apogee
UK: ˈæp.ə.dʒiː | US: ˈæp.ə.dʒiː
n. 1. The highest or most distant point in an orbit around Earth (astronomy).
n. 2. The climax or culmination of something (figurative).
Derived from Greek apogaion (apo "away" + gaia "earth"), the term originally described the farthest point of the Moon’s orbit from Earth. Over time, it expanded metaphorically to signify the peak or zenith of any progression. The morpheme apo appears in words like "apology" (speaking away/defending) and "apocalypse" (uncovering), while gee (from gaia) is rare in English but foundational in "geology" and "geography."
The satellite reached its apogee at 35,786 km above Earth.
Her career hit its apogee when she won the Nobel Prize.
The artist’s latest work represents the apogee of his creative vision.
In ancient astronomy, calculating the apogee was crucial for predicting eclipses.
The empire’s cultural apogee occurred during the reign of its most enlightened ruler.