Aldhafara

/ˌɑldəˈfɑrə/ noun

Definition

An alternate or archaic name for the star Gamma Virginis, located in the constellation Virgo.

Etymology

From Arabic al-ðafāra or similar, a name used in medieval Islamic astronomy for this bright star. Arabic astronomical terminology was preserved and transmitted through European astronomy.

Kelly Says

Medieval Arab astronomers named many of the brightest stars we still call by Arabic names today—'aldhafara' and its variants show how Islamic Golden Age astronomy literally named the stars, and those names stuck in Western science even as we 'Latinized' them.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.