a. and sb. Also 6–7 -tiall, -ciall, 7–9 -cial. [a. F. solsticial, † solstitial, or ad. L. sōlstitiāl-is, f. sōlstitium: see SOLSTICE.]
A. adj. 1. Of or belonging to, connected with, a solstice or the solstices.
1559. W. Cunningham, Cosmogr. Glasse, 35. They are called Colures, of which th’one … is named th’equinoctiall Colure, and th’other … the solstitiall Colure.
1591. Nashe, Prognost., Wks. (Grosart), II. 164. The Sunne … at his passage vnto the solsticiall estiuall signe Cancer.
1594. Blundevil, Exerc., III. I. xxvii. (1636), 336. Now it is found to have passed that point so farre towards the Solsticiall point, as [etc.].
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 8. The shadowes of them that dwell Northerly vnder the Solstitiall circle in Summer.
1634. Peacham, Compl. Gentl., vii. 60. The other passeth thorow the Solstitiall points, and is called the Solstitiall Colure.
1755. B. Martin, Mag. Arts & Sci., 193. What Distinction is made of these Solstitial Points?
1812–6. Playfair, Nat. Phil., II. 121. From observations of the sun’s solstitial altitudes.
1849. H. Christmas, Cradle of Twin Giants, I. 47. It [Cancer] is a watery,… solstitial, and exceedingly fruitful sign.
1894. R. A. Gregory, Elem. Physiogr., vii. (ed. 4), 141. Each of the solsticial points being midway between the equinoxes.
2. Occurring, taking place, etc., at the time of the solstice(s).
c. 1610. Sir C. Heydon, Astrol. Disc. (1650), 14. These four causes are most evident upon the very Solstitial days.
1695. Phil. Trans., XIX. 15. In order to determine the Proportion of the Gnomon to the Solstitial shade.
1796. Pegge, Anonym. (1809), 431. The solstitial rains are here in England extremely beneficial.
1845. Peter Parley’s Ann., VI. 133. The setting in of the solstitial season.
1853. Kane, Grinnell Exped., xxxi. (1856), 266. The solstitial day of greatest darkness.
1881. Nature, XXIII. 609. The solstitial months, namely June and December.
3. Of heat, etc.: Characteristic of the summer solstice. Also as an epithet of the sun, etc., in this connection.
1642. H. More, Song of Soul, II. II. vii. The glorious Sun … such as he is in his solstitiall noon.
1667. Milton, P. L., X. 656. From the South to bring Solstitial summers heat.
1708. J. Philips, Cyder, I. 13. Sirius parched with Heat Solstitial the green herb.
1795. Gentl. Mag., 540. Luxuriant foliage opposes the solstitial sun.
1829. Wordsw., Th. on the Seasons, ii. Less fair is summer riding high In fierce solstitial power.
1868. Kingsley, Christmas Day, 37. That day Shall dawn in glory, and solstitial blaze Of full midsummer sun.
4. a. Of plants: Coming up at the summer solstice; growing or fading rapidly.
After solstitialis herba in Plautus Pseud. I. i. 36.
1654. R. Whitlock, Ζωοτομια, 475. The short Duration of worldly Happinesse, how aptly called the Solstitiall Plant.
1657–61. Heylin, Hist. Reform., Pref. p. i. So many Ordinances … should be as short lived as Jonas’ Gourd, or the solstitial herb in Plautus.
1783. Phil. Trans., LXXIV. 417. As the two last are solstitial, and rather delicate plants, I wondered the less at their sensibility.
b. Of insects, etc.: Appearing about the time of the summer solstice.
1812. Shaw, Gen. Zool., VIII. II. 449. The Solstitial Parrakeet is twice described by Buffon, under different divisions of the genus.
1818. Kirby & Sp., Introd. Entomol., II. xxiii. 372. The solstitial and common cockchafer appear in the evening—the former generally coming forth at the summer solstice.
1835. Kirby, Hab. & Inst. Anim., II. xx. 366. About the time of the summer solstice, the solstitial beetle may be seen and heard buzzing in vast numbers over the trees and hedges.
5. Connected with the observation of the solstices.
1834. Hist. Astron. (U.K.S.), vi. 32/1. The construction of the astrolabium … was rather more complicated than that of the solstitial or equatorial armillæ.
1883. Bible Myths (ed. 2), 439. An astronomical observatory containing … solstitial and equatorial armils,… and other apparatus.
1906. Lockyer, Stonehenge, iii. 19. We have in Stonehenge a solstitial temple.
† B. sb. A solstice. Obs. rare.
1561. Eden, Arte Nauig., I. xv. 16. These Tropykes are descrybed by the motion of the fyrst moueable with the points of the Solstitials.
1612. A. Hopton, Concord. Yeares (1615), 53. The Summer and Winter Solstitials.
Hence Solstitially adv., towards the solstices.
1658. Sir T. Browne, Gard. Cyrus, iv. 61. That the Leaves of the Olive and some other trees solstitially turn … is scarce expectable in any Climate.
1894. Athenæum, 21 April, 515/3. The temples were oriented solstitially or equinoctially.
