An Attempt To Date
the Metonic Cycle
August 28, 2014
Apprentice Tyler
background
Per the Oxford English Dictionary, the Metonic cycle is "the cycle of 19 tropical years (conventionally equated to 235 synodic months) in which the moon returns to almost the same apparent position relative to the sun, so that new and full moons occur at the same dates in the corresponding year of each cycle. Also †Metonic period, †Metonic year. It was widely adopted in eastern lunisolar calendars, and was the basis of the early Christian calculation of the date of Easter."
The above statement implies knowledge of the correct length of the solar year and without an accurate duration of the solar year, and a calendar based on this knowledge, the cyclic nature of the Moon could not be discovered. As late as the Middle Ages, astronomers could only crudely measure the solar year (and with errors ranging as great as six days) based on the solstices and equinoxes. If they had access to the ancient Julian calendar, they would know the exact days of a solar year, because the Julian calendar has the duration of the year at exactly 365.25 days. This lack of referring to the Julian calendar is sufficient evidence that no calendar was introduced in the alleged year 46 BC and was used by Europeans until 1582.
We will examine when certain words pertaining to astronomy (degree, minute, second, equinox, solstice) and time keeping (clock, hour, minute, second) to determine the earliest date the Metonic Cycle could be discovered. Secondary sources are in red.
The above statement implies knowledge of the correct length of the solar year and without an accurate duration of the solar year, and a calendar based on this knowledge, the cyclic nature of the Moon could not be discovered. As late as the Middle Ages, astronomers could only crudely measure the solar year (and with errors ranging as great as six days) based on the solstices and equinoxes. If they had access to the ancient Julian calendar, they would know the exact days of a solar year, because the Julian calendar has the duration of the year at exactly 365.25 days. This lack of referring to the Julian calendar is sufficient evidence that no calendar was introduced in the alleged year 46 BC and was used by Europeans until 1582.
We will examine when certain words pertaining to astronomy (degree, minute, second, equinox, solstice) and time keeping (clock, hour, minute, second) to determine the earliest date the Metonic Cycle could be discovered. Secondary sources are in red.
degree, minute, second [astronomy]
Astronomy-Degree
a. Geom. (Astron., Geogr., etc.) A unit of measurement of angles or circular arcs, being an angle equal to the 90th part of a right angle, or an arc equal to the 360th part of the circumference of a circle (which subtends this angle at the centre).The sign for degrees is °, thus 45° = forty-five degrees.
This division of the circle is very ancient, and appears to have been originally applied to the circle of the Zodiac, a degree being the stage or distance travelled by the sun each day according to ancient Babylonian and Egyptian computation, just as a sign represented the space passed through in a month.
c1386 Chaucer Squire's Tale 378
The yonge sonne That in the Ram is foure degrees vp ronne.
c1400 (▸1391) Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe (Cambr. Dd.3.53) (1872) ii. §22. 31,
I proue it thus by the latitude of Oxenford..the heyhte of owre pool Artik fro owre north Orisonte is 51 degrees & 50 Minutes.
c1400 (▸1391) Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe (Cambr. Dd.3.53) (1872) i. §6. 5
The entring of the first degree in wich the sonne arisith.
1413 Lydgate Pilgr. of Sowle (1859) v. i. 70
In the hole compas of the spyere ben of such degrees thre honderd and syxty.
1527 in Arber 1st 3 Eng. Bks. Amer. Pref. p. xiv,
We ranne in our course to the Northward, till we came into 53 degrees.. and then we cast about to the Southward, and..came into 52 degrees.
1559 W. Cuningham Cosmogr. Glasse 58
Cosmographers do place the first degre of Longitude in the West fortunate Ilandes.
1590 E. Webbe Rare & Wonderfull Things (1868) 25
Being thus in the land of prester Iohn, I trauelled within Eighteene degrees of ye Sun, euery degree being in distance three score miles.
Astronomy-Minute
5. The sixtieth part of a degree of angular measurement (in later use also minute of arc).† minute of a minute n. the sixtieth part of a minute of arc, an arc second (obs.).
▸c1392 Equatorie of Planetis 24 (MED),
In the same manere shal it be deuyded in mynutis, in degres, in nombres.
a1450 (▸1391) Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe i. §8 12
These degres of signes ben everich of hem considered of 60 mynutes, and every mynute of 60 secundes.
c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) vi. 40
The circle artic is xxiij degreis xxx munitis fra the pole artic.
1603 G. Owen Descr. Penbrokshire (1892) 1
Longitude 17 degrees, and 20 minuttes west.
1603 G. Owen Descr. Penbrokshire (1892) 1,
52 degrees which is 40 mynuttes higher then that of the Cittie of London.
1652 J. Gaule Πυς-μαντια 68
Those numbers and minutes, yea numbers of numbers, and minutes of minutes (which Astrologicall Mathematicians pretend to work by).
Astronomy-Second
1. Geom. (Astron., Geogr., etc.) A sixtieth part of a minute, 1/ 3600th part of a degree.
c1400 (▸1391) Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe (Cambr. Dd.3.53) (1872) i. §8. 6
Thise degrees of signes ben euerich of hem considered of 60 Mynutes, & euery Minute of 60 secondes.
1599 E. Wright Certaine Errors Nauigation sig. D2,
Let the meridian (diuided into degrees, minutes, seconds, &c.) roule vpon a streight line.
1713 J. Ward Young Mathematician's Guide (ed. 2) 350
Every Circle is suppos'd to be divided into 360..Degrees; every Degree is sub-divided into 60 Parts call'd Minutes; and every Minute into 60 Seconds, &c.
a. Geom. (Astron., Geogr., etc.) A unit of measurement of angles or circular arcs, being an angle equal to the 90th part of a right angle, or an arc equal to the 360th part of the circumference of a circle (which subtends this angle at the centre).The sign for degrees is °, thus 45° = forty-five degrees.
This division of the circle is very ancient, and appears to have been originally applied to the circle of the Zodiac, a degree being the stage or distance travelled by the sun each day according to ancient Babylonian and Egyptian computation, just as a sign represented the space passed through in a month.
c1386 Chaucer Squire's Tale 378
The yonge sonne That in the Ram is foure degrees vp ronne.
c1400 (▸1391) Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe (Cambr. Dd.3.53) (1872) ii. §22. 31,
I proue it thus by the latitude of Oxenford..the heyhte of owre pool Artik fro owre north Orisonte is 51 degrees & 50 Minutes.
c1400 (▸1391) Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe (Cambr. Dd.3.53) (1872) i. §6. 5
The entring of the first degree in wich the sonne arisith.
1413 Lydgate Pilgr. of Sowle (1859) v. i. 70
In the hole compas of the spyere ben of such degrees thre honderd and syxty.
1527 in Arber 1st 3 Eng. Bks. Amer. Pref. p. xiv,
We ranne in our course to the Northward, till we came into 53 degrees.. and then we cast about to the Southward, and..came into 52 degrees.
1559 W. Cuningham Cosmogr. Glasse 58
Cosmographers do place the first degre of Longitude in the West fortunate Ilandes.
1590 E. Webbe Rare & Wonderfull Things (1868) 25
Being thus in the land of prester Iohn, I trauelled within Eighteene degrees of ye Sun, euery degree being in distance three score miles.
Astronomy-Minute
5. The sixtieth part of a degree of angular measurement (in later use also minute of arc).† minute of a minute n. the sixtieth part of a minute of arc, an arc second (obs.).
▸c1392 Equatorie of Planetis 24 (MED),
In the same manere shal it be deuyded in mynutis, in degres, in nombres.
a1450 (▸1391) Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe i. §8 12
These degres of signes ben everich of hem considered of 60 mynutes, and every mynute of 60 secundes.
c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) vi. 40
The circle artic is xxiij degreis xxx munitis fra the pole artic.
1603 G. Owen Descr. Penbrokshire (1892) 1
Longitude 17 degrees, and 20 minuttes west.
1603 G. Owen Descr. Penbrokshire (1892) 1,
52 degrees which is 40 mynuttes higher then that of the Cittie of London.
1652 J. Gaule Πυς-μαντια 68
Those numbers and minutes, yea numbers of numbers, and minutes of minutes (which Astrologicall Mathematicians pretend to work by).
Astronomy-Second
1. Geom. (Astron., Geogr., etc.) A sixtieth part of a minute, 1/ 3600th part of a degree.
c1400 (▸1391) Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe (Cambr. Dd.3.53) (1872) i. §8. 6
Thise degrees of signes ben euerich of hem considered of 60 Mynutes, & euery Minute of 60 secondes.
1599 E. Wright Certaine Errors Nauigation sig. D2,
Let the meridian (diuided into degrees, minutes, seconds, &c.) roule vpon a streight line.
1713 J. Ward Young Mathematician's Guide (ed. 2) 350
Every Circle is suppos'd to be divided into 360..Degrees; every Degree is sub-divided into 60 Parts call'd Minutes; and every Minute into 60 Seconds, &c.
equinox and solstice
Astronomy-Equinox
a. One of the two periods in the year when the days and nights are equal in length all over the earth, owing to the sun's crossing the equator. Hence, the precise moment at which the sun crosses the equator.The vernal or spring equinox is at present on the 20 March, and the autumnal on the 22 or 23 September. Just before the reformation of the calendar they were 11 days earlier.
