Etymology dictionary
teratology (n.) — tetanus (n.)
teratology (n.)
1842, "the study of marvels and monstrosities" as a department of biology concerned with malformations, abnormal growths, etc., from terato- + -logy.
Earlier (1670s) it meant "a marvelous narrative, narration of what is prodigious," in that use ultimately from Greek teratologia "a telling of marvels." Related: Teratological; teratologist.
teratoscopy (n.)
"augury from prodigies," 1660s; see terato- + -scopy.
terbium (n.)
rare element, 1843, from Latinized form of Ytterby, Swedish town near the place where mineral containing the element was found (see Ytterbium). With metallic element ending -ium.
tercel (n.)
"male falcon; male of a diurnal bird of prey," c. 1300, from Old French tercel, tercuel (c. 1200), Anglo-French terssel, from Medieval Latin tertiolus, from Latin tertius "third, a third," from root of tres "three" (see three). Various theories attempt to explain the word; one says it's because the males are a third smaller than the females, another [Century Dictionary] because a third egg in the nest (smaller than the other two) is believed always to produce a smaller male bird.
tercentenary (adj.)
1832, "pertaining to or comprising a period of 300 years," from ter- "three times" + centenary. As a noun from 1835, "day observed as the commemoration of an event of 300 years before." In the same sense tercentennial is attested 1862 as an adjective; 1872 as a noun.
terceroon (n.)
"offspring of a white and a mulatto," 1760 (tercerone), from Spanish *terceron, from tercero "a third (person)," from tercio "third," from Latin tertius "a third," from root of tres "three" (see three). So called from being third in descent from a Negro.
tercet (n.)
1590s, in poetry, "three successive lines rhyming together," from Italian terzetto, diminutive of terzo "third," from Latin tertius (see third). The spelling was influenced by French tercet, from the Italian.
*tere- (2)
*terə- Proto-Indo-European root meaning "cross over, pass through, overcome."
It forms all or part of: avatar; caravanserai; nectar; nectarine; nostril; seraglio; thrill; thorough; through; tranche; trans-; transient; transom; trench; truculent; truncate; trunk.
It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit tirah, Avestan taro "through, beyond;" Latin trans "beyond;" Old Irish tre, Welsh tra "through;" Old English þurh "through."
*tere- (1)
*terə-, Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to rub, turn," with derivatives referring to twisting, also to boring, drilling, piercing; and to the rubbing of cereal grain to remove the husks, and thus to threshing.
It forms all or part of: atresia; attorn; attorney; attrition; contour; contrite; detour; detriment; diatribe; drill (v.) "bore a hole;" lithotripsy; return; septentrion; thrash; thread; thresh; throw; threshold; trauma; trepan; tribadism; tribology; tribulation; trite; triticale; triturate; trout; trypsin; tryptophan; turn.
It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit turah "wounded, hurt;" Greek teirein "to rub, rub away;" Latin terere "to rub, thresh, grind, wear away," tornus "turning lathe;" Old Church Slavonic tiro "to rub;" Lithuanian trinu, trinti "to rub," Old Irish tarathar "borer," Welsh taraw "to strike."
terebic (adj.)
"of or pertaining to turpentine," by 1857. see terebinth (and compare turpentine) + -ic.
terebinth (n.)
Mediterranean tree, a member of the sumac family, late 14c., in Bible translations, terebint, theribynte, terebinte, from Old French therebint, terebinte (13c.) and directly from Latin terebinthus (Pliny), from Greek terebinthos, earlier terminthos, probably from a non-Indo-European language (Klein suggests Creto-Minoic). The tree is the source of Chian turpentine. Related: Terebinthine (1540s); terebinthinous; terebinthaceous.
terebrate (v.)
"to bore, pierce, perforate," 1620s, from past-participle stem of Latin terebrare "to bore, drill a hole,"a derivative of terere "to rub" (from PIE root *tere- (1) "to rub, turn"). Related: Terebrant (adj.); terebration (c. 1400, "trepanning").
tereu
representing a note of the nightingale, 1570s; it also is vocative of Tereus, the Thracian king who was the rapist of Philomela in the story (Ovid).
tergiversation (n.)
"turning dishonestly from a straightforward action or statement; shifting, shuffling, equivocation," 1560s, from Latin tergiversationem (nominative tergiversatio) "a shifting, evasion, declining, refusing," noun of action from past-participle stem of tergiversari. This is, etymologically, "to turn one's back on," thus "evade," from tergum "the back" (a word of unknown origin) + versare "to spin, turn," frequentative of vertere "to turn" (from PIE root *wer- (2) "to turn, bend").
tergiversate (v.)
"to shift, practice evasion," especially "apostatize, desert one's party;" 1650s, a back-formation from tergiversation, or else from Latin tergiversatus, past participle of tergiversari "be evasive," literally "to turn one's back," from tergum "the back" (of unknown origin) + versare "to spin, turn," frequentative of vertere "to turn" (from PIE root *wer- (2) "to turn, bend"). Related: Tergiversated; tergiversating; tergiversant. A verb tergiversate was obsolete by c. 1900.
teriyaki
Japanese dish, 1962, said to be from Japanese teri "gloss, luster" + yaki "roast."
*terkw-
Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to twist."
It forms all or part of: contort; distort; extort; extortion; nasturtium; queer; retort; thwart; torch; torment; torque (n.) "rotating force;" torsion; tort; torticollis; tortuous; torture; truss.
It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit tarkuh "spindle;" Latin torquere "to twist;" Old Church Slavonic traku "band, girdle;" Old High German drahsil "turner," German drechseln "to turn on a lathe;" Old Norse þvert "across," Old English þweorh "transverse, perverse, angry, cross," Gothic þwairhs "angry."
term (n.)
c. 1200, terme, "a limit in time, set or appointed period; the duration of life, lifespan;" from Old French terme "limit of time or place, date, appointed time, duration" (11c.), from Latin terminus "end, boundary line," in Medieval Latin "expression, definition," related to termen "boundary, end" (see terminus). Old English had termen "term, end," from Latin.
The sense of "period of time during which something happens" is by c. 1300, especially in reference to a stated period during which a court of justice may hold sessions (early 15c.) or during which instruction is offered at a school or university (mid-15c.). Term-paper in U.S. educational sense is recorded from 1931.
The meaning "word or phrase used in a limited or precise sense" is recorded from late 14c., from Medieval Latin use (Boethius) of terminus to render Greek horos "boundary" as it was employed in logic and mathematics (the terms of a line are its points). Hence in terms of "in the language or phraseology peculiar to" (1743, originally in reference to mathematics).
As "end of one's life," early 14c.; as "end of a medical process or operation," early 15c. The meaning "completion of the period of pregnancy" is attested from 1844.
terms (n.)
"propositions stated and offered for acceptance, limiting conditions," early 14c., from term (n.) in a sense of "stipulation, guarantee." Hence expressions such as come to terms "agree, yield;" make terms "come to an agreement;" on any terms, etc.
The meaning "standing, footing, mutual relations, relative position" is by 1540s, as in on good (or bad) terms (with someone); on speaking terms (1881).
term (v.)
1550s, "give a particular name to, denominate," from term (n.). Related: Termed; termer; terming. Earlier as "bring a legal dispute to an end" (late 15c.); "bring (life) to an end" (c. 1500), senses now in terminate.
termagant (n.)
"violent, overbearing person" (especially of women), c. 1500, from Termagaunt, Teruagant, Teruagaunt (c. 1200), a name given to a fictitious Muslim deity appearing in medieval morality plays, from Old French Tervagant, a proper name in Chanson de Roland (c. 1100), which is of uncertain origin. Related: Termagantly; termagancy.
termination (n.)
late 14c., terminacioun, "authoritative resolution of a matter," from Old French terminacion (13c.) and directly from Latin terminationem (nominative terminatio) "a fixing of boundaries, a bounding, determining," noun of action from past-participle stem of terminare "to mark the end or boundary," from terminus "end, limit" (see terminus).
By c. 1500 as "end, cessation, time of ending." The meanings "act of limiting or setting bounds; that which ends or finishes off" are from c. 1600. The meaning "end of a person's employment" is recorded from 1961; the meaning "artificial end of a pregnancy" is attested from 1969; the sense of "assassination" is recorded from 1975. Related: Terminational.
terminal (n.)
1831, "final syllable, letter, or sound of a word," 1831, from terminal (adj.). By 1838 as "terminal part or structure, that which terminates," originally in electricity, of the clamping screws at the end of a battery. By 1870 as "station at the end point of a railway line;" extended to airlines by 1921. The sense of "device for feeding data to a computer or receiving data from it" is recorded by 1954.
An earlier noun, in architecture, gardening, was terminary "building or structure at the end of a walk" (1790).
terminable (adj.)
early 15c., "resolvable, capable of final disposition," with -able + obsolete termine "render a judgment, decide authoritatively" (early 14c.), from Old French terminier and directly from Latin terminare "to mark the end or boundary," from terminus "end, limit" (see terminus).
As "that may come to an end, not perpetual, limitable" by 1580s, from stem of Latin terminare + -able.
terminer (n.)
"a determining," a legal term, especially in reference to judicial proceedings under special circumstances, early 15c., from French terminer "to end," in Old French "decide, rule on," from Latin terminare "to mark the end or boundary," from terminus "end, limit" (see terminus; also see oyer). For noun use of the infinitive, compare waiver.
terminate (v.)
early 15c., terminaten, transitive, "bring to an end, decide (a case, etc.);" also "to border, bound, form the extreme boundary of;" from Latin terminatus, past participle of terminare "to mark the end or boundary," from terminus "end, limit" (see terminus).
The intransitive sense of "come to an end" is recorded from 1640s. In reference to a job or employment, "come to an end," by 1946 in reference to war-time work; in reference to the worker, "dismiss from a job," by 1955. By 1968 as a euphemism for "put to death" a pet animal; by 1975 in reference to a fetus in an abortion; also 1975 in the sense of "assassinate." Related: Terminated; terminating.
