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Astronomer Royal

noun
  1. the chief astronomer of England, appointed by the British Crown.
  2. the chief astronomer of Scotland, director of the Royal Edinburgh Observatory.
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Origin of Astronomer Royal

First recorded in 1895–1900
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for astronomer royal

Historical Examples

  • So the Astronomer-Royal thought on reading Leverrier's paper.

    Pioneers of Science

    Oliver Lodge

  • The first astronomer-royal after Greenwich Observatory was built.

  • He is recommended to apply for information to the Astronomer-Royal.

  • An astronomer-royal, supported by a parliamentary grant, constantly resides and pursues investigations in the Observatory.

  • I gravely doubt whether the Astronomer-Royal would write the best essay on the relations between astronomy and astrology.

    Eugenics and Other Evils

    G. K. Chesterton

British Dictionary definitions for astronomer royal

Astronomer Royal

noun
  1. an honorary title awarded to an eminent British astronomer: until 1972, the Astronomer Royal was also director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012