heliacal

American  

[hi-lahy-uh-kuhl] / hɪˈlaɪ ə kəl /

Also heliac

adjective

Astronomy.

1. pertaining to or occurring near the sun, especially applied to such risings and settings of a star as are most nearly coincident with those of the sun while yet visible.

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Other Word Forms

• heliacally
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of heliacal

1600–10; < Late Latin hēliac ( us ) (< Greek hēliakós; see heli- ¹, -ac) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

heliacal

The Egyptians had, at an early period, observed that the rising of the Nile coincided with the heliacal rising of Sirius, the Dog-star, and hence they very plausibly referred it to celestial agencies.

From History of the Intellectual Development of Europe, Volume I (of 2) Revised Edition by John William Draper

At Dedan and Saba it was thirty-six days, from the beginning of the aphanism, i.e., the disappearances of these stars, to the heliacal rising of Aldebaran.

From Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry by Albert Pike

Either the calendar did not originate in Egypt, or it was introduced in 2780 B.C., when again the heliacal rising Sothis fell on the first of Thoth.

From The Egyptian Conception of Immortality by George Andrew Reisner

And precisely at the moment of the heliacal rising of Arcturus, also rose Spica Virginis.

From Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry by Albert Pike

The dies caniculares, or dog-days, were reckoned to begin twenty days before, and to continue for twenty days after, the heliacal rising of Sirius, the dog-star.

From The Astronomy of Milton's 'Paradise Lost' by Thomas Nathaniel Orchard

Related Words

• cosmic