1588 A. King tr. P. Canisius Cathechisme or Schort Instr. H j,
To tak away ye ten dayes quhairby ye æquinoxe of springe tyme had passeit ye dew tyme.
1664 H. Power Exper. Philos. ii. 149
It is eight dayes more from the Vernal to the Autumnal Aequinox, then it is from the Autumnal to the Vernal again.
1693 R. Bentley Boyle Lect. viii. 25
The Months of March and September, the two Æquinoxes of Our year, are the most windy and tempestuous.
1715 tr. D. Gregory Elements Astron. I. ii. §11. 246
That he might..bring the Equinox to its former place, ten days were suppressed in the Month of October, in the Year 1582.
1789 T. Jefferson Writings (1859) III. 88,
I should put off my departure till after the equinox.
1664: Spring and summer are known to be 8 days longer than autumn and winter.
b. The condition of having the days and nights of equal length. Also fig.
a1616 Shakespeare Othello (1622) ii. iii. 116
Doe but see his vice, Tis to his vertue, a iust equinox, The one as long as th'other.
1696 W. Whiston New Theory of Earth (1722) i. 58
There must be a perpetual Equinox, or equality of Day and Night, through the whole Planet.
1698 J. Keill Exam. Theory Earth (1734) 229
Then the Earth had a perpetual Equinox and unity of Seasons.
2. One of the two points at which the sun's path crosses the Equator, described technically as the first points in Aries and Libra. Formerly also used loosely for the region of the ecliptic adjacent to these points. precession of the equinoxes (see precession n.2).
c1400 (▸1391) Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe (Cambr. Dd.3.53) (1872) i. §17. 9
Ther-fore ben thise two signes [sc. Aries & Libra] called the equinoxiis [1560 equinoctes].
1594 T. Blundeville Exercises iii. i. xvi. f. 149,
The beginning of Aries, which is called the vernal Equinoxe.
1625 N. Carpenter Geogr. Delineated i. v. 105
If..in any oblique Horizon, there should be an æquinoxe, it could no wise be in the middle time betwixt the two Solstices.
1715 tr. D. Gregory Elements Astron. I. iii. §17. 418
The true and imaginary Sun will be equally distant from both Equinoxes.
In 1715, the duration or time between the equinoxes was erroneously thought to be the same.
Astronomy-Solstice
1. a. One or other of the two times in the year, midway between the two equinoxes, when the sun, having reached the tropical points, is farthest from the equator and appears to stand still, i.e. about 21st June (the summer solstice) and 22nd December (the winter solstice).
a1325 (▸c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 150
Two geuelengðhes timen her And two solstices in ðe ger.
?a1475 (▸?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl.) (1865) I. 201
There is a welle..whiche floethe ouer with watere abowte the solstice of somer.
?a1475 (▸?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl.) (1871) III. 51
Whiche Olimpias began in the solstice of wynter, when men of Grece begynne theire yere.
c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) vi. 39
The tropic of Cancer..is the solstice of symmyr... The circle of capricorne is callit the solstice of vyntir.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary iii. 269
At Lucern twice each yeere they make election of Senators.., namely, about each Solstice of the yeere.
1660 R. Coke Elements Power & Subjection v. iv. 265 in Justice Vindicated,
As we see in Foxes about the Brumall solstice.
b. spec. The summer solstice, or the heat of this.
1643 Sir T. Browne Religio Medici (Authorized ed.) i. §32
So when thy absent beames begin t' impart Againe a Solstice on my frozen heart, My winter's ov'r.
1692 J. Washington tr. Milton Def. People i, in Milton Wks. (1851) VIII. 21
May the Gods and Goddesses, Damasippus, bless thee with an everlasting Solstice; that thou mayst always be warm.
2. A solstitial point.
1601 R. Dolman tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. III. 96
The Solstists or sun-steads and poles of the Zodiacke.
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica 227
A temperate heat.., which by his approach unto the solstice he intendeth.
1678 T. Hobbes Decameron Physiologicum iv. 41
The distance between the Æquinoctial and the Solstice, is not always the same.
1755 B. Martin Mag. Arts & Sci. 192/3
These two Points are called the Solstices.
In 1678, it know that the distance between the equinox and the solstice is not always the same.
a. One of the two periods in the year when the days and nights are equal in length all over the earth, owing to the sun's crossing the equator. Hence, the precise moment at which the sun crosses the equator.The vernal or spring equinox is at present on the 20 March, and the autumnal on the 22 or 23 September. Just before the reformation of the calendar they were 11 days earlier.
