nadir
verb
- to reach the lowest point; to bottom out
noun
- direction pointing directly below a particular location
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈneɪˌdɪə(ɹ)/ / /ˈnæd.ɪə(ɹ)/ / /ˈneɪ.də(ɹ)/
name
Etymology: Unknown. It has been suggested that it is from Arabic نَزِير (nazīr, “rare, trivial”), but if it is Arabic, perhaps more likely would be نَذِير (naḏīr, “auspicious, boding well (?)”). Represents the word 'rare' in Hebrew.
- A male given name.
- A surname.
noun
Etymology: From Medieval Latin nadir, from Arabic نَظِير السَّمْت (naẓīr as-samt), composed of نَظِير (naẓīr, “counterpart, corresponding to”) and السَّمْت (as-samt, “the zenith”).
- The point of the celestial sphere, directly opposite the zenith; inferior pole of the horizon; point of the celestial sphere directly under the place of observation.
“[…] when we are Nadyr to the Sunne, we have no ſhadow […]”
- The lowest point; time of greatest depression.
“Near-synonym: dead”
“[…] the seventh century is the nadir of the human mind in Europe […]”
- The axis of a projected conical shadow; the direction of the force of gravity at a location; down.
“The nadir of the sun is the axis of the shadow projected by the Earth.”
- An empty box added beneath a full one in a beehive to give the colony more room to expand or store honey.
verb
Etymology: From Medieval Latin nadir, from Arabic نَظِير السَّمْت (naẓīr as-samt), composed of نَظِير (naẓīr, “counterpart, corresponding to”) and السَّمْت (as-samt, “the zenith”).
- To extend (a beehive) by adding an empty box at the base.