| Back | meridional /mer-RID-e-on'l/ |
|---|---|
| Front | adjective 1. Located in the south, southern; later especially, pertaining to the south of France or other southern parts of Europe. 2. (astronomy, geography) Along a north-south direction, or relative to a meridian; or relating to meridians or a meridian. 3. Of or characteristic of southern areas or people, especially those in the south of France or other southern parts of Europe. noun 1. An inhabitant of a southern region, especially the south of France. As an old navigator, I enjoy studying ancient charts and atlases, and the words septentrional and meridional are familiar terms for North and South, respectively. Septentrional, refers to the seven stars of what is known, in North America, as the Big Dipper. The Big Dipper is also known as Ursa Major, Latin for Great Bear. The Greek word for bear is arktos (adjective: arktikos) from which we get Arctic. The opposite of arktikos would be anti-arktikos, or Antarctic. The word meridian comes from Latin meridies -- the middle of the day. The middle of the day is determined by watching the sun rise from the east. When it reaches its highest point, just before it begins to set, that is midday or local noon. Most of the navigators and astronomers viewed this moment by looking south, since they were viewing the sun form the northern hemisphere. |
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