Middle English Dictionary Entry
Aquari(e, -ius n.
Entry Info
| Forms | Aquari(e, -ius n. |
| Etymology | L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The constellation Aquarius or Water Bearer, the eleventh 'sign' of the zodiac (which the sun enters in January), the 'house' of Saturn. [Aquarius was said to cause rain, to dominate man's legs, and to bring good luck.]
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1187 : Of Signes, in the nombre ellevene Aquarius hath take his place, And stant wel in Satornes grace, Which duelleth in his herbergage; Bot to the Sonne he doth oultrage.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)111a/a : Aquarius is male..Saturnus is his lord by day and mercurius by nyȝt..his firste facies is i ȝeue to venus, þe seconde to mercurius, þe þridde to þe mone..he hath lordschipe of mannes leggis..of some he makeþ on legge lengere þan anoþir..he is..þe hous of frendschipe..of fortune..& substaunce of riches..[when] sol is in aquario..þan is more reyn.
- ?1435(1432) Lydg.Hen.VI Entry (Jul B.2)3 : Whanne Phebus was in the Fysshe eronne, Out off the Sygne which called is Aquarie.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)1448 : The sonne this sesoun beeyng in Aquarye, beestys to the bynne for stormys dar nat tarye.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)576 : Phebus' twelue xij dwellyng placys..As the Ram..the Capricorn, the Aqwary, and the Fysschys.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.6.19 : Leo to Aquarie, Virgo to Pisces.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.28.42 : Of whiche signes Gemini obeieth to Cancer..Aquarius to Scorpioun, and Capricorne to Sagittarie.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)35 : Þe signes super celestial..in whech tymes of þe ȝer þe sunne passith be hem, As in januari be þe signe þei clepe aquari, in februari be þe fischis.
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)3/35 : Þe leggis and þe feet, þat resseyuen a synguler influence of þe sterris of Capricorn, Aquarie, and pisces.
- a1500 Sln.2584 Med.Miscell.(Sln 2584)129/9 : Sol in Aquario. In þis signe take þi iorney, and it schal turne þe to prosperite.
- c1500(?a1437) ?Jas.I KQ (SeldArch B.24)st.1 : In Aquary Citherea the clere Rynsid hir tressis like the goldin wyre.