tierce: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Technical, Historical, Ecclesiastical
Quick answer
What does “tierce” mean?
A third or a grouping of three.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A third or a grouping of three.
In specific contexts, it can refer to a sequence of three cards in card games (piquet), a fencing position, a cask size, a time of day in the canonical hours (third hour after sunrise), or a musical interval (third).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage, as the term is equally rare and specialised in both varieties. British texts might have slightly more historical/ecclesiastical usage.
Connotations
Connotes expertise, antiquity, or specificity within a given field.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. More likely encountered in historical novels, specialised non-fiction, or classical music theory.
Grammar
How to Use “tierce” in a Sentence
a tierce of [plural noun]in tierce[verb] a tierceVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tierce” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- In piquet, holding a tierce in spades is a strong advantage.
- The monk prayed at tierce, the third canonical hour.
- The wine was shipped in a large tierce.
American English
- His parry was perfectly executed in tierce.
- The interval between C and E is a major tierce.
- A tierce of aces won him the hand.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical studies, musicology, fencing theory, and theology.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Used in fencing (position), card games (piquet), music (interval), and historical measurements (cask size).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tierce”
- Mispronouncing it as /taɪərs/ (like 'tire').
- Using it in general language instead of 'third'.
- Confusing its meaning across different specialist fields.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is extremely rare and confined to specific technical, historical, or artistic fields.
Probably in classical fencing terminology to refer to a specific defensive position, or in music theory as an archaic/alternative term for a 'third' interval.
It comes from the Old French word for 'third' (tierce), which itself derives from Latin 'tertius'. All its meanings involve the concept of a third or a set of three.
No, in modern English it is exclusively a noun. Historically, it could be used adjectivally (e.g., 'tierce bell') but this is now obsolete.
A third or a grouping of three.
Tierce is usually formal, technical, historical, ecclesiastical in register.
Tierce: in British English it is pronounced /tɪəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /tɪrs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'TIER' + 'CE' (sounds like 'third'). A TIER of a cake is one layer; a TIERCE is one of three equal parts.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CONTAINER FOR A SPECIFIC QUANTITY (three); A POSITION IN A SEQUENCE (third).
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts would 'tierce' LEAST likely be used?