zenith English · revision 2402

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈzɛnɪθ/ ''(UK)''; /ˈziːnɪθ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|cenyth]],^(MW Collegiate) [[bor|fro|cenith]],^(AHD)^(Etymonline) [[der|la-med|cenit]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline) via [[osp|zenit]],^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) a scribal misreading of Arabic ''samt'' “road, path”, short for ''samt ar-raʾs'' “the way over the head”.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) The letter ''m'' was misread as ''ni''.^(Etymonline)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The point of the sky directly overhead (1387).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ By 1592 the word was used loosely for the upper part of the sky or the highest point reached by a heavenly body,^(OED 1989) and from 1610 figuratively for the highest point or state of anything.^(OED 1989) It is the opposite of [[nadir]].^(RHWU)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1387 – the point of the sky directly overhead.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1592 – the upper sky; the highest point of a heavenly body.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1610 – figurative, the highest point or state.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1885 – ''magnetic zenith''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The highest point; the peak.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(astronomy)'' The point of the celestial sphere directly above the observer, opposite the nadir.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The highest point in the sky reached by a celestial body.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[azimuth]]

+ * [[nadir]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House lists ''apex'' and ''summit'' as synonyms, and ''nadir'' as the antonym.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}