arcminute
UK[ˈɑːkˌmɪnɪt]US[ˈɑːrkˌmɪnɪt]
n
a unit of angular measurement equal to one sixtieth of a degree.
Morpheme Breakdown
arc
minute
arc
curve
minute
small
Etymology
the term 'arcminute' is a modern scientific compound formed by combining two words of latin origin. 'arc' derives from the latin 'arcus', meaning a bow or curve, which in astronomy and geometry came to represent a segment of a circle's circumference. 'minute' originates from the latin 'pars minuta prima', meaning the 'first small part', a term used in medieval timekeeping and angular measurement to denote a sixtieth of a unit. thus, an arcminute logically represents a small, precise subdivision—one sixtieth—of a degree of angular arc, directly linking the concept of a curved path with a standardized fractional division.
Analysis
Structure: arc (curve) + minute (small)
- arc: from latin 'arcus' meaning 'bow, arch, curve'. in this compound, it denotes an angular measurement along a curved path.
- minute: from latin 'minutus' meaning 'small, made small'. in this compound, it denotes a small division of a unit, specifically one sixtieth.
Examples
the star's position was measured to within a few arcminutes of the predicted coordinates.
one arcminute of angular separation is fine enough to distinguish details on the lunar surface with a good telescope.
the apparent diameter of the planet jupiter is roughly 33 arcminutes at its closest approach to earth.