TENTATIVE

a preliminary and tentative hypothesis, strongly insists upon the necessity of first collecting the facts, and then proceeding to the ideas. Buckle. Tentative (ten'ta-tiv), n. An essay; trial; an experiment.

Some little tentatives were made upon us, whether we would be content to leave out all mention of his majesty's mediation. Sir W. Temple.

Tentatively (ten'ta-tiv-li), adv. In a tentative manner; by way of experiment or trial.

Tent-bed (tent'bed), n.

A high post bedstead, having curtains in a tent form above. Tented (tent'ed), a. Covered or furnished with tents. 'The tented field.' Shak. Tenter (ten'tër), n. [From tent, to tend.] A person in a manufactory who tends or looks after a machine or set of machines, so that they may be in proper working order:

as, a loom tenter. He may also have the supervision of a certain number of the hands employed on such machines.

Tenter (ten'tér), n. [From L.tentus, stretched, from tendo, tentum, to stretch. See TEND, to move.] 1. A machine or frame used in the cloth manufacture to stretch out the pieces of cloth, stuff, &c., and make them set or dry even and square. Along the crosspieces, both the upper and lower one, which can be fixed apart from each other at any required distance, are numerous sharp hooks, called tenter-hooks, on which the selvedges of the cloth are hooked.-2. A drying-room.-3. A tenter-hook.-On the tenters, on the stretch; on the rack; in distress, uneasiness, or suspense.

Tenter-ground (ten'tér-ground), n. Ground on which tenters are erected. Gray. Tenter-hook (ten'tér-hök), n. 1. A hook for stretching cloth on a tenter.-2. Fig. anything that painfully strains, racks, or tortures. Difficulties which stretched his fine genius on the tenter-hooks.' D'Israeli. Tenth (tenth), a. [From ten.] The ordinal of ten; the first after the ninth. Tenth (tenth), n. 1. The tenth part.-2. In law, (a) a temporary aid issuing out of personal property, and granted to the king by parliament: formerly the tenth part of all the movables belonging to the subject. Macaulay. (b) Eccles. the tenth part of the annual profit of every living in the kingdom, formerly paid to the pope, but by statute transferred to the crown, and afterwards made a part of the fund called Queen Anne's Bounty. 3. In music, the octave of the third; an interval comprehending nine conjoint degrees, or ten sounds, diatonically divided. Tenthly (tenth'li), adv. In the tenth place. Tenthredinidæ (ten-thri-din'i-dē), n. pl. A family of hymenopterous insects, of which the genus Tenthredo is the type. See TENTHREDO.

Tenthredo (ten-thrē’dō), n. [Gr. tenthrēdōn,

Tenthredo-Saw-fly. a. Saw-fly of the turnip (Athalia spinarum centifolia). b. Ovipositor of saw-fly magnified. c, The same still more magnified to show the saw. d, Caterpillar of the saw fly of the rose (Tenthredo rosa). ee, Caterpillars of the saw-fly of the willow (Nematus capræza).

a kind of wasp or fly, perhaps the saw-fly.] A genus of hymenopterous insects, popularly known by the name of saw-flies, be

Burns.

One who

Tent-maker (tent'māk-ėr), n. makes tents. Acts xviii. 3. Tentorium (ten-tō'ri-um), n. [L., a tent.] In anat. a process of the dura mater, which separates the cerebrum from the cerebellum. Tentory (ten'to-ri), n. [L. tentorium, a tent.] The textile fabric of a tent.

The women who are said to weave hangings and curtains for the grove, were no other than inakers of tentories to spread from tree to tree. Evelyn. Tent-stitch (tent'stich), n. A peculiar stitch in fancy worsted work.

It's Mrs. Pomfret, the lady's-maid, as I go to see. She's teaching me tent-stitch and the lace-mending. George Eliot. Tenture (ten'tür), n. [Fr. tenture. See TENT.] Paper-hangings or tapestry for a wall.

Tent-wine (tent'win), n. A rich, red, Spanish wine. See TENT.

Tentwort (tent'wért), n. A fern, Asplenium Ruta-muraria. Also called Wall-rue. Tenuate (ten'ū-āt), v. t. [L. tenuo, tenuatum, to make thin, from tenuis, thin.] To make thin. [Rare.]

Tenues (ten'u-ēz), n. pl. [L. tenuis, thin, slender.] In gram. a term applied to the three letters of the Greek alphabet x,, T, in relation to their respective middle letters or medials y.ß, d, and their aspirates x,, 0. These terms may also be applied to the corresponding letters and articulate elements in any language.

Tenuifolious (ten'u-i-fō"li-us), a. [L. tenuis, thin, and folium, a leaf.] In bot. having thin or narrow leaves. Tenuious (te-nū'i-us), a. Rare or subtle; tenuous: opposed to dense. Glanville. Tenuiroster (ten'ü-i-ros"tèr), n. A member of the sub-order Tenuirostres. Tenuirostral (ten'u-i-ros'tral), a. Slenderbeaked; pertaining to the family of birds called Tenuirostres.

