizontal rows corresponds to the ordinary arrangement of the ‘spectral terms’ in the spectroscopic tables.

1935 W. M. Hicks Struct. Spectral Terms i. 1 Any given term in a neutral spectrum is expressible in the form R/(m + ϕ)², where R is a constant..m is an ordinal integer and ϕ a fraction which depends on m.

1970 G. K. Woodgate Elem. Atomic Struct. vii. 110 For calcium..the ³P and ¹P terms of the configuration 4s4p are separated by about 8,000 cm⁻¹.

2015 J. Collins in B. di Bartolo et al. Nano-structures for Optics & Photonics xvi. 341 The configuration is accordingly split into different spectral terms, each term having a specific total angular momentum.

e. In first-order logic: an expression consisting of a single variable; an expression consisting of a function symbol followed by a series of arguments which are themselves terms.For example, if x and y are variables and f and g are function symbols, then both x and y are terms, as are f(x) and g(f(x), y).

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > number > algebra > [noun] > expression > consisting of specific number of terms

binomial1557

binomy1571

trinomy1571

quadrinomial1673

multinomiala1690

polynomiala1690

trinomiala1690

monomial1706

nomial1717

monome1736

infinitinomial1763

polynome1828

mononomial1844

quantic1854

form1859

Jacobi polynomial1882

Jacobi's function1882

ternariant1882

triquaternion1902

term1957

arity1968

1957 R. Montague & D. Kalish in Archiv für mathematische Logik und Grundlagenforschung 3 51 If L is again a language, an exhaustive characterization of the terms and formulas of L is given by (1)–(6).

1983 Jrnl. Symbolic Logic 48 1225 We take as universe A the subset of all terms of T which probably exist in T.

2016 M. L. O'Leary First Course Math. Logic vii. 335 The terms of a language represent objects and the formulas of a language describe the properties of objects.

V. Technical uses.

15. Also with capital initial. A statue or bust representing the upper part of the body (sometimes without the arms), and terminating below in a pillar or pedestal out of which it appears to emerge; a terminal figure. Also: a pillar or pedestal bearing such a figure.This form is associated particularly with representations of the Roman god Terminus. Cf. terminus n. 3a, 3b.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > plastic art > statuary > [noun] > statue > bust or torso

block1535

term1604

busto1626

torse1634

terminus1638

busty1684

bust1691

shoulder-piece1692

protome1737

torso1797

portrait bust1827

terminal1876

term figure1880

1604 T. Dekker Magnificent Entertainm. sig. B4 On either side of the Gate, stood a great French Terme, of stone.

1631 B. Jonson Chloridia 199 An arbour..the ornament of which was borne vp with Termes of Satyres.

1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory (1905) iv. xiii. 519/1 Their effigies..raised higher with a Terme or Pedestall or foot..of a pillar.

1712 J. James tr. A.-J. Dézallier d'Argenville Theory & Pract. Gardening 76 Busts, Terms, Half-length Figures.

1755 J. Spence in Philos. Trans. 1754 (Royal Soc.) 48 486 Another brass bust, on a term, of a youth.

1849 R. Browning Poems (new ed.) II. 348 Ye would heighten my impoverished frieze,..add a vizor and a Term.

1891 T. Hardy Tess of the D'Urbervilles I. xii. 151 She..lifted her face to his, and remained like a marble term while he imprinted a kiss upon her cheek.

1904 E. Wharton Ital. Villas iii. 93 The ilex-grove into which one first enters is traversed by hedged alleys which lead to rond-points with stone seats and marble Terms.

1990 Weekend Tel. 9 June p. v/2 I like the Terms because they are among the classical pieces most easily set into new surroundings.

16. Shipbuilding. A piece of carved timber fitted under either end of the taffrail of a wooden ship. Cf. term-piece n. at Compounds 4. Now historical and rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > parts of vessels > body of vessel > rear part of vessel > [noun] > flat part > upper (ornamented) part of

tafferel1704

term-piece1711

term1781

taffrail1814

truss1823

stern-rail1846

tafferel-rail1846

1781 M. Stalkartt Naval Archit. Dict. 231 Term, a piece of carved-work, placed under each end of the taff-rail, at the side-timber of the stern, and extended down as low as the foot-rail of the balcony.

1823 G. Crabb Technol. Dict. Truss is also the name of short pieces of carved work fitted under the taffrail, in the same manner as the terms.

1931 A. E. Richardson Georgian Eng. iii. 43 Such features as the door and hood moulding to the gangway..and the carved terms finishing the ramps from the beak are of decided interest.

Phrases

P1. in terms. See also sense 8a.

a. Plainly, expressly; in so many words. Formerly also †by terms.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > clarity > [adverb] > explicitly

in termsc1400

apresslya1450

expressly1509

preciselya1513

by termsa1525

formally1526

expressedlya1555

explicately1606

pointingly1607

evolvedlya1641

exactly1646

syllabically1654

explicitlya1657

pointedly1775

c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 1053 Alle þe apparaylmente..As John þe appostel in termeȝ tyȝte.

a1525 (c1448) R. Holland Bk. Howlat l. 253 in W. A. Craigie Asloan MS (1925) II. 102 All this trety has he tald be termess in test.

1567 T. Harding Reioindre to M. Iewels Replie against Masse xiii. f. 212^v Christe him selfe doth in termes pronounce, This is my body, this is my bloude.

1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage iv. iv. 305 Deuouring in hope, and threatening in tearmes all those Asian Prouinces.

1667 S. Pepys Diary 29 July (1974) VIII. 367 He says in terms, that the match..hath undone the nation.

1698 Earl of Orrery Dr. Bentley's Diss. Examin'd 234 That Few say in Terms, he was a Writer, is because No-body had any Suspicions to the contrary.

1766 J. Burrow Rep. Court King's Bench 2 660 The Other Three Judges agreed, in Terms, with Lord Mansfield; And All of them spoke explicitly to the same Effect.

1823 Parl. Deb. 2nd Ser. 7 1287 The strongest phrases were used in every quarter regarding the conduct and language of Mr. Fox; charging him, almost in terms, with unfurling the standard of rebellion.

1911 Yale Law Jrnl. 21 115 It may be said that this would often virtually compel him to criminate himself. But it certainly does not compel him in terms.

2003 L. Holford-Strevens Aulus Gellius (rev. ed.) xvi. 307 The allegations..which Cicero ridicules without quite denying them in terms.

†b. Engaged in making or arranging conditions; negotiating (with). Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > agreement > [adjective] > relating to negotiation > negotiating

in terms1567

on (also upon) terms1567

haggling1589

higgling1678

in —— terms1851

chaffering1856

1567 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure II. xxiv. f. 208^v She was in termes to goe home to hir husband the Counte of Celant, who had sent for hir.

1591 H. Savile Ende of Nero i. 12 in tr. Tacitus Ende of Nero: Fower Bks. Hist. In Spaine Galbaes soldiers in part were in termes to forsake him, and hardly reclaimed.

1613 R. Dallington Aphorismes Ciuill & Militarie iv. xvi. 243 They are in tearmes to render [= surrender].

1619 M. Drayton Let. 14 Apr. in W. Drummond Wks. (1711) 153 I have done Twelve Books more,..but it lyeth by me; for the Booksellers and I are in Terms.

1700 Def. Scots abdicating Darien 38 Wafer..was in Terms with some private Merchants of London, about sending a Vessel thither.

1748 T. Smollett Roderick Random II. lxii. 296 He was already engaged, or at least in terms with Mr. Vandal.

†c. On good terms; on a friendly or amicable footing. Cf. sense 8a. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) ii. iii. 173 Friends all but now, euen now, In quarter, and in termes, like bride and groome.

1653 D. Dickson Brief Explic. Other 50 Psalmes 299 It prepareth way for the remedy, and keepeth the beleever in termes with God.

d. in terms of.

(a) Mathematics. By means of or with reference to specified variables or quantities.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > relationship > in relation to [phrase] > in respect of or with regard to

in wise ofc1290

by (also for) reason ofa1350

as to (the) regard ofc1392

in regard of or toc1392

upon the side ofa1393

with regard toc1392

in respect of?a1425

in this (also that) behalf1458

upon the feat of1483

for (the) respect of1489

as pertains to1526

in order to1526

with respect1556

ad idem1574

on this behalf1581

in or with reference to1593

quoad hoc1601

in point of1605

with intuition to (of)1626

in the mention of1638

in terms of1704

how and about1753

as regards1797

as concerns1816

w.r.t.1956

the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > [adverb] > with reference to particular quantity

in terms of1704

1704 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum I. at Square number A mix'd Number..whose Fractional Part is exprest in Terms of a Vulgar Fraction.

1743 W. Emerson Doctr. Fluxions 38 If a Series be required to be express'd in Terms of that Quantity whose 2d, 3d Fluxion, &c. is in the Equation.

1866 J. F. W. Herschel Familiar Lect. Sci. Subj. 102 The nearest distance of the orbits of Venus and the earth was concluded in terms of the earth's diameter.

1951 W. W. Elliott & E. R. C. Miles College Math. (ed. 2) xviii. 243 Solve the given equation for y in terms of x.

2012 A. Simpson Cambr. O Level Math. II. iii. 58 Write down an expression, in terms of x, for the amount Dan received.

(b) gen. By means of or in reference to (a particular concept); in the mode of expression or thought belonging to (a subject or category); (loosely) on the basis of; in relation to; as regards.Sometimes influenced by sense 12, approaching the sense ‘in the language or terminology of’.

ΚΠ

1821 J. Bentham Elements Art of Packing 102 Contradictoriness..manifested, in terms of a certain degree of strength, towards some proposition or propositions, that have been advanced by some one else.

1862 H. Spencer First Princ. ii. vii. §71. 248 The continuity of Motion..is really known to us in terms of force.

1890 W. James Princ. Psychol. II. xviii. 63 Most persons, on being asked in what sort of terms they imagine words, will say ‘in terms of hearing’.

1932 E. C. Tolman Purposive Behavior I. i. 7 He [sc. J. B. Watson] has defined behavior in terms of its strict physical and physiological details.

1938 Jrnl. Royal Aeronaut. Soc. 42 363 An attempt is made to explain the photolysis of silver halides in terms of the concepts of atomic physics.

1960 R. H. Gregory & R. L. Van Horn Automatic Data-processing Syst. xi. 396 System design is discussed here in terms of fact finding, developing specifications, meeting specifications, and matching equipment with the system.

2000 Austral. Financial Rev. (Nexis) 25 May (Property section) 51 We need to recognise metropolitan and CBD business remain the major engine of growth in terms of new employment.

(c) to think in terms of: to consider along the lines of; to make the focus of one's attention; to base one's plans or intentions around.

ΚΠ

1855 Jrnl. Soc. Arts 3 715/2 The decimal system makes passage from one unit to another much more easy, but it does not bind us to think in terms of one unit when another would be more convenient.

1931 Amer. Mercury Feb. 242/2 Weingartner..gives the music the lay-out it would certainly have had if Beethoven had been thinking originally in terms of the orchestra.

1965 Listener 3 June 812/2 We were thinking in terms of the politics of democracy and gradualism, of separate African states, each different.

2002 S. Brett Torso in Town (2003) xi. 76 Why is it that men think in terms of enjoying things right now.., whereas women are always thinking in terms of bloody relationships?

e. in —— terms: with regard to the specified subject, sphere, or domain; from a —— point of view.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > agreement > [adjective] > relating to negotiation > negotiating

in terms1567

on (also upon) terms1567

haggling1589

higgling1678

in —— terms1851

chaffering1856

1851 Millennial Harbinger Sept. 483 It [sc. the Holy Spirit] suggested to prophets, apostles, and the ancient evangelists, in human terms, or in visions and dreams, the mind and will of God to man.

1873 D. C. Heron Princ. Jurispr. i. 8 Statistics is the science of social facts expressed in numerical terms.

1913 W. E. Kellicott Textbk. Gen. Embryol. vii. 290 It must readily allow interpretation, in cytological terms, of the enormously complex phenomena of alternative or Mendelian heredity.

1959 D. W. Brogan in F. M. Joseph As Others see Us 4 I was predisposed to see American problems in European terms.

1978 Listener 26 Jan. 119/1 The hour's delay—a mere hiccup in cricketing terms—was caused by politics.

2011 Guardian (Nexis) 4 June 22 The Holocene has only been around for a short period in geological terms.

P2. on (also upon) terms. See also sense 8b.

†a. Engaged in making conditions, negotiating (with). Cf. Phrases 1b. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > agreement > [adjective] > relating to negotiation > negotiating

in terms1567

on (also upon) terms1567

haggling1589

higgling1678

in —— terms1851

chaffering1856

1567 G. Fenton tr. M. Bandello Certaine Tragicall Disc. f. 142 Counterfetting so artyfyciallie their amarus regardes..whilest they were vppon tearmes to obteine her goodwill.

1611 J. More in Hist. MSS Comm.: Rep. MSS Duke of Buccleuch (1899) I. 101 in Parl. Papers (C. 9244) XLVI. 1 He hath not as yet taken a lease himself, but is upon terms to make up his four years to come 31 years.

1783 Encycl. Brit. X. 8750/1 He..confirmed the Bishop of Munster in the alliance of France, at the very time he was on terms with the emperor.

1824 London Mag. Sept. 267/2 The copyright..for which he was on terms with Cotta, of Tübingen.

(a) With qualifying adjective or of: under the specified (type of) conditions or limitations; in the manner specified. Formerly also without qualification or following construction: †on certain conditions; conditionally (obsolete).

ΚΠ

1602 W. Watson tr. E. Pasquier Iesuites Catech. xxv. f. 225^v The Order was established in Rome, and Ignatius chosen Generall, and that vpon termes [Fr. sur cette proposition] of an absolute Gouernour.

1630 P. Massinger Picture sig. I^v I left a letter in my chamber window, Which I would not haue seene on any termes.

1681 J. Phillips Char. Popish Successour 21 The vanquisht come to Capitulate before they yield, and only Surrender upon terms.

1693 J. Dryden tr. Persius Satires vi. 81 Well; on my Terms thou wilt not be my Heir.

1708 London Gaz. No. 4468/1 The Fortress..had surrender'd upon Terms.

1795 T. Peake Cases Nisi Prius 56 (margin) If goods are delivered on the terms of sale or return.

1869 J. Martineau Ess. Philos. & Theol. 2nd Ser. 94 It offers initiation..on the easiest terms.

1909 Eng. Rep. 94 241 He said, that this judgment appears to have been confess'd upon terms at the time of the confessing it.

1965 Life 25 June 85/2 He must prove before the convention assembled that Republican voters would not have Goldwater on any terms.

1990 R. Clay Only Angels Forget ix. 108 Come only when I say so, on my terms, when I've got time for you.

2007 W. Njoya Prop. in Work i. 26 The servant was not free in any real sense to enter into or leave any employment on terms of his choice.

(b) on one's (also its) own terms: as dictated by oneself; without reference to outside influence or authority; in one's own way.

ΚΠ

1617 S. Purchas Pilgrimage (ed. 3) v. vii. §4. 598 Hee sent a present to the Vice-roy with some Treatie of peace, whereof the Vice-roy made light account, thinking first to ouercome vs..and then to treat of peace on his owne termes.

1670 R. Baxter Life of Faith (new ed.) 330 Christ died to procure us that pardoning Covenant, which (on its own terms) will pardon every sin of the Justified when they are committed.

1728 E. Chambers Cycl. Monopoly,..when one or more Persons make themselves sole Masters of any Commodity..; those who have occasion for it being obliged to purchase it at their hands, and on their own terms.

1764 J. Burton Present State Navigation Thames 14 Refusing Carriage of Goods, but on their own Terms.

1832 B. Disraeli Let. 15 May (1982) I. 274 I very much fear that the Whig's are again in, and on their own terms.

1877 Spirit of Times 24 Nov. 452/1 It seems as if Mr. Lorillard would like to make a series of matches on his own terms, over courses of his own selection, and for amounts he stipulates.

1918 Q. Jrnl. Econ. 32 358 The government..could..requisition the residences within them and house workers in them on its own terms.

1968 Q. Crisp Naked Civil Servant xix. 136 I had..imagined that, by strength of will and the use of an unremittingly antiseptic manner, I could have and hold the situation on my own terms.

2012 Billboard 7 Jan. 20/2 We have our own studio, our own label. We do everything on our own terms.

(c) on (also upon) its own terms: without reference to anything else; in or of itself; as it is.

ΚΠ

1741 C. Lucas Pharmacomastix 45 I never met with an object so despicable, that could not command the advice and attendance of numbers of physicians..upon its own terms.

1814 L.-M. Hawkins Rosanne II. xxxvi. 142 This belief I must, in justice, take on its own terms.

1896 Philos. Rev. 5 349 Taking the theory on its own terms it is incomplete, and its inadequacy is apparent in the absence of a philosophy of the fundamental conditions of thought.

1930 Proc. Aristotelian Soc. New Ser. 30 28 This ‘high priori’ way of arguing..is capable (on its own terms) of telling us a great deal about what reason does.

1963 Jrnl. Politics 25 447 But if his work is understood on its own terms, then such a line of argument is..reduced to absurdity.

2014 N.Y. Mag. 17 Feb. 134/2 Taken on its own terms, Emmett's deep-dish is both audibly crunchy and pleasingly bready.

(a) On good terms; on a friendly or amicable footing. Cf. sense 8b.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > on friendly terms [phrase] > on intimate terms

on (also upon) terms1757

on intimate habits1809

1757 Northern Revol. 34 He..judged he might rule each Kingdom sometimes arbitrarily, provided he could keep upon Terms with the two Others.

1795 Mr. Law in H. Yorke Trial for Conspiracy 81 He told you he had rather you went, because he was not on terms with Mr. Yorke.

1815 J. Scott Visit to Paris (ed. 3) xii. 197 Such a lady..is not now on terms with that gentleman—that affair is over long ago.

1864 A. Trollope Small House at Allington I. xvii. 162 The earl and Lord Porlock were not on terms.

1902 Columbia Law Rev. 2 521 Though not on terms with the Church, [he] retains so much respect for the scholastic traditions as to refer to the Latin Fathers.

1971 M. Russell Deadline xv. 182 ‘Of course you had to get on terms with Gregory.’ ‘Now we're like that.’

2013 M. Irwin Skull & Nightingale ii. 19 I was curious to meet these people, since I might one day have to live on terms with them.

(b) Sport (originally Hunting). On terms of equality; on an equal footing; level in position or score. Frequently in to get on terms: to draw level with, catch up to.

ΚΠ

1826 Asiatic Jrnl. & Monthly Reg. Dec. 711/2 They [sc. the hounds] checked for a few minutes, owing to the jackal having headed short away to the right towards Barasett; they however soon got on terms with him again.

1864 Manch. Guardian 18 Apr. 4/3 The two leaders going steadily on at a slow pace enabled the mare to get on terms with them just as they reached the straight run home.

1877 R. H. Roberts Harry Holbrooke of Holbrooke Hall ii. 29 So quickly did the hounds get on terms with their fox.

1897 Daily News 23 July 4/5 In the end Yorkshire got on terms and ran their total to within four of the southern county.

1957 Times 11 Nov. 15/3 Gledhill scored a similar type of goal from Hind's pass to put his side on terms.

1967 Irish Times 9 Oct. 3/8 Three Rock Rovers are fortunate to be back on terms with Railway at the top of the table.

2014 P. Cossins Monuments viii. 138 Moser's misfortune..came just seven kilometres from the line, leaving him no hope of getting back on terms with De Vlaeminck.

d. to stand upon (or on) terms: see stand v. Phrases 1d.

P3. to bring to (also †in) terms: to cause or compel to agree or to be reconciled.

ΚΠ

1595 T. Bedingfield tr. N. Machiavelli Florentine Hist. iv. 99 The Cittie would be brought in termes [It. si condurrebbe in termine], that the Tyrant..should of force fall in our bozome.

1670 J. Milton Hist. Brit. Index sig. Tt Their whole Army being defeated, they [sc. the Danes] are brought to terms by King Alfred.

1797 tr. E. de Vattel Law Nations (new ed.) iii. viii. 347 When we find gentler methods insufficient to conquer their resistance and bring them to terms, we have a right to put them to death.

1856 United Service Mag. Mar. 415 Having sent an army against Feerooz, he succeeded in bringing him to terms.

1905 Amer. Hist. Rev. 11 53 The only way to bring them to terms would be to march a strong body of troops into their country, overawe them with this show of force..and then make a comprehensive treaty.

1998 Internat. Jrnl. 53 664 A mechanistic view that held out hope that East-West tensions could be managed and brought to terms by diplomacy and accommodation.

