analemma

American  

[an-l-em-uh] / ˌæn lˈɛm ə /

noun

plural

analemmas, analemmata

1. a scale shaped like the figure 8, showing the declination of the sun and the equation of time for each day of the year.

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analemma British  

/ ˌænəlɛˈmætɪk, ˌænəˈlɛmə /

noun

1. a graduated scale shaped like a figure eight that indicates the daily declination of the sun

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Other Word Forms

• analemmatic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of analemma

1645–55; < Latin: pedestal of a sundial, sundial < Greek análēmma support

Example Sentences

Let the hours be marked off transversely on the column from the analemma, and let the lines of the months also be marked upon the column.

From The Ten Books on Architecture by Vitruvius Pollio

HORREBOW.—A ring-plain of remarkable shape, resembling the analemma figure, standing at the S. end of the mountain range bounding J.F.W.

From The Moon A Full Description and Map of its Principal Physical Features by Elger, Thomas Gwyn

Whoever wishes to find their baseplates, can easily do so from the books of these writers, provided only he understands the figure of the analemma.

From The Ten Books on Architecture by Vitruvius Pollio

The hours, indicated by bronze rods in accordance with the figure of the analemma, radiate from a centre on the face.

From The Ten Books on Architecture by Vitruvius Pollio

Ptolemy's Almagest treats of the construction of dials by means of his analemma, an instrument which solved a variety of astronomical problems.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 3 "Destructors" to "Diameter" by Various