which something runs its course, or lasts or is 
inli'iidrd to lust: as, ho was engaged fora /<// 
of five years; hi.s l< rm <>( ollirc h.i- expired. 
This laily, that was left at home, 
llnth wonder that the king ne come 
Houni, for hit was a longu term*. 
Chaucer, Death of Blanche, 1. 79. 
A spirit, 
To whom, for ccrtaine tearme of ycares, t' inherit 
His i ;t-' :uitl pleasure with itboiindant wealth, 
lie hath made sale of his soulcs dearest health. 
Timet' Whistle (E. E. T. 8.), p. 63. 
When a race lias lived its term it comeB no more again. 
/ M '<", Conduct of Life. 
Specifically (a) In universities, colleges, and schools, one 
of certain stated periods during which instruction is reg- 
ularly given to students or pupils. At the University of 
Cambridge, England, there are three terms in the univer- 
sity year namely, Michaelmas or October term, Lent or 
J anuary tenn, and Easter or midsummer term. At the Uni- 
versity of Oxford there are four terms namely, Michael- 
mas, Hilary, Easter, and Trinity. In American universi- 
ties and colleges there are usually three terms, beginning 
in September, January, and April, and called first, second, 
and third, or fall, winter, and spring terms respectively. 
(6) In law, the period during which a court of justice may 
hold its sessions from day to day for the trial of causes ; 
a part of the year in which the justices of the supe- 
rior common-law courts of general jurisdiction hold ses- 
sions of the courU, as distinguished from vacations, during 
which, on religious and business grounds, attendance at 
the courts cannot be required from parties or witnesses. 
The importance of the distinction between term time and 
vacation, In both American and English law, Is in the fact 
that for the just protection of the public a court can only 
exist and exercise its powers within the time as well as at 
the place prescribed by law ; and, while many ministerial 
acts, such as the bringing of actions, and the course of 
pleading, the entry of judgment, the issue of process, etc., 
can be carried on In the clerk's office upon any secular day, 
actual sessions of the court itself can only be held during 
term time. In England, before the present judicature act, 
the law terms were four in number namely, Hilary term 
(compare Uilaryma\ beginning on the llth and ending 
on the 31st of January ; Easter term, from about the 15th 
of April to the 8th of May ; Trinity term, from the 22d of 
May to the 1 "t h of June ; and Michaelmas term, from the 
2d to the 25th of November. These have now been super- 
seded as terms for the administration of justice by " sit- 
tings," bearing similar names. For the High Court of Jus- 
tice in London and Middlesex the Hilary sittings extend 
from the llth of January to the Wednesday before Easter, 
the Easter sittings from the Tuesday after Easter week to 
the Friday before Whitsunday, the Trinity sittings from 
the Tuesday after Whltsun week to the 8th of August, and 
the Michaelmas sittings from the 2d of November to the 
21st of December. 
In terme hadde he caas and domes alle 
That from the tyme of King William were falle. 
Chaucer, Gen. Pro!, to 0. T., 1. 328. 
There are not Ttrmet in Paris as in London, but one 
Terme only, that continueth the whole yeare. 
Coryat, Crudities, I. 40, sig. D. 
Doll. When begins the term? 
Chart. Why? hast any suits to be tried at Westminster? 
Dekker and Webtter, Northward Ho, L 2. 
I went to the Temple, it being Michaelmas Teanne. 
Evelyn, Diary, Oct 15, 1640. 
The law terms were formerly the great times of resort to 
London, not only for business, but pleasure. . . . Oreene 
calls one of his pamphlets . . . "A Peale of New Villa- 
nies rung out, being Muslcall to all Gentlemen, Lawyers, 
Farmers, and all sorts of People that come up to the 
Tntriin-." Nara. 
(c) An estate or interest in land to be enjoyed for a fixed 
period: called more fully tenn of yean, term /or yean. 
(<t) The period of time for which such an estate is held. 
() In Scot* law, a certain time fixed by authority of a 
court within which a party is allowed to establish by evi- 
dence his averment. 
7. An appointed or set time. [Obsolete ex- 
cept in specific uses below.] 
Yif that ye the trrme rekne wolde, 
As I or other trewe lovers sholde, 
I pleyne not, God wot, beforu my day. 
Chaucer, Good Women, 1. 2510. 
