English → Latin
“constellation” in Latin
astrumstar, constellationsīdusgroup of stars, constellation, asterism; a star; the night skynātusson; children
The English word constellation itself goes back to Latin cum, through cōnstēllātiōnem.
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
constellation
considered astrologically, the “aspect” of the stars, astrorum or caeli affectio (Cic., Fat., 4, 8; De Divin., 2, 47, 99): siderum significatio (Plin., Ep., 2, 20): positus siderum (the relative position of the heavenly bodies; their “aspects”): to be born under the same constellation, eodem statu caeli et stellarum natum esse: if it be of any consequence under what constellation any living being is born, si ad rem pertineat, quomodo caelo affecto, compositisque sideribus, quodque animal oriatur (ibid., § 98): born under a lucky constellation, dextro sidere editus or natus: born under an unlucky constellation, malo astro natus. [Vid: STAR.]
Considered astronomically, as a group of stars: sidus.
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for constellation?
- The usual Latin words for “constellation” are astrum, sīdus, nātus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.