Syzygy
Noun
- A conjunction or opposition, especially of the moon with the sun.
- A pair of connected or corresponding things.
Example Sentences
“During the new and full moons, the sun and moon are in syzygy, or in alignment.”
“My tattoo represents the syzygy of yin and yang.”
“You’ll be able to see Jupiter in syzygy with the moon tonight, even without a telescope.”
Word Origin
Greek, early 17th century
Why this word?
The word “syzygy” is used in a range of academic settings, from mathematics and medicine to psychology and zoology. In all of these disciplines, the word generally relates to the concept of two (or more) things corresponding. Its traditional usage is in astronomy, where syzygy is an alignment between three or more celestial bodies on a gravitational system. Syzygy between the sun, moon, and Earth is responsible for the tides of the oceans.