Apophis

English

Alternative forms

• Apopis

Etymology

From Ancient Greek Ἄποφις (Ápophis), a borrowing from Egyptian ꜥꜣpp altered after ὄφις (óphis, “snake”).

Pronunciation

The pronunciation with stress on the second syllable is probably more common, but the version with initial stress is based on the Latin pronunciation and may be older.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈæpəfɪs/, /əˈpɒfɪs/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈæpəfəs/, /əˈpɑfəs/

Proper noun

Apophis astronomical/astrological symbol

Apophis

1. (Egyptian mythology) An evil snake-god who tries to devour the sun every night.

   Synonym: Apep

2. (astronomy) An asteroid that formerly had a high risk of collision with Earth.
   • 2021 May 10, Kenneth Chang, “Bye-Bye, Bennu: NASA Heads Back to Earth With Asteroid Stash in Tow”, in The New York Times‎^[1], →ISSN:

     The spacecraft’s navigators have worked out a trajectory that would take it to the asteroid Apophis in April 2029, just after that object, a bit smaller than Bennu, zips within an uncomfortably close but still safe 20,000 miles from Earth.

Derived terms

• Apophian

Translations

an evil snake-god who tries to devour the sun every night

• Arabic: أبوفيس m
• Czech: Apop m
• Egyptian: (ꜥꜣpp m)
• French: Apophis (fr) m
• German: Apophis, Aphophis
• Persian: آپوفیس (âpôfis), آپپ (âpep)
• Portuguese: Apófis m
• Russian: Апо́п (ru) m (Apóp), Апе́п m (Apép), Апо́фис (ru) m (Apófis)
• Spanish: Apofis m

See also

• Latin: Apophis, Aphophis

Further reading

• Apopis, britannica.com
• Apophis,(Apopis*10) at Google Ngram Viewer

Anagrams

• popiahs