Term

Term, a day fixed by law and usage for payment of rent, and for the commencement and termination of the contract between landlord and tenant; also the period between two terms. In England and Ireland the year is divided into four quarters or terms. These are Lady Day, March 25; Midsummer Day, June 24; Michaelmas Day, September 29; and Christmas Day, December 25. In Scotland the terms as between landlord and tenant are divided into legal and conventional terms. There are two terms recognised by common law—viz. Whitsunday, May 15, and Martinmas, November 11; while other two conventional terms subdivide these—viz. Candlemas, February 2, and Lammas, August 1. Removal terms and the terms by which domestic servants are engaged are the 28th May and 28th November. The Michaelmas term is the most important in England, whereas in Scotland it is Whitsunday. There is also a subdivision of the year into Law-terms; since the passing of the Judicature Acts the traditional terms are superseded by the times fixed for sittings of the courts by statute, but for some purposes we still distinguish Hilary, Easter, Trinity, and Michaelmas terms. At the English universities there are nominally four terms in the year, but usage has established three working terms of about nine weeks each.