Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

terminus ad quem

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.17 in modern English

Syllables: ter-mi-nus ad quem
IPA

28

Scrabble Score

14

Letters

3

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The latest possible date of a nonpunctual event (period, era, etc.)

noun

An objective or goal.

Example Sentences

"What I do regret is the non-intelligent and almost superstitious way in which baptism is still regarded by many of our people. They think of it too much as a mere terminus ad quem which should call forth their energies up till the time it is obtained, and then leaves them waiting to see what sort of substantial worldly good may afterwards come along."

Etymology

From Latin terminus (“limit”) + ad (“up to”) + quem (“which”), the accusative of quī (“what”). Literally meaning “the limit up until which”.

Origin

Source language: Latin

Word Breakdown

Root: terminus

Inflected Forms

termini ad quos (plural)

Phrases

terminus ante quem terminus a quo terminus post quem

Frequently Paired Words

terminus ante quem terminus a quo terminus post quem

Synonyms

terminal point limit

Questions

What does terminus ad quem mean?: The latest possible date of a nonpunctual event (period, era, etc.)
Where does terminus ad quem come from?: It is traced to Latin.

How to pronounce terminus ad quem

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