▪ I. constellate, ppl. a. Chiefly poet.
(ˈkɒnstələt, kənˈstɛlət)
[ad. L. constellāt-us starred, studded with stars, f. con- + stellātus starred, pa. pple. of stellāre, f. stella star. Cf. F. constellé.]
1. = constellated 2.
| 1649 G. Daniel Trinarch, Hen. IV, cclxxiii, Greate Perseus sate Below Boötes, being Constellate. 1839 Bailey Festus xxi. (1848) 274 Thick with great sun-like and constellate thoughts. 1878 Browning Poets Croisic 7 Those patent powers Constellate proudly. |
2. Studded with stars, starred.
| 1855 Bailey Mystic 38 The radiant lizard loves And lives in light, himself all constellate. |
▪ II. constellate, v.
(ˈkɒnstəleɪt, kənˈstɛleɪt)
[f. L. constellāt-: see prec. and -ate3.]
† 1. trans. Astrol. a. To construct (a charm, etc.) under a particular ‘constellation’; to affect with stellar ‘influence’ (cf. constellated 1). b. To cast the nativity or horoscope of (a person).
| 1621 Beaum. & Fl. Thierry & Theod. iii. i, Brun. You know Leforte's cell? Lec. Who constellated your fair birth? a 1631 Donne Elegy Mrs. Drury, What Artist now dares boast that he can bring Heaven hither, or constellate any thing, So as the influence of those stars may be Imprison'd in a herb, or charm, or tree, And do by touch all which those stars could do? |
c. pass. To be predestined (to a fate, condition, disposition, etc.) by the ‘stars’ one is born under.
| 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. i. v. 19 Great constitutions, and such as are constellated unto knowledge. 1672 W. de Britaine Interest Eng. in Dutch War 25 Neither am I by my Stars constellated to be rich. 1823 Lamb Elia Ser. i. xi. (1860) 87 note, There may be individuals born and constellated so opposite to another individual nature, that the same sphere cannot hold them. 1829 Health & Longevity 215 Unless we are constellated into death or life. |
2. a. To cluster together (stars) into a constellation; to make a constellation of, form as a constellation. Often transf. or fig.
| 1643 Howell Parables on Times 6 The whole Host of Heaven being constellated thus into one great Body. 1661 Boyle Style H. Script. 111 To them that know how to Constellate those Lights. 1752 Johnson Rambler No. 201 ¶4 He..must..constellate in himself the scattered graces which shine single in other men. 1841–4 Emerson Ess., Art Wks. (Bohn) I. 149 These works were not always thus constellated; they are the contributions of many ages and many countries. 1851 Ruskin Stones Ven. I. viii. §30 That all shafts..shall..constellate themselves into clusters. |
b. Psychol. To form (ideas, etc.) into a group or constellation.
| 1922 Brit. Jrnl. Psychol. Oct. 114 Presentation-complexes..become successively conscious and..are constellated by preceding associated complexes. 1951 G. W. Allport in Parsons & Shils Toward Gen. Theory Action iv. i. 367 Grouping, constellating, rubricizing leap far ahead of experience. |
3. To stud or thickly adorn.
| a 1691 Boyle Wks. (1772) V. 561 (R.) You will not much wonder, that I place this virtue among those that constellate, if I may so speak, an heroic mind. 1702 C. Mather Magn. Chr. i. vi. (1852) 83 Behold a colony, indeed, constellated with many stars of the first magnitude. |
4. intr. To cluster or congregate together, as stars do in a constellation.
| 1647 Cleveland Char. Lond. Diurn. 41 He breaths a grand Committee; all that were The wonders of their Age, constellate here. a 1683 Oldham On Morwent Poet. Wks. (1686) 77 Those parts..Like Stars did all constellate here And met together in one Sphere. 1850 Mrs. Browning Man & Nature 11 Flowers, that constellate on earth. 1871 Macduff Mem. Patmos xix. 268 All other works and designs of Providence constellate around the Cross of Calvary. |