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terce

American  
[turs] / tɜrs /

noun

Ecclesiastical.
  1. a variant of tierce.


terce British  
/ tɜːs /

noun

  1. RC Church the third of the seven canonical hours of the divine office, originally fixed at the third hour of the day, about 9 a.m.

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of terce

a variant of tierce

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

We whitewashed no more than the fourth part of the roof before the church bells rang terce, the hour for our lessons to begin.

From "The Shakespeare Stealer" by Gary L. Blackwood

Then we were in nine degrees and a terce, rekoning our selues 30 leagues of the sholes of the riuer called Rio Grande, being Westsouthwest off them, the which sholes be 30 leagues long.

From The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation — Volume 11 by Hakluyt, Richard

The middle between them both is 50 degrees and a terce in latitude.

From Great Epochs in American History, Volume I. Voyages Of Discovery And Early Explorations: 1000 A.D.-1682 by Halsey, Francis W. (Francis Whiting)

Then came the "Little Hours," prime at 6 o'clock, terce at 9, sext at noon, and nones at 3.

From The Church Handy Dictionary by Anonymous

When it is the hour of terce, I rise from Mass, and you would see a dead woman go to St. Peter's; and I enter anew to labour in the ship of Holy Church.

From Letters of Catherine Benincasa by Catherine, of Siena, Saint

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