quartan

1 of 2

adjective

quar·​tan ˈkwȯr-tᵊn 

: occurring every fourth day reckoning inclusively

specifically : recurring at approximately 72-hour intervals

a quartan ague

quartan

2 of 2

noun

: a quartan fever

Examples of quartan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Here's what's been keeping our thumbs active in these quartan-times when the work keyboards have retired for the day. —Ars Staff, Ars Technica, 25 Apr. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English quarteyn, from Anglo-French (fevre) quartaine quartan fever, from Latin (febris) quartana, from quartanus of the fourth, from quartus

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

quartan

1 of 2 adjective

quar·​tan ˈkwȯrt-ᵊn 

: occurring every fourth day reckoning inclusively

specifically : recurring at approximately 72-hour intervals

quartan chills and fever

compare tertian

quartan

2 of 2 noun

: an intermittent fever that recurs at approximately 72-hour intervals

especially : malariae malaria