term

▪ I. term, n.
    (tɜːm)
    Forms: 3–7 terme, (4–5 teerme, 5 tierme), 5–7 tearme, 6–7 tearm, 4– term.
    [a. F. terme (in Roland, 11th c.) limit (of time or place):—*termne:—L. terminum limit, boundary; = Pr. terme, It., Sp., Pg. termino.]
    I. A limit in space, duration, etc.
    1. a. That which limits the extent of anything; a limit, extremity, boundary, bound (e.g. of a territory, region, or space). Usually in pl. Limits, bounds, borders, confines. Now rare or arch.

13.. E.E. Allit. P. C. 61 Hit bitydde sum-tyme in þe termes of Iude. 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) II. 51 That water of Seuerne..was somme tyme a terme of Englonde and of Wales. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 53 b/1 Fro the laste termes of egipte vnto the vtterist endes of the same. 1570 Billingsley Euclid i. def. iii. 2 Pointes..are..only the termes and endes of quantitie. Ibid. xiii. 3 A limite or terme, is the ende of euery thing. 1626 Bacon Sylva §328 Corruption is a Reciprocall to Generation: and they two, are as Natures two Terms or Boundaries. 1656 Stanley Hist. Philos. viii. (1701) 326/2 A Superficies is the term of a Body... A Line is the term of a Superficies... A Point is the term of a Line. 1855 Bain Senses & Int. ii. ii. §12 (1864) 202 The power of movement without contact or resistance, except at the extreme terms.

    b. Utmost or extreme limit, end; esp. end of duration or existence, final cessation, close, conclusion, termination. Now rare or arch.

a 1300 Cursor M. 11287 (Cott.) At þe terme of fourti dais..þai bar þe child..vn-to þe temple. 1481 Caxton Myrr. iii. xxi. 182 No goodes what someuer they be shal neuer haue terme ne ende [in heaven]. 1579 Spenser Sheph. Cal. Dec. 127 So now my yeare drawes to his latter terme. 1631 Milton On University Carrier ii. 14 Too long vacation hastned on his term. 1781 Gibbon Decl. & F. xxiv. (1869) I. 695 He had now reached the term of his prosperity. 1881 Jowett Thucyd. I. 123 That the term of their happiness is likewise the term of their life.

    c. That to which movement or action is directed or tends, as its object, end, or goal; (less commonly) that from which it begins or proceeds, starting-point, origin. Now rare or Obs.

c 1425 Found. St. Bartholomew's 39 We become for oure synnys to the butte and terme or marke of vniuersall kynde of man. 1551 Bp. Gardiner Explic. Cath. Faith 108 b, Wherin eche chaunge hath his special ende and terme, (whervnto). a 1628 Preston New Covt. (1634) 184 There must be a place, a terme to which you walke, some whither. a 1769 R. Riccaltoun Notes Galatians (1772) 33 The term from which they removed, was the Gospel which Paul preached. 1800 Hist. Ind. in Asiat. Ann. Reg. 2/2 The island of Ceylon..was the usual term of their navigation. 1849 M. Arnold Sonn. to Dk. Wellington 12 Vehement actions without scope or term.

    2. Astrol. A certain portion of each sign of the zodiac, assigned to a particular planet: see quots.

c 1386 Chaucer Frankl. T. 560 He..knew the arisyng of his moone weel, And in whos face, and terme, and euerydeel. c 1450 Treat. Astrol. (MS. Ashm. 337) lf. 7 b, Termys of planettes bene certen nombris of greis in euery signe in which degreis a planet makith gret impression. 1652 Gaule Magastrom. 263 There was Venus in termes, and in the house of Saturne. 1819 J. Wilson Compl. Dict. Astrol. 27 Essential Dignities are only five, viz. House, Exaltation, Triplicity, Term, and Face. Ibid. 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.

    II. A limit in time; a space of time.
    3. a. A definite 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. Obs. or arch. exc. in specific uses.

a 1225 Ancr. R. 208 Etholden oðres hure, ouer his rihte terme, nis hit strong reflac? 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 5777 Þe welisse king..sende him þes wolues fram ȝere to ȝere, Þre þousend at certein terme. 13.. Cursor M. 5939 Sett vs term wen We sal for þe prai. c 1450 Merlin iii. 41 Vortiger..somowned his peple a-geyn the tierme that Merlyn hadde seide. 1479 Bury Wills (Camden) 51, x marcs at too termes of the yeer. 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxix. §1 They all haue..their set..termes, before which they had no being at all. 1662 Stillingfl. Orig. Sacr. i. vi. §3 There was no certainty in the ancient Græcian history, because they had no certain term..from whence to deduce their accounts. 1793 Amer. State Papers (1833) I. 143 State securities..reimbursable on a given term. 1827 Scott Chron. Canongate ii, Fortune is apt to circumduce the term upon us.

    b. spec. Each of the days in the year fixed for payment of rent, wages, and other dues, beginning and end of tenancy, etc.; = term-day, quarter-day. Chiefly Sc. (Cf. F. terme in same sense.)
    The quarterly terms in Scotland, fixed by Acts of 1690 and 1693, were Candlemas Feb. 2, Whitsunday May 15, Lammas Aug. 1, Martinmas Nov. 11. At the change of style in 1752, Old Style was observed in most parts of Scotland for the terms, making the dates practically in use eleven days later. By an Act of 1886, the ‘Removal terms’, for change of houses, etc., were fixed as May 28 and Nov. 28, the dates fixed 1690–93 remaining for purposes of rent, interest, etc.

