nadir

[ney-der, ney-deer]

noun

1. Astronomy.,  the point on the celestial sphere directly beneath a given position or observer and diametrically opposite the zenith.

2. Astrology.,  the point of a horoscope opposite the midheaven: the cusp of the fourth house.

3. the lowest point; point of greatest adversity or despair.

   Synonyms: foot, floor, bottom

nadir

/ ˈneɪdɪə, ˈnæ- /

noun

1. the point on the celestial sphere directly below an observer and diametrically opposite the zenith

2. the lowest or deepest point; depths

   the nadir of despair

nadir

1. The point on the celestial sphere that is directly below the observer (90 degrees below the celestial horizon).

2. Compare zenith

Other Word Forms

• nadiral adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nadir¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English nadir, nader, nadair, from Middle French nadir “point opposite the zenith,” from Medieval Latin nadir “point opposite the sun,” from Arabic naẓīr (as-samt) “opposite (the zenith)”; zenith ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of nadir¹

C14: from Old French, from Arabic nazīr as-samt, literally: opposite the zenith

Example Sentences

The practical effect would be to erode deterrence as the U.S. weathers a nadir in military power in this decade.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In the two years immediately following the nadir of the global financial crisis in 2008, central banks worldwide cut rates 313 times.

Read more on MarketWatch

The battered guardrails at the valley’s nadir attest to that.

Read more on Salon

But from its 1990s nadir, gold has actually outpaced stocks in this century.

Read more on Barron's

The benchmark has risen some 2.8% since its early August nadir and is up just over 1.8% since the start of the month.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• rock bottom