![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Words of the day
May. 10th, 2007 12:02 amsyzygy: (n) 1. In Astronomy: Originally referring to the conjuncture, now extended to include both the conjunction and opposition of two heavenly bodies, or either of the points at which these take place, esp. in the case of the moon with the sun (new and full moon). Often opposed to quadrature.
2. In Anatomy: The pairs of cranial nerves.
3. In Biology: a) a suture or immovable union of two joints of a crinoid; also the joints thus sutured.
b) A conjunction of two organisms without loss of identity.
4. In Prosody: A dipody, or combination of two feet in one metre.
5. In Mathematics: A group of rational integral functions so related that, on their being severally multiplied by other rational integral functions, the sum of the products vanishes identically; also, the relation between such functions.
6. A pair of connected or correlative things; in Gnostic theology, a couple or pair of opposites, or of æons.
crinoid: (adj/n) Lily-shaped; applied to an order (chiefly fossil) of echinoderms, having a calyx-like body, stalked and rooted; a member of this order.
conjunction: (n) 1. The action of conjoining; the fact or condition of being conjoined; union, connexion, combination.
2. a) Union in marriage.
b) Sexual union, copulation.
c) Joining in fight, hostile encounter.
d) Mixture or union of ‘elements’ or substances; one of the processes in alchemy.
3. In Astronomy: An apparent proximity of two planets or other heavenly bodies; the position of these when they are in the same, or nearly the same, direction as viewed from the earth.
4. The occurrence of events in combination; a combination of events or circumstances.
5. A concrete example of conjunction; a number of persons, things, or elements, conjoined or associated together; a combination, association, union.
b) A joining; a joint.
c) A thing that conjoins or unites; a bond or tie.
6. In Grammar: One of the Parts of Speech; an uninflected word used to connect clauses or sentences, or to co-ordinate words in the same clause.
7. In Logic: A complex proposition (typically of the form ‘p and q’) which is true only when the component propositions are all true; the operation resulting in such a proposition.
opposition: (n) 1. In Astronomy: the apparent position of two celestial objects when they differ in ecliptic longitude by 180°; esp. the position of a superior planet when in this relation to the sun.
2. a) Position or placement opposite something.
b) The action of setting one person against another.
c) In Zoology: The ability to touch the fingertips with the tip of the thumb belonging to the same hand; the action of this.
3. a) Contrary or hostile argument or action; resistance; dissent, or contradiction; objection. With against or esp. to. in opposition to: in conflict or disagreement with.
b) A fight between two opposing combatants or forces; armed combat.
c) In Fencing: The act of applying pressure on an opponent's blade without changing the direction of the initial contact, usually in order to defend the body aginst a hit.
d) in Politics: (of a political party) opposed to the party or parties in government; (of a politician) belonging to a party opposed to the government.
4. a) A political party (or occas. parties) in a country, state, etc., opposed to the current party in government of the same country, etc., esp. the largest or most important of such parties; loyal opposition, (in democratic countries, states, etc.) an opposition holding a position formally established by statute; an opposition claiming to serve the interests of the state, nation, etc., as well as or better than the current party in government.
b) A group of opponents, adversaries, or competitors.
5. In Chess: A position in which the kings face each other directly, and which obliges one of the players to move his or her king to a disadvantageous position in the next move
6. a) In Rhetoric: A contrary position or argument; a reply to a deposition, proposition, etc.; an objection. Occas.: a contrast of opinions or arguments.
b) A formal oral examination or disputation
7. a) A state of contrast or antithesis; the action of comparing or contrasting one thing to another; {dag} a contrary or opposite quality or state
b) That which is contrary or opposite; that which contrasts or counterbalances
8. In Logic: The relation between two propositions which have the same subject and predicate but differ in quantity or quality, or both.
9. In Linguistics: a) the state or condition of being opposite in meaning; the relationship between antonyms; antonymy.
b) A functional, or potentially functional, contrast between linguistic (esp. phonological) elements.
quadrature: (n) 1. Square shape, squareness.
2. One side of a square.
3. In Mathematics: The action or process of squaring; spec. the expression of an area bounded by a curve, esp. a circle, by means of an equivalent square. More widely, the calculation of the area bounded by, or lying under, a curve.
4. In Astronomy: a) One of the four cardinal points.
b) One of the two points (in space or time) at which the moon is 90° distant from the sun, or midway between the points of conjunction and opposition.
c) The position of one heavenly body relative to another when they are 90° apart, esp. of the moon to the sun when at the quadratures (see prec.)
d) In Heraldry: in quadrature, at intervals of a quarter-circle.
e) In Electricity: A phase difference of 90 degrees.
5. A division into four parts.
apse/apsis (pl. apsides): (n) In Astronomy 1. Circumference, circuit; orbit of a planet
2. One of the two points in the elliptic orbit of a planetary body, at which it is respectively at its greatest and least distance from the body about which it revolves; the aphelion or perihelion of a planet, the apogee or perigee of the moon. Line of apsides: the straight line joining these two points.
3. In Archicture: A semi-circular or polygonal recess, arched or dome-roofed, in a building, esp. at the end of the choir, aisles, or nave of a church.
b) Also, since these had their place in an apse or apsis, used for: (a) The bishop's seat or throne in ancient churches. (b) A reliquary.
aphelion: (n) That point of a planet's or comet's orbit at which it is farthest from the sun.
perihelion: (n) 1. In Astronomy: The point in the orbit of a planet, comet, etc., at which it is nearest to the sun.
2. A highest point, a zenith.
apogee: (n) 1. In Astronomy: The point in the orbit of the moon, or of any planet, at which it is at its greatest distance from the earth; also, the greatest distance of the sun from the earth when the latter is in aphelion. (A term of the Ptolemaic Astronomy, which viewed the earth as the centre of the universe; in modern astronomy strictly used in reference to the moon, and popularly said of the sun in reference to its apparent motion.)
2. The greatest altitude reached by the sun in his apparent course; his meridional altitude on the longest day
3. a) The most distant or remote spot.
b) The highest point, climax, culmination.
4. The point in the trajectory of a missile, rocket, or the like at which it is at its greatest distance from the earth.
perigee: (n) 1. In Astronomy: The point in the orbit of the moon, an artificial satellite, etc., at which it is nearest to the earth.
2. The point in the sky at which the sun has the lowest altitude at noon (i.e. at the winter solstice).
3. A lowest point, a nadir.
nadir: (n) In Astronomy: 1. A point on the celestial sphere diametrically opposite to some other point, esp. the sun. Also: a representation of such a point on an astrolabe.
2. a) The point on the celestial sphere diametrically opposite to the zenith, and directly below the observer.
b) A point directly beneath an object; nadir to: directly beneath.
3. a) The lowest or worst point (of something); the place or time of greatest depression, degradation, etc.
b) A minimum value of a varying or fluctuating quantity.
zenith: (n) 1. a) The point of the sky directly overhead; the highest point of the celestial sphere as viewed from any particular place; the upper pole of the horizon
b) The point of the horizon at which a heavenly body rises; the point of intersection of an azimuth-circle with the horizon; hence by extension = AZIMUTH
2. The expanse of sky overhead, the upper region of the sky; the highest or culminating point of a heavenly body.
3. Highest point or state, culmination, climax, acme.
4. In Medicine: a word used by some medical writers to express the first appearance of the menses in young women.
azimuth: (n) 1. An arc of the heavens extending from the zenith to the horizon which it cuts at right angles; the quadrant of a great circle of the sphere passing through the zenith and nadir, called an azimuth-circle.
2. The angular distance of any such circle from a given limit, e.g. a meridian. Hence, the true azimuth of a heavenly body is, the arc of the horizon intercepted between the north (or, in the Southern hemisphere, south) point of the horizon and the point where the great circle passing through the observed heavenly body cuts the horizon. Its magnetic azimuth is the arc intercepted between the magnetic meridian and this great circle.
