syzygy(n.)
in astronomy, "conjunction or opposition of a heavenly body with the sun," 1650s, from Late Latin syzygia, from Greek syzygia "yoke of animals, pair, union of two, conjunction," from syzygein "to yoke together," from assimilated form of syn- "together" (see syn-) + zygon "yoke" (from PIE root *yeug- "to join"). Used in algebra by 1851, zoology by 1873. Related: Syzygial (1730); syzygeal; syzygiacal (1670s); syzygetic; syzygant (1882).
- Syzygy (astronomy), a collinear configuration of three celestial bodies
- Syzygy (mathematics), linear relation between generators of a module
- Syzygy, in biology, the pairing of chromosomes during meiosis
- Syzygy endgame tablebases, used by chess engines
Philosophy
- Syzygy, a concept in the philosophy of Vladimir Solovyov denoting "close union"
- Syzygy, a term used by Carl Jung to mean a union of opposites, e.g. anima and animus
- Syzygy, female–male pairings of the emanations known as Aeon (Gnosticism)