meridian English · revision 890

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /məˈɹɪ.dɪ.ən/ ''(UK)''; /məˈɹɪ.di.ən/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|meridien]], [[bor|fro|meridien|t=of midday]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) and directly [[der|la|merīdiānus|t=of midday; southern]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''merīdiēs'' “midday, south”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) an alteration by dissimilation of ''*medī diē'' “in the middle of the day”, from ''medius'' “middle” and ''diēs'' “day”.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Midday, noon (about 1350 in Barnhart; before 1380 in the OED).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The astronomical and geographical sense, a great circle passing through the poles, is recorded from 1391.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) From the sun's highest point at noon came the figurative sense “the point of highest development or splendour”, which implies a decline afterwards (1613).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The word also meant “the south” (1430–40), now obsolete.^(OED 1989) In acupuncture, the ''meridians'' are pathways along which vital energy is said to flow.^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1350 – midday, noon.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1391 – a great circle through the poles.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1450 – the highest point reached by the sun.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1613 – figuratively, the peak of development.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An imaginary great circle on the Earth's surface passing through the North and South Poles, or either half of it; all points on it have the same [[longitude]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(astronomy)'' A great circle of the celestial sphere passing through its poles and the [[zenith]] of an observer.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The highest point, as of development or power; the [[peak]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # In [[acupuncture]], any of the pathways along which vital energy is said to flow.^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(archaic)'' Midday, noon.^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of or relating to a meridian.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of or at midday.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of the highest point of development.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[prime meridian]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[meridienne]]

+ * [[meridional]]

+ * [[longitude]]

+ * [[midday]]

+ * [[p.m.]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}