THE ILLUMINATI - VIGNETTE FROM LEGEND

by Ridley Scott

na·dir ( P ) Pronunciation Key (ndr, -dîr)
n.
Astronomy. A point on the celestial sphere directly below the observer, diametrically opposite the zenith.
The lowest point: the nadir of their fortunes.

[Middle English, from Medieval Latin, from Arabic nar (as-samt), opposite (the zenith), from naara, to see, watch. See nr in Semitic Roots.]

nadir

\Na"dir\, n. [F., Sp., & It. nadir; all fr. Ar. nas[=i]ru's samt nadir, prop., the point opposite the zenith (as samt), in which nas[=i]r means alike, corresponding to. Cf. Azimuth, Zenith.] 1. 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.

2. The lowest point; the time of greatest depression.

The seventh century is the nadir of the human mind in Europe. --Hallam.

Nadir of the sun (Astron.), the axis of the conical shadow projected by the earth. --Crabb.nadir

n 1: an extreme state of adversity; the lowest point of anything [syn: low-water mark] 2: the point below the observer that is directly opposite the zenith on the imaginary sphere against which celestial bodies appear to be projected [ant: zenith]

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