1588 A. King tr. P. Canisius Cathechisme or Schort Instr. H j,
To tak away ye ten dayes quhairby ye æquinoxe of springe tyme had passeit ye dew tyme.
1664 H. Power Exper. Philos. ii. 149
It is eight dayes more from the Vernal to the Autumnal Aequinox, then it is from the Autumnal to the Vernal again.
1693 R. Bentley Boyle Lect. viii. 25
The Months of March and September, the two Æquinoxes of Our year, are the most windy and tempestuous.
1715 tr. D. Gregory Elements Astron. I. ii. §11. 246
That he might..bring the Equinox to its former place, ten days were suppressed in the Month of October, in the Year 1582.
1789 T. Jefferson Writings (1859) III. 88,
I should put off my departure till after the equinox.
1664: Spring and summer are known to be 8 days longer than autumn and winter.
b. The condition of having the days and nights of equal length. Also fig.
a1616 Shakespeare Othello (1622) ii. iii. 116
Doe but see his vice, Tis to his vertue, a iust equinox, The one as long as th'other.
1696 W. Whiston New Theory of Earth (1722) i. 58
There must be a perpetual Equinox, or equality of Day and Night, through the whole Planet.
1698 J. Keill Exam. Theory Earth (1734) 229
Then the Earth had a perpetual Equinox and unity of Seasons.
2. One of the two points at which the sun's path crosses the Equator, described technically as the first points in Aries and Libra. Formerly also used loosely for the region of the ecliptic adjacent to these points. precession of the equinoxes (see precession n.2).
c1400 (▸1391) Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe (Cambr. Dd.3.53) (1872) i. §17. 9
Ther-fore ben thise two signes [sc. Aries & Libra] called the equinoxiis [1560 equinoctes].
1594 T. Blundeville Exercises iii. i. xvi. f. 149,
The beginning of Aries, which is called the vernal Equinoxe.
1625 N. Carpenter Geogr. Delineated i. v. 105
If..in any oblique Horizon, there should be an æquinoxe, it could no wise be in the middle time betwixt the two Solstices.
1715 tr. D. Gregory Elements Astron. I. iii. §17. 418
The true and imaginary Sun will be equally distant from both Equinoxes.
In 1715, the duration or time between the equinoxes was erroneously thought to be the same.
Astronomy-Solstice
1. a. One or other of the two times in the year, midway between the two equinoxes, when the sun, having reached the tropical points, is farthest from the equator and appears to stand still, i.e. about 21st June (the summer solstice) and 22nd December (the winter solstice).
a1325 (▸c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 150
Two geuelengðhes timen her And two solstices in ðe ger.
?a1475 (▸?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl.) (1865) I. 201
There is a welle..whiche floethe ouer with watere abowte the solstice of somer.
?a1475 (▸?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl.) (1871) III. 51
Whiche Olimpias began in the solstice of wynter, when men of Grece begynne theire yere.
c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) vi. 39
The tropic of Cancer..is the solstice of symmyr... The circle of capricorne is callit the solstice of vyntir.
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary iii. 269
At Lucern twice each yeere they make election of Senators.., namely, about each Solstice of the yeere.
1660 R. Coke Elements Power & Subjection v. iv. 265 in Justice Vindicated,
As we see in Foxes about the Brumall solstice.
b. spec. The summer solstice, or the heat of this.
1643 Sir T. Browne Religio Medici (Authorized ed.) i. §32
So when thy absent beames begin t' impart Againe a Solstice on my frozen heart, My winter's ov'r.
1692 J. Washington tr. Milton Def. People i, in Milton Wks. (1851) VIII. 21
May the Gods and Goddesses, Damasippus, bless thee with an everlasting Solstice; that thou mayst always be warm.
2. A solstitial point.
1601 R. Dolman tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. III. 96
The Solstists or sun-steads and poles of the Zodiacke.
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica 227
A temperate heat.., which by his approach unto the solstice he intendeth.
1678 T. Hobbes Decameron Physiologicum iv. 41
The distance between the Æquinoctial and the Solstice, is not always the same.
1755 B. Martin Mag. Arts & Sci. 192/3
These two Points are called the Solstices.
In 1678, it know that the distance between the equinox and the solstice is not always the same.
clock, hour, minute, second [time]
Time Keeping-Clock
An instrument for the measurement of time; properly, one in which the hours, and sometimes lesser divisions, are sounded by strokes of a hammer on a bell or similar resonant body; but many clocks now do not strike. The mechanism consists of a train of wheels set in motion by weights or a spring, actuating and regulated by a pendulum or balance-wheel, and requiring to be periodically wound up; the passage of hours, minutes, etc., is indicated by ‘hands’ or pointers, on a ‘face’ or dial-plate. (The precise meaning in the earliest quots. is not certain.)
