solstitial, a. and n.
(sɒlˈstɪʃəl)
Also 6–7 -tiall, -ciall, 7–9 -cial.
[a. F. solsticial, † solstitial, or ad. L. sōlstitiāl-is, f. sōlstitium: see solstice.]
A. adj.
1. Of or belonging to, connected with, a solstice or the solstices.
| 1559 W. Cuningham Cosmogr. Glasse 35 They are called Colures, of which th'one..is named th'equinoctiall Colure, and th'other..the solstitiall Colure. 1591 Nashe Prognost. Wks. (Grosart) II. 164 The Sunne..at his passage vnto the solsticiall estiuall signe Cancer. 1594 Blundevil Exerc. iii. i. xxvii. (1636) 336 Now it is found to have passed that point so farre towards the Solsticiall point, as [etc.]. 1601 Holland Pliny I. 8 The shadowes of them that dwell Northerly vnder the Solstitiall circle in Summer. 1634 Peacham Compl. Gentl. vii. 60 The other passeth thorow the Solstitiall points, and is called the Solstitiall Colure. 1755 B. Martin Mag. Arts & Sci. 192/3 What Distinction is made of these Solstitial Points? 1812–6 Playfair Nat. Phil. II. 121 From observations of the sun's solstitial altitudes. 1845 Theologian II. 36 Cancer..is a watery,..solstitial, and exceedingly fruitful sign. 1894 R. A. Gregory Elem. Physiogr. vii. (ed. 4) 141 Each of the solsticial points being midway between the equinoxes. |
2. Occurring, taking place, etc., at the time of the solstice(s).
| c 1610 Sir C. Heydon Astrol. Disc. (1650) 14 These four causes are most evident upon the very solstitial days. 1695 Phil. Trans. XIX. 15 In order to determine the Proportion of the Gnomon to the Solstitial shade. 1796 Pegge Anonym. (1809) 431 The solstitial rains are here in England extremely beneficial. 1845 Peter Parley's Ann. VI. 133 The setting in of the solstitial season. 1853 Kane Grinnell Exped. xxxi. (1856) 266 The solstitial day of greatest darkness. 1881 Nature XXIII. 609 The solstitial months, namely June and December. |
3. Of heat, etc.: Characteristic of the summer solstice. Also as an epithet of the sun, etc., in this connexion.
| 1642 H. More Song of Soul ii. ii. vii, The glorious Sun..such as he is in his solstitiall noon. 1667 Milton P.L. x. 656 From the South to bring Solstitial summers heat. 1708 J. Philips Cyder i. 13 Sirius parched with Heat Solstitial the green herb. 1795 Gentl. Mag. 540 Luxuriant foliage opposes the solstitial sun. 1829 Wordsw. Th. on the Seasons ii, Less fair is summer riding high In fierce solstitial power. 1868 Kingsley Christmas Day 37 That day Shall dawn in glory, and solstitial blaze Of full midsummer sun. |
4. a. Of plants: Coming up at the summer solstice; growing or fading rapidly.
After solstitialis herba in Plautus Pseud. i. i. 36.
| 1654 Whitlock Zootomia 475 The short Duration of worldly Happinesse, how aptly called the Solstitiall Plant. 1657–61 Heylin Hist. Reform. Pref. p. i, So many Ordinances..should be as short lived as Jonas' Gourd, or the solstitial herb in Plautus. 1783 Phil. Trans. LXXIV. 417 As the two last are solstitial, and rather delicate plants, I wondered the less at their sensibility. |
b. Of insects, etc.: Appearing about the time of the summer solstice.
| 1812 Shaw Gen. Zool. VIII. ii. 449 The Solstitial Parrakeet is twice described by Buffon, under different divisions of the genus. 1818 Kirby & Sp. Introd. Entomol. II. xxiii. 372 The solstitial and common cockchafer appear in the evening—the former generally coming forth at the summer solstice. 1835 Kirby Habits & Inst. Anim. II. xx. 366 About the time of the summer solstice, the solstitial beetle may be seen and heard buzzing in vast numbers over the trees and hedges. |
5. Connected with the observation of the solstices.
| 1834 Hist. Astron. (U.K.S.) vi. 32/1 The construction of the astrolabium..was rather more complicated than that of the solstitial or equatorial armillæ. 1883 Bible Myths (ed. 2) 439 An astronomical observatory containing..solstitial and equatorial armils,..and other apparatus. 1906 Lockyer Stonehenge iii. 19 We have in Stonehenge a solstitial temple. |
† B. n. A solstice. Obs. rare.
| 1561 Eden Arte Nauig. i. xv. 16 These Tropykes are descrybed by the motion of the fyrst moueable with the points of the Solstitials. 1612 Hopton Concord. Yeares (1615) 53 The Summer and Winter Solstitials. |
Hence solˈstitially adv., towards the solstices.
| 1658 Sir T. Browne Gard. Cyrus iv. 166 That the Leaves of the Olive and some other trees solstitially turn..is scarce expectable in any Climate. 1894 Athenæum 21 Apr. 515/3 The temples were oriented solstitially or equinoctially. |