different between quinaryactivities vs quaternary

English

Etymology

From the Latin quatern?rius (“containing or consisting of four”), from quatern? (“four each”, “four at a time”) + -?rius (whence the English suffix -ary); compare the French quaternaire.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /kw??t??n??i/; (rare) IPA^(key): /?kw??t?n(?)?i/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?kw??t??n???i/

Adjective

quaternary (not comparable)

1. Of fourth rank or order

   the quaternary stress in a pronounced word

2. Of a mathematical expression containing e.g. x⁴
3. Relating to or in number base four
4. (organic chemistry) quaternary ammonium
5. (inorganic chemistry) composed of four elements

Usage notes

The fourth ordinal from Latin that might etymologically follow tertiary is quartary, but quaternary (from the distributive number instead) is more usual in English.

Related terms

• quaternion

Derived terms

• bisquaternary
• quaternary ammonium

Translations

See also

• unary, unitary (1)
  • primary (1st)
• binary (2)
  • secondary (2nd)
• ternary or trinary (3)
  • tertiary (3rd)
• quaternary (4)
  • quartary (4th)
  • tetranary (4)
• quinary (5)
• senary (6)
• septenary (7)
• octonary (8)
• novenary (9)
  • nonary (9th)
• denary (10)
• duodenary (12)
• vicenary (20)
• tricenary (30)
• sexagenary (60)
• centenary (100)

Noun

quaternary (plural quaternaries)

1. (chemistry) A quaternary compound.
2. (geology) The Quaternary period or the system of deposits laid down during it.