Centaurus
/sɛnˈtɔːrəs/noun
A southern constellation traditionally represented as a centaur, a mythical creature combining human and horse.
Did you know?The Greek word behind Centaurus, kentauros, has no securely established etymology; some ancient writers connected centaurs with the Thessalian tribe of the Centaurs, while modern scholars treat its origin as uncertain.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Κένταυρος (Kéntauros)
“A centaur; the origin of the word is uncertain and may preserve a pre-Greek name or tradition.”
Classical Greek
Greek
Κένταυρος
“A mythical horse-human figure, especially in Thessalian and wider Greek mythology.”
1st Century BCE–1st Century CE
Latin
Centaurus
“The Latinized name for the centaur figure and the southern constellation associated with it.”
2nd Century CE
Greek
Κένταυρος
“Ptolemy listed Centaurus among the 48 constellations in the Almagest.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
Centaurus
“The constellation name preserved in astronomical and astrological texts.”
Modern English
English
Centaurus
“A recognized southern constellation, containing Alpha Centauri and the prominent star Beta Centauri.”
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