Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

proper motion

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.35 in modern English

Syllables: prop-er -mo-tion
IPA

18

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

4

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The change in apparent position of a celestial body due to that body's velocity relative to the Sun.

Etymology

proper (in the sense of "its own") + motion; from Latin proprius.

Origin

Source language: Latin

Word Breakdown

Root: proprius

Inflected Forms

proper motions (plural)

Phrases

improper motion radial velocity peculiar motion peculiar velocity

Frequently Paired Words

improper motion radial velocity peculiar motion peculiar velocity

Questions

What does proper motion mean?: The change in apparent position of a celestial body due to that body's velocity relative to the Sun.
Where does proper motion come from?: It is traced to Latin.

How to pronounce proper motion

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