1426 Coldstream Chartul. (1879) 42 Payand till ws ȝerli xl s..at thua vsuel termes of ye ȝher yat is to say Quvitsonday and Martimes. c 1450 Godstow Reg. 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. 1670 Moral State Eng. 30 By the next Term [he] is presented with an Execution, from his Taylor, or Landlord. 1837 Lockhart Scott xxvi, The term of Martinmas, always a critical one in Scotland, had passed before this letter reached Edinburgh. 1843 Mrs. Matheson Mem. G. Ewing v. (1847) 219 The usual term in Scotland for entering on possession of a dwelling house.

    4. transf. a. A portion of time having definite limits; a period, esp. a set or appointed period; the space of time through which something lasts or is intended to last; duration, length of time.

a 1300 Floriz & Bl. 432 Bituene þis and þe þridde day... Þulke terme him þuȝ te long. 13.. Seuyn Sag. (W.) 64 That dar I vndertak..Within the terme of seuyn yere. 1444 Rolls of Parlt. V. 112/1 Departyng of Servauntz..atte ende of theire termes. 1483 Caxton Cato E iv, The prophete demaunded terme and space for to answere..and the kynge gafe hym terme of thre dayes. 1579 Fenton Guicciard. (1618) 360 For that the tearme was expired. 1610 R. Jones Muses Gard. Delights xiv. ii, Full many lovely tearms Did passe in merrie glee. 1691 Consett Pract. Eccl. Courts (1700) 107 A Term-Probatory is said to be that time or delay, which was given to the Plaintiff, wherein he might prove what he Pleads or Sueth for. 1781 Scot. Paraphr. xv. i, As long as life its term extends, Hope's blest dominion never ends. 1823 Byron Juan x. lxvi, Seven years (the usual term of transportation). 1868 G. Duff Pol. Surv. 164 Presidents elected for a term of years.

    b. esp. in phrase for († to) term of (one's) life: formerly often without for or to: chiefly in legal use.

1340–70 Alisaunder 16 Amyntas..Maister of Macedoine, þe marches hee aught,..Trie toures, & tounes, terme of his life. c 1386 Chaucer Knt.'s T. 171 And ther he lyueth in ioye and in honour Terme of lyue. 1544 tr. Littleton's Tenures (1574) 7 The husbande hath Estate in the speciall tayle, and the wife but for terme of lyfe. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. (1637) 725 That Henry the Sixth should enjoy the right of the Kingdome for tearme of life only. 1788 V. Knox Winter Even. I. iii. 34 What men draw from their education generally sticks by them for term of life.

    c. long-term, short-term adjs.: see as main entries.
    5. spec. Each of the periods (usually three or four in the year) appointed for the sitting of certain courts of law, or for instruction and study in a university or school. Opposed to vacation.
    Commonly used without article, as in term = during the term. to keep terms: see keep v. 13.

1454 Rolls of Parlt. V. 239/2 An action by Bille in Michell' terme last past. 1600 Shakes. A.Y.L. iii. ii. 350 Orl. Who staies it [time] stil withal? Ros. With Lawiers in the vacation: for they sleepe betweene Terme and Terme. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. (1637) 431 At certaine set times (wee call them Tearmes) yearely causes are heard and tryed. 1678 Phillips (ed. 4) s.v., The first is called Hilary Term... The second is called Easter Term... The third..Trinity Term... The fourth and last..Michaelmas Term. 1705 Hearne Collect. 4 Dec. (O.H.S.) I. 114 He might be admitted to the Degree of Master of Arts, without..keeping Terms. 1842 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. xiii, The explanation which he had deemed it well to defer until the [school] term should be over. 1883 Wharton's Law Lex. (ed. 7), Terms, the periods during which the superior courts at Westminster were open. Ibid. s.v. Sittings, By the Judicature Act, 1873, s. 26, the division of the legal year into terms is abolished, and sittings are substituted for it.

    † b. transf. The session of a law-court during such a period; the court in session. Obs.

1525 Ld. Berners Froiss. II. cciv. 629 Than Mychelmas came, and the generall counsayle began, suche as englysshe⁓men call the terme. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VIII 64 In the beginnyng of this yere, Trinite terme was begon at Oxenford, where it continued but one day, and was again adjourned to Westminster. 1591 Greene Disc. Coosnage Pref. 2 The poore man, that commeth to the Terme to trie his right. 1648 D. Jenkins Wks. 45 At Yorke the Tearmes were kept for seven yeares, in Edward the first's time.

    c. In pl. in phrases (esp. to keep terms) indicating that a person has attended the required number of lectures at a university, has been in residence for the period of time laid down in the statutes, and has satisfied the authorities in other statutory respects. N.Z. colloq.

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.

