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Tercentenary Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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tercentenary

[tərˈsɛn.təˌnɛr.i ]

Definition

Context #1 | Noun

anniversary event

A tercentenary refers to the three-hundredth anniversary of a significant event, particularly those that are of cultural or historical importance. It marks a milestone in time, celebrating three centuries since a notable occurrence such as the founding of a city or the birth of an influential figure.

Synonyms

300th anniversary, three-hundredth celebration.

Examples of usage

  • The city held a grand celebration for its tercentenary.
  • Scholars published a book to commemorate the tercentenary of the famous explorer's voyage.
  • The tercentenary of the university was marked with a series of academic events.
  • Historians are preparing exhibitions for the tercentenary of the treaty.
  • Local artists created works to honor the tercentenary of the town's founding.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Historical Significance

  • Many nations commemorate important events with tercentenary celebrations to honor their history.
  • Examples include founding anniversaries of cities or institutions, marking their significance in cultural heritage.

Pop Culture

  • In 2019, the tercentenary of the birth of famous poet Alexander Pope was celebrated with various literary events.
  • Television documentaries often air during tercentenary years, exploring the impact of historical figures.

Science & Technology

  • Organizations sometimes use tercentenary as a way to highlight advances made over three centuries in fields like medicine and engineering.
  • Scientific conferences may also occur in tercentenary years to reflect on three hundred years of progress.

Celebrations

  • Tercentenary celebrations can include festivals, parades, and special exhibitions, bringing communities together.
  • Many of these events often feature historical reenactments that teach visitors about the past.

Origin of 'tercentenary'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from the Latin 'tercenteni,' meaning 'three hundred' and 'annus,' meaning 'year.'
  • It combines the prefix 'ter-' (meaning three) and 'centenary,' which relates to a century (100 years).

The term 'tercentenary' originates from the Latin word 'tercentenus', meaning 'three hundred', which is a combination of 'ter' (three times) and 'centum' (hundred). This linguistic formation has been adopted in English to denote a period or celebration that spans three hundred years. The concept of celebrating anniversaries dates back to ancient civilizations, where significant events were commemorated through feasts and rituals. Over time, various cultures developed their own traditions to mark these milestones, with the tercentenary becoming particularly significant for historical events, religious anniversaries, and the founding of institutions or cities. The use of 'tercentenary' in the English language has been documented since the 17th century, often associated with notable anniversaries that require extensive celebration and acknowledgment of the event's impact on society.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #35,146, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.