terce

American  

[turs] / tɜrs /

noun

Ecclesiastical.

1. a variant of tierce.

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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.

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Etymology

Origin of terce

a variant of _tierce

Example Sentences

Derived from the Liturgy of the Hours standardized by Benedictine monks starting in the 6th century on, it schedules specific sets of prayers at specific times of day — with names like lauds, prime, terce, etc.

From Washington Post

Since the 6th century the number and order of the hours have been fixed thus: matins, lauds, prime, terce, sext, none, vespers, compline.

From Project Gutenberg

Thou wilt have no terce from my earldom, wherein I am not yet feudally seised.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus Pliny, the younger, in writing to Tacitus, says, “I have received the past year some twenty-five thousand ses terces more than yourself—in the way of legacies—but don't be jealous!”

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg