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syzygy
[ siz-i-jee ]
noun
, plural syz·y·gies.
- Astronomy. an alignment of three celestial objects, as the sun, the earth, and either the moon or a planet:
Syzygy in the sun-earth-moon system occurs at the time of full moon and new moon.
- Classical Prosody. a group or combination of two feet, sometimes restricted to a combination of two feet of different kinds.
- any two related things, either alike or opposite.
syzygy
/ ˈsɪzɪɡəl; sɪˈzɪdʒɪəl; ˌsɪzɪˈdʒɛtɪk; ˈsɪzɪdʒɪ /
noun
- either of the two positions (conjunction or opposition) of a celestial body when sun, earth, and the body lie in a straight line
the moon is at syzygy when full
- (in classical prosody) a metrical unit of two feet
- rare.any pair, usually of opposites
- biology the aggregation in a mass of certain protozoans, esp when occurring before sexual reproduction
syzygy
/ sĭz′ə-jē /
- Either of two points in the orbit of a celestial body where the body is in opposition to or in conjunction with the Sun.
- Either of the two points in the orbit of the Moon when it lies in a straight line with the Sun and Earth. A new moon syzygy occurs when the Moon is between the Sun and the Earth; a full moon syzygy occurs when the Earth is between the Moon and the Sun.
- The configuration of the Sun, Moon, and Earth when lying in a straight line.
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Derived Forms
- ˌsyzyˈgetically, adverb
- syzygial, adjective
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Other Words From
- sy·zyg·i·al [si-, zij, -ee-, uh, l], syz·y·get·ic [siz-i-, jet, -ik], syz·y·gal [siz, -i-g, uh, l], adjective
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of syzygy1
C17: from Late Latin syzygia, from Greek suzugia, from suzugos yoked together, from syn- + zugon a yoke
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Example Sentences
I have a sneaking friendliness even now for anyone to whom the word ‘syzygy’ carries no special meaning.
From Project Gutenberg
In the case of free parasites, a well-developed cyst is secreted by the syzygy, which rotates and gradually becomes spherical.
From Project Gutenberg
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