Added 10 October 2026
constellation
/ˌkɒn.stəˈleɪ.ʃən/ noun
In Latin: cōnstēllātiō, sīdus Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about constellation at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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An arrangement of parts or elements.
the outcome depends on the configuration of influences at the time
- A configuration of stars as seen from the earth.
Origin
PIE word *ḱóm From Middle English constellacioun, constillacioun (“(astrology) position of the moon or a planet in relation to the ascendant sign of the zodiac; horoscope; (astronomy) formation of fixed stars, constellation; (astronomy) elevation or position of the sun”) [and other forms], borrowed from Old French constellation (modern French constellation), or directly from its etymon Late Latin cōnstēllātiōnem, the accusative singular of cōnstēllātiō (“collection of stars supposed to exert an influence upon human affairs, constellation”), from Latin con- (prefix denoting a bringing together of several objects) + stēlla (“star; meteor; planet”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂stḗr (.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)