Word of the Day: Equinoctial

equinoctial  

e-qui-noc-tial / ē-kwə-nŏk-shəl, ĕk-wə-nŏk-shəl

adjective

1. pertaining to or occurring on or near the equinox, one of two days a year when the day and night are of equal length

The equinoctial gale blew violently, and scattered the yellow leaves of Liberty Tree all along the street.

From “Grandfather’s Chair” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1804 – 1864

2. pertaining to the celestial equator, the circle of the celestial sphere which is in the same plane as the earth’s equator

Remembering that Eratosthenes of Cyrene, employing mathematical theories and geometrical methods, discovered from the course of the sun, the shadows cast by an equinoctial gnomon, and the inclination of the heaven that the circumference of the earth is two hundred and fifty-two thousand stadia, that is, thirty-one million five hundred thousand paces.

Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, 81 BC – 15 AD

noun

1. another name for the celestial equator, the circle of the celestial sphere which is in the same plane as the earth’s equator

In sooth, thou wast in very gracious fooling last night when thou spokest of Pigrogromitus, of the Vapians passing the equinoctial of Queubus.

From “Twelfth Night” by William Shakespeare, 1564 – 1616

2. a violent rain or wind storm that occurs around the time of an equinox

Now springtide brings back its mild and tepid airs, now the heaven’s fury equinoctial is calmed by Zephyr’s benign breath.

From “The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus” by Caius Valerius Catullus, c. 84 BC – c. 54 BC