1371 Abbrev. Rotul. Origin. II. 314
Pro quadam campana pro horis diei et noctis per ipsam perpetuo designanda, clok vulgariter nuncupata, in eadem turri ponenda et sustentanda.
1371 in J. Britton Cathedrals, York 80
Till itte be hegh none smytyn by þe clocke.
1379 in J. T. Fowler Memorials Church SS. Peter & Wilfrid, Ripon (1888) III. 103
In expens. super le Clok, xxiiij petr. [plumbi].
c1386 Chaucer Nun's Priest's Tale 34
Sikerer was his crowyng..Than is a clok, or an abbay orologge.
1447 O. Bokenham Lyvys Seyntys (1835) 20
Evene as the clok sevene had smet She entryd.
▸c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 118
Neuere saue in late daies was eny clok telling the houris..bi peise and bi stroke.
a1616 Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) i. iii. 21
Their Armes are set, like Clocks, still to strike on.
a1640 W. Fenner Christs Alarm (1646) 359
When thou usest to stirre up conscience every day, wind it up as a man does his Clock.
Time Keeping-Hour
A space of time containing sixty minutes; the twenty-fourth part of a civil day.Formerly the hours were commonly reckoned as each equal to one-twelfth of the natural day or night, whatever its length (called planetary, temporary, or unequal hours); the equal hours were sometimes distinguished as equinoctial, being each equal to a temporary hour at the equinoxes. sidereal hour, solar hour, 24th part of a sidereal, or solar, day.
c1250 Old Kent. Serm. in Old Eng. Misc. 34
Þos laste on ure habbeþ i-travailed.
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 23
Þe foure & tuenty houres he spended in holy life.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) John xi. 9
Wher ther ben not twelue ouris of the day? [Ags. Gosp. Hu ne synt twelf tida þæs dæges?].
c1430 Two Cookery-bks. 37
Late hym ben stepid .ij. or .iij. owrys in clene Water.
a1450 Fysshynge wyth Angle (1883) 9
Let hyt boyle softly halfe a nowyr.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry V f. l,
Thus this battaile continued .iii. long houres.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. xxxvijv,
What number..they were able to make within an houres warnynge.
1561 R. Eden tr. M. Cortes Arte Nauigation ii. xiv. 40
The houre naturall or equall, is a .24. parte of the day naturall... The artificial or temperall houre, is a twelfth parte of the daye arcke or the nyght arcke.
b. In pl. (rarely sing.) with numeral, expressing the number of hours since midnight or noon, and thus denoting a particular time of the day (sense 3): as ten hours = ten o'clock (obs., chiefly Sc.). In pl. with numerals rendered in figures (followed by those of minutes), expressing the number of hours since midnight (chiefly in the armed services and in passenger timetables). Cf. hundred n. and adj. 1d.
1427 Sc. Acts Jas. I c. 118
Fra ten houres to twa efter nune.
1488 (1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) iv. l. 121
Schir Ranald come by x houris of the day.
1567 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. iii. 1
To Edinburgh about vj. houris at morne, As I was passand.
c1620 A. Hume Of Orthogr. Britan Tongue (1870) ii. ix. §4
At four hoores I was wryting.
1657 Edinb. Kirk Sess. Reg. in Sc. Antiquary (1898) June 35
The first Bell shall ring at half-hour to seven hours on the week dayes, the second Bell at seven hours.
Time Keeping-Minute
a. The sixtieth part of an hour. In early use frequently †minute of an hour (obs.).
▸a1393 Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iv. 241 (MED),
For the lachesse Of half a Minut of an houre..He loste all that he hadde do.
?a1475 Promptorium Parvulorum (Winch.) 289
Mynute of an howre, minuta.
1554 D. Lindsay Dialog Experience & Courteour 6014 in Wks. (1931) I. 376
The small Minuth of one hour To thame salbe so gret dolour, Thay sall thynk thay haif done remane Ane thousand yeir in to that pane.
1598 Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 779
Now at the latest minute of the houre, Graunt vs your loues.
1603 G. Owen Descr. Penbrokshire (1892) i. 1
Our longest sommers daies must be of xvii houres and fortie three mynuttes longe.
b. The space of a minute (also †minute while); a short space of time, an instant, a moment. Freq. used emphatically in negative constructions, as not for a minute, never for one minute, etc.
