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

A set of astronomical tables created in 1627 by Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) based on observations by Tycho Brahe (1546-1601). These tables allowed Kepler to derive the three laws of planetary motions bearing his name (→ Kelpler's laws). These are the first tables in which → atmospheric refraction has been taken into account. They overruled the → Prutenic Tables.

From the L. title Tabulae Rudolphinae, in memory of Rudolf II (1552-1612), king of Hungary and Bohemia, and Holy Roman Emperor; → table.

Physics: 1) Having the ability to react to a disturbing force by maintaining or regaining position or condition.
2) Incapable of becoming a different isotope or element by radioactive decay.

M.E., from O.Fr. estable, from L. stabilis "firm, steadfast," literally "able to stand," from stem of stare "to stand;" cognate with Pers. istâdan "to stand" (Mid.Pers. êstâtan; O.Pers./Av. sta- "to stand, stand still; set;" Av. hištaiti; cf. Skt. sthâ- "to stand;" Gk. histemi "put, place, weigh," stasis "a standing still;" L. stare "to stand;" Lith. statau "place;" Goth. standan; PIE base *sta- "to stand").

Pâydâr "stable, firm" literally "having feet," from pâ(y) "foot; step" (Mid.Pers. pâd, pây; Av. pad- "foot;" cf. Skt. pat; Gk. pos, genitive podos; L. pes, genitive pedis; P.Gmc. *fot; E. foot; Ger. Fuss; Fr. pied; PIE *pod-/*ped-) + dâr present stem of dâštan "to have, hold, maintain, possess" (Mid.Pers. dâštan; O.Pers./Av. root dar- "to hold, keep back, maintain, keep in mind;" cf. Skt. dhr-, dharma- "law;" Gk. thronos "elevated seat, throne;" L. firmus "firm, stable;" Lith. daryti "to make;" PIE *dher- "to hold, support").

An equilibrium state of a system in which if a small perturbation away from equilibrium is applied, the system will return to its equilibrium state. An example is a pendulum hanging straight down. If it is pushed slightly, it will experience a force back toward the equilibrium position. It may oscillate around the equilibrium position for a while, but it will finally regain its equilibrium position. → unstable equilibrium.

→ stable; → equilibrium.

A nuclide that is not → radioactive and therefore does not spontaneously undergo → radioactive decay.

→ stable; → nuclide.

1) An arrangement of words, numbers, or signs, or combinations of them, in parallel columns, to exhibit a set of facts or relations in a definite, compact, and comprehensive form.
2) In particular, → zij

M.E.; O.E. tabule; O.Fr. table "board, plank, writing table" (cf. O.H.G. zabel, Ger. Tafel), both from L. tabula "a board, plank, table," originally "small flat slab or piece" usually for inscriptions or for games.

Jadval, loan from Ar. jadwal.

A flat slab or surface, especially one bearing or intended to bear an inscription, carving, or the like (Dictionary.com).

M.E. tablette, from M.Fr. tablete, diminutive from → table.

Parnik, literally "laminar, resembling a leaf, leaf-like," variant parnix [Dehxodâ] "a stone or marble slab, a plane stone," ultimately from Proto-Ir. *parnika-, from *parn-, *par- "feather; leaf, thin layer;" cf. Av. parəna- "feather," Skt. parna- "feather; leaf (regarded as the plumage of a tree)," Mod.Pers. par(r) "feather; leaf;" PIE *pornos-, *pernom- "feather" (E. fern and Ger. Farn belong to this family). See also → slate.

The quality of a claim, hypothesis, or theory that can be verified by tests or experiments. See also → falsifiable.

→ test; → -able.

A set of astronomical tables drawn up by a group of astronomers in Toledo, Spain, mainly Zarqâli, and compiled after 1068. This work, which represents the first original development of Andalusian astronomy, was extremely influential in Europe for three centuries until the advent of the → Alfonsine Tables. The main sources for the bulk of the table collections were those of the Persian astronomer Khwârizmi (mainly planetary latitudes), Battâni (planetary equations), and Ptolemy. In fact the oldest version of the Toledan Tables was mainly modeled on Khwârizmi's Sindhind, but had admixture from Battâni. In addition, the oldest versions of the Toledan Tables preserve some tables of Khwârizmi that are rare or absent elsewhere. The Toledan Tables also incorporated the theory of → trepidation. The original Arabic version of the Toledan Tables has been lost, but two Latin versions have survived, one by Gerard of Cremona (12th century) and one by an unknown author.

Toledo, a city in central Spain, 70 km south of Madrid; → table.

A table with columns and rows that lists the resultant → truth value of the given → sentences for each of the possible combinations of truth values to the simple sentences out of which the given sentences are constructed.

→ truth; → value.

Not → stable, as in → unstable atom, → unstable equilibrium.

→ un-; → stable.

An atom whose nuclei → decay by → radioactivity.

→ unstable; → atom.

An equilibrium state of a system in which if a small perturbation away from equilibrium is applied, the system will move farther away from equilibrium state. For example, mechanical equilibrium in which the potential energy is a maximum, as a sphere placed on top of a hill. Mathematically, if the second derivative of the energy with respect to the coordinate of interest is negative, the system is in an unstable equilibrium. → stable equilibrium.

→ unstable; → equilibrium.

1) Any of various herbaceous plants having parts that are used as food, such as peas, beans, cabbage, potatoes, cauliflower, and onions.
2) Botany: Of, relating to, characteristic of, derived from, or consisting of plants or plant material (e.g. vegetable oils) (TheFreeDictionary.com).

→ vegetate; → -able.

1) Sabzijât "class or category of greens," from sabzi, → green, + -jât a suffix denoting class, group, or division of things.
2) Giyâhi, related to giyâh, → plant.