Plan"et (?), n. [OE.
planete, F. planète, L.
planeta, fr. Gr. &?;, and &?; a planet; prop. wandering, fr. &?; to wander, fr. &?; a wandering.]
1. (Astron.) A celestial body which revolves about the sun in an orbit of a moderate degree of eccentricity. It is distinguished from a comet by the absence of a coma, and by having
a less eccentric orbit. See Solar system.
&fist;
The term planet was first used to distinguish those stars which have an
apparent motion through the constellations from the fixed stars, which retain their relative places unchanged. The
inferior planets are
Mercury and Venus, which are nearer to the sun than
is the earth; the superior planets are Mars, the asteroids, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, which are farther from the sun
than is the
earth. Primary
planets are those which revolve about the sun; secondary planets,
or moons, are those which revolve around the primary planets as satellites, and at the same time revolve with them about the sun.
2. A
star, as influencing the fate of a men.
There's some
ill planet
reigns.
Shak. Planet
gear. (Mach.) See
Epicyclic train,
under Epicyclic. -- Planet wheel, a gear wheel
which revolves around the wheel with which it
meshes, in an epicyclic train.
Hear it pronounced