zodiacn.
/ˈzəʊdɪak/, U.S. /ˈzoʊdiˌæk/ 1.
a. Astronomy. A belt of the celestial sphere extending about 8 or 9 degrees on each side of the ecliptic, within which the apparent motions of the sun, moon, and principal planets take place; it is divided into twelve equal parts called signs (see 1b).
ΘΚΠ
the world > the universe > celestial sphere > zone of celestial sphere > [noun] > Zodiac
zodiac1390
signifera1413
zodiac circle1447
zodiac line1590
baldric1596
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis III. 108 Ther ben signes tuelve, Whiche have her cercles be hemselve Compassed in the zodiaque.
c1400 ( G. Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe (Cambr. Dd.3.53) (1872) Prol. 3 To knowe in owre orizonte with wych degree of the zodiac that the Mone arisith in any latitude.
1426 J. Lydgate tr. G. de Guileville Pilgrimage Life Man 17200 She held also a gret ballaunce, Only off purpos (yiff she konne,) To peyse the sodyak and the sonne.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 3726 The sun vnder zodias settis hym to leng Two dayes betwene.
c1550 Complaynt Scotl. (1979) vi. 39 Ane vthir grit circle in the spere callit the zodiac the quhilk deuidis the circle equinoctial in tua partis.
1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus ii. i. 7 When the golden sunne..Gallops the Zodiacke in his glistering Coach. View more context for this quotation
1611 J. Donne Anat. World sig. B2 They have empayld within a Zodiake The free-borne Sunne, and keepe twelue signes awake To watch his steps.
1727 W. Broome Poems 195 Thus Phœbus thro' the Zodiac takes his way.
1868 J. N. Lockyer Elem. Lessons Astron. §364 One of the points in which the zodiac cuts the equator.
b. signs of the zodiac (sign n. 6): the twelve equal parts into which the zodiac is divided, and through one of which the sun passes in each month; they are named after the twelve constellations (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius, Pisces) with which at a former epoch they severally coincided approximately (see precession n.2 1).
ΘΚΠ
the world > the universe > celestial sphere > zone of celestial sphere > [noun] > Zodiac > sign of zodiac
tokeningc888
tokenc1000
signa1393
signs of the zodiac?1533
Mazzaroth1560
dog1723
star sign1894
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis III. 117 Hou that the Signes sitte arowe, Ech after other be degre In substance and in proprete The zodiaque comprehendeth Withinne his cercle, as it appendeth.]
?1533 G. Du Wes Introductorie for to lerne Frenche sig. Cci v The xii. signes of the zodiacque.
1585 C. Fetherston tr. J. Calvin Comm. Actes Apostles xxviii. 11 The signe in the Zodiacke called Gemini.
1625 N. Carpenter Geogr. Delineated i. v. 101 Wheresoeuer any man stands on the Surface of the Earth, six signes of the Zodiacke will shew themselues.
1715 tr. D. Gregory Elements Astron. I. ii. §1. 203 The images of the Stars have removed from the Signs of the Zodiac, to which they originally gave names.
1866 R. M. Ferguson Electricity 36 The sun is in the northern signs of the zodiac.
c. zodiac of the moon, zodiac of a planet, etc.: that belt of the heavens (usually a portion of the ordinary zodiac) within which the apparent motion of the moon, planet, etc. takes place.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the universe > celestial sphere > zone of celestial sphere > [noun] > Zodiac > of other bodies
zodiac of the moon1704
1704 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum I Zodiack of the Comets, Cassini hath observed a certain Tract..within whose Bounds..he hath found most Comets..to keep.
1715 tr. D. Gregory Elements Astron. II. vi. §1. 821 These Comets..do not go in the Zodiac or Way of the Planets.
1788 E. Gibbon Decline & Fall V. l. 190 The Bedoween..was taught by experience to divide, in twenty-eight parts, the zodiac of the moon.
1834 Nat. Philos. (Libr. Useful Knowl.) III. Astron. i. 4 According to Gaubil, the invention of the Chinese zodiac, divided into twenty-seven constellations, is to be referred to Yao.
1888 Encycl. Brit. XXIV. 793/2 The synodical revolution of the moon laid down the lines of the solar, its sidereal revolution those of the lunar zodiac.
2. A figure or representation of the zodiac.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the universe > cosmology > science of observation > astronomical instruments > representational device > [noun] > map of heavens > zodiac
zodiacc1400
c1400 ( G. Chaucer Treat. Astrolabe (Cambr. Dd.3.53) (1872) i. §21. 12 Alle sterres sittinge wyth-in the zodiak of thin astrolabie ben cleped sterres of the north.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. clvijv In the zodiak were the twelue figures, curiously made, and aboue this were made the seuen planettes.
