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Webster 1913 Edition

Combust

Com-bust′

,
Adj.
[L.
combustus
, p. p. of
comburere
to burn up;
com-
+
burere
(only in comp.), of uncertain origin; cf.
bustum
funeral pyre,
prurire
to itch,
pruna
a live coal, Gr.
πυρσόσ
firebrand, Skr.
plush
to burn.]
1.
Burnt; consumed.
[Obs.]
Chaucer.
2.
(Astron.)
So near the sun as to be obscured or eclipsed by his light, as the moon or planets when not more than eight degrees and a half from the sun.
[Obs.]
Planets that are oft
combust
.
Milton.

Webster 1828 Edition

Combust

COMBUST

,
Adj.
When a planet is in conjunction with the sun or apparently very near it, it is said to be combust or in combustion. The distance within which this epithet is applicable to a planet, is said by some writers to be 8 degrees; others say, within the distance of half the suns disk.

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