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terminus

 - 10 dictionary results

ter⋅mi⋅nus

  [tur-muh-nuhs]
Use terminus in a Sentence
–noun, plural -ni  [-nahy] , -nus⋅es.
1. the end or extremity of anything.
2. either end of a railroad line.
3. British. the station or the town at the end of a railway or bus route.
4. the point toward which anything tends; goal or end.
5. a boundary or limit.
6. a boundary post or stone.
7. (initial capital letter) the ancient Roman god of boundaries and landmarks.
8. term (def. 10).
Origin:
1545–55; < L: boundary, limit, end

term

  [turm]
–noun
1. a word or group of words designating something, esp. in a particular field, as atom in physics, quietism in theology, adze in carpentry, or district leader in politics.
2. any word or group of words considered as a member of a construction or utterance.
3. the time or period through which something lasts.
4. a period of time to which limits have been set: elected for a term of four years.
5. one of two or more divisions of a school year, during which instruction is regularly provided.
6. an appointed or set time or date, as for the payment of rent, interest, wages, etc.
7. terms,
a. conditions with regard to payment, price, charge, rates, wages, etc.: reasonable terms.
b. conditions or stipulations limiting what is proposed to be granted or done: the terms of a treaty.
c. footing or standing; relations: on good terms with someone.
d. Obsolete. state, situation, or circumstances.
8. Algebra, Arithmetic.
a. each of the members of which an expression, a series of quantities, or the like, is composed, as one of two or more parts of an algebraic expression.
b. a mathematical expression of the form axp, axpyq, etc., where a, p, and q are numbers and x and y are variables.
9. Logic.
a. the subject or predicate of a categorical proposition.
b. the word or expression denoting the subject or predicate of a categorical proposition.
10. Also called terminus. a figure, esp. of Terminus, in the form of a herm, used by the ancient Romans as a boundary marker; terminal figure.
11. Law.
a. an estate or interest in land or the like, to be enjoyed for a fixed period.
b. the duration of an estate.
c. each of the periods during which certain courts of law hold their sessions.
12. completion of pregnancy; parturition.
13. Archaic.
a. end, conclusion, or termination.
b. boundary or limit.
–verb (used with object)
14. to apply a particular term or name to; name; call; designate.
—Idioms
15. bring to terms, to force to agree to stated demands or conditions; bring into submission: After a long struggle, we brought them to terms.
16. come to terms,
a. to reach an agreement; make an arrangement: to come to terms with a creditor.
b. to become resigned or accustomed: to come to terms with one's life.
17. eat one's terms, British Informal. to study for the bar; be a law student.
18. in terms of, with regard to; concerning: The book offers nothing in terms of a satisfactory conclusion.
Origin:
1175–1225; ME terme < OF < L terminus boundary, limit, end; akin to Gk térmōn limit

Related forms:
termly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To terminus
ter·mi·nus   (tûr'mə-nəs)   
n.   pl. ter·mi·nus·es or ter·mi·ni (-nī')

  1. The final point; the end.

  2. An end point on a transportation line or the town in which it is located.

    1. A boundary or border.

    2. A stone or post marking a border.


[Latin.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

term  (n.)
c.1225, terme "limit in time, set or appointed period," from O.Fr. terme "limit of time or place" (11c.), from L. terminus "end, boundary line," related to termen "boundary, end" (see terminus). Sense of "period of time during which something happens" first recorded c.1300, especially of a school or law court session (1454), The meaning "word or phrase used in a limited or precise sense" is first recorded c.1378, from M.L. use to render Gk. horos "boundary," employed in mathematics and logic. Meaning "completion of the period of pregnancy" is from 1844. The verb meaning "to give a particular name to" is recorded from 1560. Terms "limited conditions, stipulations" is from c.1315; meaning "standing, footing, mutual relations" is from 1543. Term-paper in U.S. educational sense is recorded from 1931.

terminus 
1555, "goal, end, final point," from L. terminus (pl. termini) "end, boundary line," from PIE base *ter-, base of words meaning "peg, post, boundary, marker goal" (cf. Skt. tarati "passes over, crosses over," Hittite tarmaizzi "he limits," Gk. terma "boundary, end, limit"). In ancient Rome, Terminus was the name of the deity who presided over boundaries and landmarks, focus of the important Roman festival of Terminalia (held Feb. 23, the end of the old Roman year). Meaning "either end of a transportation line" is first recorded 1836.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Financial Dictionary

term

  1. The period during which a bond will remain outstanding.

  2. The length of time that a person is to serve in a usually official capacity. For example, a firm's directors may be elected for terms of three years each.


Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: term
Function: noun
often attrib 1 : a specified period of time term>
2 : the whole period for which an estate is granted; also : the estate itself
3 a : the period in which the powers of a court may be validly exercised b : SESSION
4 : a word, phrase, or provision of import esp. in determining the nature and scope of an agreement —usually used in pl. terms of the contract>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 2term
Function: adjective
: carried to, occurring at, or associated with full term term infant> <term births>

Main Entry: ter·mi·nus
Pronunciation: 't&r-m&-n&s
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural ter·mi·ni /-"nI,-"nE/ also ter·mi·nus·es
: an end or ending especially of a molecular chain, a chromosome, or a process of a nerve cell
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

term (tûrm)
n.

  1. A limited period of time.

  2. The end of a normal gestation period.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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