before a vowel tetr-, a. Gr. τετρα-, combining form of the numeral τέτταρες, τέτταρα four, forming the first element of many words adapted from existing Greek compounds, and thence used in new analogous formations, mainly scientific and technical.
1. As a general etymological element.
ǁ Tetrabelodon [Gr. βέλος a dart, ὀδούς ὀδοντ- tooth], a genus of extinct crocodilian reptiles. Tetrablastic a., Biol. [Gr. βλαστός germ], having four blastodermic membranes or germinal layers, as animals having a true cœlome or body-cavity. Tetrabrach Anc. Pros. (also tetrabrachys) [Gr. τετράβραχ-υς in same sense], a word or foot of four short syllables, as facinora, hominibus; as a foot usually called proceleusmatic. ǁ Tetrabrachius, pl. -ii (Gr. βραχίων arm], a monster having four arms (Billings, Nat. Med. Dict., 1890). Tetracamarous a., Bot. [Gr. καμάρα vault], having four closed carpels. Tetracanthous a. [Gr. ἄκανθα thorn], having four spines, as a fish, etc., or thorns in groups of four, as a plant (Mayne, Exp. L., 1860). Tetracarpellary a., Bot. of a compound fruit: having four carpels. Tetracerous, also † Tetraceratous, adjs., Zool. [Gr. τετράκερως four-horned], having four ‘horns’ or tentacles; belonging to the Tetracera, a family of four-horned gastropods. ǁ Tetrachænium, Bot., pl. -ia [see ACHENE], a fruit formed of four adherent achenes. Tetrachætous a., Entom. [Gr. χαίτη mane, hair], pertaining to the Tetrachætæ, a division of the brachycerous Diptera, comprising those in which the proboscis is composed of four pieces. ǁ Tetrachirus [L., ad. Gr. τετρἀχειρ], a monster with four hands (Billings, 1890). Tetrachromatic a., of, pertaining to, having, or distinguishing four colors. Tetrachromic a., of four colors; capable of distinguishing (only) four colors of the spectrum. Tetrachromist, one who holds a theory of four colors; cf. POLYCHROMIST. Tetrachronous a., Anc. Pros. [Gr. τετράχρονος containing four times], = tetrasemic. Tetraclone [Gr. κλών twig, spray], a four-rayed sponge-spicule with branched ends (Cent. Dict. Suppl., 1909). Tetracoccous a., Bot. [Gr. κόκκος berry], having four cocci or carpels; also, applied to bacteria when in four segments (Jackson, Gloss. Bot. T., 1900). Tetracoral, one of the Tetracoralla, a division of corals (= Rugosa) in which the septa are in multiples of four; so Tetracoralline a., of or pertaining to the Tetracoralla. Tetracotylean a., Biol. [Gr. κοτύλη cup], having four rounded pit-like suckers on the head or scolex, as a tapeworm. Tetracrepid a. [Gr. κρηπίς, κρηπιδ- boot, groundwork], a desmic sponge-spicule formed on a tetract nucleus. Tetracron, Geom., pl. -a, -ons [Gr. ἄκρον summit], a solid having four vertices or solid angles, a tetrahedron; cf. POLYACRON. Tetracyclic a., having four cycles or circles; spec. in Bot., having four whorls of floral organs. Tetradenous a., Bot. [Gr. ἀδήν gland], having four glands (Mayne, 1860). Tetraëterid, also ǁ -is [Gr. τετραετηρίς, -ιδ-, f. ἔτος year], a space of four years, a quadrennium. † Tetrafoliate, † Tetrafolious adjs., Bot., four-leaved; = tetraphyllous; bijugate (Mayne). Tetragamelian [Gr. γαμήλιος bridal], a. belonging to the Tetragamelia, a division of discomedusans (Hydrozoa Acraspeda) having four subgenital pits; sb. a member of this division. Tetragamy [Byz. Gr. τετραγαμία], a fourth marriage. Tetragenous a., Bacteriol. [-GEN1 