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Epicycle vs Deferent - What's the difference?

epicycle | deferent |

As nouns the difference between epicycle and deferent

is that epicycle is a small circle whose centre is on the circumference of a larger circle; in Ptolemaic astronomy it was seen as the basis of revolution of the "seven planets", given a fixed central Earth while deferent is that which carries or conveys.

As an adjective deferent is

showing deference.

epicycle

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (astronomy) A small circle whose centre is on the circumference of a larger circle; in Ptolemaic astronomy it was seen as the basis of revolution of the "seven planets", given a fixed central Earth.
  • *, Folio Society, 2006, vol.1, p.155:
    • Is it not [Philosophie], thatteacheth miserie, famine and sicknesse to laugh? Not by reason of some imaginarie Epicicles , but by naturall and palpable reasons.
  • (mathematics) Any circle whose circumference rolls around that of another circle, thus creating a hypocycloid or epicycloid.

    • Derived terms

    * epicyclic

    deferent

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Showing deference.
  • (obsolete) Serving to carry; bearing.
  • * Francis Bacon
    • Bodies deferent .

    Derived terms

    * deferently

    Related terms

    * deferential

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) That which carries or conveys.
  • * Francis Bacon
    • Though air be the most favorable deferent of sounds.
  • An imaginary circle surrounding the Earth, in whose periphery either the heavenly body or the centre of the heavenly body's epicycle was supposed to be carried round.
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