solstitial

American  

[sol-stish-uhl, sohl-] / sɒlˈstɪʃ əl, soʊl- /

adjective

1. of or relating to a solstice or the solstices.

   a solstitial point.

2. occurring at or about the time of a solstice.

3. characteristic of the summer solstice.

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Usage

What does solstitial mean? Solstitial is an adjective that’s used to describe things related to the solstice or things that occur around the time of the solstice. A solstice is one of the two times of the year when the positioning and tilt of Earth relative to the sun results in the most amount of daylight time or the least amount of daylight time in a single day. There are two solstices during the year: one that occurs around June 20–22 (usually June 20 or 21) and one that occurs around December 20–23 (usually December 21 or 22). These solstitial points are traditionally considered to mark the start of summer and winter. But which season begins with each solstice depends on which hemisphere you’re in. In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice occurs in June and the winter solstice occurs in December. In the Southern Hemisphere, it’s the opposite. The summer solstice results in the longest day of the year, meaning it has the most time of daylight, and the winter solstice results in the shortest day of the year, meaning it has the longest period of darkness. In contrast, an equinox is one of the two times of the year when the amount of daylight and nighttime hours are just about of equal length. The two equinoxes occur around March 20–21 and September 22–23. In the Northern Hemisphere, the vernal equinox (or spring equinox) occurs in March and the autumnal equinox occurs in September. In the Southern Hemisphere, it’s the opposite. Solstitial is sometimes used in a more specific way to describe something that’s characteristic of the summer solstice, especially summer heat, as in The lush vegetation thrives in the solstitial conditions. Example: Many ancient cultures recognized and observed the solstitial points of the year as times that marked the change of the seasons.

Other Word Forms

• solstitially
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of solstitial

1550–60; < Latin sōlstitiālis; see solstice, -al ¹

Example Sentences

The solstitial alignment helps to calibrate the calendar and any errors would be easily detectable as the sun would be in the wrong place during the biannual event.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2022

The first was an equinoctial, the second a solstitial armilla.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 5 "Arculf" to "Armour, Philip" by Various

The dates of the two chief festivals, May Eve and November Eve, indicate the use of a calendar which is generally acknowledged to be pre-agricultural and earlier than the solstitial division of the year.

From The Witch-cult in Western Europe A Study in Anthropology by Murray, Margaret Alice

The equinoctial and solstitial points; namely, the commencement of Aries and Libra, and of Cancer and Capricornus.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir

To these were added the festivals of the solstitial invaders, Beltane at midsummer and Yule at midwinter; the movable festival of Easter was also added, but the equinoxes were never observed in Britain.

From The Witch-cult in Western Europe A Study in Anthropology by Murray, Margaret Alice