Meaning

(astronomy) A small circle whose centre is on the circumference of a larger circle; in Ptolemaic astronomy it was seen as the basis of revolution of the "seven planets", given a fixed central Earth..

Definitions by Sense

1. (astronomy) A small circle whose centre is on the circumference of a larger circle; in Ptolemaic astronomy it was seen as the basis of revolution of the "seven planets", given a fixed central Earth.
2. (geometry) Any circle whose circumference rolls around that of another circle, thus creating a hypocycloid or epicycloid.
3. (organic chemistry) A ring of atoms joining parts of an already cyclic compound
4. (figuratively) An ad hoc complication added to a model to make it fit the known data

Example Sentences

Is it not [Philosophie], that […] teacheth miserie, famine and sicknesse to laugh? Not by reason of some imaginarie Epicicles, but by naturall and palpable reasons.

If two chronicles seemed contradictory, instead of trying to choose between them, a rationalization (epicycle) was devised to cover both.

Rather than solve the theoretical problem of how to produce a method of political ethics, the contractarian device introduces an unnecessary theoretical epicycle into what is otherwise a coherent account of social justice in particular and political morality in general.

Word Forms

• epicycles

Related Words

When Should You Use Epicycle?

Use epicycle when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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