Arctus

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See also: arctus

Latin

Alternative forms

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἄρκτος (Árktos), ἄρκτος (árktos).

Noun

Arctus f (genitive Arctī); second declension

  1. the Ursa Major constellation
    Synonym: Septentriō maior, Helicē
  2. (qualified as minor) the Ursa Minor constellation
    Synonym: Cynosūra
    • perh. post 2nd c. CE but ancient, Hyginus astronomus, Poeticon Astronomicon 2.2:
      Incidit etiam compluribus erratio, quibus de causis minor Arctus Phoenice appelletur. Thales enim, qui hanc primus Arctum appellavit, natione fuit Phoenix.
      Very many make an error regarding why it is called the Smaller Bear in Phoenician. Thales of Miletus, who was the first to call it a Bear, was of Phoenician descent.
  3. (in the plural) both the Ursa Major and the Ursa Minor
    Synonym: Septentriōnēs
    • perh. post 2nd c. CE but ancient, Hyginus astronomus, Poeticon Astronomicon 2.2:
      Nonnulli etiam Helicen et Cynosuram nymphas esse Iouis nutrices dicunt, et hac re etiam pro beneficio in mundo conlocatas, et utrasque Arctos appellatas esse, quas nostri Septentriones dixerunt.
      Some say the Ursa Major and Ursa Minor are Jupiter's nursing nymphs, and for this reason they were placed on the world for our benefit, and were both named Arctos ("the Bears"), which we named the Septentriones ("the Northerners").
  4. north
    Synonym: boreās, aquilō, septentriō, septentriōnēs
    • c. 45 CE – 96 CE, Statius, Silvae 4.3.153:
      Juravit tibi iam nivalis Arctus
      The snowy north has already sworn itself to you