sothis
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The dog star Sirius, also known as Sothis, shines brightly in the winter sky.
Definition
Proper noun 1. The brightest star in the night sky; Sirius: "Sothis" is the ancient Greek name for the star Sirius, located in the constellation Canis Major. It is also known as the "Dog Star."
Usage Notes
- "Sothis" is a historical and astronomical term. In modern contexts, the star is almost exclusively called Sirius.
- It is typically used with the definite article "the" when referring to it as a celestial object (e.g., "the star Sothis").
- It is often capitalized as it is a proper name.
Examples
- Proper noun:
- The ancient Egyptians based their calendar on the heliacal rising of Sothis.
- In Greek texts, Sothis is identified with the star we call Sirius.
Advanced Usage
- "The Star of Sothis": A poetic or historical phrasing.
- The festival was timed with the reappearance of the Star of Sothis.
Variants and Related Words
- Sirius (n): The modern and most common name for the same star.
- Dog Star (n): A colloquial name for Sirius/Sothis, derived from its constellation, Canis Major (the Greater Dog).
- Canis Major (n): The constellation in which Sothis/Sirius is the primary star.
Synonyms
- Sirius
- Alpha Canis Majoris (its formal astronomical designation)
- The Dog Star
Related Phrases
- Heliacal rising of Sothis: The first appearance of the star just before sunrise after a period of invisibility, a significant event in ancient calendars.
- The Egyptian new year was marked by the heliacal rising of Sothis.
The dog star Sirius, also known as Sothis, shines brightly in the winter sky.
Noun
- the brightest star in the sky; in Canis Major