sextant
UK[ˈsek.stənt]US[ˈsek.stənt]
n
An instrument with a graduated arc of 60 degrees, used in navigation and astronomy for measuring the angular distance between objects.
Morpheme Breakdown
sext
ant
sext
sixth
ant
instrument/agent
Etymology
The word 'sextant' has a precise mathematical origin. It derives from the Latin stem sextant-, which is the present participle of sextare (to divide into sixths), itself from sextus (sixth). The instrument is named for the arc of its measuring scale, which historically was one-sixth of a full circle, or 60 degrees. This naming convention follows a logical pattern similar to other navigational instruments like the quadrant (a quarter-circle). Over time, the term became fixed for this specific optical instrument, directly linking its physical design (a 60-degree arc) to its function of measuring angles.
Analysis
Structure: sext (sixth) + ant (instrument/agent)
- sext: From Latin sextus (sixth). In this word, it denotes the sixth part of a circle (60 degrees).
- ant: A suffix of Latin origin (-antem, accusative of -ans), often forming agent nouns or instruments. Here, it indicates a tool or instrument.
Examples
The navigator used a sextant to determine the ship's latitude by measuring the angle of the sun above the horizon.
Before the advent of GPS, the sextant was an essential tool for oceanic navigation.
He carefully adjusted the mirrors on the sextant to get a clear reading of the star's position.