An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
English-French-Persian

An international collaboration devoted to the study of the origin and physics of → magnetic fields in → massive stars. The project uses several observatories and a large number of telescopes equipped with → spectropolarimetric and → asteroseismologic instruments, including → HARPS, → HARPSpol, and → ESPaDOnS (Wade et al., 2016, MNRAS 456, 2).

→ magnetism; → massive; → star.

Combined study of the large-scale → magnetic field (→ magnetometry) and → stellar pulsations (→ asteroseismology). Magneto-asteroseismology provides strong complementary diagnostics suitable for detailed stellar modeling and permits the determination of the → internal structure and conditions within → magnetic massive  → pulsators, for example the effect of magnetism on → mixing processes. More specifically, asteroseismology yields information on the → density, → composition, and → chemical mixing in multiple internal layers (depending on the number of studied frequencies). Additionally, when rotationally split pulsation modes are observed, the internal rotation profile can be retrieved. From magnetometry surface properties are determined, related to the → chemical composition, including → starspots, and the magnetic field, such as its geometry, obliquity, and strength. Magnetic studies also provide constraints about the → stellar wind geometry and the → circumstellar environment. Moreover, the stellar → rotation period period and the → angle of inclination toward the observer are also retrieved (Buysschaert et al., 2017, astro-ph/1709.02619).

→ magneto-; → asteroseismology.

Belief that physical matter is the only reality and that everything, including thought, feeling, mind, and will, can be explained in terms of matter and physical phenomena.

N.L. materialismus; → material + -ism.

Mâddebâvari, from mâddé, → matter, + bâvari, from bâvar "belief" (Mid.Pers. wâbar "beleif;" Proto-Iranian *uar- "to choose; to convince; to believe;" cf. Av. var- "to choose; to convince" varəna-, varana- "conviction, faith;" O.Pers. v(a)r- "to choose; to convince;" Skt. vr- "to choose," vara- "choosing").

1) The structure or arrangement of parts of a machine or similar device, or of anything analogous.
2) The agency or means by which an effect is produced or a purpose is accomplished.

From Mod.L. mechanismus, from Gk. mekhane, → machine.

Sâzokâr, literally "making and working," from sâz "apparatus; (musical) instrument," from sâzidan, sâxtan "to build, make, fashion; to adapt, adjust, be fit" (from Mid.Pers. sâxtan, sâz-, Manichean Parthian s'c'dn "to prepare, to form;" Av. sak- "to understand, to mark," sâcaya- (causative) "to teach") + kâr "work," from kardan "to do, to make" (Mid.Pers. kardan; O.Pers./Av. kar- "to do, make, build;" Av. kərənaoiti "he makes;" cf. Skt. kr- "to do, to make," krnoti "he makes, he does," karoti "he makes, he does," karma "act, deed;" PIE base k^wer- "to do, to make").

Any organism too small to be seen by the naked eye, e.g. bacteria, viruses, and protozoa.

→ micro-; → organism.

1) Modern spirit or character.
2) Modern usage, expression, or trait.
3) In early 20th century art, literature, and architecture, a movement characterized by the use of unconventional subject matter and style, experimental technique, etc.

→ modern + → -ism.

1) Philo.: The doctrine that reality consists of an unchanging whole in which change is mere illusion. → pluralism.
2) Philo.: The doctrine that the person consists of only a single substance, or that there is no crucial difference between mental and physical events or properties.
3) The attempt to explain anything in terms of one principle only. → dualism, → materalism, → idealism (Dictionary.com).

→ mono-; → -ism.

A → morphismf : Y → X if, for any two morphisms u,v : Z → Y, f u = f v  implies that u =v.

→ mono-; → morphism.

The belief or doctrine that there is only one → God.

→ mono-; → theism.

A → mapping between two → objects in a → category.

→ morphology; → -ism.

From rixt, → morphology, + -mandi, → ism.

An inability to speak, due to a physical defect, conscious refusal, or psychogenic inhibition (Dictionary.com).

→ mute; → -ism.

Xabur, from xab, → mute, + -ur a possession suffix (as in ranjur, ganjur) variant of -var.

1) The beliefs, ideas, or mode of thought of mystics.
2) A doctrine of an immediate spiritual intuition of truths believed to transcend ordinary understanding, or of a direct, intimate union of the soul with God through contemplation or ecstasy.
3) Obscure thought or speculation (Dictionary.com).

→ mystic; → -ism.

Loyalty and devotion to a nation; especially: a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups (Merriam-Webster.com).

→ national; → -ism.

Philosophy: 1) The view of the world that takes account only of natural elements and forces, excluding the supernatural or spiritual.
2) The belief that all phenomena are covered by laws of science and that all teleological explanations are therefore without value (Dictionary.com).

→ natural; → -ism.

Optical device constructed from a crystal of calcite, used for obtaining plane polarized light.

Named after John Pringle Nicol (1804-1859), British physicist; → prism.

The magnetism associated with the magnetic field generated by atomic nuclei.

→ nuclear; → magnetism.

A dispersing prism placed in front of a telescope objective to produce spectra of all luminous objects in the field of view.

→ objective; → prism.

1) Opposition to the spread of knowledge; a policy of withholding knowledge from the general public.
2) A style (as in literature or art) characterized by deliberate vagueness or abstruseness (Merriam-Webster.com).

From Fr. obscurantisme (1819), from obscurant, from obscure, from L. obscurus "dark, dusky," figuratively "unknown; unintelligible," from ob- "over" + -scurus "covered," from PIE *(s)keu- "to cover, conceal;" → -ism.

In the philosophy of science, the view that → concepts are defined in terms of measuring operations which determine their applicability. Same as operationism.

→ operation; → -ism.

The policy or practice, as in politics, business, or one's personal affairs, of adapting actions, decisions, etc., to expediency or effectiveness regardless of the sacrifice of ethical principles (Dictionary.com).

→ opportune + → -ism.