quater

[ kwat-er ]

adverb

1. (in prescriptions) four times.

Word History and Origins

Origin of quater¹

From Latin

Example Sentences

Sinistra manu sola quater pugnavit, duobus equis, insidente eo, suffossis.

From Project Gutenberg

"Give him a quater more," called Legs, who had returned in the meantime, and had been trying to catch a little sleep.

From Project Gutenberg

Sometime de ol' folk uster git togedder in de quater-kitchen tuh shout an' pray.

From Project Gutenberg

All worka hard an' mek one dollar, maybe dollar quater da day.

From Project Gutenberg

More About Quater

What does quater mean?

Quater is a Latin term used in medical prescriptions to mean four times, typically in the Latin phrase quater in die, meaning “four times a day.”

Quater in die is sometimes abbreviated as q.i.d.

Example: The pill is to be taken quater in die—that means four times a day.

Where does quater come from?

Uses of quater meaning “four” are recorded in English as far back as the 1600s. But today its use is limited to a Latin phrase that is usually (hopefully) translated into plain English as “four times.”

When the pharmacist gives you the medicine that has been prescribed by your doctor, they provide instructions for how to take it, such as how many times per day, and with or without food. The medical field uses Latin for all kinds of technical terms, and many pharmaceutical notations are also based on Latin terms, such as per os for “by mouth.”

If you see quater in die or q.i.d. on your medicine bottle, you’ll know you need to take it four times a day—hopefully because it also says “take four times a day.”

Similar notations include quaque die (q.d.) for “every day,” bis in die (b.i.d.) for “twice a day,” and ter in die (t.i.d.) for “three times a day.”

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for quater?

• four times

What are some words that share a root or word element with quater?

 

• quaternary
• quart
• quadruple
• quadruped

What are some words that often get used in discussing quater?

 

• four
• day
• prescription
• medicine
• medication
• dose
• dosage

What are some words quater may be commonly confused with?

 

• quarter

 

How is quater used in real life?

The word quater is used pretty much exclusively in prescriptions and other medical contexts.

We’re taught to write in Latin just to add to our mystique. The patient cannot translate q.i.d (quater in die) as ‘four times a day’
1/2

— Ekita (@LostByWaves) May 30, 2014

I want to be with you quater in die.

— ˗ˋˏ 미셸 엄친아 ˎˊ˗ (@eom_chin_a) April 23, 2013

BLOW OUT the sun and refrigerate for twenty—four hours.

Sheath your stomach with the milk of the moon. Fold the sun in half and fold it once more. Consume an excerpt quater in die. Repeat daily for seven days. If symptoms persist, fold the sun — consume it bis in die. #vss365

— the a l p h a b e t (@moomooseum) September 26, 2019

 

Try using quater!

If your prescription says to take it quater in die, how many times should you take it in one day?

A. 1
B. 3
C. 4
D. 8