sphere

sphere
sphere (n.) 1530s, restored spelling of M.E. spere (c.1300) "space, conceived as a hollow globe about the world," from O.Fr. espere (13c.), from L. sphæra "globe, ball, celestial sphere," from Gk. sphaira "globe, ball," of unknown origin.
Sense of "ball, body of globular form" is from late 14c. Medieval astronomical meaning "one of the 8 (later 10) concentric, transparent, hollow globes believed to revolve around the earth and carry the heavenly bodies" is from late 14c.; the supposed harmonious sound they made rubbing against one another was the music of the spheres (late 14c.). Meaning "range of something" is first recorded c.1600 (e.g. sphere of influence, 1885, originally in reference to Anglo-German colonial rivalry in Africa). A spherical number (1640s) is one whose powers always terminate in the same digit as the number itself (5,6, and 10 are the only ones).

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • sphère — [ sfɛr ] n. f. • 1509; espere mil. XIIe; d ab. t. d astron.; lat. sphæra, gr. sphaira 1 ♦ Surface fermée dont tous les points sont situés à égale distance d un point donné; solide délimité par cette surface (⇒ 1. balle, 1. bille, boule). Centre,… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Sphere — Sphère Pour les articles homonymes, voir Sphère (homonymie). Une sphère dans un espace euclidien En géométrie euclidienne, une sphère es …   Wikipédia en Français

  • sphere — SPHERE. s. f. Terme de Geometrie. Corps solide dont toutes les lignes tirées du centre à la circonference sont esgales. Sphere, se prend plus ordinairement pour Une espece de machine ronde & mobile, composée des divers cercles qui representent… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Sphere — Sphere, n. [OE. spere, OF. espere, F. sph[ e]re, L. sphaera,. Gr. ??? a sphere, a ball.] 1. (Geom.) A body or space contained under a single surface, which in every part is equally distant from a point within called its center. [1913 Webster] 2.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • -sphère — ⇒ SPHÈRE, élém. formant Élém. tiré du subst. fr. sphère, entrant dans la constr. de subst. fém., plus rarement masc. A. GÉOPHYS., ASTRON. [Sur le modèle de atmosphère; les mots constr. désignent des couches de la sphère terrestre ou de son… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • sphere — [sfıə US sfır] n [Date: 1200 1300; : Old French; Origin: espere, from Latin sphaera, from Greek sphaira ball, sphere ] 1.) a ball shape 2.) a particular area of activity, work, knowledge etc in ... sphere ▪ television s increasing role in the… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • sphere — [ sfır ] noun count ** 1. ) an object that is round like a ball 2. ) a particular area of interest, activity, work, etc. that is one of many parts of life: the financial/political/scientific etc. sphere: Let s take this debate out of the… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • sphere — [sfir] n. [ME spere < OFr espere < L sphaera < Gr sphaira] 1. any round body or figure having the surface equally distant from the center at all points; globe; ball 2. a star, planet, etc. 3. the visible heavens; sky 4. short for… …   English World dictionary

  • Sphere — Sphere, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Sphered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Sphering}.] 1. To place in a sphere, or among the spheres; to insphere. [1913 Webster] The glorious planet Sol In noble eminence enthroned and sphered Amidst the other. Shak. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sphere — – Die Gedanken des Bösen ist ein Roman des US amerikanischen Schriftstellers Michael Crichton aus dem Jahr 1987. Das Buch wurde 1997 unter dem Titel Sphere – Die Macht aus dem All von Barry Levinson verfilmt. Handlung Der Psychologe Dr. Norman… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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