nadir

(nā'dər, -dîr')
n.

1. Astronomy. A point on the celestial sphere directly below the observer, diametrically opposite the zenith.
2. The lowest point: the nadir of their fortunes.

[Middle English, from Medieval Latin, from Arabic naẓīr (as-samt), opposite (the zenith), from naẓara, to see, watch.]

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The point on the celestial sphere, blocked from view by Earth, that is diametrically opposite the zenith.

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IN BRIEF: The lowest point.

Her hopes reached their nadir when she learned that his family had intercepted all her letters to him.

Tutor's tip: This word was used in the 2006 Scripps National Spelling Bee finals.

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That point on the celestial sphere directly beneath the observer and directly opposite the zenith (i.e., 180° from the zenith, so that the zenith, nadir, and the center of the earth are in one straight line). Also called a nadir point.

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For a list of words related to nadir, see:

• Maps and Cartography - nadir: point on celestial sphere opposite zenith and directly below observer
• Celestial Phenomena and Points - nadir: point on celestial sphere opposite zenith and directly below observer
• Fixed Positions and Points - nadir: lowest point, esp. opposite zenith in celestial sphere

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See words rhyming with "nadir."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Nadir.

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - laveste punkt, nadir

Nederlands (Dutch)
dieptepunt, nadir

Français (French)
n. - (Astron) nadir, (fig) point le plus bas

Deutsch (German)
n. - Fußpunkt, Tiefpunkt

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (αστρον.) ναδίρ, (μτφ.) κατώτατο σημείο

Italiano (Italian)
nadir

Português (Portuguese)
n. - nadir (m) (Astr.), ponto mais baixo

Русский (Russian)
надир, низшая точка

Español (Spanish)
n. - nadir, punto más bajo

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - nadir, bottenläge

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
天底, 最低点, 最底点

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 天底, 最低點, 最底點

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 천저, (운명 등의) 밑바닥

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 天底, 最下点, どん底

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) الحضيض, لحظه احباط او فشل كبير‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮נקודת השפל, נדיר, נקודה בשמים הנמצאת מתחת לרגלי המתבונן, מנוגדת לזנית‬

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