tercet

noun

ter·cet ˈtər-sət

: a unit or group of three lines of verse:

: one of the 3-line stanzas in terza rima

: one of the two groups of three lines forming the sestet in an Italian sonnet

Etymology

Italian terzetto, from diminutive of terzo third, from Latin tertius — more at third entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1598, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of tercet was circa 1598

See more words from the same year

Style

“Tercet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tercet. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

tercet

noun

ter·cet ˈtər-sət

: a unit or group of three lines of verse

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