P4. to come to terms. Cf. coming to terms n. at coming n. Phrases 2.

a. To agree on conditions, come to an agreement (with); cf. to make terms at Phrases 6.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > agreement > make an agreement [verb (intransitive)]

accord?a1160

to make (a) finec1325

covenantc1330

compound1419

packc1450

patisec1475

conclude1477

compone1478

bargain1483

article1526

make1530

compact1535

to dispense with1569

temporize1579

to make termsa1599

to strike (a person) luck1599

to be compromised1600

compacka1618

stipulatea1648

to come to terms1657

sort1685

paction1725

to cry off1775

pact1904

1657 W. Hughes tr. J. Sleidanus in Munster & Abingdon vi. 15 They came to Termes [L. ventum est ad compositionem], where by it was provided, That every man should keepe his owne Religion.

a1734 R. North Lives of Norths (1826) II. 231 The creditors..rather than to contest accounts, came to terms, and agreed to take shares.

1786 J. Andrews Hist. War with Amer. II. xviii. 145 The longer we delayed in coming to terms with our Colonies, the greater the danger would be, that the instigations of foreigners would render them indifferent or averse to treating.

1815 Analectic Mag. May 390 Let us suppose, which heaven avert! that we are conquered, or are obliged to come to terms.

1894 Pop. Sci. Monthly Oct. 862/2 If a man has a dispute with a neighbor who refuses to come to terms, these lions may be hired to destroy his cattle.

1945 Time 10 Dec. 44/2 Without hope of across-the-board success until the U.K. and the U.S. came to terms in their Washington deal.

2012 A. Stewart Very Brit. Experience ix. 156 A refusal to come to terms with the German leader in 1940 meant that Hitler would have to fight a two-front war.

b. To reconcile oneself; to come to an acceptance. Usually with with, indicating the thing one comes to accept.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > absence of resistance > accept without resistance [verb (transitive)] > put up with or become reconciled to

bear1540

reconcile1543

to take up with1609

to come to terms1860

to live with ——1937

1860 P. A. Smith Hist. Educ. Eng. Bar vii. 154 Let a man come to terms with himself, and resolve that, according to his power, he will not allow himself to live a mere cypher.

1923 J. B. Priestley I for One 235 The few [pictures] that it has do not seem so bright, so ideal, but seem to have come to terms with sad reality.

1970 L. Deighton Bomber i. 12 Each of the airmen guests was already coming to terms with the return to duty.

1991 ‘W. Trevor’ My House in Umbria iv, in Two Lives (1992) 279 It was a way of coming to terms, of finding something to cling to in the muddle; I dare say it's natural that people would.

2001 Advocate 16 Jan. 74/3 When did you finally come to terms with being gay—high school, college?

P5. to keep terms.

a. Also to keep the (also one's) terms and variants.

(a) Of a student: to fulfil certain requirements stipulated by his or her university, in order to take a course or to graduate; spec. (at Oxford, Cambridge, and certain other universities) to reside at the university or within a prescribed distance of it during (the majority of) each academic term.Earliest in figurative context.

ΚΠ

1640 D. Featley et al. Θρηνοικος xli. 819 We cannot take our degrees in Christs schoole per saltem, we must keepe our Termes, and performe our exercises, both of faith, obedience, and patience.

1705 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. 4 Dec. (O.H.S.) I. 114 He might be admitted to the Degree of Master of Arts, without..keeping Terms.

1768 G. Whitefield Let. to Dr. Durell (ed. 2) 19 Were our Students..to be thus exercised and employed, while they are keeping terms at the University,..when they return home in time of Vacation, they would not turn out such meer novices.

1815 A. Chalmers Gen. Biogr. Dict. (new ed.) XIX. 120 From his first entrance into the university, until Michaelmas 1768, when he took his bachelor's degree, he had kept terms regularly.

1874 Cal. Univ. N.Z. 22 Any person matriculated to the University, and whose name shall be upon the books of an affiliated college, and who shall have passed the yearly College examination, shall be deemed to have kept the three Terms of that year.

1921 Dublin Univ. Cal. 1921–2 44 Also unless exempted he must have kept the three terms of his Senior Sophister year by Lectures.

1990 VUW Cal. (Victoria Univ. Wellington) 86 An internal student shall keep terms by complying with the University regulations regarding enrolment and payment of fees, attending the classes in that subject..and performing..such written, oral, practical and other work as the Professorial Board may require.

2001 D. Maskell & I. Robinson New Idea University ix. 75 Unlike Mr Major, he went to university and unlike Mr Collins he did more than keep terms.

(b) Of a trainee barrister: to dine in one's Inn (see Inn of Court n. at inn n. Phrases 2a(a)) a requisite number of times, as part of the requirements for being called to the bar.Students are currently required to dine at least 12 times, but participation in certain training events may also count towards this requirement.

ΚΠ

a1657 C. Croke Fortune's Uncertainty (1667) 95 He begins once more to work at the rough and hard Anvil of the Law, he keeps the Terms, is call'd to the Bar, and for a time goes on with delight.

1781 Gentleman's Mag. May 221/1 A clergyman with a small living may afford to pay four pounds a year..for ten years; and yet be utterly unable to keep terms for a law degree, which is a very serious expence.

1794 Fair Methodist I. xii. 47 With this gentleman Florimund passed thro' the usual time of probationship; and..kept his terms in the Temple with a view to attend the bar in Jamaica.

1848 R. R. Pearce Hist. Inns of Court xi. 392 In the Inner Temple, to keep a term, the student must dine in the hall of the society two days in each of two separate full weeks of the term.

1955 ‘N. Shute’ Requiem for Wren (1956) 182 I had another year of keeping terms and eating dinners to do before I could be called to the Bar.

2003 R. Codlin Hist. Found. Jamaican Law ix. 187 Before a young barrister can be called to the bar he or she must keep terms.

†(a) With modifying word or clause: to deal with or treat a person in a particular way. With indirect object or with. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

a1605 ( in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1827) 2nd Ser. I. 133 Seyinge the evill termes that the Kynge hathe kept hym, and cast hym out of the realme.

1748 S. Richardson Clarissa V. xxxviii. 284 What terms wouldst thou have me to keep with such a sweet corruptress?

(b) To have or maintain amicable or cooperative relations (with a person or party); to continue to deal with. Also figurative. Now somewhat rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > social relations > have social communication with [verb (transitive)]

intercommunec1374

dealc1380

usec1384

intercommonc1430

resort?1518

minglea1593

use1594

intercoursea1604

sociate1635

to keep termsa1673

shoulder1851

tangle1928

a1673 T. Horton 100 Select Serm. (1679) vi. 42/2 God will give them that which they desire to try them, and to see how well they will keep terms with him.

1726 tr. G. Daniel Hist. France III. 31 Raising him to such a pitch of power, as might render him formidable, and themselves necessary for the support of the state and sovereign, who wou'd be obliged more then ever to keep terms with them.

1751 J. Hill Hist. Woman of Quality iii. vii. 161 There was no Reason for his now keeping Terms any longer with Lord B—.

1806 R. Cumberland Mem. (1807) I. 184 A profusion of finery, that kept no terms with simplicity.

1847 J. S. Le Fanu Fortunes Torlough O'Brien xxv. 176 Come, come—we must keep terms; it's better to have a cup of sack than to draw daggers on one another.

1906 Canad. Mag. Feb. 323/1 Besides reason,..man has sentiment, distinct from reason though bound to keep terms with it on pain of becoming nonsense.

2010 S. A. H. Haqqi Chingiz Khan i. 19 Jamuka for his part, considered it worthwhile to keep terms with Temuchin.

P6. to make terms: to agree on conditions, come to terms; chiefly with with.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > agreement > make an agreement [verb (intransitive)]

accord?a1160

to make (a) finec1325

covenantc1330

compound1419

packc1450

patisec1475

conclude1477

compone1478

bargain1483

article1526

make1530

compact1535

to dispense with1569

temporize1579

to make termsa1599

to strike (a person) luck1599

to be compromised1600

compacka1618

stipulatea1648

to come to terms1657

sort1685

paction1725

to cry off1775

pact1904

a1599 E. Spenser View State Ireland 82 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) He dare now front Princes, and make tearmes with great potentates.

1652 French Occurr. No. 7. 51 The Citizens, and others are in a great fear lest the prince of Conde out of his enmity to the new Cardinal, should make terms with the old.

1701 Present Disposition Eng. Considered 6 Procured the Names of those..that had got Pardons, or made Terms with King James.

1760 Mod. Part Universal Hist. XXIV. xi. iv. 537 This gave the house of Austria an advantage..whenever the Protestant princes in Germany were reduced to make terms.

1814 L.-M. Hawkins Rosanne III. liv. 68 Lord Montrylas, whose favour seemed of value with one or both, assuming a tone of pleasantry, made terms with them.

1884 Times (Weekly ed.) 17 Oct. 14/1 The Amarars have made terms with the Hadendowas, giving them a number of cattle.

1907 Pop. Mech. Jan. 166/1 The later patentee must either make terms with the earlier patentee, or wait until the earlier patent is dead.

1965 M. H. Keen Laws War in Late Middle Ages viii. 120 This threat so terrified the garrison of the fort that they made terms at once.

2009 Financial Times 2 Apr. 13/2 Bastions of banking secrecy such as Switzerland, Liechenstein and Singapore have sought to make terms with the OECD.

P7. terms of reference: the points referred to an individual or group for decision or report; the scope and limitations of an inquiry, review, etc.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of ideation > topic, subject-matter > [noun] > defining theme

terms of reference1819

1819 Morning Chron. 3 Feb. The great question between him and the Chancellor of the Exchequer was, that the terms of reference should be distinct.

1892 Daily Graphic 30 Dec. (Suppl.) 3/1 On the 14th October the constitution of the Commission and the exact terms of reference were made known.

1921 Board Educ., Teaching Eng. in Eng. 3 Our terms of reference do not include Wales.

1967 G. F. Fiennes I tried to run Railway vii. 88 We wrote ourselves new terms of reference in that sense.

2014 Austral. Financial Rev. (Nexis) 2 July (Opinion section) 47 The terms of reference for the government's white paper on the reform of the federation are ambitious but the review process is bureaucratic.

P8. terms of trade: the ratio of an index of a country's export prices to an index of its import prices, used to measure its trading prospects.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > importing and exporting > [noun] > balance of trade

balance of trade1690

trade balance1787

terms of trade1923

1923 A. Marshall Money, Credit, & Commerce vi. 161 Illustration of the demands of each of two countries which trade together, for the goods of the other: and the general dependence of the terms of trade on the relative volumes and intensities of those demands.

1957 A. C. L. Day Outl. Monetary Econ. xxxi. 399 Home terms of trade. [Note] An index of the home price of exports divided by the home price of imports.

1976 Economist 16 Oct. 22/3 Until exports expand enough, and/or imports fall enough, to offset the terms of trade deterioration, a devaluation makes the balance of payments worse before better.

2015 Guardian (Nexis) 15 Dec. In the May budget the terms of trade in 2015–16 was expected to fall 8.5%; now it is expected to fall 10.5%.

P9. Chiefly Law. for (also †to) term of (a person's) life: as long as the person in question lives; until the person's death. Now historical.Formerly also without for or to. [After Anglo-Norman a terme de vie, a terme de sa vie (both late 13th cent. or earlier), pur terme de vie, pur terme de sa vie (both late 14th cent. or earlier); compare post-classical Latin ad terminum vite to term of life (from 13th cent. in British sources).]

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > source or principle of life > [noun] > course or span of life

life-dayOE

year-daysOE

timeOE

dayOE

lifeOE

life's timeOE

livelihoodOE

yearOE

lifetimea1300

life-whilea1300

for (also to) term of (a person's) lifea1325

coursec1384

livingc1390

voyage1390

agea1398

life's dayc1425

thread1447

racea1450

living daysc1450

natural life1461

lifeness1534

twist1568

leasec1595

span1599

clew1615

marcha1625

peregrination1653

clue1684

stamen1701

life term1739

innings1772

lifelong1814

pass-through1876

inning1885

natural1891

life cycle1915

puff1967

the world > life > source or principle of life > [adverb] > in one's life > for remaining period of one's life

for (also to) term of (a person's) lifea1325

for life1548

a1325 Statutes of Realm (2011) vii. 60 Pasture þat is in tenauntes hond..to terme of liue, oþer of ȝeres, oþer in feo itailled.

1376 in L. Morsbach Mittelengl. Originalurkunden (1923) 2 (MED) Þe forsede londes fulle in-to water Dunes hond and his heires, and in pes held he terme of his lif, and his heires after him, with-oute chalenges of any man.

c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 171 And there he lyueth in ioye and in honour Terme of his lyue.

1504 W. Copulldyke Will in B. Cusack Everyday Eng. 1500–1700 (1998) 327 I will that my wyffe hawe hyre Iwnter without eny interrupcion terme of hyre lyfe.

1528–30 tr. T. Littleton Tenures (new ed.) f. iii The husbande hathe estate in the speciall tayle, and the wyfe but for terme of lyfe.

1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 725 That Henry the Sixth should enjoy the right of the kingdome for tearme of life only.

1788 V. Knox Winter Evenings I. iii. 34 What men draw from their education generally sticks by them for term of life.

1830 Laws Commonw. for Governm. Mass. State Prison 13 Confinement to hard labor, for term of life or years.

1877 G. Hill Hist. Acct. Plantation in Ulster i. 32 The castles, hereditaments, and lands, hereby appointed to Sir Tirlagh, excepted only for term of his life.

1955 Econ. Hist. Rev. 7 351 William Sergeant of Wolveston had a licence to lease three of his fifteen acres, one in each field, for term of his life.

2016 N. G. Jones in M. Godfrey Law & Authority in Brit. Legal Hist. ii. 24 Sir John Wilshire..provided in his will that his widow should enjoy the premises for term of her life.

P10. in (also over) the long (also short, medium, etc.) term and variants: over or for a period or the specified length.Cf. long-term adj. and adv., medium-term adj. at medium n. and adj. Compounds 1a, short-term adj.

ΚΠ

1938 Econ. Jrnl. 48 522 Their actions in the short term are overridingly governed by the profit-motive.

1954 H. W. Florey Lect. Gen. Pathol. i. 16 Chronic diseases..are generally more severe in their immediate effects, though by no means the more damaging in the long term.

1981 Amer. Libraries May 243/2 This will result in some small problems in the short term but in the medium term will result in a more efficiently filed catalog.

1998 Egypt in Global Econ. (World Bank) vi. 62 The most critical reform initiative in the short- to medium-term should be to improve the management of social security funds.

2015 Daily Mail 21 May 57/1 In the long term, UV rays are thought to contribute to cataracts and macular degeneration.

Compounds

C1.

a. General attributive.See also term day n., term time n.

ΚΠ

1841 W. Francis et al. tr. C. F. Gauss & W. Weber in R. Taylor Sci. Mem. II. ii. 22 Eight terms in the year were agreed upon,..during which the variations were to be noted from hour to hour... These term-observations were made for the first time on the 20th and 21st of March, 1834.

1881 Parl. Deb. 3rd Ser. 261 1276 The whole course of legislation in Scotland had been to do away with those customary term dates.

1955 A. N. Prior Formal Logic ii. iii. 158 The nearest thing to a general term-variable in the functional calculus is the predicate-variable (ϕ, etc.).

1968 Mariner's Mirror 54 102 I can recall a term-mate of mine in the Hampshire being mast-headed towards the end of 1914.

1992 New Scientist 18 Apr. 47/1 A few term-appointments would still be needed to take up the slack of different levels of funding from year to year.

2008 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 6 Oct. b10/1 The New York Times has historically opposed term limits for city offices.

term end n.

ΚΠ

a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) II. f. cxxi/1 At which Terme ende, They sette fyre upon the Towne.

1661 T. Riders Black Remembrancer (single sheet) (table) February..12..Term end.

1822 S. Hibbert-Ware Illustr. Customs Manor 15th Cent. App. II. 14 If the tenant hold his farm unto the terme, and remove unto another place at the term end, [etc.].

1955 Princeton Alumni Weekly 11 Feb. 14/1 The net result was a costly setback in their respective leagues for both outfits as action resumed following the term-end examination break.

2003 Log Home Design Ideas Jan. 97/2 Payments often cover interest only with principal due in full at the term end.

C2. attributive. Insurance. Designating a life insurance policy which pays out should the policyholder die within a specified period, and which has no value once this term has expired; of or relating to such insurance; cf. whole-life adj. (a) at whole adj., n., and adv. Compounds 1b.

ΘΚΠ

society > trade and finance > financial dealings > insurance > [adjective] > insurance policy types

tontine1790

whole-life1832

term1834

floating1839

all risks1885

third party1901

non-profit1905

knock for knock1906

stamped1913

warehouse to warehouse1922

without-profit(s)1924

with-profit(s)1924

loaded1928

unit-linked1966

no-fault1967

new-for-old1984

critical illness1986

1834 Observer 17Aug. 1/1 (advt.) The full advantage of a whole life insurance may be secured by a smaller advance than is necessary for a term Policy in the generality of offices.

1885 Frank Leslie's Illustr. Newspaper 3 Oct. 112/2 (advt.) Renewable term life insurance as offered only by the Provident Savings Life Assurance Society of New York.

a1911 C. F. Trenerry Origin & Early Hist. Insurance (1926) ix. 142 In the case of the term insurance the policy may or may not mature, in that of a whole-life policy it must mature.

1979 Globe & Mail (Toronto) (Nexis) 2 Aug. Imperial life also lowered some term premiums.

2009 Kiplinger's Personal Finance Sept. 66/2 When you buy a term policy, be sure you understand the details of your conversion rights, if any.

C3. attributive. Designating a birth which takes place after the full length of a normal pregnancy; designating a baby born in this way or a pregnancy of this type; = full term adj. Cf. sense 5b and also preterm adj., post-term adj.

ΚΠ

1891 Trans. Obstetr. Soc. 1890 32 401 After being under treatment for a severe attack of rheumatism she became pregnant, and had successful term-deliveries.

1894 C. Jewett Outl. Obstetr. 107 The presentation is pelvic in 3 per cent. of term births.

1938 Child Devel. 9 347 The phenomenon one would expect if the babies are developing at an accelerated rate that enables them eventually to catch up with term babies of their own birth age.

2001 Oxoniensia 65 320 A term baby is born between the 38th and 42nd week of gestation.

2007 R. A. Word & X.-H. Li in F. Petraglia et al. Preterm Birth ii. 19/2 In term pregnancy, cervical ripening precedes myometrial contractions of labor.

C4.

term catalogue n. now historical (in England) a list of books published in London during each quarterly law term.Term catalogues were produced from 1668 to 1709 (an isolated issue from Easter 1711 also survives).

ΘΚΠ

society > communication > book > book list > [noun] > list of books during a term or quarter

term catalogue1681

1681 in L. Womock Verdict upon Dissenters Plea 46 The General Catalogue of Books printed in England since the dreadful Fire of London in 1666. to the end of Trinity-Term 1680. (with the Term Catalogue since Printed).

a1704 T. Brown Dial. in Wks. (1720) IV. 190 One of 'em preaches against Oppression and Covetousness once a Month at least, and perhaps has appear'd in a Term-Catalogue upon that Subject.

1772 W. Huddesford in Life A. Wood 395 (note) in Lives Eminent Antiquaries II. He sent a Submission to the said Earl, to have it put into the Term Catalogues, Gazette, &c.

1906 E. Arber (title) The Term Catalogues 1668–1709 a.d. A Contemporary Bibliography of English Literature in the reigns of Chas. II, Jas. II, Wm. and Mary, and Anne.

2011 M. Yeo Acquisition of Bks. by Chetham's Libr. ii. 48 The trustees certainly consulted items like the Term Catalogues and booksellers' catalogues in their choices.

† term-driver n. Obsolete (perhaps) a person who attends court during law terms; = term-trotter n. (a).Apparently an isolated use.

ΘΚΠ

society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > action of courts in claims or grievances > party in litigation > [noun] > one who comes to law-courts for term

term-suitor1602

term-trotter1607

term-driver1633

1633 P. Massinger New Way to pay Old Debts ii. ii. sig. E2^v This terme-driuer Marrall, This snippe of an Attourney.

term fee n. Law (now historical) any of various types of fee paid by or to a lawyer every law term; esp. a fee charged to a client for each term his or her case is in court; cf. termage fee n. at termage n. Compounds.

ΚΠ

1647 Questions propounded conc. Remedies 5 Clerkes.., do not deserve to themselves the usuall tearm Fees, which usually have been paid to undeserving persons.

1736 Discontent 12 The needy Lawyer, banish'd from Term Fees.

1826 Chancery Comm.: Copy Rep. App. 572 (table) in Parl. Papers (H.C. 143) XVI. 1 Hawkins v. Miles, term fee..6s. 8d.

1859 Rules Law Soc. Upper Canada 20 Every member of this Society shall, after his Call to the Bar, pay to the Society..a Term fee of two shillings and six-pence in each and every Term.

