Tertian

Quick meaning: Tertian is an adjective meaning (medicine, of a fever) Characterised by paroxysms recurring every other day (that is, every third day by inclusive reckoning).

Meaning

(medicine, of a fever) Characterised by paroxysms recurring every other day (that is, every third day by inclusive reckoning).

More Meanings

1. (music) Pertaining to the mean-tone temperament, in which major thirds are perfectly in tune.
2. A tertian fever.
3. A cask of a certain size; its volume used as a measure of capacity (one-third of a tun's).
4. A Jesuit going through tertianship.

Example Sentences

He died of the slow fever call'd the tertian, / And left his widow to her own aversion.

And although we feele it not, it is not to bee doubted, if a continuall ague may in the end suppresse our mind, a tertian will also (according to her measure and proportion) breed some alteration in it.

Word Forms

• tercian
• tertians

Synonyms for tertian

Depending on context, synonyms include puncheon.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include ague, malaria, agues, quintan, quotidian, quartan.

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