tertium quid

American  

[tur-shee-uhm kwid, ter-ti-oom kwid] / ˈtɜr ʃi əm ˈkwɪd, ˈtɛr tɪˌʊm ˈkwɪd /

noun

1. something related in some way to two things, but distinct from both; something intermediate between two things.

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tertium quid British  

/ ˈtɜːtɪəm ˈkwɪd /

noun

1. an unknown or indefinite thing related in some way to two known or definite things, but distinct from both

   there is either right or wrong, with no tertium quid

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Etymology

Origin of tertium quid

1715–25; < Latin, translation of Greek tríton·ti some third thing

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tertium quid

In this case, this blog is a tertium quid to my other two blogs—it’s related to them but something different altogether.

From Forbes ● Jul. 9, 2012

Webb, the tertium quid, is more unlike Chesterton than seems possible.

From Time Magazine Archive

Ironists recalled that for many years Ferdinand and Marie were estranged by a tertium quid, Helene Vacarescu.

From Time Magazine Archive

One party stood by the Harkeys, and another took Sarah's part, while the tertium quid said it was "all darn foolishness."

From Other Main-Travelled Roads by Hamlin Garland

Until now we have employed the word in the very vague sense of a tertium quid interposed between the object and ourselves.

From The Mind and the Brain Being the Authorised Translation of L'Âme et le Corps by Alfred Binet

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