1605 W. Camden Remaines i. 168 A virgin Prince, who presented in his shield, the Zodiacke with the Characters onely of Leo and Virgo.
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory ii. 42/2 Zodiack, is the imitation of a Bend, and is esteemed a girdle of Honor, or a note of favour.
1774 J. Bryant New Syst. II. 483 The Zodiac, which Sir Isaac Newton supposed to relate to the Argonautic expedition, was an assemblage of Egyptian hieroglyphics.
1820 G. Belzoni Narr. Egypt & Nubia ii. 278 The Egyptians connected astronomy with their religious ceremonies, as we found various zodiacs, not only among the temples, but in their tombs also.
a1836 D. McNicoll Wks. (1837) 24 The motto of a crest which bears his own picture, encircled by a zodiac.
3. † a. transferred. A year; the calendar. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > period > year > [noun]
wintereOE
yeareOE
yearOE
yearOE
yearOE
twelvemonthc1275
a time and times and half a timec1384
foil1481
zodiacc1560
twelve moons1609
suns1743
outfit1791
snow1825
season1827
yr1880
c1560 A. Scott Poems (S.T.S.) v. 25 Vpoun thair vyce war lang to waik, Quhais falsatt, fibilnes, and tressone, Hes rung thryis oure this zodiak.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) i. ii. 156 So long, that ninteene Zodiacks haue gone round. View more context for this quotation
1619 E. M. Bolton tr. Florus Rom. Hist. iv. ii. 434 A month in the Zodiac.
b. figurative and allusively. (a) Recurrent series, round, course. (b) Compass, range. (c) Set of twelve.This figurative use was inaugurated by Marcellus Palingenius in the title of his work Zodiacus vitæ, hoc est de hominis vita (c1530), each book of which was named after a sign of the zodiac. The title was imitated by Gaspar Barthius in Zodiacus vitæ christianæ (1623).
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > period > cycle of time > [noun]
wheel?c1225
circlec1475
revolution1554
zodiac1560
circuit1601
compass1609
orb?1611
round1652
cycle1662
the world > existence and causation > existence > materiality > immateriality > [noun] > immaterial or incorporeal thing > scope or range of
ampleness1509
reach1546
compass1555
zodiac1560
extent1593
range1599
verge1599
extension1604
latitude1605
extendure1610
point-blanka1616
comprisement1640
comprisurea1641
virge1640
tour1699
purview1751
gamut1753
sweep1781
diapason1851
carry1859
the world > relative properties > number > specific numbers > eleven to ninety-nine > [noun] > twelve > group or set of twelve
dozen1340
brown dozen?1499
zodiac1560
round dozena1572
twelve1573
quest?1589
jury1592
dodecade1659
1560 (title) The first thre Bokes of the most christian Poet Marcellus Palingenius, called the Zodyake of lyfe: newly translated out of latin into English by Barnabe Googe.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Apol. Poetrie (1595) sig. C1v The Poet..goeth hand in hand with Nature, not inclosed within the narrow warrant of her guifts, but freely ranging onely within the Zodiack of his owne wit.
1607 T. Walkington Optick Glasse Ep. It moues not once within the Zodiacke of my expectation.
1629 T. Dekker Londons Tempe 351 In your yeares Zodiacke may you fairely moue.
a1631 J. Donne Poems (1633) 176 Thy illustrious Zodiacke Of twelve Apostles, which ingirt this All.
a1657 G. Daniel Poems (1878) II. 94 Gladlie hast Through Follie's Zodiacke, from the first to th' Last.
1745 E. Young Consolation 50 Thro' various Virtues, they, with Ardor, ran The Zodiac of their learn'd, illustrious Lives.
1856 R. W. Emerson Eng. Traits xiii. 218 The Catholic church..moves through a zodiac of feasts and fasts.
1888 J. Ruskin Præterita III. ii. 67 I saw my turn had come, and the revolving zodiac brought its fairest sign to me.
Compounds
C1. attributive (originally adj.).† zodiac line n. Obsolete the zodiac.
zodiac-figure n.
ΚΠ
1844 E. B. Barrett Drama of Exile in Poems I. 52 The zodiac-figures of the earth loom slow.
zodiac-lion n.
ΚΠ
1818 J. Keats Endymion i. 29 Now when his [sc. the sun's] chariot last Its beams against the zodiac-lion cast.
zodiac-sign n.
