constellation Copy link Outline 1. sīdus, ĕris, n. (also used of the sun and moon, Virg.)2. astrum (chiefly poet.)3. signum (also chiefly poet.) • constellation: 1. sīdus, ĕris, n. (also used of the sun and moon, Virg.): those eternal fires which ye call c.s and stars, illi sempiterni ignes quae s. et stellas vocatis, Cic.: the c. of the goat, caprae sidera, Hor. 2. astrum (chiefly poet.): through the twelve c.s, per duodena astra, Virg.: to be born under the same c., uno a. esse, Cic. 3. signum (also chiefly poet.): beneath the moving c.s of the heaven, coeli subter labentia s., Lucr.: but used in prose of the twelve "signs" of the Zodiac: in the c. of the lion, in s. leonis, Cic. Hence, the circle of the c.s, i. e. the zodiac, signifer orbis, Cic.
CONSTELLATION Copy link • CONSTELLATIONconsidered astrologically, the “aspect” of the stars, astrorum or caeli affectio (Cic., Fat., 4, 8; De Divin., 2, 47, 99): siderum significatio (Plin., Ep., 2, 20): positus siderum (the relative position of the heavenly bodies; their “aspects”): to be born under the same constellation, eodem statu caeli et stellarum natum esse: if it be of any consequence under what constellation any living being is born, si ad rem pertineat, quomodo caelo affecto, compositisque sideribus, quodque animal oriatur (ibid., § 98): born under a lucky constellation, dextro sidere editus or natus: born under an unlucky constellation, malo astro natus. [Vid: STAR.] Considered astronomically, as a group of stars: sidus.