termini ad quem

Noun

terminus ad quem (plural termini ad quos)

1. The latest possible date of a nonpunctual event (period, era, etc.)
2. An objective or goal.
   • What I do regret is the non-intelligent and almost superstitious way in which baptism is still regarded by many of our people. They think of it too much as a mere terminus ad quem which should call forth their energies up till the time it is obtained, and then leaves them waiting to see what sort...1915, William Campbell, Sketches from Formosa, Marshall Brothers Limited, page 31