tertium quid

[ tur-shee-uh m kwid; Latin ter-ti-oo m kwid ]
/ ˈtɜr ʃi əm ˈkwɪd; Latin ˈtɛr tɪˌʊm ˈkwɪd /

noun

something related in some way to two things, but distinct from both; something intermediate between two things.

Origin of tertium quid

1715–25; < Latin, translation of Greek tríton·ti some third thing

British Dictionary definitions for tertium quid

tertium quid
/ (ˈtɜːtɪəm ˈkwɪd) /

noun

an unknown or indefinite thing related in some way to two known or definite things, but distinct from both there is either right or wrong, with no tertium quid

Word Origin for tertium quid

C18: from Late Latin, rendering Greek triton ti some third thing