quartan

American  

[kwawr-tn] / ˈkwɔr tn /

adjective

1. (of a fever, ague, etc.) characterized by paroxysms that recur every fourth day, both days of consecutive occurrence being counted.

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noun

1. a quartan fever or ague.

2. quartan malaria.

quartan British  

/ ˈkwɔːtən /

adjective

1. (esp of a malarial fever) occurring every third day

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Etymology

Origin of quartan

1250–1300; Middle English quartaine < Old French < Latin ( febris ) quartāna quartan (fever), feminine of quartānus, equivalent to quart ( us ) fourth + -ānus -an

Example Sentences

The malaria was the quartan type and gave the Saint a chill every four days during the last twelve years of his life.

From Time Magazine Archive

The second is accompanied with a tumid viscus; and the last has generally, I believe, the quartan type, and is attended with some degree of arterial debility.

From Zoonomia, Vol. II Or, the Laws of Organic Life by Darwin, Erasmus

Being now freed from his quartan ague, and his strength being again restored, he preached with more vigour and vehemence than ever.

From The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 16 by Scott, Walter, Sir

These have great memories, are liable to quartan agues, and stronger sympathies of parts with each other.

From Zoonomia, Vol. I Or, the Laws of Organic Life by Darwin, Erasmus

Bishop Roger the same year, according to one chronicler, "by the kindness of death, escaped the quartan ague which had long afflicted him, and died broken-hearted."

From Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Salisbury A Description of its Fabric and a Brief History of the See of Sarum by White, Gleeson