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zenith
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English Dictionary: zenith by the DICT Development Group
2 results for zenith
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
zenith
n
  1. the point above the observer that is directly opposite the nadir on the imaginary sphere against which celestial bodies appear to be projected
    Antonym(s): nadir
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
   Zenith \Ze"nith\ (?; 277), n. [OE. senyth, OF. cenith, F.
      z[82]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.
No guarantee of accuracy or completeness!
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