nadir

[ney-der, ney-deer]

noun

1. Astronomy.,  the point on the celestial sphere directly beneath a given position or observer and diametrically opposite the zenith.

2. Astrology.,  the point of a horoscope opposite the midheaven: the cusp of the fourth house.

3. the lowest point; point of greatest adversity or despair.

   Synonyms: foot, floor, bottom

nadir

/ ˈneɪdɪə, ˈnæ- /

noun

1. the point on the celestial sphere directly below an observer and diametrically opposite the zenith

2. the lowest or deepest point; depths

   the nadir of despair

nadir

1. The point on the celestial sphere that is directly below the observer (90 degrees below the celestial horizon).

2. Compare zenith

Other Word Forms

• nadiral adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nadir¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English nadir, nader, nadair, from Middle French nadir “point opposite the zenith,” from Medieval Latin nadir “point opposite the sun,” from Arabic naẓīr (as-samt) “opposite (the zenith)”; zenith ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of nadir¹

C14: from Old French, from Arabic nazīr as-samt, literally: opposite the zenith

Example Sentences

The visit capped Bin Salman’s stunning redemption arc from the nadir of his reputation seven years ago.

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Mr. van Pelt describes the crematoria and the whiteprint as “a nadir in the history of architecture.”

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But in each of its three games since that Notre Dame nadir, the Trojans have come out looking like a totally different defense in the second half.

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It was two years ago this month, with USC’s defense at an unthinkable nadir, that Lincoln Riley finally decided to fire Alex Grinch, his first defensive coordinator.

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The practical effect would be to erode deterrence as the U.S. weathers a nadir in military power in this decade.

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Related Words

• rock bottom