epact

[ ee-pakt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the difference in days between a solar year and a lunar year.
the number of days since the new moon at the beginning of the calendar year, January 1.

epact

/ ˈiːpækt /

noun

the difference in time, about 11 days, between the solar year and the lunar year
the number of days between the beginning of the calendar year and the new moon immediately preceding this
the difference in time between the calendar month and the synodic month

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Word History and Origins

Origin of epact¹

1545–55; < Late Latin epacta < Greek epaktḗ, noun use of feminine of epaktós added, equivalent to ep- ep- + ag ( ein ) to lead + -tos verbid suffix

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Word History and Origins

Origin of epact¹

C16: via Late Latin from Greek epaktē, from epagein to bring in, intercalate, from agein to lead

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Example Sentences

During those few and sombre days which represented the epact of the dying year, Martin Grimbal returned to Chagford.

From Project Gutenberg

It is, however, only used in those years in which the epact 19 concurs with the golden number 19.

From Project Gutenberg

The epact 19′ (also distinguished by an accent or different character) is placed in the same line with 20 at the 31st of December.

From Project Gutenberg

In the calendar this epact first occurs before the 2nd of December at the 26th of November.

From Project Gutenberg

On account of the solar equation S, the epact J must be diminished by unity every centesimal year, excepting always the fourth.

From Project Gutenberg

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EPA epagoge

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