ΚΠ
1883 Encycl. Brit. XVI. 212/2 The similar zodiac-signs of the Old World.
zodiac circle n. [compare Greek ὁ τῶν ζῳδίων κύκλος (Aristotle)]
ΘΚΠ
the world > the universe > celestial sphere > zone of celestial sphere > [noun] > Zodiac
zodiac1390
signifera1413
zodiac circle1447
zodiac line1590
baldric1596
1447 O. Bokenham Anna in Lyvys Seyntys 624 The xii signes thryes by & by In þe zodyak cercle had passyde coursly.
1602 W. Fulbecke Parallele or Conf. Law ii. 60 The Zodiacke circle is alwayes rowled about.
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory ii. 20/2 The Zodiack Circle is ever born Bendways Sinister.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the universe > celestial sphere > zone of celestial sphere > [noun] > Zodiac
zodiac1390
signifera1413
zodiac circle1447
zodiac line1590
baldric1596
1590 T. Watson Poems (Arb.) 157 Ye Figures in the Zodiacke line, that decke heauns girdle with æternall light.
zodiac ring n. a ring with figures of the signs of the zodiac.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > types of ornamentation > jewellery > ring > [noun] > ring with inscription
posy ring1858
tau ring1876
name-ring1877
zodiac ring1895
1895 Notes & Queries 8th Ser. 8 187/2 Zodiac Rings. These, when made of gold, are usually said to be the work of native goldsmiths on the African coast.
1895 Notes & Queries 8th Ser. 8 272/1 I have a gold zodiac ring marked with the leopard's head.
C2.
zodiac-zoned adj.
ΚΠ
1856 R. A. Vaughan Hours with Mystics (1860) II. viii. iii. 48 The zodiac-zoned and silver-bearded counsellor.
Draft additions 1993
Properly with capital initial. A proprietary name for a make of inflatable dinghy, esp. one powered by an outboard motor.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > vessel of specific construction or shape > [noun] > inflatable > specific
zodiac1959
1959 Official Gaz. (U.S. Patent Office) 31 Mar. tm194/1 Zodiac. Priority claimed..on French Reg. No. 471,582, dated Apr. 11, 1958... For pneumatic boats.
1959 Trade Marks Jrnl. 12 Aug. 655/2 Zodiac..Aircraft; and boats and fittings therefor included in Class 12... 20th June 1958.
1974 Canad. Forces Sentinel (Ottawa) ii. 6/3 There'll be more demos on the cherry-picker with the ‘zodiac’ and divers.
1986 Auckland Star 7 Feb. a1/6 Best (or worst) of all, an old fisherman in a tiny, anchored, inflatable zodiac..oblivious to the stampede.
1991 Motor Boat & Yachting Jan. 266/2 (advt.) Twin 357hp Volvo provide 25 knots max. Autopilot, Mase generator, Zodiac dinghy and outboard etc.
Draft additions July 2010
Originally in China and East Asia: an astrological scheme based on the Chinese calendar, in which each year of a twelve-year cycle is represented by one of twelve animals associated with specific attributes, which a person born in that period of time is believed to possess.In some applications of the scheme these animals are also each associated with a particular lunar month and time of day.The twelve animals which are represented vary throughout East Asia (and occasionally also in English renderings of the names). A common scheme begins with the rat and includes the ox (or cow), tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat (or sheep), monkey, rooster, dog, and pig (or boar).
ΚΠ
1784 R. Dunthorne et al. Long's Astron. (new ed.) II. v. 662 The twelve signs into which their [sc. the Chinese] zodiac is divided, viz. 1. The mouse, 2. the ox, or cow, 3. the tyger, 4. the hare, 5. the dragon, 6. the serpent, 7. the horse, 8. the sheep, 9. the monkey, 10. the cock, or hen, 11. the dog, 12. the boar.
1821 H. M. Williams tr. A. von Humboldt Personal Narr. Trav. V. ii. xxiv. 745 In the two zodiacs vulgarly called Tatar and Chaldean, or Egyptian, (in the zodiac which contains the sign of the Rat, and in that which contains those of the Fishes and Aquarius).
1895 K. S. Baxter In Bamboo Lands iii. 95 The eaves of the lower story are decorated with painted carvings of the twelve signs of the zodiac: the rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon,..[etc.].
1922 J. Street Mysterious Japan xxvi. 317 The Chinese zodiac..figures largely in Japanese superstition. As there are twelve animals, years are counted off in cycles of twelve; and the same animals are also associated with days and hours.
1980 Met. Mus. Art Bull. 38 21/1 According to legend, Buddha called all the creatures to him for a celebration, but only twelve came. The order in which they arrived determined the year each symbolizes in the zodiac.
2009 New Straits Times (Malaysia) (Nexis) 26 Jan. 2 As for the zodiac forecast,..those born in the Year of the Ox, Rabbit, Snake, Horse, Goat, and Boar will face difficult times this year.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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