n. [ F., Sp., & It. nadir; all fr. Ar. nazīru's samt nadir, prop., the point opposite the zenith (as samt), in which nazīr means alike, corresponding to. Cf. Azimuth, Zenith. ] 1. That point of the heavens, or lower hemisphere, directly opposite the zenith; the inferior pole of the horizon; the point of the celestial sphere directly under the place where we stand. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. The lowest point; the time of greatest depression. [ 1913 Webster ] The seventh century is the nadir of the human mind in Europe. Hallam. [ 1913 Webster ] Nadir of the sun (Astron.), the axis of the conical shadow projected by the earth. Crabb. [ 1913 Webster ]
|