constellation

Noun

constellation (plural constellations)

1. An arbitrary formation of stars perceived as a figure (especially one from mythology) or pattern, or a division of the sky including it, especially one officially recognized by astronomers; an asterism.
   • Behold, the day of the Lord commeth, cruell both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land deſolate; and he ſhall deſtroy the ſinners thereof out of it. For the ſtarres of heauen, and the conſtellations thereof ſhall not giue their light: the ſunne ſhalbe darkened in his going forth, and the...1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Isaiah 13:9–10, column 2
   • Up, up, faire Bride, and call, / Thy ſtarres, from out their ſeverall boxes, take / Thy Rubies, Pearles, and Diamonds forth, and make / Thy ſelfe a conſtellation, of them All.a. 1631 (date written), J[ohn] Donne, “An Epithalamion, or Mariage Song on the Lady Elizabeth, and Count Palatine being Married on St. Valentines Day”, in Poems, […] with Elegies on the Authors...
   1. (modern) Any of the 88 regions of the sky officially recognized by the International Astronomical Union, including all stars and celestial bodies in the region.
2. (figuratively) A configuration or grouping of related things.
   • [T]he program AppleWorks for the Apple IIe was released circa 1984. It combined a spreadsheet, database, and word processing program into one easy-to-use, low-cost integrated software package. This software constellation persists today as Microsoft Office, the most popular software tool set in...2010, Jason B. Ohler, “Becoming Digital: The Road to Digital Citizenship”, in Digital Community, Digital Citizen, Thousand Oaks, Calif.; London: Corwin, SAGE, →ISBN, part I (The Call to Digital...
   1. (figuratively) A wide, seemingly unlimited, assortment.
      • a constellation of possibilities
      • Theſe amorous Perſons may be, I grant, very much delighted vvhen they first gaze upon a Conſtellation of fair Ladies, but the Heart commonly pays dear for the Pleaſure of the Eye, […]1665, Robert Boyle, “Occasional Reflections. Reflection VIII. Upon a Child that Cri’d for the Stars.”, in Occasional Reflections upon Several Subiects. Whereto is Premis’d a Discourse about Such Kind...
   2. (figuratively) An array of marks or items.
      • He had a constellation of bruises on his side.
      • A constellation of blood had sprayed onto the wall.
   3. (figuratively) Synonym of complex (“a collection of ideas caused by repressed emotions that leads to an abnormal mental condition”).
   4. (figuratively) A network of connections between people who are in polyamorous relationships, for example between a person, their partner, and that person's partner.
   5. (figuratively) A fleet of satellites used for the same purpose.
      • The Iridium satellite constellation provides data and voice information coverage to satellite phones and other communication devices over the entire surface of Earth.
      • With its Starlink program, SpaceX hopes to launch a constellation of as many as 42,000 satellites to provide Internet service to the world.2021 December 13, Molly Ball, Jeffrey Kluger, Alejandro de la Garza, “2021 Person of the Year: Elon Musk”, in Time, New York, N.Y.: Time Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 14 Aug 2023
3. (obsolete) The configuration of planets at a given time (especially a person's birth), as believed to affect events on Earth, or used for determining a horoscope.
   • But alas such peruerse constellation nowe reigneth ouer men, that where some be aptely and naturally disposed to amitie, and fyndeth one, in similitude of studie and maners, equall to his expectation, and therfore kendeleth a feruent loue towarde that persone, puttinge all his ioye and delite in...1531, Thomas Elyot, “The Diuision of Ingratitude and the Dispraise therof”, in The Boke Named the Governour […], London: […] Tho[mas] Bertheleti, →OCLC
   • [H]e was born under the constellation that gives a man skill, riches, and integrity, whatever that constellation may be, which is of the less consequence because babies can't choose their own horoscopes, and, indeed, if they could, there might be an inconvenient rush of babies at particular epochs.1862 July – 1863 August, George Eliot [pseudonym; Mary Ann Evans], “First Impressions”, in Romola. […], volume I, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], published 1863, →OCLC, book I, page 72
4. (obsolete) A person's character or inclinations, supposedly determined by their horoscope.
   • I knovv thy conſtellation is right apt / For this affayre: […]c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...