Tenuirostres (ten'ū-i-ros"trēz), n. pl. [L. tenuis, slender, and rostrum, a beak.] A sub-order of passerine or insessorial birds, comprehending those which have the beak long and slender, gradually tapering to a point. The toes are very long and slender, the hallux or hind toe especially so. Most of the Tenuirostres live upon insects, but some are said to live partially or wholly upon the juices of flowers. The chief families are the creepers (Certhiada), the honey-eaters (Meliphagidae), the hummingbirds (Trochilidae), the sun-birds (Nectariniada), and the hoopoes (Upupida). Tenuis (ten'ù-is), n. One of the Tenues (which see).

Heads of Tenuirostres.

a, Sun-bird (Nectarinia afra). b, Humming-bird (Trochilus recurvirostris). c, European Nuthatch (Sitta europea).

Tenuity (te-nu'i-ti), n. [L. tenuitas, from tenuis, thin. See THIN.] 1. The state of being tenuous or thin; thinness; smallness in diameter; exility; thinness, applied to a broad substance, and slenderness, applied to one that is long; as, the tenuity of paper or of a leaf; the tenuity of a hair or filament. 2. Rarity; rareness; thinness, as of a fluid; as, the tenuity of the air in the higher re

TEPEJILOTE

gions of the atmosphere; the tenuity of the blood.-3. Poverty.

The tenuity and contempt of clergymen will soon let them see what a poor carcase they are, when parted from the influence of that supremacy. Eikon Basilikē.

4. Simplicity or plainness; a quality of style opposed to grandeur. Tenuous (ten' ú-us), a.

[L. tenuis, thin.] 1. Thin; small; minute.-2. Rare; subtle; not dense. 'A tenuous emanation or continued effluvium.' Sir T. Browne. Tenure (ten'ür), n. [Fr. tenure, L. L. tenura, from L. teneo, to hold.] 1. The act, manner, or right of holding property, especially real estate. Land may be held according to two main principles, the tenure being either feudal or allodial. According to the latter tenure, the whole right and title of the land rests with the owner; according to the former, the person possessing the subject holds it from a superior, and this is the principle universal in England. According to the theory in England all land is held of the crown, either mediately or immediately. The ownership of land is therefore never unlimited as to extent, for he who is the owner of land in fee, which is the largest estate that a man can have in land, is not absolute owner; he owes services in respect of his fee (or fief), and the seignory of the lord always subsists. All land in the hands of any layman is held of some lord, to whom the holder or tenant owes some service; but in the case of church lands, although they are held by tenure, no temporal services are due, but the lord of whom these lands are held must be considered the owner, although the beneficial ownership can never revert to the lord. All the species of ancient tenures may be reduced to four, three of which subsist to this day:-(1) Tenure by knight service, which was the most honourable. This is now abolished. (2) Tenure in free socage, or by a certain and determinate service, which is either free and honourable, or villein and base. (3) Tenure by copy of court roll, or copyhold tenure. (4) Tenure in ancient demain. There was also tenure in frankalmoigne, or free alms. The tenure in free and common socage has absorbed most of the others. (See TENANT, COPYHOLD, SOCAGE, VILLENAGE.) In Scots law the equivalent technical term is holding. 2. The consideration, condition, or service which the occupier of land gives to his lord or superior for the use of his land.-3. Manner of holding in general; the terms or conditions upon which anything is held or retained; as, in absolute governments men hold their rights by a precarious tenure.

Sending it (the charge in the gun) skimming along so near the surface of the ground as to place the lives of the dogs on a rather uncertain and precariDickens.

ous tenure.

Tenuto (tā-nö'tō), a. [It., held.] In music, a term applied to a note or series of notes having to be held or kept sounding the full time.

Ten-week Stock. See MATTHIOLA. Tenzon (ten'zon), n. See TENSON. Teocalli (te-o-kal'li), n. [Lit. God's house. ] A temple among the Mexicans and other aborigines of America. They were generally solid four-sided truncated pyramids, built terrace-wise, with the temple proper on the platform at the summit. They were constructed of earth, faced with brick, and many still remain in a more or less perfect state. And Aztec priests upon their teocallis Beat the wild war-drum made of serpents' skin. Longfellow Teopan (te'o-pan), n. [Lit. place of God.] Same as Teocalli

Tepal (te'pal), n. [Formed by transposition from petal, most probably under the influence of sepal.] In bot. (a) a disused name for petal. (b) The pieces of a perianth, being of an ambiguous nature, between calyx and corolla.

Tepefaction (tep-e-fak'shon), n. [See TEPEFY.] The act or operation of warming, making tepid, or moderately warm. Tepefy (tep'e-fi), v.t. pret. & pp. tepefied; ppr. tepefying. [L. tepefacio-tepeo, to be tepid, and facio, to make.] To make tepid or moderately warm. Tepefy (tep'e-fi), v.i. To become moderately warm.

Tepejilote (tā-pā'hē-lō"tā), n. A Central American name for a flower of a species of Chamaedorea, which, while still inclosed in the spathes, is highly esteemed as a culinary vegetable.

TEPHRAMANCY

Tephramancy (tef'ra-man-si), n. (Gr. tephra, ashes, and manteia, divination.] Augury depending on the inspection of the ashes of a sacrifice.

