Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun In astronomy, a line indicating the hour; a line on which the shadow of the gnomon falls at a given hour.
Etymologies
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Examples
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Perpendicular to this diameter (the “hour-line”) were 10 lines, at each side of a middle line, drawn at a distance of 7′.
Lectures on Stellar Statistics Carl Vilhelm Ludvig Charlier 1898
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But yet this hinders not but that, having the idea of the length of the motion of the shadow on a dial between the marks of two hours, I can as distinctly measure in my thoughts the duration of that candle-light last night, as I can the duration of anything that does now exist: and it is no more than to think, that, had the sun shone then on the dial, and moved after the same rate it doth now, the shadow on the dial would have passed from one hour-line to another whilst that flame of the candle lasted.
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But yet this hinders not, but that having the idea of the length of the motion of the fhadow on a dial between the marks of two hours, I can as diflin&ly roeafure in my thoughts the duration 6f that candle* light laH night, as I can the duration of any thing that does now exifl: And it is no more than to think, that mid the fun fhone then on the dial, and moved after the fame rate it doth now, the fhadow on the dial would have pafTed from one hour-line to another, whilfl that flame of the candle lafled.
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