    6. Law. An estate or interest in land, etc. for a certain period; in full, term of or for years.
    outstanding term, satisfied term: an estate for a long term of years was given, usually to the trustees of a strict settlement, to secure to beneficiaries under the settlement the payments due to them periodically from the tenant of the settled land. If these payments were not made, the trustees could take possession of the land for the term, and sell or mortgage it, to raise the money needed to make them. When the purposes for which the estate was created were fulfilled (e.g. by the death of all the beneficiaries) it was called a satisfied term; but unless express provision had been made that it should then cease, or unless it was conveyed to the tenant of the freehold so that it was destroyed by merger in the freehold, it continued to exist for the period for which it was created. It was then known as an outstanding term, or an attendant term, i.e. a term accompanying the inheritance. By Act 8 & 9 Vict. c. 112 provision was made for the cessation of satisfied terms.

1424 R. Flore in E.E. Wills (1882) 58, I wul þat..my sone haue my termes þat I haf of Westminster in þe personage of Okeham. 1592 West 1st Pt. Symbol. §41. B iv b, A Particuler estate which is but onely a terme, is an estate determinable by limitation of time. 1766 Blackstone Comm. 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. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) I. 502 Where a satisfied term is assigned to a trustee, upon an express trust to attend the inheritance, the owner of such inheritance acquires a right to the term, by the declaration of the parties. 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.

    7. a. The completion of the period of pregnancy; the (normal) time of childbirth.

1844 L. S. Costello Bearn & Pyrenees II. 62 The Princess of Navarre, being near her term. 1889 J. M. Duncan Clin. Lect. Dis. Wom. vi. (ed. 4) 32 The dangers attendant upon delivery of a child at or near term. 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VII. 729 Children who..are born at full term.

    † b. pl. The menstrual periods; transf. the menstrual discharge, catamenia, menses, courses. Obs.

1545 T. Raynalde Byrth Mankynde (1564) 26 Termes be called in Latin Menstrua... In Englyshe they be named Termes, because they returne eftsoones at certayne seasons, tymes, and termes. a 1648 Digby Chym. Secr. ii. (1682) 259 It provokes the Terms. 1714 Jontel Jrnl., etc. 143 When the Women have their Terms, they leave the Company of their Husbands.

    III. Limiting conditions.
    8. a. pl. Conditions or stipulations limiting what is proposed to be granted or done. Rarely in sing.; in quot. 1771, that which is so required or demanded, a condition or prerequisite of something.

c 1315 Shoreham Poems v. 165 Þo þat he scholde y-offred by In þe templo domini, Ase laȝe ȝef þe termes. c 1400 Laud Troy Bk. 79 How fele termes and trewes Were [MS. Where] take be-twene Troyens and Gruwes. 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, v. ii. 357 Wee haue consented to all tearmes of reason. 1667 Milton P.L. x. 751 Unable to performe Thy terms too hard, by which I was to hold The good I sought not. 1718 Hickes & Nelson J. Kettlewell iii. lxvi. 353 The Church doth..prescribe her Terms of Communion. 1754 Hume Hist. Eng. (1761) I. ix. 200 He was obliged..to offer terms of peace. 1771 Wesley Wks. (1872) V. 61 This faith is the term or condition of justification. 1861 Mrs. H. Wood East Lynne i. xiii, They acceded to all his terms.

    b. Phr. in terms: (a) (pred.) engaged in making or arranging conditions, in treaty, negotiating; † (b) (advb.) = on terms (a). on terms or upon terms: (a) (advb.) on (such and such) conditions; also (without qualification) on certain conditions, conditionally; (b) (pred.) = in terms (a). terms of reference: the points referred to an individual or body of persons for decision or report; that which defines the scope of an inquiry. to come to terms: to agree upon conditions; to come to an agreement about something to be done; also fig. (const. with), to reconcile oneself to, to become reconciled with; so to bring to terms. to keep terms: to keep up negotiations, to have or continue to have dealings with; to deal with or treat in a particular way; also fig. to ‘have to do with’, be connected with. to make terms: to agree upon conditions, come to a settlement (= come to terms). † to stand on or upon terms: to insist upon conditions; to stand upon one's rights or dignity.

1619 Drayton in Drumm. of Hawth.'s Fam. Ep. Wks. (1711) 153, I have done twelve books more,..but it lyeth by me, for the booksellers and I are in terms. 1736 Gentl. Mag. VI. 730/2 No Sum of Money..is to be..given..except in the Terms prescribed by this Bill. 1748 Smollett Rod. Rand. (1812) I. 451 He was already engaged or at least in terms with Mr. Vaudal.

1611 J. More in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 101 He hath not as yet taken a lease himself, but is upon terms to make up his four years to come 31 years. 1629 Massinger Picture iii. vi, I left a letter in my chamber-window Which I would not have seen on any terms. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. i. § 146 A Peace was made with both, upon better terms, and conditions. 1693 Dryden Persius' Sat. vi. 124 Well; on my Terms thou wilt not be my Heir? 1708 Lond. Gaz. No. 4468/1 The Fortress..had surrender'd upon Terms. 1795 T. Peake Cases Nisi Prius 56 marg., If goods are delivered on the terms of sale or return. 1825 Carlyle Schiller iii. (1845) 241 The copyright..for which he was on terms with Cotta of Tübingen. 1869 J. Martineau Ess. II. 94 It offers initiation..on the easiest terms. 1884 Manch. Exam. 11 June 5/1 To..call in the help of the other Powers on their own terms.