The older verb was now-obsolete termine "render a judgment, decide authoritatively" (early 14c.), "fix the bounds or outline of"" (late 14c.), "end, put an end to" (c. 1400), from Old French terminier and directly from Latin terminare. Terminize is attested by 1899 as "supply with terms."
terminator (n.)
1734, in astronomy, "the line of separation between the bright and dark parts of a moon or planet," from Latin terminator, literally "he who limits or sets bounds," agent noun from terminare "to mark the end or boundary," from terminus "end, limit" (see terminus). The meaning "one who terminates" (something, in any sense) is attested from 1844.
Earlier was terminour "inflectional ending of a word" (c. 1400), from a variant of Old French termineor. Also compare terminate.
terminal (adj.)
mid-15c., "final, ultimate;" late 15c., "relating to or marking boundaries," from Latin terminalis "pertaining to a boundary or end, final," from terminus "end, boundary line" (see terminus).
The meaning "of, pertaining to, or forming the boundary or extreme limit of something" is from 1744. The scientific sense of "situated at the extreme end, occurring at the end" (of something) is from 1805, especially in botany and zoology (by 1820s).
The meaning "fatal" (of wounds, conditions, illnesses) is recorded by 1862. The slang meaning "extreme" is recorded from 1973. Terminal velocity in reference to a falling object (balanced by air resistance) is by 1745 in projectile physics. Related: Terminally.
Terminative is attested from early 15c. as "serving as a line of demarcation;" also, later, "definitive, absolute, not relative."
terminology (n.)
"system of terms used collectively in a science or subject;" originally also "theory or teaching of the proper use of terms," 1770, from German Terminologie, a hybrid coined by Christian Gottfried Schütz (1747-1832), professor of poetry and rhetoric at Jena, from Medieval Latin terminus "word, expression" (see terminus) + second element from Greek -logia "a dealing with, a speaking of" (see -logy). Related: Terminological (German terminologisch); terminologically.
terminus (n.)
"goal, end, final point," 1610s, from Latin terminus (plural termini) "an end, a limit, boundary line." This is reconstructed to be from PIE *ter-men- "peg, post," from root *ter-, base of words meaning "peg, post; boundary, marker, goal" (source also of Sanskrit tarati "passes over, crosses over," tarantah "sea;" Hittite tarma- "peg, nail," tarmaizzi "he limits;" Greek terma "boundary, end-point, limit," termon "border;" Gothic þairh, Old English þurh "through;" Old English þyrel "hole;" Old Norse þrömr "edge, chip, splinter").
"The Hittite noun and the usage in Latin suggest that the PIE word denoted a concrete object which came to refer to a boundary-stone." [de Vaan]
In ancient Rome, Terminus was the name of the deity who presided over boundaries and landmarks, often represented in half-statues or busts, and the focus of the important Roman festival of Terminalia (held Feb. 23, the end of the old Roman year). The meaning "either end of a transportation line" originally of a railway, is by 1836.
termite (n.)
social insect noted for its destructiveness to timber, by 1794, a back-formation from termites (1781), three syllables, plural, and the usual early form of the word. It is from Modern Latin termites, plural of termes (genitive termitis), a special use of Late Latin termes "woodworm, white ant," a derivative of Latin terere "to rub, wear, erode" (from PIE root *tere- (1) "to rub, turn"), which altered its form.
A scientific name, they were known earlier in English as wood ant or white ant. Related: Termitic; termitine; termitologist. Their nest is a terminarium (1863).
termless (adj.)
1580s, "unlimited, boundless;" 1590s, "nameless, inexpressible;" from term (n.) + -less.
tern (n.)
gull-like shore bird (subfamily Sterninae), 1670s, via East Anglian dialect, from a Scandinavian source (compare Danish terne, Swedish tärna, Færoese terna) related to Old Norse þerna "tern" (also "maid-servant"), which is said to be cognate with Old English bird-name stearn (for which see starling).
ternary (adj.)
"threefold; characterized by threes; proceeding by or consisting of threes," early 15c. (ternaries (n.) "set or group of threes"), from Late Latin ternarius "consisting of three," from terni "three each; three by three," distributive number from ter "thrice," which is related to tres "three" (see three).
Later especially "one of three main divisions or elements." Alternative adjective ternal "consisting of three each" is from 1590s, from Medieval Latin ternalis (also used as a noun), from terni. The English word is attested by 1804 as "the third of three."
Also compare obsolete or archaic ternion "group of three, set of three things" (1580s). Also tern (n.2) "a throw of three with dice" (c. 1400, terne), later also "a prize in a lottery gained by three winning numbers;" from Old French terne, from Latin ternus.
ternate (adj.)
"arranged in threes; characterized by an arrangement of three," 1760, from Modern Latin ternatus, from Latin terni (see ternary). Related: Ternately.
ternery (n.)
