constellation
Meanings
noun
- An arbitrary formation of stars perceived as a figure (especially one from mythology) or pattern, or a division of the sky including it, especially one officially recognized by astronomers; an asterism.
- Any of the 88 regions of the sky officially recognized by the International Astronomical Union, including all stars and celestial bodies in the region.
- A configuration or grouping of related things.
- A wide, seemingly unlimited, assortment.
- An array of marks or items.
- Synonym of complex (“a collection of ideas caused by repressed emotions that leads to an abnormal mental condition”).
- A network of connections between people who are in polyamorous relationships, for example between a person, their partner, and that person's partner.
- A fleet of satellites used for the same purpose.
- The configuration of planets at a given time (especially a person's birth), as believed to affect events on Earth, or used for determining a horoscope.
- A person's character or inclinations, supposedly determined by their horoscope.
Pronunciation
Word forms
Etymology
PIE word *ḱóm From Middle English constellacioun, constillacioun (“(astrology) position of the moon or a planet in relation to the ascendant sign of the zodiac; horoscope; (astronomy) formation of fixed stars, constellation; (astronomy) elevation or position of the sun”) [and other forms], borrowed from Old French constellation (modern French constellation), or directly from its etymon Late Latin cōnstēllātiōnem, the accusative singular of cōnstēllātiō (“collection of stars supposed to exert an influence upon human affairs, constellation”), from Latin con- (prefix denoting a bringing together of several objects) + stēlla (“star; meteor; planet”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂stḗr (“star”)) + -ātiō (suffix forming nouns).
Synonyms
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Translations
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