zodiac etymology

Etymology

The word "zodiac" is derived from the Late Latin word "zōdiacus," which in turn comes from the Greek word "zōdiakos kyklos," meaning "circle of little animals."

Meaning and Origin

The zodiac refers to a belt-shaped region in the sky that spans approximately 18 degrees on either side of the ecliptic, the apparent path of the sun across the sky over the course of a year. It is divided into 12 equal sections, known as zodiac signs, each of which is named after a constellation that lies within that section.

The origin of the zodiac can be traced back to ancient Babylonian astronomy. Babylonian astronomers identified 12 major constellations along the ecliptic and divided them into 12 equal divisions. These divisions became the basis for the zodiac signs that we know today.

The zodiac has always played an important role in astrology, the practice of predicting events and character traits based on the positions of celestial bodies. Each zodiac sign is associated with different qualities, planets, and elements, and astrologers believe that the position of the planets in the zodiac at the time of a person's birth can influence their personality and life path.

The 12 Zodiac Signs

The 12 zodiac signs, in order from the spring equinox (around March 21), are:

  1. Aries (March 21 - April 19): The Ram
  2. Taurus (April 20 - May 20): The Bull
  3. Gemini (May 21 - June 20): The Twins
  4. Cancer (June 21 - July 22): The Crab
  5. Leo (July 23 - August 22): The Lion
  6. Virgo (August 23 - September 22): The Virgin
  7. Libra (September 23 - October 22): The Scales
  8. Scorpio (October 23 - November 21): The Scorpion
  9. Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21): The Archer
  10. Capricorn (December 22 - January 19): The Goat
  11. Aquarius (January 20 - February 18): The Water-Bearer
  12. Pisces (February 19 - March 20): The Fish

zodiac relate terms

  • zodiacal

    Etymology The term zodiacal is derived from the Greek word ζῳδιακός zōdiak

  • zodiac

    Etymology The word zodiac is derived from the Late Latin word zōdiacus which in tur

  • abiogenesis

    Etymology The word abiogenesis is derived from two Greek words a alpha privative

  • aerobic

    Etymology Aerobic comes from the Greek words aēr ἀήρ meaning air bios

  • amphibian

    Etymology The word amphibian comes from the Greek words amphi ἀμφί and bios

  • anaerobic

    Etymology Anaerobic is derived from two Greek words an not aer air Meaning

  • azoic

    Etymology The word azoic is derived from the Greek prefix a meaning without and

  • azotemia

    Etymology azo from Greek a meaning without temia from Greek haima meaning

  • biography

    Etymology From the Greek bios life and graphein to write Meaning A writt

  • biology

    Etymology and Meaning Biology is derived from the Greek words bios life logos st

  • biome

    Etymology The word biome is derived from the Greek words bios life and oma assem

  • bionics

    Etymology bionics comes from the Greek word bion meaning life and the suffix

  • biopsy

    Etymology Greek bios life opsis view Meaning A medical procedure involvi

  • biota

    Etymology Latin biota Greek bios life Meaning and Origin The term biota refer

  • biotic

    Etymology Derived from the Greek word biotikos meaning pertaining to life First u

  • cenobite

    Etymology The term cenobite is derived from two Greek words koinos meaning comm

  • Cenozoic

    Etymology The term Cenozoic is derived from two Greek words kainos καινός

  • convivial

    Etymology From Latin convivialis meaning pertaining to a feast or banquet Ultimatel

  • epizoic

    Etymology epi Greek meaning upon zōon Greek meaning animal Meaning and Orig

  • epizoon

    Etymology Greek epi upon zoon animal Meaning An organism that lives on th

  • epizootic

    Etymology From Greek epi upon zoon animal osis condition Meaning

  • macrobiotic

    Etymology Derived from Greek roots makros μακρός meaning long or great

  • Mesozoic

    Etymology Mesozoic is a term derived from Ancient Greek meso μέσος meaning

  • microbe

    Etymology The word microbe is derived from the Greek words mikros meaning small an

  • Protozoa

    Etymology Protozoa is derived from two Greek words Protos πρώτος meaning

  • protozoic

    Etymology Protozoa Derived from Ancient Greek protos πρωτος meaning first

  • quick

    Etymology From Latin nexus past participle of nectere to bind Meaning A connection

  • quicken

    Etymology Old English cwicen verb meaning to make alive vivify revive from Pro

  • quicksand

    Etymology Late 16th century from Dutch kwicksand or German Quicksand from quick liv

  • quicksilver

    Etymology Quicksilver is derived from the Old English words cwic meaning alive an

  • quiver

    Etymology Middle English quivre quiveer borrowed from Old French cuivre from Late L

  • revive

    Etymology From Middle English reviven from Old French revivre to revive bring back

  • survive

    Etymology The word survive derives from the Latin verb supervivere meaning to live

  • symbiosis

    Etymology The term symbiosis is derived from the Greek words syn meaning together

  • viable

    Etymology The word viable comes from the Latin word viabilis which means passable

  • viand

    Viand has a long and complex etymology having been borrowed several times into English

  • viper

    Etymology The word viper comes from the Latin word vipera which is derived from the

  • vita

    Etymology Latin vita Proto Indo European gʷʰéiH t ó h₂ Meaning and Origi

  • vital

    Etymology The word vital comes from the Latin word vitalis which means essential t

  • vitamin

    Etymology Derived from the Latin word vita meaning life min is a suffix added t

  • victuals

    Etymology Middle English vitaille vetaille from Old French vitaille from Late Latin

  • viva

    Etymology The word viva comes from the Latin word vivere which means to live It

  • vivace

    Etymology The word vivace comes from the Italian word vivo meaning lively Meani

  • vivacious

    Etymology From French vivace lively spirited from Latin vivāx lively vivaciou

  • vivarium

    Etymology Latin vivarium an enclosure esp for animals from vivus alive Meaning

  • vivid

    Etymology The word vivid originates from the Latin word vivus which means alive

  • vivify

    Etymology Latin vivificus meaning life giving Root viv life ificus ma

  • viviparous

    Etymology Viviparous comes from the Latin words vivus meaning alive and parere

  • vivisection

    Etymology vivi Latin living sectio Latin cutting Meaning Vivisection is t

  • whiskey

    Etymology Whiskey is an anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic word uisce beatha prono

  • wyvern

    Etymology The word wyvern comes from the Old English word wyvern or wivern whic

  • zodiac

    Etymology The word zodiac is derived from the Late Latin word zōdiacus which in tur

  • zoetrope

    Etymology Zoetrope comes from the Greek words zoe ζωή meaning life and tropos

  • zoic

    Etymology The word zoic comes from the Greek word zōikos which means pertaining to

  • zoolatry

    Etymology Zoolatry n Greek zōon animal latreia worship adoration M

  • zoology

    Etymology Greek zoon animal logia study of Meaning Zoology is the scient

  • zoon

    Etymology The word zoon is derived from the Greek word zōon which means living be

  • zoophobia

    Etymology The word zoophobia is derived from the Greek words zóon animal and ph

  • zooplankton

    Etymology The term zooplankton is derived from the Greek words zōon ζῷον an

  • signifier

    Etymology Middle English signifiere from Anglo Norman signefier Origin Old French si

  • constellation

    Etymology The word constellation is derived from the Latin word constellatio which

  • angular

    Etymology Angular comes from the Latin word angulus which means corner or angle

  • astronaut

    Etymology The word astronaut is derived from two Greek roots Astro meaning star N

  • Gemini

    Etymology of Gemini Gemini is derived from the Latin word gemini which means twins

  • Sagittarius

    Etymology The word Sagittarius is derived from the Latin word sagittarius which mean

  • Scorpio

    Etymology The word Scorpio originates from the Latin word scorpius which is derived

  • empyrean

    Etymology The word empyrean comes from the Greek word empyros ἐμπύριος w

  • Aquarius

    Etymology Aquarius Latin for water carrier Meaning Aquarius is the 11th astrolo