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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

septentrion en · ADJ

Etymology

From Middle English septentrion, septentrione, septemtryones, septemtrioun, from Latin septentriō, septentriōnem (“the northern regions, the north”) directly and through Old French septentrïon, septemtrion, from septentriōnēs (“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”); from septem (“seven”) + triō, originally a plow ox (compare triōnēs, from its plural). Cognate with French septentrion, Middle English septemtrioun.

Meanings

  1. (obsolete) Of or relating to the north; northern.
    • From cold septentrion blaſts 1671, John Milton, “The First Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 80, line 31:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
septentriones alternative lexicographic
most septentrion Degree=Sup lexicographic
more septentrion Degree=Cmp lexicographic

septentrion en · NOUN

Etymology

From Middle English septentrion, septentrione, septemtryones, septemtrioun, from Latin septentriō, septentriōnem (“the northern regions, the north”) directly and through Old French septentrïon, septemtrion, from septentriōnēs (“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”); from septem (“seven”) + triō, originally a plow ox (compare triōnēs, from its plural). Cognate with French septentrion, Middle English septemtrioun.

Meanings

  1. (obsolete) The north or northern regions.
    • Thou art as opposite to every good / As the Antipodes are unto us, / Or as the south to the septentrion. c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
septentriones alternative lexicographic
septentrions Number=Plur lexicographic