▸a1393 Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vi. 2257
Every houre apointeth so That no mynut therof was lore.
c1400 (▸c1378) Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xi. 372
He miȝte amende in a Minute while [c1400 C textmynt-while] al þat mys standeth.
c1400 (▸c1378) Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xvii. 228
Ysekeles in eueses þorw hete of þe sonne Melteth in a mynut while [c1400 C text mynt-while] to myst and to watre.
c1425 Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. 2817
Þe cok..of þe tyme a mynute wil not passe To warnen hem..þat Of þe tydes and sesoun of þe nyȝt.
1430 Astron. Cal. in E. M. Thompson et al. Facsimiles Anc. MSS (1913) 2nd Ser. I. Plate 72b (MED),
Þe laste chonge before was þe 9 day before 18 Mynutes before 9 of þe cloke.
c1450 Digby Plays 189,
I myght not leve, nor endure On mynnate, bot I am sure The third day ryse shall hee.
a1535 T. More Dialoge of Comfort (1553) i. sig. A.ii,
Neyther one fynger breadth of space, nor one minute of tyme from you.
Time Keeping-Second
In measurement of time: The sixtieth part of a minute, 1/ 3600th of an hour.
1588 A. King tr. P. Canisius Cathechisme or Schort Instr. g viij,
Ye cowrse of ye sone, quhilk sence hes bene obserueit to be accompleseit in 365 dayes 5 houris 10 min: and 16 Secondis.
1695 W. Congreve Love for Love iii. i. 46
Fore. At Ten a Clock, punctually at Ten. Sir Samp. To a Minute, to a Second; thou shalt set thy Watch, and the Bridegroom shall observe it's Motions.
1762 W. Young Treat. Weights & Meas. 24
The pendulum which vibrates seconds at London, has been commonly esteemed 39,2 English inches.
An instrument for the measurement of time; properly, one in which the hours, and sometimes lesser divisions, are sounded by strokes of a hammer on a bell or similar resonant body; but many clocks now do not strike. The mechanism consists of a train of wheels set in motion by weights or a spring, actuating and regulated by a pendulum or balance-wheel, and requiring to be periodically wound up; the passage of hours, minutes, etc., is indicated by ‘hands’ or pointers, on a ‘face’ or dial-plate. (The precise meaning in the earliest quots. is not certain.)
1371 Abbrev. Rotul. Origin. II. 314
Pro quadam campana pro horis diei et noctis per ipsam perpetuo designanda, clok vulgariter nuncupata, in eadem turri ponenda et sustentanda.
1371 in J. Britton Cathedrals, York 80
Till itte be hegh none smytyn by þe clocke.
1379 in J. T. Fowler Memorials Church SS. Peter & Wilfrid, Ripon (1888) III. 103
In expens. super le Clok, xxiiij petr. [plumbi].
c1386 Chaucer Nun's Priest's Tale 34
Sikerer was his crowyng..Than is a clok, or an abbay orologge.
1447 O. Bokenham Lyvys Seyntys (1835) 20
Evene as the clok sevene had smet She entryd.
▸c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 118
Neuere saue in late daies was eny clok telling the houris..bi peise and bi stroke.
a1616 Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 1 (1623) i. iii. 21
Their Armes are set, like Clocks, still to strike on.
a1640 W. Fenner Christs Alarm (1646) 359
When thou usest to stirre up conscience every day, wind it up as a man does his Clock.
Time Keeping-Hour
A space of time containing sixty minutes; the twenty-fourth part of a civil day.Formerly the hours were commonly reckoned as each equal to one-twelfth of the natural day or night, whatever its length (called planetary, temporary, or unequal hours); the equal hours were sometimes distinguished as equinoctial, being each equal to a temporary hour at the equinoxes. sidereal hour, solar hour, 24th part of a sidereal, or solar, day.
c1250 Old Kent. Serm. in Old Eng. Misc. 34
Þos laste on ure habbeþ i-travailed.
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 23
Þe foure & tuenty houres he spended in holy life.
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) John xi. 9
Wher ther ben not twelue ouris of the day? [Ags. Gosp. Hu ne synt twelf tida þæs dæges?].
c1430 Two Cookery-bks. 37
Late hym ben stepid .ij. or .iij. owrys in clene Water.
a1450 Fysshynge wyth Angle (1883) 9
Let hyt boyle softly halfe a nowyr.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry V f. l,
Thus this battaile continued .iii. long houres.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. xxxvijv,
What number..they were able to make within an houres warnynge.
1561 R. Eden tr. M. Cortes Arte Nauigation ii. xiv. 40
The houre naturall or equall, is a .24. parte of the day naturall... The artificial or temperall houre, is a twelfth parte of the daye arcke or the nyght arcke.
b. In pl. (rarely sing.) with numeral, expressing the number of hours since midnight or noon, and thus denoting a particular time of the day (sense 3): as ten hours = ten o'clock (obs., chiefly Sc.). In pl. with numerals rendered in figures (followed by those of minutes), expressing the number of hours since midnight (chiefly in the armed services and in passenger timetables). Cf. hundred n. and adj. 1d.
