astrology

Where does the word "astrology" come from? It comes from Greek astron, passing through Greek, Latin and Old French before entering English (1300s).

Astrology’s story begins in Greek: astron meant “star.” The root of 'astronomy', 'asterisk' and 'disaster'. Within Greek, it grew into astrologia by ancient. Formed within Greek itself from astron (star) and -logia (study of), for the systematic study of celestial influence. From there it passed into Latin as astrologia by ancient. Borrowed directly from Greek unchanged; the Roman poet Manilius used it in his 1st-century 'Astronomica'. Old French picked it up next, as astrologie, around medieval. Carried into French for the practice of reading celestial influence. It reached English by 1300s as astrology. Settled as the English word for the practice of reading the stars. Today, astrology means the practice of interpreting the positions of stars and planets for meaning.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient astron "star", the root of 'astronomy', 'asterisk' and 'disaster'.
2. Stage 2 · Greek · ancient astrologia "the study of the stars", formed within Greek itself from astron (star) and -logia (study of), for the systematic study of celestial influence.
3. Stage 3 · Latin · ancient astrologia "the study of the stars", borrowed directly from Greek unchanged; the Roman poet Manilius used it in his 1st-century 'Astronomica'.
4. Stage 4 · Old French · medieval astrologie "the study of celestial influence on human affairs", carried into French for the practice of reading celestial influence.
5. Stage 5 · English · 1300s astrology "the practice of reading celestial positions for meaning", settled as the English word for the practice of reading the stars.