| astroite | A radiated stone or fossil; star-stone. Alternative forms: astrite and astrion. Origin: L. Astroites: cf. F. Astroite. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| astrokinetic | Relating to movement of the centrosome and astrosphere of a dividing cell. Origin: G. Astron, star, + kinesis, movement (05 Mar 2000) |
| astrolabe | 1. <astronomy> An instrument for observing or showing the positions of the stars. It is now disused. Among the ancients, it was essentially the armillary sphere. A graduated circle with sights, for taking altitudes at sea, was called an astrolabe in the 18th century. It is now superseded by the quadrant and sextant. 2. A stereographic projection of the sphere on the plane of a great circle, as the equator, or a meridian; a planisphere. Origin: OE. Astrolabie, astrilabe, OF. Astrelabe, F. Astrolabe, LL. Astrolabium, fr. Gr.; star +, to take. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| astrolithology | <study> The science of aerolites. (04 Mar 1998) |
| astrologer | 1. One who studies the stars; an astronomer. 2. One who practices astrology; one who professes to foretell events by the aspects and situation of the stars. See: Astrology. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| astrological | Of or pertaining to astrology; professing or practicing astrology. "Astrologi learning." . "Astrological prognostication." . Astrolog"ically. Origin: Gr. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| astrologize | To apply astrology to; to study or practice astrology. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| astrology | <study> In its etymological signification, the science of the stars; among the ancients, synonymous with astronomy; subsequently, the art of judging of the influences of the stars upon human affairs, and of foretelling events by their position and aspects. Astrology was much in vogue during the Middle Ages, and became the parent of modern astronomy, as alchemy did of chemistry. It was divided into two kinds: judicial astrology, which assumed to foretell the fate and acts of nations and individuals, and natural astrology, which undertook to predict events of inanimate nature, such as changes of the weather, etc. Origin: F. Astrologie, L. Astrologia, fr. Gr, fr. Astronomer, astrologer; star + discourse, to speak. See Star. (04 Mar 1998) |
| astromantic | Of or pertaining to divination by means of the stars; astrologic. Origin: Gr. Astrology. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| astrometeorology | <study> The investigation of the relation between the sun, moon, and stars, and the weather. Astrometeorological, Astrometeorologist. (04 Mar 1998) |
| astronauts | Members of spacecraft crew including those who travel in space, and those in training for space flight. (12 Dec 1998) |
| astronomer | 1. An astrologer. 2. One who is versed in astronomy; one who has a knowledge of the laws of the heavenly orbs, or the principles by which their motions are regulated, with their various phenomena. "An undevout astronomer is mad." (Young) See: Astronomy. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| astronomical | Of or pertaining to astronomy; in accordance with the methods or principles of astronomy. Astronom"ically, Astronomical clock. See Clock. Astronomical day. See Day. Astronomical fractions, Astronomical numbers. See Sexagesimal. Origin: L. Astronomicus, Gr., cf. F. Astronomique. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| astronomize | To study or to talk astronomy. "They astronomized in caves." (Sir T. Browne) Origin: Gr. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| astronomy | 1. Astrology. "Not from the stars do I my judgment pluck; And yet methinks I have astronomy." (Shak) 2. The science which treats of the celestial bodies, of their magnitudes, motions, distances, periods of revolution, eclipses, constitution, physical condition, and of the causes of their various phenomena. 3. A treatise on, or text-book of, the science. Physical astronomy. See Physical. Origin: OE. Astronomie, F. Astronomie, L. Astronomia, fr. Gr, fr. Astronomer; star + to distribute, regulate. See Star, and Nomad. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |