Heliacal
[hə-LIH-ə-kəl]
Part of speech: adjective
Origin: Latin, 17th century
1.
Relating to or near the sun.
Examples of Heliacal in a sentence
"The morning heliacal view is best seen on the beach."
"The heliacal movements are more obvious in the fall and spring when the hours of daylight are changing dramatically."
About Heliacal
“Heliacal” is based on the English word “heliac,” meaning “pertaining to the sun.” This word is based on both the Latin “hēliacus,” and also the Greek “ἡλιακός,” both meaning “sun.”
Did you Know?
The astronomical expression “heliacal rising” refers to a star or planet coming into view in the east before sunrise, becoming a “morning star” before the sun comes into view. Prior to a heliacal rising, a star or planet has spent a season hidden behind the sun. In ancient Egypt, each summer’s heliacal rising of the star Sirius—the “Dog Star”—was an indicator the Nile would soon flood and nourish adjacent farmland to begin farming season. The English expression “the dog days of summer” refers to the idea that summer is at its hottest after Sirius’s heliacal rising.
