sextant

views updated

sextant (astron.) instrument resembling a quadrant having a graduated are equal to ⅙ of a circle. XVII. — modL. use of L. sextāns, -ant- sixth part (of an as, etc.), f. sextus SIXTH. sextet(te) XIX. alt. of SESTET after L. sex SIX. sextile (astrol.) pert. to the aspect of two heavenly bodies which are 60 or ⅙ of the zodiac distant. XVI. — L. sextīlis, f. sextus SIXTH. sextillion see BILLION. †sextodecimo size of a book in which the leaf is 1/16 of the sheet, †decimosexto; sixteenmo. XVII. sextuple sixfold. XVII.

More From encyclopedia.com