An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
English-French-Persian

The difference between a measured value of quantity and its true value.

→ observational; → error.

A place or building equipped for making observations of astronomical, meteorological, or other natural phenomena, especially a place provided with a telescope for observing astronomical objects.

From Fr. observatoire, from L. observa(re), → observe, + -toire, from L. -torius, from -tor a suffix forming agent nouns + -ius adj. suffix.

Nepâhešgâh, from nepâheš, → observation, + -gâh suffix of place (O.Pers. gāθu-, Av. gātav-, gātu- "place, throne, spot" (Skt. gátu- "going, motion; free space for moving; place of abode," PIE *gwem- "to go, come").

To watch carefully or note for a scientific or special purpose, e.g. to observe a star (astronomy), to observe the behavior of a patient (medicine, psychology), an animal (ethology, zoology), social groups (sociology), etc.

From O.Fr. observer, from L. observare "watch over, look to, attend to, guard," from ob "over" + servare "to watch, keep safe," from PIE base *ser- "to protect;" cf. Av. har- "to guard, observe, pay attention to," haraiti "guards, keeps," harətar- "protector, watcher," harəθra- "guarding, protection," hāra- "watched, guarded," Mod.Pers. zinhâr "beware!, mind!," Gk. heros "protector, hero."

Note 1: Observation is the most important basis of empirical sciences. All theories rely on observation, and must finally be supported by observational evidence. Persian, in contrast to European languages, lacks a distinct term that recognizes observation as a conceptual premise of sciences. In astronomy the Ar. rasad (رصد) is currently used, while in classical astronomical texts the Pers. pâyidan (پاییدن) is used mainly by prominent figures like Biruni and Tusi. However, the term rasad is never used for cases outside astronomy. The situation for other sciences is not clear. Often one resorts to the Ar. loanword mošâhedé "to look at each other," which lacks ability to form derivatives. Therefore, here we suggest a term that can be used in all fields of knowledge.

Nepâhian, from ne- + pâhidan. The prefix ne- "down; into" (as in negâh "look, glance," negaristan "to view, look at," nešastan "to sit down," nemudan "to display") from O.Pers./Av. ni- "down, into;" cf. Skt. ni "down," nitaram "downward," Gk. neiothen "from below," cf. E. nether, O.E. niþera, neoþera "down, downward, below, beneath," from P.Gmc. *nitheraz, Du. neder, Ger. nieder; PIE *ni- "down, below."
The second component pâhidan, variants pâyidan, pâsidan "to watch, observe, look steadily;" Mid.Pers. pây- "to protect, guard;" Sogdian p'y "to observe, protect, watch over;" O.Pers. pā- "to protect," pāta- "protected;" Av. pā- "to protect," pāti "guards," nipā(y)- (with ni-) "to watch, observe, guard," nipātar- "protector, watcher," nipāθri- "protectress;" cf. Skt. pā- "to protect, keep," tanû.pā- "protecting the body," paś.pā- "shepherd;" Gk. poma "lid, cover," poimen "shepherd;" L. pascere "to put out to graze," pastor "shepherd;" Lith. piemuo "shepherd;" PIE base *pā- "to protect, feed."

Note 2: Since pây-, pâyidan is used for → conserve, we adopt the variant pâh-, pâhidan, which is extant in Lâri and Gerâši dialects; cf. Gilaki pâstan, pâssan "to guard, pay attention." In fact the interchange of phonemes h, i and s is not rare in Indo-European languages.

Note 3: Examples of pâyidan "to observe" in astronomy, from Biruni's al-Tafhim (written c. 1029 A.D.)
p. 313: و بپای ارتفاع آ فتاب را.
p. 64: و بپای تا بدایره اندر آید.

Note 4: As indicated above, nepâh- exists in Av. as nipāy- "to watch, protect."

Pertaining to a value which has been measured, in contrast to one which is computed.

Past participle of → observe.

1) Someone or something that observes.
2) Idealized person or piece of equipment, often hypothetical, that measures relevant properties of a physical system.

Agent noun, from → observe + → -or.

A place located either at the top of the tube of a large telescope from where one observes or at the back of the tube where instruments are attached to the → Cassegrain focus.

→ observer; → cage.

A written report provided by a visiting astronomer to the observatory describing how his/her observing run has been carried out.

Observing, noun of → observe; → report.

A period of telescope time for observations allocated to a science project.

Observing, noun of → observe; → run.

The long opening in the dome of a telescope through which observation is conducted.

