solstice

English

Illumination of Earth by Sun at the southern solstice.

Etymology

From Middle English solstice, from Old French solstice, from Latin sōlstitium, from sōl (sun) + sistō (stand still, verb), both from Proto-Indo-European roots.

Pronunciation

Noun

solstice (plural solstices)

  1. One of the two points in the ecliptic at which the sun is furthest from the celestial equator. This corresponds to one of two days in the year when the day is either longest or shortest.
    • 2010, Capt Sp Meek, The Solar Magnet
      The point at which the sun is nearest to the south pole we call the winter solstice, and the opposite point, the summer solstice.

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French

Etymology

Latin solstitium

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /sɔl.stis/
  • Rhymes: -is

Noun

solstice m (plural solstices)

  1. (astronomy) solstice

Derived terms

Further reading


Old French

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin solstitium.

Noun

solstice m (oblique plural solstices, nominative singular solstices, nominative plural solstice)

  1. (astronomy) solstice

Descendants

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