1935 M. Seymour & E. Forgeous Lawyer of Kent vi. 25 The first list, that of January, 1797, shows three term fees and an ‘arguing fee’.

2003 J. Baker Oxf. Hist. Laws Eng. VI. 235 Like attorneys, proctors took a term fee of 3s. 4d. as against the advocates' 6s. 8d.

term figure n. a statue or bust ending in a square pillar from which it appears to emerge; = sense 15.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > plastic art > statuary > [noun] > statue > bust or torso

block1535

term1604

busto1626

torse1634

terminus1638

busty1684

bust1691

shoulder-piece1692

protome1737

torso1797

portrait bust1827

terminal1876

term figure1880

1880 J. L. Warren Guide Study Book-plates iii. 23 Male and female term-figures, busts of fairies.

1946 Furnishings of H. H. Whitney Resid. (Parke-Bernet Galleries) 112 Voluted wall bracket supporting a finely sculptured bearded term figure.

2000 M. Campbell in E. P. Bowron & J. J. Rishel Art in Rome in 18th Cent. 572/1 Some vegetation..encrusts the satyr term figure who appears immediately in front of and so close to him that the two statues appear engaged in conversation.

term-keeping n. now chiefly historical observance of a term at a law court, university, etc., (see sense 4a), esp. as regards attendance or residence in a particular place; cf. to keep terms (see Phrases 5a).

ΚΠ

1794 T. Holcroft Adventures Hugh Trevor III. vi. 97 I therefore entered myself of the Temple, and thus began another snail-pace journey of term keeping.

1845 John Bull 1 Nov. 701/3 The inns of court operations,..and term-keeping with the view of a call to the bar, recommence on Sunday next.

1913 Jrnl. Educ. (Univ. of Boston School of Educ.) 4 Sept. 202/1 The expensive tutoring and cramming which not infrequently win ‘honors’ for those whose term-keeping has been comparatively idle and careless.

2011 P. Girard Lawyers & Legal Culture in Brit. North Amer. xi. 200 With its requirements of term-keeping at Osgoode Hall..the education and socialization of lawyers was more centralized in Upper Canada than in the other colonies.

term paper n. U.S. Education a long essay or dissertation on a subject drawn from the work done during a school or college term.

ΘΚΠ

society > education > educational administration > examination > [noun] > other examinations

recitation1770

screw1810

term paper1873

trade test1880

City and Guilds1882

entry exam1886

inter1891

pop quiz1931

1873 President's Rep. 1872–3 (Mass. Inst. Technol.) 25 The final term papers, only, are wholly or mainly relied on to determine the student's standing.

1931 High School Jrnl. 14 17 A long term paper that will incorporate the results of a semester's reading.

2005 Weekly World News 12 Dec. 15/1 He paid other students to write his term papers so he could be free to party.

† term-piece n. Nautical Obsolete a piece of carved timber fitted under either end of the taffrail of a wooden ship; = sense 16.

ΘΚΠ

society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > parts of vessels > body of vessel > rear part of vessel > [noun] > flat part > upper (ornamented) part of

tafferel1704

term-piece1711

term1781

taffrail1814

truss1823

stern-rail1846

tafferel-rail1846

1711 W. Sutherland Ship-builders Assistant 75 (table) Term Pieces or Drift Pieces sided.

1781 M. Stalkartt Naval Archit. v. xiii. 174 Demi-figures of Fame sounding their praise, fill the term-pieces.

1850 J. Greenwood Sailor's Sea-bk. 157 Truss, short pieces of carved-work, mostly in small ships, fitted under the taffrail in the same manner as the term-pieces.

term sheet n. U.S. Business a document setting out the terms on which an offer of funds or other commercial proposal is made.

ΚΠ

1894 Penny Press (Minneapolis) 28 Sept. 1/1 (advt.) If you live out of town, send 10c for our big 1894 catalogue and our term sheet.

1921 Southeastern Reporter 106 556 The whole case turns on the construction of the invoice and what is called the ‘term sheet’, which accompanied the invoice and was made a part of it.

2011 Billboard 2 Apr. 6/1 Most of these features were included in the term sheet that the search giant circulated last year among label executives.

† term-suitor n. Obsolete rare a plaintiff bringing a suit to court during a law term.

ΘΚΠ

society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > action of courts in claims or grievances > party in litigation > [noun] > one who comes to law-courts for term

term-suitor1602

term-trotter1607

term-driver1633

1602 R. Carew Surv. Cornwall i. f. 89 The Terme-suiters may best speed their businesse.

term symbol n. (a) Logic a symbol in a given formal language, esp. one representing a definite object or property in the domain of discourse; (b) Physics (in early use) any of a series of letters used to signify the orbital quantum number of an atom; (in later use) an expression used to describe the atomic state of an atom, consisting of a letter signifying its orbital quantum number, preceded by its spin multiplicity written in superscript, and (sometimes) followed by the quantum number, written in subscript, representing its total angular momentum (cf. sense 14d).

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > physics > atomic physics > decomposition of light, spectrum > [noun] > component of wave number > symbol of

term symbol1856

1856 Trans. Cambr. Philos. Soc. 9 89 There is, in fact (independently of the omission of term-symbols), a very material difference.

1923 Proc. Royal Soc. A. 103 416 The azimuthal component of the total quantum number is sufficiently indicated by the associated term symbols s, p, d, f.

2014 R. Moot in C. Casadio et al. Categories & Types in Logic, Lang., & Physics 326 The use of complex terms moves us rather close to the indexed grammars, where complex unary term symbols play the role of a stack of indices.

2015 B. W. Pfennig Princ. Inorg. Chem. xvi. 541 Term symbols relate to the different energy levels that arise from a particular electron configuration.

term-trotter n. (a) a person who visits or resides in London during a legal term; = termer n. 1; cf. term-driver n. (obsolete); (b) University slang (chiefly Oxford University) a student who observes the university terms merely as a formality; esp. one who spends as little time at university as possible (now historical).

ΘΚΠ

society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > action of courts in claims or grievances > party in litigation > [noun] > one who comes to law-courts for term

term-suitor1602

term-trotter1607

term-driver1633

society > education > learning > learner > college or university student > [noun] > non-working student

term-trotter1782

1607 T. Middleton Phoenix sig. C I haue beene a Tearme-trotter my selfe anye time this fiue and fortie yeares.

1782 V. Knox Ess. I. 336 The majority are what are called term-trotters, that is, persons who only keep the terms for form-sake..to qualify them for degrees.

1805 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 14 566 His modesty has induced him to take a title, which any term-trotter may assume, almost as soon as matriculated.

1809 Monthly Mirror Jan. 6 Mr. Hilary is as smart, spruce, smirking, a Term-trotter, as ever paraded Westminster-Hall in black stockings and white buckles.

1857 T. Wright Dict. Obsolete & Provinc. Eng. Termers, persons who visited the metropolis only at term-time, and chiefly to live by intrigues or tricks. Called also term-trotters.

1907 M. A. R. Tuker Cambridge iii. 183 The Cambridge degree was still something better than the Oxford when at the end of that century [sc. the 18th] aspirants for degrees at both universities were adequately described as ‘term-trotters’.