and -OUS], forming square groups of four, as certain micrococci. Tetragnath [Gr. τετράγναθ-ος], a. having four jaws; sb. a kind of spider with four jaws; so † Tetragnathian a. ǁ Tetragonidium, Bot., = TETRASPORE. Tetraleioclone [Gr. λεῖ-ος smooth: see tetraclone], a four-rayed sponge-spicule with smooth arms (Cent. Dict. Suppl., 1909). Tetralemma, Logic [cf. DILEMMA], a position presenting four alternatives. Tetralophodont a. [Gr. λόφ-ος ridge + ὀδούς ὀδοντ- tooth], having molars with four transverse ridges, as the sub-genus Tetralophodon of mastodons. Tetramasthous a. [Gr. μασθός breast], having four breasts. Tetramastigate a. [Gr. μάστιξ μαστιγ- whip], having four flagella (Cent. Dict., 1891). Tetramyrmeclone [Gr. μυρμηκιά wart: see tetraclone], a four-rayed sponge-spicule, the arms covered with tubercles (Cent. Dict. Suppl., 1909). Tetranephric a. [Gr. νεφρός kidney], having four uriniferous or Malpighian tubes. Tetranomial a., Math. [after BINOMIAL], consisting of four (algebraic) terms; quadrinomial. Tetraphalangeate a., Comp. Anat., having four phalanges. ǁ Tetrapharmacon (also in L. form -pharmacum) [Gr. τετραφάρμακον], a medicine or ointment consisting of four ingredients; hence Tetrapharmacal a., compounded of four ingredients. Tetraphony [Gr. φωνή voice], in early mediæval music, diaphony for four voices. Tetraphyletic a. [Gr. φυλετικ-ός, f. φυλέτης tribesman, φυλή tribe]: see quot. Tetraphyllous a. Bot. [Gr. φύλλον leaf], having or consisting of four leaves; abbreviated 4-phyllous. Tetraplocaulous a., Bot. [Gr. τετραπλούς fourfold + καυλό-ς stem]: see quot. Tetrapneumonian, Zool., a. of or pertaining to the Tetrapneumones, a division of spiders with two pairs of lung-sacs (Cent. Dict., 1891); sb. a spider of this division. Tetrapneumonous a., Zool., having four lungs or respiratory organs; applied to the Tetrapneumones (see prec.) and to the Tetrapneumona, a group of holothurians (sea-cucumbers). Tetrapolar a., Biol., having four (instead of only two) poles or centers of radiation: said of a karyokinetic figure. Tetrapous a. [Gr. πούς foot], four-footed. Tetraprionidian a. [Gr. πρίων a saw: cf. Diprionidian], applied to graptolites having four rows of thecæ showing four serrated edges. Tetraprostyle a. [Gr. πρόστυλ-ος having pillars in front], of an ancient temple: having a portico with four pillars in front. † Tetraptative, a. rare [see APTATE v.], that combines four things. Tetraptote, Gram. [Gr. τετράπτωτ-ος], a noun with (only) four cases. Tetraptych, rare [Gr. πτυχ- fold], a folding picture or the like in four compartments; cf. triptych. Tetrapylon [ad. Gr. τετράπῦλον], a building or structure with four gates. Tetrapyramid, Cryst., in the triclinic system, that form in which each of the two faces intercepts the three crystallographic axes. † Tetrapyrenous a., Bot. [Gr. πυρήν fruit-stone], having four stones, as a fruit. Tetraquetrous a., Bot. [mod.L. tetraquetr-us four-angled], having four sharp angles. Tetrascele: see tetraskele. ǁ Tetrascelus [Gr. τετρασκελ-ής four-legged], a monster in which the legs are duplicated (Billings, 1890). Tetraschistic a., Biol. [Gr. οχιστός cloven], dividing into four by fission. Tetraselenodont a. [SELENODONT], having four crescentic ridges, as a molar tooth; also said of a ruminant that has such teeth. Tetraseme, Pros. [Gr. τετράσημ-ος adj.], sb. a foot consisting of or equal to four short syllables; a. = tetrasemic. Tetrasemic a., Pros., equivalent to four moræ or short syllables. Tetrasepalous a., Bot., having four sepals. Tetraskele, also tetrascele and tetraskelion [see tetrascelus], a figure consisting of four limbs radiating from a center; spec. the FYLFOT (C. D. Suppl., 1909). ǁ Tetraspaston [Gr. -σπαστος, ον, drawn]: see quot. Tetraspermous a., Bot. [Gr. οπέρμα seed], having four seeds, or seeds in fours; so Tetraspermal, Tetraspermatous adjs. Tetraspheric, Tetraspherical adjs., Math., of or pertaining to four spheres. Tetrasymmetry, Biol., symmetry characterized by division into four similar parts. † Tetrasyncrasy [Gr. σύγκρᾶσις: see CRASIS], a mixture of four elements. Tetrateuch nonce-wd., a name for the first four books of the PENTATEUCH. Tetrathecal a., Bot. [Gr. θήκη case, cell], four-celled, as an ovary. Tetratheism, the doctrine of four persons in the Godhead. Tetratheite, a believer in tetratheism. Tetratone, Mus., also in form tetratonon [ad. Gr. τετράτον-ον], an interval containing four whole tones; an augmented fifth. Tetratop [Gr. τόπ-ος place], ‘the four-dimensional angular space inclosed between four straight lines drawn from a point not in the same three-dimensional space’ (Cent. Dict., 1891). Tetraxial a., having four axes, as some sponge-spicules; so Tetraxile a. in same sense. Tetraxon [Gr. ἄξων axis], sb. a sponge-spicule with four axes radiating from a center; adj. having four axes of growth; hence Tetraxonian a. = tetraxon adj. Tetrazomal a. (sb.) Geom. [Gr. ζῶμα girdle], applied to a curve having an equation of the form √U + √V + √W + √T= 0, in relation to which the four curves √U = 0, √V = 0, etc., have properties of the nature of girdling: cf. POLYZOME. Tetrazooid, Biol., any one of the four ascidiozooids developed from the germinal disk in the ascidian genus Pyrosoma (Cent. Dict. Suppl., 1909).
1904. Athenæum, 4 Aug., 133/3. Prof. Lankester gave a curious theory of his own as to the derivation of the elephant’s trunk from the soft upper jaw and nasal area of the extinct *Tetrabelodon.
1891. Cent. Dict., *Tetrablastic.
1891. Cent. Dict., Tetracamarous.
1900. B. D. Jackson, Gloss. Bot. Terms.
1860. Mayne, Expos. Lex., Tetraceratus,… *tetraceratous.
1891. Cent. Dict., *Tetracerous.
1856. Henslow, Dict. Bot. Terms, *Tetrachænium..., a fruit formed by the separating of a single ovary into four nuts; as in the Labiatæ.
1902. Baldwin, Dict. Philos. & Psychol., II. 793. Ordinary vision, which is *tetrachromatic,… was called, under the dominance of the colour-triangle, trichromatic.
1902. 19th Cent., April, 605. The vision of the second eye was *tetrachromic.
1903. Nature, 19 Nov., 71/2. The second class of the colour-blind see five, four, three, two, or one colour, according to the degree of their defect, and are called pentachromic, tetrachromic, etc.
1842. Wornum, in Smith’s Dict. Grk. & Rom. Antiq., s.v. Painting, § 3. Ancient *tetrachromists or polychromists.
1891. Cent. Dict., *Tetrachronous.
a. 1864. A. Gray, cited in Webster for *Tetracoccous.
[1888. Rolleston & Jackson, Anim. Life, 743. The Palæozoic Corals are for the most part classified as Rugosa s. *Tetracoralla.… The septa are arranged in four systems, which are either disposed in a bilaterally symmetrical manner … or else are regularly radiate.]
