So there are cardinal numbers (1,2,3,4,5...) and ordinal numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th...) but what is this series: Primary, secondary, tertiary and what comes next, ternary? (ive also heard quatrinary but I feel that ternary is more correct) Any other Latin students who could help me with this?
2006-07-10 04:49:50 · 3 answers · asked by imanalchemist 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
You have your threes and fours a bit mixed up.
"Ternary" refers to something grouped in THREES
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ternary
For something in FOURS, the proper term is "quaternary."
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/quaternary
Note that "quaternary" can also be used to refer to something that is "fourth in order". For something that is THIRD in order, use the term "tertiary".
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/tertiary
Thus "tertiary" IS correct for the third member of your series:
"primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary, etc."
(The series continues: "quinary, senary, septenary, octonary, nonary, denary..."
http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutwords/primary?view=print)
The series in which "ternary" appears is:
"'unary [or sometimes simply 'single'], binary, ternary, quaternary, etc"
2006-07-10 05:14:35 · answer #1 · answered by bruhaha 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The 4th term in the series is quaternary. I'm not sure that series has an equivalent term to cardinal or ordinal. In whatever context you would use primary, secondary.. (cause, reason, explanation, etc) if there is a 4th, use quaternary.
2006-07-10 12:10:21 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard quatrinary rather than ternary.
2006-07-10 11:54:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