Meanings
alternative Terrance · alternative Terrence · alternative Terance
- A male given name from Latin, popular in the U.K. in the mid-twentieth century.
They had an expensive, well-cut air which was like a uniform, and their conversation was all about people with names like Terence and Geoffrey, Philippa and Vivien, who lived in London and County Wicklow and who were "terribly amusing".
1963, Jane McIlvaine, Cammie's Cousin, Bobbs-Merrill, page 581 more example
"Very likely the ragged scion of one of those Irish gentry, who has taken naturally to 'the road'. He should be at school - though I warrant me his knowledge of Terence will not extend beyond his own name," said Lord Henry Somerset, aid-de-camp to the Lord Lieutenant.
1867, Bret Harte, chapter I, in Terence Denville
Synonyms & antonyms
Origin
- LatinTerentius
- EnglishTerence
From Latin Terentius, a Roman family name of obscure origin, borne by a Roman playwright and by early Christian saints. * In Ireland, it has been used to represent Turlough.
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek Τερέντιος
- Τερέντιος (Teréntios)male given name
Dutch Terens
- Terensmale given name
Esperanto Terencio
- Terenciomale given name
Finnish Tero
- Teromale given name
French Térence
- Térencemale given name
German Terenz
- Terenzmale given name
Irish Turlough, Toirdhealbhach
- Turloughmale given name
- Toirdhealbhachmale given name
Italian Terenzio
- Terenziomale given name
Latin Terentius
- Terentiusmale given name
Norwegian Terens
- Terensmale given name
Portuguese Terêncio
- Terênciomale given name
Russian Тере́нтий
- Тере́нтий (Teréntij)male given name
Scottish Gaelic Teàrlach
- Teàrlachmale given name
Spanish Terencio
- Terenciomale given name
Swedish Terens
- Terensmale given name
Welsh Terens
- Terensmale given name
Cite this entry
Terence. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Terence
“Terence.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Terence. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Terence,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Terence.
Source: Terence on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.