terce

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈtərs 

variants or less commonly tierce

ˈtirs 

, often Terce

: the third of the canonical hours

tierce

2 of 3

noun (2)

ˈtirs 

1

: a sequence of three playing cards of the same suit

2

obsolete : third sense 1

tierce

3 of 3

noun (3)

ˈtirs 

less common variant of terce

: the third of the canonical hours

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

Middle English terce, tierce, from Anglo-French, from feminine of terz, adjective, third, from Latin tertius — more at third entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for terce

• curse
• hearse
• purse
• terse
• vers
• verse
• worse
• adverse
• averse
• coerce
• disburse
• disperse