Ursa Major

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin ursa maior (greater bear).

Pronunciation

Proper noun

Ursa Major

  1. (astronomy) A large circumpolar constellation of the northern sky, said to resemble a bear. It includes the familiar asterism the Big Dipper and the stars Mizar, Dubhe, and Alkaid.
    • 1605Shakespeare, King Lear, i 2
      My father compounded with my mother under the dragon's tail, and my nativity was under ursa major.

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