(a) An apparently fixed celestial body, a star; one of the seven solar bodies called planets in Ptolemaic astronomy [cp. planet(e n.(1)]; also fig. [quot. c1225]; also, a constellation [quot. ?a1425, 2nd]; cold sterres, the northernmost stars, esp. those of Ursa Major or Ursa Minor; (b) a comet; a meteor; also, a nova; also, the star of Bethlehem regarded as a comet [quot. c1400]; ~ berded (hered), ~ with a launce, blasinge (leminge, tailed) ~, a comet; falling sterres, meteors; (c) the star of Bethlehem; (d) in fig. phrases, usu. pl.: heaven; also, the celestial sphere; contree of the sterres; under ~; under skie and sterres, anywhere in the world; stien aboven (to) the sterres, tillen to the sterres; (e) sterres of the cercle, the stars of the Milky Way; sterres seven, seven sterres, variously and often indistinguishably the seven regularly visible stars of the Pleiades, the seven Ptolemaic planets, or the seven stars of Ursa Minor; (f) in cpds. & combs.: ~ bem (glem), a ray of starlight; ~ fix, fix ~, a star which appears unvarying in position; ~ light, starlight; ~ slime, slime of sterres, a freshwater alga believed to have been produced by meteorites; dai ~, q.v.; erratik sterres, sterres erratikes, the planets; even ~, q.v.; even-tide ~, the evening star; lode ~, q.v.; morn ~ [OE morgen-steorra], morwe ~ [see also morwe n. 2.(b)], morwe-tid ~, the morning star, Venus; north ~, q.v.; ?plough ~ [see plough n. 5.]; se ~ [OE sǣ-steorra], a lodestar; ship-man(es ~, Polaris; south ~, a star or constellation supposed to lie above the south pole; (g) in similes and stock comparisons.

(a) A star or planet as used in divination or prophecy; pl. the stars; also, the configuration of the stars at a specific time; cours of the sterres; ~ wise, knowledgeable about the significance of the stars; spekere of sterres, an interpreter of the stars, astrologer; loken in the ~, to consult the stars; (b) a star or planet as an influence on terrestrial phenomena or human destiny; first sterres, those celestial bodies that exercise direct influence on terrestrial matters, the Ptolemaic planets; ther nis non ayen ~, no one can oppose stellar influence; (c) table ful of sterres, a star chart.

In fig. and quasi-fig. uses: (a) the Virgin Mary; also, in epithets for the Virgin or for Mary Magdalene: ~ of dai, ~ of (the) se, quene of sterres; (b) a source of inspiration or guidance; also, Christ [last quot.]; (c) in prophetic utterances and apocalyptic visions: a star as emblem of Christ, the bishops of the seven churches of Asia, or the brothers of Joseph; erring sterres, the wicked; (d) in cpds. & combs.: dai ~, q.v.; lode ~, q.v.; morwe ~ [see morwe n. 2.(b)]; morwe-tid sterres, the angels; se ~, the Virgin Mary; also used as epithet.

(a) A stylized representation of a star; (b) a star-shaped ornament; also, a star-shaped idol representing the Assyrian star god [1st quot.]; a representation of a star painted, woven, or embroidered on fabric; (c) a patch of white hair on the forehead of a horse; (d) an asterisk; ~ signe, signe of a ~; (e) ~ chaumbre, an apartment in Westminster Palace used for judicial meetings of the king and the chief members of his council, presumably named for representations of stars decorating its ceiling [cp. AF chambre des esteilles and AL camera stellarum; cp. also ME sterred chaumbre (s.v. sterred adj. (d)]; (f) her. a representation of a star with at least five wavy rays, an estoile; (g) ~ wort, an herb of the genus Stellaria, prob. the European stitchwort Stellaria holostea; lesse ~ wort, ?the lesser stitchwort Stellaria graminea; peti ground ~, buck's horn plantain Plantago coronopus.

(a) In surnames; also in the name of a horse; (b) in names of a brewhouse and an inn.