anthelia
|an-the-li-a|
/ænˈθiːliə/
(anthelion)
bright spot opposite the sun
Etymology
'anthelion' originates from Greek, specifically the elements 'anti-' and 'hēlios', where 'anti-' meant 'opposite' and 'hēlios' meant 'sun'.
'anthelion' was formed in Neo-Latin/modern scientific usage from Greek roots and entered English as 'anthelion'; the plural form 'anthelia' is used to refer to instances of the phenomenon.
Initially named for its position 'opposite the sun', the term has retained this specialized meteorological meaning referring to the visible bright spot opposite the sun.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a bright spot on the parhelic circle directly opposite the sun; an atmospheric optical phenomenon often seen as part of halo displays (plural of anthelion).
Anthelia appeared on the parhelic circle during the halo display, opposite the setting sun.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/23 15:41