Also 7 solsticke, solstist. [a. OF. solstice (also mod.F.), ad. L. sōlstitium SOLSTITIUM.]

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  1.  One or other of the two times in the year, midway between the two equinoxes, when the sun, having reached the tropical points, is farthest from the equator and appears to stand still, i.e., about 21st June (the summer solstice) and 22nd December (the winter solstice).

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c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 150. Two ȝeuelengðhes timen her, And two solstices in ðe ȝer.

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1432–50.  trans. Higden (Rolls), I. 201. There is a welle … whiche floethe ouer with watere abowte the solstice of somer. Ibid., III. 51. Whiche Olimpias began in the solstice of wynter, when men of Grece begynne theire yere.

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1549.  Compl. Scotl., vi. 50. The tropic of Cancer … is the solstice of symmyr…. The circle of capricorne is callit the solstice of vyntir.

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1617.  Moryson, Itin., III. 269. At Lucern twice each yeere they make election of Senators…, namely, about each Solstice of the yeere.

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1660.  R. Coke, Power & Subj., 265. As we see in foxes about the brumal Solstice.

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1719.  De Foe, Crusoe, I. 214. This being the southern Solstice, for Winter I cannot call it.

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1794.  R. J. Sulivan, View Nat., I. 410. It is at the solstices that we have the lowest tides in the year.

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1834.  Mrs. Somerville, Connex. Phys. Sci., xiii. 99. It is estimated from the winter solstice, the middle of the long annual night under the poles.

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1847.  Longf., Evang., I. iv. 61. When the air is serene in the sultry solstice of summer.

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  b.  spec. The summer solstice, or the heat of this.

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1642.  Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., I. § 32. 60.

        So when the absent beames begin t’ impart
Againe a Solstice on my frozen heart,
My Winter’s ov’r.

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1692.  Washington, Milton’s Def. People, i. M.’s Wks. 1851, VIII. 21. May the Gods and Goddesses, Damasippus, bless thee with an everlasting Solstice; that thou mayst always be warm.

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1855.  Singleton, Virgil, I. 48. The solstice from the flock Ward off.

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  2.  A solstitial point.

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1601.  Dolman, La Primaud. Fr. Acad., III. xx. 96. The Solstists or sun-steads and poles of the Zodiacke.

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1646.  Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 227. A temperate heat in the ayre, which by his approach unto the solstice he intendeth.

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1678.  Hobbes, Decameron, Wks. 1845, VII. 104. The distance between the equinoctial and the solstice, is not always the same.

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1755.  B. Martin, Mag. Arts & Sci., 193.These two Points are called the Solstices.

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1812.  Woodhouse, Astron., ix. 65. The interval of time … between two appearances of the Sun in the solstices.

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1842.  Penny Cycl., XXII. 214/1. Solstices, the points of the ecliptic which are highest above the equator.

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  3.  fig. A turning, culminating or stopping point; a furthest limit; a crisis.

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a. 1631.  Donne, Select. (1840), 105. A Christian hath no solstice … where he may stand still, and go no further.

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1638.  Wilkins, New World, xiv. (1707), 114. Arts are not yet come to their Solstice.

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1663.  Heath, Flagellum (1672), 158. This being the Solstice of his Fortunes.

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1860.  Emerson, Conduct of Life, Culture, Wks. (Bohn), II. 370. There is in every constitution a certain solstice.

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  4.  transf. A standing still (of the sun).

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1642.  Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., I. § 29. The Jewes that can believe the supernaturall solstice of the Sun in the dayes of Ioshuah.

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