astrologer
(əˈstrɒlədʒə(r))
[f. astrology, or perhaps from astrolog-ien, -an (aˈstrologen in Chaucer), by substitution of -er, the native ending of the agent, for the F. -ien. Cf. astronomer.]
† 1. An observer of the stars, a practical astronomer. Obs. (When astrologer and astronomer began to be differentiated, the relation between them was, at first, the converse of the present usage.)
| 1382 Wyclif Bible Pref. Ep. (1850) 66/1 Astronomers, astrologerys, fisissians. 1440 Promp. Parv. 16 Astrologere, Astrologus. 1581 Marbeck Bk. of Notes 77 The Astrologer is he that knoweth the course and motions of the heavens, and teacheth the same, which is a virtue, if it passe not his bondes, and he become of an Astrologer an Astronomer. a 1625 Boys Wks. (1630) 645 An Astrologer expert in his art, fortelleth an eclipse of the Sunne. 1676 Evelyn Mem. (1857) II. 115 Dined with me Mr. Flamsted, the learned astrologer and mathematician, whom his Majesty had established in the new Observatory in Greenwich Park. |
† 2. Applied to the cock, as watchman of the night and announcer of the sunrise. Obs.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus iii. 1366 Whan that the cok, commune astrologer, Gan to his brest to bete, and afftyr, crowe. 1430 Lydg. Chron. Troy i. vi. 1444 Pol. Poems (1859) II. 216 Comoun astrologeer, as folk expert weel knowe..Sumtyme hih and sumtyme he syngith lowe. |
3. One who professes astrology in the modern sense; who pretends to judge of the influence of the stars upon human affairs.
| 1601 Holland Pliny vii. lvi. (R.) The above-named astrologers affirmed, that a man could not possibly passe the space of 90 degrees from the ascendent or erection of his nativities. 1611 Bible Dan. i. 20 Ten times better then all the Magicians and Astrologers that were in all his Realme [Wyclif, witches; Purvey, astronomyens; Coverdale, charmers; Genev. astrologians]. 1722 De Foe Mem. Caval. 1 Under the government of what star [I was born] I was never astrologer enough to examine. 1875 B. Taylor Faust I. 232 The astrologer Nostradamus was born at St. Remy. |