heliacal rising
Britishnoun
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the rising of a celestial object at approximately the same time as the rising of the sun
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the date at which such a celestial object first becomes visible in the dawn sky
Etymology
Origin of heliacal rising
C17: from Late Latin hēliacus relating to the sun, from Greek hēliakos, from hēlios the sun
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The heliacal rising of Canopus was also a precursor of the rising of the Nile.
From Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry by Albert Pike
Swart star: the Dogstar, called swarthy because its heliacal rising in ancient times occurred soon after mid-summer. moist vows: either tearful prayers, or prayers for one at sea.
From The Golden Treasury Of the Best Songs and Lyrical Poems in the English Language by Francis Turner Palgrave
This is what is technically known as the "acronical rising" of the Pleiades, their rising at sunset; in contrast to their "heliacal rising," their rising just before daybreak, which ushered in the spring time.
From The Astronomy of the Bible An Elementary Commentary on the Astronomical References of Holy Scripture by E. Walter (Edward Walter) Maunder
The more precise fixing of new year's day was accomplished through observation of the time of the so-called heliacal rising of the dog-star, Sirius, which bore the Egyptian name Sothis.
From A History of Science — Volume 1 by Edward Huntington Williams
According to an extremely ancient belief it was the goddess Hathor Isis-Sothis who caused the inundation of the Nile which, according to the inscriptions, coincided with the heliacal rising of Sirius.
From The Fundamental Principles of Old and New World Civilizations by Zelia Nuttall
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