astronomy
Meaningthe law of the stars
Common meaning: the science of stars, planets and space
- astra starLiddell & Scott, Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon (1889), p. 126 · scan
- nomcustom, law; that which is assignedLiddell & Scott, Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon (1889), p. 535 · scan
- ynoun ending: study, state or act
‘a star’ + ‘custom, law’ → astronomy
Journey through time
- astr — Greek ἄστρον; ἀστήρ “a star” (path traced)
- nom — Greek νόμος “custom, law; that which is assigned” (path traced)
Parts join in Middle English as astronomie.
- Greekἄστρον; ἀστήρ + νόμος‘a star + custom, law’
- Middle Englishastronomiesource
- Englishastronomy‘the science of stars, planets and space’ · today
Sources & notes
Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
- No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
- US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
- No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.
Origin: Built on Greek ἄστρον; ἀστήρ ‘a star’ + Greek νόμος ‘custom, law; that which is assigned’.
Did you know (Greek aster, "star",…): our wording, based on Liddell & Scott, Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon (1889), entry ἄστρον, p. 126 · dictionary scan
Did you know (Greek nomos, "custom,…): our wording, based on Liddell & Scott, Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon (1889), entry νόμος, p. 535 · dictionary scan; Skeat, Etymological Dictionary (1898), entry ANOMALY, p. 25 · dictionary scan
Roots
- νόμος Greek “custom, law; that which is assigned”
- ἄστρον; ἀστήρ Greek “a star”
Related words
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