Adjacent Words

Zenith definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

ZENITH, n. That point in the visible celestial hemisphere, which is vertical to the spectator, and from a which a direct perpendicular line passing through the spectator, and extended, would proceed to the center of the earth. It is opposed to nadir.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the point above the observer that is directly opposite the nadir on the imaginary sphere against which celestial bodies appear to be projected [ant: nadir]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English cenyth, senyth, from Middle French cenit, from Medieval Latin, from Old Spanish zenit, modification of Arabic samt (al-ra's) way (over one's head) Date: 14th century 1. the point of the celestial sphere that is directly opposite the nadir and vertically above the observer — see azimuth illustration 2. the highest point reached in the heavens by a celestial body 3. culminating point ; acme <at the zenith of his powers — John Buchan>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 the part of the celestial sphere directly above an observer (opp. NADIR). 2 the highest point in one's fortunes; a time of great prosperity etc. Phrases and idioms: zenith distance an arc intercepted between a celestial body and its zenith; the complement of a body's altitude. Etymology: ME f. OF cenit or med.L cenit ult. f. Arab. samt (ar-ra' s) path (over the head)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Zenith Ze"nith (?; 277), n. [OE. senyth, OF. cenith, F. z['e]nith, Sp. zenit, cenit, abbrev. fr. Ar. samt-urras way of the head, vertical place; samt way, path + al the + ras head. Cf. Azimuth.] 1. That point in the visible celestial hemisphere which is vertical to the spectator; the point of the heavens directly overhead; -- opposed to nadir. From morn To noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve, A summer's day; and with the setting sun Dropped from the zenith, like a falling star. --Milton. 2. hence, figuratively, the point of culmination; the greatest height; the height of success or prosperity. I find my zenith doth depend upon A most auspicious star. --Shak. This dead of midnight is the noon of thought, And wisdom mounts her zenith with the stars. --Mrs. Barbauld. It was during those civil troubles . . . this aspiring family reached the zenith. --Macaulay. Zenith distance. (Astron.) See under Distance. Zenith sector. (Astron.) See Sector, 3. Zenith telescope (Geodesy), a telescope specially designed for determining the latitude by means of any two stars which pass the meridian about the same time, and at nearly equal distances from the zenith, but on opposite sides of it. It turns both on a vertical and a horizontal axis, is provided with a graduated vertical semicircle, and a level for setting it to a given zenith distance, and with a micrometer for measuring the difference of the zenith distances of the two stars.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

The zenith of something is the time when it is most successful or powerful. His career is now at its zenith... = peak N-SING: usu with poss

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Summit, top, apex, pinnacle, acme, utmost height, highest point, culminating point.

Moby Thesaurus

Olympian heights, acme, aerial heights, apex, apogee, authority, authorization, be-all and end-all, blue ribbon, brow, cap, capstone, championship, climax, cloud nine, command, control, crest, crown, culmen, culmination, directorship, dizzy heights, dominion, edge, effectiveness, elevation, eminence, ether, extreme limit, extremity, first place, first prize, headship, heaven, heavens, hegemony, height, heights, high noon, high point, highest, highest pitch, highest point, imperium, influence, jurisdiction, kingship, leadership, lift, limit, lordship, management, mastership, mastery, maximum, meridian, most, mountaintop, ne plus ultra, new high, no place higher, noon, palms, paramountcy, peak, pinnacle, pitch, point, pole, power, presidency, primacy, raise, record, ridge, rise, rising ground, rule, say, seventh heaven, sky, sovereignty, spire, steep, stratosphere, summit, supremacy, sway, tip, tip-top, top, top spot, upmost, upper extremity, uppermost, uprise, utmost, vantage ground, vantage point, vertex, very top