anthelion
|an-the-li-on|
/ænˈθiːliən/
bright spot opposite the sun
Etymology
'anthelion' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'anthelion' (ἀνθελίων), where the prefix 'anti-' (ἀντί) meant 'opposite' and 'hēlios' (ἥλιος) meant 'sun'.
'anthelion' changed from the Greek scientific term into Late/Modern Latin usages and was adopted into English meteorological and optical vocabulary in the 19th century as 'anthelion'.
Initially, it referred more generally to a point opposite the sun; over time it came to denote specifically the bright spot or luminous patch on a halo located opposite the sun.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a bright spot or luminous area on a halo or the parhelic circle appearing at or near the point directly opposite the sun (the antisolar point).
An anthelion appeared on the parhelic circle opposite the sun during the cold, clear morning.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/23 16:08