tierce

• Nom désignant le troisième des heures canoniques de la liturgie divine, célébré vers neuf heures du matin, ou terme désignant le nombre trois ou l'une des trois parties égales d'un tout.

A noun referring to the third canonical hour of the Divine Office, observed around 9 a.m., or a term for the number three or one of three equal parts.

1. C2formal

   The third of the canonical hours in the Christian liturgical day, traditionally observed around 9 a.m.

   tierce (heure canoniale)

   • The monks gathered for the service of tierce.
   • Tierce is recited after Prime and before Sext.
   • The bell rang to announce the hour of tierce.

   Synonymesterce

2. Number threeC1formal

   The cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one; three.

   Trois (nombre cardinal)

   • In some old texts, tierce is used to denote the number three.
   • The dice showed a tierce, meaning three pips.
   • He counted to tierce before starting the race.

3. One thirdC1formal

   One of three equal parts of a divisible whole; a third.

   tierce (un tiers)

   • She inherited a tierce of the estate.
   • The recipe calls for a tierce of a cup of sugar.
   • They divided the land into three tierces.

   Synonymesone-thirdthird