Definition

A term used to refer to the third of the canonical hours in Christian liturgy, or a variant of the word 'tierce'.

Example

The monks gathered for terce to pray and reflect during the day.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of the term terce?

No, I haven't. What does it mean?

It's actually the third hour in the Christian liturgy, which is kind of interesting.

That is interesting! I didn't know there were specific names for those hours.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Terce → It originates from Old French 'tierce' (meaning third), which in turn comes from Latin 'tertius' (meaning third). The word 'terce' refers to the third hour of the day in the Christian liturgical tradition.

Memory Tip

Think of 'third' ('tertius') to remember that 'terce' refers to the third hour of the day.

Visually Confused Words