Merlin seide that the tennc drough faste on that it 
sholde be do. Merlin (E. E. T. S.), ill. 563. 
Specifically (o) A day on which rent or interest is pay- 
able. In England and Ireland there are four days in the 
year which are called terms, or more commonly quarter- 
days, and which are appointed for the settling of rents 
namely, Lady day, March 25th ; Midsummer, June 24th ; 
Michaelmas day, September 29th ; and Christmas, Decem- 
ber 2f>th. The terms in Scotland corresponding to these 
are Candlemas, February 2d ; Whitsunday, May 16th; Lam- 
mas, August 1st; and Martinmas, November llth. In Scot- 
land houses are let from May 28th for a year or a period 
of years. The legal terms in Scotland for the payment of 
rent or Interest are Whitsunday, May 16th, and Martin- 
mas, November llth. and these days are most commonly 
known as term. (6) The day, occurring half-yearly, on 
which farm and domestic servant* in Great Britain receive 
their wages or enter upon a new period of service. 
8. The menstrual period of women. 
In times past ... no young man married before he 
slew an cneniio, nor the woman before she had her termes. 
which time was therefore festiuall. 
Pimhat. Pilgrimage, p. 84". 
9. la math.: (a) The antecedent or consequent 
of a ratio. 
Proportionality consisteth at the least in three term. 
Euclid, Elements, tr. by Rudd (1651), bk. v., def. 9. (It Is 
[properly def. 8.) 
. t. *'_ 
6241 
(6) In algebra, a part of an expression joined to 
the rest by the sign of addition, or by that of 
subtraction considered as adding a negative 
quantity. Thus, in the expression z -f * y + z(u + t>), 
the first term is x" + , the second Is y, and the third Is 
z (u -f o), equivalent to the sum of two terms zu and zt>. 
10. In loijic, a name, especially the subject or 
predicate of a proposition; also, a name con- 
nected with another name by a relation ; a cor- 
relative. The word term, In Its Latin form terminus, was 
used by Boethius to translate Aristotle's opos, probably 
borrowed by him from the nomenclature of mathematical 
proportions. Aristotle says : " I call a term that Into which 
a proposition is resolved, as the predicate or that of which 
it is predicated." The implication is that a proposition is 
composed of two terms ; but this Is Incorrect. For, on the 
one hand, no complex of terms can make a proposition ; 
for a term expresses a mere abstract conception, while a 
proposition expresses the compulsion of a reality, and so 
Is true or false ; and, on the other hand, a proposition need 
contain but one term, as (the fool has said in his heart! 
' ' There Is no God " ; and Indeed the abstract or conceptual 
part of any proposition may be regarded as a single com- 
plex term, as when we express ">'o man IB mortal" in the 
form "Anything whatever IB either-non-man-or-mortal." 
Hence 11. A word or phrase expressive of a 
definite conception, as distinguished from a 
mere particle or syncategorematic word; a 
word or phrase particularly definite and expli- 
cit; especially, a word or phrase used in arecog- 
nized and definite meaning in some branch of 
Science. Thus, a contradiction In terms Is an explicit 
contradiction ; to express one's opinion in set terms IB to 
state It explicitly and directly. 
They mowe wel chlteren, as doon thise jayes, 
And in her termes sette her lust and peyne, 
But to her purpos shul they never atteyne. 
Chaucer, Canon's Yeoman's Tale, I. 387. 
A fool 
Who . . . rall'd on Lady Fortune in good terms, 
In good set tenn*; and yet a motley foul. 
Shak., As you Like It, 11. 7. 16. 
The more general tenn is always the name of a less com- 
plex idea, Locke, Human Understanding, III. vi. 32. 
When common words are appropriated as technical 
terms, this must be done so that they are not ambiguous 
in their application. 
Whewell, Phllos. Inductive Sciences (ed. 1840), L Ixx. 
12. />/. Propositions stated and offered for 
acceptance; conditions; stipulations: as, the 
terms of a treaty ; hence, sometimes, conditions 
as regards price, rates, or charge : as, board 
and lodging on reasonable terms; on one's own 
terms ; lowest terms offered. 
If we can make our peace 
I 'pun such large terms and so absolute. 
Shot., 2 Hen. IV., IT. 1. 186. 
13. ]>l. Relative position; relation; footing: 
with on or upon : as, to be on good or bad terms 
with ft person. 
