Mathematicks made Easie: 
Or, a Mathematical
DICTIONARY, 
EXPLAINING 
The Terms of Art, and Diffi­
cult Phrases used in Arithmetick, Geo­
metry, Astronomy, Astrology, and 
other Mathematical Sciences. 

Wherein the true Meaning of the 
Word is Rendred, the Nature of 
Things signified Discussed, and (where 
Need requires) Illustrated with 
apt Figures and Diagrams. 

With an APPENDIX, exactly con­
taining the Quantities of all sorts of 
Weights and Measures: The Characters and 
Meaning of the Marks, Symbols, or 
Abreviations commonly used in Algebra.
And sundry other Observables. 

By Joseph Moxon, a Member of the Royal Society, 
and Hydrographer to the King's most Excellent Majesty.



LONDON. 
Printed for Joseph Moxon, at the Sign of Atlas 
on Ludgate-Hill. M. DC. LXXIX.










To the Honourable, 
Sr GEORGE WHARTON, 
Baronet, 
Treasurer and Pay-Master of 
His Majesties Office of the 
ORDNANCE. 

SIR, 

YOu have suf­
ficiently sig­
naliz'd your 
Loyalty to 
our King, 
and Love to 
our Countrey, by in­




gaging your Person, 
Sword, and Pen, for their 
defence, in our late Re­
bellious Times. But then, 
Sir, I onely knew you by 
Fame; yet some time af­
ter I have had the happi­
ness to be Personally ac­
quainted with you, which 
has rendred me many op­
portunities to know much 
of your Civility to all 
Mankind, and of your 
excellent Accomplish­
ments in Arts Mathema­
tical, and other Philoso­
phical Learning. And 
therefore, Sir, I am bold 
to offer this small Trea­
 



tise to your kind acce­
ptance; and with it, those 
observant Respects due to 
you, from, 

SIR, 

Your most humble 
and most obliged Servant.

Joseph Moxon. 











TO THE 
READER. 

TO Expatiate in En­
comiums on the Ma­
thematicks, were 
to Gild Gold; an 
Undertaking vain 
and impertinent. 
This sort of Learning has sufficiently 
justifi'd its Excellency, both from the 
Certainty of its Principles, and Use­
fulness of its Practise, to all Ingenious 
Men.

Nor had the number of its Vota­
ries been so few as they are, had not 
the difficulty of the Terms (some Ara­
bick, most Greek, and divers of them
Latine, according as they have 




been derived to us from the most 
Learned of those respective Nations, 
in several Ages) deterr'd many of 
great Natural Parts from wading in­
to its Mysteries, or at least clowded
its ravishing Beauties from their 
Eyes. 

To remedy this, and at once promote 
such Praise-worthy and advantagious 
Arts, and serve the young Students 
therein, I have taken the pains to 
Collect and Explain the Hard Words, 
Difficult Terms, and Abstruse Phrases 
used by Authors, in all the several 
Mathematical Sciences, and Branches 
depending thereupon; than which, 
nothing has hitherto more discouraged 
hopeful Tyro's from Proficiency.

But here is offered them a Key, 
that will open to them the choicest 
Treasures of Urania, and her Sub­
lunary Handmaids: Nay, We have 
taken care to demonstrate the Na­
ture of the Things, as well as genu­ 




ine Sence of the Words; and to rivet 
them in the Understanding, have ac­
commodated the Senses with Demon­
strative Diagrams, where they are 
requisite. 

If any useful Terms have escaped 
our diligence, let the Reader consi­
der the Nature of the Work, impossi­
ble to be begun and perfected at once: 
for we were forced to trace an almost 
Untrodden-Path.

If any Errors have been commit­
ed in the Interpretation (as who 
in such Variety dare pretend to a full 
and perfect understanding how, and
in what sence every Author has used 
a Word) let Imbecility of Judgment, 
or Defect of Memory be pardoned, 
but zealous good will for propagating 
of Arts be encouraged, which was
never more cordially designed than in 
this Work: But the performance is 
submitted to the Charity of thy Cen­
sure.