2003 J. P. Raines & C. G. Leathers Econ. Inst. Higher Educ. ii. 28 The majority of candidates were not residents, but ‘term-trotters’ who spent the minimal weeks in the University to qualify them according to the letter of the Statutes.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2017; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	term
释义	termn. Brit. /təːm/, U.S. /tərm/ Forms: Middle English terem, Middle English tereme, Middle English tierme, Middle English (1500s Scottish) teryme, Middle English 1600s teerme, Middle English–1600s (1700s Scottish) tearme, Middle English–1800s terme, Middle English– term, 1500s–1700s (1800s English regional (northern)) tearm, 1600s (1800s English regional (northern) and Irish English) tarm, 1800s teeram (English regional (northern)), 1800s–1900s tierm (English regional (northern)); also Scottish pre-1700 tayrme, pre-1700 teirme, pre-1700 terrme, pre-1700 teyrme, pre-1700 1700s tarme, 1700s tarm, 1800s– tairm. Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French terme. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman term, tearme, Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French, French terme, Old French (Flanders) tierme fixed point in time at which something is to happen (c1050), extremity, completion of the period of pregnancy, period of time having definite limits, date at which a payment of money is due (all 12th cent.), end, cessation (late 12th cent.; end of the 13th cent. with reference to death, in li termes de ma vie ), boundary, confine, territory, stipulated condition or requirement (all 13th cent. and usually in plural), period of tenure (c1300 or earlier), word, expression (early 14th cent. or earlier; late 14th cent. specifically with reference to technical expressions, and (in plural) in sense ‘manner of expression, way of speaking’), (in plural) state, situation, circumstances (c1340), (in plural) relationship with another person (c1340; frequently in bons termes , mauvais termes ), goal, (in logic) any of the propositions in a syllogism (both late 14th cent.), periodic payment, rent (first half of the 15th cent. or earlier), statue or bust of the Roman god Terminus (1535), in Anglo-Norman also interest in land or property that lasts for a fixed period (late 13th cent. or earlier), period during which a court is in session (c1300 or earlier), session of a law court during each of four specified periods (first half of the 14th cent. or earlier), period of instruction in school or university (15th cent. or earlier) < either classical Latin terminus (with syncope of the medial syllable and assimilation of consonants) or perhaps the closely related classical Latin termin- , termen (see notes). Compare later termine n.Latin influence on English senses. The semantic development of the English noun was influenced by the senses (chiefly in post-classical Latin) of classical Latin terminus boundary marker, furthest point, frontier, endmost point, extremity, limit, extent, end, god presiding over boundaries and landmarks, in post-classical Latin also in logical and mathematical senses (6th cent. in Boethius; see note below on Greek influence on Latin senses), territory (Vulgate), fixed date or point in time (frequently from 8th cent. in British sources), fixed period of time (from 10th cent. in British sources), condition, stipulation (from 11th cent. in British sources), (in astrology) portion of the zodiac (from 12th cent. in British sources), word, expression (especially in technical vocabulary) (frequently from 13th cent. in British and continental sources), legal or academic term (frequently from 13th cent. in British sources), term day (frequently from 13th cent. in British sources, especially in legal use), life estate or interest (14th cent. in a British source). Greek influence on Latin senses. The use of terminus in post-classical Latin with reference to logic, mathematics, and language (compare branch IV.) was significantly influenced by that of ancient Greek ὅρος boundary, boundary marker, limit (see horizon n.), which was used by Aristotle in the sense ‘term of a proposition’, probably as an extension of an earlier sense ‘term of a mathematical ratio’ (in Aristotle and Euclid, and earlier in a text by the mathematician Archytas), which may itself have developed from a sense ‘note forming the boundary of a musical interval’ (in Plato). For further discussion see W. D. Ross in Aristotle Prior & Posterior Analytics (1949) 290. Aristotle also used the word with the sense ‘definition’. The senses of classical Latin terminus correspond quite closely with the core senses of ὅρος , and in post-classical Latin, terminus was therefore used by Boethius to translate the logical and mathematical senses of ὅρος from works by Aristotle and Nicomachus of Gerasa respectively, and to translate its sense ‘definition’ from the Topica of Aristotle. The latter use gave rise to the application, widespread in the 13th cent., of terminus to any word used in a definite or limited sense: for examples, see A. Maierù Terminologia logica della tarda scolastica (1972) 682-5. Latin etymology. For the further etymology of classical Latin terminus see terminus n. The rare classical Latin termin-, termen (neuter) boundary marker, god presiding over such a marker, end or limit (of a period of time), in post-classical Latin also fixed date or point in time (11th cent. in British sources, or earlier) is < the same Italic base. Parallels in other languages. Compare Old Occitan terme (12th cent.), Catalan terme (11th cent.), Spanish término (first half of the 12th cent.), Portuguese término end, end point, limited period of time, extremity (13th cent.), termo end, end point, border, region, expression, condition, fixed date in time (14th cent.), Italian termine (early 13th cent.), †termino (13th cent.). Compare also ( < French) Middle Dutch term, teerm (Dutch term), German Term (early 15th cent.), all in a similar range of senses, and also Middle Low German term, tirm, Middle High German terme, tirme, both in senses ‘boundary’ and ‘boundary marker’. Variation in vowel quantity in Middle English. The testimony of 16th- and 17th-cent. orthoepists shows that the quantity of the stressed vowel appears to have varied in Middle English; see E. J. Dobson Eng. Pronunc. 1500–1700 (ed. 2, 1968) II. §8.(2). I. A point in time; a span of time. 1. a. A fixed point of time at which something is to be done, or which is the beginning or end of a period; a set or appointed time or date, esp. for payment of money due. Now historical except as in sense 1b. ΘΚΠ the world > time > particular time > [noun] > an appointed or fixed time, day, or date tidea900 stemOE stevena1225 term?c1225 dayc1300 term dayc1300 stagea1325 hourc1380 setnessa1400 tryst1488 journeyc1500 big day1827 trysting day1842 ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 155 Ed halden oðeres. hure ouer his richte terme nis hit reaflac strong. c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 5777 Þe welisse king..sende him þes wolues fram ȝere to ȝere, Þre þousend at certein terme. 1398 in C. Innes Liber Sancte Marie de Melros (1837) 490 [Gif] defaut be of þir paymentis..ovre runnene ande ganeby sex wowkis daye eftir þe lymite terme. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 5939 Sett vs term wen We sal for þe prai. 1479 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 51 x marcs at too termes of the yeer. a1500 (?c1450) Merlin iii. 41 Vortiger..somowned his peple a-geyn the tierme that Merlyn hadde seide. 1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. lxix. 190 They all haue..their set..termes before which they had no being at all. 1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ i. vi. §3 There was no certainty in the ancient Græcian history, because they had no certain term..from whence to deduce their accounts. 1683 P. Rycaut tr. Plutarch Compar. Numa with Lycurgus in J. Dryden et al. tr. Plutarch Lives I. 269 He..would fix no set term of age, when Men or Women should be esteemed capable of giving their consents to each other in Marriage. 1727 A. Hamilton New Acct. E. Indies II. xlvii. 188 When the Term of Payment came, they eloped. 1793 tr. P.-A. Grouvelle in Message President U.S. to Congr. 7 State securities..reimbursable on a given term. 1827 W. Scott Chron. Canongate ii Fortune is apt to circumduce the term upon us. 1889 Cases Court of Session 4th Ser. 16 55 We must see whether there is anything in the phrase ‘respectively’ which can create for John Lundie junior a different term of payment from the terms at which his brothers are to receive their shares. 1995 P. S. Baker & M. Lapidge Byrhtferth's Enchiridion 141 (heading) De Terminibvs Pasche Inveniendis... Finding the Easter term. b. spec. Chiefly (and now only) Scottish. Each of the quarterly days fixed by custom on which some tenancies begin and end and the payment of wages, rent, interest, etc., fall due, esp. Whitsunday and Martinmas; = term day n. 2. Formerly also English regional (northern): either of two days (Whitsunday and Martinmas) on which hiring fairs were held and servants and farm labourers hired, typically for the next six months (obsolete except in term time n. 2).Formerly also applied (in e.g. quot. a1475) to the English quarter days (see quarter day n.).The quarterly terms in Scotland, fixed by statute in 1690 and 1693, are Candlemas (2 February), Whitsunday (15 May), Lammas (1 August), and Martinmas (11 November). When the Gregorian calendar was introduced in 1752, Old Style dating was observed in most parts of Scotland for the terms, making the dates practically in use eleven days later. Under the Removal Terms (Scotland) Act (1886) the ‘removal terms’ for moving house were fixed as 28 May and 28 November, the dates fixed in 1690 and 1693 remaining for the purposes of rent, interest, etc. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > payment > [noun] > periodic payment > time of term1393 Whitsunday1450 quarter1644 term day1681 term time1770 1393 in C. Innes Registrum Honoris de Morton (1853) II. 193 [He] sal pay..at the terme of Martimes nest folowande. 1434 ( in C. Rogers Chartulary Priory of Coldstream (1879) 43 Payand till ws zerli xls...at thua vsuel termes of ye zher y^t is to say Qwitsonday and Martimes. a1475 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Godstow Nunnery (1905) i. 104 xij. d. of rente yerely..to be resceived of Raf Marchaunte and his heires at ij. termes of the yere, that is to sey, vj. d. at the fest of oure lady in Marche and vj. d. at the fest of seynt Michell. 1584 Exch. Rolls Scot. XXI. 600 Sa far as thay ar detbound of the said Witsounday terme. 1633 Proclam. Charles I 28 June (single sheet) The Provest and Bayliffs of each burgh, to make payment of the taxt and stent thereof, to the sayd Collector generall,..having his power to receive the same at the sayd feast and tearm of Martinmasse. 1670 R. Graham Angliæ Speculum Morale 30 By the next Term [he] is presented with an Execution, from his Taylor, or Landlord. 1721 Session Bk. Rothesay (1931) 307 The Session..hereby doe agree the treasurer should give the said John Glass fourty pounds Scots to a tearm and take his bond..for it. 1776 Scheme for Widows & Children Ministers Associate Synod 4 After the first term of payment of the rates that shall fall due by the respective contributors,..each of them shall be liable to pay a full year's rate, at every succeeding term of Candlemas during his life. 1837 J. G. Lockhart Mem. Life Scott xxvi The term of Martinmas, always a critical one in Scotland, had passed before this letter reached Edinburgh. 1881 J. Sargisson Joe Scoap's Jurneh 77 He dudn't knoa bit he wad a hire't meh, theer an then, well t'teeram. 1921 V. Jacob Bonnie Joann 31 A week, come Monday, brings the tairm. 2012 C. Van Der Merwe & A.-L. Verbeke Time-limited Interests Land ii. vi. 309 Where the tenant takes entry on Whitsunday (28 May) 2011, the first legal term on which rent is due is Whitsunday 2012. 2. A portion of time having definite limits; esp. a set or appointed period of office, imprisonment, investment, etc.; the length of time for which something lasts or is intended to last, duration; span of (remaining) life. Formerly also (Scottish): †the period of time from one term day to the next (obsolete). Cf. for term of life at Phrases 9.See also long-term adj., short-term adj. ΘΚΠ the world > time > [noun] > stretch, period, or portion of time tidea900 while971 fristOE stemOE throwOE timeOE selea1250 piecec1300 termc1300 stagea1325 whilesc1330 space?a1400 racec1400 spacec1405 termine1420 parodya1425 timea1425 continuancec1440 thrallc1450 espace1483 space of timec1500 tracta1513 stead1596 reach1654 amidst1664 stretch1698 spell1728 track1835 lifetime1875 time slice1938 society > occupation and work > position or job > [noun] > period of office whilec1449 limmu1862 term1868 c1300 (c1250) Floris & Blauncheflur (Cambr.) (1966) 432 Bituene þis & þe þridde day..; þulke terme him þuȝte long. c1330 (?a1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) p. 614 (MED) His bedes he bad wiþ gode wille To Iesu heuen king, & when his term was nere gon His knaue he cleped to him anon. 1399 in Rec. Parl. Scotl. to 1707 (2007) 1399/1/3 The duc of Rothesay be the kyngis lieutenande..for the terme of thre yhere. 1445–6 Rolls of Parl.: Henry VI (Electronic ed.) Parl. Feb. 1445 §44. m. 6 Departyng of servauntz..atte ende of theire termes. ?1483 W. Caxton tr. Caton ii. sig. eiiij The prophete demaunded terme and space for to answer..And the kynge gafe hym terme of thre dayes. 1569 in W. M. Bryce Sc. Grey Friars (1909) II. 119 For all the dayis, space and tarmes of thre yeiris. 1579 G. Fenton tr. F. Guicciardini Hist. Guicciardin ix. 503 He had called backe his men at armes from Verona, for that the tearme was expired for the which he had promised them to Caesar. 1610 R. Jones Muses Gardin xiv. sig. E2 Full many louely tearms did passe in merrie glee. 1713 Abstr. Acct. Proc. Inquisition in Portugal 12 The Deceased, after the Expiration of that term of Days, is either acquitted or condemned, in the same manner as if he had been alive. 1781 Transl. & Paraphr. Sacred Script. (Gen. Assembly Church of Scotl.) 23 As long as life its term extends, Hope's blest dominion never ends. 1823 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto X lxvi. 86 Seven years (the usual term of transportation). 1868 M. E. Grant Duff Polit. Surv. 164 Presidents elected for a term of years. 1920 E. Wallace Daffodil Myst. iii. 29 Twice Sam had gone down for a short term, and once for a long term of imprisonment. 1967 Appraisal Terminol. & Handbk. (Amer. Inst. Real Estate Appraisers) (ed. 5) 41 Compound amount of an invested sum, the sum accumulated at the end of the term, consisting of the original and the reinvested interest accumulations. 2010 U.S. Black Engineer & Information Technol. Spring 16/1 Nearly a year and half into his term, Obama has kept his promise with an ambitious science agenda. 3. Law. An interest in land or property for a fixed period; a period of tenure. More fully term of (also for) years.attendant term, outstanding term, satisfied term, etc.: see the first element. ΘΚΠ society > law > legal concepts > [noun] > interest > in property statea1400 term1424 estate1439 real estatea1642 chattel-interest1767 1424 in F. J. Furnivall Fifty Earliest Eng. Wills (1882) 58 (MED) I wul þat Thomas my sone haue my termes þat I haf of Westminster in þe personage of Okeham. 1456 in A. Clark Lincoln Diocese Documents (1914) 89 (MED) I woll that herry Barton haue the termes of the place that I holde of Iohn Apethorp, after the tenure of my Indenture. 1592 W. West Symbolæogr.: 1st Pt. §41. B iv b A Particuler estate which is but onely a terme, is an estate determinable by limitation of time. a1642 R. Callis Reading of Statute of Sewers (1647) iii. 160 The..Commissioners for lack of payment of such lot & charge, to Decree and Ordain the said Lands and Tenements from the owner,..to any person or persons for term of years, term of life, Fee simple, or Fee tail. 1737 W. Lee Ess. Value of Leases & Annuities i. 20 In the Case then where a Term for Years is existing at a small Rent, the Term and Reversion may be and are considered as separate Estates. 1766 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. II. ix. 143 Every estate which must expire at a period certain and prefixed,..is an estate for years. And therefore this estate is frequently called a term. 1825 J. Ram Outl. Law Tenure & Tenancy v. 38 A term of years is personal property. A tenant for years is possessed of the term. 1870 Woodfall's Law Landl. & Tenant (ed. 11) 42 A man possessed of a term of years in right of his wife..has power to grant and convey the same. 1908 Forum Jan. 112 The measure of damages was the difference between the value of the term..immediately before and immediately after the damage. 2011 A. Olong Land Law in Nigeria (ed. 2) i. 24 The Governor may grant to a Nigerian citizen a term of years in a land to hold, use and occupy, subject to payments of rent to the State. 4. a. Law. Each of the four periods in the year (in England and Wales, Hilary, Easter, Trinity, and Michaelmas term: see the first elements), alternating with vacations, during which judicial business is transacted. Also without article, esp. in in term. Now usually superseded in official use in England and Wales by sitting: see note below.Recorded earliest in term time n. 1a.The length of the legal terms varied over time. Under the Supreme Court of Judicature Act 1873 (36 & 37 Vict., c. 66) these terms were abolished, and under the Supreme Court of Judicature Act 1875 (38 & 39 Vict., c. 77) they were replaced by four sittings (Hilary, Easter, Trinity, and Michaelmas; cf. sitting n. 3a), of fixed length and date of commencement. However, in the Inns of Court the legal year is still divided into terms (of the same name as the court sittings but shorter in length), and ‘term’ is still commonly used unofficially and informally by lawyers to refer to a sitting. ΘΚΠ society > education > educational administration > [noun] > session or term half-yearc907 season?a1400 Michael term?1406 term1429 Michaelmas term1439 Easter term1530 Hilary1577 summer term1659 session1714 half1820 semester1826 by-term1883 Trinity term1899 winterim1964 society > law > administration of justice > judicial body, assembly, or court > a or the session of a court > [noun] > period when courts sit season?a1400 term1429 term time1429 1429–30 Rolls of Parl.: Henry VI (Electronic ed.) Parl. Sept. 1429 §27. m. 11 That oute of the terme tyme, no thyng shal be sped in the counseill. a1433 in W. P. Baildon Sel. Cases Chancery (1896) 129 Graunt your forseid bedwoman that she may haue..a writ that is called sub pena..to be byfore the forseid Chaunceller the Trinite terme next comyng. c1475 Wisdom (Folger) (1969) l. 790 (MED) At Westmyster, wythowt varyance, Þe nex terme xall me sore avawnce. ?1564 Anno quinto reginæ Elizabethe (new ed.) f. 58 Euery writte of Excomunicado capiendo that shalbe graunted and awarded out of the hygh Courte of Chauncery..shalbe made in the time of the Terme. 1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 431 At certaine set times (wee call them Tearmes) yearely causes are heard and tried. 1672 T. Manley Νομοθετης: Cowell's Interpreter sig. Zb Dies Juridici are all dayes..given in Term to the Parties in Court. Dies non Juridici are all Sundayes in the year, besides, in the several Terms particular dayes. 1708 Rastell's Termes de la Ley (new ed.) at Grand Day Grand Days are those which are solemnly kept in every Term in the Inns of Court and Chancery. 1794 W. Godwin Caleb Williams I. vi. 119 By affidavits, motions, pleas, demurrers, flaws and appeals, to protract the question from term to term and from court to court. 1834 W. Bagley Pract. at Chambers of Judges of Courts Common Law (1837) i. 4 Those proceedings which are the subject of motions to the court in term, but which may..be matter of application to a judge out of term when the court is not sitting. 1882 E. A. Jacob Analyt. Digest Law & Pract. VIII. 12953/1 The terms into which the legal year was formerly divided are kept alive by s. 26 of the Judicature Act, 1873, in cases where they are used as a measure for determining the time within which any act is required to be done. 1911 Encycl. Brit. XIV. 585/1 The period of study prior to call [to the bar] must not be less than twelve terms, equivalent to about three years. 1962 Amer. Jrnl. Legal Hist. 6 315 In one term, Michaelmas 1598, he struck four times at abuses related to procedural deceleration in four cases. a2011 R. Waterhouse Child Another Cent. (2013) xxiv. 277 My turn came on 2 April, the penultimate day of that term, when I was sitting with Lord Justice Roch and Mr Justice Bennett. †b. In extended use: the session of a law court during such a period; the court in session. Obsolete.In later use perhaps simply a contextual use of sense 4a. ΘΚΠ society > law > administration of justice > judicial body, assembly, or court > a or the session of a court > [noun] court1297 term1525 justice day1616 1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles II. cciv. f. cclx/2 Than Mychelmas came, and the generall counsayle began, suche as englysshe men call the terme. 1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. lxiiij In the beginnyng of this yere, Trinite terme was begon at Oxenford, where it continued but one day, and was again adiourned to Westminster. 1591 R. Greene Notable Discouery of Coosenage To Rdr. sig. B2 The poore man that commeth to the Tearme to try his right. 1647 D. Jenkins To Honorable Societies Grayes-Jnne 21 in Severall Papers At Yorke the Termes were kept for seaven yeares, in Edward the first's time. 1798 New & Gen. Biogr. Dict. (rev. ed.) IV. 539 He..managed the trial of sir W. Raleigh at Winchester, whither the term was adjourned on account of the plague being at London. 1827 A. N. Royall Tennessean ii. 11 I was committed to prison, to await my trial at the ensuing term of the city court. c. Each of the periods of the year during which instruction is given in a school, college, or university, usually separated by a period of vacation. Also without article.Hilary term, Michaelmas term, summer term, Trinity term, etc.: see the first element. See also Easter term n. 2(b). ΘΚΠ society > education > educational administration > [noun] > session or term > term-time term1577 term time1602 1577 W. Harrison Hist. Descr. Islande Brit. iii. i. f. 96^v/2, in R. Holinshed Chron. I Out of the terme in our Uniuersities the schoolers dine at tenne. 1600 Abp. G. Abbot Expos. Prophet Ionah ix. 186 The Termes of our Vniuersitie are reckened in that manner. 1665 G. Evans Let. 8 Oct. in J. Worthington Diary & Corr. (1855) II. i. 179 Cambridge is almost disuniversitied, and either there will be no winter term, or nothing to do in it. 1715 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1901) V. 133 I cannot wag out of Oxford till the Term is ended. 1775 J. Hely-Hutchinson Acct. Regulations Trinity-College, Dublin 6 The Common Law Professor is to Lecture twice in the Week in each Term. 1842 T. Arnold in Life & Corr. (1844) II. x. 323 I am obliged to give up..the hope of coming to Oxford this term. 1867 Mrs. H. Wood Orville Coll. II. i. 2 The explanation..which he had deemed it well to defer until the term should be over. 1934 M. McLuhan Let. 4 Oct. (1987) 19 In term there are 2 ‘halls’. Seniors sit last and I shall likely be among them. 1957 M. R. Proctor Eng. University Novel ii. 11 Young noblemen playing the gallant during the festivities at the end of term before the Long Vacation. 2014 Spalding Guardian (Nexis) 10 July The new club..started this term at the school. d. New Zealand colloquial. In plural. The requirement of attendance and satisfactory completion of set work as a prerequisite to sitting final degree examinations, esp. in to pass terms, to fail terms, etc. Cf. Phrases 5a(a). ΚΠ 1897 Nelson (N.Z.) Evening Mail 3 Feb. 2 Miss B. Graham, B.A., intimates that she is prepared to coach candidates for terms, matriculation, and for teachers D and E certificate examinations. 1919 Wairarapa (N.Z.) Age 13 Sept. 5 Case 1. Has received grants for six years. Has passed first year's Terms only. 1959 G. Slatter Gun in my Hand 37 The Old Prof..gave me ‘terms’ out of the kindness of his heart, but it was no use. 1962 M. K. Joseph Pound of Saffron ii. 38 You know the way he barks at you like a sergeant-major and then sees you don't miss terms. 2003 N. Z. Herald (Nexis) 17 Nov. [He] gained top university marks in New Zealand for Latin III..but didn't get a degree until years later because he had failed terms for History I. 5. †a. In plural. Menstrual periods; the menstrual discharge; menstruation. Cf. time n. 27. Obsolete.In later use apparently only in monthly terms; cf. monthly adj. 3. ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > organs of excretion > discharge of menses > [noun] purgationa1398 superfluities of the mothera1398 termsc1450 the custom of women1560 visit1653 menstruation1754 lunation1822 periodicity1848 friend1889 the curse1930 the world > relative properties > relationship > correlation > [noun] > mutuality or reciprocity > standing, footing, or mutual relations termsc1450 c1450 in W. R. Dawson Leechbk. (1934) 124 (MED) Make a suppository þeroff, and it shall make a woman to haue hyre termes. 1545 T. Raynald in tr. E. Roesslin Byrth of Mankynde i. sig. H.ii^v Termes..be called in latyn menstrua... In Englysh they be named termes because they returne eftsoones at certayne seasons, times & termes. 1598 J. Mosan tr. C. Wirsung Praxis Med. Vniuersalis iii. xix. 483 Some do aduise.., if in case that a woman hath not had her termes a long time, that her vaine is to bee opened besides her little Toe. 1637 R. Basset Curiosities i. 24 Her Terms are turned into milk, and that Milke doth nourish the fruite in the wombe. 1682 G. Hartman Digby's Choice Coll. Rare Secrets ii. 259 It provokes the Terms. 1714 tr. H. Joutel Jrnl. Last Voy. M. de la Sale 143 When the Women have their Terms, they leave the Company of their Husbands. 1772 Antisiphylitic 13 Nor is there any occasion for women to intermit it [sc. this Medicine] during their terms, except they should flow too copiously. 1858 Chicago Med. Jrnl. 1 197 Her monthly terms first appeared in her sixteenth year. 1915 Anthropol. Papers Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 13 52 To this day, many pagan Menomini positively refuse to eat in Christian homes for fear of losing their powers through partaking of food prepared by a woman undergoing her monthly terms. b. The full length of a normal pregnancy; the completion of this period; the time at which it ends, or is due to end, in labour; = full term n. 1. Now frequently in at term, to term. See also Compounds 3.In humans the normal duration of pregnancy is considered to be between 37 and 42 weeks. ΘΚΠ the world > life > source or principle of life > birth > confinement > [noun] > childbirth or delivery > time of timeOE term?a1540 bearing time1587 full term1607 feminonucleus1884 ?a1540 (c1460) G. Hay tr. Buik King Alexander the Conquerour (1986–90) l. 18277 Scho was with barne, and till hir terme weill neir. 1590 C. Hooke Child-birth or Womans Lect. sig. B^v Comparing the estate of Ierusalem besieged by Zenacherib, and not able of it selfe to defend it selfe, to woman trauailing of Childe at the full ende of her tearme. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. xxx. xiv. 396 There be certaine little wormes found breeding in the common coich-grasse, called Gramen, which if a woman weare about her necke, serve very effectually, to cause her for to keep her infant within the wombe the ordinarie tearme. 1682 Eng. Midwife Enlarged 22 So do we see Women brought to bed six weeks and 2 months before, and sometimes as long after their ordinary term. 1752 W. Smellie Treat. Midwifery I. iii. 126 The common term of pregnancy is limited to nine solar months, reckoning from the last discharge of the Catamenia. 1822 J. M. Good Study Med. IV. 176 If the exclusion [of the fœtus] take place..during any part of the last three months before the completion of the natural term, [it is usually called] Premature Labour. 1844 L. S. Costello Béarn & Pyrenees: Legendary Tour II. 62 The Princess of Navarre, being near her term. 1879 J. M. Duncan Clin. Lect. Dis. Women ii. 20 The dangers attendant upon delivery of a child at or near term. 1955 Sci. News Let. 13 Aug. 110/1 The need for enough protein to help her carry her baby to term has been widely recognized. 1990 Brain 113 420 The patient..was born at term. 2004 Pop. Sci. Jan. 64/1 (caption) The project twice created cloned embryos [from a pet dog], but the pregnancies didn't go to term. II. A condition or stipulation; a state or situation. 6. a. A condition under which something may be done, settled, agreed, or granted; a stipulated requirement or limitation. Usually in plural; also in terms and conditions. Cf. Phrases 2b.In quot. 1746: a condition or prerequisite of something. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > agreement > [noun] > terms of agreement termc1350 meanc1425 articles?1507 capitulation1529 quarter1615 the mind > language > speech > agreement > [noun] > terms of agreement > a condition or stipulation mannerc1400 covenantc1440 conditionala1533 authorament1607 requisition1620 postulatum1639 thingum1649 qualification1660 ultimatum1733 requirement1737 term1746 stipulation1750 contingency1818 precondition1825 chapter1864 c1350 (a1333) William of Shoreham Poems (1902) 120 Þo þat he scholde y-offred by In þe templo domini, Ase laȝe ȝef þe termes. c1425 (c1400) Laud Troy-bk. l. 79 How fele termes and trewes Where take be-twene Troyens and Gruwes. a1500 ( in C. Monro Lett. Margaret of Anjou (1863) 30 (MED) As touching the paiement of the some of x ml marcs be the saide Kinge of Scotland, owing, as be terme runnen, after the stablement of the same, [etc.]. 1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. ix. xxii. 805/1 Many Gentlemen..came to the Protector and entred into termes and conditions of Peace. a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) v. ii. 325 Wee haue consented to all tearmes of reason. View more context for this quotation 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost x. 751 Unable to performe Thy terms too hard, by which I was to hold The good I sought not. View more context for this quotation 1718 Mem. Life J. Kettlewell iii. lxvi. 353 The Church doth..prescribe her Terms of Communion. 1746 J. Wesley Serm. Several Occasions I. 96 This Faith is the Term or Condition of Justification. 1833 Times 5 July 4/4 The only difficulty was the adjusting of the terms and conditions of the charter. 1898 Author 1 Sept. 83/2 No literary agent would dare to consent to such terms, not one. 1964 C. Chaplin My Autobiogr. x. 169 Sennett began to talk of renewing my contract, and wanted to know my terms. 1998 Which? Aug. 15/1 Another important term in the extended warranties for used cars was one excluding claims for consequential loss. 2004 .net Christmas 34/1 Not all pornography is illegal, but it's never a bad idea to have a no-adult-content rule in your terms and conditions. b. spec. In plural. Conditions with regard to payment for goods or services; (hence) payment offered, or charges made. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > payment > [noun] > conditions of payment term1600 lay1712 payment term1926 1600 B. Jonson Every Man out of his Humor iii. i. sig. I They..giue a man the hardest termes for his money, that euer you knew. View more context for this quotation 1670 R. Coke Disc. Trade 50 The Dutch have Pitch, Tar, Hemp..in greater quantities, and for less terms than the English can, out of Norway. 1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 132. ⁋6 The terms offered were such as I should willingly have accepted. 1844 Ld. Brougham Albert Lunel II. vii. 167 I was not very nice as to terms, and agreed for my board and fifty louis a-year. 1893 Pop. Sci. Monthly Mar. 665 The managers of Bethel..secured upon easy terms the two valleys which lay nearest their estate. 1950 Billboard 11 Mar. 98/1 (advt.) Terms: 25% with order, balance C.O.D. or check in advance. Satisfaction guaranteed. 2012 J. Hodges Rent vs Own ii. vii. 103 In a bustling economy, lenders may extend credit and loans to lower-scoring borrowers and do so for fairly reasonable terms. †7. In plural. Condition, state; situation, circumstances; (in weakened sense in Shakespeare) relation, respect (occasionally also in singular). Obsolete.With quot. 1600 cf. Phrases 1d(b). ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > circumstance or circumstances > [noun] thingeOE to-tagc12.. estrec1300 casec1325 aboutstanding1340 circumstancec1380 termsa1382 conditionc1384 befalla1492 weather1603 attendant1607 belonginga1616 circumstantial1647 incident1649 incidence1670 incidental1707 attitude1744 circs1883 a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Ecclus. xxi. 21 As an hous set out of termes [L. domus exterminata], so a wisdam to a fool. c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. vi. 16 Ypocritis..putten her facis out of kyndly termys [L. exterminant facies suas], that thei seme fastynge to men. 1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 6 He found the comon wealth turmoyled with seditions..and..the house of Ægeus in very ill termes also. 1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice ii. i. 13 In termes of choyse I am not soly led By nice direction of a maydens eyes. a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) i. i. 38 Be iudge..Whether I, in any iust tearme am assign'd to loue the Moore. View more context for this quotation 1642 D. Rogers Naaman Ep. Ded. sig. A2^v They lived at poore termes. 1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. T. Boccalini Ragguagli di Parnasso ii. xcii. 384 He..shewed..him in his naked tearms of devillish hypocrisie. 8. In plural. With modifying descriptive word or phrase, e.g. good terms, equal terms, terms of intimacy, etc., and preceded by on, upon, or in: a relationship or standing (with another person or party) of the specified kind; a good, equal, etc., footing. a. With in. Now somewhat rare.See also in speaking terms at speaking n. Compounds 3. ΚΠ 1548 in J. Maclean Life Sir T. Seymour (1869) 142 Fforasmuche as we doo stande in verye doubtefull tearmes with ffraunce, and yet there is no playne warre. 1613 R. Dallington Aphorismes Ciuill & Militarie v. xvi. 311 Neither part must be secure, but stand vpon like guard of diffidence, as when they were in tearmes of greatest deffiance. 1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures xiii. 42 Though we stood in the terms of good friends with them. a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 317 William fell to be in ill terms with his mother. 1753 S. Hopkins Hist. Mem. Housatunnuk Indians 164 It is of vast Importance to the British Provinces..in America,..that they be in good Terms with the Indians. 1805 R. Forsyth Beauties Scotl. II. 348 At that time the Scottish king, Malcolm, was in bad terms with many of his barons. 1880 Crit. Ess. Hindoo Law Adoption iv. 107 There is no evidence to show that he was ever in bad terms with his wife. 1951 R. Sereno Let. 14 Apr. in D. M. Giangreco & K. Moore Dear Harry (1999) i. 29 Any person who'll go to the trouble of reading it, will have no reason of keeping in terms of friendship with the author. 2006 Gameaxis Unwired Oct. 16/1 Being in good terms with the Pope will help you on your cause. b. With on or upon.See also on first name terms at first name adj., nodding terms n. at nodding n. Compounds, on speaking terms at speaking n. Compounds 3. ΚΠ 1596 ‘L. Pyott’ tr. A. Sylvain Orator lvi. 244 Oftentimes there chanced such braules betweene them, that his factor and he were vpon tearmes of parting. 1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 v. i. 10 'Tis not wel, That you and I should meet vpon such tearmes As now we meete. View more context for this quotation 1669 R. Montagu in Hist. MSS Comm.: Rep. MSS Duke of Buccleuch (1899) I. 422 in Parl. Papers (C. 9244) XLVI. 1 I was the willinger to put you upon good terms with her. 1672 J. Dryden Conquest Granada ii. iii. i. 106 The brave own faults when good success is giv'n: For then they come on equal terms to Heav'n. 1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson i. ix. 92 At war, or at least on ill terms with their Spanish neighbours. 1758 J. Armstrong Sketches 64 I could live upon good Terms even with a Deist; provided he keeps within the Bounds of Decency. 1804 Sydney Gaz. 27 May 4 The numerous natives in those parts are on the most friendly terms with the Europeans. 1877 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (ed. 3) II. vii. 97 On the closest terms of friendship. 1929 A. L. Rowse Diary 8 Sept. (2003) 50 He is on good terms with the youths of the village and can talk their dialect with them. 2013 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 27 Sept. 4 Thanks to the handicap system in golf, severely injured players can compete on equal terms with golfers of all abilities. III. A physical or conceptual limit or end point; a space or span bounded by such limits. 9. a. That which limits the extent of something; a limit, an end point, a boundary. Usually in plural. Now rare or archaic. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > edge, border, or margin > boundary > [noun] > land-boundary > of a region or territory terma1382 frontier1413 rind1530 terminus?1605 barrier1709 bound-line1850 borderline1869 a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Isa. v. 14 Helle spredde abrod his soule, and openede his mouth with oute any terme [L. termino]. ?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1869) II. 51 That water of Seuerne..was somme tyme a terme [L. terminus] of Englonde and of Wales. 1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende f. liii^v/1 Fro the laste termes of egipte vnto the vtterist endes of the same. a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) ii. §8. 11 (MED) The termes of the erth beltis in all the erth. 1570 H. Billingsley tr. Euclid Elements Geom. i. f. 1^v Pointes..are..only the termes and endes of quantitie. 1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §328 Corruption is a Reciprocall to Generation: and they two, are as Natures two Terms or Boundaries. 1656 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. II. viii. 99 A superficies is the terme of a body... A Line is the terme of a Superficies... A point is the terme of a line. 1701 tr. F. Burgersdijck Introd. Art Logick i. v. 12 A Term is an Extremity or Bound. 1782 Watts's Improvem. Mind (rev. ed.) ii. v. 54 Shape is but the Term and Boundary of Dimension. 1818 P. B. Shelley Revolt of Islam vi. xviii. 137 At the decline of day Winding above the mountain's snowy term New banners shone. 1864 A. Bain Senses & Intellect (ed. 2) i. ii. 202 The power of movement without contact or resistance, except at the extreme terms. 1958 A. Watts Nature, Man & Woman ii. 57 Facts are the terms or limits—somewhat as hot and cold are the upper and lower terms (that is, termini or ends) of the field of temperature. 1981 G. H. Hartman Saving Text i. 1 Thought seems always to be extending or delimiting ‘terms’ or ‘boundaries’. †b. The territory encompassed by a border; (also) a part of a country, district, etc. Obsolete. ΚΠ a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1961) Josh. i. 4 Al þe lond of etheus vnto þe greet see aȝeyns þe sonne goynge doun shal be ȝoure terme [L. terminus]. c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Joel iii. 4 What to me and ȝou, Tyrus, and Sydon, and alle the terme [L. terminus] of Palestynys? c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 61 (MED) Hit bi-tydde sum-tyme in þe termes of Jude Jonas joyned watz. c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 4038 (MED) Quat in þis time may ȝe take if ȝe oure termes entre? c. Furthest or utmost limit (of something heading in a particular direction), end; esp. conclusion, cessation; end of duration or existence (cf. branch I.). Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > end or conclusion > [noun] > a limit, end, or term endc1000 pointc1330 terma1398 datec1400 limec1420 period1554 full stopa1586 stopa1586 coda1836 mop1945 a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. i. xvi. 53 Þeiȝ he [sc. God] be hendeles in hymself, ȝit by hys endeles vertue he endeþ and ordeyneth ende and termes to alle þinges. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 11287 At þe terme of fourti dais..þai bar þe child..vn-to þe temple. 1481 W. Caxton tr. Myrrour of Worlde iii. xxi. sig. m6^v No goodes what someuer they be shal neuer haue terme ne ende [in heaven]. a1500 Legend of Cross in Medium Ævum (1965) 34 217 (MED) Moises vnderstode that the terme of his lyf nyghed. 1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Dec. 127 So now my yeare drawes to his latter terme. 1645 J. Milton On University Carrier ii, in Poems 29 Too long vacation hastned on his term. 1693 P. Strachan Map Little World App. iii. 26 He..declares his fixed Resolution, to the Term of his Lives End. 1757 Revol. Modesty 115 Streaming Tears..being the Marks, and Term of their Happiness. 1781 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall II. xxiv. 446 He had now reached the term of his prosperity. 1824 J. Bowring tr. A. von Chamisso Peter Schlemihl vi. 90 I saw no bounds, no outlet, no term to my terrible misery. 1881 B. Jowett tr. Thucydides Hist. Peloponnesian War I. 123 That the term of their happiness is likewise the term of their life. 1959 Rev. Politics 21 394 If we do not recover this ability our culture will soon reach its term. d. That to which movement or action is directed or tends; an object, an end, a goal. Occasionally also: a starting point, an origin. Now somewhat rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > intention > [noun] > intention or purpose > end, purpose, or object willeOE errand?c1225 purposec1300 endc1305 emprisec1330 intentc1340 use1340 conclusionc1374 studya1382 pointc1385 causec1386 gamea1393 term?c1400 businessc1405 finec1405 intentionc1410 object?a1425 obtent?a1475 drift1526 intend1526 respect1528 flight1530 finality?1541 stop1551 scope1559 butt?1571 bent1579 aiming point1587 pursuitc1592 aim1595 devotion1597 meaning1605 maina1610 attempt1610 design1615 purport1616 terminusa1617 intendment1635 pretence1649 ettle1790 big (also great) idea1846 objective1878 objective1882 the name of the game1910 the object of the exercise1958 thrust1968 the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > beginning > [noun] > starting-point terminus a quo1549 starting place1570 terma1628 salient motion1664 salient pointa1682 punctum saliens1695 starting point1782 Adam and Eve1793 starting ground1802 point of departure1804 baseline1836 point de départ1848 zero1849 start point1860 jumping-board1878 jumping-off board1914 jumping-off point1927 starting block1932 square one1952 ?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (BL Add. 10340) (1868) iii. met. ix. l. 2451 O fadir..þou þi self art bygynnynge, berere, ledere, paþ and terme [L. terminus]. c1425 Bk. Found. St. Bartholomew's (1923) 39 (MED) We be come for oure synnys to the butte and terme or marke of vniuersall kynde of man. a1500 (?a1430) J. Lydgate tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Life Man (Stowe) l. 16548 (MED) Thow art the Restynge place off my verray hope and the ffynal terme off my desolacion. 1551 S. Gardiner Explic. Catholique Fayth f. 108^v Wherin eche chaunge hath his special ende and terme, (whervnto). a1628 J. Preston New Covenant (1629) i. vi. 184 There must be a place, a terme to which you walke... Againe; There must be a place, or terme from which a man comes. a1677 T. Manton Serm. (1693) IV. ii. 1002 The term and end of the Journey. a1769 R. Riccaltoun Notes Galatians in Wks. (1772) III. 33 The term from which they removed, was the Gospel which Paul preached. 1801 Asiatic Ann. Reg. 1800 Hist. India 2/2 The island of Ceylon..was the usual term of their navigation. 1849 M. Arnold Strayed Reveller, & Other Poems 51 Vehement actions without scope or term. 1954 J. V. McGlynn tr. St. Thomas Aquinas Truth II. xviii. 355 Animal generation is said to reach its term when the animal, with all its members perfect and distinct, is developed from the seed of the animal in which all its members pre-existed virtually. 1990 V. Kuic & R. J. Thompson tr. Y. R. Simon Introd. Metaphysics Knowl. i. 31 Its [sc. the faculty of knowing] relation with the term toward which its whole nature propels it. 10. Astrology. Any of five divisions of each sign of the zodiac, each associated with a particular planet and forming a region in which the influence of that planet is increased, or affects that of another planet. Occasionally also in plural. Now rare and chiefly historical. ΘΚΠ the world > the universe > celestial sphere > zone of celestial sphere > [noun] > Zodiac > sign of zodiac > as seat of planet housea1393 mansionc1395 termc1405 the world > the universe > heavenly body > as influence on mankind > [noun] > influence > planet as > situation of > term termc1405 c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Franklin's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 580 He..knew the arisyng of his Moone wel And in whos face, and terme, and euerydel. c1450 Treat. Elections of Times (Ashm.) in Middle Eng. Dict. at Terme Termys of planettis bene certen nombris of greis in euery signe, in which degreis a planet makith gret impression. ?1547 A. Borde Pryncyples Astron. vi. sig. B.ii^v Mars in Tauro hath, ii fortitudes. A triplicite and a terme. 1588 J. Harvey Discoursiue Probl. conc. Prophesies ii. 121 Or perhaps are the superior planets conioined in the first Terme of Aries? 1652 J. Gaule Πυς-μαντια 264 There was Venus in termes, and in the house of Saturne. 1697 J. Partridge Defectio Geniturarum i. iii. 54 The Terms of the Planets..are Points in the Zodiack, and are only to be considered when Bodies are directed therein. 1726 S. Penseyre New Guide Astrol. 13 If a Planet be in his Term, it rather denotes the Shape and Quality of the Querent, than of the Wealth, Power and Dignity of the Party signified by that Planet. 1784 E. Sibly New & Compl. Illustr. Astrol. i. 137 A planet in his own term is strong; and..the more dignities he gains therein, the stronger will his influence be. 1819 J. Wilson Compl. Dict. Astrol. 382 Terms are certain degrees in a sign, supposed to possess the power of altering the nature of a planet to that of the planet in the term of which it is posited. 1879 ‘Raphael’ Guide Astrol. II. ii. 40 Observe the planets which have domination in such degree according to triplicity, house, exaltation, term, and face, or configuration. 1913 J. S. P. Tatlock in Anniv. Papers Kittredge 344 At exactly the same time..the moon would enter the fourth term of Cancer, which includes degrees 20–26 and belongs to Jupiter. 1987 S. J. Tester Hist. Western Astrol. iv. 73 Each sign is then divided into five terms of eight, seven, six, five and four degrees—thirty in all. 2005 Mountain Astrologer Feb. (Mercury Direct section) 12/2 Here you can see, for each planet, the Ruler, Exaltation, Triplicity, Term, Face, and Detriment lords and its dignity score, with peregrine planets noted. IV. A word or expression, and related senses. 11. a. A word or phrase used in a precise sense in a particular subject or field, or by a particular group of people; a technical expression; a piece of jargon.hunting-term, inkhorn term, schoolboy-term, sea-term, technical term, trade-term, etc.: see the first element. See also term of art n. at art n.¹ 10c. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > a language > register > [noun] > jargon > word in terma1387 trash name1603 technic1764 technicality1787 technicism1799 buzz-phrase1977 fuzzword1983 a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1869) II. 95 (MED) I holde hit be worthy to write here and expowne meny termes [L. vocabula] of þese lawes. c1405 (c1395) G. Chaucer Franklin's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 558 I ne kan no termes of Astrologye. 1486 Bk. St. Albans sig. dij Som folke mysuse this terme draw. and say that thayr hauke will draw to the Ryuer. a1500 (c1477) T. Norton Ordinal of Alchemy (BL Add.) (1975) l. 1730 Euery science hath his propre termys. 1590 J. Smythe Certain Disc. Weapons 2 b To vse our ancient termes belonging to matters of warre. 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. xxxiv. xiv. 515 This stone is to be found..scattered here and there in small peeces by way of bubbation (for that is the tearm they use). 1678 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises I. vi. 107 (heading) An Explanation of Terms used among Joyners. 1710 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum II Vale of a Pump, at Sea, is the Term for the Trough by which the Water runs from the Pump along the Ship sides, to the Scupper-holes. 1789 C. Burney Gen. Hist. Music III. 176 This term [sc. ricercare], which implied any work of fancy, and original invention, was succeeded by Fantasia. 1811 J. Farey Gen. View Agric. Derbyshire I. 440 Cank Stone.—By this term the Miners..mean any unusually hard, compact and brittle stone. 1876 P. G. Tait Lect. Recent Adv. in Physical Sci. (ed. 2) i. 1 Explanation of new scientific terms. 1912 Amer. Practitioner 46 256 Von Pirquet, in 1905 coined the term allergy, signifying altered reaction. 1951 R. Mayer Artist's Handbk. (new ed.) 434 Imprimatura, a veil or thin glaze of colour applied to a ground as a preliminary coating. Term not in very wide use. 1997 Network World 27 Jan. 66/2 We need clear, useful terms that technology consumers will understand. b. More widely: any word or phrase expressing a particular idea or concept, or denoting a particular object; an expression (for something). Often with modifying word or phrase, as abstract term, general term, term of abuse, term of endearment, etc.generic term, proprietary term, etc.: see the first element. See also contradiction in terms at contradiction n. 5b.In quot. c1400²: a saying, proverb. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > linguistics > linguistic unit > phrase > [noun] > term or expression wordeOE terma1398 conveyance1586 epithet1600 terminations1600 notion1655 description1826 a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. ii. xviii. 83 ‘Orisoun’ is a straunge terme and moche i-vsid in astronomye. [No corresponding sentence in the Latin original.] c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) l. 1733 To teche þe of ‘Techal,’ þat terme þus menes ‘Þy wale rengne is walt in weȝtes to heng.’ c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xii. l. 237 (MED) Ac of briddes and of bestes men by olde tyme Ensamples token and termes. 1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre Hist. Jason (1913) 27 A trewe louer vseth neuer suche termes as ye speke of. 1490 W. Caxton in tr. Boke yf Eneydos sig. Aj Some gentylmen..desired me te vse olde and homely termes in my translacyons. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 518/1 I disconsolate... This terme is nat yet [= no longer] comenly used. 1592 A. Day Eng. Secretorie (rev. ed.) i. sig. B3^v Aptnes of wordes and Sentences, consisteth in choyce and good tearmes. 1605 Famous Hist. Capt. Stukeley sig. L Can there issue from your lips a tearme, So base and beggarly, as that of flight. 1653 H. Holcroft tr. Procopius Persian Wars i. 2 in tr. Procopius Hist. Warres Justinian The Archers in Homer's time (whose Profession grew to be a tearm of reproach). 1715 L. Theobald tr. Aristophanes Clouds v. 57 Go on, run thro' your List of Defamation, and invent new Terms of Abuse; you cannot please me better. 1765 Ld. Kames Elements Crit. (ed. 3) II. App. 501 Perceiving is a general term for hearing, seeing, tasting, touching, smelling. 1823 I. D'Israeli Curiosities of Lit. 2nd Ser. II. 11 In politics, what evils have resulted from abstract terms to which no ideas are affixed! 1883 H. Drummond Nat. Law in Spiritual World (1884) vii. 235 The apostles..accepted the term in its simple literal sense. 1920 M. Mitchell Let. 26 Mar. in Dynamo going to Waste (1985) 80 Cold-blooded, shallow, reckless, to say nothing of being an inveterate ‘necker’ (polite term for mush artists). 1959 I. Gershwin Lyrics on Several Occasions 95 Many a swain dreams up a special term of endearment for his inamorata. 2007 Working Mother Dec. 50/1 (advt.) Many people use the term ‘flu’ to mean any combination of these symptoms, such as the common cold. 12. In plural. Words or expressions collectively (usually of a specified kind); manner of expression, way of speaking; language. Chiefly preceded by in.See also in no uncertain terms at uncertain adj. 4b. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > [noun] > mode of expression manner of speakinga1387 termsc1400 parlancec1475 locution1483 diction1563 couching1571 dictamenta1572 dialect1579 style1594 phraseology1604 phrasing1611 expression1628 language1643 wording1649 routine1676 mode1779 verbiage1792 parle1793 verbiagerie1817 vocabulation1859 phraseography1899 lexis1950 c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 917 (MED) Now schal we semlych se sleȝtez of þewez & þe teccheles termes of talkyng noble. c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Reeve's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) Prol. l. 63 Right in his cherles termes wol I speke. 1489 W. Caxton tr. C. de Pisan Bk. Fayttes of Armes ii. xx. sig. I.iij Thys present werke hathe spoken in general termes. 1567 W. Allen Treat. Def. Priesthod 64 The..text of holy scripture: conteining Christes woordes to S. Peter,..giueth the chief of all his Apostles in more ample termes and beneficial clauses this power and prerogatiue. 1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream iv. i. 57 She, in milde tearmes, begd my patience. View more context for this quotation 1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan iii. xxxiii. 205 Which question is also propounded sometimes in other terms. 1759 W. Robertson Hist. Scotl. I. v. 415 The accusation..was conceived in the strongest terms. 1777 J. Peddle Abuses hearing Word of God 25 At other times, ye discommend a truly rational and orthodox discourse..because conveyed in simple terms. 1827 R. Pollok Course of Time I. ii. 42 Thus the prohibition ran,..in terms of plainest truth. 1885 Athenæum 23 May 660 Of the dialogue we can speak in terms of the very highest praise. 1927 A. Conan Doyle Case-bk. Sherlock Holmes 27 His hard, dry statement needs some little editing to soften it into the terms of real life. 1967 J. Wain Smaller Sky 21 You're telling me, in pretty unmistakable terms, to mind my own business. 2006 Computer Weekly 21 Nov. 36/2 They need to simplify their elevator pitches and communicate in layman's terms. 13. Logic. Each of the two basic elements (subject and predicate) of a proposition; each of the three elements of this kind combined in the premises of a syllogism (see major term n. at major adj. and n.¹ Compounds, minor term n. at minor adj. and n. Compounds 2, middle term n. 2). ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > philosophy > logic > logical proposition > term of a proposition > [noun] term1551 limit1599 rheme1892 1551 T. Wilson Rule of Reason sig. Giiij^v There ought not to be mo termes in an argumentacion [= syllogism] then thre, for otherwise there is no good argument. 1690 J. Locke Ess. Humane Understanding iv. vi. 299 General Propositions..are then only capable of Certainty, when the Terms used in them, stand for such Ideas, whose agreement or disagreement..is capable to be discovered by us. 1725 I. Watts Logick iii. i The matter of which a syllogism is made up, is three propositions; and these three propositions are made up of three ideas, or terms, variously joined. 1771 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. liv. 229 He changes the terms of the proposition. 1827 R. Whately Elements Logic (ed. 2) i. ii. §2. 57 Each proposition containing two terms; of these terms, that which is spoken of is called the subject; that which is said of it, the predicate; and these two are called the terms (or extremes) because, logically, the Subject is placed first, and the Predicate last: and, in the middle, the Copula, which indicates the act of judgment. 1884 Universal Instructor III. 142/1 As a result of comparing ‘sensible’ things and ‘philosophers’ with one and the same term ‘men’, we are able to make a comparison of the two terms ‘philosophers’ and ‘sensible (things)’. 1954 Philos. Sci. 21 348 Any term distributed in the conclusion must be distributed in the premises. 2012 D. Jackson & P. Newberry Crit. Thinking vii. 179 The conclusion requires two terms, winged animals and dinosaurs. 14. a. Mathematics. (a) A quantity or expression that is the numerator or denominator of a fraction, or the antecedent or consequent of a ratio. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > [noun] i-telc1000 telc1000 numberc1300 suma1387 quantitya1398 umberc1400 value1543 term1552 terminus?a1560 quantum1567 valuation1636 numerality1646 numeration1646 numerical1760 numeric1878 naturality1942 the world > relative properties > number > mathematical notation or symbol > [noun] > figure rimeeOE figure?c1225 numberc1300 digit?a1400 digitalc1450 cipher1530 term1552 terminus?a1560 significant figure1614 small figuresa1652 numeral1654 monasa1690 binary digit1796 nomial1828 supplement1868 1552 R. Record Ground of Artes (rev. ed.) ii. sig. R.j The fourth kynd of reduction, where greater termes of fractions bee reduced into smaller in numbre. 1570 H. Billingsley tr. Euclid Elements Geom. v. f. 127, (margin) In proportions two quantities required, which are called termes. 1669 S. Sturmy Mariners Mag. i. ii. 34 As 16 to 7: So is 8 to what? Here..the second Term is less than the first. 1699 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 21 352 Subtractive Ratio is that whose Terms are dispos'd to Subtraction, that is, to Division. 1756 J. Simson Elements of Euclid Notes 390 The quantity or exponent of a ratio..is the number which multiplied into the consequent term of a ratio produces the antecedent. 1796 Mathem. Dict. I. 2 To abbreviate fractions in arithmetic and algebra, is to lessen proportionally their terms, or the numerator and denominator. 1842 W. Smith Dict. Greek & Rom. Antiq. 624/2 Each of the four ratios..is superparticular; i.e., the two terms of each differ from one another by unity. 1914 E. Oberg Arithm. Simplified (‘Machinery’ Ref. Bk. No. 137) ii. 23 The numerator and denominator of the fraction are called the terms of the fraction. 1961 H. L. L. Busard tr. N. Oresme Quaestiones Super Geometriam Euclidis 73 A ratio between two things may become infinite in two ways: 1° because the antecedent term becomes infinite; 2° because the consequent term approaches zero. 2012 K. Snyder & C. Keegan Pharmacol. for Surg. Technologist (ed. 3) iii. 42/1 We say that a and b are the terms of the fraction where a is the numerator and b is the denominator. (b) lowest (also †least) terms (chiefly in phrases to reduce to its lowest terms, in its lowest terms, etc.): the form of a fraction or ratio in which the constituent terms have no common factor other than 1; (also figurative) the most basic or fundamental level or interpretation. ΚΠ 1570 J. Dee in H. Billingsley tr. Euclid Elements Geom. xii. sig. GGg.ij Therefore FG is to A, as 6, to 4: which in the least termes, is, as 3 to 2. 1624 H. Wotton Elements Archit. i. 58 The sides of a Rectangular Triangle, which the Ancient Schoole did expresse in lowest tearmes, by the numbers of 3. 4. and 5. a1690 S. Jeake Λογιστικηλογία (1696) 48 The new Fraction..will not be in its least terms, unless such Heterologal terms be first abbreviated to their lowest. 1730 W. Webster tr. P. Hoste Compend. Course Pract. Math. I. xiii. 143 To reduce a fraction into its lowest terms. 1836 A. Turnbull Arithm. made Easy ix. 113 In such cases it is better to divide the terms at once, as it would require considerable calculation to find the least terms by the process pointed out above. 1887 Amer. Jrnl. Math. 9 215 It is assumed that the fraction U ÷ V is in its least terms. 1956 P. A. Jorgensen Shakespeare's Mil. World (1973) vi. 263 Reduced to its lowest terms, his behavior resembles that of the rude, graceless soldier type. 2008 R. Wingard-Nelson Decimals & Fractions iii. 11 Factors help you write equivalent fractions and reduce fractions to lowest terms. 2010 Bull. Symbolic Logic 16 365 Notice that a rational number n/m has a well-defined integer value modulo 7 so long as the denominator m is not divisible by 7 when expressed in least terms. b. (a) Mathematics. Each of the elements forming a mathematical sequence or progression. ΚΠ 1623 J. Johnson Arithmatick i. ii. 38 (heading) To find any middle Terme, or any other Terme in a Geometricall Progression. 1670 J. Collins Let. 19 July in I. Newton Corr. (1959) I. 37 The totall of some of the tearmes of that Series may be obtained by tables as a helpe. 1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) at Term of a Progression (in Mathem.) is every Member of the Progression, whether it be Arithmetical, or Geometrical. 1734 J. Harris's tr. Pardies's Short Plain Elements Geom. (new ed.) iii. 145 When the Terms of the Progression are continual Proportionals..then the Progression is call'd Geometrical, as 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32. 1793 T. Malton New Royal Road Geom. 6 1, 3, 12, and 36 are proportional Numbers; and, taken thus, or alternately, by changing the two middle Terms (as 1 to 12, so is 3 to 36) 'tis still the same. 1866 W. T. Brande & G. W. Cox Dict. Sci., Lit. & Art (new ed.) II. 96/1 Harmonic Progression or Series, a series of numbers such that any three consecutive terms are in harmonic proportion. 1903 B. Russell Princ. Math. xxxvi. 296 A series of this type..is denumerable, that is, by taking its terms in a suitable order..we can give them a one–one correspondence with the finite integers. 1951 W. W. Elliott & E. R. C. Miles College Math. (ed. 2) ix. 126 A geometric progression is a sequence of numbers in which each term after the first is obtained from the preceding one by multiplying it by a fixed number. 2015 K. Morrison et al. Higher Math. GCSE for OCR Student Bk. iv. 40 You can find the next term in the sequence by working out what the difference is between each term. (b) gen. A member of or item in a series or succession. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > [noun] > a series or succession > member or item in a series article1606 link1732 term1792 member1816 serie1840 1792 Encycl. Brit. (Dublin ed.) X. 522/1 The body then dies by little and little: its motion gradually diminishes; life is extinguished by successive gradations, and death is only the last term in the succession. 1841–8 F. Myers Catholic Thoughts II. iii. iii. 8 The Bible contains a series [of revelations] of which the earliest terms are the least. 1863 C. Lyell Geol. Evid. Antiq. Man xxi. 419 Certain genera of plants..consist of a continuous series of varieties, between the terms of which no intermediate forms can be intercalated. 1949 Mind 58 41 It seems to me that serialists tend to take the terms of a self-series..as unanalysed units. c. Mathematics. In an algebraic expression: each of the components that are connected by elementary signs of arithmetic (except when these occur as part of a subsidiary expression or equation), esp. those of addition and subtraction. ΚΠ 1660 W. Leybourn tr. J. de Billy in Arithmetick, Vulgar, Decimal, & Instrumental (new ed.) iv. v. 362 I consider therefore in this term of the equation, the number of roots which is 2. 1700 J. Raphson tr. J. C. Sturm Mathesis Enucleata 11 Des Cartes..requires as a necessary Condition, the ejection of the second Term in the given Equation. 1760 W. S. Powell Def. Observ. 14 To find the high powers of the roots of equations having many terms by Newton's rule, is perhaps somewhat tedious. 1806 C. Hutton Course Math. (ed. 5) I. 13 Both the multiplier and multiplicand, are, in general, named the Terms or Factors. 1859 B. Smith Arith. & Algebra (ed. 6) 194 When several quantities are connected together by the signs + and −, or either of them, each of these quantities is called a Term. 1936 R. S. Glasgow Princ. Radio Engin. v. 102 By the definition of impedance, it is seen that the term √L /C is of the nature of an impedance. 1979 Nature 18 Oct. 528/1 Hart pointed out that a calculation of N by means of the so-called Drake equation is essentially impossible owing to the orders of magnitude uncertainty in many of the terms. 2015 K. Morrison et al. Found. Math. GCSE for OCR Student Bk. vii. 90 To multiply two brackets together each term in the first bracket must be multiplied by each term in the second bracket. d. Physics. Originally (in spectroscopy): each of a set of numbers determined for a given spectrum in such a way that the wave number of each observed spectral line can be written as the difference between two such numbers (now rare). In later use (in quantum physics): each set of atomic states for a given atom in which every state has the same energy, configuration of electrons, orbital quantum number, and spin quantum number; cf. term symbol n. (b) at Compounds 4. Also more fully spectral term, atomic term. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > physics > atomic physics > [noun] > atomic state term1915 the world > matter > physics > atomic physics > decomposition of light, spectrum > [noun] > component of wave number term1915 1915 Astrophysical Jrnl. 41 324 The difference in ‘wave-number’..between the limit of the series and each member is called the ‘term’... The limit itself is commonly a ‘term’ of some other series. 1922 A. D. Udden tr. N. Bohr Theory of Spectra ii. ii. 30 The arrangement of the states in horizontal rows corresponds to the ordinary arrangement of the ‘spectral terms’ in the spectroscopic tables. 1935 W. M. Hicks Struct. Spectral Terms i. 1 Any given term in a neutral spectrum is expressible in the form R/(m + ϕ)², where R is a constant..m is an ordinal integer and ϕ a fraction which depends on m. 1970 G. K. Woodgate Elem. Atomic Struct. vii. 110 For calcium..the ³P and ¹P terms of the configuration 4s4p are separated by about 8,000 cm⁻¹. 2015 J. Collins in B. di Bartolo et al. Nano-structures for Optics & Photonics xvi. 341 The configuration is accordingly split into different spectral terms, each term having a specific total angular momentum. e. In first-order logic: an expression consisting of a single variable; an expression consisting of a function symbol followed by a series of arguments which are themselves terms.For example, if x and y are variables and f and g are function symbols, then both x and y are terms, as are f(x) and g(f(x), y). ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > number > algebra > [noun] > expression > consisting of specific number of terms binomial1557 binomy1571 trinomy1571 quadrinomial1673 multinomiala1690 polynomiala1690 trinomiala1690 monomial1706 nomial1717 monome1736 infinitinomial1763 polynome1828 mononomial1844 quantic1854 form1859 Jacobi polynomial1882 Jacobi's function1882 ternariant1882 triquaternion1902 term1957 arity1968 1957 R. Montague & D. Kalish in Archiv für mathematische Logik und Grundlagenforschung 3 51 If L is again a language, an exhaustive characterization of the terms and formulas of L is given by (1)–(6). 1983 Jrnl. Symbolic Logic 48 1225 We take as universe A the subset of all terms of T which probably exist in T. 2016 M. L. O'Leary First Course Math. Logic vii. 335 The terms of a language represent objects and the formulas of a language describe the properties of objects. V. Technical uses. 15. Also with capital initial. A statue or bust representing the upper part of the body (sometimes without the arms), and terminating below in a pillar or pedestal out of which it appears to emerge; a terminal figure. Also: a pillar or pedestal bearing such a figure.This form is associated particularly with representations of the Roman god Terminus. Cf. terminus n. 3a, 3b. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > plastic art > statuary > [noun] > statue > bust or torso block1535 term1604 busto1626 torse1634 terminus1638 busty1684 bust1691 shoulder-piece1692 protome1737 torso1797 portrait bust1827 terminal1876 term figure1880 1604 T. Dekker Magnificent Entertainm. sig. B4 On either side of the Gate, stood a great French Terme, of stone. 1631 B. Jonson Chloridia 199 An arbour..the ornament of which was borne vp with Termes of Satyres. 1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory (1905) iv. xiii. 519/1 Their effigies..raised higher with a Terme or Pedestall or foot..of a pillar. 1712 J. James tr. A.-J. Dézallier d'Argenville Theory & Pract. Gardening 76 Busts, Terms, Half-length Figures. 1755 J. Spence in Philos. Trans. 1754 (Royal Soc.) 48 486 Another brass bust, on a term, of a youth. 1849 R. Browning Poems (new ed.) II. 348 Ye would heighten my impoverished frieze,..add a vizor and a Term. 1891 T. Hardy Tess of the D'Urbervilles I. xii. 151 She..lifted her face to his, and remained like a marble term while he imprinted a kiss upon her cheek. 1904 E. Wharton Ital. Villas iii. 93 The ilex-grove into which one first enters is traversed by hedged alleys which lead to rond-points with stone seats and marble Terms. 1990 Weekend Tel. 9 June p. v/2 I like the Terms because they are among the classical pieces most easily set into new surroundings. 16. Shipbuilding. A piece of carved timber fitted under either end of the taffrail of a wooden ship. Cf. term-piece n. at Compounds 4. Now historical and rare. ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > parts of vessels > body of vessel > rear part of vessel > [noun] > flat part > upper (ornamented) part of tafferel1704 term-piece1711 term1781 taffrail1814 truss1823 stern-rail1846 tafferel-rail1846 1781 M. Stalkartt Naval Archit. Dict. 231 Term, a piece of carved-work, placed under each end of the taff-rail, at the side-timber of the stern, and extended down as low as the foot-rail of the balcony. 1823 G. Crabb Technol. Dict. Truss is also the name of short pieces of carved work fitted under the taffrail, in the same manner as the terms. 1931 A. E. Richardson Georgian Eng. iii. 43 Such features as the door and hood moulding to the gangway..and the carved terms finishing the ramps from the beak are of decided interest. Phrases P1. in terms. See also sense 8a. a. Plainly, expressly; in so many words. Formerly also †by terms. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > clarity > [adverb] > explicitly in termsc1400 apresslya1450 expressly1509 preciselya1513 by termsa1525 formally1526 expressedlya1555 explicately1606 pointingly1607 evolvedlya1641 exactly1646 syllabically1654 explicitlya1657 pointedly1775 c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 1053 Alle þe apparaylmente..As John þe appostel in termeȝ tyȝte. a1525 (c1448) R. Holland Bk. Howlat l. 253 in W. A. Craigie Asloan MS (1925) II. 102 All this trety has he tald be termess in test. 1567 T. Harding Reioindre to M. Iewels Replie against Masse xiii. f. 212^v Christe him selfe doth in termes pronounce, This is my body, this is my bloude. 1613 S. Purchas Pilgrimage iv. iv. 305 Deuouring in hope, and threatening in tearmes all those Asian Prouinces. 1667 S. Pepys Diary 29 July (1974) VIII. 367 He says in terms, that the match..hath undone the nation. 1698 Earl of Orrery Dr. Bentley's Diss. Examin'd 234 That Few say in Terms, he was a Writer, is because No-body had any Suspicions to the contrary. 1766 J. Burrow Rep. Court King's Bench 2 660 The Other Three Judges agreed, in Terms, with Lord Mansfield; And All of them spoke explicitly to the same Effect. 1823 Parl. Deb. 2nd Ser. 7 1287 The strongest phrases were used in every quarter regarding the conduct and language of Mr. Fox; charging him, almost in terms, with unfurling the standard of rebellion. 1911 Yale Law Jrnl. 21 115 It may be said that this would often virtually compel him to criminate himself. But it certainly does not compel him in terms. 2003 L. Holford-Strevens Aulus Gellius (rev. ed.) xvi. 307 The allegations..which Cicero ridicules without quite denying them in terms. †b. Engaged in making or arranging conditions; negotiating (with). Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > agreement > [adjective] > relating to negotiation > negotiating in terms1567 on (also upon) terms1567 haggling1589 higgling1678 in —— terms1851 chaffering1856 1567 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure II. xxiv. f. 208^v She was in termes to goe home to hir husband the Counte of Celant, who had sent for hir. 1591 H. Savile Ende of Nero i. 12 in tr. Tacitus Ende of Nero: Fower Bks. Hist. In Spaine Galbaes soldiers in part were in termes to forsake him, and hardly reclaimed. 1613 R. Dallington Aphorismes Ciuill & Militarie iv. xvi. 243 They are in tearmes to render [= surrender]. 1619 M. Drayton Let. 14 Apr. in W. Drummond Wks. (1711) 153 I have done Twelve Books more,..but it lyeth by me; for the Booksellers and I are in Terms. 1700 Def. Scots abdicating Darien 38 Wafer..was in Terms with some private Merchants of London, about sending a Vessel thither. 1748 T. Smollett Roderick Random II. lxii. 296 He was already engaged, or at least in terms with Mr. Vandal. †c. On good terms; on a friendly or amicable footing. Cf. sense 8a. Obsolete. ΚΠ a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) ii. iii. 173 Friends all but now, euen now, In quarter, and in termes, like bride and groome. View more context for this quotation 1653 D. Dickson Brief Explic. Other 50 Psalmes 299 It prepareth way for the remedy, and keepeth the beleever in termes with God. d. in terms of. (a) Mathematics. By means of or with reference to specified variables or quantities. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > relationship > in relation to [phrase] > in respect of or with regard to in wise ofc1290 by (also for) reason ofa1350 as to (the) regard ofc1392 in regard of or toc1392 upon the side ofa1393 with regard toc1392 in respect of?a1425 in this (also that) behalf1458 upon the feat of1483 for (the) respect of1489 as pertains to1526 in order to1526 with respect1556 ad idem1574 on this behalf1581 in or with reference to1593 quoad hoc1601 in point of1605 with intuition to (of)1626 in the mention of1638 in terms of1704 how and about1753 as regards1797 as concerns1816 w.r.t.1956 the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > [adverb] > with reference to particular quantity in terms of1704 1704 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum I. at Square number A mix'd Number..whose Fractional Part is exprest in Terms of a Vulgar Fraction. 