Definition of Orrery

1. Noun. Planetarium consisting of an apparatus that illustrates the relative positions and motions of bodies in the solar system by rotation and revolution of balls moved by wheelwork; sometimes incorporated in a clock.

Generic synonyms: Planetarium

Definition of Orrery

1. n. An apparatus which illustrates, by the revolution of balls moved by wheelwork, the relative size, periodic motions, positions, orbits, etc., of bodies in the solar system.

Definition of Orrery

1. Noun. a clockwork model of the solar system ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Orrery

1. a mechanical model of the solar system [n -RERIES]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Orrery

orphism
orphisms
orphrey
orphreyed
orphreys
orpiment
orpiments
orpin
orpine
orpines
orpins
orra
orrach
orrachs
orreries
orrery (current term)
orrice
orrices
orris
orrises
orrisroot
orrisroots
orrorrhœa
ors
orschallite
orse
orseille
orseilles
orseillin BB
orsellic

Literary usage of Orrery

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

1. A History of English Dramatic Literature to the Death of Queen Anne by Adolphus William Ward (1899)
"And orrery himself speaks of himself as if he had been the originator of the new fashion, when describing his tragedy of The Black Prince (not acted till ..."

2. Dictionary of National Biography by LESLIE. STEPHEN (1886)
"1707, and was the only son of Charles Boyle, fourth earl of orrery [qv], whom he succeeded as fifth earl in 1731. Like his father, he was educated at Christ ..."

3. The Library of American Biography by Jared Sparks (1856)
"THE cession of the orrery to Princeton College caused, at first, no little dissatisfaction in ... The loss of '-he orrery was found to be of little moment, ..."

4. First Book in Astronomy: Adapted to the Use of Common Schools by John Lauris Blake (1838)
"AN orrery, or planetarium^ as it is sometimes called, is a machine so ... ^Rowley, a workman, borrowed it of him, and made a copy for the Earl of orrery, ..."

5. The universal etymological English dictionaryby Nathan Bailey by Nathan Bailey (1731)
"... or predictions given from the , orrery, the name of a late inven- flight, ... figure us the orrery, then the orbits may be made circles without any ..."

6. A Complete Collection of State Trials and Proceedings for High Treason and ...by Thomas Bayly Howell, William Cobbett by Thomas Bayly Howell, William Cobbett (1816)
"A PETITION of sir Edward Fitzharris, hart and Philip Alder, sent, against the earl of orrery • was read in the House of Commons containing in substance, ..."

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