Nadir
/ˈneɪdɪər/
Definitions
The point on the celestial sphere directly beneath a particular location; the lowest point of something.
/ˈneɪdɪər/
The lowest point
His career reached its nadir when he lost his job and faced financial ruin.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're in a bad situation, like when your favorite team loses really badly. The *nadir* is like the very worst moment, the absolute low point of how things went.
👶 For kids: It's like the very bottom of the sky or the worst part of something, like the saddest moment.
More Examples
The stock market hit its nadir during the Great Depression.
The nadir of the well marked the point where water was closest to the center of the Earth.
How It's Used
"The nadir is the point directly below an observer on the celestial sphere."
"The company's reputation reached its nadir after the scandal."
From Arabic *naẓīr* (نظير) meaning "opposite" or "counterpart", via French.
Historically, the word was used primarily in astronomical contexts, referring to the point directly opposite the zenith.
Memory tip
Think of a *nadir* as the opposite of a peak or summit - it's the very *bottom*.