John Buchan
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Reaching the Zenith
When you reach the zenith, you're at the top, the pinnacle, the summit, the peak. Zenith developed from an Arabic phrase meaning "the way over one's head," and then traveled through Old Spanish, Medieval Latin, and Middle French before arriving in English. As long ago as the 1300s, English speakers used zenith to name the highest point in the celestial heavens, directly overhead. By the 1600s, zenith was being used for other high points as well. The celestial term is often contrasted with nadir, which refers to the point that is vertically downward from the observer (imagine a line going through the Earth from the observer's feet and out the other side into the sky). Figuratively, nadir simply means "the lowest point."
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Examples of zenith in a Sentence
Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 18 Mar. 2024
The Patent-Motor-Wagen introduced civilization to a transformative machine—one that, at its zenith, remains one of the most viscerally enjoyable markers of the good life.
—The Editors, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for zenith 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'zenith.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Middle English cenyth, senyth, from Middle French cenit, from Medieval Latin, from Old Spanish zenit, modification of Arabic samt (al-ra's) way (over one's head)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
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Cite this Entry
“Zenith.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zenith. Accessed 15 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
zenith
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on zenith
Nglish: Translation of zenith for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of zenith for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about zenith
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