1892 Daily Graphic (Suppl.) 30 Dec. 3/1 On the 14th October the constitution of the Commission and the exact terms of reference were made known. 1913 Rep. Brit. Assoc. Adv. Sci. 1912 549 The nature of the Inquiry of the Industrial Council is explained in the following ‘terms of reference’. 1927 [see refer v. 8 a]. 1967 G. F. Fiennes I tried to run Railway vii. 88 We wrote ourselves new terms of reference in that sense. a 1974 R. Crossman Diaries (1976) II. 661, I had to point out this was not excluded by the Committee's terms of reference, which had been drafted after consultation with the Foreign Office.

a 1729 Congreve Impossible Thing Wks. 1730 III. 363 He to no Terms can bring One Twirl of that reluctant Thing. a 1734 North Lives (1826) II. 231 The creditors..rather than to contest accounts, came to terms, and agreed to take shares. 1855 Prescott Philip II, i. vi. (1857) 103 He had no choice but to come to terms with the enemy at once. 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, showing us the pudding as it is and not as it ought to be. 1934 R. Macaulay Milton vii. 109 He had here come to terms with life, or bravely pretended to have done so. 1965 Listener 30 Dec. 1067/1 Kipling, I think characteristically, came to terms with his tormentor. 1970 L. Deighton Bomber i. 12 Each of the airmen guests was already coming to terms with the return to duty.

c 1483 in Chron. White Rose (1845) 231 Seeing the evil terms the the King hath kept (with) him, and cast him out of the Realm. 1748 Richardson Clarissa (1811) VI. i. 2 What terms wouldst thou have me to keep with such a sweet corruptress? 1806 R. Cumberland Memoirs (1807) I. 184 A profusion of finery, that kept no terms with simplicity. 1856 Merivale Rom. Emp. (1871) V. xlii. 141 The chief of the state need keep terms no longer with the popular assemblies.

1856 Froude Hist. Eng. I. i. 58 Capital supported by force may make its own terms with labour. 1884 Times (weekly ed.) 17 Oct. 14/1 The Amarars have made terms with the Hadendowas, giving them a number of cattle.

1586 Day Eng. Secretary i. (1625) 88 Before that time, I stood on some tearmes doubting the malicious dealings of the aduerse parties against me. 1611 Cotgr., Accrester..to strout it, or stand vpon high tearms. 1716 Atterbury Serm., Matt. xvi. 20 (1734) I. viii. 224 One of those Great and Philosophical Minds, who stand upon their Terms with God.

    c. spec. Stipulations for payment in return for goods or services; conditions with regard to price or wages; payment offered, or charges made. terms of trade, the ratio between the prices paid for imports and those received for exports.

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 Johnson Rambler No. 132 ¶6 The terms offered were such as I should willingly have accepted. 1844 Ld. Brougham A. Lunel II. ii. 23, I was not very nice as to terms and agreed for my board and fifty louis a year. 1856 W. Collins Rogue's Life iii, To a member of the family, I suppose your terms will be moderate. 1923 A. Marshall Money, Credit, & Commerce III. 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. 1942 J. R. Hicks Social Framework xvi. 174 Terms of Trade, the amount of other countries' products which the nation gets in exchange for a unit of its own products. 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.

    9. pl. Standing, footing, mutual relation between two persons or parties: in phrases † in terms, on terms, upon terms: a. with various qualifying words, as on († in, upon) equal terms, good terms, speaking terms, visiting terms, terms of intimacy, etc.

1543 Seymour Let. in Maclean Life Sir P. Carew (1857) 142 Fforasmuche as we doo stande in verye doubtefull tearmes with ffraunce, and yet there is no playne warre. 1605 Shakes. Lear i. ii. 171 Parted you in good termes? Found you no displeasure in him? 1653 H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. xiii. 42 Though we stood in the terms of good friends with them. a 1660 Cont. Hist. Irel. (Ir. Arch. Soc.) I. 139 When they were in tearmes of greatest defiance.

1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, v. i. 10 'Tis not well That you and I should meet vpon such tearmes, As now we meet. 1669 R. Montagu in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 422, I was the willinger to put you upon good terms with her. 1670 Dryden 2nd Pt. Conq. Granada iii. i, The Brave own Faults when good Success is giv'n; For then they come on equal Terms to Heav'n. 1748 Anson's Voy. i. ix. 92 At war, or at least on ill terms with their Spanish neighbours. 1758 L. Temple Sketches (ed. 2) 64, I could live upon good Terms even with a Deist; provided he keeps within the Bounds of Decency. 1796 Hist. in Ann. Reg. 115 Spain was..on friendly terms with France. 1877 Freeman Norm. Conq. (ed. 3) II. vii. 97 On the closest terms of friendship. 1881 R. Buchanan God & Man I. 211 There never was a time when our folk were on speaking terms with these yeomen. 1885 Sir J. Hannen in Law Rep. 10 P.D. 91 They had previously been on the most affectionate terms.

    b. without qualification: on terms, on friendly terms, friendly, sociable; in sporting slang, on terms of equality, on an equal footing (with); also in reference to the score at cricket.