Tephroite (tef'ro-it), n. [Gr. tephros, ashgray.] A silicate of manganese of an ashgray colour, found both massive and granular in the United States. Tephromancy (tef'ro-man-si), n. Same as Tephramancy

Tephromantia (tef-ro-man'ti-a), n. Same as Tephramancy.

Tephrosia (tef-ro'zi-a), n. [Gr. tephros, ashgray, from the colour of some of the species.] A genus of plants belonging to the papilionaceous division of the Leguminosae. It consists of shrubs, undershrubs, or herbs scattered over every quarter of the globe, and most abundant in warm regions. T.apollinea, or Egyptian indigo, is a native of Egypt and Nubia, and yields a fine blue dye. Its leaves are often mixed with Alexandrian senna. T. toxicaria is a native of the West Indies and

Tephrosia toxicaria.

of Cayenne. The whole plant affords a narcotic poison, and the leaves are used for intoxicating fish. T. virginiana is considered in America a powerful vermifuge. T. emarginata is a native of South America. Its root is used for poisoning fish. T. tinctoria, the Ceylon indigo, yields a blue colouring matter, which is used in Ceylon for the same purposes as indigo. T. piscatoria, the fisher's Tephrosia, is found in the East Indies. It contains the narcotic principle of the genus, and is used for poisoning fish. T. Senna (Buga senna) grows on the banks of the river Cauca, near Buga, in Colombia. Its leaves are used by the natives for the same purposes as senna.

Tepid (tep'id), a. [L. tepidus, warm, from tepeo, to be warm; same root as Skr. tap, to burn.] Moderately warm; lukewarm; as, a tepid bath; tepid rays.

Such things as relax the skin are likewise sudorifics, as warm water, friction, and tepid vapours. Arbuthnot.

Tepidarium (tep-i-da'ri-um), n. [L., from tepeo, to be warm.] In the ancient Roman baths, the apartment in which the tepid bath was placed; also, the boiler in which the water was warmed for the tepid bath. Tepidness, Tepidity (tep'id-nes, te-pid'i-ti), n. The state of being tepid; moderate warmth; lukewarmness. Another fit of drowsy negligence and tepidity.' Bp. Richardson.

Tepor (te'por), n. [L.] Gentle heat; moderate warmth. The tepor and moisture in April.' Arbuthnot.

Tequesquite (te-kes'kit), n. [From a place in Mexico.] A native crystallized carbonate of soda, which is found in several lakes in Mexico, and is used in the smelting of silver

ore.

Teraph (ter'af), n. pl. Teraphim (ter'af-im). [Heb. Of uncertain origin; connected by some with Serapis.] A household deity or image reverenced by the ancient Hebrews. The teraphim seem to have been either wholly or in part of human form and of small size. They appear to have been reverenced as penates or household gods, and in some shape or other to have been used as domestic oracles. They are mentioned several times in the Old Testament. Terapin (ter'a-pin), n. See TERRAPIN.

332

Teraticalt (te-rat'ik-al), a. [Gr. teras, teratos, a sign, a wonder.] Marvellous; prodigious; incredible. Teratical stories." Wollaston.

Teratogeny (ter-a-toj'e-ni), n. [Gr. teras, teratos, a wonder, and gennaó, to produce.] In med. the formation of monsters. Teratolite (ter'a-to-lit), n. [Gr. teras, teratos, a sign, a wonder, and lithos, a stone.] A kind of clay or fine-grained silicate of alumina from the coal-formation of Planitz in Saxony, formerly supposed to possess valuable medical properties, whence it had its ancient name of Terra miraculosa Saxoniæ. Called also Lithomarge. Sometimes erroneously spelled terratolite, as if from terra, earth. Teratological (ter'a-to-loj"ik-al), a. Of or pertaining to teratology. Teratologist (ter-a-tol'o-jist), n. [See TERATOLOGY.] 1. One given to teratology; one who deals in marvels; a marvel-monger.2. One versed in the study of teratology. Teratology (ter-a-tol'o-ji), n. [Gr. teras, teratos, a prodigy, and logos, discourse.] 1.t Affectation of sublimity in language; bombast. Bailey.-2. That branch of biological science which treats of monsters, malformations, or deviations from the normal type occurring in the vegetable and animal kingdoms.

Teratosaurus (ter'a-to-sa"rus), n. [Gr. teras, teratos, a wonder, and sauros, a lizard.]

Lit. wonderful lizard. A remarkable lizard from the Keuper sandstone of Stuttgart, whose remains indicate some affinities with the existing genera Stellion and Uromastix. Terbium (ter'bi-um), n. An element now known to be identical with erbium. Terce (tèrs), n. [Fr. tierce, a third.] 1. A cask whose contents are 42 gallons, the third of a pipe or butt. See TIERCE-2. In Scots law, a real right whereby a widow, who has not accepted any special provision, is entitled to a liferent of one-third of the heritage in which her husband died infeft, provided the marriage has endured for a year and a day, or has produced a living child. No widow is entitled to her terce until she is regularly kenned to it. See under KEN. 3. Eccles. one of the lesser hours of the Roman breviary, so called, from the time of the day (the third hour) for which it is fixed. Tercel (ter'sel), n. [See TIERCEL.] The male of the falcon, especially the common or peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus). Tercelett (ters'let), n. [Dim. of tercel.] The male hawk; the male eagle. Chaucer. Tercellenet (tér'sel-lén), n. A small male hawk. See extract.

