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Webster 1913 Edition

Horizon

Ho-ri′zon

,
Noun.
[F., fr. L.
horizon
, fr. Gr. [GREEK] (sc. [GREEK]) the bounding line, horizon, fr. [GREEK] to bound, fr. [GREEK] boundary, limit.]
1.
The line which bounds that part of the earth’s surface visible to a spectator from a given point; the apparent junction of the earth and sky.
And when the morning sun shall raise his car
Above the border of this
horizon
.
Shakespeare
All the
horizon
round
Invested with bright rays.
Milton.
2.
(Astron.)
(a)
A plane passing through the eye of the spectator and at right angles to the vertical at a given place; a plane tangent to the earth's surface at that place; called distinctively the sensible horizon.
(b)
A plane parallel to the sensible horizon of a place, and passing through the earth's center; – called also
rational horizon
or
celestial horizon
.
(c)
(Naut.)
The unbroken line separating sky and water, as seen by an eye at a given elevation, no land being visible.
3.
(Geol.)
The epoch or time during which a deposit was made.
The strata all over the earth, which were formed at the same time, are said to belong to the same geological
horizon
.
Le Conte.
4.
(Painting)
The chief horizontal line in a picture of any sort, which determines in the picture the height of the eye of the spectator; in an extended landscape, the representation of the natural horizon corresponds with this line.
Apparent horizon
.
See under
Apparent
.
–
Artificial horizon
,
a level mirror, as the surface of mercury in a shallow vessel, or a plane reflector adjusted to the true level artificially; – used chiefly with the sextant for observing the double altitude of a celestial body.
–
Celestial horizon
.
(Astron.)
See def. 2, above.
–
Dip of the horizon
(Astron.)
,
the vertical angle between the sensible horizon and a line to the visible horizon, the latter always being below the former.
–
Rational horizon
, and
Sensible horizon
.
(Astron.)
See def. 2, above.
–
Visible horizon
.
See definitions 1 and 2, above.

Webster 1828 Edition

Horizon

HOR'IZON

,
Noun.
[Gr. to bound, a limit.] The line that terminates the view, when extended on the surface of the earth; or a great circle of the sphere, dividing the world into two parts or hemispheres; the upper hemisphere which is visible, and the lower which is hid. The horizon is sensible,and rational or real. The sensible, apparent, or visible horizon, is a lesser circle of the sphere, which divides the visible part of the sphere from the invisible. It is eastern or western; the eastern is that wherein the sun and stars rise; the western, that wherein they set. The rational, true, or astronomical horizon, is a great circle whose plane passes through the center of the earth, and whose poles are the zenith and nadir. This horizon would bound the sight, if the eye could take in the whole hemisphere.

Definition 2024

horizon

horizon

English

Noun

horizon ‎(plural horizons)

  1. The horizontal line that appears to separate the Earth from the sky.
    A tall building was visible on the horizon.
  2. The range or limit of one's knowledge, experience or interest.
    Some students take a gap year after finishing high school to broaden their horizons.
  3. (geology) A specific layer of soil or strata
  4. (archaeology, US) A cultural sub-period or level within a more encompassing time period.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

See also

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin horizon, from Ancient Greek ὁρίζων ‎(horízōn), from ὅρος ‎(hóros, “boundary”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɔ.ʁi.zɔ̃/
  • Homophone: horizons
  • Hyphenation: ho‧ri‧zon

Noun

horizon m ‎(plural horizons)

  1. horizon

Derived terms

  • bleu horizon
  • horizon rationnel
  • horizon sensible
  • horizonner
  • horizontal

Latin

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ὁρίζων ‎(horízōn).

Pronunciation

  • (Classical) IPA(key): /ˈho.ri.zoːn/, [ˈhɔ.rɪ.zoːn]

Noun

horizōn m ‎(genitive horizontos or horizontis); third

  1. horizon

Inflection

Third declension, Greek type, nominative singular in -ōn. Alternative genitive singular and plural and accusative plural may be attested or may be reconstructed by lexicographers due to horizōn having been imported from the Ancient Greek masculine present active participle.

Case Singular Plural
nominative horizōn horizontēs
genitive horizontis
horizontos 		horizontum
horizontium
dative horizontī horizontibus
accusative horizonta horizontēs
horizontās
ablative horizonte horizontibus
vocative horizōn horizontēs

Descendants

References

Etymology

From Old French orizon, via Latin, from Ancient Greek ὁρίζων ‎(horízōn), from ὅρος ‎(hóros, “boundary”)

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /həˈraɪzən/

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