|
162 wordies list
syzygy |
(n): the straight line configuration of 3 celestial bodies (as the sun and earth and moon) in a gravitational system
(n): a natural phenomenon involving the physical properties of matter and energy
|
Leave a comment, citation, or usage note
|
first listed by:
appears in these lists:
|
"'Really, Sophie, you would think that a fellow of Stephen's parts, a prodigious natural philosopher, could be brought to understand the nature of the tide. Here is the moon at her perigee, in syzygy, and near the equator, as I showed you last night, and you smoked it directly, did you not?'
"'Oh, perfectly, my dear,' said Sophie, looking wild: at least she had a clear recollection of the pale crescent over Porchester Castle..."
--Patrick O'Brian, The Ionian Mission, 24
Zoology parlance - of which I am familiar - the breakpoint in a starfish's arm.
The alignment of any three celestial bodies.
That Sturgeon story was my first encounter with syzygy, too!
What a wonderful word. Isn't it gorgeous. I first came across it in a science fiction stories book by Theodore Sturgeon. The story was called "It wasn't Syzygy".
Became acquainted with this word a few years ago when wine tasting in Walla Walla WA--there is a winery with that name. As I recall, the winemaker (unsurprisingly) had a great love of astonomy, and explained the term in some detail.
But regular Scrabble also has two blank tiles for just such emergencies.
I know this from the X-Files episode of the same name - anyone with me?
> Now *here's* a word it's good to know when playing Scrabble.
Only if you are playing Super Scrabble. Regular Scrabble has only 2 tiles of the letter Y.
Wow. Now *here's* a word it's good to know when playing Scrabble.
I like Vladimir Solovyovs use of this word
Great word for hangman.