1909. Cent. Dict. Suppl., *Tetracotylean.
1888. Sollas, in Challenger Rep., XXV. p. lix. It … is in some cases difficult to say, in the absence of a visible crepis, whether a desma is rhabdocrepid or *tetracrepid. Ibid., p. lx. Tetracrepid Desma.
1878. Macnab, Botany, ix. (1883), 161. Dicotyledones.… Flowers typically *tetracyclic pentamerous.
1678. Phillips, New World Wds. (ed. 4). *Tetraeterid,… the space of four years, a word used by Astronomers, and Astrologers.
a. 1727. Newton, Chronol. Amended, i. (1728), 75. [The Greeks] omitted an intercalary month once in eight years, which made their Octaeteris, one half of which was their Tetraeteris.
1881. Lankester, in Encycl. Brit., XII. 557/1. In the *Tetragamelian Rhizostomæ these pits remain distinct from one another…, but in the Monogamelian Rhizostomæ they unite to form one continuous sub-genital cavity.
1862. J. C. Robertson, Hist. Christ. Ch., IV. v. II. 402, note. He [Symeon Magister] says that the lawfulness of *‘tetragamy’ was believed to have been revealed to Euthymius.
1888. Science, 15 June, 283/2. The constituents of the colony turned out to be a *tetragenous microbe quite distinct from the plain atmospheric micrococcus.
1608. Topsell, Serpents (1658), 771. Nicander … confesseth, that the Ash-coloured *Tetragnath, doth not by his biting infuse any venom or like hurt. Ibid. If a man be wounded of the *Tetragnathian Spider, the place waxeth whitish, with an intolerable, vehement, and continual pain in it.
1835. Kirby, Hab. & Inst. Anim., II. xvi. 85. Those Phalangians which are denominated Tetragnatha, or having four jaws.
1882. Vines, Sachs’ Bot., 289. The asexual organs of reproduction are gonidia: since four are usually formed in a mother-cell, they are termed *Tetragonidia.… When the thallus consists of rows of cells, the tetragonidia are produced in the apical cell of lateral branches.
1867. Atwater, Logic, 151. The names Trilemma, *Tetralemma, Polylemma have been sometimes given to this sort of Syllogism according to the number of members or horns.
1889. Nicholson & Lydekker, Palæont. (ed. 3), II. 1398. In the *Tetralophodont group the number of ridges in the cheek teeth is greater than in the former group.
1860. Mayne, Expos. Lex., *Tetramasthous.
1890. Billings, Nat. Med. Dict., Tetramasthous, having four breasts.
1898. A. S. Packard, Text-bk. Entomol., 355. In at least one case (Melolontha), the *tetranephric is ontogenetically derived from the hexanephric condition by the suppression of one pair of tubules.
1817. H. T. Colebrooke, Algebra, etc., 280. Put the binomial root for first term;… then put the trinomial, and afterwards the *tetranomial, for first radical term; until the proposed number be exhausted.
1898. Nature, 3 Feb., 319/1. In the full-grown fœtus of a Vespertilio the fourth digit of the manus is *tetraphalangeate.
1657. Tomlinson, Renou’s Disp., 143. The *Tetrapharmacal unguent, which consists … of Wax, Rosine, Pitch and Bulls fat.
1727–41. Chambers, Cycl., *Tetrapharmacum,… denotes any remedy consisting of four ingredients.
1842. Brande, Dict. Sc., etc., Tetrapharmacon, an ointment composed of four remedies; namely wax, resin, lard, and pitch.
1900. B. D. Jackson, Gloss. Bot. Terms, *Tetraphyletic, applied to hybrids with four strains in their descent.
1731. Bailey, vol. II., *Tetraphyllous.
1775. J. Jenkinson, Descr. Brit. Pl., 158. The cup [of Charnock] is tetraphyllous and erect.
1900. B. D. Jackson, Gloss. Bot. Terms, *Tetraplocaulous, having quaternary axes.
1842. Brande, Dict. Sc., etc., *Tetrapneumonians, Tetrapneumones,… a section of spiders … comprehending those which have four pulmonary sacs.
