astronomer
(əˈstrɒnəmə(r))
Forms: 4–6 astronomyer, 5–6 astronomier, 5– astronomer.
[Formed on astronomy, or rather on the earlier astronomy-en by substituting the native agent-ending -er for F. -en, -an. Afterwards contracted so as to seem formed directly on Gr. ἀστρονόµ-ος, or F. astronome + -er. Cf. astrolog-er, philosoph-er.]
One who studies astronomy; one skilled in the knowledge of the heavenly bodies. Astronomer Royal: the official title of the astronomer who has charge of one of the royal, or national, observatories of Great Britain.
| 1366 Mandeville v. 45 In that Contree ben the gode Astronomyeres. 1480 Caxton Chron. Eng. i. (1520) 6/1 Athlas ye great astronomyer. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. xlii. 57 Kyng Robert of Cicyle..was a great astronomyer. 1530 Palsgr. 644/2, I nombre, as an astronomer doth his thing by aulgorisme. 1580 Lupton Too Good to be True (Wright) Chesse, the astronomer's game, and the philosopher's game. a 1704 Locke (J.) Astronomers no longer doubt of the motion of the planets about the sun. 1742 Young Nt. Th. ix. 771 An undevout Astronomer is mad. 1838 Penny Cycl. X. 297 Flamsteed was appointed [1674] astronomer royal, or, as the warrant ran ‘astronomical observator,’ and carried on his observations at the queen's house in Greenwich Park. 1874 Motley Barneveld I. i. 28 Protecting the astrologer, when enlightened theologians might have hanged the astronomer. |
b. In early use it included the ‘astrologer’; and, when the two terms began to be differentiated, was sometimes distinctively so used: see astrologer.
| 1388 Wyclif 2 Chron. xxxiii. 6 He hadde with hym astronomyers and enchaunteris..that disseyven mennus wittis. a 1577 Gascoigne Fruites of Warre (R.) These astronomers thinke, where Mars doth raigne, That all debate and discorde must be rife. 1606 Shakes. Tr. & Cr. v. i. 100 When he performes, astronomers foretell it. 1611 Tourneur Ath. Trag. v. i, Thou ignorant Astronomer Whose wand'ring speculation seekes among The planets for men's fortunes. |
c. astronomer's ring: a modification of the Sea Astrolabe. astronomer's staff: the almucantar-staff.
| 1551 Recorde Pathw. Knowl. ii. Pref., The arte of measuryng by the astronomers staffe, and by the astronomers ryng. [1570 Dee Math. Pref. 19 The helpe of his..Staffe Astronomicall. 1594 Blundevil Exerc. vii. xxxvi. 712 Seeke by your Astronomicall Ring..to know what houre it is.] |