Definition of Nadir
1. Noun. An extreme state of adversity; the lowest point of anything.
2. Noun. The point below the observer that is directly opposite the zenith on the imaginary sphere against which celestial bodies appear to be projected.
Group relationships: Celestial Sphere, Empyrean, Firmament, Heavens, Sphere, Vault Of Heaven, Welkin
Antonyms: Zenith
Definition of Nadir
1. n. That point of the heavens, or lower hemisphere, directly opposite the zenith; the inferior pole of the horizon; the point of the celestial sphere directly under the place where we stand.
Definition of Nadir
1. Proper noun. A male given name. ¹
2. Noun. The point of the celestial sphere, directly opposite the zenith; inferior pole of the horizon; point of the celestial sphere directly under the place where we stand. ¹
3. Noun. (figuratively) The lowest point; time of greatest depression. ¹
4. Noun. (astronomy) The axis of a projected conical shadow; the direction of the force of gravity at a location; down. ¹
5. Noun. (beekeeping archaic) An empty box added beneath a full one in a beehive to give the colony more room to expand or store honey. ¹
6. Verb. (transitive beekeeping) To extend (a beehive) by adding an empty box at the base. ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Definition of Nadir
1. a point on the celestial sphere [n -S] : NADIRAL [adj]
Medical Definition of Nadir
1. The lowest point, point of greatest adversity or despair. This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology (11 Mar 2008)
Nadir Pictures
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Lexicographical Neighbors of Nadir
Literary usage of Nadir
Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:
1. A Manual of Spherical and Practical Astronomy: Embracing the General by William Chauvenet (1900)
"It is necessary to treat here only of the use of the circle and micrometer in
the measurement of nadir distance, zenith distance, polar distance, ..."
2. Report (1904)
"The nadir. This was determined over a shallow basin of iron, ... To observe the
nadir it was necessary to run up two small rods connected with Hooke's ..."
3. The History of India by Mountstuart Elphinstone (1843)
"It was therefore with dismay proportioned to their former supineness that the
Moguls learned that nadir had passed the mountains, had defeated a small force ..."
4. The Numismatic Chronicle by Royal Numismatic Society (Great Britain) (1892)
"The numismatic records of nadir Shah's invasion of India have been carefully
chronicled in a most interesting paper published in the Numismatic Chronicle ..."
5. Encyclopaedia Americana: A Popular Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, Literature by Francis Lieber, Thomas Gamaliel Bradford (1832)
"nadir, in astronomy ; that point of the heavens which is diametrically opposite
to tht; ... The zenith and nadir are the two poles of the horizon. nadir ..."
6. The History of India from the Earliest Ages by James Talboys Wheeler (1881)
"A robber chief camo to the front under the name of nadir Shah. ... nadir Shah,
like new potentates in general, was invasion of anxious to be recognised by ..."
7. The Rise and Expansion of the British Dominion in India by Alfred Comyn Lyall (1894)
"When nadir Shah had been assassinated by the Persians in his camp in Khorasan,
Ahmed Shah, who commanded a large body of cavalry in nadir Shah's army, ..."
Other Resources Relating to: Nadir
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