1864 Trollope Small House at Allington xvii, The earl and Lord Porlock were not on terms. 1887 Sir R. H. Roberts In the Shires ii. 27 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.

    † 10. pl. Condition, state, situation, position, circumstances; (in Shakes.) vaguely or redundantly: relation, respect (rarely in sing.). Obs.

1382 Wyclif Matt. vi. 16 Ypocritis..putten her facis out of kyndly termys [Vulg. exterminant facies suas], that thei seme fastynge to men. ― Ecclus. xxi. 21 As an hous set out of termes, so a wisdam to a fool. 1579–80 North Plutarch (1676) 5 He found the Common-wealth turmoiled with seditions..and..the house of ægeus in very ill termes also. 1596 Shakes. Merch. V. ii. i. 13 In tearmes of choise I am not solie led By nice direction of a maidens eies. 1602 ― Ham. iv. vii. 26 A Sister driuen into desperate tearmes. 1604 ― Oth. i. i. 39 Be iudge..Whether I in any iust terme am Affin'd To loue the Moore? 1642 Rogers Naaman Ep. Ded. 2 They liued at poore termes. 1656 Earl of Monmouth tr. Boccalini's Advts. fr. Parnass. ii. xcii. (1674) 245 [He] shewed..him in his naked tearms of devillish hypocrisie.

    IV. Uses leading up to the sense ‘expression’.
    See Note at end of article.
    11. Math. (a) Each of the two quantities composing a ratio (antecedent and consequent), or a fraction (numerator and denominator). † Also formerly, each of two quantities multiplied together (obs.; now called factors). (b) Each of the quantities (of any number) forming a series or progression. (c) Each of (two or more) quantities connected by the signs of addition (+) or subtraction (-) in an algebraical expression or equation.
    absolute term, that term in an equation which does not involve the variable or unknown quantity. lowest († least) terms (in phrases to reduce to its lowest terms, in its lowest terms): Math. the form of a fraction when the numerator and denominator are the least possible, i.e. have no common factor; hence fig. the simplest condition of anything.

1542 Recorde Gr. Artes (1575) 356 You call the Numeratour and Denominatour, the Termes of the Fraction. 1570 Billingsley Euclid v. def. iii. 127 marg., In proportions two quantities required, which are called termes. 1669 Sturmy Mariner's Mag. i. ii. 34 As 16 to 7: So is 8 to what? Here..the second Term is less than the first. 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), Diapente (in Musick), the second of the Concords, whose Terms are as Three to Two. Ibid., Term of a Progression,..is every Member of the Progression, whether it be Arithmetical, or Geometrical. 1806 Hutton Course Math. I. 13 Both the multiplier and multiplicand, are, in general, named the Terms or Factors. Ibid. 191 Divide both the terms of the fraction by the common measure thus found, and it will reduce it to its lowest terms. 1859 Barn. 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. 1881 Burnside & Panton The. Equations Introd. (1886) 2 The term pn, which does not contain x, is called the absolute term.

    b. in terms of: (Math.) said of a series or expression stated in terms involving some particular quantity; hence gen., by means of or in reference to (some particular set of symbols, ideas, etc.); in the modes of expression or thought belonging to (some particular subject or category): often associated with sense 14, as if = in the phraseology of; also, in (..) terms: in terms of what is designated by (..); to think in terms of (colloq.): to make (a particular consideration) the basis of one's attention, enquiries, plans, etc.

1743 Emerson 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. 1862 H. Spencer First Princ. ii. v. §58 (1875) 188 The continuity of Motion..is really known to us in terms of Force. 1866 Herschel Fam. Lect. Sc. 102 The nearest distance of the orbits of Venus and the earth was concluded in terms of the earth's diameter. 1890 W. James Princ. Psychol. xviii. II. 63 Most persons, on being asked in what sort of terms they imagine words, will say ‘in terms of hearing’. 1947 Mulgan & Davin Introd. Eng. Lit. xiii. 164 The impact of Ibsen..did much to revitalize the degenerate English theatre and force it to think in terms of living ideas and contemporary realities. 1959 D. W. Brogan in F. M. Joseph As Others see Us 4, I was predisposed to see American problems in European terms. 1973 ‘E. McBain’ Hail to Chief iii. 39 Carella..had suspected the ditch murders were related to organized crime... As it turned out, the cops had been thinking correctly in terms of gang warfare. 1978 Listener 26 Jan. 119/1 The hour's delay—a mere hiccup in cricketing terms—was caused by politics.

    c. transf. A member or item of any series; each of the things constituting a series. Also more vaguely, an element of any complex whole.

