Tetra-comus, Gr. A banqueting-song sung at the festival of Bacchus during the fourth course (κῶμος).
Tetra-doros (sc. later), Gr. A peculiar kind of brick described by Vitruvius; it was called from its measuring four hand-breadths.
Tetra-drachmum, Gr. (τετρά-δραχμον). An Attic silver coin of the value of four drachmæ, or about 3s. 3d.
Tetra-foliated, Arch. Said of any architectural decoration showing four foils.
Tetragon. A plane figure having four angles; a four-sided figure.
Tetra-morph, Chr. (Gr. τέσσαρα, four; μορφὴ, shape). The union of the four attributes of the Evangelists (the angel, eagle, lion, and ox), in one figure, e. g. as a woman crowned and seated on an animal which, with the body of a horse, has the four heads of the mystic creatures; and of the four feet one is human, one hoofed for the ox, one clawed like an eagle’s, and one like a lion’s; underneath is inscribed Animal Ecclesiæ.
Tetra-style, Gr. and R. (τετράστυλος). Having four columns. (See Templum.)
Tetra-vela, Lat. “The veils or curtains placed between the pillars which supported the canopy of the altar, at the sides and in front, and which were drawn round it when the priest was not officiating.” (Fairholt.)
Teutonic Order. A military order of knights, established in the Holy Land about 1191. They first subdued and Christianized Prussia.
Tewel, Arch. (From the French tuyau.) A pipe or flue to convey smoke; it is mentioned by Chaucer: