quaternate

[kwot-er-neyt, kwuh-tur-nit]

adjective

1. arranged in or consisting of four parts, as the leaves of certain plants.

Word History and Origins

Origin of quaternate¹

1745–55; < Latin quatern ( ī ) four at a time + -ate ¹

Example Sentences

They perform the same functions and bear spicules, sometimes in pairs, sometimes quaternate, each spicule being surmounted by a spore.

From Project Gutenberg

With this introduction we may state that the technical characters of the family are thus expressed:— Hymenium free, mostly naked, or, if enclosed at first, soon exposed; spores naked, mostly quaternate, on distinct spicules = Hymenomycetes.

From Project Gutenberg

A species of cinquefoil, Potentilla Tormentilla, which is distinguished by its quaternate flowers, occurs in Holland in two distinct types, which have proved constant in my cultural experiments.

From Project Gutenberg

The European Venus' looking-glass was observed in my garden to produce some quaternate and some quinate flowers on the same specimens.

From Project Gutenberg

For brevity's sake all these cleft and ternate, double cleft and quaternate cotyledons and even the higher grades are combined under one common name and indicated as tricotyls.

From Project Gutenberg