epicycle
Ptolemaic orbital loop
An epicycle is a small circle whose center moves along the circumference of a larger circle.
In ancient astronomy, epicycles explained planetary motion—planets were thought to orbit in small circles while those circles themselves orbited Earth.
The system worked mathematically but was replaced when Copernicus showed planets orbit the sun.
Figuratively, an epicycle is an elaboration added to save a flawed theory: The policy required epicycle after epicycle to explain away its failures.
Greco-Egyptian astronomer, geographer
- deferentShowing humble respect
- retrogradeMoving in reverse direction
- geocentricTreating our planet as center
- planetaryOf or relating to worlds
Apollonius · celestial · spheres · Aristotelian · cosmology · geocentrism · eccentric · apogee
Curved celestial path
- deferentShowing humble respect
- retrogradeMoving in reverse direction
- progradeSame direction as primary
- revolutionViolent governmental overthrow
trajectory · eccentricity · aphelion · perihelion · ellipse · inclination · anomaly · precession
Curve closing on itself
- arcCurved line segment
- circuitClosed electrical pathway
- circularForming a closed curve
- radiusCenter-to-perimeter distance
circumference · rotation · tangent · curvature · center · revolve · wheel · gyre
Excessively complex or twisted
- elaborateComplex and detailed
- ByzantineOf Constantinople's civilization
- labyrinthineExtremely complex and winding
- intricateElaborately detailed, many parts
complicated · knotty · Rube Goldberg · nested · recursive · overwrought · cumbersome · baroque
Makeshift bypass of difficulty
- patchMaterial covering damage
- kludgeAwkward but functional solution
- ad-hocFor a specific purpose
- stopgapTemporary substitute measure
band-aid · excuse · rationalization · contrivance · retrofit · amendment · elaboration · justification
Ptolemy
Greco-Egyptian astronomer, geographer
- deferentShowing humble respect
- retrogradeMoving in reverse direction
- geocentricTreating our planet as center
planetary · Apollonius · celestial · spheres · Aristotelian · cosmology · geocentrism · eccentric · apogee · perigee
orbit
Curved celestial path
- deferentShowing humble respect
- retrogradeMoving in reverse direction
- progradeSame direction as primary
revolution · trajectory · eccentricity · aphelion · perihelion · ellipse · inclination · anomaly · precession · synodic
loop
Curve closing on itself
radius · circumference · rotation · tangent · curvature · center · revolve · wheel · gyre
convoluted
Excessively complex or twisted
- elaborateComplex and detailed
- ByzantineOf Constantinople's civilization
- labyrinthineExtremely complex and winding
intricate · complicated · knotty · Rube Goldberg · nested · recursive · overwrought · cumbersome · baroque · ornate
workaround
Makeshift bypass of difficulty
stopgap · band-aid · excuse · rationalization · contrivance · retrofit · amendment · elaboration · justification · revision
- Medieval Sciencealchemy, astrology, astronomy, natural philosophy, scholasticism
- Old Sciencephlogiston, aether, ether, caloric, miasma
- planetary gearssun gear, ring gear, carrier, annulus, spider
- cosmic modelsorrery, planetarium, solar system model, celestial sphere, armillary sphere
epicycleellipse
Conic section curve
elliptical orbit · heliocentric orbit · deferent · conic section · straight line
epicycleparsimony
Excessive frugality with resources
Occam's razor · first principles · fundamental law · paradigm shift · axiom