Observing, noun of → observe; → slit.

The state, process, or condition of being or becoming obsolete or outdated and no longer used.

→ obsolete; → -escence.

Becoming obsolete; passing out of use.

→ obsolete; → -escent.

1a) No longer in general use; fallen into disuse.
1b) Biology: (of a living organism) Reduced to a redument, or completely lacking, as compared with a corresponding part in related organisms.
2) To make obsolete by replacing with something newer or better.

From L. obsoletus "grown old, worn-out," p.p. of obsolescere "fall into disuse, be forgotten about, become tarnished," which probably is from ob "away" + an expanded form of solere "to be used to, be accustomed."

Pitâr, from Tabari pitâr "worn out," specifically "rotten tree," pitə-pât "anything worn out or useless," from pit, variant of Pers. pud "worn out, decayed," pusidan/pus- "to rot," cf. Pashto puda, Wakhi pitk "rotten, foul," Kurd. (Kurm.) puc "rotten, useless;" Av. pu- "to stink, rot," akin to Gk. puos, L. pus "pus."

An angle whose measure is greater than 90° and less than 180°.

Obtuse, from M.Fr. obtus (fem. obtuse), from L. obtusus "blunted, dull," p.p. of obtundere "to beat against, make dull," from ob "against" + tundere "to beat," from PIE *(s)tud- "to beat, strike, push, thrust;" → angle.

Zâviyé, → angle; bâz "open," from Mid.Pers. abâz-, apâc-, O.Pers. apa- [pref.] "away, from;" Av. apa- [pref.] "away, from," apaš [adv.] "toward the back;" cf. Skt. ápāñc "situated behind."

1) A particular time, especially as marked by certain circumstances or occurrences.
2) A special or important time, event, ceremony, celebration, etc.
3) A convenient or favorable time, → opportunity, or juncture (Dictionary.com).

M.E. occasioun from O.Fr. ochaison, ocasion "cause, reason, pretext; opportunity," from L. occasionem (nominative occasio) "appropriate time," from occasum, occasus "fall; sunset," p.p. of occidere "fall down, go down," from ob "down, away" + cadere "to fall," → case.

Âkatan, from prefix â- + katan "to fall," cf. Laki: katen "to fall," kat "he/she fell," beko! "fall!" (an insult); katyâ "fallen;" Lori: kat "event, error;" Kurd. (Soriani): kawtin "to fall, befall," kett "fallen;" Kurd. (Kurmanji): da.ketin "to fall down;" Lârestâni: kata "to fall;" Garkuyeyi: darkat, varkat "he/she fell (sudden death);" Gilaki (Langarud, Tâleš): katan "to fall," bakatam "I fell," dakatan "to fall (in a marsh, in a pit)," vakatan "to fall from tiredness, be exhausted," fakatan "to fall from (i.e., lose) reputation;" Tabari: dakətə "fallen," dakətən "to crash down," dakət.gu "stray cow;" Proto-Iranian *kat- "to fall;" cf. L. cadere "to fall," → case, Pers. kâté.

1) Occurring or appearing at irregular or infrequent intervals; occurring now and then.
2) Intended for supplementary use when needed.
3) Pertaining to, arising out of, or intended for the occasion (Dictionary.com).

→ occasion; → -al.

An → impact crater on the → dwarf planet  → Ceres. It has a diameter of about 90 km and a depth of about 4 km.

Named after the Roman agriculture deity of harrowing, a method of leveling soil.

1) To block or stop up (a passage or opening); obstruct. To prevent the passage of.
2) Chem.: To entrap a substance (vapor, gas, liquid, solid) within another (by absorption).

From L. occludere "shut up, close up," from ob "in front of, against" + claudere "to shut, close," → include.

Barkolândan, from bar- "on; upon; against; before; at," → object, + kolândan "to shut," → include.

1) The process of occluding. Something that occludes.
2) Phonetics: Closure at some point in the vocal tract that blocks the flow of air in the production of an oral or nasal stop (TheFreeDictionary.com). 3) Chem.: An absorption process by which a substance adheres strongly to another.

→ occlude; → -tion.

1) Occluding or tending to occlude.
2) Phonetics: An oral or nasal stop. → occlusive consonant.

→ occlude; → -ive.

A → phoneme that is produced following the obstruction of air flow in the → pharynx. The sound arises during the exhalation when the air passage is no longer blocked. English occlusive consonants are [p],[b],[t],[d],[k], and [g]. Same as → stop consonant.

→ occlude; → -ive.