different between arbitrary vs constellation

English

Etymology

From Middle English arbitrarie, Latin arbitr?rius (“arbitrary, uncertain”), from arbiter (“witness, on-looker, listener, judge, overseer”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /???.b?.t??.?i/, /???.b?.t?i/
• (US, Canada) IPA^(key): /???.b?.t??(?).?i/

Adjective

arbitrary (comparative more arbitrary, superlative most arbitrary)

1. (usually of a decision) Based on individual discretion or judgment; not based on any objective distinction, perhaps even made at random.

2. Determined by impulse rather than reason; heavy-handed.
   • 1937/1938, Albert Einstein, letter to Max Born

   • 1906, Gelett Burgess, Are You a Bromide?

3. (mathematics) Any, out of all that are possible.

4. Determined by independent arbiter.
5. (linguistics) Not representative or symbolic; not iconic.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Noun

arbitrary (plural arbitraries)

1. Anything arbitrary, such as an arithmetical value or a fee.

Further reading

• arbitrary in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• arbitrary in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• arbitrariness on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

English

Etymology

From Middle English constellacioun, constillacioun, from Middle French constellation, from Latin c?nst?ll?ti?, from con- (“together”) + st?ll?tus (“starred”), from st?lla (“star, astral body”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?k?n.st??le?.??n/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?k?n.st??le?.??n/
• Hyphenation: con?stel?la?tion
• Rhymes: -e???n

Noun

constellation (plural constellations)

1. (astronomy) An asterism, an arbitrary formation of stars perceived as a figure or pattern, or a division of the sky including it, especially one officially recognised by astronomers.
   1. (modern astronomy) Any of the 88 regions of the sky officially recognized by the IAU, including all stars and celestial bodies in the region. [1920s]
   • 1824, Astronomical Recreations; or, Sketches of the Relative Position and Mythological History of the Constellations, Philadelphia, p. 78:

     Harpa Georgii, or the Harp of George, is a new constellation introduced on the maps by one of the German astronomers, in honour of the late king of England, George III.
2. An image associated with a group of stars.
3. (astrology) The configuration of planets at a given time (notably of birth), as used for determining a horoscope.
4. (figuratively) A wide, seemingly unlimited assortment.
5. (spaceflight) A fleet of satellites of the same purpose (such as the set of GPS satellites, or Iridium satcom fleet).
6. A configuration or grouping.
   • 2010, Jason B. Ohler, Digital Community, Digital Citizen (page 15)

     This software constellation persists today as Microsoft Office, the most popular software tool set in history.

7. A network of connections that exists between people who are in polyamorous relationships, for example between one person, their partner, and that person's partner.

Synonyms

• (arbitrary formation of stars): asterism
• See also Thesaurus:constellation

Derived terms

• constellatory
• constellate
• reconstellation

Related terms

• stellar
• stellate
• stelliform
• stellify

Translations

See also

• constellation on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

• Constellation in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911)
• asterism
• Category:Constellations

French

Etymology

From Middle French constellation, from Latin constell?ti?, from c?n (“with”) + st?lla (“star, astral body”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k??s.t?.la.sj??/

Noun

constellation f (plural constellations)

1. constellation (all senses)

Related terms

• consteller
• stellaire

Further reading

• “constellation” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).