When hawks lay three eggs, the first produceth a female and large hawk, the second of a middler sort, and the third a smaller bird tercellene or tassel of the male sex. Sir T. Browne.

Terce-major (ters'ma-jer), n. In card-playing, a sequence of the three best cards in certain games.

Tercentenary (ter-sen'ten-a-ri), a. [L. ter, thrice, and centenarius, centenary, from centum, a hundred.] Comprising three hundred years; including or relating to the interval of three hundred years. Tercentenary (ter-sen'ten-a-ri), n. A day observed as a festival in commemoration of some event, as the birth of a great man, a decisive victory, or the like, that happened three hundred years before; as, the Shakspere tercentenary.

Tercer (ters'ér), n. In law, a tenant in dower; a doweress.

Tercet (ter'set), n. [Fr.] 1. In music, a third. 2. In poetry, a group of three rhyming lines; a triplet.

Tercine (ter'sin), n. [Fr., from L. tertius, the third.] In bot. the outer coat of the nulceus of the ovule of a plant.

Terebate (ter'ē-bat), n. In chem. a compound of terebic acid and a base. Terebella (ter-e-bella), n. [Dim. of L. terebra, a perforating instrument.] 1. In surg. a trepan or trephine.-2. A marine annelid of the order Tubicolæ, inhabiting a tube of 1 foot in length, composed of sand and fragments of shell cemented together by a glutinous secretion. When alarmed the animal takes refuge in the further extremity of the tube. See TUBICOLE. Terebene (ter'e-ben), n. [L terebinthus, turpentine.] The liquid product obtained after the purification of oil of turpentine by sulphuric acid.

Terebic (te-reb'ik), a. Of, pertaining to, or obtained from turpentine, -Terebic acid (C-H1004), a dibasic acid, a product of the

2. The common name for various resinous exudations, both of a fluid and solid nature, such as common turpentine, produced from Pinus sylvestris, frankincense and Burgundy pitch from Pinus Abies, Canada balsam from Abies balsamifera. The volatile oil of various of these resins is called oil of terebinth, or oil of turpentine.

Terebinthina (tere-bin-thi"na), n. An old name for turpentine.

Terebinthinate (ter-e-binth'i-nat), a. Terebinthine; impregnated with the qualities of turpentine.

Terebinthinate (ter-e-binth'i-nat), n. In med. a preparation of the turpentine of firs.

The preparations of cinchona with the mineral acids, the muriated tincture of iron, and the terebinthindles are the most efficacious means of arresting the discharge. Copland

Terebinthine (ter-e-binth'in), a. [L. terebinthinus. See TEREBINTH.] Pertaining to turpentine; consisting of turpentine, or parTerebra (ter'e-bra), n. [L., a boring instrutaking of its qualities. ment, from tero, to pierce.] 1. The borer in the anal extremity of female hymenopterous insects of the section Terebrantia, into which the oviduct opens. See TEREBRANTIA. 2. A genus of turreted, subulated marine univalves. Several species are fossil. Terebrantia (ter-e-bran'shi-a), n. [L. terebrans, terebrantis, ppr. of terebro, to bore.] A section of hymenopterous insects, of which the females are provided with an instrument at the extremity of the abdomen for making perforations in the bodies of animals or in plants, for the deposition of their eggs. It includes the genus Sirex. which infests pine-trees; Cephus, perforating corn-stalks; and the ichneumons, which pierce the skin of insects. Terebrate (ter'e-brat), v. t. pret. & pp. terebrated; ppr. terebrating. [L. terebro, terebratum, to bore, from terebra, a borer, from tero, to pierce.] To bore; to perforate. [Rare.]

Earthworms are completely adapted to their way of life for terebrating the earth and creeping. Derham Terebratella (ter'e-bra-tella), n. [A dim. of terebratula (which see)] A genus of marine brachiopods, resembling Terebratula, of which about twenty species are found fossil from the lias upwards, and about the same number continue to exist.

Terebration (ter-e-bra'shon), n. The act of boring. [Rare.]

Васем.

Terebration of trees makes them prosper better. Terebratula (ter-e-brat'u-la), n. (A dim. form from terebratus, pp. of terebro, to bore, in allusion to the perforation of the beak] A genus of deep-sea brachiopod bivalve molluscs found moored to rocks, shells, &c. One of the valves is perforated to permit the passage of a fleshy peduncle, by means of which the animal attaches itself to rocks, shells, &c. There are few recent species, but the fossil ones are numerous, and are found most abundantly in the secondary and tertiary formations. Terebratulidæ (ter'e-bra-tu"li-dē), n. pl. A family of deep-sea bivalves belonging to the group Articulata, of the class Brachiopoda. The genus Terebratula is the type. See TEREBRATULA. Terebratuliform (ter'e-bra-tu'li-form), a. Shaped like the shell of Terebratula. Teredina (ter-e-di'na), n. [See TEREDO.] A fossil genus of testaceous molluscs belonging to the family Tubicolæ of Lamarck. Teredine (tere-din), n. A borer; the teredo. Teredo (te-re'do), n. [L., from Gr. teredon, from tereo, to pierce, to bore.] A genus of lamellibranchiate molluscs, family Pholadida The T. navalis, or ship-worm, is celebrated on account of the destruction which it occasions to ships and submerged wood, by perforating them in all directions in order to establish a habitation. It is a long, wornshaped, grayish-white animal, about 1 foot in length and inch in thickness. Its great length is owing to the elongation of the siphons or breathing tubes conveying water to the gills. The two valves or halves of the

