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

Same as → polarizing angle and → Brewster angle.

→ polarization; → angle.

Same as → bound charge.

→ polarization; → charge.

→ degree of polarization.

→ polarization; → degree.

The ratio expressed by P = (I_par - I_per) / (I_par + I_per), where I_par and I_per are the light intensities with the electric field vector respectively parallel and perpendicular to the incident beam.

→ polarization; → fraction.

To cause → polarization. To undergo polarization.

Infinitive of → polarization.

Of or pertaining to a medium or physical phenomenon that exhibits → polarization.

P.p. of → polarize.

→ Electromagnetic radiation in the optical region which has undergone → polarization.

Past participle of → polarize; → light.

An optical device capable of transforming natural light into polarized light, usually by selective transmission of polarized rays.

Agent noun of → polarize.

The angle of → incidence for which the reflected light is completely polarized. Also called the → Brewster angle and → polarization angle. See also → Brewster's law.

Polarizing, adj. of → polarize; → angle.

A filter that polarizes light passing through it.

Polarizing, adj. of → polarize; → filter.

A prism that is used to produce or analyze plane-polarized light.

Polarizing, adj. of → polarize; → prism.

1) Either extremity of the axis of the Earth or of any spherical body.
2) Either of the two regions or parts of an electric battery, magnet, or the like, at which the magnetic flux density is concentrated.
3) → pole of a mirror.
4) The fixed point in a system of polar coordinates that serves as the origin.

M.E., from L. polus "end of an axis, the sky," from Gk. polos "pivot, pole," polein "move around;" from PIE base *kwel- "to turn, move around, sojourn, dwell;" cognate with Pers. carx "every thing performing a circulatory motion; a wheel; a cart;" Av. caxra- "wheel," caraiti "he moves, approaches;" cf. Skt. cakra- "wheel, circle; cycle," carati "he moves, wanders;" Gk. kyklos "circle, wheel" (loaned L.L. cyclus); L. colere "to dwell in, to cultivate, move around," colonus "farmer, settler;" O.E. hweol "wheel;" Rus. koleso "wheel."

Qotb, from Ar. quTb.

The point where the → principal axis passes through the mirror.

→ pole; → mirror.

A star that lies along the Earth's → rotation axis. The term usually refers to the star → Polaris, which is the current → North Celestial Pole star. The → South Celestial Pole is not currently associated with any bright star. See also: → North Pole Star, → South Pole Star.

→ pole; → star.

Mechanics: For a rotating rigid body not subject to external torque, the closed curve described on the → inertia ellipsoid by the intersection with this ellipsoid of an axis parallel to the angular velocity vector and through the center.
Astro.: The path described by the North pole of the Earth in a reference frame attached to the Earth. The rotation axis of our planet is not fixed with respect to the Earth's crust. It describes a motion within a square with an amplitude reaching 20 m.

Polhode, from Fr. polhodie, coined by Louis Poinsot (1777-1859), a French mathematician and physicist, the inventor of geometrical mechanics, from → pole + Gk. hodos "way."

Qotbrâh, from gotb, → pole, + râh "way, path" (from Mid.Pers. râh, râs "way, street," also rah, ras "chariot;" from Proto-Iranian *rāθa-; cf. Av. raθa- "chariot;" Skt. rátha- "car, chariot," rathyā- "road;" L. rota "wheel," rotare "to revolve, roll;" Lith. ratas "wheel;" O.H.G. rad; Ger. Rad; Du. rad; O.Ir. roth; PIE *roto- "to run, to turn, to roll").

1) A definite course of action adopted for the sake of expediency, facility, etc.
2) A course of action adopted and pursued by a government, ruler, political party, etc. (Dictionary.com).

M.E. policie "government, civil administration," from O.Fr. policie "political organization, civil administration," from L.L. politia "the state, civil administration," from Gk. politeia "state, administration, government, citizenship," from polites "citizen," from polis "city, state."

Kârâh, contraction of kâr râh, or râh-e kâr literally "way of doing, ~ ~ action," from râh, → way, + kâr "doing, action, → work."

A person responsible for making policy, especially in government (Dictionary.com).

→ policy; → make; → -er.

To make smooth and glossy by rubbing with something.

M.E. polishen, from O.Fr. poliss-, pr.p. stem of polir "to polish," from L. polire "to polish, make smooth," of unknown origin.

Nasu kardan (Dehxodâ) "to polish, smooth, brighten," from nasu "smooth, bright" (mirror, sword), Mid.Pers. Manichean Parthian nswg "tender," from Proto-Iranian *ni-sau-, from prefix ni- "down," → ni- (PIE), + *sau- "to rub;" cf. Mod.Pers. sâbidan, variants sâyidan, pasâvidan "to touch, to rub;" Khotanese sauy- "to rub;" Sogdian ps'w- "to touch."

A stage in the process of mirror making after grinding that puts a highly finished, smooth and apparently amorphous surface on a mirror. → figuring; → grinding.

Verbal noun of → polish.

1) Shrewd or prudent in practical matters; tactful; diplomatic.
2) Contrived in a shrewd and practical way.
3) Political (Dictionary.com).

M.E. politik, from M.Fr. politique "political," from L. politicus "of citizens or the state, civil, civic," from Gk. politikos "of citizens, pertaining to the state and its administrators," from polites "citizen," from polis "city."

Kârâhi, adj. of kârâh, → policy.