| term | 1. That which limits the extent of anything; limit; extremity; bound; boundary. "Corruption is a reciprocal to generation, and they two are as nature's two terms, or boundaries." (Bacon) 2. The time for which anything lasts; any limited time; as, a term of five years; the term of life. 3. In universities, schools, etc, a definite continuous period during which instruction is regularly given to students; as, the school year is divided into three terms. 4. <geometry> A point, line, or superficies, that limits; as, a line is the term of a superficies, and a superficies is the term of a solid. 5. A fixed period of time; a prescribed duration; as: The limitation of an estate; or rather, the whole time for which an estate is granted, as for the term of a life or lives, or for a term of years. A space of time granted to a debtor for discharging his obligation. The time in which a court is held or is open for the trial of causes. In England, there were formerly four terms in the year, during which the superior courts were open: Hilary term, beginning on the 11th and ending on the 31st of January; Easter term, beginning on the 15th of April, and ending on the 8th of May; Trinity term, beginning on the 22d day of May, and ending on the 12th of June; Michaelmas term, beginning on the 2d and ending on the 25th day of November. The rest of the year was called vacation. But this division has been practically abolished by the Judicature Acts of 1873, 1875, which provide for the more convenient arrangement of the terms and vacations. In the United States, the terms to be observed by the tribunals of justice are prescribed by the statutes of Congress and of the several States. 6. <logic> The subject or the predicate of a proposition; one of the three component parts of a syllogism, each one of which is used twice. "The subject and predicate of a proposition are, after Aristotle, together called its terms or extremes." (Sir W. Hamilton) The predicate of the conclusion is called the major term, because it is the most general, and the subject of the conclusion is called the minor term, because it is less general. These are called the extermes; and the third term, introduced as a common measure between them, is called the mean or middle term. Thus in the following syllogism, Every vegetable is combustible; Every tree is a vegetable; Therefore every tree is combustible, - combustible, the predicate of the conclusion, is the major term; tree is the minor term; vegetable is the middle term. 7. A word or expression; specifically, one that has a precisely limited meaning in certain relations and uses, or is peculiar to a science, art, profession, or the like; as, a technical term. "Terms quaint of law." "In painting, the greatest beauties can not always be expressed for want of terms." (Dryden) 8. A quadrangular pillar, adorned on the top with the figure of a head, as of a man, woman, or satyr; called also terminal figure. See Terminus, 2 and 3. The pillar part frequently tapers downward, or is narrowest at the base. Terms rudely carved were formerly used for landmarks or boundaries. 9. <mathematics> A member of a compound quantity; as, a or b in a + b; ab or cd in ab - cd. 10. <medicine> The menses. 11. Propositions or promises, as in contracts, which, when assented to or accepted by another, settle the contract and bind the parties; conditions. 12. In Scotland, the time fixed for the payment of rents. Terms legal and conventional in Scotland correspond to quarter days in England and Ireland. There are two legal terms Whitsunday, May 15, and Martinmas, Nov. 11; and two conventional terms Candlemas, Feb. 2, and Lammas day, Aug. 1. 13. A piece of carved work placed under each end of the taffrail. In term, in set terms; in formal phrase. "I can not speak in term." (Chaucer) Term fee, the four members of which it is composed. To bring to terms, to compel (one) to agree, assent, or submit; to force (one) to come to terms. To make terms, to come to terms; to make an agreement: to agree. Synonym: Limit, bound, boundary, condition, stipulation, word, expression. Term, Word. These are more frequently interchanged than almost any other vocables that occur of the language. There is, however, a difference between them which is worthy of being kept in mind. Word is generic; it denotes an utterance which represents or expresses our thoughts and feelings. Term originally denoted one of the two essential members of a proposition in logic, and hence signifies a word of specific meaning, and applicable to a definite class