different between zenith vs heyday

English

Etymology

From Middle English cenyth, from Medieval Latin cenit, from Arabic ?????? (samt, “direction, path”), from the fuller form ????? ?????????? (samt ar-ra?s, “direction of the head”). The -ni- for -m- is sometimes thought to be due to a misreading of the three strokes, which is plausible, though it could be a mere phonetic approximation.

Pronunciation

• (UK, General Australian) IPA^(key): /?z?n.??/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?zi.n??/

Noun

zenith (plural zeniths)

1. (astronomy) The point in the sky vertically above a given position or observer; the point in the celestial sphere opposite the nadir.

   Antonyms: nadir, perigee

   • 1638 Herbert, Sir Thomas Some years travels into divers parts of Asia and Afrique

   • 1671–1693: Rev. Thomas Jolly, private notebook; printed in: 1895, Henry Fishwick (editor), The Note Book of the Rev. Thomas Jolly: A.D. 1671–1693. Extracts from the Church Books of Altham and Wymondhouses, 1649–1725. And an Account of the Jolly Family of Standish, Gorton, and Altham, page 44

   • 1938, Xavier Herbert, Capricornia, New York: D. Appleton-Century, 1943, Chapter XI, p. 180, [1]

2. (astronomy) The highest point in the sky reached by a celestial body.
   • 1719- Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe

   • 1920, Peter B. Kyne, The Understanding Heart, Chapter II:

3. (by extension) Highest point or state; peak.

   Synonyms: acme, apogee, culmination, pinnacle

Antonyms

• antizenith

Derived terms

Related terms

• azimuth, nadir

Translations

Further reading

• zenith on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Anagrams

• Heintz, Hintze

English

Etymology

Late 16th century, from earlier heyda (1520s), as exclamation – compare hey, hei. Sense “period of success, vigor” from 1751, which respelt as heyday based on unrelated day (as “period of time”) – compare day in the sun.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?he?de?/
• Rhymes: -e?de?

Noun

heyday (plural heydays)

1. A period of success, popularity, or power; prime.

   The early twentieth century was the heyday of the steam locomotive.

2. (archaic) An exultation of the spirits; gaiety; frolic.

Synonyms

• day in the sun
• golden age
• golden years

Related terms

• hey

Translations

Interjection

heyday

1. A lively greeting.
   • 1798, Jane Austen - Northanger Abbey:

     "Heyday, Miss Morland!" said he. "What is the meaning of this? I thought you and I were to dance together."

2. (obsolete) An expression of frolic and exultation, and sometimes of wonder.
   • 1600, Ben Jonson - Cynthia's Revels :

     "Come follow me, my wags, and say, as I say. There's no riches but in rags; hey day, hey day, &c."

   • Here Jones, having ordered a servant to show a room above stairs, was ascending, when the dishevelled fair, hastily following, was laid hold on by the master of the house, who cried, “Heyday, where is that beggar wench going? Stay below stairs, I desire you.”

Synonyms

• (greeting): See Thesaurus:hello
• (expression of wonder): See Thesaurus:wow

References