[sol.stice] n [ME, fr. OF, fr. L solstitium, fr. sol sun + -stet-, -stes standing; akin to L stare to stand--more at solar, stand] (13c) 1: either of the two points on the ecliptic at which its distance from the celestial equator is greatest and which is reached by the sun each year about June 22d and December 22d
2: the time of the sun's passing a solstice which occurs about June 22d to begin summer in the northern hemisphere and about December 22d to begin winter in the northern hemisphere