terza

Terza is an Italian term meaning "third" in its feminine form. It functions as an ordinal adjective and as a noun in everyday Italian, and it appears across language, religion, and literature. The word derives from Latin tertia, the feminine form of tertius.

In ordinary use, terza accompanies feminine nouns to indicate the third item in a series. Examples include la terza pagina (the third page), la terza persona (the third person), and la terza volta (the third time). As a standalone noun, terza can refer to the third position or occurrence within a sequence, again in feminine agreement.

In religious contexts, Terza denotes the canonical hour known as Terce in the Christian liturgical day. Historically observed around the third hour after dawn, roughly 9:00 a.m., the Terza hour formed part of the Divine Office in many monastic communities. In Italian religious usage, the hour is commonly called Terza.

In literature, terza is closely associated with terza rima, a rhyme scheme developed in Italian poetry that interlocks tercets in a chain (aba bcb cdc, and so on). This form is famously used by Dante Alighieri in the Divine Comedy and has influenced subsequent Italian poetry. The term terza rima is sometimes shortened to terza in scholarly discussions.

Beyond language and culture, terza may appear in personal names or as a generic ordinal in various titles. See also: terzo, terza rima, Terce (canonical hour).