ter·nate

[tur-nit, -neyt]
adjective
1.
consisting of three; arranged in threes.
2.
Botany.
a.
consisting of three leaflets, as a compound leaf.
b.
having leaves arranged in whorls of three, as a plant.

Origin:
1745–55; < Neo-Latin ternātus. See tern2, -ate1

ter·nate·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged

Ter·na·te

[ter-nah-te; English ter-nah-tee]
noun
an island in E Indonesia, W of Halmahera: important source of spices. 53 sq. mi. (137 sq. km).
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Ternate is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
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World English Dictionary
ternate (ˈtɜːnɪt, -neɪt) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  (esp of a leaf) consisting of three leaflets or other parts
2.  (esp of plants) having groups of three members
 
[C18: from New Latin ternātus, from Medieval Latin ternāre to increase threefold]
 
'ternately
 
adv

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Example sentences
Examination of a1 ternate processing steps served two useful purposes.
Elections the manner in which delegates and al ternate delegates are to be allocated.
Leaves simple and toothed, some rarely incised or ternate.
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