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planets

 

  1  definition  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Star  \Star\  (st[aum]r),  n.  [OE.  sterre,  AS  steorra  akin  to 
  OFries  stera,  OS  sterro,  D.  ster,  OHG.  sterno,  sterro,  G. 
  stern,  Icel.  stjarna  Sw  stjerna,  Dan.  stierne  Goth. 
  sta['i]rn[=o],  Armor.  &  Corn.  steren,  L.  stella,  Gr  'asth`r, 
  'a`stron,  Skr.  star;  perhaps  from  a  root  meaning,  to  scatter, 
  Skr.  st[.r],  L.  sternere  (cf.  {Stratum}),  and  originally 
  applied  to  the  stars  as  being  strewn  over  the  sky,  or  as 
  being  scatterers  or  spreaders  of  light.  [root]296.  Cf 
  {Aster},  {Asteroid},  {Constellation},  {Disaster},  {Stellar}.] 
  1.  One  of  the  innumerable  luminous  bodies  seen  in  the 
  heavens;  any  heavenly  body  other  than  the  sun,  moon, 
  comets,  and  nebul[ae]. 
 
  His  eyen  twinkled  in  his  head  aright,  As  do  the 
  stars  in  the  frosty  night.  --Chaucer. 
 
  Note:  The  stars  are  distinguished  as  {planets},  and  {fixed 
  stars}.  See  {Planet},  {Fixed  stars}  under  {Fixed},  and 
  {Magnitude  of  a  star}  under  {Magnitude}. 
 
  2.  The  polestar;  the  north  star.  --Shak. 
 
  3.  (Astrol.)  A  planet  supposed  to  influence  one's  destiny; 
  (usually  pl.)  a  configuration  of  the  planets,  supposed  to 
  influence  fortune. 
 
  O  malignant  and  ill-brooding  stars.  --Shak. 
 
  Blesses  his  stars,  and  thinks  it  luxury.  --Addison. 
 
  4.  That  which  resembles  the  figure  of  a  star,  as  an  ornament 
  worn  on  the  breast  to  indicate  rank  or  honor. 
 
  On  whom  .  .  .  Lavish  Honor  showered  all  her  stars. 
  --Tennyson. 
 
  5.  Specifically,  a  radiated  mark  in  writing  or  printing;  an 
  asterisk  [thus,  *];  --  used  as  a  reference  to  a  note,  or 
  to  fill  a  blank  where  something  is  omitted,  etc 
 
  6.  (Pyrotechny)  A  composition  of  combustible  matter  used  in 
  the  heading  of  rockets,  in  mines,  etc.,  which  exploding 
  in  the  air,  presents  a  starlike  appearance. 
 
  7.  A  person  of  brilliant  and  attractive  qualities,  especially 
  on  public  occasions,  as  a  distinguished  orator,  a  leading 
  theatrical  performer,  etc 
 
  Note:  Star  is  used  in  the  formation  of  compound  words 
  generally  of  obvious  signification:  as  star-aspiring, 
  star-bespangled,  star-bestudded,  star-blasting, 
  star-bright,  star-crowned,  star-directed,  star-eyed, 
  star-headed,  star-paved,  star-roofed;  star-sprinkled, 
  star-wreathed.




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