nadir(ed)
|na-dir|
🇺🇸
/ˈneɪdər/
🇬🇧
/ˈneɪdɪə/
(nadir)
lowest point
Etymology
'nadir' originates from Arabic, specifically the word 'naẓīr' (نظير), where the root carried the sense 'opposite' or 'counterpart'.
'nadir' entered Medieval Latin and Romance languages from Arabic, then passed into Middle English and modern English as 'nadir'.
Initially it meant 'opposite' (in the sense of counterpart or mirror); over time the sense shifted in astronomical usage to the point opposite the zenith and then figuratively to mean 'the lowest point'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the lowest point in the fortunes, condition, or prospects of a person or organization; the worst moment.
After months of declining sales, the company finally reached its nadir.
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Noun 2
in astronomy and geography: the point on the celestial sphere directly below an observer; the opposite of the zenith.
On the star chart, the nadir is directly opposite the zenith.
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Last updated: 2025/12/03 17:34