Hypertext Webster Gateway: "eclipse"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Eclipse
of the sun alluded to in Amos 8:9; Micah 3:6; Zech. 14:6; Joel
2:10. Eclipses were regarded as tokens of God's anger (Joel
3:15; Job 9:7). The darkness at the crucifixion has been
ascribed to an eclipse (Matt. 27:45); but on the other hand it
is argued that the great intensity of darkness caused by an
eclipse never lasts for more than six minutes, and this darkness
lasted for three hours. Moreover, at the time of the Passover
the moon was full, and therefore there could not be an eclipse
of the sun, which is caused by an interposition of the moon
between the sun and the earth.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Eclipse \E*clipse"\, v. i.
To suffer an eclipse.
While the laboring moon Eclipses at their charms.
--Milton.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Eclipse \E*clipse"\, n. [F. ['e]clipse, L. eclipsis, fr. Gr. ?,
prop., a forsaking, failing, fr. ? to leave out, forsake; ?
out + ? to leave. See {Ex-}, and {Loan}.]
1. (Astron.) An interception or obscuration of the light of
the sun, moon, or other luminous body, by the intervention
of some other body, either between it and the eye, or
between the luminous body and that illuminated by it. A
lunar eclipse is caused by the moon passing through the
earth's shadow; a solar eclipse, by the moon coming
between the sun and the observer. A satellite is eclipsed
by entering the shadow of its primary. The obscuration of
a planet or star by the moon or a planet, though of the
nature of an eclipse, is called an occultation. The
eclipse of a small portion of the sun by Mercury or Venus
is called a transit of the planet.
Note: In ancient times, eclipses were, and among
unenlightened people they still are, superstitiously
regarded as forerunners of evil fortune, a sentiment of
which occasional use is made in literature.
That fatal and perfidious bark, Built in the
eclipse, and rigged with curses dark. --Milton.
2. The loss, usually temporary or partial, of light,
brilliancy, luster, honor, consciousness, etc.;
obscuration; gloom; darkness.
All the posterity of our fist parents suffered a
perpetual eclipse of spiritual life. --Sir W.
Raleigh.
As in the soft and sweet eclipse, When soul meets
soul on lovers' lips. --Shelley.
{Annular eclipse}. (Astron.) See under {Annular}.
{Cycle of eclipses}. See under {Cycle}.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Eclipse \E*clipse"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Eclipsed}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Eclipsing}.]
1. To cause the obscuration of; to darken or hide; -- said of
a heavenly body; as, the moon eclipses the sun.
2. To obscure, darken, or extinguish the beauty, luster,
honor, etc., of; to sully; to cloud; to throw into the
shade by surpassing. ``His eclipsed state.'' --Dryden.
My joy of liberty is half eclipsed. --Shak.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
eclipse
n : one celestial body obscures another
v 1: exceed in importance; outweigh; "This problem overshadows
our lives right now" [syn: {overshadow}]
2: cause an eclipse of (a celestial body) by intervention; "The
Sun eclipses the moon today"; "Planets and stars often are
occulted by other celestial bodies" [syn: {occult}]
3: cause an eclipse of; of celestial bodies; "The moon eclipsed
the sun"
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