Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to the period around the heliacal rising of Sirius (the Dog Star): "Canicular" describes something connected to, especially immediately preceding or following, the first visible rising of the star Sirius (also called Canicula) just before sunrise.
   • Relating to the hot, sultry period of summer; dog days: "Canicular" also means of or pertaining to the hottest and most oppressive days of summer, traditionally associated with the period when Sirius rises with the sun.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Ancient astronomers made careful observations of the canicular period.
  • The canicular heat in the region was relentless and exhausting.
  • They scheduled the festival during the canicular days of late July.

Advanced Usage

• "Canicular cycle": A period or cycle related to the Dog Star.
  • The calendar was based on a canicular cycle.
• "Canicular rising": Refers specifically to the heliacal rising of Sirius.
  • The Egyptian calendar was tied to the canicular rising.

Variants and Related Words

• Canicule (n, archaic): The dog days; the period of great heat.
  • The canicule of 1850 was particularly severe.

Synonyms

• Sultry: (of weather) hot and humid.
• Baking: Extremely hot.
• Dog-day: Of or characteristic of the dog days.

Related Phrases

• Dog days (of summer): The hottest period of the summer, often used interchangeably with the canicular period in modern usage.
  • We're in the middle of the dog days.

Adjective

1. relating to or especially immediately preceding or following the heliacal rising of Canicula (the Dog Star)
   • canicular days
2. of or relating to the dog days of summer
   • the canicular heat of the Deep South