terce
Noun: 1. A canonical hour of the Christian divine office: Terce is one of the seven fixed times of prayer in the liturgical day, traditionally observed at the third hour after sunrise, approximately 9 a.m. 2. The service or prayers recited at this hour: Terce can also refer to the specific set of prayers, psalms, and hymns that constitute the office for this time.
- As a time of day:
- The monks gathered in the chapel for Terce.
- The canonical hour of Terce follows Prime and precedes Sext.
- As the service itself:
- He opened his breviary to pray Terce.
- The chanting of Terce filled the quiet church.
- Historical/Liturgical Context: The term is primarily used in historical, religious, or liturgical contexts, especially concerning Catholic, Orthodox, and some Anglican traditions. It is less common in everyday modern English.
- Capitalization: The word is often capitalized when referring specifically to the liturgical office (e.g., "praying Terce"), but lower case is also acceptable (e.g., "the hour of terce").
- Tierce: An alternative, though less common, spelling for the liturgical hour. (Note: "Tierce" has several other distinct meanings, such as a position in fencing, a sequence of three cards, or a cask size, which are not the primary meaning of the canonical hour "terce".)
- Third Hour: A direct descriptive synonym.
- Mid-morning Prayer: A modern, descriptive term for the office.
The word "terce" (or "tierce") has specialized meanings in other fields, which are distinct from its primary liturgical meaning: * Fencing: A parrying position. * Card Games: A sequence of three consecutive cards. * Liquid Measure: A cask size, historically for wine. * Music: An interval of a third.
These meanings are homographs (same spelling, different meaning) and are typically context-specific. The definition provided here focuses on the liturgical meaning.
- the third canonical hour; about 9 a.m.