Forms: 4–7 astrologie, 4– astrology. [a. F. astrologie (14th c. in Littré), ad. L. astrologia, a. Gr. ἀστρολογία ‘account of the stars,’ f. ἀστρολόγ-ος ‘telling of the stars,’ subst. ‘one who tells of the stars, an astronomer,’ f. ἄστρον star + -λογος speaking, telling, f. λέγ-ειν to tell, speak. Ἀστρολόγος and ἀστρολογία were the earlier terms in Gr.; subsequently ἀστρονόμος and ἀστρονομία were introduced: see ASTRONOMY. Astrologia was likewise the earlier and pop. word in L., where also astronomia took its place as the scientific term, while astrologia passed into the sense of ‘star-divination.’ In OF. and ME. astronomie seems to be the earlier and general word, astrologie having been subseq. introduced for the ‘art’ or practical application of astronomy to mundane affairs, and thus gradually limited by 17th c. to the reputed influences of the stars, unknown to science. Not in Shakespeare.]
1. gen. Practical astronomy; the practical application of astronomy as an art to human uses; esp. (in later usage) to the prediction of events natural or moral.
The original distinction between Astronomy the science, and Astrology the art, is clearly expressed by Gower, Conf., III. 105–135. Chaucer’s Treatise on the Astrolabe was a work of ‘astrology,’ i.e. practical astronomy.
‘Astrology’ was of two kinds:
† a. Natural Astrology: the calculation and foretelling of natural phenomena, as the measurement of time, fixing of Easter, prediction of tides and eclipses; also of meteorological phenomena. Obs.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, IV. 693. Astrology, Quhar-throu clerkis … May knaw coniunctione of planettis.
c. 1391. Chaucer, Astrol., Prol. 3. A gret part of the general rewles of theorik in astrologie.
1570. Dee, Math. Pref., 23. Astrologie, is an Arte Mathematicall.
1649. Bp. Hall, Cases Consc., III. ii. (1654), 178. Naturall Astrology, when it keepes it selfe within its due bounds is lawfull.
1669. Worlidge, Syst. Agric. (1681), 264. The use of this part of Astrology … by the Farmer as by the Sayler.
This sense (exc. in Hist.) became obs. in 17th c., all the regular physical phenomena passing into the domain of ASTRONOMY, and those that concerned the presumed influence of the moon and planets on the weather, etc., being called ASTRO-METEOROLOGY.
b. Judicial Astrology: the art of judging of the reputed occult and non-physical influences of the stars and planets upon human affairs; star-divination, astromancy. (The only meaning of ‘Astrology’ since end of 17th c.)
‘Judiciary or Judicial Astrology, which we commonly call simply Astrology, is that which pretends to foretell moral events, i.e. such as have a dependence on the free will and agency of man; as if that were directed by the stars.’ Chambers, Cycl., 1727.
[1393. Gower, Conf., III. 107. Assembled with astronomy Is eke that ilke astrology, The which in jugements accompteth Theffect, what every sterre amounteth.]
c. 1560. G. Gylby (title), An Admonition against Astrology Judiciall, and other curiosities that reygne now in the World [transl. Calvin].
1597. Bp. Hall, Sat., II. vii. Thou damned mock art, and thou brain-sick tale Of old astrology. Ibid. (1649), Cases Consc., III. ii. (1654), 179. That other Calculatory, or figure-casting Astrology is presumptuous and unwarrantable.
1652. W. Rowland (title), Judicial Astrology judicially condemned.
1765. Tucker, Lt. Nat., II. 466. Astrology is the pretended knack of telling fortunes by the stars.
1845. J. Saunders, Pict. Eng. Life, 175. In astrology … the heavens were divided into twelve parts or houses.
1869. Daily News, 9 Dec., 4/5. Yesterday … a curious action for trespass was brought by a herbalist and astrologer…. It is worthy of notice solely as illustrating the manner in which astrology flourishes in London at the present time.
† 2. = ASTRONOMY 1. Cf. ASTROLOGER 1. Obs.
1660. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 246/2. A Boy or ignorant fellow knows not that the Sun is greater than the Earth, because he is ignorant of Astrology.
1807. Robinson, Archæol. Græca, III. xxv. 330. The writers of fables say that Οὐρανὸς … was the Father of all the Gods, and … the inventor of Astrology.
