▪ I. quaˈtern, n. rare.
[a. F. quaterne set of four numbers, † quire (Godef.), ad. L. quaternus: see quaternion and quire.]
† 1. Sc. A quire of paper. Obs.
| 1578 in Maitl. Cl. Misc. (1840) I. 12 Tuentie fyve countis and quaternis of the Q. and Q. regent. |
2. A set of four numbers in a lottery.
| 1868 Browning Ring & Bk. xii. 158 But that he forbid The Lottery, why, Twelve were Tern Quatern! |
▪ II. † quaˈtern, a. Bot. Obs. rare—1.
[ad. L. quaternī four together, by fours.]
Arranged in fours.
| 1760 J. Lee Introd. Bot. iii. xxiii. (1765) 235 In respect to Opposition, opposite Leaves will sometimes become tern, quatern or quine, growing by Threes, Fours, or Fives. |