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The quality of being astringent; the power of contracting the parts of the body; that quality in medicines or other substances which causes contraction of the organic textures; as, the astringency of tannin.

Drawing together the tissues; binding; contracting; -- opposed to laxative; as, astringent medicines; a butter and astringent taste; astringent fruit.

In an astringent manner.

A falconer who keeps a goschawk. [Obs.] Shak. Cowell. [Written also austringer.]

The combining form of the Greek word 'a`stron, meaning star.

A bitter herb, probably the same as aster, or starwort. Spenser.

The creation or evolution of the stars or the heavens. H. Spencer.

The science or knowledge of the stars, esp. the fixed stars. Bouvier.

Same as Astrogeny. -- As`*tro*gon"ic, a.

The art of describing or delineating the stars; a description or mapping of the heavens.

A radiated stone or fossil; star-stone. [Obs.] [Written also astrite and astrion.]

A stereographic projection of the sphere on the plane of a great circle, as the equator, or a meridian; a planisphere. Whewell.

A worshiper of the stars. Morley.

The worship of the stars.

The science of aërolites.

One who studies the stars; an astronomer. [Obs.]

An astrologer. [Obs.]

Of or pertaining to astrology; professing or practicing astrology. "Astrologi learning." Hudibras. "Astrological prognostication." Cudworth. -- As`tro*log"ic*al*ly, adv.

To apply astrology to; to study or practice astrology.

etymological signification, the science of the stars; among the ancients, synonymous with astronomy; subsequently, the art of judging of the influences of the stars upon human affairs, and of foretelling events by their position and aspects.