Forms: 4–6 astronomyer, 5–6 astronomier, 5– astronomer. [Formed on ASTRONOMY, or rather on the earlier astronomy-en by substituting the native agent-ending -ER for F. -en, -an. Afterwards contracted so as to seem formed directly on Gr. ἀστρονόμ-ος, or F. astronome + -ER. Cf. astrolog-er, philosoph-er.]
One who studies astronomy; one skilled in the knowledge of the heavenly bodies. Astronomer Royal: the official title of the astronomer who has charge of one of the royal, or national, observatories of Great Britain.
1366. Maundev., v. 45. In that Contree ben the gode Astronomyeres.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., I. (1520), 6/1. Athlas ye great astronomyer.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. xlii. 57. Kyng Robert of Cicyle … was a great astronomyer.
1530. Palsgr., 644/2. I nombre, as an astronomer doth his thing by aulgorisme.
1580. Lupton, Too Good to be True (Wright). Chesse, the astronomer’s game, and the philosopher’s game.
a. 1704. Locke, Educ. § 180 (1778), 272 (J.). Astronomers no longer doubt of the Motion of the Planets about the Sun.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., IX. 771. An undevout Astronomer is mad.
1838. Penny Cycl., X. 297. Flamsteed was appointed [1674] astronomer royal, or, as the warrant ran ‘astronomical observator,’ and carried on his observations at the queen’s house in Greenwich Park.
1874. Motley, Barneveld, I. i. 28. Protecting the astrologer, when enlightened theologians might have hanged the astronomer.
b. In early use it included the ‘astrologer’; and, when the two terms began to be differentiated, was sometimes distinctively so used: see ASTROLOGER.
1388. Wyclif, 2 Chron. xxxiii. 6. He hadde with hym astronomyers and enchaunteris … that disseyven mennus wittis.
a. 1577. Gascoigne, Fruites of Warre (R.). These Astronomers thinke, where Mars doth raigne, That all debate and discorde must be rife.
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., V. i. 100. When he performes, astronomers foretell it.
1611. Tourneur, Ath. Trag., V. i. Thou ignorant Astronomer Whose wand’ring speculation seekes among The planets for men’s fortunes.
c. Astronomer’s Ring: a modification of the Sea Astrolabe. Astronomer’s Staff: the ALMACANTAR-STAFF.
1551. Recorde, Pathw. Knowl., II. Pref. The arte of measuryng by the astronomers staffe, and by the astronomers ryng.
[1570. Dee, Math. Pref., 19. The helpe of his … Staffe Astronomicall.
1594. Blundevil, Exerc., VII. xxxvi. 712. Seeke by your Astronomicall Ring … to know what houre it is.]
