perihelion

noun
/ˌpɛɹ.ɪˈhiː.lɪ.ən/UK/ˌpɛɹ.əˈhiː.li.ən/US

Etymology

PIE word *sóh₂wl̥ From perihelium (“perihelion”) (obsolete) + -ion (suffix used for other names of apsides). Perihelium is borrowed from Late Latin perihelium, from Ancient Greek περι- (peri-, “around; surrounding”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *per- (“before, in front; first”)) + ἥλιος (hḗlios, “sun”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sóh₂wl̥ (“sun”)), which was modelled after perigeum (“point in an orbit about the Earth that is closest to the Earth, perigee”).

  1. derived from *sóh₂wl̥ — “sun
  2. derived from *per- — “before, in front; first
  3. derived from περι- — “around; surrounding
  4. borrowed from perihelium

Definitions

  1. The point in the elliptical orbit of a comet, planet, etc., where it is nearest to the…

    The point in the elliptical orbit of a comet, planet, etc., where it is nearest to the Sun.

  2. The highest point or state

    The highest point or state; the peak, zenith.

    • [T]he magnificence of his compliment had quite shaken the general's [Ulysses S. Grant's] modesty, and that he could only say that France must come to the perihelion of her glory under such rulers as Grevy [i.e., Jules Grévy].
    • This brilliant trick was the invention of the late Dr. Hofzinzer, of Vienna, who, at the perihelion of his fame, was regarded as the greatest card conjurer in the world.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for perihelion. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA