Fornax
/ˈfɔːr.næks/noun
A furnace or oven; also the name of a southern constellation.
Did you know?Fornax was the Roman goddess of ovens and baking, and her name was also given to a constellation, showing how everyday fire became sacred sky-symbolism.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gwher-
“to heat, warm”
Latin
Latin
fornax
“furnace, oven”
Classical Latin
Latin
Fornax
“the goddess of ovens; later, a constellation name”
Early Modern English
English
fornax
“a furnace or oven, especially in learned or astronomical usage”
Modern English
English
fornax
“a furnace; the astronomical constellation Fornax”