Synodic
/saɪˈnɒd.ɪk/noun
Relating to conjunctions or meetings of celestial bodies, especially as seen from Earth.
Did you know?Synodic comes from Greek sÝnodos, “a meeting” or “assembly,” the same root behind synod, so astronomers borrowed a word for gathering to describe planets coming together in the heavens.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₁ei-
“to go”
Ancient Greek
Greek
hodos
“a way, road, journey”
Ancient Greek
Greek
synodos
“a coming together, meeting, assembly; later, a conjunction of celestial bodies”
Late Latin
Latin
synodicus
“of or pertaining to a synod or conjunction”
14th Century
English
synodic
“relating to a synod or conjunction, especially of the moon or planets”