Term

Definition

A term is one of the minor classical dignities that subdivide each sign into unequal degree boundaries, each boundary assigned to a planet. The Egyptian table is the system most often quoted, with five planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn) sharing the thirty degrees of every sign in fixed but uneven slices. A planet sitting inside its own term gains a touch of strength.

In context

If natal Mars sits at five degrees of Aries and the Egyptian terms place Jupiter in that opening slice, your Mars receives a Jupiter-flavored tinge from the boundary it inhabits. The effect is small and only matters when you need fine-grained traditional readings: it would not change the broad story of a chart, but it can tip the balance of a close aspect or a tight almuten calculation in one direction.

To go deeper

Term sits among the minor dignities classical astrology stacks below domicile:

• Triplicity: three-planet rulership of an element.
• Decan-ruler: planet ruling a ten-degree segment.
• Almuten: planet with greatest summed dignity at a degree.