equinoctial

• POS: Adjective, Noun
• HYPHEN: e=qui=noc=tial

CIDE DICTIONARY

equinoctial, a. [L. aequinoctials, fr. aequinoctium equinox: cf. F. équinoxial. See Equinox.].

•  Pertaining to an equinox, or the equinoxes, or to the time of equal day and night; as, the equinoctial line.  [1913 Webster]
•  Pertaining to the regions or climate of the equinoctial line or equator; in or near that line; as, equinoctial heat; an equinoctial sun.  [1913 Webster]
•  Pertaining to the time when the sun enters the equinoctial points; as, an equinoctial gale or storm, that is, one happening at or near the time of the equinox, in any part of the world.  [1913 Webster]

  "Thrice the equinoctial line
  He circled."

equinoctial, n. 

 The equinoctial line.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

equinoctial, adj. & n.
--adj.
1 happening at or near the time of an equinox (equinoctial gales).
2 of or relating to equal day and night.
3 at or near the (terrestrial) equator.
--n. (in full equinoctial line) = celestial equator.

Idiom

equinoctial point the point at which the ecliptic cuts the celestial equator (twice each year at an equinox). equinoctial year see YEAR.

Etymology

ME f. OF equinoctial or L aequinoctialis (as EQUINOX)