1841 Myers Cath. Th. iii. iii. 8 The Bible contains a series [of revelations] of which the earliest terms are the least. 1857 Miller Elem. Chem. III. i. §2 (1862) 48 A series in which hydrogen forms the lowest term. 1863 Lyell 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. 1881 Williamson in Nature 1 Sept. 416/1 The lower terms of the series are distinguished from one another by differences of boiling points approximately proportional to the number of atoms of carbon and hydrogen by which they differ from one another; whilst the higher terms..are distinguished..by differences of melting points.

    d. Physics. Each of a set of numbers such that lines in the spectrum of an atom have wave numbers given by the differences between two numbers in the set; an atomic state corresponding to one of these numbers, the number being proportional to the binding energy of a valence electron; a symbol representing such a state. Freq. as spectral term.

1909 Sci. Abstr. A. XII. 20 In any combination formula each of the terms represents the influence of one pole. 1915 Astrophysical Jrnl. XLI. 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. Bohr's 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. 1925 [see level n. 3 e]. 1935 [see state n. 4 b]. 1935 W. M. Hicks Structure of 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. 1938 Nature 22 Oct. 735/1 Dr. Dobbie has extended the number of classified lines to some 1,700 and has identified 73 terms involving 218 levels. 1967 [see Lyman]. 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.

    12. Logic, etc. Each of the two things or notions which are compared, or between which some relation is apprehended or stated, in an act of thought, or (more commonly) each of the words or phrases denoting these in a verbal statement; spec. in relation to a proposition, each of the two elements, viz. subject and predicate, which are connected by the copula; in relation to a syllogism, the subject or predicate of any of the propositions composing it, forming one of its three elements (major term, minor term, middle term), each of which occurs twice (see major a. 2, minor a. 4, middle a. 6).

1551 T. Wilson Logike (1580) 25 [Medius terminus, called the double repeate (whiche is a word rehearsed in bothe Propositions) must not enter into the conclusion, because the other twoo partes called Termini, bee proued by this]. Ibid. 25 b, There ought not to be mo termes in an argumentation [= syllogism] then three, for otherwise there is no good argument. 1628 T. Spencer Logick 258 If the middle terme be both affirmed and denyed of both the extreames: then it is the second figure. 1690 Locke Hum. Und. iv. vi. §16 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 Watts Logic 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 Lett. liv. (1820) 282 He changes the terms of the proposition. 1827 Whately Logic ii. i. §2 (ed. 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. 1837–8 Sir W. Hamilton Logic xvi. (1866) I. 298 The word term is applied to the ultimate constituents both of propositions and of syllogisms. 1843 Mill Logic i. ii. §5 (1856) I. 31 A non-connotative term is one which signifies a subject only, or an attribute only. A connotative term is one which denotes a subject, and implies an attribute. 1866 Fowler Deductive Logic i. i, A Term (so called from terminus, a boundary, because the terms are the two extremes or boundaries of the proposition) is a word or combination of words which may stand by itself as the subject or predicate of a Proposition.

    13. a. A word or phrase used in a definite or precise sense in some particular subject, as a science or art; a technical expression (more fully term of art).

1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xii. 237 Ac of briddes and of bestes men by olde tyme Ensamples token and termes. c 1386 Chaucer Prol. 639 Than wolde he speke no word but latyn. A fewe termes hadde he, two or thre, That he had lerned out of som decree. ― Frankl. T. 538, I ne kan no termes of Astrologye. ― Can. Yeom. Prol. & T. 199 We semen wonder wyse, Oure termes [of alchemy] been so clergial and so queynte. ― Pard. Prol. 25 (Harl. MS.) Sayde I wel can I not speke in terme? 1486 Bk. St. Albans D ij, Som folke mysuse this terme ‘draw’, and say that thayr hauke will draw to the Ryuer. 1590 Sir J. Smyth Disc. Weapons 2 b, To vse our ancient termes belonging to matters of warre. 1695 W. W. Colbatch's New Lt. Chir. Put out p. xi, Why he hath used so few Terms of Art, is, because he designs Plainness. 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 109 An Explanation of Terms used among Joiners. 1748 Smollett Rod. Rand. (1812) I. 376 The barrister who..had recollected himself and talked in terms. 1862 Grove Corr. Phys. Forces (ed. 4) 96 The idea involved in the term latent heat. 1876 Tait Rec. Adv. Phys. Sc. i. (ed. 2) 1 Explanation of new scientific terms. 1881 Williamson in Nature 1 Sept. 419/1 A chain of evidence involving the use of chemical terms.

    b. In wider application: Any word or group of words expressing a notion or conception, or denoting an object of thought; an expression (for something). Generally with qualifying adj. or phrase (as an abstract term, a term of reproach).
    contradiction in terms: see contradiction 5 b.

c 1477 Caxton Jason 21 A trew louer vseth neuer suche termes as ye speke of. 1490 ― Eneydos Prol. 2 Some gentylmen..desired me to vse olde and homely termes in my translacyons. 1530 Palsgr. 518/1, I disconsolate... This terme is nat yet [= no longer] comenly used. 1586 Day Eng. Secretary i. (1625) 2 Aptnesse of worde and sentences, consisteth in choice of good tearmes. 1605 Play of Stucley in Simpson Sch. Shaks. (1878) I. 258 Can there issue from your lips a term So base and beggarly as that of flight? 1653 Holcroft Procopius i. 2 The Archers in Homer's time (whose Profession grew to be a tearm of reproach). 1791 D'Israeli Cur. Lit. (1858) III. 70 In politics, what evils have resulted from abstract terms to which no ideas are affixed. a 1860 Whately Commpl. Bk. (1864) 265 A term of reproach is one that denotes something which is denied and thought wrong by the person to whom it is applied. 1883 H. Drummond Nat. Law in Spir. W. vii. (1884) 235 The apostles..accepted the term in its simple literal sense.

