Advertisement

Advertisement

terminus a quo

[ ter-mi-noos ah kwoh; English tur-muh-nuhs ey kwoh ]

noun

, Latin.
  1. the end from which; beginning; starting point; earliest limiting point.


terminus a quo

/ ˈtɜːmɪˌnʊs ɑː ˈkwəʊ /

noun

  1. the starting point; beginning
“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
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of terminus a quo1

literally: the end from which
Discover More

Example Sentences

When he arrived at Le Mans in 1101, his terminus a quo was probably Lausanne.

Sensations are the stable rock, the terminus a quo and the terminus ad quem of thought.

In creation there is no real and positive terminus a quo; in annihilation there is no real and positive terminus ad quem; these therefore are not changes in the proper sense of the term.

Every tendency or movement presupposes a terminus a quo, from which it starts, and a terminus ad quem, to which it tends.

Another explanation, which we believe is supported by Mr. Eustace Miles, scouts the notion of an ancient origin of the phrase and fixes the terminus a quo by the recent introduction of vegetarian diet.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement