ecliptic etymology

Etymology

• Greek: ἐκλειπτική (ekleiptikē), "ecliptic"
• Latin: eclipticus
• French: écliptique

Meaning

• The apparent path of the sun across the celestial sphere over the course of a year.
• A great circle on the celestial sphere that represents the intersection of the plane of the Earth's orbit with the celestial sphere.

Origin

The term "ecliptic" comes from the Greek word ἐκλειπτική (ekleiptikē), which means "ecliptic." This word is derived from the Greek verb ἐκλείπειν (ekleipein), meaning "to fail, to disappear." The name "ecliptic" was given to this circle because it is the path along which solar eclipses occur.

In the Ptolemaic model of the universe, the ecliptic was the boundary between the celestial sphere (the sphere of the fixed stars) and the planetary spheres. The planets were thought to orbit the Earth on circles that were parallel to the ecliptic.

The ecliptic is still an important reference point in astronomy today. It is used to define the celestial coordinates of celestial objects and to calculate the time of solar eclipses.

ecliptic relate terms

• eclipse

  Etymology The word eclipse is derived from the Ancient Greek word ekleipsis meaning

• ellipsis

  Etymology Meaning and Origin of Ellipsis Etymology Greek ἔλλειψις ellei

• ecliptic

  Etymology Greek ἐκλειπτική ekleiptikē ecliptic Latin eclipticus Frenc

• ascendant

  Etymology Latin ascendens present participle of ascendere to climb rise Latin ad

• tropic

  Etymology The word tropic comes from the Greek word tropos which means a turn Th

• mensa

  Etymology Latin mensa table Meaning and Origin The term mensa is derived fro

• dodge

  Etymology The word dodge has its origins in the Middle English word doggen meaning

• magistrate

  Etymology The word magistrate is derived from the Latin word magistratus which orig

• rest

  Etymology The word rest originates from the Old English word restan which means to

• abyss

  Etymology The word abyss comes from the Greek word ἄβυσσος abyssos which m

• dilettante

  Etymology Dilettante originates from the Italian word dilettante which means lover

• habitat

  Etymology habitat n mid 17th century from French habitat from Latin habitare dwel