TERES

shell are small and globular in shape. The viscera and body are mainly contained within the valves. In excavating into the wood

Teredo navalis, and piece of wood perforated by Teredos.

(the shell is the boring instrument) each individual is careful to avoid the tube formed by its neighbour, and often a very thin leaf alone of wood is left between the cavities, which are lined with a calcareous incrustation. Many plans are tried to protect ships, piers, &c., from this destructive animal, such as copper sheathing, treating with creosote or corrosive sublimate, or driving a number of short broad-headed nails into the timber, the rust from which spreads and prevents the animal from settling. It is said to have been originally imported from tropical climates; but it has now become an inhabitant of most of the harbours of this country.-T.gigantea, a species 5 feet long and upwards, is found in the East Indies in shallow water, where it bores into the hardened mud of the seabed.

Teres (té'rēz), a. [L] Round; cylindrical: in anat. applied to some muscles and ligaments on account of their shape, as teres major, teres minor, ligamentum teres, &c. Terett (ter'et), a. Round; rounded off; terete. Round and teret like a globe.' Fotherby.

Terete (te-rēt), a. [L. teres, teretis, rounded off-properly, rubbed off-from tero, to rub.] Cylindrical and smooth; long and round; columnar, as some stems of plants. Teretous (te-re'tus), a. Terete. 'Teretous or long round leaves.' Sir T. Browne. Tergal (ter'gal), a. [L. tergum, the back.] In anat pertaining to the back; dorsal. Tergant (tér'gant), a. [From L. tergum, the back.] In her, showing the back part; as, an eagle tergant displayed, an eagle displayed showing the back. Called also Tergiant and Recursant.

Tergeminal, Tergeminate (têr-jem'in-al, tér-jem 'in-at), a. [See TERGEMINOUS.] Thrice double; specifically, in bot. applied to a leaf having a forked petiole which is subdivided.

Tergeminous (têr-jem'in-us), a. [L. tergeminus-ter, thrice, and geminus, twin-born, double.] Thrice double; three-paired; tergeminate.

Tergiant (ter'ji-ant), a. Same as Tergant. Tergiferous (ter-jif'ér-us), a. [L. tergum, the back, and fero, to bear.] Carrying or bearing upon the back.-Tergiferous plants, such as bear their seeds on the back of their leaves, as ferns. Called also Dorsiferous. Tergiversate (térji-vér-sāt), v. i. pret. & pp. tergiversated; ppr. tergiversating. [L. tergiversor, tergiversatus, to turn one's back, to shift-tergum, the back, and verso, intens. of verto, to turn.] To shift; to practise evasion; to make use of shifts or subterfuges. Cudworth.

Tergiversation (têr'ji-vér-sā" shon), n. 1. The act of tergiversating; a shifting; shift; subterfuge; evasion.

Writing is to be preterred before verbal conferences, as being more free from passion and tergiversation. Bramhall.

2. The act of changing or of turning one's back upon one's opinions; the act of turning against a cause formerly advocated; fickleness of conduct.

The colonel, after all his tergiversation, lost his life in the king's service. Clarendon.

333

And wake on science grown to more. Tennyson. 3. In universities and colleges, the period during which instruction is regularly given to students. At Cambridge there are three terms in the university year, viz. Michaelmas or October term, Lent or January term, and Easter or midsummer term. At Oxford there are four terms, viz. Michaelmas, Hilary, Easter, and Trinity.-4. The time in which a law court is held or is open for the trial of causes. In England the law terms were four in number, viz. Hilary term, beginning on the 11th and ending on the 31st January; Easter term, beginning on the 15th April and ending on the 8th May; Trinity term, beginning on the 22d May and ending on the 12th June; Michaelmas term, beginning on the 2d and ending on the 25th November. The other portions of the year were termed vacation. By section 26 of the Judicature Act, 1873, the division of the legal year into terms was abolished so far as relates to the administration of justice; and by the act 1875 the terms are to be superseded for this purpose by the sittings' of the Court of Appeal and the sittings' in London and Middlesex of the High Court of Justice.-5. In law, an estate or interest in land to be enjoyed for a fixed period, or the period itself: called more fully term of years, term for years. In Scots law, term is a certain time fixed by authority of a court, within which a party is allowed to establish by evidence his averment. 6. A day on which rent or interest is payable. In England and Ireland there are four days in the year which are called terms, or more commonly quarter-days, and which are appointed for the settling of rents, viz. Lady Day, March 25; Midsummer, June 24; Michaelmas Day, September 29; Christmas, December 25. The terms in Scotland corresponding to these are Candlemas, February 2: Whitsunday, May 15; Lammas, August 1; Martinmas, November 11. In Scotland houses are let from 28th May for a year or a period of years. The legal terms in Scotland for the payment of rent or interest are Whitsunday, 15th May, and Martinmas, November 11, and these days (or the corresponding days Old Style) are what are most commonly known as terms.-7. A word by which something fixed and definite is expressed; a word having a definite and specific meaning, and naming or characterizing some person, thing, act, quality, &c.; particularly, a word having a technical meaning; as, a technical term; terms of science and art; philosophical terms; terms of abuse.

