nadir

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Related to nadirs: zeniths

na·dir

(nā′dər, -dîr′)

1. Astronomy A point on the celestial sphere directly below the observer, diametrically opposite the zenith.

2. The lowest point: the nadir of their fortunes.

[Middle English, from Medieval Latin, from Arabic naẓīr (as-samt), opposite (the zenith), from naẓara, to see, watch; see nṯ̣r in Semitic roots.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

nadir

(ˈneɪdɪə; ˈnæ-)

1. (Astronomy) the point on the celestial sphere directly below an observer and diametrically opposite the zenith

2. the lowest or deepest point; depths: the nadir of despair.

[C14: from Old French, from Arabic nazīr as-samt, literally: opposite the zenith]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

na•dir

(ˈneɪ dər, -dɪər)

n.

1. the point on the celestial sphere directly beneath a given position or observer and diametrically opposite the zenith.

2. the lowest point; point of greatest adversity or despair.

[1350–1400; Middle English « Arabic naẓīr over against, opposite to (the zenith)]

na′dir•al, adj.

na·dir

(nā′dər)

The point on the celestial sphere that is directly below the observer.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

zenith, nadir - Zenith derived from Arabic samt ar-ras, "the way or road above one's head"; zenith technically is the point directly above the observer and nadir is the point directly below.

See also related terms for observer.

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Noun	1.	nadir - an extreme state of adversity; the lowest point of anything low-water mark adversity, hard knocks, hardship - a state of misfortune or affliction; "debt-ridden farmers struggling with adversity"; "a life of hardship"
	2.	nadir - the point below the observer that is directly opposite the zenith on the imaginary sphere against which celestial bodies appear to be projected celestial point - a point in the heavens (on the celestial sphere) celestial sphere, empyrean, firmament, heavens, vault of heaven, welkin, sphere - the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected zenith - the point above the observer that is directly opposite the nadir on the imaginary sphere against which celestial bodies appear to be projected

nadir

noun bottom, depths, lowest point, rock bottom, all-time low That period was the nadir of his presidency.
top, summit, height, peak, climax, crest, high point, pinnacle, zenith, apex, acme

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

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nadir

[ˈneɪdɪəʳ] N (Astron) → nadir m (fig) → punto m más bajo, nadir m

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

References in classic literature ?

He was fond of comparing himself to Mahomet's coffin, attracted in two different directions by two loadstones, and hesitating eternally between the heights and the depths, between the vault and the pavement, between fall and ascent, between zenith and nadir.

View in context

When we halted our shadows still pointed toward nadir. Whether an instant or an eternity of earthly time elapsed who may say.

View in context

Here and there nebulous masses like large flakes of starry snow; and from the zenith to the nadir, an immense ring formed by an impalpable dust of stars, the "Milky Way," in the midst of which the sun ranks only as a star of the fourth magnitude.