緯
horizontal, woof, left & right, (parallels of) latitude, prediction
Readings
On'yomi
- イ
Kun'yomi
- よこいと
- ぬき
Meaning
緯 centers on the horizontal dimension in weaving and geography: the woof threads that run left and right across the loom, and by extension the parallels of latitude that circle the globe horizontally. The prediction sense is a separate, less common application.
Most common words using 緯
20 of 21- 経緯けいいN1
details; particulars; sequence of events; circumstances; situation; how things got this way
- 北緯ほくい
north latitude
- 緯度いどN2
latitude
- 南緯なんい
southern latitude
- 高緯度こういど
high latitudes
- 中緯度ちゅういど
mid-latitudes
- 中緯度高圧帯ちゅういどこうあつたい
subtropical high-pressure belt; subtropical ridge; subtropical high; horse latitudes
- 日本経緯度原点にほんけいいどげんてん
Japan Geodetic Datum
- 経緯たてぬき
warp and weft; warp and woof
- 経緯儀けいいぎ
theodolite
- 経緯度けいいど
longitude and latitude
- 経緯度原点けいいどげんてん
standard datum of geographic coordinates; point of origin of longitude and latitude; geodetic datum
- 経緯線網けいいせんもう
graticule
- 緯度変化いどへんか
latitude variation
- 緯度観測所いどかんそくじょ
latitude observatory
- 緯書いしょ
book of omens appended to Confucian Chinese classics
- 緯線いせん
parallel; latitude line
- 緯距いきょ
latitude
- 赤緯せきい
declination
- 開発経緯かいはつけいい
features (e.g. of a product)
Study
Etymology
緯 combines 糸 (thread) with 韋, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of something that goes around or encircles, referring to the horizontal woof threads that cross the warp.
Meaning mnemonic
The thread radical 糸 on the left and 韋 on the right suggest threads running horizontally across a loom. Picture the woof threads being woven left and right, like latitude lines circling the earth.
Reading mnemonic
For イ, imagine an eagle (イーグル) flying horizontally along a latitude line: the first sound イ cues the reading while the bird traces a horizontal path.