Middle English Dictionary Entry
zōdiak n.
Entry Info
| Forms | zōdiak n. Also zodiake, zodiac(k, zodiaque, sodiac, (16th cent.) zodias. |
| Etymology | L zōdiacus n. & OF zodiaque, zodiake, saudiaque, AF zodiac, zodias; for sense 1.(e) also cp. L zōdiacus adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The imaginary celestial circular band or belt bisected by the ecliptic that contains all the positions occupied by the known planets and that is divided into twelve equal portions named after their regnant signs, the zodiac;
(b) the zodiac regarded chiefly as a sequence of signs; also in fig. context; signe in (of) the ~, one of the twelve zodiacal signs; also, a portion of the body assigned to the influence of one of the signs [quot. c1475];
(c) the zodiac regarded chiefly as representing the annual course of the sun through the heavens;
(d) the zodiac as an example of something putatively susceptible of weighing;—used in fig. context;
(e) in combs.: ~ cercle (spere), the circle (sphere) constituting the zodiac.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400 Chaucer Astr.(Cmb Dd.3.53)Introd.65 : Ther folwith a canon suffisant…to knowe in owre orizonte with wych degree of the zodiac that the Mone arisith in any latitude, & the arising of any planete aftur his latitude fro the Ecliptik lyne.
- a1425 Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Wel 225)236/2685 : Zodiac is þe cercle of hevyn with 12 signes þat we call þe firmament.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)1.21.40,43 : Amiddes this celestial zodiak is ymagined a lyne which that is clepid the ecliptik lyne…Thus ben there 6 degres of the zodiak on that oo syde of the lyne and 6 degrees on that othir.
- ?c1450(a1388) Wallingford Exafrenon (Dgb 67)183 : It is spedful for to knawe the entrynge of the Sonne in to every gree of the zodiack.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)20050 : The noble wyse Tholomee…ffond the cours off sterrys alle…The cours ek off the zodyake.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)48a/a : In þe myddis of þis zodiak goiþ þe sunne euermore in sich a lyne þat is y-clepid in latyn Ecliptica.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)366 : Ioyntly to her Mercurius tooke hys see As came to hys course—wytnesse the zodyak.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)3726 : The sun vnder zodias settis hym to leng Two dayes betwene, & dryues no ferre Mo in his mouyng þen any mone other.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)10630 : The sun vndur zodiake set was olofte, At þe poynt forto passe, & put into canser.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.697 : Ther ben signes tuelve, Whiche have her cercles be hemselve Compassed in the zodiaque.
- ?c1400 Sloane SSecr.(Sln 213)16/26 : Here sues anoþer Abece to knowe by of what signe in þe Zodiak ilk man es.
- a1425 Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Wel 225)236/2683 : Þe mone…passis all þe zodiac, i. all þe signes of þe firmament, in 28 days & nyghtis.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)1.21.50 : This forseide hevenysshe zodiak is clepid the cercle of the signes, or the cercle of the bestes.
- ?c1450(a1388) Wallingford Exafrenon (Dgb 67)201 : The signes of the zodiac are likned til a body, and the planetis unto the sawle.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)59b/a : Þou muste take good kepe wheþir þe pacient be hurt in ony of þe twelue signys of þe zodiak.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)5.14.96b : The Souereyn Sonne of Sothfastnesse…fonde in alle the zodiak no signe so worthi as the signe of Virgo…wher it pleased this sonne…to reste.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)5.16.97b : In this cercle þere is a zodiak, þat is to say xii signes.
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1083 : Or þe somer sonne Þe sodiak hath thries gon aboute…We schal hym serue with swyche as he hath souȝt.
- ?c1450(a1388) Wallingford Exafrenon (Dgb 67)233 : The 4 tymes of the yere folows cowrse of the Sonne in the zodiac.
d
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)17200 : She held also a gret ballaunce, Only off purpos (yiff she konne) To peyse the sodyak and the sonne.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)17694 : Thy balaunche, I trowe thow wylt ther-in…Peyse…the zodyak.
e
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3336 : Tytan in þe zodyak spere Atwen þis sterris had take his se, Of þe Bole in þe sixtene degre.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)2019 : Phebus…The xii signes thryes by & by In þe zodyak cercle had passyde coursly.
2.
The part of the astrolabe that represents the celestial zodiac and is used to calculate planetary positions within it.
Associated quotations
- (c1392) ?Westwyk EPlanets (Peterh 75)38/7 : The centre of hir lune epicicle in voluella moeuyth equaly aboute the centre of the zodiac, þt is to sein, aboute the pol of the epicicle þt is thy riet.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)1.21.30 : The ecliptik lyne of thy zodiak is the utterist bordure of thy zodiak, there the degrees be marked.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)1.21.32 : Thy zodiak of thin Astrelabie is shapen as a compas which that contenith a large brede.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.16.1 : Thy zodiak is departed in two halve circles as fro the heved of Capricorne unto the heved of Cancer, and ageynward fro the heved of Cancer unto the heved of Capricorne.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: An obscure passage in Destruction of Troy, lines 3723-3726, appears to use 'zodias' (uniquely with the -s spelling) as a name for the constellation Gemini, and may represent a misunderstanding of the Latin. It is at least possible that in John Clerk's mind, 'zodias' was a distinct word from 'zodiak,' and had this distinct meaning.