Tls not well 
That you and I should meet upon such terms 
As now we meet Shak., 1 Hen. IV., v. 1. 10. 
I thought you two had been upon very good termt. 
B. Jonton, Eplcoene, L 1. 
14. pi. State; situation; circumstances; con- 
ditions. 
The tennt of our estate may not endure 
Hazard so near us. Shak., Hamlet, Hi. 3. 6. 
In the Relation of Hnmons Death, his Love is related 
too. and that with all the Life and Pathos imaginable. 
But the Description is within the Terms of Honour. 
J. Collier, Short View (ed. 169S), p. 29. 
[Shakspere uses terms often in a loose, periphrastical way : 
as, "To keep the termsot my honour precise," M. W. of w., 
U. 2. 22 (that is, all that concerns my honor); "In tennt 
of choice I am not solely led by nice direction of a maiden's 
eye " (that is, with respect to the choice). In other cases 
it is used in the sense of 'point,' 'particular feature,' 'pe- 
culiarity': as, "Ml terms of pity, 1 ' All's Well, 11 3. 178.] 
16. In astral., a part of a zodiacal sign in which 
a planet is slightly dignified ; an essential 
dignity Absolute term. See absolute. Abstract 
term, the name of a character or kind of fact, not of a 
thing. Thus, uniform acceleration is an abstract term, 
but material particle IB a concrete term. Act term. See 
act. Ampllate term, a term whose denotation is ex- 
tended beyond what ordinarily attaches to It Amplla- 
tlve term, a term which extends the denotation of an- 
other. Thus, in the sentence " No man works miracles, 
nor ever did," the last word did Is Bald to be an amplia- 
tine term, because it extends the denotation of man to 
the men who formerly lived. Attendant terms, long 
leases or mortgages held by the owner or his trustee as a 
distinct and additional title, to make his estate more se- 
cure. Jtobinson. Categorematic or categoreumatlc 
term, a tenn expressive of a definite conception. Clr- 
cumductlon of the term. See drcumductim. Com- 
mon term, a general name ; a name applicable to what- 
ever there may or might be having certain general char- 
acters. Complex term. See complex notion, under com- 
plex. Concrete term, the name of a thing : opposed to 
abstract tenn (which see, above). Conflictive, conso- 
nant, correlative terms. See the adjectives. Con- 
tradiction In terms. See contradiction, and def. 11. 
Definite term. See definite. Denominative term, a 
term consisting of a word plainly derived from another 
word. Discrete term. See discrete, \. Easter term. 
See def. 6 (a) and (ft). Equity term. See equity, Ex- 
ponible term, a tenn which must not be interpreted ac- 
cording to the general principles of language, hut which 
term 
bears a peculiar meaning not U> he inferred from its for- 
mation. Such, for example, arc must f the phrases of the 
differential calculus, according to the theory of limits. 
Extreme term of a syllogism, one of (he terms which 
appears in the conclusion. Familiar term, a word or 
phrase which bears or has borne a scientifically i 
meaning, but which has been caught up by those who dr. 
not think with precision. Such arr dynamic, ntyctite, 
sanction, supply and demand, valuet (in painting), aiid 
so on. Finite term. Heejinite. Fixed term, 
haying a single well-settled meaning, a.i binmnial theorem, 
principle of excluded middle, /mjcliical rrtearch, life-insur- 
ance. General term, a term of court lirM by UK full 
bench, or a sufficient number of judges to represent the 
full bench, for the purposes chiefly of appellate jurisdic- 
tion. 1C. aj -Hilary term. See def. 8 (a) and (iii. In- 
definite term, .see indefinite. Intermediate terms. 
See intennediate. In terms, In precise definite words 
or phraseology ; In set terms ; In a way or by means of 
expressions that cannot be misunderstood ; specifically ; 
definitely. See def. 11. 
Passing ouer Tigris, (he] disturl>ed the Rotnane Frouince 
of Mesopotamia, deuouring in hope, and threatnlng in 
teanne*, all those Asian Proulncea. 
I'urchas, Pilgrimage, p. 356. 
In terms Of. (a) In the language or phraseology peculiar 
to (something else). (6) In modes of : a common misuse 
as applied to modes of thought (properly, a term la op- 
posed to an idea). 
Most persons, on being asked In what sort of terras they 
imagine words, will say "in termtof hearing." 