Had the Roman tongue continued vulgar, it would have been necessary, from the many terms of art required in trade and in war, to have made great adSwift.

ditions to it.

If we can make our peace

Upon such large terms and so absolute. Shak. On my terms thou wilt not be my heir. Dryden. 10. pl. Relative position; relation; footing; as, to be on bad terms with a person. 'Tis not well That you and I should meet upon such terms As now we meet. Shak.

11. pl. State; situation; circumstances. The terms of our estate may not endure Hazard so dangerous. Shak. Shakspere uses terms often in a loose periphrastical way; as, 'To keep the terms of my honour precise- that is, all that con

TERMER

cerns my honour; 'In terms of choice I am not solely led by nice direction of a maiden's eye'-that is, with respect to the choice. In other cases it is used in the sense of point, particular feature, peculiarity; as, All terms of pity.'-12. In logic, the expression in language of the notion obtained in an act of apprehension. Terms are divided into simple, singular, universal, common, univocal, equivocal, analogous, abstract, concrete, &c. A syllogism consists of three terms, the major, the minor, and the middle. The predicate of the conclusion is called the major term, because it is the most general, and the subject of the conclusion is called the minor term, because it is less general. These are called the extremes; and the third term, introduced as a common measure between them, is called the mean or middle term.-13. In arch. a pedestal widening towards the top, where it merges into a bust; a terminal figure. See TERMINUS.-14. In geom. the extreme of any magnitude, or that which limits or bounds its extent; as, the terms of a line are points; the terms of a superficies, lines; the terms of a solid, superficies.-15. In alg. a member of a compound quantity, as a in a+b, or ab in ab+cd. Hence the terms of any compound quantity are the several members of which it is composed, separated from one another by the signs +, plus, or -, minus. Thus a2b3x2-2 a b x3+ √αb.x1 is a compound quantity, consisting of three terms.-Terms of an equation, the several parts of which it is composed connected by the signs of addition and subtraction. Thus x3-6x2+11x-6=0 is an equation consisting of four terms.-Terms of a fraction, the numerator and denominator of that fraction. Terms of a proportion or progression, the several separate quantities of which the proportion or progression consists.-Terms of a ratio, the antecedent and consequent of that ratio.-16. pl. In med. the monthly uterine secretion of females.-17. In shipbuilding, a piece of carved work placed under each end of the taffrail and extending to the foot-rail of the balcony. Called also Term-piece. To make terms, to come to an agreement. To come to terms, to agree; to come to an agreement.-To bring to terms, to reduce to submission or to conditions. SYN. Limit, bound, boundary, condition, stipulation, period, session, word, vocable, expression.

Term (term), v. t. To name; to call; to de

nominate.

Men term what is beyond the limits of the universe, Locke. 'imaginary space.'

She sends her compliments, and says she doesn't on the whole wish to term you unreasonable, and she Dickens. agrees.

Termagancy (tér'ma-gan-si), n. [From ter-
magant.] The state or quality of being ter-
magant; turbulence; tumultuousness; as, a
violent termagancy of temper.
Termagant (terma-gant), n. [0. Fr. Ter-
vagant, It. Tervagante, Trivagante; pro-
bably a name of Eastern origin brought
over by the Crusaders.] 1. The name of a
fabled deity of the Mohammedans men-
tioned by old writers, and introduced into
the moralities or other shows, in which
he figured as a most violent and turbu-
lent personage. 'And oftentimes by Ter-
magant and Mahound swore.' Spenser.

I would have such a fellow whipped for o'erdoing
Shak.
Termagant: it outherods Herod.

2. A turbulent, brawling person, male or female. This terrible termagant, this Nero, this Pharaoh.' Bale.-3. A boisterous, brawling, turbulent woman; a shrew; a virago.

She threw his periwig into the fire. Well, said he, Taller. thou art a brave termagant.

Termagant (têr'ma-gant), a. [See the noun.] Violent; turbulent; boisterous or furious; quarrelsome; scolding.

'Twas time to counterfeit, or that hot, fermagant Scot had paid me scot and lot too. Shak. The eldest was a termagant, imperious, prodigal, Arbuthnot. profligate wench. In a Termagantly (ter'ma-gant-li), adv. termagant, turbulent, or scolding manner. Termer (term'èr), n. 1. One who travels to attend a court term; one who resorted to London in term time only for the sake of tricks to be practised or intrigues to be carried on at that period, the law terms being formerly the great times of resort to London not only for business but pleasure. Nares.-2. In law, same as Termor (which see).

