a. [f. as prec.: see -ICAL.]
1. Eccl. a. = SYNODAL 1.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., IV. vii. § 6. To the Consecration was annexed the sendyng of a Synodicall Epistle.
1612. trans. Theodoret’s Eccl. Hist., IV. iii. 246. A synodicall epistle concerning the faith, written by Athanasius to the Emperour Iouianus.
1618. Hales, Gold. Rem., II. (1673), 76. Their answer was that it could not stand with their Conscience to promise Obedience to all Synodical Decrees.
1647. N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., I. xvi. (1739), 32. In Synodical disputes they would hold with the Canon.
1725. trans. Dupin’s Eccl. Hist. 17th C., I. v. 69. The synodical or synodal Letters, are those which are wrote in the Name of a Synod, and which contain its Decisions or Regulations.
1820. Milner, Suppl. Mem. Eng. Cath., 153. The synodical decision of the Irish Bishops.
1876. Prayer Bk. Interleaved, 23. Whether or no Edward’s First Prayer-book received synodical sanction is a disputed point.
b. = SYNODAL 3.
1565. Calfhill, Answ. Martiall, 70. The great vertue & profound knowledge of those Synodicall men.
1656. Ussher (title), The Reduction of Episcopacie Vnto the form of Synodical Government Received in the Antient Church.
1736. Chandler, Hist. Persec., 108. He was resolved to have his will, and add synodical authority to his own words and opinions.
1827. Hallam, Const. Hist., xi. (1876), II. 315. The presbyterian discipline and synodical government were very partially introduced.
1866. Felton, Greece, Anc. & Mod., II. II. iv. 320. Both parties, the Arians as well as the Orthodox,… resorted to synodical majorities.
c. = SYNODAL 2, 2 b.
1593. Abp. Bancroft, Dangerous Posit., III. xiii. 110. The Articles of the holy Discipline and Synodicall [sic], must alwares be read [in the synod].
1600. W. Watson, Decacordon (1602), 93. That Synodicall court.
1643. Ord. Lords & Comm., Westm. Confess. (1658), 202. Assemblies, which are Congregational, Classical, and Synodical.
1661. Reg. Privy Council Scot., Ser. III. I. 29. The assemblieing of ministers in their severall synodicall meittings.
a. 1679. J. Ward, Diary (1839), 161. Mr. Leigh, the synodical commentator.
2. Astron. Pertaining to the conjunction of two heavenly bodies (see CONJUNCTION 3); said esp. of the revolution, or period of revolution, of a planet between two successive conjunctions with the sun, or of a satellite between two successive conjunctions with (or occultations or eclipses by) its primary planet. Synodic month, the synodic period of the moon, i.e., the time from new moon to new moon; a lunar month, lunation. (Opp. to sidereal.)
1669. Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., VI. 95. So twenty nine and half [days] in all, Do make a Month Synodical [mispr. Synonidal].
1696. Whiston, The. Earth, II. (1722), 177. The Lunar Year was then exactly … twelve Synodical Revolutions of the Moon.
1761. Phil. Trans., LII. 106. The second satellite has a synodical equation of 16′ or 17′ in time, to be subtracted.
1784. Herschel, ibid., LXXIV. 242. By which means the sidereal is reduced to a proper synodical period. Ibid. (1788), LXXVIII. 365. The first satellite performs a synodical revolution round its primary planet in 8 days 17 hours 1 minute and 19·3 seconds.
1812. Woodhouse, Astron., xxviii. 276. The time between conjunction and conjunction, or between opposition and opposition, is denominated, a Synodical period.
1868. Lockyer, Elem. Astron., § 244. 102. Nineteen synodical revolutions of the node … are equal to 223 synodical revolutions of the moon.
