n. [ Gr. &unr_; from the earth; &unr_; from + &unr_;, &unr_;, earth: cf. F. apogée. ]
☞ Formerly, on the hypothesis that the earth is in the center of the system, this name was given to that point in the orbit of the sun, or of a planet, which was supposed to be at the greatest distance from the earth. [ 1913 Webster ]