a. Astr. [f. L. lūna moon + SOLAR. Cf. F. lunisolaire.] Pertaining to the mutual relations of the sun and moon, or resulting from their combined action. Lunisolar period: a cycle of 532 years, that number being the product of 19 and 28, the numbers of years in the cycles of the moon and sun, respectively. Lunisolar year: a year whose divisions are regulated by the revolutions of the moon, while its average total length is made to agree with the revolution of the sun. Lunisolar precession: see PRECESSION.
1691. T. H[ale], Acc. New Invent., p. xxxvii. A New Luni-Solar Year.
a. 1727. Newton, Chronol. Amended (1728), 15. Hitherto the Lunisolar year had been in use.
1735. Dyche & Pardon, Dict., Luni-solar period.
1751. Phil. Trans., XLVII. 319. The other luni-solar tables constructed from the numbers and measures of the illustrious Newton.
1792. H. Cavendish, ibid., LXXXII. 385. In those parts of India in which this almanac is used, the civil year is lunisolar.
1795–8. T. Maurice, Hindostan (1820), I. I. ii. 81. The lunisolar year, however, was afterwards found to fall short of the true equinoctial year by five days and a quarter.
1879. Boddam-Whetham, Roraima, xxv. 285. Luni-solar attraction.
1885. ‘Where Chineses Drive,’ 129. The Chinese year is lunisolar.
