Armillary is a term used for a spherical astrolabe used to study the positions of stars and planets. The spelling of this word is rather complicated, as it contains multiple silent letters. The IPA phonetic transcription for the word is /ɑːˈmɪləri/. The word begins with an unstressed /ə/ sound, followed by an /ɑː/ and a stressed /ɪ/ sound. The letter combination "ll" is silent, and the word ends in a an unstressed /i/. Despite its tricky spelling, armillary is a fascinating concept in astronomy and astrology.
Armillary is an adjective that describes something that is related to or resembles an armilla. An armilla is a type of astronomical instrument that consists of a set of rings arranged in a spherical form. This device is used to represent the positions and motions of celestial objects in the sky.
Typically, an armillary consists of several circles or hoops intersecting at various angles, which symbolize the major celestial circles such as the celestial equator, ecliptic, and meridians, among others. These rings are often made of brass or other metals and are positioned in such a way that they can rotate or be adjusted to different angles.
Armillaries were widely used in ancient times as both a tool for observing the night sky and a decorative or symbolic object. They were particularly associated with the study of astronomy in civilizations like ancient Greece and China.
In a broader sense, the term "armillary" can also be used to describe anything that has a similar structure or appearance to an armillary. For example, a piece of jewelry or an architectural ornament with interconnected circles or hoops may be referred to as an armillary design.
Overall, armillary is a term that pertains to armillas or armillary spheres, which are astronomical instruments used for studying and representing celestial movements.
Consisting of rings or circles; applied to an artificial sphere composed of a number of circles or movable rings.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "armillary" is derived from the Latin word "armilla", which means a bracelet or a ring. It is ultimately derived from the Latin verb "armare", which means to arm or to equip. In this case, "armillary" refers to a type of astronomical instrument composed of rings and circles representing the celestial sphere. The term "armillary sphere" was used in ancient times to describe this instrument, which was used to study the movement of celestial bodies.