of objects. Thus, we may speak of a scientific or a technical term, and of stating things in distinct terms. Thus we say, "the term minister literally denotes servant;" "an exact definition of terms is essential to clearness of thought;" "no term of reproach can sufficiently express my indignation;" "every art has its peculiar and distinctive terms," etc. So also we say, "purity of style depends on the choice of words, and precision of style on a clear understanding of the terms used." Term is chiefly applied to verbs, nouns, and adjectives, these being capable of standing as terms in a logical proposition; while prepositions and conjunctions, which can never be so employed, are rarely spoken of as terms, but simply as words. Origin: F. Terme, L. Termen, -inis, terminus, a boundary limit, end; akin to Gr, . See Thrum a tuft, and cf. Terminus, Determine, Exterminate. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| term infant | An infant with gestational age between 37 completed weeks (259 completed days) and 42 completed weeks (294 completed days). (05 Mar 2000) |
| parenteral nutrition, home | The at-home administering of nutrients for assimilation and utilization by a patient who cannot maintain adequate nutrition by enteral feeding alone. Nutrients are administered via a route other than the alimentary canal (e.g., intravenously, subcutaneously). (12 Dec 1998) |
| parenteral nutrition, home total | The at-home administering of nutrients for assimilation and utilization by a patient whose sole source of nutrients is via solutions administered intravenously, subcutaneously or by some other non-alimentary route. (12 Dec 1998) |
| haemodialysis, home | Long-term maintenance haemodialysis in the home. (12 Dec 1998) |
| home | 1. One's own dwelling place; the house in which one lives; especially, the house in which one lives with his family; the habitual abode of one's family; also, one's birthplace. "The disciples went away again to their own home." (John xx. 10) "Home is the sacred refuge of our life." (Dryden) "Home! home! sweet, sweet home! There's no place like home." (Payne) 2. One's native land; the place or country in which one dwells; the place where one's ancestors dwell or dwelt. "Our old home [England]" 3. The abiding place of the affections, especially of the domestic affections. "He entered in his house his home no more, For without hearts there is no home." (Byron) 4. The locality where a thing is usually found, or was first found, or where it is naturally abundant; habitat; seat; as, the home of the pine. "Her eyes are homes of silent prayer." (Tennyson) "Flandria, by plenty made the home of war." (Prior) 5. A place of refuge and rest; an asylum; as, a home for outcasts; a home for the blind; hence, especially, the grave; the final rest; also, the native and eternal dwelling place of the soul. "Man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets." (Eccl. Xii. 5) 6. The home base; he started for home. at home. At one's own house, or lodgings. In one's own town or country; as, peace abroad and at home. Prepared to receive callers. Home department, the department of executive administration, by which the internal affairs of a country are managed. To be at home on any subject, to be conversant or familiar with it. To feel at home, to be at one's ease. To make one's self at home, to conduct one's self with as much freedom as if at home. Synonym: Tenement, house, dwelling, abode, domicile. Origin: OE. Hom, ham, AS. Ham; akin to OS. Hem, D. & G. Heim, Sw. Hem, Dan. Hiem, Icel. Heimr abode, world, heima home, Goth. Haims village, Lith. Kemas, and perh. To Gr. Village, or to E. Hind a peasant; cf. Skr.kshma abode, place of rest, security, kshi to dwell. 1. Of or pertaining to one's dwelling or country; domestic; not foreign; as home manufactures; home comforts. 2. Close; personal; pointed; as, a home thrust. Home base, that part of a race course between the last curve and the winning post. Home thrust, a well directed or effective thrust; one that wounds in a vital part; hence, in controversy, a personal attack. 1. To one's home or country; as in the phrases, go home, come home, carry home. 2. Close; closely. "How home the charge reaches us, has been made out." (South) "They come home to men's business and bosoms." (Bacon) 3. To the place where it belongs; to the end of a course; to the full length; as, to drive a nail home; to ram a cartridge home. "Wear thy good rapier bare and put it home." (Shak) Home is often used in the formation of compound words, many of which need no special definition; as, home-brewed, home-built, home-grown, etc. To bring home. See Bring. To come home. To touch or affect personally. See Come. To haul the clews close to the sheave hole. <zoology> See Homelyn. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| home childbirth | Childbirth taking place in the home. (12 Dec 1998) |