"place where terns gather in large numbers to breed," 1891; see tern (n.) + -ery.
terpene (n.)
one of a class of closely related hydrocarbons, found chiefly in essential oils and resins, 1902, modified from terebene, an old name given to a product formed from turpentine, from terebinth + -ene.
Terpsichore (n.)
the muse of the dance, Greek Terpsikhorē, in classical times the patroness of the choral dance and of the dramatic chorus developed from it; literally "dance-enjoying" or "enjoyment of dance," from terpein "to delight" (from PIE root *terp- "to satisfy;" source also of Sanskrit trpyati "takes one's fill," Lithuanian tarpstu, tarpti "to thrive, prosper") + khoros "dance, chorus" (see chorus). By 1711 as "a female dancer."
terpsichorean (adj.)
"pertaining to dancing," 1869, literally "of Terpsichore," from Latinized form of Greek Terpsikhorē, muse of choral dance and the dramatic chorus (see Terpsichore). As a noun, "a female dancer," by 1889. Hence theatrical slang shortening terp "stage dancer, chorus girl" (1937).
terra (n.)
the Latin word for "earth, the earth," from PIE root *ters- "to dry." It is found as a qualifying adjective in various phrases from Latin and Italian (terra); e.g. terrae filius (1580s) "man of unknown origin," literally "son of the earth."
Also compare terrene, terrestrial. The range of adjectives and derived nouns attempted from it in English testifies to the range of what "earth" can be: an "element" in old science (as opposed to air, fire, water); solid ground and land (as opposed to the sea); the realm of worldly and mundane concerns (as opposed to the spiritual); and, in Modern English, a planet among planets (as opposed to Mars, Neptune).
Terrenal "terrestrial, earthly" was used mid 15c.-16c. Terrestre (mid-14c.-16c.) meant "earthly, of the earth," from Old French terrestre; hence terrestrihede (late 14c.) "quality of belonging to elemental earth, earthiness," and terrestrish "earthy" (early 15c.).
As a noun, terrestrite in medieval physiology was the combination of coldness and dryness characteristic of the element earth (early 15c. from Medieval Latin terrestritas "terrestrial, earthly"). The 17c. also tried as nouns terrenity "worldliness; quality or condition of being earthly" and terreity "essential quality of earth, earthiness." Terrosity "earthiness" is likewise obsolete.
In 16c. terrestrene, terrestrian also were tried. Expanding the vocabulary, T. Browne found terreous "earthy, consisting of earth;" terrestrious "of or belonging to earth or land."
Terrigenous "earth-born" is from 17c.; 19c. biology introduced terricolus "inhabiting the ground" (as opposed to aquatic, aerial), with Latin colere "inhabit;" also terricoline (1895, but apparently a dictionary word).
terrace (n.)
1510s, "gallery, portico, balcony; raised, level construction;" later "elevated flat place, raised place for walking" (1570s), especially one affording a view, from French terrace (Modern French terasse), from Old French terrasse (12c.) "platform raised on a mound of earth faced with turf," from Vulgar Latin *terracea, fem. of *terraceus "earthen, earthy," from Latin terra "earth, land" (see terra).
In reference to a natural formation in geology, attested from 1670s. In street names, originally in reference to a row of houses along the top of a slope (1769), but later to ordinary roads, as frequently in housing developments. As a verb from 1640s in the sense of "form into a terrace." Related: Terraced "formed into or furnished with a terrace."
terra-cotta (n.)
type of hard, unglazed pottery used as a building material and also since ancient times in architectural decorations, etc., 1722, from Italian terra cotta, literally "cooked earth," from terra "earth" (from PIE root *ters- "to dry") + cotta "baked," from Latin cocta, fem. past participle of coquere "to cook" (from PIE root *pekw- "to cook, ripen"). As a color name for brownish-red, attested by 1882 among milliners.
terra firma (n.)
a Modern Latin phrase, literally "firm land," from Latin terra "earth, land" (from PIE root *ters- "to dry") + firma, fem. of firmus "strong, steadfast" (from suffixed form of PIE root *dher- "to hold firmly, support").
It is attested in English c. 1600 specifically as "the part of the Italian mainland ruled by Venice." The broad meaning "the land" (as distinct from "the sea") is attested in English by 1690s. Hakluyt and Sandys also used English firm (n.) to mean "the firm land, the mainland, terra firma."
terrain (n.)
1727, "ground for training horses," from French terrain "piece of earth, ground, land," from Old French (12c.), from Vulgar Latin *terranum, from Latin terrenum "land, ground," noun use of neuter of terrenus "of earth, earthly," from terra "earth, land," literally "dry land," as opposed to "sea" (from PIE root *ters- "to dry").
A dictionary word originally, little used in English except as a French word before it emerged from c. 1825 in the scientific meaning "part of the earth's surface," especially "tract of country considered with regard to its natural features or fitness for some use" (1766) via its use in translations from geologists writing in French.
Middle English had terrage "land, ground" (c. 1400), from Old French or Medieval Latin, also terreoir "land, territory" (mid-15c.) from Old French terreior.
terra incognita (n.)
