Term

(14), n. [Fr. & Pr. terme, Pg. termo, Sp. termino, It. termine, termino, Lat. termen, terminis, and terminus, allied to Gr. τέρμα, τέρμων. Cf. TERMINUS.] 1. A bound or boundary; the extremity of any thing; that which limits its extent; a limit. Corruption is a reciprocal to generation, and they two are as nature’s two terms or boundaries. Bacon.

2. The time for which any thing lasts; any limited time; as, the term of five years; the term of life.
3. Especially in universities and colleges, the time during which instruction is regularly given to students, who are obliged by the statutes and laws of the institution to attend to the recitations, lectures, and other exercises.
4. (Geom.) A point, line, or superficies, that limits; as, a line is the term of a superficies, and a superficies is the term of a solid.
5. (Law.) (a.) The limitation of an estate; or rather, the whole time or duration of an estate, as for the term of a life or lives, or for a term of years. (b.) A space of time granted to a debtor for discharging his obligation. (c.) The time in which a court is held or open for the trial of causes. Bouvier.

☞ In England, there are four terms in the year: Hilary term, beginning on the 11th and ending on the 31st of January; Easter term, beginning on the 15th of April, and ending on the 8th of May; Trinity term, beginning on the 22d day of May, and ending on the 12th of June; Michaelmas term, beginning on the 2d and ending on the 25th day of November. The rest of the year is called vacation. In the United States, the terms to be observed by the tribunals of justice are prescribed by the statutes of Congress and of the several States. 6. (Logic.) The subject or predicate of a proposition; one of the three component parts of a syllogism, each one of which is used twice. The subject and predicate of a proposition are, after Aristotle, together called its terms or extremes. Sir W. Hamilton. ☞ The predicate of the conclusion is called the major term, because it is the most general, and the subject of the conclusion is called the minor term, because it is less general. These are called the extremes; and the third term, introduced as a common measure between them, is called the mean or middle term. Thus in the following syllogism,— Every vegetable is combustible; Every tree is a vegetable; Therefore every tree is combustible,— combustible is the predicate of the conclusion, or the major term; tree is the minor term; vegetable is the middle term. 7. Hence, a word or expression; specifically, one that denotes something peculiar to an art or a science; as, a technical term. In painting, the greatest beauties can not be always expressed for want of terms. Dryden. 8. (Arch.) A kind of pillar or column, adorned on the top with the figure of a head, as of a man, woman, or satyr;—called also terminal figure. The pillar part frequently tapers downward, or is narrowest at the base. Terms rudely carved were formerly used for landmarks or boundaries. Gault.

9. (Alg.) A member of a compound quantity; as, a in a + b; or ab in ab + cd.
10. (pl.) (Med.) The monthly uterine secretion of women.
11. (pl.) (Law.) In contracts, propositions stated or promises made, which, when assented to or accepted by another, settle the contract and bind the parties; conditions.
12. (Naut.) A piece of carved work placed under each end of the taffrail. Crabb.

Terms of a proportion (Math.), the four members of which it is composed.—To bring to terms, to make to submit or agree.—To make terms, to come to terms; to make an agreement; to agree. Syn.—Limit; bound; boundary; condition; stipulation; word; expression.—TERM, WORD. These are more frequently interchanged than almost any other vocables that occur in the language. There is, however, a difference between them which is worthy of being kept in mind. Word is generic; it denotes an utterance which represents or expresses our thoughts and feelings. Term originally denoted one of the two essential members of a proposition in logic, and hence signifies a word of specific meaning, and applicable to a definite class of objects. Thus, we speak of a scientific or technical term (not word), and of stating things in distinct terms. Thus we say, “the term minister literally denotes servant;” “an exact definition of terms is essential to clearness of thought;” “no term of reproach can sufficiently express my indignation;” “every art has its peculiar and distinctive terms,” &c. So also we say, “purity of style depends on the choice of words, and precision of style on a clear understanding of the terms used.” Term is chiefly applied to verbs, nouns, and adjectives, these being capable of standing as terms in a logical proposition; while propositions and conjunctions, which can never be so employed, are rarely spoken of as terms, but simply as words. It need hardly be added that term, in a looser sense, is used to a great extent interchangeably with word, for variety of expression.