22 December 2013

solstice

[sol-stis, sohl-]

noun

1. Astronomy
a. either of the two times a year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator: about June 21, when the sun reaches its northernmost point on the celestial sphere, or about December 22, when it reaches its southernmost point. Compare summer solstice, winter solstice.
b. either of the two points in the ecliptic farthest from the equator.
2. a furthest or culminating point; a turning point.

Origin:
1200–50; < Middle English < Old French < Latin sōlstitium, equivalent to sōl sun + -stit-, combining form of stat-, variant stem of sistere to make stand (see stand) + -ium -ium; see -ice)

Anagram

ice slots

Today’s aphorism

Mistakes are always forgiveable, if one has the courage to admit them.

– Bruce Lee

On this day

22 December 1936 – Italy sends thousands of troops to Spain to support the Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War who were opposed to the democratically elected left-wing ‘Popular Front’ government which comprised of Trotskyists, communists and other left-wing groups.