| Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993. |
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| zenith, nadir (nn.) |
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| Zenith means “the highest point in the heavens, the point directly overhead”; it has also generalized to mean “the peak or topmost point,” as in He’s at the zenith of his professional career. Pronounce it ZEE-nith. Nadir is the exact antonym of zenith: it means “the lowest point in the universe, directly below the observer,” and it has generalized to mean simply “the lowest point,” as in This last defeat marked the nadir of our season. Pronounce it either NAI-duhr or NAI-DEER. | 1 |
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| | | The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. Copyright © 1993 Columbia University Press. |
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