a. [f. prec. + -IC.] Of or pertaining to epicycles. Epicyclic train: one in which the axes of the wheels revolve around a common center.

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1837.  Whewell, Hist. Induct. Sc., III. iv. § 2 I. 197. The supposition of uniform circular motions, on which the epicyclic hypothesis proceeds.

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1878.  Newcomb, Pop. Astron., Introd. 5. The theory of the epicyclic motions of the planets.

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1881.  Proctor, Poetry Astron., viii. 277. Those points of its [the moon’s] epicyclic orbit about the earth where it is at its nearest to us.

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  Hence Epicyclical a. = EPICYCLIC.

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1837.  Whewell, Hist. Induct. Sc., III. iv. § 6 I. 217. The epicyclical theory.

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1854.  Moseley, Astron., liv. 170. With respect to Venus, an analogous Epicyclical path … will be found.

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