"unknown or unexplored region," 1610s, Latin, literally "unknown land," from terra "earth" (see terra) + fem. of incognito "unknown" (see incognito). Plural is terrae incognitae. Terra cognita "familiar territory" is attested from 1962, often jocular.
terran (adj.)
"of or pertaining to the planet Earth," 1881, Terrane, in science fiction writing, from Latin terra "earth" (see terra).
Also used as a noun meaning "inhabitant of the Earth" (1953). An earlier adjective form, terrene was used in Middle English in the sense of "belonging to this world, earthly, secular, temporal" (c. 1300), later, "of the Earth as a planet" (1630s).
Other English adjectives from terra, some now obsolete or archaic, include terranean "pertaining to or proceeding from the earth, being in or beneath the surface of the earth" (1650s; Terranian is in science fiction from 1913); terraneous "of or pertaining to earth," also "inhabiting or growing on land" (1711).
terrapin (n.)
name given to several North American freshwater or tidewater tortoises, 1670s, earlier torope (1610s), from an Algonquian source (such as Abenaki turepe, Munsee (Delaware) tolpew "turtle").
Subsequently extended to allied species in South America, East Indies, China, North Africa. The meaning "dish made of terrapin meat" is by 1867, noted as a Philadelphia delicacy. Maryland has been the Terrapin State since at least 1879.
terraqueous (adj.)
1650s, "consisting of both land and water" (of a globe, etc.), from combining form of Latin terra "earth" (see terra) + aqueous. As "living on land and water," 1690s. Alternative adjective terraquean (1861) is marked "Rare" in Century Dictionary.
terrarium (n.)
1877, "vivarium for land creatures; place where land animals are kept alive for study," from Latin terra "land" (see terra) + -arium, abstracted from aquarium. By 1931 as "sealed container or covered tank in which plants are grown," as decoration, etc.
terrazzo (n.)
type of flooring material, 1893, from Italian terrazzo "terrace, balcony" (see terrace).
terrene (adj.)
"earthly, terrestrial, of or pertaining to the earth," c. 1300, from Anglo-French terreine, Old French terrien and directly from Latin terrenus "on the earth, earthly," from terra "earth" (see terra). Related: Terreneness.
terrestrial (adj.)
late 14c., "of or pertaining to the earth" (opposed to celestial), with + -al (1) + Latin terrestris "earthly, of the earth, on land," from terra "earth" (from PIE root *ters- "to dry").
Hence passing to "pertaining to the world or to the present state, worldly, mundane." The natural history sense of "living on land" is attested from 1630s. In reference to earth-like planets, by 1888.
The noun meaning "a human being, a mortal, an inhabitant of the earth" is recorded from 1590s. Related: Terrestrially.
terry (n.)
"loop raised in pile-weaving, left uncut," by 1784, also of the textile fabric itself, woven like velvet but with the loops uncut, short for terry cloth, etc.; a word of uncertain origin. It is possibly an alteration of French tiré "drawn," from past participle of tirer "draw out" (compare German gezogener Sammet "drawn velvet").
terribly (adv.)
mid-15c., terribli, "in a manner to cause dread, so as to cause terror, in a horrible manner," from terrible + -ly (2). The sense of "violently, painfully" is attested from c. 1600, gradually descending 18c. to a general intensive: "extremely, greatly." The colloquial sense of "extremely badly, incompetently" is attested by 1930.
The use of simple terrible as an adverb meaning "terribly" is in Caxton (late 15c.) and Jane Austen but now is regarded as U.S. dialectal.
terrible (adj.)
c. 1400, "causing terror; that excites or is fitted to excite awe or dread; frightful; unendurable," from Old French terrible (12c.) and directly from Latin terribilis "frightful," from terrere "fill with fear."
This is reconstructed to be from PIE root *tros- "to make afraid" (source also of Sanskrit trasanti "to tremble, be afraid," Avestan tarshta "scared, afraid," Greek treëin "to tremble, be afraid," Lithuanian trišėti "to tremble, shiver," Old Church Slavonic treso "I shake," Middle Irish tarrach "timid").
Also used in reference to the sources of feelings akin to dread, hence, by 1590s, "violently severe" etc., weakening by 18c. to a mere intensive, "great, severe" (a terrible bore; compare similar evolution in awful, terrific, etc.). Frequently applied to misbehaving children (terrible twos is attested by 1949), then to adults. By 1913, colloquially, terrible had the sense of "very bad; extremely incompetent."
terribleness (n.)
1530s, "character or state of causing dread," from terrible + -ness. Alternative terribility is attested from 1740s.
terriculament (n.)
"a cause of terror," especially "object of needless dread, bugbear," 1540s, now obsolete, from Late Latin terriculamentum "something to excite terror," from terrere "fill with fear" (see terrible).
terrier (n.)
kind of hunting dog, early 15c., from a shortening of Old French chien terrier "terrier dog," literally "earth dog" (Old French terrier also meant "hole or earth of a rabbit or fox"), from Medieval Latin terrarius "of earth," from Latin terra "earth" (see terra).
