quaternary

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See also: Quaternary

English[edit]

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English numbers (edit)
 ←  3 4 5  → [a], [b]
    Cardinal: four
    Ordinal: fourth
    Latinate ordinal: quartary, quaternary
    Reverse order ordinal: fourth to last, fourth from last, last but three
    Latinate reverse order ordinal: preantepenultimate
    Adverbial: four times
    Multiplier: fourfold
    Latinate multiplier: quadruple
    Distributive: quadruply
    Group collective: foursome
    Multipart collective: quadruplet
    Greek or Latinate collective: tetrad
    Greek collective prefix: tetra-, tessera-
    Latinate collective prefix: quadri-
    Fractional: quarter, fourth
    Latinate fractional prefix: quadrant-
    Elemental: quadruplet
    Greek prefix: tetarto-
    Number of musicians: quartet
    Number of years: quadrennium, olympiad

Etymology[edit]

Derived from Latin quaternārius (containing or consisting of four), from quaternī (four each”, “four at a time) + -ārius (whence the English suffix -ary); compare the French quaternaire.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • (UK) IPA(key): /kwəˈtɜː.nə.ɹi/, (rare) /ˈkwɔːt.ən.(ə.)ɹi/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈkwɑ.tɚˌnɛɹ.i/, IPA(key): /ˈkwɑ.tɚˌnɛə.ɹi/
    • (file)
  • (file)

Adjective[edit]

quaternary (not comparable)

  1. Of fourth rank or order.
    the quaternary stress in a pronounced word
  2. Of a mathematical expression containing e.g. x4.
  3. Relating to or in number base four.
  4. (organic chemistry) quaternary ammonium.
  5. (inorganic chemistry) Composed of four elements.

Usage notes[edit]

The fourth ordinal from Latin that might etymologically follow tertiary is quartary, but quaternary (from the distributive number instead) is more usual in English.

Synonyms[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

Related terms[edit]

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See also[edit]

Noun[edit]

quaternary (plural quaternaries)

  1. (chemistry) A quaternary compound.
  2. (geology) The Quaternary period or the system of deposits laid down during it.