TERMITES

Termites, Termitidæ (tér'mi-těz, tér-mitide), n. pl. [L.termes, termitis, a wood-worm.] A family of neuropterous insects, known by the name of white ants, corresponding with the Linnæan genus Termes. These insects have little affinity with the true ants, which are hymenopterous, although they resemble them in their mode of life. They are chiefly confined to the tropics, and are found very plentifully in Western Africa. They unite in societies, building their dwellings on the ground, in the form of pyramids or cones, 10 or 12 feet high. These dwellings, which are so firmly cemented as to be capable of bearing the weight of three or four men, are divided off into several apartments as maga zines, chambers, galleries, &c. Every colony of termites consists of a king and queen, both of which are much larger than the other members of the colony, and of workers and soldiers, which are without wings. The king and queen are the parents of the colony, and are constantly kept together, attended by a detachment of workers, in a large chamber in the heart of the hive, surrounded by

Termes bellicosus.
a, Larva or worker,)

6, Pupa or soldier, Natural size.
c, Perfect winged insect, reduced in size.

stronger walls than the other cells. The queen is always gravid, the abdomen being enormously distended with eggs, which, as they are dropped, relays of workers receive and convey in their mouths to the minor

TERMITINÆ

cells throughout the hive. At the beginning of the rainy season a number of winged insects, both male and female, is produced,

Dwellings of Termites.

the wings having, in order to the future development of the insect, transverse seams across the roots, dividing the nervures. These insects when mature leave the hive and fly abroad, afterwards shedding the wings by means of the seams referred to, and becoming the kings and queens of future colonies. The soldiers and workers, both neuter, or of no fully developed sex, and differing merely in the armature of the head, are distinct animals from the moment they leave the egg, the young differing from the adult of the same class only in size. The duties of the workers are to build the habitations, make covered roads, nurse the young, attend on the king and queen, and secure the exit of the mature winged insects, while to the soldiers, whose mandibles are powerfully developed for that purpose, is committed the defence of the community, which duty they perform with both system and desperate courage. There are many species of termites, all of which are fearfully destructive to wood. They have been known to destroy the whole woodwork of a house in a single season.

Termitinæ (ter-mi-ti'ne), n. pl. A division of Neuroptera, including the termites or white ants.

Termless (term'les), a. Having no term or end; unlimited; boundless; endless.

These betraying lights look not up towards termless joys, nor down towards endless sorrows. Raleigh. Termly (term'li), a. Occurring every term; as, 'termly fee." Bacon. Termly (term'li), adv. Term by term; every term; as, a fee termnly given. Bacon. Termonology (tér-mo-nol'o-ji), n. [Gr. termon, termonos, an end or boundary, and logos, discourse.] A word proposed to be used for terminology, the latter being objected to as a hybrid.

Termor (térm'or), n. In law, one who has an estate for a term of years or for life. Term-piece (térm'pēs), n. See TERM, 15. Tern (térn), n. [Dan. terne, Icel. therna, a tern, a sea-swallow.] A common name of certain natatorial birds of the gull family (Laridae), constituting the genus Sterna, by some naturalists made the type of a distinct family Sternidæ. From their manner of

Lesser Tern (Sterna minuta). flight, forked tail, and size they have received the name of sea-swallows. They are constantly on the wing, skimming the surface of the water, preying on small fishes and other animals. Many of them are birds of passage, all which appear in Britain being merely summer visitants. There are several species, as the great or common tern or sea

335

swallow (S. hirundo), the black tern, the roseate tern, the lesser tern (S. minuta), &c. Tern (tern), a. [L. terni, three each, from tres, three.1 Threefold; consisting of three: chiefly used in botany.-Tern leaves (folia terna), leaves in threes, or three by three; three in each whorl or set.-Tern peduncles, three growing together from the same axil. -Tern flowers, flowers growing three and three together.

Tern (térn), n. That which consists of three things or numbers together; specifically, a prize in a lottery gained by drawing three favourable numbers, or the three numbers themselves.

TERRAPIN

the inventress and patroness of the art of dancing and lyrical poetry. She is generally represented with a lyre, having seven strings,

She'd win a tern in Thursday's lottery, E. B. Browning. Ternary (ter'na-ri), a. [L. ternarius, of three. See TERN.] Proceeding by threes; consisting of three; applied to things arranged in order by threes; thus a flower is said to have a ternary division of its parts when it has three sepals, three petals, three stamens, &c. The ternary number, in antiquity, was esteemed a symbol of perfection, and held in great veneration.-Ternary compounds, in chem. combinations of Terpsichore.-Antique statue binary compounds with each other, as of sulphuric acid with soda in Glauber's salt. The term ternary is also applied to any chemical substance composed of three elements.

Ternary (ter'na-ri), n. The number three; group of three.

Of the second ternary of stanzas, the first endeavours to tell something. Johnson. Ternate (ternat), a. [L.L. ternatus, from terni, three each.] Arranged in threes; characterized by an arrangement of parts by threes; in bot. a term applied especially when leaflets are grouped in threes; as, a ternate leaf, one that has three leaflets on a

1, Ternate Leaf. 2, Biternate Leaf. 3,Triternate Leaf. petiole, as in trefoil, strawberry, bramble, &c. If the three divisions of a ternate leaf become farther subdivided into three leaflets each the leaf is biternate, and a still farther subdivision produces a triternate leaf, as shown in accompanying cut. Ternately (ter'nat-li), adv. In a ternate

manner.

