Sol"stice (?), n.[L. solstitium;
sol the sun + sistere to cause to stand, akin to
stare to stand: cf. F. solstice. See Solar,
a., Stand, v. i.]
1. A stopping or standing still of the sun.
[Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
2. (Astron.) (a) The
point in the ecliptic at which the sun is farthest from the equator,
north or south, namely, the first point of the sign Cancer and the
first point of the sign Capricorn, the former being the summer
solstice, latter the winter solstice, in northern
latitudes; -- so called because the sun then apparently stands still
in its northward or southward motion. (b)
The time of the sun's passing the solstices, or solstitial
points, namely, about June 21 and December 21. See Illust. in
Appendix.
Sol"stice (?), n.[L. solstitium;
sol the sun + sistere to cause to stand, akin to
stare to stand: cf. F. solstice. See Solar,
a., Stand, v. i.]
1. A stopping or standing still of the sun.
[Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
2. (Astron.) (a) The
point in the ecliptic at which the sun is farthest from the equator,
north or south, namely, the first point of the sign Cancer and the
first point of the sign Capricorn, the former being the summer
solstice, latter the winter solstice, in northern
latitudes; -- so called because the sun then apparently stands still
in its northward or southward motion. (b)
The time of the sun's passing the solstices, or solstitial
points, namely, about June 21 and December 21. See Illust. in
Appendix.
