septentrion

See also: septentrión

English

Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.
(See the entry for septentrion in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.)

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin septentriō, septentriōnem the northern regions, the north, from septentriones the seven stars near the north pole, called Charles's Wain, or the Great Bear, also those called the Little Bear; properly, the seven plow oxen; septem (“seven”) + trio, originally a plow ox: compare French septentrion.

Noun

septentrion (plural septentrions)

  1. (obsolete) The north or northern regions.
    • Chaucer, Boece, Book II
      And ek this Nero governyde by ceptre alle the peples that ben undir the colde sterres that highten the septemtryones. (This is to seyn he governede alle the peples that ben under the partye of the north.)
    • Shakespeare, Henry VI (act 1, scene 4)
      Thou art as opposite to every good / As the Antipodes are unto us, / Or as the south to the septentrion.

Adjective

septentrion (comparative more septentrion, superlative most septentrion)

  1. (obsolete) Of or relating to the north; northern.
    • Milton
      From cold septentrion blasts.

References

  • septentrion in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

Anagrams

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin septentriō, septentriōnem.

Noun

septentrion m (plural septentrions)

  1. septentrion, north

Synonyms

Derived terms

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