(b)in azimuth: in a horizontal circular direction.
3. Horizontal angle, or direction; point of the compass.
2. In Anatomy: The pairs of cranial nerves.
3. In Biology: a) a suture or immovable union of two joints of a crinoid; also the joints thus sutured.
b) A conjunction of two organisms without loss of identity.
4. In Prosody: A dipody, or combination of two feet in one metre.
5. In Mathematics: A group of rational integral functions so related that, on their being severally multiplied by other rational integral functions, the sum of the products vanishes identically; also, the relation between such functions.
6. A pair of connected or correlative things; in Gnostic theology, a couple or pair of opposites, or of æons.
crinoid: (adj/n) Lily-shaped; applied to an order (chiefly fossil) of echinoderms, having a calyx-like body, stalked and rooted; a member of this order.
conjunction: (n) 1. The action of conjoining; the fact or condition of being conjoined; union, connexion, combination.
2. a) Union in marriage.
b) Sexual union, copulation.
c) Joining in fight, hostile encounter.
d) Mixture or union of ‘elements’ or substances; one of the processes in alchemy.
3. In Astronomy: An apparent proximity of two planets or other heavenly bodies; the position of these when they are in the same, or nearly the same, direction as viewed from the earth.
4. The occurrence of events in combination; a combination of events or circumstances.
5. A concrete example of conjunction; a number of persons, things, or elements, conjoined or associated together; a combination, association, union.
b) A joining; a joint.
c) A thing that conjoins or unites; a bond or tie.
6. In Grammar: One of the Parts of Speech; an uninflected word used to connect clauses or sentences, or to co-ordinate words in the same clause.
7. In Logic: A complex proposition (typically of the form ‘p and q’) which is true only when the component propositions are all true; the operation resulting in such a proposition.
opposition: (n) 1. In Astronomy: the apparent position of two celestial objects when they differ in ecliptic longitude by 180°; esp. the position of a superior planet when in this relation to the sun.
2. a) Position or placement opposite something.
b) The action of setting one person against another.
c) In Zoology: The ability to touch the fingertips with the tip of the thumb belonging to the same hand; the action of this.
3. a) Contrary or hostile argument or action; resistance; dissent, or contradiction; objection. With against or esp. to. in opposition to: in conflict or disagreement with.
b) A fight between two opposing combatants or forces; armed combat.
c) In Fencing: The act of applying pressure on an opponent's blade without changing the direction of the initial contact, usually in order to defend the body aginst a hit.
d) in Politics: (of a political party) opposed to the party or parties in government; (of a politician) belonging to a party opposed to the government.
4. a) A political party (or occas. parties) in a country, state, etc., opposed to the current party in government of the same country, etc., esp. the largest or most important of such parties; loyal opposition, (in democratic countries, states, etc.) an opposition holding a position formally established by statute; an opposition claiming to serve the interests of the state, nation, etc., as well as or better than the current party in government.
b) A group of opponents, adversaries, or competitors.
5. In Chess: A position in which the kings face each other directly, and which obliges one of the players to move his or her king to a disadvantageous position in the next move
6. a) In Rhetoric: A contrary position or argument; a reply to a deposition, proposition, etc.; an objection. Occas.: a contrast of opinions or arguments.
b) A formal oral examination or disputation
7. a) A state of contrast or antithesis; the action of comparing or contrasting one thing to another; {dag} a contrary or opposite quality or state
b) That which is contrary or opposite; that which contrasts or counterbalances
8. In Logic: The relation between two propositions which have the same subject and predicate but differ in quantity or quality, or both.
9. In Linguistics: a) the state or condition of being opposite in meaning; the relationship between antonyms; antonymy.
b) A functional, or potentially functional, contrast between linguistic (esp. phonological) elements.
quadrature: (n) 1. Square shape, squareness.
2. One side of a square.
3. In Mathematics: The action or process of squaring; spec. the expression of an area bounded by a curve, esp. a circle, by means of an equivalent square. More widely, the calculation of the area bounded by, or lying under, a curve.
