nadir

nadir Definition

na·dir (nā′dər, -dir′)

noun

that point of the celestial sphere directly opposite to the zenith and directly below the observer
the lowest point

Etymology: ME < MFr < ML < Ar naẓīr, in naẓīr as-samt, lit., opposite to the zenith < naẓīr, opposite + as-samt, zenith

nadir Synonyms

depth(s), lowest point, foot; see bottom 1, opposite 3.

nadir Usage Examples

Converse of object

reach: In the first Test at Lord's they reached a nadir of 131 for eight in response to England's 551 for six declared.
mark: Secondly, the result marked the nadir ( so far ) in the long-term decline of the Labor party.
represent: This, surely, represents the nadir of Saturday night programming on the channel.
achieve: However, the prognostic value of this nadir level depends on most men achieving a nadir of 0.2 ng/ml or less.
touch: Sales rose in October and now are 8 per cent higher than in February, where they touched the nadir.
hit: Will they hit the nadir of stereotyping as they did in the Fowler's Irish escapade?

Preposition: in

1980s: The Tories are in a worse position than Labor was at its nadir in the early 1980s.

Adjective modifier

very: The weather is regarded as the very nadir and scoff of conversational topics.
neutrophil: The neutrophil nadirs were higher in the GM-CSF group during the first three cycles and subsequently similar in both groups.
low: The tenth century saw Christianity at a lower nadir than at any time to the present.

Modifies a noun

viewing: These are both nadir viewing instruments onboard Aqua and therefore look directly down at the Earth's surface below.

Noun used with modifier

platelet: The mean platelet count nadir measured was approximately 40 % of baseline.
count: The mean platelet count nadir measured was approximately 40 % of baseline.

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