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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

na·dir

Audio Help [ney-der, ney-deer] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	Astronomy. the point on the celestial sphere directly beneath a given position or observer and diametrically opposite the zenith.

2.	Astrology. the point of a horoscope opposite the midheaven: the cusp of the fourth house.

3.	the lowest point; point of greatest adversity or despair.

[Origin: 1350–1400; ME ≪ Ar naẓīr over against, opposite to (the zenith)

]

—Related forms

na·dir·al, adjective

—Synonyms 3. bottom, floor, foot, depths.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
nadir

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

na·dir Audio Help (nā'dər, -dîr') Pronunciation Key
n.

Astronomy A point on the celestial sphere directly below the observer, diametrically opposite the zenith.
The lowest point: the nadir of their fortunes.

[Middle English, from Medieval Latin, from Arabic naẓīr (as-samt), opposite (the zenith), from naẓara, to see, watch; see nr in Semitic roots.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
nadir

c.1391, in astronomical sense, from M.L. nadir, from Arabic nazir "opposite to," in nazir as-samt, lit. "opposite of the zenith," from nazir "opposite" + as-samt "zenith" (see zenith). Transf. sense of "lowest point (of anything)" is first recorded 1793.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

nadir
noun
1.	an extreme state of adversity; the lowest point of anything
2.	the point below the observer that is directly opposite the zenith on the imaginary sphere against which celestial bodies appear to be projected [ant: zenith]

The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

nadir Audio Help (nā'dər) Pronunciation Key
The point on the celestial sphere that is directly below the observer (90 degrees below the celestial horizon). Compare zenith.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Nadir

Na"dir\, n. [F., Sp., & It. nadir; all fr. Ar. nas[=i]ru's samt nadir, prop., the point opposite the zenith (as samt), in which nas[=i]r means alike, corresponding to. Cf. Azimuth, Zenith.]

1. That point of the heavens, or lower hemisphere, directly opposite the zenith; the inferior pole of the horizon; the point of the celestial sphere directly under the place where we stand.

2. The lowest point; the time of greatest depression.

The seventh century is the nadir of the human mind in Europe. --Hallam.

Nadir of the sun (Astron.), the axis of the conical shadow projected by the earth. --Crabb.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

nadir

Ze"nith\ (?; 277), n. [OE. senyth, OF. cenith, F. z['e]nith, Sp. zenit, cenit, abbrev. fr. Ar. samt-urras way of the head, vertical place; samt way, path + al the + ras head. Cf. Azimuth.]

1. That point in the visible celestial hemisphere which is vertical to the spectator; the point of the heavens directly overhead; -- opposed to nadir.

From morn To noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve, A summer's day; and with the setting sun Dropped from the zenith, like a falling star. --Milton.

2. hence, figuratively, the point of culmination; the greatest height; the height of success or prosperity.

I find my zenith doth depend upon A most auspicious star. --Shak.

This dead of midnight is the noon of thought, And wisdom mounts her zenith with the stars. --Mrs. Barbauld.

It was during those civil troubles . . . this aspiring family reached the zenith. --Macaulay.

Zenith distance. (Astron.) See under Distance.

Zenith sector. (Astron.) See Sector, 3.

Zenith telescope (Geodesy), a telescope specially designed for determining the latitude by means of any two stars which pass the meridian about the same time, and at nearly equal distances from the zenith, but on opposite sides of it. It turns both on a vertical and a horizontal axis, is provided with a graduated vertical semicircle, and a level for setting it to a given zenith distance, and with a micrometer for measuring the difference of the zenith distances of the two stars.

Dictionary.com Word of the Day Archive - Cite This Source - Share This

nadir

nadir was Word of the Day on January 6, 2000.

Dictionary.com Word of the Day

Acronym Finder - Cite This Source - Share This

NADIR

NADIR: in Acronym Finder

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