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Webster 1913 Edition

Solstice

Sol′stice

,
Noun.
[L.
solstitium
;
sol
the sun +
sistere
to cause to stand, akin to
stare
to stand: cf. F.
solstice
. See
Solar
,
Adj.
,
Stand
,
Verb.
I.
]
1.
A stopping or standing still of the sun.
[Obs.]
Sir T. Browne.
2.
(Astron.)
(a)
The point in the ecliptic at which the sun is farthest from the equator, north or south, namely, the first point of the sign Cancer and the first point of the sign Capricorn, the former being the summer solstice, latter the winter solstice, in northern latitudes; – so called because the sun then apparently stands still in its northward or southward motion.
(b)
The time of the sun’s passing the solstices, or solstitial points, namely, about June 21 and December 21. See Illust. in Appendix.

Webster 1828 Edition

Solstice

SOL'STICE

,
Noun.
[L. solstitium; sol, the sun, and sto, to stand.] In astronomy, the point in the ecliptic at which the sun stops or ceases to recede from the equator, eith north in summer, or south in winter; a tropic or tropical point. There are two solstices; the summer solsitce, the first degree of Cancer, which the sun enter on the 21st of June, and the winter solstice, the first degree of Capricorn, which the sun enters on the 21st of Decenber.

Definition 2024

solstice

solstice

English

Illumination of Earth by Sun at the southern solstice.

Noun

solstice ‎(plural solstices)

  1. One of the two points in the ecliptic at which the sun is furthest from the celestial equator. This corresponds to one of two days in the year when the day is either longest or shortest.
    • 2010, Capt Sp Meek, The Solar Magnet
      The point at which the sun is nearest to the south pole we call the winter solstice, and the opposite point, the summer solstice.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

French

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /sɔl.stis/

Etymology

Latin solstitium

Noun

solstice m ‎(plural solstices)

  1. (astronomy) solstice

Derived terms

Old French

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin solstitium.

Noun

solstice m ‎(oblique plural solstices, nominative singular solstices, nominative plural solstice)

  1. (astronomy) solstice

Descendants

Etymology

From Old French solstice, from Latin solstitium, from sol ‎(“sun”) + sto ‎(“stand”) (as in English solar and resist), from sistō ‎(“I stand still”), both from Proto-Indo-European roots.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈsɒl.stɪs/

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