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

1) (n.) Something that has → analogy to something else.
2) Chemistry: (n.) A chemical compound whose molecular structure is closely similar to that of another.
3) Relating to or using signals or information represented by a continuous variable physical quantity such as spatial position or voltage. Often contrasted with → digital.

From Fr. analogue, from Gk. analogon, → analogy.

A computer in which data is stored and processed in the form of continually varying signals representing a physical quantity rather than in the form of individual numerical values. The simplest analogue computers are side rules, thermometers, voltmeters, and speedometers.

→ analogue; → computer.

1) A similarity or comparability between two things.
2) Math.: A general similarity between two problems or methods. Analogy is used to infer new theorems from existing ones. Hypotheses based on analogy must still be proved.
3) Logic: A form of reasoning which asserts that if two or more entities are similar in one or more respects, then they would be similar in other respects.
4) Biology: An analogous relationship.
5) Linguistics: The process by which a word or form is either created or changed according to existing patterns in the language.

M.E., from O.Fr. analogie or directly from L. analogia, from Gk. analogia "proportion," from → ana- "upon, according to" + logos "ratio; word, speech, reckoning," → -logy.

1) General: The separation of an intellectual or material whole into its constituent parts for individual study. The study of such constituent parts and their interrelationships in making up a whole (opposite of → synthesis).
2) Chemistry: The separation of a substance into its constituent elements to determine either their nature (qualitative analysis) or their proportions (quantitative analysis).
3) Mathematics: A branch of mathematics principally involving → differential and integral calculus, → sequences, and → series and concerned with → limits and → convergence.

From M.L. analysis, from Gk. analysis "a breaking up," from analyein "unloose," from ana- "up, throughout" + lysis "a loosening," from lyein "to loosen, release, untie". The L. cognate and counterpart of this Gk. word, i.e. luere has formed the words solve, dissolve, solution. The Skt. cognate lu, lunoti "to cut, sever, mow, pluck, tear asunder, destroy," lava "cutting, plucking; what is cut; fragment, piece;" PIE *leu- "to loosen, divide, cut apart". The Eng. lose, loose and Ger. los derive from this root.

Ânâlas, from ânâ-, → ana-, + las "loose" ([Mo'in], Gilaki, Tabari, Tâleši, Aftari). We do not know the Av./O.Pers. counterparts of these Gk. las, lysis, lyein, but we believe that las and the following words probably derive from the above-mentioned PIE *leu-:
lâ "slit, cut" (Tabari),
lâb, lâp, lib "slit, cut, piece, half" (Tabari),
lâpé "a cut piece of wood" [Mo'in],
lâpé kardan "to cut a timber along its length" [Mo'in],
lap "piece, big piece, big cut" [Mo'in]. This word was chosen by Farhangestân I for "lobe of the lung".
lâc "open, wide-open" (Tabari),
luš "torn" [Mo'in], also luš luš [Mo'in] "in pieces,"
lat "torn, piece" [Mo'in]. Compare with luta "cut, cut off" in Pali. Lat may also be a contraction of laxt.
lok "torn, piece" (Qâyeni),
lâš "slit" (Tabari),
lâš kardan "to pick, to pluck" [Mo'in],
latu "plough" (Tabari).
Ânâkâvidan, from ânâ- + kâvidan (kâftan) "to examine, investigate, search; dig," from kâv + infinitive suffix -idan; compare with Mod.Pres. kâvâk "hollow, empty," L. cavus "hollow" (E. derivatives: cavity, concave, cave, excavate), Gk. koilos "hollow."

Of or relating to analysis, in contrast with → synthetic. Also analytical.

M.L. analyticus, from Gk. analytikos, from analy-, → analysis, + -tikos, -tic, equivalent to → -ic.

Pertaining to ânâlas, → analysis.

A curve whose parametric equations are real → analytic functions of a single real variable.

→ analytic; → curve.

A function which can be represented by a convergent → power series.

→ analytic; → function.

The study of the geometry of figures by algebraic representation and manipulation of equations describing their positions, configurations, and separations.

→ analytic; → geometry.

A language that is characterized largely by the fact that it depends on word order, rather than on inflections (grammatical endings), to convey sentence meanings. In an analytic language relations between nouns and adjectives are expressed using prepositions. English and (to a lesser extent) French, and Persian are considered analytic languages, while German and Russian are → synthetic languages.

→ analytic; → language.

Same as → analytic.

→ analysis; → -al.

A branch of → mechanics based on → variational principle that describes systems by their → Lagrangian or → Hamiltonian. Analytical mechanics provides a formalism that is different from that of Newton and does not use the concept of force. Among other things, analytical mechanics gives a more simple description of continuous and constrained systems. Moreover, its mathematical structure allows it an easier transition to quantum mechanical topics.

→ analytical; → mechanics.

Infinitive of → analysis.

An optical device by which the direction of → polarization of a beam of light can be detected. Usually the light has been passed through a → polarizer before arriving at the analyzer.

Agent noun, from → analyze + → -er.

The quality of an → anamorphic system.

→ ana- "up," + morphe "form," → morphology + → -ic.

An optical system whose optical power, and imaging scale, differs in the two principal directions. See also → anamorphosis.

→ anamorphic; → system.

1) Optics: The formation of a distorted image by an → anamorphic system.
2) Biology: The evolution from one type to another through a gradual and steady process of changes.
3) Art: A distorted image that appears in proportion when it is viewed from a specific point of view or reflected in a curved mirror, or with some other optical device.

From Gk. anamorphosis "transformation," noun of action from anamorphoein "to transform," from → ana- "up," + morphe "form" + -sis a suffix forming abstract nouns of action, process, state, condition, etc.

Ânârixtmandi, from ânâ- "up," + rixt "morphe," → morphology, + mand, → -ist + noun suffix -i.

The thirteenth of Jupiter's known satellites discovered by S.B. Nicholson in 1951. It orbits the planet at a mean distance of 21,200,000 km, and has a diameter of about 30 km.

In Gk. mythology, Ananke is the personification of destiny, unalterable necessity and fate; she is also the mother of Adrastea,

A lens designed to correct → astigmatism.

→ astigmatism; → lens.

One from whom a person is descendant; a forefather.

M.E. ancestre, from O.Fr. ancestre, ancessor "ancestor, forebear, forefather," from L.L. antecessor "predecessor," literally "fore-goer," agent noun from p.p. stem of L. antecedere "to precede," from ante "before" + cedere "to go," → process.

Niyâ, from Mid.Pers. niyâg "forefather, ancestor;" O.Pers. niyāka-, Av. nyāka-

1) (Conjunction, used to connect grammatically coordinate words, phrases, or clauses) Along or together with; as well as; in addition to; besides; also; moreover. → if and only if.
2) (Conjunction) Added to; plus (Dictionary.com).

From M.E., from O.E., akin to O.H.G. unti "and."

Va "and," graphical corruption of o "and;" Mid.Pers. ut, u- "and;" O.Pers. utā; Av. uta- "and;" cf. Skt. utá; maybe also influenced by Av. vā a disjunctive particle (Skt. vā) "or," occasionally used in the sense of "and;" vā ... vā "either, or;" cf. Sogd. βa, fa "and, or," fā "or."