heliacal

[ hi-lahy-uh-kuhl ]

/ hɪˈlaɪ ə kəl /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR heliacal ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective Astronomy.

pertaining to or occurring near the sun, especially applied to such risings and settings of a star as are most nearly coincident with those of the sun while yet visible.

Also he·li·ac

[hee-lee-ak]. /ˈhi liˌæk/.

Origin of heliacal

1600–10; <Late Latin hēliac(us) (<Greek hēliakós;see heli-¹, -ac) + -al¹

OTHER WORDS FROM heliacal

he·li·a·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby heliacal

Helen of Troy, Helga, Helgi, Helgoland, heli-, heliacal, heliacal rising, helianthemum, helianthine B, helianthus, heli-boarding

Example sentences from the Web for heliacal

Astronomical data, especially the heliacal risings of Sothis recorded by dates of their celebration in the vague year.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 1|Various
The dog days were so called because they coincided with the heliacal rising of Sirius or Canicula (the little dog).
History of the Plague in London|Daniel Defoe
This was based upon the heliacal rising of Sirius (Sothis) coincident with the beginning of the inundation.
The World's Progress, Vol. I (of X)|Various
Swart star: the Dogstar, called swarthy because its heliacal rising in ancient times occurred soon after mid-summer.
The Golden Treasury|Various

He must mean either the heliacal or achronical rising of that sign.
Discourses on Satire and on Epic Poetry|John Dryden