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Parhelion

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par⋅he⋅li⋅on

[pahr-hee-lee-uhn, -heel-yuhn]
–noun, plural -he⋅li⋅a [-hee-lee-uh, -heel-yuh] . Meteorology.
a bright circular spot on a solar halo; a mock sun: usually one of two or more such spots seen on opposite sides of the sun, and often accompanied by additional luminous arcs and bands.
Also called sundog.
Compare paraselene.


Origin:
1640–50; alter. of L parēlion < Gk parlion, n. use of neut. of parlios beside the sun. See par-, helio-


par⋅he⋅lic, par⋅he⋅li⋅a⋅cal [pahr-hi-lahy-uh-kuhl] , adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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par·he·li·on   (pär-hē'lē-ən, -hēl'yən)   
n.   pl. par·he·li·a (-hē'lē-ə, -hēl'yə)
A bright spot sometimes appearing on either side of the sun, often on a luminous ring or halo.

[Latin parēlion, from Greek : para-, beside; see para-1 + hēlios, sun; see sāwel- in Indo-European roots.]
par·he'lic (-hē'lĭk) adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

parhelion 
1647, from Gk. parelion "a mock sun," from para- "beside" + helios "sun" (see sol).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Encyclopedia

parhelion

atmospheric optical phenomenon appearing in the sky as luminous spots 22 on each side of the Sun and at the same elevation as the Sun. Usually, the edges closest to the Sun will appear reddish. Other colours are occasionally visible, but more often the outer portions of each spot appear whitish.

Learn more about parhelion with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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