Definition of Equinoctial

1. Noun. The great circle on the celestial sphere midway between the celestial poles.


2. Adjective. Relating to the vicinity of the equator.
Partainyms: Equator

3. Adjective. Relating to an equinox (when the lengths of night and day are equal).
Partainyms: Equinox
Derivative terms: Equinox

Definition of Equinoctial

1. a. Pertaining to an equinox, or the equinoxes, or to the time of equal day and night; as, the equinoctial line.

2. n. The equinoctial line.

Definition of Equinoctial

1. Adjective. Of or relating to an equinox. ¹

2. Adjective. (astronomy) Of or relating to a celestial or terrestrial equator. ¹

3. Noun. The great circle midway between the celestial poles; the celestial equator. ¹

4. Noun. (rare) The terrestrial equator. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Equinoctial

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Equinoctial

1. 1. Pertaining to an equinox, or the equinoxes, or to the time of equal day and night; as, the equinoctial line. 2. Pertaining to the regions or climate of the equinoctial line or equator; in or near that line; as, equinoctial heat; an equinoctial sun. 3. Pertaining to the time when the sun enters the equinoctial points; as, an equinoctial gale or storm, that is, one happening at or near the time of the equinox, in any part of the world. Equinoctial colure, the celestial equator; so called because when the sun is on it, the nights and days are of equal length in all parts of the world. See Equator. "Thrice the equinoctial line He circled. " (Milton) - Equinoctial points reckoned in any year from the instant when the mean sun is at the mean vernal equinoctial point. Origin: L. Aequinoctials, fr. Aequinoctium equinox: cf. F. Equinoxial. See Equinox. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Equinoctial

equine spinal ataxia
equine syphilis
equine typhoid
equine viral arteritis
equine virus abortion
equinecessary
equinely
equines
equinia
equinias
equinities
equinity
equinoces
equinoctal
equinoctes
equinoctial (current term)
equinoctial circle
equinoctial line
equinoctial point
equinoctial storm
equinoctial year
equinoctially
equinoctials
equinovalgus
equinox
equinoxe
equinoxes
equinoxial
equinoxially

Literary usage of Equinoctial

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The First Three English Books on America ?1511-1555 A. D..: Being Chiefly by Pietro Martire d' Anghiera, Richard Eden, Sebastian Münster (1885)
"Some thoughte that the equinoctial lyne was extended beyond the earth oner the mayne Ocean fea : whiche thinge the Poete Homere ..."

2. On the Connexion of the Physical Sciences by Mary Somerville (1840)
"Apparent sidereal time which is measured by the transit of the equinoctial point at the meridian of any place is a variable quantity, from the effects of ..."

3. The Works of the English Poets, from Chaucer to Cowper: Including the Series by Alexander Chalmers, Samuel Johnson (1810)
"I'ndur- stande well this rekening also, forget not that the sinet is 90 degrees of height from the orizont, and our equinoctial is 90 degrees from our pole ..."

4. A Treatise on Astronomy for the Use of Colleges and Schools by Hugh Godfray (1886)
"55' nearly; and, as this takes place at present near the equinoctial point where ... equinoctial Time, 199. In addition to the three kinds of time—sidereal, ..."

5. A General Collection of the Best and Most Interesting Voyages and Travels in by John Pinkerton (1814)
"... illuminated twice on the fame equinoctial days." By the representation affixed to the relation of Mr. Norry is feen, that the platform of the- capital ..."

6. A Manual of Spherical and Practical Astronomy: Embracing the General by William Chauvenet (1900)
"Determination of the equinoctial points, and the absolute right ascension ... The position of the equinoctial points is determined as soon as we have found ..."

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