equinoctial

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Latin aequinoctiālis, from aequinoctium + -alis.

Pronunciation

Adjective

equinoctial (not comparable)

  1. (astronomy) Of or relating to the spring or autumnal equinox.
    an equinoctial gale or storm, i.e. one happening at or near the time of the equinox, in any part of the world
  2. (astronomy) Of or relating to the celestial equator.
  3. (uncommon) Equatorial: Of or relating to the equator of the Earth.

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Translations

Noun

equinoctial (plural equinoctials)

  1. The great circle midway between the celestial poles; the celestial equator.
    • 1621, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy, Oxford: Printed by Iohn Lichfield and Iames Short, for Henry Cripps, OCLC 216894069; The Anatomy of Melancholy: [], 2nd corrected and augmented edition, Oxford: Printed by John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, 1624, OCLC 54573970, partition III, section 2, member 1, subsection ii:
      The scorching beams under the equinoctial, or extremity of cold within the circle Arctic, […] cannot avoid or expel this heat, fury, and rage of mortal men.
  2. (rare) The terrestrial equator.

Translations

References

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