W. James, Prin. of Psychology, II. 63. 
Major term, that extreme of a syllogism which appears 
as the predicate of the conclusion. See ryllmjinH.Ki- 
chaelmas term. See def. 6 (a) and (M Middle term, 
that term of a syllogism which occurs in both premises, 
but not In the conclusion. Minor term, that extreme 
of a syllogism which appears as the subject of the conclu- 
sion. See syllogism Negative term, a term which de- 
termines its object by means of exclusions. Thus, imme- 
diate consciousness is a negative term, since it Indicates 
the most simple and direct mode of thought by excluding 
that which Is circuitous or sophisticated. Outstanding 
term, in the English law of real property, a term of yean, 
commonly one thousand or less, given, usually to trustees 
of a settlement, to secure, by way of lien or charge, Income 
or other payments to one or more of the family to whom 
the settler of the trust desired to secure them, as para- 
mount to his transfer of the estate subject thereto to a 
particular heir or other person. The effect of giving such 
a term in trust was, not to give the trustees possession 
immediate, but to give them the right to take the rents 
and profits, or to mortgage, etc., in case the principal 
grantee under the settlement failed to keep up the period- 
ical payments required. In the course of years, after all 
the payments required had been made, and the object of 
the term was accomplished, if it did not by the provisions 
of the deed then cease. It continued to be an outstanding 
term, although "satisfied," until by recent legislation the 
cessation of satisfied terms was provided for. Mean- 
while, it was usual for purchasers of land subject to an 
outstanding term to take an assignment of the term in 
such a way as not to merge It with the fee, but it, being 
thereafter "attendant upon the Inheritance," was an ad- 
ditional security for the title as against questions which 
might have arisen since the making of the settlement- 
Partial term, in the logical nomenclature of De Morgan, 
an undistributed term, or term not entirely excluded from 
any sphere by the proposition in which it occurs : opposed 
to total or distributed term. Both terms are partial In 
the propositions "Some X Is Y " and " Everything IB either 
an X or a Y." Both terms are total in the propositions 
"No X Is Y " and "Something Is neither X nor Y." The 
term X is partial and Y total in the propositions "Every 
Y Is an X 1 ' and "Some X is not Y. K Positive term 
privative connotatlve term, reciprocal terms, re- 
lative term, singular term. See positive, privative, etc. 
Simple term, a term not compounded of other terms by 
logical addition and multiplication. Speaking terms. 
See speak, v. t. Special term, a term of court Tield by a 
single judge : commonly used in reference to a court held 
without a Jury. Term Of art, a word or phrase having a 
special signification in a certain branch of knowledge. 
Term of a substitution. See substitution. Term of 
relation, a name or thing to which some other name or 
thing is considered as relative ; an object of relation. Thus, 
in the expression mother of a boy, toy Is the term of the 
relation of which mother is the subject Term of re- 
semblance*. See resemblance. Term Of similitude*. 
Same as term of resemblance. Tenn of thought, that 
which is the conclusion or upshot of reflection or deliber- 
ation. Terms In gross, terms vested in trustees for the 
use of persons not entitled to the freehold or inheritance. 
They pass to the personal representatives of the cestul que 
trust, are alienable, and are subject to debts, in the main, 
like legal estates. Minor. Terms Of sale. Seew&l. 
The general term of a series. See series. Third 
term, the minor term of a syllogism. So called owing to 
Aristotle's usual form of statement To bring to terms, 
to reduce to submission or to conditions. 
He to no Termt can bring 
One Twirl of that reluctant Thing. 
Conyreve, An Impossible Thing. 
To come to terms, to agree ; come to an agreement ; 
alao, to yield ; submit - To eat one's terms. See eat- 
To keep a term, to give attendance during a term of 
study. See the second quotation. 
He will get enough there to enable him to keep his 
terms at the University. 
Bp. W. Lloyd, In Ellis's Lit Letters, p. 188. 
A student, in order to keep a term, must dine in the hall 
of his inn three nights, if he be a member of any of the 
Universities of Oxford. Cambridge, Durham, London, 
Dublin, Queen's (Belfast), St. Andrew's, Aberdeen, Glas- 
gow, or Edinburgh. In all other cases he must dine six 
nights, being present In both Instances at the grace be- 
fore dinner, during the whole of dinner, and untlr the 
concluding grace shall have been said. Slater. 
To keep Hilary termt, to lie joyful or merry. 