1902. D. J. Hamilton, in Encycl. Brit., XXXI. 514/1. (Description of Plate) D. *Tetrapolar karyokinesis. E. Another form of tetrapolar division.
[1890. Billings, Nat. Med. Dict., Tetrapus, having four feet.]
1899. Syd. Soc. Lex., *Tetrapous.
1888. Cassell’s Encycl. Dict., *Tetraprionidian.
1891. Cent. Dict., *Tetraprostyle.
1471. Ripley, Comp. Alch., IV. viii., in Ashm., Theat. Chem. Brit. (1652), 146. The thyrd manner and also the last of all, Fowre Elements together whych joynyth to abyde, *Tetraptative certainly Phylosophers doth hyt call.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., *Tetraplote, declined in four cases.
1704. J. Harris, Lex. Techn., I. Tetraptotes,… such defective Nouns, as have only four Cases; as Plus, which wants the Dative and Vocative Singular.
1904. H. C. Butler, Archit. & Other Arts, xii. 393. Conjectured to have been vaulted *tetrapylons at the crossing of the thoroughfares.
[1727. Bailey, vol. II., *Tetrapyrenos, which has four Seeds or Kernels, as Agrifolium, Holly, &c.]
1882. Maw, in Jrnl. Bot., XI. 88. The Scape … is either *tetraquetrous or triquetrous.
1885. Lankester, in Encycl. Brit., XIX. 834/2. They [chlorophyll corpuscles] multiply by fission, usually *tetraschistic, independently of the general protoplasm.
1890. Amer. Nat., May, 471. To sustain the view that the *tetraselenodont forms are the descendants of the pentaselenodont Artiodactyla.
1895. Gildersleeve, Lat. Gram. (ed. 3), 459. *Tetraseme long.
1891. Cent. Dict., *Tetrasemic.
1829. Loudon, Encycl. Pl. (1836), 1069. A *tetrasepalous tetrapetalous flower.
1842. Brande, Dict. Sc., etc., *Tetraspaston, in Mechanics, a machine in which four pulleys all act together.
1860. Mayne, Expos. Lex., Tetraspermatus,… four-seeded: *tetraspermal: *tetraspermatous.
1760. J. Lee, Introd. Bot., II. viii. (1765), 89. Monopetalous *Tetraspermous.
1889. F. A. Bather, in Q. Jrnl. Geol. Soc., XLV. II. 362. The structure above described for Eugeniacrinus is … also found … with the necessary modifications due to *tetrasymmetry, in Tetracrinus.
1651. Biggs, New Disp., § 246. If they will have the pus to be made out of a *Tetrasyncrasy or commixture of the humors.
1906. Rev. of Theol. & Philos., Jan., 457. An elaborate work on the Pentateuch (or rather the *Tetrateuch, since Deuteronomy is lightly passed over).
1849. Balfour, Man. Bot., § 405. A quadrilocular … or *tetrathecal … anther.
1899. Syd. Soc. Lex., Tetrathecal, Biol., applied to a four-chambered ovary.
1874. J. H. Blunt, Dict. Sects & Heresies, s.v. Damianists, Their theory led to the conclusion that there are four Gods, the three separate and subordinate Hypostases and the one superior Αὑτόθεος, hence they were also named *Tetratheites.
1775. Ash, *Tetratenon, the superfluous fifth.
1801. in Busby, Dict. Mus.
1888. Rolleston & Jackson, Anim. Life, 810. Tetractina: spicules to a great extent *tetraxile.
1886. Proc. Zool. Soc., 21 Dec., 581. Spicules more or less clearly *tetraxon, often branched.
1837. Sollas, in Encycl. Brit., XXII. 416/2. (Sponges) Tetraxon Quadriradiate Type (Calthrops).—Growth from a centre in four directions inclined at about 110° to each other.
