tertian

• Adjectif désignant une fièvre ou un symptôme qui revient tous les trois jours, notamment dans le contexte de la fièvre tierce (paludisme). Il est surtout employé dans un cadre médical ou historique, et peut aussi signifier de façon plus générale ce qui se produit ou se répète par intervalles de trois jours.

An obsolete adjective describing a fever or symptom that recurs every third day, historically used in medical contexts.

1. Relating to recurring symptomsC2formalmedical

   Describing symptoms, especially malarial fever, that occur every other day.

   Tierce (fièvre tierce)

   • The patient presented with a tertian fever pattern.
   • Tertian malaria is characterized by paroxysms every 48 hours.
   • The doctor noted the tertian nature of the chills and fever.

2. Relating to a tonal systemC2formal

   Of or relating to a musical system based on major thirds.

   Tertian (système musical)

   • The composer explored tertian harmonies in his latest work.
   • Tertian chords are built by stacking major thirds.
   • This piece uses a tertian tonal system, creating a unique sound.