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

Lower in place or position; closer to the bottom or base.
Astro.: → inferior conjunction; → inferior culmination; → inferior planet.

From L. inferior "lower," comp. form of inferus (adj.) "that is below or beneath," from infra "below" (→ infrared), cognate with Pers. zir, as below.

Zirin, adj. from zir "below, down," Mid.Pers. azêr "below, under," êr "below, down; low, under," adar "low;" Av. aδara- (adj.), aδairi- (prep.) "below;" cf. Skt. ádhara- "lower;" L. infra (adv., prep.) "below, underneath, beneath," inferus "lower;" O.E. under "under, among"); PIE base *ndher.

The conjunction of an inferior planet with the Sun when the planet is between the Sun and the Earth. → superior conjunction.

→ inferior; → conjunction.

The meridian transit of a star between the celestial pole and the north point of the horizon. Same as → lower culmination. → superior culmination.

→ inferior; → culmination.

A planet that orbits between the Earth and the Sun. Mercury and Venus are the only two inferior planets in the Solar System.

→ inferior; → planète.