{Ptolemaic system} (Astron.), the system maintained by Ptolemy, who supposed the earth to be fixed in the center of the universe, with the sun and stars revolving around it. This theory was received for ages, until superseded by the Copernican system. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
Ptolemaic — is the adjective formed from the name Ptolemy.This adjective is usually used in one of two ways: *To describe the Egyptian dynasty founded in 305 BC by Ptolemy I Soter *To describe the writings of Claudius Ptolemaeus, the 2nd century AD… … Wikipedia
Ptolemaic — 1670s, of PTOLEMY (Cf. Ptolemy), Alexandrian astronomer (2c.) whose geocentric model of the universe was accepted until the time of Copernicus and Kepler. Also (1771) of the Ptolemies, Macedonian Greek dynasty that ruled Egypt from the death of… … Etymology dictionary
Ptolemaic — [täl΄ə mā′ik] adj. [Gr Ptolemaïkos] 1. of Ptolemy, the astronomer 2. of the Ptolemies who ruled Egypt … English World dictionary
Ptolemaic — adjective Etymology: Greek Ptolemaikos, from Ptolemaios Ptolemy Date: 1674 1. of or relating to the second century geographer and astronomer Ptolemy of Alexandria and especially to his belief that the earth is at the center of the universe with… … New Collegiate Dictionary
Ptolemaic — adj. hist. 1 of or relating to Ptolemy, a 2nd c. Alexandrian astronomer, or his theories. 2 of or relating to the Ptolemies, Macedonian rulers of Egypt from the death of Alexander the Great (323 BC) to the death of Cleopatra (30 BC). Phrases and… … Useful english dictionary
Ptolemaic System — (Source: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geocentric model| Geocentric Model] )In the Ptolemaic system, each planet is moved by five or more spheres: one sphere is its deferent. The deferent was a circle centered around a point halfway between the … Wikipedia
Ptolemaic system — Ptolemaic Ptol e*ma ic, a. Of or pertaining to Ptolemy, the geographer and astronomer. [1913 Webster] {Ptolemaic system} (Astron.), the system maintained by Ptolemy, who supposed the earth to be fixed in the center of the universe, with the sun… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Ptolemaic system — (also Ptolemaic theory) ► NOUN ▪ the formerly held theory that the earth is the stationary centre of the universe … English terms dictionary
Ptolemaic system — n. the theory, systematized by Ptolemy, postulating the earth as the center or fixed point of the universe, around which the celestial bodies move … English World dictionary
Ptolemaic Kingdom — Infobox Former Country conventional long name = Ptolemaic Kingdom common name = Ptolemaic Kingdom continent = Africa region = Mediterranean country = Egypt government type = Monarchy p1 = Macedon s1 = History of Roman Egypt year start = 305 BC… … Wikipedia
