canicular

Jul. 10th, 2018 08:02 am
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[personal profile] prettygoodword
canicular (kuh-NIK-yuh-ler) - adj., of or pertaining to the dog days (of summer).


Also, of or pertaining to the rising of either Sirius (α Canis Majoris) or, sometimes, Procyon (α Canis Minoris). Sometimes, humorously, of or pertaining to a dog, but this is rare, if literal. Adopted in the 14th century from Latin canīculāris, pertaining to the dog days, from canīcula, the Latin name for Sirius, literally little dog, a diminutuve of canis, dog -- the relationship being, that the hot, sultry dog days start around the same time that the rising of Sirius starts being visible in the evening sky.

map of Canis Major
Thanks, WikiMedia!

---L.

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