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heliacal rising

British  
/ hɪˈlaɪəkəl /

noun

  1. the rising of a celestial object at approximately the same time as the rising of the sun

  2. the date at which such a celestial object first becomes visible in the dawn sky

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

See Examples For:

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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