Constellation

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Constellation \Con`stel*la"tion\, n. [F. constellation, L.
     constellatio.]
     1. A cluster or group of fixed stars, or division of the
        heavens, designated in most cases by the name of some
        animal, or of some mythologial personage, within whose
        imaginary outline, as traced upon the heavens, the group


        is included.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The constellations seem to have been almost
              purposely named and delineated to cause as much
              confusion and inconvenience as possible. --Sir J.
                                                    Herschel.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: In each of the constellations now recognized by
           astronomers (about 90 in number) the brightest stars,
           both named and unnamed, are designated nearly in the
           order of brilliancy by the letters of the Greek
           alphabet; as, [alpha] Tauri (Aldebaran) is the first
           star of Taurus, [gamma] Orionis (Bellatrix) is the
           third star of Orion.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. An assemblage of splendors or excellences.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The constellations of genius had already begun to
              show itself . . . which was to shed a glory over the
              meridian and close of Philip's reign. --Prescott.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Fortune; fate; destiny. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              It is constellation, which causeth all that a man
              doeth.                                --Gower.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  constellation
       n 1: an arrangement of parts or elements; "the outcome depends on
            the configuration of influences at the time" [syn: {configuration}]
       2: a configuration of stars as seen from the earth

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  158 Moby Thesaurus words for "constellation":
     Antlia, Antlia Pneumatica, Apus, Aquarius, Ara, Big Dipper,
     Caela Sculptoris, Caelum, Camelopardus, Cancer, Columba Noae,
     Corona Australis, Corona Borealis, Corvus, Crater, Crux, Dorado,
     Draco, Equuleus, Friday, Friday the thirteenth, Gemini, Grus,
     Hercules, Horologium, Hydra, Lacerta, Leo, Leo Minor, Lepus, Libra,
     Little Dipper, Lupus, Lynx, Lyra, Malus, Mensa, Microscopium,
     Monoceros, Musca, Norma, Northern Cross, Octans, Ophiuchus, Orion,
     Pegasus, Phoenix, Reticulum, Sagittarius, Scorpius, Sculptor,
     Scutum, Sextans, Southern Cross, Taurus, Telescopium, Triangulum,
     Triangulum Australe, Tucana, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Vela, Virgo,
     Volans, Vulpecula, appointed lot, astral influences, astrology,
     big name, book of fate, celebrity, cup, cynosure, destination,
     destiny, dies funestis, doom, end, fatality, fate, figure,
     folk hero, foredoom, fortune, future, galaxy, great man, hero,
     heroine, ides of March, idol, immortal, important person,
     inevitability, kismet, lion, lot, luminaries, luminary,
     man of mark, master spirit, moira, name, notability, notable,
     person of note, personage, planets, pleiad, pop hero, popular hero,
     popular idol, portion, public figure, social lion, somebody, star,
     stars, superstar, the Balance, the Bull, the Crane, the Cross,
     the Crow, the Cup, the Dragon, the Fly, the Foal, the Hare,
     the Indian, the Lion, the Lizard, the Lynx, the Lyre, the Mast,
     the Octant, the Rule, the Sails, the Sea Serpent, the Serpent,
     the Serpent Bearer, the Sextant, the Southern Crown, the Swan,
     the Table, the Telescope, the Toucan, the Twins, the Unicorn,
     the Virgin, the Water Bearer, the Wolf, the Wreath, unlucky day,
     weird, wheel of fortune, will of Heaven, worthy
  
  

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Constellation
     a cluster of stars, or stars which appear to be near each other
     in the heavens, and which astronomers have reduced to certain
     figures (as the "Great Bear," the "Bull," etc.) for the sake of
     classification and of memory. In Isa. 13:10, where this word
     only occurs, it is the rendering of the Hebrew _kesil_, i.e.,
     "fool." This was the Hebrew name of the constellation Orion (Job
     9:9; 38:31), a constellation which represented Nimrod, the
     symbol of folly and impiety. The word some interpret by "the
     giant" in this place, "some heaven-daring rebel who was chained
     to the sky for his impiety."