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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
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 ,
2 : a falling into obscurity or decline; also : the state of being eclipsed
3 : the state of being in eclipse plumage
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 ,
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
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 useful
"Based on Merriam-Webster's Collegiate(R) Dictionary, Tenth Edition."
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