Morningstar
/ˈmɔːrnɪŋˌstɑːr/noun
A bright celestial object visible before sunrise, especially the planet Venus; also a traditional name for the morning appearance of Lucifer.
Did you know?In Latin, Venus as the morning star was called Lucifer—literally “light-bearer”—a title that later Christian interpretation associated with Satan, though the original astronomical term was not inherently demonic.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₂éster
“Star; a celestial body or luminous object in the night sky”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*sternô
“Star; the Germanic ancestor of English star”
Old English
Old English
morgensteorra
“Morning star; the star seen before sunrise”
4th Century
Latin
lucifer
“Light-bearer; a name for the planet Venus when appearing as the morning star”
Middle English
Middle English
morning sterre
“The star visible in the morning, especially Venus”
Modern English
English
morning star
“Venus or another bright object appearing before sunrise; figuratively, a radiant or prophetic figure”