SINCE 1828
tertium quid
noun
ter·ti·um quid
| \ ˌtər-shē-əm-ˈkwid
, ˌtər-tē-\
, ˌtər-tē-\
Definition of tertium quid
1
: a middle course or an intermediate component
where there are two systems of law and two orders of courts, there must … be some tertium quid to deal with conflicts of law and jurisdiction— Ernest Baker
2
: a third party of ambiguous status
there was a man and his wife and a tertium quid— Rudyard Kipling
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on tertium quid
What made you want to look up tertium quid? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Word Puzzles
-
- Which answer pairs best with each of the following words? living, estate, club, music, road, mile
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
-
Word Puzzles
Challenge yourself with these word puzzles. Can you solve them all?
Take the quiz -
Where in the World? A Quiz
Do you know what languages these words come from?
Take the quiz -
Spell It
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
Take the quiz -
Syn City
Build a city of skyscrapers—one synonym at a time.
Play the game
Share tertium quid
Resources for tertium quid