Tertiary \Ter"ti*a*ry\, n.; pl. Tertiaries.
1. (R. C. Ch.) A member of the Third Order in any monastic
system; as, the Franciscan tertiaries; the Dominican
tertiaries; the Carmelite tertiaries. See Third Order,
under Third. --Addis & Arnold.
2. (Geol.) The Tertiary era, period, or formation.
3. (Zo["o]l.) One of the quill feathers which are borne upon
the basal joint of the wing of a bird. See Illust. of
Bird.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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Tertiary \Ter"ti*a*ry\, a. [L. tertiarius containing a third
part, fr. tertius third: cf. F. tertiaire. See Tierce.]
1. Being of the third formation, order, or rank; third; as, a
tertiary use of a word. --Trench.
2. (Chem.) Possessing some quality in the third degree;
having been subjected to the substitution of three atoms
or radicals; as, a tertiary alcohol, amine, or salt. Cf.
Primary, and Secondary.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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