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Of or pertaining to descent; moving downwards. Descending constellations or signs (Astron.), those through which the planets descent toward the south. -- Descending node (Astron.), that point in a planet's orbit where it intersects the ecliptic in passing southward. -- Descending series (Math.), a series in which eac…

pper or ouzel (Cinclus Mexicanus). The Dipper (Astron.), the seven principal stars in the constellation of the Great Bear; popularly so called from their arrangement in the form of a dipper; -- called also Charles's Wain. See Ursa Major, under Ursa.

One of the two constellations, Canis Major and Canis Minor, or the Greater Dog and the Lesser Dog. Canis Major contains the Dog Star (Sirius).

Sirius, a star of the constellation Canis Major, or the Greater Dog, and the brightest star in the heavens; -- called also Canicula, and, in astronomical charts, a Canis Majoris. See Dog days.

A small constellation between Aquila and Pegasus. See Delphinus, n.,

A southern constellation, within which is the south pole of the ecliptic; -- called also sometimes Xiphias, or the Swordfish.

The Dragon, a northern constellation within which is the north pole of the ecliptic.

Relating to Draco, the Athenian lawgiver; or to the constellation Draco; or to dragon's blood.

A constellation of the northern hemisphere figured as a dragon; Draco.

A northern constellation, containing Altair, a star of the first magnitude. See Aquila.

r; to make a special and separate account of; to recount; as, to enumerate the stars in a constellation. Enumerating the services he had done. Ludlow.

A long, winding constellation extending southward from Taurus and containing the bright star Achernar.

A star of the first magnitude, in the constellation Piscis Australis, or Southern Fish.

Arranged, as stars in a constellation; as, formed stars. [R.]

A constellation of the zodiac, containing the two bright stars Castor and Pollux; also, the third sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters about May 20th.

A small constellation situated south of and under the foot of Orion; Lepus. Hare and hounds, a game played by men and boys, two, called hares, having a few minutes' start, and scattering bits of paper to indicate their course, being chased by the others, called the hounds, through a wide circuit. -- Hare kangaroo (Zoö…

A constellation; Lyra, or the Lyre.

A constellation in the northern hemisphere, near Lyra. Hercules' beetle (Zoöl.), any species of Dynastes, an American genus of very large lamellicorn beetles, esp. D. hercules of South America, which grows to a length of six inches. -- Hercules' club. (Bot.) (a) An ornamental tree of the West Indies (Zanthoxylum Clava…

A cluster of five stars in the face of the constellation Taurus, supposed by the ancients to indicate the coming of rainy weather when they rose with the sun. Thro' scudding drifts the rainy Hyaned Vext the dim sea. Tennyson.

A southern constellation of great length lying southerly from Cancer, Leo, and Virgo.