1867. Cayley, Math. Papers, VI. 485. On the Trizomal Curve and the *Tetrazomal Curve. Ibid., 486. The tetrazomals are each of them a curve of the order 4r, and they intersect therefore in only 16r2 points.
2. In Chemical nomenclature, in the names of compounds and derivatives with the general sense of ‘four-,’ ‘four times.’ a. In substantives: (a) Prefixed to names of binary compounds of elements or radicals, names of salts, etc., to signify four atoms, groups, or equivalents of the element or radical in question; as tetrachloride, a compound of four atoms of chlorine with some other element or radical; so tetrasulphide, tetriodide, TETROXIDE, tetrahydroxide, tetramethide, tetracetate, tetraphosphate, etc. (b) Prefixed to names of elements or radicals (or the combining forms, as bromo-, nitro-, oxy-, phospho-, azo-) entering into the name of a compound, to signify that four atoms or groups of the element or radical are substituted in the substance designated by the rest of the name, as tetrabromobenzene, C6H2Br4, in which four of the hydrogen atoms of benzene, C6H6, are replaced by four bromine atoms; so tetramethylbenzene, C6H2(CH3)4. (c) In some words used irregularly, as tetrasalicylide, C28H18O9: see quot. 18752.
1866. Odling, Anim. Chem., 59. CCl4, Carbon tetrachloride.
1869. Roscoe, Elem. Chem., xi. 121. Fluorine forms, with the silicon contained in the glass, a volatile compound called Silicon tetrafluoride.
1875. Watts, Dict. Chem., VII. 1032. When the barium salt [of pyromucic acid] mixed with soda-lime is heated, a compound called tetraphenol, C4H4O, distils over. Ibid., 1067. Schiff … prepares salicylide, C7H4O2, and tetrasalicylide, C28H18O2, by the action of phosphorous oxychloride on salicylic acid.
1880. Athenæum, 11 Dec., 781/3. The Formation of Carbon Tetrabromide in the Manufacture of Bromine.
1880. Roscoe & Schorlemmer, Treat. Chem., II. II. 434. Rhodium tetrahydroxide Rh(OH)4,… this compound separates out as a green powder.
1888. Morley & Muir, Watts’ Dict. Chem., I. 555. Tetrabromobenzene, C6H2Br4; from p-nitro benzoic acid and Br at 230°.
1899. Smith, Richter’s Org. Chem., I. 187. Lead tetramethide, Pb(CH3)4, boils at 110°.
1900. Jrnl. Soc. Dyers, XVI. 7. The solutions of the tetracetate in chloroform.
b. Prefixed to adjectives, in the names of acids, alcohols, aldehydes, ethers, salts, etc.; as tetrasodic, containing four sodium atoms; so tetraboric, etc.; tetrethylic, containing four ethyl groups; so tetramylic, etc.
1868. Watts, Dict. Chem., V. 730. Tetraphosphamic acids … are amic acids derived from tetraphosphoric acid.
1868. Fownes’ Chem. (ed. 10), 347. Tetrasodic Phosphate or Sodium Pyrophosphate is prepared by strongly heating common disodic orthophosphate … and re-crystallising.
1888. Morley & Muir, Watts’ Dict. Chem., I. 528. Pyroboric (or tetraboric) acid, 2B2O3.H2O (= H2B4O7).
c. In verbs and their pples. derived from sbs. as in a., as tetrabrominated, -chlorinated, -hydrated (containing 4 molecules of water).
1857. Miller, Elem. Chem., III. 46. Tetrachlorinated Hydrochloric Ether, C4HCl.Cl4.
1873. Watts, Fownes’ Chem. (ed. 11), 767. Propyl-benzene … forms with excess of bromine a viscid tetrabrominated compound.
