septentrion
[ sep-ten-tree-on, -uh n ]
/ sɛpˈtɛn triˌɒn, -ən /
noun
Obsolete.
the north.
Origin of septentrion
1350–1400; Middle English
Septemtrio(u)n < Latin
septemtriōnēs, septentriōnēs the seven stars of Ursa Major, the north, equivalent to
septem
seven +
triōnēs (plural) plowing oxen
OTHER WORDS FROM septentrion
sep·ten·tri·o·nal [sep-ten-tree-uh-nl] /sɛpˈtɛn tri ə nl/, adjectiveWords nearby septentrion
septenarius,
septenary,
septendecillion,
septennial,
septennium,
septentrion,
septet,
septi-,
septic,
septic abortion,
septic fever
Example sentences from the Web for septentrion
And therefore in the Septentrion, that is very north, is the land so cold, that no man may dwell there.
The Travels of Sir John Mandeville |John Mandeville
British Dictionary definitions for septentrion
septentrion
/ (sɛpˈtɛntrɪˌɒn) /
noun
archaic
the northern regions or the north
Derived forms of septentrion
septentrional, adjectiveWord Origin for septentrion
C14: from Latin
septentriōnēs, literally: the seven ploughing oxen (the constellation of the Great Bear), from
septem seven +
triōnēs ploughing oxen