polyad
(ˈpɒlɪæd)
[f. poly-, after dyad, triad, etc.]
1. Chem. A polyatomic element or radical.
| 1879 Rossiter Dict. Sci. Terms 270/2 Polyads = Poly⁓atomic elements: triads, tetrads, hexads, &c. |
2. Philos. A relative containing more than two elements.
| a 1914 C. S. Peirce Coll. Papers (1931) I. 146 A thorough study of the logic of relatives..shows that logical terms are either monads, dyads, or polyads, and that these last do not introduce any radically different elements from..triads. Ibid. (1933) IV. 301 If the number of blanks exceeds two, I term it a Polyad, or Plural Relative. |