Equinox Definition
ēkwə-nŏks, ĕkwə-
equinoxes
noun
equinoxes
The time when the sun in its apparent annual movement along the ecliptic crosses the celestial equator, making night and day of equal length in all parts of the earth: in the Northern Hemisphere the vernal equinox occurs about March 21 and marks the beginning of spring, and the autumnal equinox occurs about September 22 and marks the beginning of autumn.
Webster's New World
Either of the two points on the celestial sphere where the sun's path crosses the celestial equator.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
- equinoctial point
Other Word Forms of Equinox
Noun
Singular:
equinox
Plural:
equinoxesOrigin of Equinox
-
Middle English from Old French equinoxe from Medieval Latin aequinoxium from Latin aequinoctium aequi- equi- nox noct- night nekw-t- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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From Old French equinoce (French équinoxe), from Medieval Latin equinoxium, from Latin aequinoctium, from aequus (“equal”) + nox (“night”). Replaced Old English efnniht.
From Wiktionary
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