horoscope

[hawr-uh-skohp, hor‐]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR horoscope ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a diagram of the heavens, showing the relative position of planets and the signs of the zodiac, for use in calculating births, foretelling events in a person's life, etc.

a prediction of future events or advice for future behavior based on such a diagram.

Did your horoscope sign change? Regardless, learn what the words for the zodiac signs literally mean.Suddenly, a zinger about the zodiac seems to be everywhere online. If you haven’t heard, the Minnesota Planetarium Society has pointed out that the dates associated with horoscopes have been incorrect for a very, very long time. This means that the astrological sign you have always associated with yourself may be “wrong”. We discuss the reasons behind this age-old discrepancy, here. Another fascinating consequence of …

RELATED WORDS

astrology, prediction

Nearby words

Origin of horoscope

before 1050; Middle English, Old English horoscopus < Latin < Greek hōroskópos, equivalent to hōro-, combining form of hṓra hour + skópos -scope

Related formshor·o·scop·ic

[hawr-uh-skop-ik, ‐skoh-pik, hor-uh‐] /ˌhɔr əˈskɒp ɪk, ‐ˈskoʊ pɪk, ˌhɒr ə‐/, adjectiveun·hor·o·scop·ic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for horoscope

The horoscope seller must have taken his degree from some college of venders, his call has such finesse.
Vignettes Of San Francisco|Almira Bailey
She meant, I thought, that I could do nothing with her before I had drawn up her horoscope.
The Memoires of Casanova, Complete|Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
He who would cast the horoscope of humanity, or of any human activity, must neither neglect history nor trust her overmuch.
Art|Clive Bell
Where are the horoscope and the wand, yes, and the crystal ball?
Montezuma's Daughter|H. Rider Haggard

The girl's horoscope is on file in the local city hall, just like everybody else.
Conquest Over Time|Michael Shaara

British Dictionary definitions for horoscope

horoscope

noun

the prediction of a person's future based on a comparison of the zodiacal data for the time of birth with the data from the period under consideration

the configuration of the planets, the sun, and the moon in the sky at a particular moment

Also called: chart a diagram showing the positions of the planets, sun, moon, etc, at a particular time and place

Derived Formshoroscopic (ˌhɒrəˈskɒpɪk), adjective

Word Origin for horoscope

Old English horoscopus, from Latin, from Greek hōroskopos ascendant birth sign, from hōra hour + -scope

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

Word Origin and History for horoscope

horoscope

c.1050, horoscopus, from Latin horoscopus; the modern form is considered to be a mid-16c. reborrowing via Middle French horoscope. Ultimately from Greek horoskopos "nativity, horoscope," also "one who casts a horoscope," from hora "hour" (see year) + skopos "watching" (see scope (n.1)), in reference to the hour of one's birth.