perihelialadj.
/ˌpɛrɪˈhiːlɪəl/, U.S. /ˌpɛrəˈhiljəl/, /ˌpɛrəˈhiliəl/ Astronomy. rare.
= perihelian adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the universe > heavenly body > movement of heavenly bodies > [adjective] > movement in orbit > parts of orbit
perihelian1690
aphelian1739
perihelial1785
periastral1872
pericentric1888
1785 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 75 144 To find the position of the axis and the perihelial distance.
1904 Proc. Royal Soc. 73 498 The path of these electrons is now influenced by the strongly positively charged suns... If their perihelial distance is less than the sun's radius, they fall down on the sun, and diminish its positive charge.
1993 Brit. Jrnl. Philos. Sci. 44 345 Hall's adjusted ‘law’—let us call it the Newton–Hall hypothesis—is independently testable of the case of Mercury's perihelial advance.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1785