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

City Hall was at a nadir amid numerous criminal scandals and an explosive leaked recording of some City Council members frankly discussing politics in sometimes racist terms.

From Los Angeles Times

One person’s humiliating nadir comes during a painful tracking shot at an outdoor party where they’re shunned like they have the plague.

From Los Angeles Times

West Indies' decline is nothing new, but this feels like a particular nadir and already the post-mortem has begun.

From BBC

Would that the report marked the nadir of Kennedy’s work as secretary of Health and Human Services.

From Los Angeles Times

Part of going forward necessitates making sense of how we as a country got to this nadir.

From Salon

Related Words

• rock bottom