The word "Epact" refers to the difference in days between the solar and lunar calendar. It is spelled as "ih-pakt" using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) phonetic transcription. The first syllable "ih" is pronounced with a short "i" sound, like "hit" or "tip". The second syllable "pakt" is pronounced with a long "a" sound, like "pack" or "fact". Together, the word Epact is pronounced as "ih-pakt" with the stress on the second syllable.
Epact refers to the age of the moon in days at the beginning of the calendar year. More specifically, it is the difference between the lunar year of approximately 354 days and the solar year of approximately 365 days. The calculation of the epact is crucial in determining the date of Easter in the Western Christian tradition.
In the Gregorian calendar, the epact is used to establish the golden number, which indicates the position of the year in the 19-year Metonic cycle. The Metonic cycle is a period in which the phases of the moon recur on the same dates each year. The golden number aids in determining the date of Easter by correlating the solar and lunar calendars.
The epact is calculated by subtracting the approximate length of the solar year from the length of the lunar year, resulting in the difference in days. This value is then used to determine the golden number.
The importance of the epact lies in its role in determining the date of Easter, a moveable feast that falls on the Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox. By knowing the epact and the golden number, one can ascertain the date of Easter for a given year.
In summary, epact is the measure of the age of the moon at the beginning of the calendar year, used to calculate the golden number for determining the date of Easter in the Western Christian tradition.
The excess of the solar over the lunar month, the annual epact being nearly eleven days.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "epact" has its origins in Latin. It stems from the Latin word "epacta" or "epactae", which was derived from the Greek word "ἔπακτος" (epaktos). In ancient Greek and Latin, "epacta" referred to the "added" or "intercalary" days inserted to correct the discrepancy between lunar and solar calendars. These additional days were essentially used to align the lunar calendar with the solar year. Over time, the word "epact" came to represent the difference in days between the lunar year and the solar year, specifically in the context of determining the date of Easter.