Middle English Dictionary Entry
constellāciǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | constellāciǒun n. Also constillacioun. |
| Etymology | OF, & L constellātiōn-em. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Astron. (a) A constellation of fixed stars; (b) position or elevation (of the sun).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)118a/b : Orioun is most notable constellacioun by cause of hugenesse.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)150b/b : Þey..biholdeþ þe sterres þat hatte virgilie and pliades..for he leiþ none eiren but when þt constellacioun aryseþ and is I seye.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)114b/a : Isidir seiþ þat by ferenesse and nyȝnesse of þe sonne mennes face and bestis bodies ben disposid in strengþe..bi constellacioun of þe sonne men ben faire..and swifte.
2.
Astrol. (a) The position of a planet, or the moon, in relation to the ascendant sign of the zodiac; esp., its presumed position of greatest influence upon man, beast, events, etc.; cursed ~; god ~; (b) (one's) horoscope, i.e. the constellacioun at one's conception or birth as determining one's character and fate; ~ of engendrure; ~ of birthe.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)12/206 : Hout wente þe maistres seuene And bihelden vp toward heuene: þai seghe þe constillacioun.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1088 : Som wikke aspect..Of Saturne, by som constellacioun, Hath yeuen vs this..So stood the heuene, whan that we were born. We mote endure it.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)10.142 : In þat Corsede Constellacion þei knewen to-gedere, And Brouȝten forþ [a barn] þat muche bale [wrouȝte.]
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.393 : Upon here nativite Such was the constellacion..That to the liknesse of Serpent Thei were bore.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.3247 : Upon Astronomie, Of due constellacion, Thou..dost that children ben begete.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.3086 : Protheus..Which was an Astronomien..Scholde of his calculacion Seche after constellacion, Hou thei the Cite mihten gete.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.642 : The chances of the world..That we fortune clepen..Al is thurgh constellacion.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.773 : Venus, whos constellacion Governeth al the nacion Of lovers, wher thei spiede or non.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.129 : He wayted many a constellacioun, Er he hadde doon this operacioun.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)15.31 : To be bore oþer bygete in suche constellacion.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)18 : To be born in good constellacions and in good sygnes of heuen, and þat in man and in alle oþer bestes.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.745 : I, woful wrecche..born in corsed constellacioun.
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)17/28 : Men þat habounde in blak coler..ben born vndir þe constillacioun of saturne, the wickide planete.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)86/7 : If þou wille late þe blood..Loke also þat þe planet Mercurius be noght in constellacioun vpstyand or to him contrary.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)86/18 : Whenne þe mone ys yn oon constellacioun vpstyand, þanne haues he myght and lordschipe vp-on þe self stede yn þe body.
- a1550 *Norton OAlch.(BodeMus 63)2944 : The elementes of our stone..haue moste obedience to constellacion.
b
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.781 : Ire, siknesse, or constellacioun..Causeth ful ofte to doon amys.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.616 : I folwed ay myn inclinacioun, By vertu of my constellacioun.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)116a/b : A man in whoos complexioun þe constellacioun of þe mone haþ maistrie schal nouȝt be wiþoute defaute oþir a wem in his eiȝe.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.B.1558 : Of vserie and simonye he berith the belle; Vndre Saturne most noyous is his constillacioun.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)216/37 : Astronomyours beheldyne the constellaciouns of hys bryth..and foundyn that he sholde bene wyse and curteyse.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)113/6 : Þe accordance of þe sterres þat er clepyd þe constellacion of engendrure.