Almagest

[ al-muh-jest ]

noun

1. (italics) a Greek work on astronomy by Ptolemy.
2. almagest, any of various medieval works of a like kind, as on astrology or alchemy.

Almagest

/ ˈælməˌdʒɛst /

noun

1. a work on astronomy compiled by Ptolemy in the 2nd century a.d containing a description of the geocentric system of the universe and a star catalogue
2. sometimes not capital any of various similar medieval treatises on astrology, astronomy, or alchemy

Word History and Origins

Origin of Almagest¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English almageste, from Middle French, from Arabic al “the” + majisṭī, from Greek megístē (sýntaxis) “greatest (composition)”

Word History and Origins

Origin of Almagest¹

C14: from Old French, from Arabic al-majisti, from al the + majisti, from Greek megistē greatest (treatise)

Example Sentences

His treatise Almagest, one of the most influential scientific texts in history, set out a mathematical model of the cosmos—with Earth at its centre—that was accepted for more than 1,200 years.

From Scientific American

Unfortunately, he died in 1461, before he could carry out the task, although he had begun a preliminary book summarizing the edition of the Almagest that was available.

From Literature

The book is usually known by its Arabic title, the Almagest, which means ‘the Greatest’, and gives you some idea of how it was regarded in the centuries that followed; its original Greek title simply describes it as ‘The Mathematical Compilation’.

From Literature

His translations, including “The Elements” and “The Almagest,” brought “the great ideas of ancient Greece and medieval Islam to Western Europe.”

From Washington Post

Bassett, in a characteristically composed and formal tone, reads aloud from the second century Greek astronomer's famous treatise, The Almagest: "It is proper to try and fit as far as possible the simpler hypothesis to the movements of the heavens; and if this does not succeed, then any hypothesis possible."

From Science Magazine