tertian Hear it!

tertian Definition

ter·tian (tʉr′s̸hən)

adjective

occurring every other day so that it happens on the first and third days: usually applied to fever or a disease causing it, esp. any of certain forms of malaria

Etymology: ME tercian < L (febris) tertiana, tertian (fever) < tertius, third

noun

a tertian fever or disease

tertian Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • ague: The boy had the disease for three years, ending with tertian ague.
  • malaria: Plasmodium ovale causes a rare form of the disease which is similar to benign tertian malaria.