How Do You Spell TERTIAN?

1. Tertian is an adjective that has several related definitions, primarily used to describe phenomena or patterns that occur every third day. This term stems from the Latin word "tertius," meaning "third."

   In medicine and pathology, "tertian" refers to a recurrent fever that occurs every other day, with symptoms abating on alternate days. Tertian fevers are characteristic of certain diseases, particularly malaria caused by the Plasmodium falciparum parasite. The tertian pattern arises due to the parasite's life cycle, which lasts approximately 48 hours, causing fever spikes on alternating days.

   In musical terminology, a "tertian" relationship describes a harmonic interval consisting of a third note above the lower note of a chord or interval. This term is often employed in the context of chord progressions and harmonies in music theory.

   Additionally, in geology and sedimentology, "tertian" may refer to a specific era or period from the Tertiary period, which lasted from around 65 to 2.6 million years ago. This geological era is characterized by significant climate fluctuations, the rise of mammals, and the decline of dinosaurs.

   Overall, "tertian" encompasses a range of meanings, primarily centered around the concept of recurrence every three days. From medical conditions to musical structures and geological eras, this term captures various aspects of cyclical patterns and interval relationships.

2. • Occurring every third day, as a fever.

   • A fever whose paroxysms occur every third day, or every forty-eight hours.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for TERTIAN

The word "tertian" has its roots in Latin. It is derived from the Latin word "tertianus", which itself comes from the Latin word "tertius", meaning "third".

In medieval medicine, the term "tertian" was commonly used to describe a type of intermittent fever that occurred every third day. This concept was prevalent during the time of ancient Greek physician Hippocrates and was later adopted into Latin medical literature.

Over time, the term "tertian" expanded beyond its original medical meaning and came to be used more broadly to refer to anything occurring every third day or having a three-day cycle. Today, it is primarily used to describe a type of fever associated with certain infectious diseases that recurs every third day.