Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • Carthaginian-born Roman playwright. His plays, including Phormio and Adelphi, are largely based on Greek comedies and feature fine dialogue and subtle humor.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • proper noun A male given name. Popular in the U.K. in the mid-twentieth century.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun dramatist of ancient Rome (born in Greece) whose comedies were based on works by Menander (190?-159 BC)

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Latin Terentius, a Roman family name of obscure origin, borne by a Roman playwright and by early Christian saints.

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Examples

  • It was the first place I'd read of Robert K. Temple's book The Sirius Mystery and it was also the first time I heard the name Terence McKenna.

    Boing Boing Richard Metzger 2012

  • This is evident in Terence Conran's Boundary hotel in London's hip Shoreditch neighborhood, which has a terrace complete with fire, around which smokers congregate.

    Dusting Off the Stogie's Stodgy Image Jemima Sissons 2010

  • Having occasion to go to the village, he called Terence, and ordered his horse to be saddled.

    Bond and Free: A Tale of the South 1984

  • "Terence" -- that very small fragment of the Eunuchus which Plunkett forced into his head through the opposite pole of his person --

    Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine - Volume 62, No. 384, October 1847 Various

  • Or, to paraphrase Terence, "Canadian sum: Canadian nil a me alienum puto."

    trinityboy Diary Entry trinityboy 2004

  • It seems, Leah, that one Henry Terence Dalton Covington, alias Terence Dalton, married an Elizabeth Balfour six months prior to exchanging vows with the present Lady Covington.

    Almost a Whisper Charlene Cross 1994

  • It seems, Leah, that one Henry Terence Dalton Covington, alias Terence Dalton, married an Elizabeth Balfour six months prior to exchanging vows with the present Lady Covington.

    Almost a Whisper Charlene Cross 1994

  • To join in this weekly pastime, the boys sallied out of the house, and called Terence with the order, "Saddle Daisy and Prince right away; do you hear?"

    Bond and Free: A Tale of the South 1984

  • I know that your son is called Terence after my son.

    Love of Brothers Katharine Tynan 1896

  • Of these there survived now only two of the first Mrs. Madden's offspring -- Michael and Celia -- and a son of the present wife, who had been baptized Terence, but called himself Theodore.

    The Damnation of Theron Ware Harold Frederic 1877

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