quarterly
UK: ˈkwɔːtəli | US: ˈkwɔːrtərli
adj. occurring or done every three months
adv. once every three months
n. a periodical published every three months
The word "quarterly" derives from "quarter," which originates from Latin quartarius (a fourth part), via Old French quartier. The "-ly" suffix is an Old English adverbial marker indicating regularity. Combined, "quarterly" literally means "pertaining to a fourth part," reflecting its temporal division of the year into four equal segments (every 3 months). This logical progression from spatial division (quarter) to temporal measurement exemplifies how English repurposes morphemes across contexts.
The magazine is published quarterly.
She receives quarterly dividends from her investments.
The committee holds quarterly meetings to review progress.
The report summarizes quarterly earnings for the fiscal year.
Employees are evaluated on a quarterly basis.