[f. ASTROLOGY, or perhaps from astrolog-ien, -an (astro·logen in Chaucer), by substitution of -ER, the native ending of the agent, for the F. -ien. Cf. ASTRONOMER.]
† 1. An observer of the stars, a practical astronomer. Obs. (When astrologer and astronomer began to be differentiated, the relation between them was, at first, the converse of the present usage.)
1382. Wyclif, Bible, Pref. Ep. (1850), 66/1. Astronomers, astrologerys, fisissians.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 16. Astrologere, Astrologus.
1581. Marbeck, Bk. of Notes, 77. The Astrologer is he that knoweth the course and notions of the heavens, and teacheth the same, which is a virtue, if it passe not his bondes, and he become of an Astrologer an Astronomer.
a. 1625. Boys, Wks. (1630), 645. An Astrologer expert in his art, foretelleth an eclipse of the Sunne.
1676. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), II. 115. Dined with me Mr. Flamsted, the learned astrologer and mathematician, whom his Majesty had established in the new Observatory in Greenwich Park.
† 2. Applied to the cock, as watchman of the night and announcer of the sunrise. Obs.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, III. 1366. Whan that the cok, commune astrologer, Gan to his brest to bete, and afftyr, crowe.
1430. Lydg., Chron. Troy, I. vi.
1444. Pol. Poems (1859), II. 216. Comoun astrologeer, as folk expert weel knowe … Sumtyme hih and sumtyme he syngith lowe.
3. One who professes astrology in the modern sense; who pretends to judge of the influence of the stars upon human affairs.
1601. Holland, Pliny, VII. lvi. (R.). The above-named astrologers affirmed, that a man could not possibly passe the space of 90 degrees from the ascendent or erection of his nativities.
1611. Bible, Dan. i. 20. Ten times better then all the Magicians and Astrologers that were in all his Realme [Wyclif, witches; Purvey, astronomyens; Coverdale, charmers; Genev. astrologians].
1722. De Foe, Mem. Caval., 1. Under the government of what star [I was born] I was never astrologer enough to examine.
1875. B. Taylor, Faust, I. 239. The astrologer Nostradamus was born at St. Remy.
