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Nadir
//ˈneɪˌdɪɚ// name, noun, verb
Definitions
Proper Noun
- 1 A male given name.
- 2 A surname.
Noun
- 1 The point of the celestial sphere, directly opposite the zenith; inferior pole of the horizon; point of the celestial sphere directly under the place of observation.
"[…] when we are Nadyr to the Sunne, we have no ſhadow […]"
- 2 the point below the observer that is directly opposite the zenith on the imaginary sphere against which celestial bodies appear to be projected wordnet
- 3 The lowest point; time of greatest depression. figuratively
"Near-synonym: dead"
- 4 an extreme state of adversity; the lowest point of anything wordnet
- 5 The axis of a projected conical shadow; the direction of the force of gravity at a location; down.
"The nadir of the sun is the axis of the shadow projected by the Earth."
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- 6 An empty box added beneath a full one in a beehive to give the colony more room to expand or store honey. archaic
Verb
- 1 To extend (a beehive) by adding an empty box at the base. transitive
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Medieval Latin nadir, from Arabic نَظِير السَّمْت (naẓīr as-samt), composed of نَظِير (naẓīr, “counterpart, corresponding to”) and السَّمْت (as-samt, “the zenith”).
Etymology 2
From Medieval Latin nadir, from Arabic نَظِير السَّمْت (naẓīr as-samt), composed of نَظِير (naẓīr, “counterpart, corresponding to”) and السَّمْت (as-samt, “the zenith”).
Etymology 3
Unknown. It has been suggested that it is from Arabic نَزِير (nazīr, “rare, trivial”), but if it is Arabic, perhaps more likely would be نَذِير (naḏīr, “auspicious, boding well (?)”). Represents the word 'rare' in Hebrew.
See also for "nadir"
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Unscramble this word: nadir