1743 W. Emerson Doctr. Fluxions 38 If a Series be required to be express'd in Terms of that Quantity whose 2d, 3d Fluxion, &c. is in the Equation. 1866 J. F. W. Herschel Familiar Lect. Sci. Subj. 102 The nearest distance of the orbits of Venus and the earth was concluded in terms of the earth's diameter. 1951 W. W. Elliott & E. R. C. Miles College Math. (ed. 2) xviii. 243 Solve the given equation for y in terms of x. 2012 A. Simpson Cambr. O Level Math. II. iii. 58 Write down an expression, in terms of x, for the amount Dan received. (b) gen. By means of or in reference to (a particular concept); in the mode of expression or thought belonging to (a subject or category); (loosely) on the basis of; in relation to; as regards.Sometimes influenced by sense 12, approaching the sense ‘in the language or terminology of’. ΚΠ 1821 J. Bentham Elements Art of Packing 102 Contradictoriness..manifested, in terms of a certain degree of strength, towards some proposition or propositions, that have been advanced by some one else. 1862 H. Spencer First Princ. ii. vii. §71. 248 The continuity of Motion..is really known to us in terms of force. 1890 W. James Princ. Psychol. II. xviii. 63 Most persons, on being asked in what sort of terms they imagine words, will say ‘in terms of hearing’. 1932 E. C. Tolman Purposive Behavior I. i. 7 He [sc. J. B. Watson] has defined behavior in terms of its strict physical and physiological details. 1938 Jrnl. Royal Aeronaut. Soc. 42 363 An attempt is made to explain the photolysis of silver halides in terms of the concepts of atomic physics. 1960 R. H. Gregory & R. L. Van Horn Automatic Data-processing Syst. xi. 396 System design is discussed here in terms of fact finding, developing specifications, meeting specifications, and matching equipment with the system. 2000 Austral. Financial Rev. (Nexis) 25 May (Property section) 51 We need to recognise metropolitan and CBD business remain the major engine of growth in terms of new employment. (c) to think in terms of: to consider along the lines of; to make the focus of one's attention; to base one's plans or intentions around. ΚΠ 1855 Jrnl. Soc. Arts 3 715/2 The decimal system makes passage from one unit to another much more easy, but it does not bind us to think in terms of one unit when another would be more convenient. 1931 Amer. Mercury Feb. 242/2 Weingartner..gives the music the lay-out it would certainly have had if Beethoven had been thinking originally in terms of the orchestra. 1965 Listener 3 June 812/2 We were thinking in terms of the politics of democracy and gradualism, of separate African states, each different. 2002 S. Brett Torso in Town (2003) xi. 76 Why is it that men think in terms of enjoying things right now.., whereas women are always thinking in terms of bloody relationships? e. in —— terms: with regard to the specified subject, sphere, or domain; from a —— point of view. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > agreement > [adjective] > relating to negotiation > negotiating in terms1567 on (also upon) terms1567 haggling1589 higgling1678 in —— terms1851 chaffering1856 1851 Millennial Harbinger Sept. 483 It [sc. the Holy Spirit] suggested to prophets, apostles, and the ancient evangelists, in human terms, or in visions and dreams, the mind and will of God to man. 1873 D. C. Heron Princ. Jurispr. i. 8 Statistics is the science of social facts expressed in numerical terms. 1913 W. E. Kellicott Textbk. Gen. Embryol. vii. 290 It must readily allow interpretation, in cytological terms, of the enormously complex phenomena of alternative or Mendelian heredity. 1959 D. W. Brogan in F. M. Joseph As Others see Us 4 I was predisposed to see American problems in European terms. 1978 Listener 26 Jan. 119/1 The hour's delay—a mere hiccup in cricketing terms—was caused by politics. 2011 Guardian (Nexis) 4 June 22 The Holocene has only been around for a short period in geological terms. P2. on (also upon) terms. See also sense 8b. †a. Engaged in making conditions, negotiating (with). Cf. Phrases 1b. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > agreement > [adjective] > relating to negotiation > negotiating in terms1567 on (also upon) terms1567 haggling1589 higgling1678 in —— terms1851 chaffering1856 1567 G. Fenton tr. M. Bandello Certaine Tragicall Disc. f. 142 Counterfetting so artyfyciallie their amarus regardes..whilest they were vppon tearmes to obteine her goodwill. 1611 J. More in Hist. MSS Comm.: Rep. MSS Duke of Buccleuch (1899) I. 101 in Parl. Papers (C. 9244) XLVI. 1 He hath not as yet taken a lease himself, but is upon terms to make up his four years to come 31 years. 1783 Encycl. Brit. X. 8750/1 He..confirmed the Bishop of Munster in the alliance of France, at the very time he was on terms with the emperor. 1824 London Mag. Sept. 267/2 The copyright..for which he was on terms with Cotta, of Tübingen. b. (a) With qualifying adjective or of: under the specified (type of) conditions or limitations; in the manner specified. Formerly also without qualification or following construction: †on certain conditions; conditionally (obsolete). ΚΠ 1602 W. Watson tr. E. Pasquier Iesuites Catech. xxv. f. 225^v The Order was established in Rome, and Ignatius chosen Generall, and that vpon termes [Fr. sur cette proposition] of an absolute Gouernour. 1630 P. Massinger Picture sig. I^v I left a letter in my chamber window, Which I would not haue seene on any termes. 1681 J. Phillips Char. Popish Successour 21 The vanquisht come to Capitulate before they yield, and only Surrender upon terms. 1693 J. Dryden tr. Persius Satires vi. 81 Well; on my Terms thou wilt not be my Heir. 1708 London Gaz. No. 4468/1 The Fortress..had surrender'd upon Terms. 1795 T. Peake Cases Nisi Prius 56 (margin) If goods are delivered on the terms of sale or return. 1869 J. Martineau Ess. Philos. & Theol. 2nd Ser. 94 It offers initiation..on the easiest terms. 1909 Eng. Rep. 94 241 He said, that this judgment appears to have been confess'd upon terms at the time of the confessing it. 1965 Life 25 June 85/2 He must prove before the convention assembled that Republican voters would not have Goldwater on any terms. 1990 R. Clay Only Angels Forget ix. 108 Come only when I say so, on my terms, when I've got time for you. 2007 W. Njoya Prop. in Work i. 26 The servant was not free in any real sense to enter into or leave any employment on terms of his choice. (b) on one's (also its) own terms: as dictated by oneself; without reference to outside influence or authority; in one's own way. ΚΠ 1617 S. Purchas Pilgrimage (ed. 3) v. vii. §4. 598 Hee sent a present to the Vice-roy with some Treatie of peace, whereof the Vice-roy made light account, thinking first to ouercome vs..and then to treat of peace on his owne termes. 1670 R. Baxter Life of Faith (new ed.) 330 Christ died to procure us that pardoning Covenant, which (on its own terms) will pardon every sin of the Justified when they are committed. 1728 E. Chambers Cycl. Monopoly,..when one or more Persons make themselves sole Masters of any Commodity..; those who have occasion for it being obliged to purchase it at their hands, and on their own terms. 1764 J. Burton Present State Navigation Thames 14 Refusing Carriage of Goods, but on their own Terms. 1832 B. Disraeli Let. 15 May (1982) I. 274 I very much fear that the Whig's are again in, and on their own terms. 1877 Spirit of Times 24 Nov. 452/1 It seems as if Mr. Lorillard would like to make a series of matches on his own terms, over courses of his own selection, and for amounts he stipulates. 1918 Q. Jrnl. Econ. 32 358 The government..could..requisition the residences within them and house workers in them on its own terms. 1968 Q. Crisp Naked Civil Servant xix. 136 I had..imagined that, by strength of will and the use of an unremittingly antiseptic manner, I could have and hold the situation on my own terms. 2012 Billboard 7 Jan. 20/2 We have our own studio, our own label. We do everything on our own terms. (c) on (also upon) its own terms: without reference to anything else; in or of itself; as it is. ΚΠ 1741 C. Lucas Pharmacomastix 45 I never met with an object so despicable, that could not command the advice and attendance of numbers of physicians..upon its own terms. 1814 L.-M. Hawkins Rosanne II. xxxvi. 142 This belief I must, in justice, take on its own terms. 1896 Philos. Rev. 5 349 Taking the theory on its own terms it is incomplete, and its inadequacy is apparent in the absence of a philosophy of the fundamental conditions of thought. 1930 Proc. Aristotelian Soc. New Ser. 30 28 This ‘high priori’ way of arguing..is capable (on its own terms) of telling us a great deal about what reason does. 1963 Jrnl. Politics 25 447 But if his work is understood on its own terms, then such a line of argument is..reduced to absurdity. 2014 N.Y. Mag. 17 Feb. 134/2 Taken on its own terms, Emmett's deep-dish is both audibly crunchy and pleasingly bready. c. (a) On good terms; on a friendly or amicable footing. Cf. sense 8b. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > on friendly terms [phrase] > on intimate terms on (also upon) terms1757 on intimate habits1809 1757 Northern Revol. 34 He..judged he might rule each Kingdom sometimes arbitrarily, provided he could keep upon Terms with the two Others. 1795 Mr. Law in H. Yorke Trial for Conspiracy 81 He told you he had rather you went, because he was not on terms with Mr. Yorke. 1815 J. Scott Visit to Paris (ed. 3) xii. 197 Such a lady..is not now on terms with that gentleman—that affair is over long ago. 1864 A. Trollope Small House at Allington I. xvii. 162 The earl and Lord Porlock were not on terms. 1902 Columbia Law Rev. 2 521 Though not on terms with the Church, [he] retains so much respect for the scholastic traditions as to refer to the Latin Fathers. 1971 M. Russell Deadline xv. 182 ‘Of course you had to get on terms with Gregory.’ ‘Now we're like that.’ 2013 M. Irwin Skull & Nightingale ii. 19 I was curious to meet these people, since I might one day have to live on terms with them. (b) Sport (originally Hunting). On terms of equality; on an equal footing; level in position or score. Frequently in to get on terms: to draw level with, catch up to. ΚΠ 1826 Asiatic Jrnl. & Monthly Reg. Dec. 711/2 They [sc. the hounds] checked for a few minutes, owing to the jackal having headed short away to the right towards Barasett; they however soon got on terms with him again. 1864 Manch. Guardian 18 Apr. 4/3 The two leaders going steadily on at a slow pace enabled the mare to get on terms with them just as they reached the straight run home. 1877 R. H. Roberts Harry Holbrooke of Holbrooke Hall ii. 29 So quickly did the hounds get on terms with their fox. 1897 Daily News 23 July 4/5 In the end Yorkshire got on terms and ran their total to within four of the southern county. 1957 Times 11 Nov. 15/3 Gledhill scored a similar type of goal from Hind's pass to put his side on terms. 1967 Irish Times 9 Oct. 3/8 Three Rock Rovers are fortunate to be back on terms with Railway at the top of the table. 2014 P. Cossins Monuments viii. 138 Moser's misfortune..came just seven kilometres from the line, leaving him no hope of getting back on terms with De Vlaeminck. d. to stand upon (or on) terms: see stand v. Phrases 1d. P3. to bring to (also †in) terms: to cause or compel to agree or to be reconciled. ΚΠ 1595 T. Bedingfield tr. N. Machiavelli Florentine Hist. iv. 99 The Cittie would be brought in termes [It. si condurrebbe in termine], that the Tyrant..should of force fall in our bozome. 1670 J. Milton Hist. Brit. Index sig. Tt Their whole Army being defeated, they [sc. the Danes] are brought to terms by King Alfred. 1797 tr. E. de Vattel Law Nations (new ed.) iii. viii. 347 When we find gentler methods insufficient to conquer their resistance and bring them to terms, we have a right to put them to death. 1856 United Service Mag. Mar. 415 Having sent an army against Feerooz, he succeeded in bringing him to terms. 1905 Amer. Hist. Rev. 11 53 The only way to bring them to terms would be to march a strong body of troops into their country, overawe them with this show of force..and then make a comprehensive treaty. 1998 Internat. Jrnl. 53 664 A mechanistic view that held out hope that East-West tensions could be managed and brought to terms by diplomacy and accommodation. P4. to come to terms. Cf. coming to terms n. at coming n. Phrases 2. a. To agree on conditions, come to an agreement (with); cf. to make terms at Phrases 6. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > agreement > make an agreement [verb (intransitive)] accord?a1160 to make (a) finec1325 covenantc1330 compound1419 packc1450 patisec1475 conclude1477 compone1478 bargain1483 article1526 make1530 compact1535 to dispense with1569 temporize1579 to make termsa1599 to strike (a person) luck1599 to be compromised1600 compacka1618 stipulatea1648 to come to terms1657 sort1685 paction1725 to cry off1775 pact1904 1657 W. Hughes tr. J. Sleidanus in Munster & Abingdon vi. 15 They came to Termes [L. ventum est ad compositionem], where by it was provided, That every man should keepe his owne Religion. a1734 R. North Lives of Norths (1826) II. 231 The creditors..rather than to contest accounts, came to terms, and agreed to take shares. 1786 J. Andrews Hist. War with Amer. II. xviii. 145 The longer we delayed in coming to terms with our Colonies, the greater the danger would be, that the instigations of foreigners would render them indifferent or averse to treating. 1815 Analectic Mag. May 390 Let us suppose, which heaven avert! that we are conquered, or are obliged to come to terms. 1894 Pop. Sci. Monthly Oct. 862/2 If a man has a dispute with a neighbor who refuses to come to terms, these lions may be hired to destroy his cattle. 1945 Time 10 Dec. 44/2 Without hope of across-the-board success until the U.K. and the U.S. came to terms in their Washington deal. 2012 A. Stewart Very Brit. Experience ix. 156 A refusal to come to terms with the German leader in 1940 meant that Hitler would have to fight a two-front war. b. To reconcile oneself; to come to an acceptance. Usually with with, indicating the thing one comes to accept. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > difficulty > opposition > absence of resistance > accept without resistance [verb (transitive)] > put up with or become reconciled to bear1540 reconcile1543 to take up with1609 to come to terms1860 to live with ——1937 1860 P. A. Smith Hist. Educ. Eng. Bar vii. 154 Let a man come to terms with himself, and resolve that, according to his power, he will not allow himself to live a mere cypher. 1923 J. B. Priestley I for One 235 The few [pictures] that it has do not seem so bright, so ideal, but seem to have come to terms with sad reality. 1970 L. Deighton Bomber i. 12 Each of the airmen guests was already coming to terms with the return to duty. 1991 ‘W. Trevor’ My House in Umbria iv, in Two Lives (1992) 279 It was a way of coming to terms, of finding something to cling to in the muddle; I dare say it's natural that people would. 2001 Advocate 16 Jan. 74/3 When did you finally come to terms with being gay—high school, college? P5. to keep terms. a. Also to keep the (also one's) terms and variants. (a) Of a student: to fulfil certain requirements stipulated by his or her university, in order to take a course or to graduate; spec. (at Oxford, Cambridge, and certain other universities) to reside at the university or within a prescribed distance of it during (the majority of) each academic term.Earliest in figurative context. ΚΠ 1640 D. Featley et al. Θρηνοικος xli. 819 We cannot take our degrees in Christs schoole per saltem, we must keepe our Termes, and performe our exercises, both of faith, obedience, and patience. 1705 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. 4 Dec. (O.H.S.) I. 114 He might be admitted to the Degree of Master of Arts, without..keeping Terms. 1768 G. Whitefield Let. to Dr. Durell (ed. 2) 19 Were our Students..to be thus exercised and employed, while they are keeping terms at the University,..when they return home in time of Vacation, they would not turn out such meer novices. 1815 A. Chalmers Gen. Biogr. Dict. (new ed.) XIX. 120 From his first entrance into the university, until Michaelmas 1768, when he took his bachelor's degree, he had kept terms regularly. 1874 Cal. Univ. N.Z. 22 Any person matriculated to the University, and whose name shall be upon the books of an affiliated college, and who shall have passed the yearly College examination, shall be deemed to have kept the three Terms of that year. 1921 Dublin Univ. Cal. 1921–2 44 Also unless exempted he must have kept the three terms of his Senior Sophister year by Lectures. 1990 VUW Cal. (Victoria Univ. Wellington) 86 An internal student shall keep terms by complying with the University regulations regarding enrolment and payment of fees, attending the classes in that subject..and performing..such written, oral, practical and other work as the Professorial Board may require. 2001 D. Maskell & I. Robinson New Idea University ix. 75 Unlike Mr Major, he went to university and unlike Mr Collins he did more than keep terms. (b) Of a trainee barrister: to dine in one's Inn (see Inn of Court n. at inn n. Phrases 2a(a)) a requisite number of times, as part of the requirements for being called to the bar.Students are currently required to dine at least 12 times, but participation in certain training events may also count towards this requirement. ΚΠ a1657 C. Croke Fortune's Uncertainty (1667) 95 He begins once more to work at the rough and hard Anvil of the Law, he keeps the Terms, is call'd to the Bar, and for a time goes on with delight. 1781 Gentleman's Mag. May 221/1 A clergyman with a small living may afford to pay four pounds a year..for ten years; and yet be utterly unable to keep terms for a law degree, which is a very serious expence. 1794 Fair Methodist I. xii. 47 With this gentleman Florimund passed thro' the usual time of probationship; and..kept his terms in the Temple with a view to attend the bar in Jamaica. 1848 R. R. Pearce Hist. Inns of Court xi. 392 In the Inner Temple, to keep a term, the student must dine in the hall of the society two days in each of two separate full weeks of the term. 1955 ‘N. Shute’ Requiem for Wren (1956) 182 I had another year of keeping terms and eating dinners to do before I could be called to the Bar. 2003 R. Codlin Hist. Found. Jamaican Law ix. 187 Before a young barrister can be called to the bar he or she must keep terms. b. †(a) With modifying word or clause: to deal with or treat a person in a particular way. With indirect object or with. Obsolete. ΚΠ a1605 ( in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1827) 2nd Ser. I. 133 Seyinge the evill termes that the Kynge hathe kept hym, and cast hym out of the realme. 1748 S. Richardson Clarissa V. xxxviii. 284 What terms wouldst thou have me to keep with such a sweet corruptress? (b) To have or maintain amicable or cooperative relations (with a person or party); to continue to deal with. Also figurative. Now somewhat rare. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > social relations > have social communication with [verb (transitive)] intercommunec1374 dealc1380 usec1384 intercommonc1430 resort?1518 minglea1593 use1594 intercoursea1604 sociate1635 to keep termsa1673 shoulder1851 tangle1928 a1673 T. Horton 100 Select Serm. (1679) vi. 42/2 God will give them that which they desire to try them, and to see how well they will keep terms with him. 1726 tr. G. Daniel Hist. France III. 31 Raising him to such a pitch of power, as might render him formidable, and themselves necessary for the support of the state and sovereign, who wou'd be obliged more then ever to keep terms with them. 1751 J. Hill Hist. Woman of Quality iii. vii. 161 There was no Reason for his now keeping Terms any longer with Lord B—. 1806 R. Cumberland Mem. (1807) I. 184 A profusion of finery, that kept no terms with simplicity. 1847 J. S. Le Fanu Fortunes Torlough O'Brien xxv. 176 Come, come—we must keep terms; it's better to have a cup of sack than to draw daggers on one another. 1906 Canad. Mag. Feb. 323/1 Besides reason,..man has sentiment, distinct from reason though bound to keep terms with it on pain of becoming nonsense. 2010 S. A. H. Haqqi Chingiz Khan i. 19 Jamuka for his part, considered it worthwhile to keep terms with Temuchin. P6. to make terms: to agree on conditions, come to terms; chiefly with with. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > agreement > make an agreement [verb (intransitive)] accord?a1160 to make (a) finec1325 covenantc1330 compound1419 packc1450 patisec1475 conclude1477 compone1478 bargain1483 article1526 make1530 compact1535 to dispense with1569 temporize1579 to make termsa1599 to strike (a person) luck1599 to be compromised1600 compacka1618 stipulatea1648 to come to terms1657 sort1685 paction1725 to cry off1775 pact1904 a1599 E. Spenser View State Ireland 82 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) He dare now front Princes, and make tearmes with great potentates. 1652 French Occurr. No. 7. 51 The Citizens, and others are in a great fear lest the prince of Conde out of his enmity to the new Cardinal, should make terms with the old. 1701 Present Disposition Eng. Considered 6 Procured the Names of those..that had got Pardons, or made Terms with King James. 1760 Mod. Part Universal Hist. XXIV. xi. iv. 537 This gave the house of Austria an advantage..whenever the Protestant princes in Germany were reduced to make terms. 1814 L.-M. Hawkins Rosanne III. liv. 68 Lord Montrylas, whose favour seemed of value with one or both, assuming a tone of pleasantry, made terms with them. 1884 Times (Weekly ed.) 17 Oct. 14/1 The Amarars have made terms with the Hadendowas, giving them a number of cattle. 1907 Pop. Mech. Jan. 166/1 The later patentee must either make terms with the earlier patentee, or wait until the earlier patent is dead. 1965 M. H. Keen Laws War in Late Middle Ages viii. 120 This threat so terrified the garrison of the fort that they made terms at once. 2009 Financial Times 2 Apr. 13/2 Bastions of banking secrecy such as Switzerland, Liechenstein and Singapore have sought to make terms with the OECD. P7. terms of reference: the points referred to an individual or group for decision or report; the scope and limitations of an inquiry, review, etc. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of ideation > topic, subject-matter > [noun] > defining theme terms of reference1819 1819 Morning Chron. 3 Feb. The great question between him and the Chancellor of the Exchequer was, that the terms of reference should be distinct. 1892 Daily Graphic 30 Dec. (Suppl.) 3/1 On the 14th October the constitution of the Commission and the exact terms of reference were made known. 1921 Board Educ., Teaching Eng. in Eng. 3 Our terms of reference do not include Wales. 1967 G. F. Fiennes I tried to run Railway vii. 88 We wrote ourselves new terms of reference in that sense. 2014 Austral. Financial Rev. (Nexis) 2 July (Opinion section) 47 The terms of reference for the government's white paper on the reform of the federation are ambitious but the review process is bureaucratic. P8. terms of trade: the ratio of an index of a country's export prices to an index of its import prices, used to measure its trading prospects. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > importing and exporting > [noun] > balance of trade balance of trade1690 trade balance1787 terms of trade1923 1923 A. Marshall Money, Credit, & Commerce vi. 161 Illustration of the demands of each of two countries which trade together, for the goods of the other: and the general dependence of the terms of trade on the relative volumes and intensities of those demands. 1957 A. C. L. Day Outl. Monetary Econ. xxxi. 399 Home terms of trade. [Note] An index of the home price of exports divided by the home price of imports. 1976 Economist 16 Oct. 22/3 Until exports expand enough, and/or imports fall enough, to offset the terms of trade deterioration, a devaluation makes the balance of payments worse before better. 2015 Guardian (Nexis) 15 Dec. In the May budget the terms of trade in 2015–16 was expected to fall 8.5%; now it is expected to fall 10.5%. P9. Chiefly Law. for (also †to) term of (a person's) life: as long as the person in question lives; until the person's death. Now historical.Formerly also without for or to. [After Anglo-Norman a terme de vie, a terme de sa vie (both late 13th cent. or earlier), pur terme de vie, pur terme de sa vie (both late 14th cent. or earlier); compare post-classical Latin ad terminum vite to term of life (from 13th cent. in British sources).] ΘΚΠ the world > life > source or principle of life > [noun] > course or span of life life-dayOE year-daysOE timeOE dayOE lifeOE life's timeOE livelihoodOE yearOE lifetimea1300 life-whilea1300 for (also to) term of (a person's) lifea1325 coursec1384 livingc1390 voyage1390 agea1398 life's dayc1425 thread1447 racea1450 living daysc1450 natural life1461 lifeness1534 twist1568 leasec1595 span1599 clew1615 marcha1625 peregrination1653 clue1684 stamen1701 life term1739 innings1772 lifelong1814 pass-through1876 inning1885 natural1891 life cycle1915 puff1967 the world > life > source or principle of life > [adverb] > in one's life > for remaining period of one's life for (also to) term of (a person's) lifea1325 for life1548 a1325 Statutes of Realm (2011) vii. 60 Pasture þat is in tenauntes hond..to terme of liue, oþer of ȝeres, oþer in feo itailled. 