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syzygial

 - 4 dictionary results

syz⋅y⋅gy

  [siz-i-jee]
Use syzygial in a Sentence
–noun, plural -gies.
1. Astronomy. an alignment of three celestial objects, as the sun, the earth, and either the moon or a planet: Syzygy in the sun-earth-moon system occurs at the time of full moon and new moon.
2. Classical Prosody. a group or combination of two feet, sometimes restricted to a combination of two feet of different kinds.
3. any two related things, either alike or opposite.
Origin:
1650–60; < LL syzygia < Gk syzygía union, pair, equiv. to sýzyg(os) yoked together (sy- sy- + zyg-, base of zeugnýnai to yoke 1 + -os adj. suffix) + -ia -y 3

Related forms:
sy⋅zyg⋅i⋅al  [si-zij-ee-uhl] , syz⋅y⋅get⋅ic  [siz-i-jet-ik] , syz⋅y⋅gal  [siz-i-guhl] , adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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syz·y·gy   (sĭz'ə-jē)   
n.   pl. syz·y·gies

  1. Astronomy

    1. Either of two points in the orbit of a celestial body where the body is in opposition to or in conjunction with the sun.

    2. Either of two points in the orbit of the moon when the moon lies in a straight line with the sun and Earth.

    3. The configuration of the sun, the moon, and Earth lying in a straight line.

  2. The combining of two feet into a single metrical unit in classical prosody.


[Late Latin sȳzygia, from Greek suzugiā, union, from suzugos, paired : sun-, su-, syn- + zugon, yoke; see yeug- in Indo-European roots.]
sy·zyg'i·al (sĭ-zĭj'ē-əl) 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

syzygy 
"conjunction or opposition of a heavenly body with the sun," 1656, from L.L. syzygia, from Gk. syzygia "yoke, pair, union of two, conjunction," from syzygein "to yoke together," from syn- "together" + zygon "yoke" (see jugular).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

syzygy syz·y·gy (sĭz'ə-jē)
n.

  1. The association of gregarine protozoa end-to-end or in lateral pairing without sexual fusion.

  2. The pairing of chromosomes in meiosis.

sy·zyg'i·al (sĭ-zĭj'ē-əl) adj.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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