Word Of The Week

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orrery

[ awr-uh-ree, or- ]

noun, plural or·rer·ies.

1. an apparatus for representing the positions, motions, and phases of the planets, satellites, etc., in the solar system.

2. any of certain similar machines, as a planetarium.

 

ORIGIN

    First recorded in 1705–15; named after Charles Boyle, Earl of Orrery (1676–1731), for whom it was first made

 

USAGE

• Among the children were the famous orrery, and the yet more famous Robert Boyle.

  IRELAND UNDER THE TUDORS, VOL. II (OF 3) | RICHARD BAGWELL

• This came to the ears of the Earl of orrery, who requested the butlers master to send him to his house, which the latter did.

  IRISH WITCHCRAFT AND DEMONOLOGY | ST. JOHN D. (ST. JOHN DRELINCOURT) SEYMOUR

• You therefore present this orrery to any person, and desire him to choose one of the questions there written.

  ENDLESS AMUSEMENT | UNKNOWN

• These are all placed on a wide plain in a fashion symbolizing the Solar System: like an orrery.

  A SON OF PERDITION | FERGUS HUME

• His countenance, says orrery, could be terribly expressive of the sterner passions.

  SWIFT | LESLIE STEPHEN

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