Middle English Dictionary Entry
ursa n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ursa n. |
| Etymology | L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Astron. The constellation Ursa Major, the Great Bear; ?also, the star group containing both Ursa Major and Ursa Minor; ~ majour.
Associated quotations
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)502/36 : Þe same cercle hatte artophilax, for it foleweþ a signe þat hatte Vrsa.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)503/4 : Arthurus…is propirliche a sterre iset bihinde þe taile of þe signe þat hatte Vrsa Maior: þe more bere.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.710 : Amongis sterrys…sche is stallyd, And Vrsa Maior is of clerkys callyd.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.6.11 : The sonne…ne distorbeth nat the colde cercle of the mone, Ne the sterre yclepid the Bere…ne the same sterre Ursa nis nevere mo wasschen in the depe westrene see…although it see othere sterres iplowngid in the see.