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Webster 1913 Edition


Syzygy

Syz′y-gy

(sĭz′ĭ-jy̆)
,
Noun.
;
pl.
Syzygies
(-jĭz)
.
[L.
syzygia
a joining together, conjunction, Gr.
συζυγία
;
σύν
with +
ζευγνύναι
to join,
ζυγόν
yoke: cf. F.
syzygie
. See
Yoke
,
Noun.
]
1.
(Astron.)
The point of an orbit, as of the moon or a planet, at which it is in conjunction or opposition; – commonly used in the plural.
2.
(Gr. & L. Pros.)
The coupling together of different feet;
as, in Greek verse, an iambic
syzygy
.
3.
(Zool.)
(a)
Any one of the segments of an arm of a crinoid composed of two joints so closely united that the line of union is obliterated on the outer, though visible on the inner, side.
(b)
The immovable union of two joints of a crinoidal arm.
Line of syzygies
(Astron.)
,
the straight line connecting the earth, the sun, and the moon or a planet, when the latter is in conjunction or opposition; – used chiefly of the moon.

Webster 1828 Edition


Syzygy

SYZ'YGY

,
Noun.
[Gr. to join.] The conjunction or opposition of a planet with the sun, or of any two of the heavenly bodies. On the phenomena and circumstances of the syzygies, depends a great part of the lunar theory.

Definition 2024


syzygy

syzygy

English

Noun

syzygy (plural syzygies)

  1. (astronomy, astrology) A kind of unity, namely an alignment of three celestial bodies (for example, the Sun, Earth, and Moon) such that one body is directly between the other two, such as occurs at an eclipse.
  2. (psychology) An archetypal pairing of contrasexual opposites, symbolizing the communication of the conscious and unconscious minds.
  3. (mathematics) A relation between generators of a module.
  4. (medicine) The fusion of some or all of the organs.
  5. (zoology) The association of two protozoa end-to-end or laterally for the purpose of asexual exchange of genetic material.
  6. (genetics) The pairing of chromosomes in meiosis.

Translations

See also