— perigeal, perigean , adj.
/per"i jee'/ , n. Astron.
the point in the orbit of a heavenly body, esp. the moon, or of an artificial satellite at which it is nearest to the earth. See diag. under apogee .
[ 1585-95; perigée perigeum, perigaeum perígeion ( semeîon limit), neut. of perígeios near, of the earth, equiv. to peri- PERI- + -geios, adj. deriv. of gaîa, gê the earth ]