    14. a. Only in pl. Words or expressions collectively or generally (usually of a specified kind); manner of expressing oneself, way of speaking, language. (Most commonly preceded by in.)

c 1386 Chaucer Reeve's Prol. 63 Right in his cherles termes wol I speke. c 1470 Henry Wallace ii. 92 The stwart..thocht Wallace chargyt him in termys rude. 1489 Caxton Faytes of A. ii. xx. 133 Thys present werke hathe spoken in general termes. 1590 Shakes. Mids. N. iv. i. 63 She in milde termes beg'd my patience. 1600 ― A.Y.L. ii. vii. 16 Who laid him downe..And rail'd on Lady Fortune in good termes, In good set termes, and yet a motley foole. 1651 Hobbes Leviath. iii. xxxiii. 205 Which question is also propounded sometimes in other terms. 1759 Robertson Hist. Scot. v. Wks. 1813 I. 374 The accusation..was conceived in the strongest terms. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. vii. II. 194 William..replied, in general terms, that he took a great interest in English affairs. 1885 Athenæum 23 May 660 Of the dialogue we can speak in terms of the very highest praise.

    † b. in terms: in express words, expressly, plainly, ‘in so many words’ (also by terms). Obs.

13.. E.E. Allit. P. A. 1052 Alle þe apparaylmente..As Iohan þe apostel in termez tyȝte. c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 384 So oure clerkis..whan þai will speke in termis of her religion. c 1450 Holland Howlat 253 All this trety has he tald be termess in test. 1613 Purchas Pilgrimage iv. iv. 305 Deuouring in hope, and threatening in tearmes all those Asian Prouinces. 1667 Pepys Diary 29 July, He says in terms that the match..hath undone the nation.

    V. 15. Arch. A statue or bust like those of the god terminus, 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 spring; a terminal figure. Also the pillar or pedestal bearing such a figure. (Cf. Herma.)

1604 Dekker King's Entertainm. Wks. 1873 I. 278 On either side of the Gate, stood a great French Terme, of stone. 1630 B. Jonson Chloridia Wks. (Rtldg.) 656/2 An arbour.. the ornament of which was born up with termes of satyrs. 1688 R. Holme Armoury iv. xiii. (Roxb.) 519/1 Their effigies..raised higher with a Terme or Pedestall or foot..of a pillar. 1712 J. James tr. Le Blond's Gardening 76 Busts, Terms, Half-length Figures. 1753 Spence in Phil. Trans. XLVIII. 486 Another brass bust, on a term, of a youth. 1891 T. Hardy Tess xii, She..lifted her face to his, and remained like a marble term while he imprinted a kiss upon her cheek.

    16. Ship-building. (See quot.)

c 1850 Rudim. Navig. (Weale) 155 Terms or term-pieces, pieces of carved-work placed under each end of the taffrail, upon the side stern-timber, and reaching as low down as the foot-rail of the balcony.

    VI. 17. attrib. and Comb., as term-end, term-keeping (see sense 5 and keep v. 13); term-catalogue, a catalogue of the books and other publications during a term or quarter; † term-driver, ? = term-trotter (a); term-fee (see quot.); term-figure = sense 15; term paper U.S. Educ., an essay or dissertation representative of the work done during a single term; term-piece = sense 16; term-policy, an insurance policy issued for a definite term or period; † term-suitor, a suitor (during term) at the law-courts; term symbol Physics, a symbol of the type ³P, denoting the values of L and S for a spectral term; † term-trotter, (a) one who comes up to the law-courts for the term; (b) see quot. 1782; termwise adv. and a. Math., (carried out) term by term, treating each term separately. See also term-day, term-time.

a 1704 T. Brown Dial. Dead, Reas. Oaths Wks. 1711 IV. 84 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. 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.

1625 Massinger New Way ii. ii, This *term-driver, Marrall, This snip of an attorney.

1828 Webster, *Term-fee, among lawyers, a fee or certain sum charged to a suitor for each term his cause is in court.

1880 Warren Book-plates iii. 23 Male and female *term-figures, busts of fairies.

1887 Ruskin Præterita II. 143 Some formal *term-keeping at Oxford.

1931 High School Jrnl. Jan. 17 A long *term paper that will incorporate the results of a semester's reading. 1962 A. Lurie Love & Friendship xiv. 281 Students plagiarizing their term papers. 1975 M. Bradbury History Man x. 164 Students..discuss..term-papers, union politics, theses.

