Term (bound)
A term, also called a bound, is an unequal division of a sign, usually five per sign, each ruled by one of the five non-luminary planets.
The divisions are unequal on purpose: the Egyptian table, the one most widely used, gives each planet a different span in each sign. A planet standing in its own term gains a modest dignity, which often decides a close comparison between two placements.
Terms are a fine-grained layer. They matter most when a chart asks which of two similarly placed planets carries a topic.
Frequently asked
Why are the terms unequal?
They come from an inherited table rather than a geometric rule; the Egyptian bounds are the version most traditional astrologers use.
Do the Sun and Moon rule terms?
No. The five terms of each sign belong to Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.