Aliyoth

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A prominent star in the constellation Ursa Major, notable for its brightness and significant position in celestial navigation
2. One of the bright stars in the northern sky, known for being part of the Big Dipper asterism and often referred to in astronomical studies
3. A notable celestial object within the constellation of the Great Bear, recognized for its role in various astronomical observations and mythologies

Etymology: "Aliyoth" is the plural of "aliya," a Hebrew word meaning "ascent" or "going up," and in astronomy it names the stars of the Big Dipper (the Plough). The plural form reflects the Hebrew noun's usage: "aliyot" in its standard Hebrew spelling is the plural of "aliyah," which is the term for ascending, and the word here is the same root applied to the seven stars as a group. Its meaning as a star name rests on the Hebrew sense of rising or climbing, the idea of the stars climbing across the night sky.

Synonyms: epsilon Ursae Majoris