1896 Allbutt's Syst. Med. I. 476 *Term policies are issued for short or long periods.

1602 Carew Cornwall i. 89 The *Terme-suiters may best speed their businesse.

1932 Bacher & Goudsmit Atomic Energy States i. 9 Each of the doublets occurs twice, and it is necessary to distinguish them in the *term symbols. 1977 I. M. Campbell Energy & Atmosphere viii. 220 The first electronically excited state of the oxygen atom would have in principle the two unpaired electrons of the ground state with opposite spins, producing a singlet state. In fact more detailed quantum mechanical treatment shows that there are two such states, designated by term symbols 1D and 1S, with the former the lower in energy of the two.

1607 Middleton Phœnix i. iv, I have been a *term-trotter myself any time this five and forty years. 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.

1912 J. Pierpont Lect. Theory of Functions Real Variable II. v. 180 In this case we can obviously integrate *termwise, although the convergence is not uniform. 1930 T. Fort Infinite Series vii. 74 Termwise multiplication of series. 1979 Proc. London Math. Soc. XXXVIII. 390 We then integrate termwise.

    [Note to branch IV. Gr. ὅρος denoted ‘boundary mark’ and thence ‘a boundary’, as in Euclid (see 1570 in sense 1). Hence in Arithmetic, applied to each of the terms in a ratio, e.g. 2:4; also in a proportion, and in any related series of numbers; in the statement of a mean between two numbers, as 6:9:12, 6 and 12 were the ἄκροι ὅροι ‘extreme terms’, and, by extension 9 was called µέσος ὅρος ‘the mean term’. In Logic, ὅρος was applied to the terms in an analogy, e.g. ‘as A is to B, so is C to D’, where A, B, C, and D were ὅροι; also to the terms (subject and predicate) in a proposition; hence to the terms in a syllogism, the major, minor, and middle (the last being analogous to the ‘mean term’ in Arithmetic). By late Latin philosophical writers, ὅρος in the geometrical, arithmetical, and logical senses was rendered by terminus (constantly used by Boethius a 524). The application of ὅρος and terminus to the definition or limitation of a word appears in Petrus Hispanus, and led finally to the application of terminus to any word used in a definite or limited sense (as in sense 13 above). In Aquinas (13th c.) terminus is synonymous with dictio, locutio, nomen (see the Thomas Lexicon s.v.).]
▪ II. term, v.
    [In sense 1 prob. a. OF. termer (14th c. in Godef.) to bring to an end; to limit, fix; in sense 2, f. term n.]
    † 1. trans. To bring to an end or conclusion; to terminate. Obs. (Cf. AF. oyer et terminer.)

c 1410 [see terming below]. c 1450 Godstow Reg. 89 They shold here the cause, and..terme hit with a dew ende. 1570 Levins Manip. 210/43 To Tearme, terminare.

    2. To express or denote by a term or terms. † a. To express in particular terms, or in a specified form of words; to phrase. (Usually with as.) Obs.

a 1557 tr. More's Treat. Passion Wks. 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. 1557 Recorde Whetst. N iij b, Scholar. This rule is very obscure in woordes. Master. Then will I terme it thus [etc.]. 1584 in 10th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. v. 433 No merchant..should transporte..any goodes that apertayned to unfreemen (as it is termed).

    b. To give a particular or specified name to; to name, call, denominate, designate. Now only with compl. (for which as is substituted in a relative clause); formerly with other constructions.

1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 2 Master of the holy palace (as they terme it). 1579 W. Wilkinson Confut. Familye of Loue, Brief Descr., The Heresie termed, The Familie of Loue. 1632 Lithgow Trav. To Rdr., Good Bookes may be tearmed wise guides. 1643 Sir T. Browne Relig. Med. i. §36 The brain, which we tearme the seat of reason. 1726 G. Shelvocke Voy. round World 27 Incensing the people against..Officers, whom he term'd Blood-suckers. 1872 Mivart Elem. Anat. 282 Such muscles are termed rotators.

    † c. With obj. and inf.: To state, affirm.

1577–87 Holinshed Chron. III. 1212/1 His enimies (whome he termed to be sir Oswold Ulstrop, and maister Vaughan) were about the parke. 1590 Sir J. Smyth Disc. Weapons Ded. 7 Terming those to be best soldiers that could liue without pay. 1632 Lithgow Trav. iii. 107 Tearming vs..to haue monstrous backes, against the execution of Iustice.

    † 3. To spend or pass (time) as in term. Obs.

1654 Whitlock Zootomia 4 They Terme away their Dayes in Obsequious services of others, not allowing Themselves a Dayes vacation.

    Hence ˈterming vbl. n.; also attrib.

c 1410 Master of Game (MS. Digby 182) Prol., Men wote well that the grettest termynge [Bodl. MS. termynynge] of sekenes þat may be is swote. 1549 Coverdale, etc. Erasm. Par. Eph. Prol., To seke the edification of the playne vnlearned by playne termyng of wordes. 1591 Sparry tr. Cattan's Geomancie 176 The place, house, or fygure is.. all one thing..yet there is some difference in the tearming. 1643 Trapp Comm. Gen. xxiii. 2 We read in the Gospel of minstrels and people making a noise at the terming-house, as they call it.

Oxford English Dictionary