So called because the dogs pursue their quarry (foxes, badgers, etc.) into burrows and dig or scratch at the ground to get them. Typically small, active, hardy, and noted for their courage.
terrific (adj.)
1660s (Milton), "frightening, causing terror, fitted to excite fear or dread," from Latin terrificus "causing terror or fear, frightful," from terrere "fill with fear" (see terrible) + combining form of facere "to make" (from PIE root *dhe- "to set, put").
The weakened sensed of "very great, severe, excessive" (as in terrific headache) is attested by 1809; inverted colloquial sense of "excellent" is attested by 1888. Related: Terrifical; terrifically.
terrify (v.)
"make afraid, fill with fear and alarm," 1570s, from Latin terrificare "to frighten, make afraid," from terrificus "causing terror" (see terrific).
Related: Terrified; terrifying; terrifyingly; terrification (1610s). Terriblize "become terrible" (c. 1600) did not survive but seems to have left no other single word for that.
terrine (n.)
late 14c., terein, "deep cooking or serving vessel," from Old French noun use of fem. of terrin (adj.) "earthen," from Gallo-Roman *terrinus "made of earth," from Latin terrenus "of the earth," from terra "earth" (see terra). The obsolete but original form of tureen (q.v.). Later terrine was reintroduced in reference to earthenware cooking and serving vessels in Spanish or French contexts.
territorial (adj.)
1620s, "of or pertaining to a land or territory," from Late Latin territorialis, from territorium (see territory). As "of or pertaining to a U.S. territory" by 1791. In reference to British regiments, by 1881; territorial army "British home defense" is by 1907.
In reference to an area defended by an animal, from 1920. Territorial waters is from 1841. Territorial imperative "animal need to claim and defend territory" is attested 1966.
Related: Territorialism, used or suggested in various governance senses by 1865; in zoology, in reference to animal territoriality, by 1933. Territorialize is by 1818 as "extend by addition of territory," later also "reduce to the state or status of a territory" (by 1891).
territoriality (n.)
"possession and control of territory," 1839, as a concept in international law, from territorial + -ity. From 1941 in reference to animal behavior.
territory (n.)
late 14c., territorie, "land under the jurisdiction of a town, sovereign, state, etc.; a region belonging to a kingdom or associated with a people," probably from Latin territorium "land around a town, domain, district," from terra "earth, land" (see terra) + -orium, suffix denoting place (see -ory).
"Since -torium is a productive suffix only after verbal stems, the rise of terri-torium is unexplained" [Michiel de Vaan, "Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages"]. An alternative theory, somewhat supported by the vowels of the original Latin word, suggests derivation from terrere "to frighten" (see terrible); thus territorium would mean "a place from which people are warned off."
The general sense of "any extensive tract of land, a district or region" is attested by c. 1600. The specific U.S. sense of "organized self-governing division of the country not yet a state" is from 1787.
As "domain or special function of a class, profession, discipline, etc.," by 1630s. Of regions defended by animals by 1774 (compare territorial). As "salesman or sales company's geographical area of operation," by 1877, American English. In Australia, Territorian for "inhabitant of Northwest Territory" is by 1887.
terrorism (n.)
1795, in specific sense of "government intimidation during the Reign of Terror in France" (March 1793-July 1794), from French terrorisme, noted in English by 1795 as a coinage of the Revolution, from Latin terror "great fear, dread, alarm, panic; object of fear, cause of alarm; terrible news," from PIE root *tres- "to tremble" (see terrible).
General sense of "systematic use of terror as a policy" is first recorded in English 1798 (in reference to the Irish Rebellion of that year). At one time, a word for a certain kind of mass-destruction terrorism was dynamitism (1883); and during World War I frightfulness (translating German Schrecklichkeit) was used in Britain for "deliberate policy of terrorizing enemy non-combatants."
terrorize (v.)
"coerce or deter by terror," 1823, from terror + -ize (also see terrorism). Related: Terrorized; terrorizing; terrorization.
terror (n.)
early 15c., "something that intimidates, an object of fear," from Old French terreur (14c.), from Latin terrorem (nominative terror) "great fear, dread, alarm, panic; object of fear, cause of alarm; terrible news," from terrere "fill with fear, frighten" (see terrible).
It is attested from c. 1500 as "fear so great as to overwhelm the mind." The meaning "quality of causing dread" is attested from 1520s. The sense of "a person fancied as a source of terror" (often with deliberate exaggeration, as of a naughty child) is recorded from 1883.
Terror bombing is recorded by 1941, with reference to German air attack on Rotterdam. The Reign of Terror in French history (March 1793-July 1794) was the period when the nation was ruled by a faction whose leaders made policy of killing by execution anyone deemed an impediment to their measures; so called in English from 1801.
Old English words for "terror" included broga and egesa. Terror-stricken is attested by 1831.
terrorise (v.)
chiefly British English spelling of terrorize (q.v.); for suffix, see -ize. Related: Terrorised; terrorising.
terroristic (adj.)