1376 in L. Morsbach Mittelengl. Originalurkunden (1923) 2 (MED) Þe forsede londes fulle in-to water Dunes hond and his heires, and in pes held he terme of his lif, and his heires after him, with-oute chalenges of any man. c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 171 And there he lyueth in ioye and in honour Terme of his lyue. 1504 W. Copulldyke Will in B. Cusack Everyday Eng. 1500–1700 (1998) 327 I will that my wyffe hawe hyre Iwnter without eny interrupcion terme of hyre lyfe. 1528–30 tr. T. Littleton Tenures (new ed.) f. iii The husbande hathe estate in the speciall tayle, and the wyfe but for terme of lyfe. 1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 725 That Henry the Sixth should enjoy the right of the kingdome for tearme of life only. 1788 V. Knox Winter Evenings I. iii. 34 What men draw from their education generally sticks by them for term of life. 1830 Laws Commonw. for Governm. Mass. State Prison 13 Confinement to hard labor, for term of life or years. 1877 G. Hill Hist. Acct. Plantation in Ulster i. 32 The castles, hereditaments, and lands, hereby appointed to Sir Tirlagh, excepted only for term of his life. 1955 Econ. Hist. Rev. 7 351 William Sergeant of Wolveston had a licence to lease three of his fifteen acres, one in each field, for term of his life. 2016 N. G. Jones in M. Godfrey Law & Authority in Brit. Legal Hist. ii. 24 Sir John Wilshire..provided in his will that his widow should enjoy the premises for term of her life. P10. in (also over) the long (also short, medium, etc.) term and variants: over or for a period or the specified length.Cf. long-term adj. and adv., medium-term adj. at medium n. and adj. Compounds 1a, short-term adj. ΚΠ 1938 Econ. Jrnl. 48 522 Their actions in the short term are overridingly governed by the profit-motive. 1954 H. W. Florey Lect. Gen. Pathol. i. 16 Chronic diseases..are generally more severe in their immediate effects, though by no means the more damaging in the long term. 1981 Amer. Libraries May 243/2 This will result in some small problems in the short term but in the medium term will result in a more efficiently filed catalog. 1998 Egypt in Global Econ. (World Bank) vi. 62 The most critical reform initiative in the short- to medium-term should be to improve the management of social security funds. 2015 Daily Mail 21 May 57/1 In the long term, UV rays are thought to contribute to cataracts and macular degeneration. Compounds C1. a. General attributive.See also term day n., term time n. ΚΠ 1841 W. Francis et al. tr. C. F. Gauss & W. Weber in R. Taylor Sci. Mem. II. ii. 22 Eight terms in the year were agreed upon,..during which the variations were to be noted from hour to hour... These term-observations were made for the first time on the 20th and 21st of March, 1834. 1881 Parl. Deb. 3rd Ser. 261 1276 The whole course of legislation in Scotland had been to do away with those customary term dates. 1955 A. N. Prior Formal Logic ii. iii. 158 The nearest thing to a general term-variable in the functional calculus is the predicate-variable (ϕ, etc.). 1968 Mariner's Mirror 54 102 I can recall a term-mate of mine in the Hampshire being mast-headed towards the end of 1914. 1992 New Scientist 18 Apr. 47/1 A few term-appointments would still be needed to take up the slack of different levels of funding from year to year. 2008 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 6 Oct. b10/1 The New York Times has historically opposed term limits for city offices. b. term end n. ΚΠ a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) II. f. cxxi/1 At which Terme ende, They sette fyre upon the Towne. 1661 T. Riders Black Remembrancer (single sheet) (table) February..12..Term end. 1822 S. Hibbert-Ware Illustr. Customs Manor 15th Cent. App. II. 14 If the tenant hold his farm unto the terme, and remove unto another place at the term end, [etc.]. 1955 Princeton Alumni Weekly 11 Feb. 14/1 The net result was a costly setback in their respective leagues for both outfits as action resumed following the term-end examination break. 2003 Log Home Design Ideas Jan. 97/2 Payments often cover interest only with principal due in full at the term end. C2. attributive. Insurance. Designating a life insurance policy which pays out should the policyholder die within a specified period, and which has no value once this term has expired; of or relating to such insurance; cf. whole-life adj. (a) at whole adj., n., and adv. Compounds 1b. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > financial dealings > insurance > [adjective] > insurance policy types tontine1790 whole-life1832 term1834 floating1839 all risks1885 third party1901 non-profit1905 knock for knock1906 stamped1913 warehouse to warehouse1922 without-profit(s)1924 with-profit(s)1924 loaded1928 unit-linked1966 no-fault1967 new-for-old1984 critical illness1986 1834 Observer 17Aug. 1/1 (advt.) The full advantage of a whole life insurance may be secured by a smaller advance than is necessary for a term Policy in the generality of offices. 1885 Frank Leslie's Illustr. Newspaper 3 Oct. 112/2 (advt.) Renewable term life insurance as offered only by the Provident Savings Life Assurance Society of New York. a1911 C. F. Trenerry Origin & Early Hist. Insurance (1926) ix. 142 In the case of the term insurance the policy may or may not mature, in that of a whole-life policy it must mature. 1979 Globe & Mail (Toronto) (Nexis) 2 Aug. Imperial life also lowered some term premiums. 2009 Kiplinger's Personal Finance Sept. 66/2 When you buy a term policy, be sure you understand the details of your conversion rights, if any. C3. attributive. Designating a birth which takes place after the full length of a normal pregnancy; designating a baby born in this way or a pregnancy of this type; = full term adj. Cf. sense 5b and also preterm adj., post-term adj. ΚΠ 1891 Trans. Obstetr. Soc. 1890 32 401 After being under treatment for a severe attack of rheumatism she became pregnant, and had successful term-deliveries. 1894 C. Jewett Outl. Obstetr. 107 The presentation is pelvic in 3 per cent. of term births. 1938 Child Devel. 9 347 The phenomenon one would expect if the babies are developing at an accelerated rate that enables them eventually to catch up with term babies of their own birth age. 2001 Oxoniensia 65 320 A term baby is born between the 38th and 42nd week of gestation. 2007 R. A. Word & X.-H. Li in F. Petraglia et al. Preterm Birth ii. 19/2 In term pregnancy, cervical ripening precedes myometrial contractions of labor. C4. term catalogue n. now historical (in England) a list of books published in London during each quarterly law term.Term catalogues were produced from 1668 to 1709 (an isolated issue from Easter 1711 also survives). ΘΚΠ society > communication > book > book list > [noun] > list of books during a term or quarter term catalogue1681 1681 in L. Womock Verdict upon Dissenters Plea 46 The General Catalogue of Books printed in England since the dreadful Fire of London in 1666. to the end of Trinity-Term 1680. (with the Term Catalogue since Printed). a1704 T. Brown Dial. in Wks. (1720) IV. 190 One of 'em preaches against Oppression and Covetousness once a Month at least, and perhaps has appear'd in a Term-Catalogue upon that Subject. 1772 W. Huddesford in Life A. Wood 395 (note) in Lives Eminent Antiquaries II. He sent a Submission to the said Earl, to have it put into the Term Catalogues, Gazette, &c. 1906 E. Arber (title) The Term Catalogues 1668–1709 a.d. A Contemporary Bibliography of English Literature in the reigns of Chas. II, Jas. II, Wm. and Mary, and Anne. 2011 M. Yeo Acquisition of Bks. by Chetham's Libr. ii. 48 The trustees certainly consulted items like the Term Catalogues and booksellers' catalogues in their choices. † term-driver n. Obsolete (perhaps) a person who attends court during law terms; = term-trotter n. (a).Apparently an isolated use. ΘΚΠ society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > action of courts in claims or grievances > party in litigation > [noun] > one who comes to law-courts for term term-suitor1602 term-trotter1607 term-driver1633 1633 P. Massinger New Way to pay Old Debts ii. ii. sig. E2^v This terme-driuer Marrall, This snippe of an Attourney. term fee n. Law (now historical) any of various types of fee paid by or to a lawyer every law term; esp. a fee charged to a client for each term his or her case is in court; cf. termage fee n. at termage n. Compounds. ΚΠ 1647 Questions propounded conc. Remedies 5 Clerkes.., do not deserve to themselves the usuall tearm Fees, which usually have been paid to undeserving persons. 1736 Discontent 12 The needy Lawyer, banish'd from Term Fees. 1826 Chancery Comm.: Copy Rep. App. 572 (table) in Parl. Papers (H.C. 143) XVI. 1 Hawkins v. Miles, term fee..6s. 8d. 1859 Rules Law Soc. Upper Canada 20 Every member of this Society shall, after his Call to the Bar, pay to the Society..a Term fee of two shillings and six-pence in each and every Term. 1935 M. Seymour & E. Forgeous Lawyer of Kent vi. 25 The first list, that of January, 1797, shows three term fees and an ‘arguing fee’. 2003 J. Baker Oxf. Hist. Laws Eng. VI. 235 Like attorneys, proctors took a term fee of 3s. 4d. as against the advocates' 6s. 8d. term figure n. a statue or bust ending in a square pillar from which it appears to emerge; = sense 15. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > plastic art > statuary > [noun] > statue > bust or torso block1535 term1604 busto1626 torse1634 terminus1638 busty1684 bust1691 shoulder-piece1692 protome1737 torso1797 portrait bust1827 terminal1876 term figure1880 1880 J. L. Warren Guide Study Book-plates iii. 23 Male and female term-figures, busts of fairies. 1946 Furnishings of H. H. Whitney Resid. (Parke-Bernet Galleries) 112 Voluted wall bracket supporting a finely sculptured bearded term figure. 2000 M. Campbell in E. P. Bowron & J. J. Rishel Art in Rome in 18th Cent. 572/1 Some vegetation..encrusts the satyr term figure who appears immediately in front of and so close to him that the two statues appear engaged in conversation. term-keeping n. now chiefly historical observance of a term at a law court, university, etc., (see sense 4a), esp. as regards attendance or residence in a particular place; cf. to keep terms (see Phrases 5a). ΚΠ 1794 T. Holcroft Adventures Hugh Trevor III. vi. 97 I therefore entered myself of the Temple, and thus began another snail-pace journey of term keeping. 1845 John Bull 1 Nov. 701/3 The inns of court operations,..and term-keeping with the view of a call to the bar, recommence on Sunday next. 1913 Jrnl. Educ. (Univ. of Boston School of Educ.) 4 Sept. 202/1 The expensive tutoring and cramming which not infrequently win ‘honors’ for those whose term-keeping has been comparatively idle and careless. 2011 P. Girard Lawyers & Legal Culture in Brit. North Amer. xi. 200 With its requirements of term-keeping at Osgoode Hall..the education and socialization of lawyers was more centralized in Upper Canada than in the other colonies. term paper n. U.S. Education a long essay or dissertation on a subject drawn from the work done during a school or college term. ΘΚΠ society > education > educational administration > examination > [noun] > other examinations recitation1770 screw1810 term paper1873 trade test1880 City and Guilds1882 entry exam1886 inter1891 pop quiz1931 1873 President's Rep. 1872–3 (Mass. Inst. Technol.) 25 The final term papers, only, are wholly or mainly relied on to determine the student's standing. 1931 High School Jrnl. 14 17 A long term paper that will incorporate the results of a semester's reading. 2005 Weekly World News 12 Dec. 15/1 He paid other students to write his term papers so he could be free to party. † term-piece n. Nautical Obsolete a piece of carved timber fitted under either end of the taffrail of a wooden ship; = sense 16. ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > parts of vessels > body of vessel > rear part of vessel > [noun] > flat part > upper (ornamented) part of tafferel1704 term-piece1711 term1781 taffrail1814 truss1823 stern-rail1846 tafferel-rail1846 1711 W. Sutherland Ship-builders Assistant 75 (table) Term Pieces or Drift Pieces sided. 1781 M. Stalkartt Naval Archit. v. xiii. 174 Demi-figures of Fame sounding their praise, fill the term-pieces. 1850 J. Greenwood Sailor's Sea-bk. 157 Truss, short pieces of carved-work, mostly in small ships, fitted under the taffrail in the same manner as the term-pieces. term sheet n. U.S. Business a document setting out the terms on which an offer of funds or other commercial proposal is made. ΚΠ 1894 Penny Press (Minneapolis) 28 Sept. 1/1 (advt.) If you live out of town, send 10c for our big 1894 catalogue and our term sheet. 1921 Southeastern Reporter 106 556 The whole case turns on the construction of the invoice and what is called the ‘term sheet’, which accompanied the invoice and was made a part of it. 2011 Billboard 2 Apr. 6/1 Most of these features were included in the term sheet that the search giant circulated last year among label executives. † term-suitor n. Obsolete rare a plaintiff bringing a suit to court during a law term. ΘΚΠ society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > action of courts in claims or grievances > party in litigation > [noun] > one who comes to law-courts for term term-suitor1602 term-trotter1607 term-driver1633 1602 R. Carew Surv. Cornwall i. f. 89 The Terme-suiters may best speed their businesse. term symbol n. (a) Logic a symbol in a given formal language, esp. one representing a definite object or property in the domain of discourse; (b) Physics (in early use) any of a series of letters used to signify the orbital quantum number of an atom; (in later use) an expression used to describe the atomic state of an atom, consisting of a letter signifying its orbital quantum number, preceded by its spin multiplicity written in superscript, and (sometimes) followed by the quantum number, written in subscript, representing its total angular momentum (cf. sense 14d). ΘΚΠ the world > matter > physics > atomic physics > decomposition of light, spectrum > [noun] > component of wave number > symbol of term symbol1856 1856 Trans. Cambr. Philos. Soc. 9 89 There is, in fact (independently of the omission of term-symbols), a very material difference. 1923 Proc. Royal Soc. A. 103 416 The azimuthal component of the total quantum number is sufficiently indicated by the associated term symbols s, p, d, f. 2014 R. Moot in C. Casadio et al. Categories & Types in Logic, Lang., & Physics 326 The use of complex terms moves us rather close to the indexed grammars, where complex unary term symbols play the role of a stack of indices. 2015 B. W. Pfennig Princ. Inorg. Chem. xvi. 541 Term symbols relate to the different energy levels that arise from a particular electron configuration. term-trotter n. (a) a person who visits or resides in London during a legal term; = termer n. 1; cf. term-driver n. (obsolete); (b) University slang (chiefly Oxford University) a student who observes the university terms merely as a formality; esp. one who spends as little time at university as possible (now historical). ΘΚΠ society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > action of courts in claims or grievances > party in litigation > [noun] > one who comes to law-courts for term term-suitor1602 term-trotter1607 term-driver1633 society > education > learning > learner > college or university student > [noun] > non-working student term-trotter1782 1607 T. Middleton Phoenix sig. C I haue beene a Tearme-trotter my selfe anye time this fiue and fortie yeares. 1782 V. Knox Ess. I. 336 The majority are what are called term-trotters, that is, persons who only keep the terms for form-sake..to qualify them for degrees. 1805 Med. & Physical Jrnl. 14 566 His modesty has induced him to take a title, which any term-trotter may assume, almost as soon as matriculated. 1809 Monthly Mirror Jan. 6 Mr. Hilary is as smart, spruce, smirking, a Term-trotter, as ever paraded Westminster-Hall in black stockings and white buckles. 1857 T. Wright Dict. Obsolete & Provinc. Eng. Termers, persons who visited the metropolis only at term-time, and chiefly to live by intrigues or tricks. Called also term-trotters. 1907 M. A. R. Tuker Cambridge iii. 183 The Cambridge degree was still something better than the Oxford when at the end of that century [sc. the 18th] aspirants for degrees at both universities were adequately described as ‘term-trotters’. 2003 J. P. Raines & C. G. Leathers Econ. Inst. Higher Educ. ii. 28 The majority of candidates were not residents, but ‘term-trotters’ who spent the minimal weeks in the University to qualify them according to the letter of the Statutes. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2017; most recently modified version published online June 2022). termv. Brit. /təːm/, U.S. /tərm/ Forms: see term n.; also 1500s–1600s teerm. Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: term n. Etymology: < term n. Compare Old French termer to bring (something) to an end (1312, reflexive), and also Anglo-Norman oyer et terminer (see oyer and terminer n.). †1. transitive. To bring to an end or conclusion; to terminate. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > order > order, sequence, or succession > end or conclusion > bring to an end or conclude [verb (transitive)] yendc1000 abatec1300 finec1300 endc1305 finisha1375 definec1384 terminec1390 achievea1393 out-enda1400 terminate?a1425 conclude1430 close1439 to bring adowna1450 terma1475 adetermine1483 determine1483 to knit up1530 do1549 parclose1558 to shut up1575 expire1578 date1589 to close up1592 period1595 includea1616 apostrophate1622 to wind off1650 periodizea1657 dismiss1698 to wind up1740 to put the lid on1873 to put the tin hat on something1900 to wash up1925 a1475 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Godstow Nunnery (1905) i. 89 They shold here the cause, and..terme hit with a dew ende. a1500 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Trin. Dublin) l. 1304 (MED) All þe tulkez in þe teld he termys þe lyve. a1500 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Trin. Dublin) l. 1336 (MED) Alex[ander]..turnes agayn toward tyre to terme hys seige. 1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Riii/1 To Tearme, terminare. 2. To express or denote using a term or terms. †a. transitive. To express in particular terms, or in a specified form of words; to phrase. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > express in a specific style [verb (transitive)] > express in particular terms layc1330 setc1460 couch1529 terma1535 phrase1556 put1571 shape1589 word1602 a1535 T. More Treat. Passion in Wks. (1557) 1376/2 Now doth this man..two ways..continue his pilgrimage, that is to witte as maister Gersonne in the Latin tong termeth it,..in a naturall continuance, and in a moral continuance. 1546 S. Gardiner Declar. True Articles f. xiii^v But I dyd neuer vtter this proposicion, in these termes, to saye: that man must merite remyssion of synne, nor I haue not (as I remembre) redde it spoken in this fourme, tyll you haue so termed it. 1584 in 10th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1885) App. v. 433 No merchant..should transporte..any goodes that apertayned to unfreemen (as it is termed). b. transitive. With complement, or in clauses with as. To give a particular or specified name to; to name, call, designate. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > naming > give a name to [verb (transitive)] > call or give as name to nemneOE clepec1000 hightOE sayOE nameOE yclepec1175 callc1300 nevena1400 deemc1400 christena1470 nominate1545 term1545 titulea1550 behight1579 benamea1586 inquire1590 nuncupate1609 indigitate1623 font1652 vocitate1653 express1659 appellate1768 nomenclature1824 1545 G. Joye Expos. Daniel (vii.) f. 119^v Of ye which scoldinge scole mater thus termed, Paul gaue Timothe an ernest last warninge. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. ij Master of the holy palace (as they terme it). 1579 W. Wilkinson Confut. Familye of Loue Brief Descr. sig. ☞.ii^v, (heading) The Heresie termed, The Familie of Loue. 1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. To Rdr. Good Bookes may be tearmed wise guides. 1643 Sir T. Browne Religio Medici (authorized ed.) i. §36 The brain, which we tearme the seat of reason. View more context for this quotation 1726 G. Shelvocke Voy. round World ii. 27 Incensing the people against..Officers, whom he term'd Blood-suckers. 1784 Ann. Agric. 1 308 Autumnal strike-balking, as it is termed in Kent, is of exceeding use for winter-fallows. 1802 Crit. Rev. 34 489 His production may indeed be termed historical satire. 1873 St. G. Mivart Lessons Elem. Anat. viii. 282 Such muscles are termed rotators. 1918 Referee (Sydney) 10 July 9/5 ‘Aussie Rules’, as the local youths term it, has a fine following of young devotees. 1969 I. Murdoch Bruno's Dream xv. 121 I'm what they term self-employed. 2014 European Voice (Nexis) 24 July The Netherlands..has in past years displayed what officials liked to term ruthless ‘business-first’ pragmatism towards Russia. c. transitive. With infinitive clause as complement. To state, assert; to deem. In later use chiefly (and now only) in passive: to be said to be or have. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > statement > state or declare [verb (transitive)] speakc900 sayOE sayOE tell?a1160 to put forth?c1225 posea1325 allegec1330 declarec1330 exponec1380 to bring fortha1382 expounda1382 terminec1384 allaya1387 express1386 proport1387 purport1389 cough1393 generalize?a1425 deliverc1454 expremec1470 to show forth1498 promisea1500 term1546 to set forward1560 attribute1563 to throw out1573 quote1575 dictate1599 rendera1616 preport1616 enunciate1623 remonstrate1625 state1642 pronunciate1652 annunciate1763 present1779 enounce1805 report1842 constate1865 lodge1885 outen1951 1546 S. Gardiner Declar. True Articles f. vi^v He termed me to be a fightynge cocke. 1577 R. Holinshed Chron. II. 1839/2 His enimies (whom hee termed to be sir Oswold Ulstrop, and maister Uaughan) were about the Parke. 1590 J. Smythe Certain Disc. Weapons Ded. 7 Terming those to be best soldiers that could liue without pay. 1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. iii. 107 Tearming vs..to haue monstrous backes, against the execution of Iustice. 1689 T. Oates Disc. Unlawfulness praying to Saints & Angels 52 Those things [are] termed to be Reliques, which indeed are not so. 1822 H. Grattan, Jr. in Speeches H. Grattan II. 6 The part that related to the Roman Catholic chapels showed the character of the measure, which Major Doyle termed to be replete with persecution and bigotry. 1892 Electr. Engineer 18 Nov. 519/1 The principle underlying the action on which turbines work, may be termed to be the effect of a reactionary force. 1913 Motor Boating Aug. 32/1 The zinc element will be found to be the one to be eaten up and waste away and is therefore termed to be the highest chemical affinity. 1930 V. Davidson Hist. Wilkinson County x 62 The first time in history that the militia of any state might be termed to have ever arrayed themselves against the American flag..was when the Georgia militia of Hancock county..defied the Federal authorities. †3. transitive. With away: to spend (time) in working, as during a legal or academic term. Obsolete.Apparently an isolated use. ΘΚΠ the world > time > spending time > spend time or allow time to pass [verb (transitive)] overdoOE adreeOE wreaka1300 to draw forthc1300 dispend1340 pass1340 drivea1375 wastec1381 occupyc1384 overpassa1387 to pass over ——a1393 usec1400 spend1423 contrive?a1475 overdrive1487 consumea1500 to pass forth1509 to drive off1517 lead1523 to ride out1529 to wear out, forth1530 to pass away?1550 to put offc1550 shiftc1562 to tire out1563 wear1567 to drive out1570 entertainc1570 expire1589 tire1589 outwear1590 to see out1590 outrun1592 outgo1595 overshoot1597 to pass out1603 fleeta1616 elapse1654 term1654 trickle1657 to put over1679 absorb1686 spin1696 exercise1711 kill1728 to get through ——1748 to get over ——1751 tickc1870 fill1875 1654 R. Whitlock Ζωοτομία 4 They Terme away their Dayes in Obsequious services of others, not allowing Themselves a Dayes vacation. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.?c1225v.a1475
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termn.

Phrases

Compounds

termv.