| home infusion therapy | Use of any infusion therapy on an ambulatory, outpatient, or other non-institutionalised basis. (12 Dec 1998) |
| home nursing | Nursing care given to an individual in the home. The care may be provided by a family member or a friend. Home nursing as care by a non-professional is differentiated from home care services provided by professionals: visiting nurse, home health agencies, hospital, or other organised community group. (12 Dec 1998) |
| home oxygen therapy | A form of oxygen that is typically delivered via nasal cannula. Commonly provided to those with severe heart or lung disease. See: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. (27 Sep 1997) |
| Home's lobe | The enlarged middle lobe of the prostate gland. (05 Mar 2000) |
| nursing home | A convalescent home or private facility for the care of individuals who do not require hospitalization and who cannot be cared for at home. (05 Mar 2000) |
| HIV long-terminal repeat | Regulatory sequences important for viral replication that are located on each end of the HIV genome. The ltr includes the HIV enhancer, promoter, and other sequences. Specific regions in the ltr include the negative regulatory element (nre), nf-kappa b binding sites , sp1 binding sites, tata box, and trans-acting responsive element (tar). The binding of both cellular and viral proteins to these regions regulates HIV transcription. (12 Dec 1998) |
| segment long spacing | <biochemistry> Abnormal packing pattern of collagen molecules formed if ATP is added to acidic collagen solutions, in which lateral aggregates of molecules are produced. Each aggregate is 300 nm long and the molecules are all in register. If segment long spacing aggregates are overlapped with a quarter stagger, the 67 nm banding pattern of normal fibrils is reconstituted. Acronym: SLS (18 Nov 1997) |
| long | 1. Drawn out in a line, or in the direction of length; protracted; extended; as, a long line; opposed to short, and distinguished from broad or wide. 2. Drawn out or extended in time; continued through a considerable tine, or to a great length; as, a long series of events; a long debate; a long drama; a long history; a long book. 3. Slow in passing; causing weariness by length or duration; lingering; as, long hours of watching. 4. Occurring or coming after an extended interval; distant in time; far away. "The we may us reserve both fresh and strong Against the tournament, which is not long." (Spenser) 5. Extended to any specified measure; of a specified length; as, a span long; a yard long; a mile long, that is, extended to the measure of a mile, etc. 6. Far-reaching; extensive. " Long views." 7. Prolonged, or relatively more prolonged, in utterance; said of vowels and syllables. See Short, 13, and Guide to Pronunciation, 22. Long is used as a prefix in a large number of compound adjectives which are mostly of obvious meaning; as, long-armed, long-beaked, long-haired, long-horned, long-necked, long-sleeved, long-tailed, long- worded, etc. In the long run, in the whole course of things taken together; in the ultimate result; eventually. Long clam, to hold stock for a rise in price, or to have a contract under which one can demand stock on or before a certain day at a stipulated price; opposed to short in such phrases as, to be short of stock, to sell short, etc. See Short. To have a long head, to have a farseeing or sagacious mind. Origin: AS. Long, lang; akin to OS, OFries, D, & G. Lang, Icel. Langr, Sw. Lang, Dan. Lang, Goth. Laggs, L.longus. Cf. Length, Ling a fish, Linger, Lunge, Purloin. 1. To a great extent in apace; as, a long drawn out line. 2. To a great extent in time; during a long time. "They that tarry long at the wine." (Prov. Xxiii. 30) "When the trumpet soundeth long." (Ex. Xix. 13) 3. at a point of duration far distant, either prior or posterior; as, not long before; not long after; long before the foundation of Rome; long after the Conquest. 4. Through the whole extent or duration. "The bird of dawning singeth all night long." (Shak) 5. Through an extent of time, more or less; only in question; as, how long will you be gone? Origin: AS. Lance. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |