terminus

[tur-muh-nuh s] /ˈtɜr mə nəs/
noun, plural termini
[tur-muh-nahy] /ˈtɜr məˌnaɪ/ (Show IPA), terminuses.
1.
the end or extremity of anything.
2.
either end of a railroad line.
3.
British. the station or the town at the end of a railway or bus route.
4.
the point toward which anything tends; goal or end.
5.
a boundary or limit.
6.
a boundary post or stone.
7.
(initial capital letter) the ancient Roman god of boundaries and landmarks.
8.
term (def 10).
Origin
1545-55; < Latin: boundary, limit, end
Can be confused
terminal, terminus.

terminus ad quem

[ter-mi-noo s ahd kwem; English tur-muh-nuh s ad kwem] /ˈtɛr mɪˌnʊs ɑd ˈkwɛm; English ˈtɜr mə nəs æd ˈkwɛm/
Latin.
1.
the end to which; aim; goal; final or latest limiting point.

terminus a quo

[ter-mi-noo s ah kwoh; English tur-muh-nuh s ey kwoh] /ˈtɛr mɪˌnʊs ɑ ˈkwoʊ; English ˈtɜr mə nəs eɪ ˈkwoʊ/
Latin.
1.
the end from which; beginning; starting point; earliest limiting point.
Examples from the web for terminus
  • The old terminus by the bridge approach remained in use for football and other specials.
  • The terminus was on a private track to the north side of the gate.
  • A major railroad terminated in casa grande, which was originally named terminus.
  • The airport is the second busiest cargo terminus in the country.
British Dictionary definitions for terminus

terminus

/ˈtɜːmɪnəs/
noun (pl) -ni (-naɪ), -nuses
1.
the last or final part or point
2.
either end of a railway, bus route, etc, or a station or town at such a point
3.
a goal aimed for
4.
a boundary or boundary marker
5.
(architect) another name for term (sense 10)
Word Origin
C16: from Latin: end; related to Greek termōn boundary

Terminus

/ˈtɜːmɪnəs/
noun
1.
the Roman god of boundaries

terminus ad quem

/ˈtɜːmɪˌnʊs æd ˈkwɛm/
noun
1.
the aim or terminal point
Word Origin
literally: the end to which

terminus a quo

/ˈtɜːmɪˌnʊs ɑː ˈkwəʊ/
noun
1.
the starting point; beginning
Word Origin
literally: the end from which
Word Origin and History for terminus
n.

1550s, "goal, end, final point," from Latin terminus (plural termini) "end, boundary line," from PIE root *ter-, base of words meaning "peg, post, boundary, marker goal" (cf. Sanskrit tarati "passes over, crosses over," Hittite tarmaizzi "he limits," Greek terma "boundary, end, limit"). In ancient Rome, Terminus was the name of the deity who presided over boundaries and landmarks, focus of the important Roman festival of Terminalia (held Feb. 23, the end of the old Roman year). Meaning "either end of a transportation line" is first recorded 1836.