terne

French

Pronunciation

• IPA: /tɛʁn/

Etymology 1

From Middle French, from Old French terne (“dull, dim”), from Frankish *tarni (“hidden, obscure”), from Proto-Germanic *darnijaz (“concealed, masked, veiled”), from Proto-Indo-European *dher(ǝ)-, *dhrē- (“to hold, hold tight, support”). Cognate with Old High German tarni (“hidden”), Old English dyrne, dierne (“hidden, secret, obscure, concealed”). More at dern.

Adjective

terne m (feminine terne, masculine plural ternes, feminine plural ternes)

1. dull, colourless, drab

Related terms

• ternir

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Latin ternas.

Noun

terne m (plural ternes)

1. (obsolete) trinity, gathering of three people
2. (backgammon, dice) double-three
3. (bingo) three in a row

Anagrams

• enter
• entre, entré
• rente, renté

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Latin

Adjective

terne

1. vocative masculine singular of ternus