Word origin · etymology
Latin-derived motion words and English recurrence labels.
Transit means passage; solar and lunar mean of Sun and Moon; return means coming back. The wording describes movement to reference positions.
Merriam-Webster: transit ↗Merriam-Webster: solar ↗Merriam-Webster: lunar ↗
How we know · epistemology
Two-epoch comparison and calculated returns
A transit snapshot measures relationships at a chosen instant; a return search locates a specified longitude crossing. Both depend on the stated reference. Their numerical reproducibility does not establish a forecast.
Astrodienst: Solar Return chart ↗Astrodienst: Lunar Return chart ↗
Connected concepts
Terms used in this explanation
These links connect subjects and terminology. They do not establish a shared historical origin.
Sources & provenance
Use the citations beside each section to distinguish a calculation convention, a historical teaching and an editorial example.