sextile

[ sek-stil, -stahyl ]

adjective

1. Astronomy. noting or pertaining to the aspect or position of two heavenly bodies when 60° distant from each other.

noun

1. Astronomy. a sextile position or aspect.
2. Astrology. a sextile position or aspect, conducive to mental stimulation.
3. Statistics. a quantile for the special case of six equal proportions.

sextile

/ ˈsɛkstaɪl /

noun

1. statistics one of five actual or notional values of a variable dividing its distribution into six groups with equal frequencies
2. astrology astronomy an aspect or position of 60° between two planets or other celestial bodies

Word History and Origins

Origin of sextile¹

1550–60; < Latin sextīlis, equivalent to sext ( us ) sixth + -īlis -ile

Word History and Origins

Origin of sextile¹

C16: from Latin sextīlis one sixth (of a circle), from sextus sixth

Example Sentences

Express your feelings, with Mercury sextile Venus and Uranus.

From Seattle Times

Brainstorm and reap creative abundance, with Mercury sextile Uranus and Venus.

From Seattle Times

They move faster than you imagine; for I have got me an argol, and an English almanack, by help of which, in one half hour, I have learned to cant with an indifferent good grace: Conjunction, opposition, trine, square, and sextile, are now no longer bugbears to me, I thank my stars for't.

From Project Gutenberg

He will have Sun sextile Jupiter, which gives vision and ideas.

From Time Magazine Archive

There are five different major aspects: the sextile, when the planets are 60� distant; quartile, when they are 90� distant; trine, when 120� distant; opposition, when 180� distant; and conjunction, when both are in the same longitude.

From Project Gutenberg