terce

noun

ˈtərs

variants or less commonly tierce

ˈtirs

, often Terce

: the third of the canonical hours

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, third, terce — more at tierce entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of terce was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Browse Nearby Words

terbutaline

terce

Terceira

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Terce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terce. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.

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