Sphere (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sphered (?);
p. pr. & vb. n.
Sphering.]
1. To place in a sphere, or among the spheres; to insphere.
The glorious
planet Sol
In noble eminence enthroned and
sphered
Amidst the
other.
Shak.
2. To form into roundness; to make spherical, or spheral; to perfect.
Tennyson.
Sphere (?), n. [OE.
spere, OF. espere,
F. sphère, 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.
2. Hence, any globe or globular body, especially a celestial one, as the sun, a planet, or the earth.
Of celestial
bodies, first the sun,
A mighty sphere, he framed.
Milton.
3. (Astron.) (a) The apparent surface of the heavens, which is assumed to be
spherical and everywhere equally distant, in which the heavenly bodies appear to have their
places, and on which the various astronomical
circles, as of right ascension and declination, the equator, ecliptic, etc., are conceived
to be drawn;
an ideal geometrical sphere, with the astronomical and geographical circles in their proper positions on it. (b) In ancient astronomy, one of the concentric and eccentric revolving spherical transparent
shells in which the stars, sun, planets, and moon were
supposed to be set, and by which they were carried, in such a manner
as to produce their apparent motions.
4.
(Logic) The extension of a general conception, or the totality of the individuals or species to
which it may be applied.
5. Circuit or range of action, knowledge, or influence; compass; province; employment; place of existence.
To be called into a huge
sphere, and not to be seen to move
in 't.
Shak.
Taking her out of the ordinary relations with humanity, and inclosing her in a sphere by herself.
Hawthorne.
Each in his hidden sphere of joy or woe
Our hermit spirits dwell.
Keble.
6. Rank; order of society; social
positions.
7. An orbit, as of a star; a socket. [R.] Shak.
Armillary sphere, Crystalline sphere,
Oblique sphere,.
See under Armillary, Crystalline,. -- Doctrine of the sphere, applications
of the principles of spherical trigonometry to the properties and relations of the circles of
the sphere, and the problems connected with them, in
astronomy and geography, as to the latitudes and longitudes, distance and bearing, of places on the
earth, and the right ascension and declination, altitude
and azimuth, rising and setting, etc., of the heavenly bodies; spherical geometry.
-- Music of the spheres. See under Music.
Syn. -- Globe; orb; circle. See Globe.
Hear it pronounced