Sagan

See also: sagan and saĝan

English

Alternative forms

• sagan

Etymology

The unit is derived from the phrase "billions and billions (of stars)", frequently attributed to the American astronomer Carl Sagan. The lower bound of such a number must be two billion plus two billion, or four billion. Johnny Carson popularized the phrase through his occasional impersonation of Sagan throughout his career.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈseɪɡən/

  • Audio (UK)

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Noun

Sagan (plural Sagans)

1. (slang, humorous) A unit of measurement equal to at least four billion.

References

• Sagan at dictionary.reference.com (Jargon File)
• William Safire, ON LANGUAGE; Footprints on the Infobahn, New York Times, April 17, 1994
• Carl Sagan, Billions and Billions: Thoughts on Life and Death at the Brink of the Millennium, Random House, 1997

Anagrams

• Agans, Angas, Nāgas, Sanga, gansa, nagas, nāgas, sanga

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Polish

Etymology

From sagan.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsa.ɡan/

Proper noun

Sagan m pers or f

1. A masculine surname​.
2. A feminine surname​.

Declension

Masculine surname:

Declension of Sagan

	singular	plural
nominative	Sagan	Saganowie
genitive	Sagana	Saganów
dative	Saganowi	Saganom
accusative	Sagana	Saganów
instrumental	Saganem	Saganami
locative	Saganie	Saganach
vocative	Saganie	Saganowie

The feminine surname is indeclinable.