1842, from terrorist + -ic. Related: Terroristical.
terrorist (n.)
in the modern sense, 1944, especially in reference to Jewish tactics against the British in Palestine — earlier it was used of extremist revolutionaries in Russia who attempted to demoralize the government by terror (1866); and Jacobins during the French Revolution (1795) — from French terroriste; see terror + -ist (also see terrorism).
The tendency of one party's terrorist to be another's guerrilla or freedom fighter was noted in reference to the British action in Cyprus (1956) and the war in Rhodesia (1973). The word terrorist has been applied, at least retroactively, to the Maquis resistance in occupied France in World War II (as in in the "Spectator," Oct. 20, 1979).
terse (adj.)
1590s (implied in tersely), "clean-cut, burnished, neat," from French ters "clean," and directly from Latin tersus "wiped off, clean, neat," from past participle of tergere "to rub, polish, wipe," which is of uncertain origin. Sense of "concise or pithy in style or language" is from 1777, which led to a general sense of "neatly concise." The pejorative meaning "brusque" is a fairly recent development. Related: Terseness.
tertiary (adj.)
1650s, "of the third order, rank, degree, etc.," from Latin tertiarius "of or pertaining to a third," from tertius "third, a third," from root of tres "three" (see three). The geological sense (with capital T-) of "era after the Mesozoic" (which formerly was called the Secondary) is attested from 1794, after Italian terziari, used in this sense 1760 by Italian geologist Giovanni Arduino (1714-1795).
tertium quid (n.)
something indeterminate between two other things, 1724, Latin, literally "third something," from tertius "third, a third," from the root of tres "three" (see three). A loan-translation of Greek triton ti (Plato), used in alchemy for "unidentified element present in a combination of two known ones." The Latin word also figures in phrases tertium non datur "no third possibility exists," and tertius gaudens "a third party that benefits from conflict between the other two."
terza rima (n.)
1819, Italian, literally "third rhyme." Dante's measure: a-b-a-b-c-b-c-d-c-, etc.
tesla (n.)
"unit of magnetic flux density," 1960, from Nikola Tesla (1856-1943), Croatian-born U.S. engineer. Tesla coil is attested from 1896.
tessellation (n.)
"minute arrangement of parts or colors," 1650s, noun of action from Late Latin tessellatus (see tessellated).
tessellated (adj.)
1690s, from Late Latin tessellatus "made of small square stones or tiles," past participle of tesselare, from tessella "small square stone or tile," diminutive of tessera "a cube or square of stone or wood," perhaps from Greek tessera, neuter of tesseres, Ionic variant of tessares "the numeral four" (from PIE root *kwetwer- "four"), in reference to four corners. Related: Tessellate (v.), a 1791 back-formation (from 1826 as an adjective, 1909 as a noun); tessellating.
tessera (n.)
plural tesserae, "small, square piece of stone," 1650s, from Latin tessera "a die, cube, square tablet with writing on it" used as a token or ticket, from Ionic Greek tessera, neuter of tesseres (Attic tessares) "the numeral four" (from PIE root *kwetwer- "four").
tesseract (n.)
"four-dimensional 'cube,'" 1888, from tessera + Greek aktis "ray" (see actino-).
testes (n.)
see testis.
test (v.)
1748, "to examine the correctness of," from test (n.), on the notion of "put to the proof." Earlier "assay gold or silver" in a test (c. 1600). Meaning "to administer a test" is from 1939; sense of "undergo a test" is from 1934. Related: Tested; testing.
test (n.)
late 14c., "small vessel used in assaying precious metals," from Old French test, from Latin testum "earthen pot," related to testa "piece of burned clay, earthen pot, shell" (see tete).
Sense of "trial or examination to determine the correctness of something" is recorded from 1590s. The connecting notion is "ascertaining the quality of a metal by melting it in a pot." Test Act was the name given to various laws in English history meant to exclude Catholics and Nonconformists from office, especially that of 1673, repealed 1828. Test drive (v.) is first recorded 1954.
testament (n.)
late 13c., "last will disposing of property," from Latin testamentum "a last will, publication of a will," from testari "make a will, be witness to," from testis "witness," from PIE *tri-st-i- "third person standing by," from root *tris- "three" (see three) on the notion of "third person, disinterested witness."
Use in reference to the two divisions of the Bible (early 14c.) is from Late Latin vetus testamentum and novum testamentum, loan-translations of Greek palaia diathēkē and kainē diathēkē. Late Latin testamentum in this case was a confusion of the two meanings of Greek diathēkē, which meant both "covenant, dispensation" and "will, testament," and was used in the former sense in the account of the Last Supper (see testimony) but subsequently was interpreted as Christ's "last will."
testamentary (adj.)
"pertaining to a will or wills," mid-15c., from Latin testamentarius, from testamentum (see testament).
testate (adj.)
