nadir

3 definitions found

nadir - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Nadir \Na"dir\ (n[=a]"d[~e]r), n. [F., Sp., & It. nadir; all fr.
     Ar. naz[imac]ru's samt nadir, prop., the point opposite the
     zenith (as samt), in which naz[imac]r means alike,
     corresponding to. Cf. Azimuth, Zenith.]
     1. That point of the heavens, or lower hemisphere, directly
        opposite the zenith; the inferior pole of the horizon; the
        point of the celestial sphere directly under the place
        where we stand.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. The lowest point; the time of greatest depression.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The seventh century is the nadir of the human mind
              in Europe.                            --Hallam.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Nadir of the sun (Astron.), the axis of the conical shadow
        projected by the earth. --Crabb.
        [1913 Webster]

nadir - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  nadir
      n 1: an extreme state of adversity; the lowest point of anything
           [syn: nadir, low-water mark]
      2: the point below the observer that is directly opposite the
         zenith on the imaginary sphere against which celestial bodies
         appear to be projected [ant: zenith]

nadir - Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 :

  21 Moby Thesaurus words for "nadir":
     base, baseboard, basement, bedrock, bottom, chassis, dado, foot,
     footing, foundation, frame, keel, lower strata, lowest level,
     lowest point, mopboard, shoemold, sole, toe, underlying level,
     wainscot