Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Astrology

As-trol′o-gy

(ăs-trŏl′ō̍-jy̆)
,
Noun.
[F.
astrologie
, L.
astrologia
, fr. Gr.
ἀστρολογία
, fr.
ἀστρολόγοσ
astronomer, astrologer;
ἀστήρ
star +
λόγοσ
discourse,
λέγειν
to speak. See
Star
.]
In its etymological signification, the science of the stars; among the ancients, synonymous with astronomy; subsequently, the art of judging of the influences of the stars upon human affairs, and of foretelling events by their position and aspects.
Astrology was much in vogue during the Middle Ages, and became the parent of modern astronomy, as alchemy did of chemistry. It was divided into two kinds: judicial astrology, which assumed to foretell the fate and acts of nations and individuals, and natural astrology, which undertook to predict events of inanimate nature, such as changes of the weather, etc.

Webster 1828 Edition


Astrology

ASTROL'OGY

,
Noun.
[Supra.] A science which teaches to judge of the effects and influences of the stars, and to foretell future events, by their situation and different aspects. This science was formerly in great request, as men ignorantly supposed the heavenly bodies to have a ruling influence over the physical and moral world; but it is now universally exploded by true science and philosophy.

Definition 2024


astrology

astrology

English

Alternative forms

Noun

astrology (usually uncountable, plural astrologies)

  1. Divination about human affairs or natural phenomena from the relative positions of celestial bodies. [from 14th c.]
    • c. 1390, Geoffrey Chaucer, Canterbury Tales, Harleian manuscript:
      a pore scoler / had lerned art but al his fantasye / was torned for to lerne astrologye […].
    • 1971, Keith Thomas, Religion and the Decline of Magic, Folio Society 2012, p. 274:
      For if astronomy is the study of the movements of the heavens, then astrology is the study of the effects of those movements.
    • 2012, The Guardian, (headline), 7 Feb 2012:
      Followers of pseudosciences such as astrology often draw spurious parallels between their beliefs and established science.

Synonyms

Related terms

Translations

See also