e·pact (  p kt )n. The period of time necessary to bring the solar calendar into harmony with the lunar calendar. [French épacte, from Late Latin epacta, from Greek epakt (hmera), intercalary (day), feminine of epaktos, brought in, inserted, from epagein, to bring in, introduce : ep-, epi-, epi- + agein, to lead; see ag- in Indo-European roots.] |
epact [ˈiːpækt]
n
1. (Astronomy) the difference in time, about 11 days, between the solar year and the lunar year
2. (Astronomy) the number of days between the beginning of the calendar year and the new moon immediately preceding this
3. (Miscellaneous Technologies / Horology) the difference in time between the calendar month and the synodic month
[via Late Latin from Greek epaktē, from epagein to bring in, intercalate, from agein to lead]
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