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Eclipse
Main Entry: 1eclipse
Pronunciation: i-'klips
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin eclipsis, from
Greek ekleipsis, from ekleipein to omit, fail, suffer eclipse,
from ex- + leipein to leave -- more at LOAN
Date: 13th century
1 a : the total or partial obscuring of one celestial body by
another b : the passing into the shadow of a celestial body --
compare OCCULTATION,
TRANSIT
2 : a falling into obscurity or decline; also : the
state of being eclipsed
3 : the state of being in eclipse plumage
[eclipse illustration]
Solstice
Main Entry: sol·stice
Pronunciation: 'säl-st&s, 'sOl-, 'sol-
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin solstitium, from sol
sun + -stit-, -stes standing; akin to Latin stare to stand --
more at SOLAR,
STAND
Date: 13th century
1 : either of the two points on the ecliptic at which its distance
from the celestial equator is greatest and which is reached by the sun each year
about June 22d and December 22d
2 : the time of the sun's passing a solstice which occurs about
June 22d to begin summer in the northern hemisphere and about December 22d to
begin winter in the northern hemisphere
Equinox
Main Entry: equi·nox
Pronunciation: 'E-kw&-"näks, 'e-kw&-
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French equinoxe,
from Medieval Latin equinoxium, alteration of Latin aequinoctium, from
aequi- equi- + noct-, nox night -- more at NIGHT
Date: 14th century
1 : either of the two points on the celestial sphere where the
celestial equator intersects the ecliptic
2 : either of the two times each year (as about March 21 and
September 23) when the sun crosses the equator and day and night are everywhere
of equal length
For more definitions you may find the WWWebster(TM)
Dictionary useful
"Based on Merriam-Webster's Collegiate(R) Dictionary, Tenth Edition."
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