septenary

American  

[sep-tuh-ner-ee] / ˈsɛp təˌnɛr i /

adjective

1. of or relating to the number seven or forming a group of seven.

2. septennial.

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noun

septenaries plural

1. a group or set of seven.

2. a period of seven years.

3. the number seven.

4. Prosody. a line of seven feet.

septenary British  

/ ˈsɛptɪnərɪ /

adjective

1. of or relating to the number seven

2. forming a group of seven

3. another word for septennial

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noun

1. the number seven

2. a group of seven things

3. a period of seven years

4. prosody a line of seven metrical feet

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• septenaries
  plural

Etymology

Origin of septenary

First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin septēnārius “consisting of seven, containing seven,” equivalent to septēn(ī) “seven each” (derivative of sept(em) “seven” + -ēnī distributive suffix) + -ārius adjective suffix. See seven, -ary

Example Sentences

The second part stands for the fourth principle of the septenary man, as denoting the configuration of his knowledge or desires.*

From Five Years of Theosophy by Various

After the same manner a man is completed in the second septenary of years, and is capable of learning what is good and evil, and of discipline therein.

From Complete Works of Plutarch — Volume 3: Essays and Miscellanies by Plutarch

The sages applied the senary to the physical man; while the septenary was, for them, the symbol of his immortal spirit.

From Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry by Pike, Albert

Keep on dividing this number by 7 until there is nothing more left to divide, and the remainders will be found to be 11333311 which is 1,000,000 expressed in the septenary scale.

From Amusements in Mathematics by Dudeney, Henry Ernest

Here the septenary is introduced in the May-day song of Ralph, the London apprentice, doubtless because of its popularity for such unliterary verse.

From English Verse Specimens Illustrating its Principles and History by Alden, Raymond MacDonald