anthelion

[ ant-hee-lee-uhn, an-thee- ]

noun

, plural ant·he·li·a [ant-, hee, -lee-, uh, an-, thee, -].

1. a luminous, white spot occasionally appearing at the sun's elevation but in the opposite part of the sky.

anthelion

/ ænˈθiː-; æntˈhiːlɪən /

noun

1. a faint halo sometimes seen in polar or high altitude regions around the shadow of an object cast onto a thick cloud bank or fog
2. a white spot occasionally appearing on the parhelic circle at the same height as and opposite to the sun

anthelion

/ ănt-hē′lē-ən,ăn-thē′- /

, Plural anthelia

1. A bright white or colored spot appearing at times in the sky opposite the Sun. White anthelia are believed to form from light that is reflected off atmospheric ice crystals; colored anthelia are believed to form from light that is refracted by atmospheric ice crystals.
2. Compare parhelion

Word History and Origins

Origin of anthelion¹

1660–70; < Late Greek anthḗlion, neuter of anthḗlios opposite the sun, equivalent to ant- ant- + hḗli ( os ) the sun + -os adj. suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of anthelion¹

C17: from Late Greek, from anthēlios opposite the sun, from ante- + hēlios sun

Example Sentences

Parhelion, par-hē′li-un, n. a bright light caused by refraction of light through ice crystals floating in the air, sometimes seen near the sun, and sometimes opposite to the sun, when it is called anthelion:—pl.

From Project Gutenberg

Anthelion, ant-hēl′yun, n. a luminous coloured ring observed by a spectator on a cloud or fog-bank over against the sun:—pl.

From Project Gutenberg

Associated words:: heliography, heliometry, solar, solstice, solarize, anthelion, parhelion, halo, heliocentric, actinometer, actinometry, heliacal, heliograph, equinox, astronomy, astronomer, photosphere, helioscope, heliostat, paranthelion, maculæ, Hyperion. sun bath. insolation. sunburnt, a. tanned, blowzy, bronzed.

From Project Gutenberg

What of the silhouette or the anthelion of the Scandinavian Alps, and the aerial cities so often seen by explorers and travelers?

From Project Gutenberg