perigee

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

noun periapsis in Earth orbit; the point in its orbit where a satellite is nearest to the Earth

From French périgée via Latin perigeum, perigaeum, ultimately from Ancient Greek περί (perí, “near”) + γῆ (gê, “Earth”).

An habitual liar's nearest approach to truth: the perigee of his eccentric orbit. — The Devil's Dictionary, Ambrose Bierce
It was a remarkable eclipse in that the Moon was within 13 deg. of perigee and the Sun only 2 deg. from apogee. — The Story of Eclipses, George F. (George Frederick) Chambers
Now, the earth occupies one of the foci of the ellipse, and so at one point in its course is at its apogee, that is, at its farthest from the sun, and at another point it is at its perigee, or nearest to the sun. — The Mysterious Island, Jules Verne

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