equinoctial

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   of or occurring near an equinox, especially in the phrase equinoctial gale

   Violent equinoctial gales battered the coast in late September.

2. 2
   adj

   relating to the celestial equator or, less commonly, the Earth's equator

   The astronomer plotted the star against the equinoctial coordinate system.

3. 3
   noun

   the celestial equator, an imaginary great circle midway between the celestial poles

   The old chart marked the equinoctial across the center of the heavens.

From Middle English equinoctial, through Old French equinoxial from Latin aequinoctialis, based on aequinoctium, 'equinox.' The Latin compound joins aequus, 'equal,' and nox, 'night,' referring to the near equality of day and night.

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