First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
epicycle
noun epi·cy·cle \ˈe-pə-ˌsī-kəl\
Definition of EPICYCLE
1
in Ptolemaic astronomy : a circle in which a planet moves and which has a center that is itself carried around at the same time on the circumference of a larger circle
2
: a process going on within a larger one
— epi·cy·clic \ˌe-pə-ˈsī-klik, -ˈsi-klik\ adjective
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Origin of EPICYCLE
Middle English epicicle, from Late Latin epicyclus, from Greek epikyklos, from epi- + kyklos circle — more at wheel
Other Astronomy Terms
Rhymes with EPICYCLE
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