"having left a valid will," late 15c., from Latin testatus "public, manifest, published," past participle of testari "make a will, be witness to, declare" (see testament).
testator (n.)
c. 1400, from Anglo-French testatour (c. 1300), from Late Latin testator "one who makes a will," from testari (see testate). Fem. form testatrix is attested from 1590s.
tester (n.1)
"one who tests, puts to trial, or assays," 1660s, agent noun from test (v.). Earlier "a crucible" for trying metals by heating them (mid-15c.).
tester (n.2)
"canopy over a four-post bed," mid-14c., from Medieval Latin testerium, from testera "head-stall" of the bridle of a horse, extended use and form of Late Latin testa "skull," in Vulgar Latin "head" (see tete). From Medieval Latin testa as "head" also come tester in obsolete senses of "piece of armor for the head" (late 14c., via Old French testiere) and "coin of Henry VIII" (1546), the first English coin to bear a true portrait.
testy (adj.)
early 15c., "impetuous, rash," altered from Middle English testif "headstrong" (late 14c.), from Anglo-French testif, Old French testu (Modern French têtu) "stubborn, headstrong, obstinate," literally "heady," from teste "head" (see tete). Meaning "easily irritated, irascible" is first recorded 1520s. Related: Testily; testiness.
testis (n.)
(plural testes), 1704, from Latin testis "testicle," usually regarded as a special application of testis "witness" (see testament), presumably because it "bears witness to male virility" [Barnhart]. Stories that trace the use of the Latin word to some supposed swearing-in ceremony are modern and groundless.
Compare Greek parastatai "testicles," from parastates "one that stands by;" and French slang témoins, literally "witnesses." But Buck thinks Greek parastatai "testicles" has been wrongly associated with the legal sense of parastates "supporter, defender" and suggests instead parastatai in the sense of twin "supporting pillars, props of a mast," etc. Or it might be a euphemistic use of the word in the sense "comrades." OED, meanwhile, points to Walde's suggestion of a connection between testis and testa "pot, shell, etc." (see tete).
testicle (n.)
early 15c., alteration of testicule (late 14c.), from Latin testiculus, diminutive of testis "testicle" (see testis). Old English had beallucas (see ballocks) and herþan, probably originally "leather bag" (compare heorþa "deer-skin"). The commonest slang terms for them in other languages are words that mean "balls," "stones," "nuts," "eggs."
testicular (adj.)
1650s, from Latin testiculus (see testicle) + -ar.
testify (v.)
late 14c., testifien, "give legal testimony, affirm the truth of, bear witness to;" of things, c. 1400, "serve as evidence of," from Anglo-French testifier, from Latin testificari "bear witness, show, demonstrate," also "call to witness," from testis "a witness" (see testament) + combining form of facere "to make" (from PIE root *dhe- "to set, put").
The Biblical sense of "openly profess one's faith and devotion" is attested from 1520s. Related: Testified; testifying; testification.
testimony (n.)
c. 1400, "proof or demonstration of some fact, evidence, piece of evidence;" early 15c., "legal testimony, sworn statement of a witness," from Old North French testimonie (Old French testimoine 11c.), from Latin testimonium "evidence, proof, witness, attestation," from testis "a witness, one who attests" (see testament) + -monium, suffix signifying action, state, condition. Despite the common modern assertion, the sense of the word is unlikely to have anything to do with testicles (see testis).
Earliest attested sense in English is "the Ten Commandments" (late 14c.), from Vulgate use of Late Latin testimonium, along with Greek to martyrion (Septuagint), translations of Hebrew 'eduth "attestation, testimony" (of the Decalogue), from 'ed "witness."
testimonial (n.)
"statement, declaration," also "writing testifying to one's qualification or character," early 15c. (from Old French testimonial, variant of tesmoignal), short for letters testimonial (see testimonial (adj.)). Meaning "gift presented as an expression of appreciation" is from 1838.
testimonial (adj.)
early 15c., "of or pertaining to testimony," in part from testimonial (n.) and from Late Latin testimonialis, from Latin testimonium (see testimony). Originally especially in phrase letters testimonial (French lettres testimoniaulx, Latin litteræ testimoniales) "document or documents attesting to a fact or to the good standing of the bearer," literally "letters serving for evidence."
testosterone (n.)
male sex hormone, 1935, from German Testosteron (1935), coined from a presumed combining form of Latin testis "testicle" (see testis) + first syllable of sterol + chemical ending -one.
test-tube (n.)
1809, from test (n.) + tube (n.). So called because it originally was used to test the properties of liquids. Test-tube baby is recorded from 1935.
Tet (n.)
Vietnamese lunar new year, 1885, short for Tet Nguyen Dan "feast of the first day." The North Vietnamese Tet Offensive in the U.S. Vietnam War began Jan. 30, 1968.
tetany (n.)
1890, from French tétanie "intermitent tetanus," from Modern Latin tetania (see tetanus).
tetanus (n.)
infectious disease, late 14c., from Latin tetanus "tetanus," from Greek tetanos "tetanus, muscular spasm," literally "a stretching, tension," from teinein "to stretch" (from PIE root *ten- "to stretch"); "so called because the disease is characterized by violent spasms and stiffness of the muscles" [Barnhart]. Related: Tetanoid (adj.).