I. |ēkwə|näkshəl also |ek- adjective
Etymology: Middle English equinoccial, equinoxial, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French equinocial, equinoctial, from Latin aequinoctalis, from aequinoctium equinox + -alis -al — more at equinox
1. : relating to an equinox or to a state or the time of equal day and night
2. : relating to the regions or climate of the equinoctial line or equator : being in or near that line
equinoctial heat
3. : relating to the time when the sun passes an equinoctial point
an equinoctial storm
4. of a sign of the zodiac : beginning at one of the equinoxes
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English equinoccial, equinoxial, from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French equinocial, equinoctial, from Medieval Latin aequinoctialis, from Latin aequinoctialis, adjective
1.
a. : equator 1
b. obsolete : equinox
c. archaic : the terrestrial equator
2. : an equinoctial gale or storm