Definition of zenith

The word "zenith" has its roots in ancient Arabic and is derived from the word "samt" meaning "way" or "direction". In astronomy, the Arabic word "sutuh" referred to the direction or way of a star's path across the sky. The Arabic phrase "suwat al-zamt" meant the path or way of theąż (queen of the stars), which refers to the constellation Virgo. The word "zenith" was later adopted into Latin as "zenithem", and from there it was borrowed into Middle English as "zenith", meaning the highest or most superior point of something, often referred to as the highest point above the observer's head in the sky. In modern usage, "zenith" is used not only in astronomy but also in various metaphorical contexts to describe the peak or pinnacle of something.