Term (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Termed (?);
p. pr. & vb. n.
Terming.]
[See Term, n., and cf. Terminate.]
To apply a term to; to name; to call; to denominate.
Men term what is beyond the limits of the universe "imaginary space."
Locke.
Term (?), n. [F. terme, L. termen,
-inis, terminus, a boundary limit, end; akin to Gr. &?;, &?;. See Thrum a tuft, and cf.
Terminus, Determine, Exterminate.]
1. That which limits the extent of
anything; limit; extremity; bound; boundary.
Corruption is a reciprocal to generation, and they two
are as nature's two
terms, or boundaries.
Bacon. 2. The time for
which anything lasts; any limited time; as, a term of five years; the term of life.
3. In universities, schools, etc., a definite continuous period during which instruction is regularly given to students; as, the school year is divided into three
terms.
4. (Geom.) A point, line,
or superficies, that limits; as, a line is the term of a superficies, and a superficies is the term of a solid.
5. (Law) A fixed period of time; a
prescribed duration; as: (a) The limitation of an estate;
or rather, the whole time for which an estate is granted, as for the term of a life or lives, or for
a term of
years. (b) A space of time granted to a
debtor for discharging his obligation.
(c) The time in which
a court is held or is open for the
trial of causes.
Bouvier.
&fist; In
England, there were formerly four terms in the year, during which the superior courts were open: Hilary term, beginning on the 11th and
ending on the 31st of January; Easter term, beginning on the 15th of April, and ending on the
8th of May; Trinity term, beginning on the 22d day of
May, and ending on the
12th of June; Michaelmas term, beginning on the 2d and ending on the
25th day of November. The rest of the year was called vacation. But this division has been practically abolished by the Judicature Acts of 1873, 1875, which provide for the more convenient arrangement of the terms and vacations. In the United
States, the terms to be observed by the tribunals of justice are prescribed by the statutes of Congress and of the several States.
6. (Logic) The subject or the predicate of a proposition; one of the three
component parts of a syllogism, each one of which is used twice.
The subject and predicate of a proposition are, after Aristotle, together
called its terms or
extremes.
Sir W.
Hamilton. &fist; 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 extermes; and the third
term, introduced as a common measure between them, is called the mean or middle term. Thus in
the following syllogism, --
Every
vegetable is combustible; Every tree is a vegetable; Therefore every tree is
combustible, -
combustible, the predicate of the conclusion, is the major
term; tree is the minor
term; vegetable is the middle
term.
7. A word or expression; specifically, one that has a
precisely limited meaning
in certain relations and uses, or is
peculiar to a science, art, profession, or the like; as, a technical term.
"Terms quaint of law." Chaucer.
In painting, the greatest beauties can not always be
expressed for want of terms.
Dryden.
8. (Arch.) A quadrangular pillar, adorned on the top with
the figure of a head, as of a man, woman, or
satyr; -- called also terminal figure. See Terminus, n., 2 and 3.
&fist; The pillar part frequently tapers downward, or is narrowest at the base. Terms rudely
carved were formerly used
for landmarks or boundaries.
Gwilt.
9. (Alg.) A member of a compound quantity; as, a or b in a + b;
ab or cd in ab - cd.
10. pl. (Med.) The menses.
11. pl. (Law)
Propositions or promises, as
in contracts, which, when assented to or accepted by another, settle the contract and bind the
parties; conditions.
12. (Law) In Scotland, the time fixed for the
payment of rents.
&fist; Terms legal and conventional in Scotland correspond to quarter days in England and Ireland. There are two
legal terms -- Whitsunday, May 15, and Martinmas, Nov. 11; and two conventional terms -- Candlemas, Feb. 2, and Lammas day, Aug. 1. Mozley &
W.
13. (Naut.) A piece of
carved work placed under each end of the taffrail. J. Knowels.
In term, in set terms; in formal phrase. [Obs.]
I can not speak in term.
Chaucer. -- Term fee (Law) (a), a fee by the term, chargeable to a suitor, or by law fixed and taxable in the costs of a cause for each or any term it is in court. -- Terms of a proportion (Math.), the four members of which it is composed. -- To bring to terms, to compel (one) to agree,
assent, or submit; to force (one) to
come to terms. -- To make terms, to come to
terms; to make an agreement: to agree.
Syn. -- Limit; bound; boundary; condition; stipulation; word; expression. -- Term,
Word. These are more frequently interchanged than
almost any other vocables that occur of the
language. There is, however, a
difference between them which is
worthy of being kept in
mind. Word is generic; it denotes an utterance which represents
or expresses our thoughts and feelings. Term originally denoted one of the two essential members of a proposition in logic, and
hence signifies a word of specific meaning, and applicable to a definite
class of objects. Thus, we may speak of a scientific or a technical term, and of stating things in distinct terms. Thus we say,
"the term minister literally
denotes servant;" "an exact definition of terms is essential to clearness of thought;" "no term of reproach can sufficiently express my indignation;" "every art has
its peculiar and distinctive
terms," etc. So also we say, "purity of style depends on the choice of
words, and precision
of style on
a clear understanding of the terms used." Term
is chiefly applied to verbs, nouns, and adjectives, these being capable of standing as terms in a logical
proposition; while
prepositions and conjunctions, which can never be so
employed, are rarely spoken of as
terms, but simply as words.
Hear it pronounced