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tertium quid

noun
ter·​ti·​um quid | \ ËŒtÉ™r-shÄ“-É™m-ˈkwid How to pronounce tertium quid (audio) , ËŒtÉ™r-tÄ“-\

Definition of tertium quid

1 : a middle course or an intermediate component where there are two systems of law and two orders of courts, there must … be some tertium quid to deal with conflicts of law and jurisdiction— Ernest Baker
2 : a third party of ambiguous status there was a man and his wife and a tertium quid— Rudyard Kipling

First Known Use of tertium quid

circa 1724, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for tertium quid

Late Latin, literally, third something; from its failing to fit into a dichotomy

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