syzygy
noun pl. syzygies
- a pair of things, esp. a pair of opposites
- Astron., Rare either of two opposing points in the orbit of a celestial body, specif. of the moon, at which it is in conjunction with or in opposition to the sun
- Gr. & Latin Prosody a measure of two feet, as a dipody
See syzygy in American Heritage Dictionary 4
syz·y·gy
noun pl. syzygies syz·y·gies - Astronomy
a. Either of two points in the orbit of a celestial body where the body is in opposition to or in conjunction with the sun.
b. Either of two points in the orbit of the moon when the moon lies in a straight line with the sun and Earth.
c. The configuration of the sun, the moon, and Earth lying in a straight line.
- The combining of two feet into a single metrical unit in classical prosody.
Origin: Late Latin sȳzygia, from Greek suzugiā, union, from suzugos, paired : sun-, su-, syn- + zugon, yoke; see yeug- in Indo-European roots.
Related Forms:
- syzygial sy·zygˈi·al (sĭ-zĭjˈē-əl) adjective
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