Arctus

See also: arctus

Latin

Alternative forms

• Arctos

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 [sky] for our benefit, and were both named Arctos ("the Bears"), which we [the Romans] 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