Ternato-pinnate (ter nå-to-pin"at), a. In bot. applied to secondary petioles, on the sides of which the leaflets are attached, which proceed in threes from the summit of a common petiole. Terne-plate (tern'plat), n. A thin iron plate coated with an amalgam of tin and lead. Weale.

Ternion (ter'ni-on), n. Same as Ternary. 'Disposing them into ternions of three general hierarchies.' Bp. Hall. Ternstroemiaceae (tern-stre'mi-a"se-e), n. pl. [In honour of Ternström, a Swedish naturalist.] A nat. order of polypetalous dicotyledonous plants, consisting of trees or shrubs, with alternate simple usually coriaceous leaves without stipules. The flowers are generally white, and are arranged in axillary or terminal peduncles, articulated at the base. This order is one of great economical importance, as it includes the genus Thea, from which the teas of commerce are obtained. The favourite garden camellia also belongs to it. The plants belonging to the order are principally inhabitants of Asia and America. Terpodion (ter-po'di-on), n. [Gr. terpo, to delight, and ode, a song.] A musical keyed instrument, invented by John David Buschmann of Hamburg about 1816, resembling a pianoforte in appearance, but producing notes from blocks of wood struck with hammers. The sound could be increased or diminished at pleasure.

Terpsichore (tèrp-sik'o-re), n. [Greek name, from terpo (fut. terpso), to delight, and choros, dancing.] In Greek myth. one of the Muses,

in the Vatican.

or a plectrum in the hand, sometimes in the act of dancing, and crowned with flowers. Terpsichorean (térp'si-kō-re"an), .. Relating to Terpsichore, the muse who presided over dancing and lyrical poetry; as, the Terpsichorean art, that is, dancing. Terra (terra), n. The Latin word for earth or the earth.-Terra cariosa, Tripoli or rotten stone.

Terra firma, firm or solid earth; dry land, in opposition to water; mainland, a continent, in opposition to insular territories.-Terra incognita, an unknown or unexplored region.-Terra japonica, catechu, a substance obtained from the juice of a species of acacia: formerly supposed to be a kind of earth from Japan, hence the name.-Terra nera (black earth), a native, unctuous pigment, used by the ancient artists in fresco, oil, and tempera painting.Terra nobilis, an old name for the diamond. -Terra ponderosa, barytes, or heavy-spar (which see).-Terra di Sienna. See SIENNA. -Terra sigillata, or Terra lemnia, Lemnian earth. See under LEMNIAN.-Terra verde, green earth, a name given to two kinds of native green earth used as pigments in painting, one obtained near Verona, the other in Cyprus. The former, which is very useful in landscape-painting in oil, is a siliceous earth coloured by the protoxide of iron, of which it contains about 20 per cent. Terrace (ter'ás), n. [Fr. terrasse, a terrace, earthwork, from L. L. terracia, terrace, from L. terra, earth.] 1. A raised level space or platform of earth, supported on one or more sides by masonry, a bank of turf, or the like, such as may be seen in gardens, where they are designed for cultivation, promenading, &c.-2. A balcony or open gallery. Holland. 3. The flat roof of a house, as in the case of Oriental and Spanish houses.-4. A street or row of houses running along the face or top of a slope: often applied arbitrarily to ordinary streets or ranges of houses. Terrace (teras), v.t. pret. & pp. terraced; ppr. terracing. To form into a terrace; to furnish with a terrace.

Methinks the grove of Baal I see

In terrac'd stages mount up high. Dyer. Terra-cotta (ter'ra-kot'ta), n. [It., lit. cooked or baked clay or earth; L. terra cocta, cooked earth; Fr. terre-cuite.] A mixture of fine clay and fine-grained white sand, as that from Reigate, or calcined flints, with pulverized potsherds or crushed pottery, first slowly air-dried, then baked in a kiln to the hardness of stone, much used in ancient and modern architecture for decorations, statues, figures, vases, and the like. Terra-cultural (ter-ra-kul'tür-al), a. Of or pertaining to terra-culture; agricultural. [Rare.]

Terra-culture (ter'ra-kul-tür), n. [L. terra, the earth, and cultura, culture.] Cultivation of the earth; agriculture. (Rare.] Terræ-filius (ter're-fil-i-us), n. [L., son of the earth.] 1. A humorous designation of a person of obscure birth or of low origin.2. In former times, a scholar at the University of Oxford, appointed to make jesting satirical speeches, and who often indulged in considerable license in his treatment of the authorities of the university. Terraneous (te-ra'nē-us), a. [L. terra, the earth.] In bot. growing on land. Terrapene (ter'a-pen),n. Same as Terrapin. Terrapin (ter'a-pin), n. [Origin unknown.] The popular name of several species of freshwater or tide-water tortoises constituting the family Emydæ, distinguished by a horny beak, a shield covered with epidermic plates, and feet partly webbed. They are active in their habits, swimming well and moving with greater agility on land than the landtortoises. They are natives of tropical and