aerostation means aerial navigation; the act or science of raising and guiding balloons in the air. It carries an Arena rating of 1405, earned across 18 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, aerostation ranks #703 of 13,499 for Most Ingenious Words, #1,735 of 13,498 for Most Malleable Words, #2,434 of 13,498 for Most Vivid Words, #3,224 of 13,498 for Most Exacting Words.
Why “aerostation” is a great word
The science and art of navigating the sky using buoyant, lighter-than-air craft. From French aérostation, from aérostat ('aerostat, lighter-than-air craft') + -ion (suffix forming nouns of action), after the model of navigation; the term first ascended into English usage in the late 18th century. Unlike 'aviation,' which now roars with the thrust of heavier-than-air machines, or 'aerostatics,' which concerns the silent physics of gases and equilibrium, aerostation is the patient practice of sailing on air. It is the hiss of the gas valve at dawn, the basket creaking as it lifts from dew-soaked grass, and the immense, becalmed silence of drifting with the wind's whim—a mastery that is, at its heart, a graceful surrender to the currents of the sky.
Etymology
From French aérostation, from aérostat (“aerostat”) + -ion, after navigation. By surface analysis, aerostat + -ion.
noun
- Aerial navigation; the act or science of raising and guiding balloons in the air.
- A flight or expedition by hot-air balloon.“The balloon ascension advertised by Mr. Wise, the celebrated aeronaut of forty aerostations, took place in this borough on Saturday last.”
- The science of weighing air; aerostatics.
- A floating or elevated station.“It is expected that an analysis of the fist year's records will lead to a clear decision as to whether or not to engage in the second phase of the research, which will comprise a re-arrangement of the survey stations on a finer geographical pattern and the collection of design data for aerostations.”
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