4. In Astronomy: a) One of the four cardinal points.
b) One of the two points (in space or time) at which the moon is 90° distant from the sun, or midway between the points of conjunction and opposition.
c) The position of one heavenly body relative to another when they are 90° apart, esp. of the moon to the sun when at the quadratures (see prec.)
d) In Heraldry: in quadrature, at intervals of a quarter-circle.
e) In Electricity: A phase difference of 90 degrees.
5. A division into four parts.
apse/apsis (pl. apsides): (n) In Astronomy 1. Circumference, circuit; orbit of a planet
2. One of the two points in the elliptic orbit of a planetary body, at which it is respectively at its greatest and least distance from the body about which it revolves; the aphelion or perihelion of a planet, the apogee or perigee of the moon. Line of apsides: the straight line joining these two points.
3. In Archicture: A semi-circular or polygonal recess, arched or dome-roofed, in a building, esp. at the end of the choir, aisles, or nave of a church.
b) Also, since these had their place in an apse or apsis, used for: (a) The bishop's seat or throne in ancient churches. (b) A reliquary.
aphelion: (n) That point of a planet's or comet's orbit at which it is farthest from the sun.
perihelion: (n) 1. In Astronomy: The point in the orbit of a planet, comet, etc., at which it is nearest to the sun.
2. A highest point, a zenith.
apogee: (n) 1. In Astronomy: The point in the orbit of the moon, or of any planet, at which it is at its greatest distance from the earth; also, the greatest distance of the sun from the earth when the latter is in aphelion. (A term of the Ptolemaic Astronomy, which viewed the earth as the centre of the universe; in modern astronomy strictly used in reference to the moon, and popularly said of the sun in reference to its apparent motion.)
2. The greatest altitude reached by the sun in his apparent course; his meridional altitude on the longest day
3. a) The most distant or remote spot.
b) The highest point, climax, culmination.
4. The point in the trajectory of a missile, rocket, or the like at which it is at its greatest distance from the earth.
perigee: (n) 1. In Astronomy: The point in the orbit of the moon, an artificial satellite, etc., at which it is nearest to the earth.
2. The point in the sky at which the sun has the lowest altitude at noon (i.e. at the winter solstice).
3. A lowest point, a nadir.
nadir: (n) In Astronomy: 1. A point on the celestial sphere diametrically opposite to some other point, esp. the sun. Also: a representation of such a point on an astrolabe.
2. a) The point on the celestial sphere diametrically opposite to the zenith, and directly below the observer.
b) A point directly beneath an object; nadir to: directly beneath.
3. a) The lowest or worst point (of something); the place or time of greatest depression, degradation, etc.
b) A minimum value of a varying or fluctuating quantity.
zenith: (n) 1. a) The point of the sky directly overhead; the highest point of the celestial sphere as viewed from any particular place; the upper pole of the horizon
b) The point of the horizon at which a heavenly body rises; the point of intersection of an azimuth-circle with the horizon; hence by extension = AZIMUTH
2. The expanse of sky overhead, the upper region of the sky; the highest or culminating point of a heavenly body.
3. Highest point or state, culmination, climax, acme.
4. In Medicine: a word used by some medical writers to express the first appearance of the menses in young women.
azimuth: (n) 1. An arc of the heavens extending from the zenith to the horizon which it cuts at right angles; the quadrant of a great circle of the sphere passing through the zenith and nadir, called an azimuth-circle.
2. The angular distance of any such circle from a given limit, e.g. a meridian. Hence, the true azimuth of a heavenly body is, the arc of the horizon intercepted between the north (or, in the Southern hemisphere, south) point of the horizon and the point where the great circle passing through the observed heavenly body cuts the horizon. Its magnetic azimuth is the arc intercepted between the magnetic meridian and this great circle.
(b)in azimuth: in a horizontal circular direction.
3. Horizontal angle, or direction; point of the compass.
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif){kind=small}
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif){kind=small}