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solsticemore about solstice

solstice


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Solstice  \Sol"stice\,  n.[L.  solstitium  sol  the  sun  +  sistere  to 
  cause  to  stand  akin  to  stare  to  stand:  cf  F.  solstice.  See 
  {Solar},  a.,  {Stand},  v.  i.] 
  1.  A  stopping  or  standing  still  of  the  sun.  [Obs.]  --Sir  T. 
  Browne. 
 
  2.  (Astron.) 
  a  The  point  in  the  ecliptic  at  which  the  sun  is  farthest 
  from  the  equator,  north  or  south,  namely,  the  first 
  point  of  the  sign  Cancer  and  the  first  point  of  the 
  sign  Capricorn,  the  former  being  the  summer  solstice, 
  latter  the  winter  solstice,  in  northern  latitudes;  -- 
  so  called  because  the  sun  then  apparently  stands  still 
  in  its  northward  or  southward  motion. 
  b  The  time  of  the  sun's  passing  the  solstices,  or 
  solstitial  points,  namely,  about  June  21  and  December 
  21.  See  Illust.  in  Appendix. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  solstice 
  n  :  either  of  the  two  times  of  the  year  when  the  sun  is  at  its 
  greatest  distance  from  the  celestial  equator 




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