1427 Sc. Acts Jas. I c. 118
Fra ten houres to twa efter nune.
1488 (1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) iv. l. 121
Schir Ranald come by x houris of the day.
1567 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. iii. 1
To Edinburgh about vj. houris at morne, As I was passand.
c1620 A. Hume Of Orthogr. Britan Tongue (1870) ii. ix. §4
At four hoores I was wryting.
1657 Edinb. Kirk Sess. Reg. in Sc. Antiquary (1898) June 35
The first Bell shall ring at half-hour to seven hours on the week dayes, the second Bell at seven hours.
Time Keeping-Minute
a. The sixtieth part of an hour. In early use frequently †minute of an hour (obs.).
▸a1393 Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iv. 241 (MED),
For the lachesse Of half a Minut of an houre..He loste all that he hadde do.
?a1475 Promptorium Parvulorum (Winch.) 289
Mynute of an howre, minuta.
1554 D. Lindsay Dialog Experience & Courteour 6014 in Wks. (1931) I. 376
The small Minuth of one hour To thame salbe so gret dolour, Thay sall thynk thay haif done remane Ane thousand yeir in to that pane.
1598 Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 779
Now at the latest minute of the houre, Graunt vs your loues.
1603 G. Owen Descr. Penbrokshire (1892) i. 1
Our longest sommers daies must be of xvii houres and fortie three mynuttes longe.
b. The space of a minute (also †minute while); a short space of time, an instant, a moment. Freq. used emphatically in negative constructions, as not for a minute, never for one minute, etc.
▸a1393 Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vi. 2257
Every houre apointeth so That no mynut therof was lore.
c1400 (▸c1378) Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xi. 372
He miȝte amende in a Minute while [c1400 C textmynt-while] al þat mys standeth.
c1400 (▸c1378) Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xvii. 228
Ysekeles in eueses þorw hete of þe sonne Melteth in a mynut while [c1400 C text mynt-while] to myst and to watre.
c1425 Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. 2817
Þe cok..of þe tyme a mynute wil not passe To warnen hem..þat Of þe tydes and sesoun of þe nyȝt.
1430 Astron. Cal. in E. M. Thompson et al. Facsimiles Anc. MSS (1913) 2nd Ser. I. Plate 72b (MED),
Þe laste chonge before was þe 9 day before 18 Mynutes before 9 of þe cloke.
c1450 Digby Plays 189,
I myght not leve, nor endure On mynnate, bot I am sure The third day ryse shall hee.
a1535 T. More Dialoge of Comfort (1553) i. sig. A.ii,
Neyther one fynger breadth of space, nor one minute of tyme from you.
Time Keeping-Second
In measurement of time: The sixtieth part of a minute, 1/ 3600th of an hour.
1588 A. King tr. P. Canisius Cathechisme or Schort Instr. g viij,
Ye cowrse of ye sone, quhilk sence hes bene obserueit to be accompleseit in 365 dayes 5 houris 10 min: and 16 Secondis.
1695 W. Congreve Love for Love iii. i. 46
Fore. At Ten a Clock, punctually at Ten. Sir Samp. To a Minute, to a Second; thou shalt set thy Watch, and the Bridegroom shall observe it's Motions.
1762 W. Young Treat. Weights & Meas. 24
The pendulum which vibrates seconds at London, has been commonly esteemed 39,2 English inches.
the metonic cycle and the dionysian cycle
Metonic cycle n. the cycle of 19 tropical years (conventionally equated to 235 synodic months) in which the moon returns to almost the same apparent position relative to the sun, so that new and full moons occur at the same dates in the corresponding year of each cycle. Also †Metonic period,
†Metonic year. It was widely adopted in eastern lunisolar calendars, and was the basis of the early Christian calculation of the date of Easter.
1669 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 4 957
In the second [book], the Author..treats of..several eminent Periods or Revolutions of Time, as the Metonick, Calippick, the Dionysian and Iulian Period.
1696 E. Phillips New World of Words (ed. 5) ,
Metonic-Year, is the Space of 19 years, in which space of Time, the Lunations return and happen as they were before.
1704 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum I,
Metonick Year, or Period..'tis sometimes called The Great Metonic Year, and is the same with the Cycle of the Moon.
1744 Gentleman's Mag. Dec. 652/2
Had this Metonic cycle of 19 years, or our Golden Number, hit this particular point of time with a sufficient exactitude.
1839 Penny Cycl. XV. 144/1
The first year of the first Metonic period commenced with the summer solstice of the year 432b.c.
Dionysian
Pertaining to the abbot Dionysius the Little, who lived in the sixth century, and is said to have first practised the method of dating events from the birth of Christ of which he fixed the accepted date. Dionysian period, a period of 532 Julian years, after which the changes of the moon recur on the same days of the year; said to have been introduced by Dionysius for calculating the date of Easter.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Period,
Victorian Period, an Interval of 532 Julian Years... Some ascribe this Period to Dionysius exiguus; and hence call it the Dionysian Period.
1769 J. Horsefall in Philos. Trans. 1768 (Royal Soc.) 58 102
Encreased by three dionysian periods, or multiples of 28 and 19.
Dionysius Exiguus (Denis the short or Denis the little) is alleged to have lived in the 6th century, but he is not recorded for over a millennium in the English Language. Denis Pétau, also known as Dionysius Petavius, lived from 1583 to 1652.
†Metonic year. It was widely adopted in eastern lunisolar calendars, and was the basis of the early Christian calculation of the date of Easter.
1669 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 4 957
In the second [book], the Author..treats of..several eminent Periods or Revolutions of Time, as the Metonick, Calippick, the Dionysian and Iulian Period.
1696 E. Phillips New World of Words (ed. 5) ,
Metonic-Year, is the Space of 19 years, in which space of Time, the Lunations return and happen as they were before.
1704 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum I,
Metonick Year, or Period..'tis sometimes called The Great Metonic Year, and is the same with the Cycle of the Moon.
1744 Gentleman's Mag. Dec. 652/2
Had this Metonic cycle of 19 years, or our Golden Number, hit this particular point of time with a sufficient exactitude.
1839 Penny Cycl. XV. 144/1
The first year of the first Metonic period commenced with the summer solstice of the year 432b.c.
Dionysian
Pertaining to the abbot Dionysius the Little, who lived in the sixth century, and is said to have first practised the method of dating events from the birth of Christ of which he fixed the accepted date. Dionysian period, a period of 532 Julian years, after which the changes of the moon recur on the same days of the year; said to have been introduced by Dionysius for calculating the date of Easter.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Period,
Victorian Period, an Interval of 532 Julian Years... Some ascribe this Period to Dionysius exiguus; and hence call it the Dionysian Period.
1769 J. Horsefall in Philos. Trans. 1768 (Royal Soc.) 58 102
Encreased by three dionysian periods, or multiples of 28 and 19.
Dionysius Exiguus (Denis the short or Denis the little) is alleged to have lived in the 6th century, but he is not recorded for over a millennium in the English Language. Denis Pétau, also known as Dionysius Petavius, lived from 1583 to 1652.
anyalysis, discussion, and conclusion
Part the Third-Analysis
The previous words are listed chronologically using the first year of reference. The date of the introduction of the Gregorian calendar is also shown.
The previous words are listed chronologically using the first year of reference. The date of the introduction of the Gregorian calendar is also shown.
Astronomy-solstice 1a
Time- hour 1a Time- clock Astronomy-degree Astronomy- second Astronomy- equinox 2 Astronomy- minute Time-minute 1a Time-minute 1b Time-hour 1b Gregorian calendar introduced Astronomy-equinox 1a Time-second Astronomy-solstice 2 Astronomy-equinox 1b Astronomy-solstice 1b Dionysius Petavius dies Metonic cycle Dionysian Period |
1250
1250 1371 1386 1391 1391 1392 1393 1393 1427 1582 1588 1588 1601 1616 1643 1652 1669 1728 |
The references to the solstices in before the 16th century have no date and are of a general nature only, i.e., in Aries and Libra. We do not doubt the accuracy of the Gregorian calendar, in fact, it is strong evidence of the high state of astronomy in the 16th century. From the introduction of the calendar to the first recording of "Metonic cycle" is 87 years or roughly four and half cycles. With the widespread use of an accurate calendar, it took less than five repetitions for the "Metonic" cycle to be discovered.
The prerequisite of the "Metonic" cycle is an accurate calendar; since an inaccurate calendar will not record the repetitive nature of the solar and lunar cycles. We find it highly unlikely that any pre-16th century civilizations had the advanced astronomical knowledge that would lead to the discovery of the Metonic cycle.
The prerequisite of the "Metonic" cycle is an accurate calendar; since an inaccurate calendar will not record the repetitive nature of the solar and lunar cycles. We find it highly unlikely that any pre-16th century civilizations had the advanced astronomical knowledge that would lead to the discovery of the Metonic cycle.