quadripartite, a. and n.
(kwɒdrɪˈpɑːtaɪt)
Also 7 -partit; 6 quadri-, 6–7 quadrapertite; 6–8 quadrupartite, (6 -pertite).
[ad. L. quadripartīt-us, f. quadri- quadri- + pa. pple. of partīrī to divide, part.]
A. adj.
1. Divided into, or consisting of, four parts. Now chiefly in Bot., Zool., and Arch.
quadripartite vault, one divided into four converging compartments; so quadriparte groining.
| 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) III. 111 That kynge Nabugodonosor hade a dreame of a quadripartite ymage. 1570 Levins Manip. 151/43 Quadripartite, quadripartitus. 1612 Selden Illustr. Drayton's Poly-olb. iv. 215 Wks. 1876 I. 115 Frederic III's institution of the quadripartite Society of S. George's shield. 1768–74 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) II. 464 The quadripartite discourse upon Phil. ii. 6. 1849 Freeman Archit. 246 The aisles of large churches are almost always covered with plain quadripartite vaulting. 1875 Bennett & Dyer tr. Sachs' Bot. 584 The tubular receptacle..is even quadripartite, corresponding to the four perianth-leaves and to the four stamens. |
b. spec. Of a contract, indenture, etc.: Drawn up in four corresponding parts, one for each party.
| 1527 Lanc. & Chesh. Wills (Chetham Soc. 1854) 33 A declaracion of my will mynde and testament quadripertite therunto annexed. 1592 West 1st Pt. Symbol. §47 These deedes indented are not only bypartite..but also may be made..quadrupartite. 1650 Bury Wills (Camden) 224 As in the said indenture quadrapertite fully appeareth. 1874 Macray in 4th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. 461/1 Extract from the will of Hugh Falstolf..made in the form of a quadripartite indenture. |
2. Divided among or shared by four persons or parties.
| 1594 Lyly Moth. Bomb. iii. ii, They commit the matter to our quadrapertite wit. 1741 Richardson Pamela (1824) I. lxxvii. 434 Your reconciliation is now effected; a friendship quadrupartite is commenced. 1835 Blackw. Mag. XXXVII. 44 They..formed a quadripartite alliance. |
3. quadripartite division († quadripartite distinction), division into four parts, classes, etc.; spec. in Eccl. a four-fold division of tithes (see quot. 1855).
| 1614 Selden Titles Hon. 383 The quadripartit distinction of Ciuilians which they haue. 1650 Fuller Pisgah i. iv. 10 Making a quadripartite division of good wine. 1727 T. Jenkins tr. Father Paul's Eccl. Benef. (1736) 28 The Quadripartite division came to be arbitrary. 1855 Milman Lat. Chr. (1864) II. iii. vii. 116 note, The quadripartite division, to the bishop, the clergy, the fabric and services of the church, and the poor, generally prevailed in the West. 1882–3 Schaff Encycl. Relig. Knowl. I. 724 The quadripartite division of theology, into exegetical, dogmatical, historical, and practical theology. |
B. n. The Tetrabiblos of Ptolemy.
| 1477 Norton Ord. Alch. i. in Ashm. (1652) 21 In his Quadripartite made of Astrologie, Of Physique, and of this Arte of Alkimy, And also of Magique naturall. 1559 W. Cuningham Cosmogr. Glasse 133 Ptolomæus maketh mention of them in his quadripartite. 1822 J. M. Ashmand (title) Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos or Quadripartite, being Four Books of the Influence of the Stars. |
Hence quadriˈpartitely adv., into four parts. Also † quadriˈpartite v., to divide into four.
| 1552 Huloet, Quadripartitlye. 1656 W. D. tr. Comenius' Gate Lat. Unl. 177 The year [is divided] quadripartitely into Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter. 1709–29 V. Mandey Syst. Math., Arith. 3 Division..Its kinds are, Halving or Bipartiting,..Quadripartiting, &c. |