A main thing which induced me 
to this Undertaking, was from Expe­
rience, how much such a Work was 
wanting: For about thirty years 
ago, when I first began to apply my 
self to Mathematical Learning, I 
found my self not a little perplex'd 
with the difficult Terms used by Au­
thors, and therefore then began to 
Collect such hard Words as I met
with, that I might either by my 
Reading, or Enquiry of some of my 
Mathematical Acquaintance, learn to 
know the meaning of them. Thus 
have I ever since been storing up 
Words and their Interpretations, with 
Memorandums in what Book and 
Folio I might find their Definitions 
or Explanations, against I should be 
ready to digest them into an Alpha­
betical Method; which at last 
(though long first) I did, and intend­
ed then speedily to have finished this 
Book. But finding my self encum­ 




in many other Concerns, I con­
sidered the Task would be too tedious 
for me to run through alone, and 
therefore desired the assistance of my 
good Friend, Mr. H. C. by whose 
pains it is at last arrived to what 
you see. 

It is true, that since this was, as 
aforesaid, Collected, I did light on 
Vitalis, a French Author, Printed in 
Latin; and by comparing my Colle­
ctions and his Book, I found I had ga­
thered more Words purely Mathema­
tical, than he had done: But he hath 
indeed inserted the Names of most 
Stars, and upon them made somewhat 
long Discourses; which, before I saw 
his Book, I had also Collected: But 
upon consideration, that it would
make this Book swell beyond its in­
tended Size, and that they would 
prove of small vse to English Begin­
ners, I left them out.

Having given thee this Account, 




it onely remains to advertize thee a 
word or two for thy better apprehensi­
on of the scope of the Book. 

First, Consider, 'Tis intended for 
Beginners, not Accomplish'd Artists, 
therefore adapted to the meanest Ca­
pacities; preferring sometimes a 
Plain, Familiar, and Intelligible De­
scription, before a Rigid, Abstruse 
(though Exact) Definition: Nay, 
rather (though rarely) venturing up­
on a Repetition, than running the 
hazard of not being understood.

Secondly, Observe, We have in 
most places hinted the Derivation of 
the Word, which both assists the Me­
mory, and informs the Understand­
ing: yet have put the Greek words 
in English Characters; for those 
that understand Greek know them 
well enough now; but those that do 
not, could not perhaps have read them
otherwise, so much as to have perceiv­
ed any Analogy between them and 




the Words, we say owe their Original 
to them. 

Thirdly, The Letter G. or sometimes
Gr. shows the Word Originally Greek; 
and L. or Lat. Latin. And what is 
included between these two [] Crot­
chets, is the natural, strict, and pro­
per Signification of the Word; what 
follows is the Mathematical acception: 
and in that where I have been forc'd
to use any hard Word, I have ex­
plain'd it by another Synonymous (of 
the same signification) in a Parenthe­
sis immediately following.

JOSEPH MOXON. 





ERRATA. 

THe Reader is desired to Correct these mistakes, before he 
peruse the Book.

In page 6. line 2. for Scheme 2. read Scheme 6.
In page 43. line 33. for A B. read F B.
In page 68. line 28. for Fig. 4. read Fig. 5.












A
Mathematical Dictionary, &c.
 

A 

ABscission  [or cutting off] of
Light, from the Latin 
word Abscindo, to cut from, is a
term in Astrology, and signi­
fies a weakning of a Planet,
which happens when three 
Planets are within the bounds 
of their Orbs, and the middle­
most is a weighty Planet; to which another lighter, 
being in fewer degrees of the Sign, applies; and 
the third being in more degrees, separates from 
it: But before the first, moving Direct, comes 
to be corporally joyned with the said ponde­
rous Planet, the third becoming in the mean time 
Retrograde, does thereby come up before it to the 
said middle Planet: Then is the third said to cut off 
the light of the first. It may likewise happen 
another way, that is, when the middle Planet ap­
plies to a conjunction with the last; but the first 
being lighter, (that is, more swift in motion) pas­
ses him, and comes first to a conjunction with the 
Planet which he is tending unto.


Absis, or 
Apsis;  
a Latin word, signifying pro­
perly, the bowing, or hollow arch of an Oven; 




but amongst Astronomers 'tis used as well for the
highest part of the Circle; to which, when a Pla­
net comes, it is at the greatest distance from the earth;
as the lowest part thereof, when he is
the nearest to 
the Earth that he can be. The first is call'd, the 
Apogæum: The second, the Perigæum of a Planet. 
By the mutation of these Absides, or points, and 
their passing from one Sign to another, Astrologers 
pretend to discover the Revolutions of States, &c.

Absolute  Equation,  is the aggregate or sum 
of the Excentrique and Optique Equations; and 
therefore it is called the Absolute or Compound 
Equation.


Accidents;  Astrologers by this term mean 
the most remarkable chances that have happened to 
a man in the course of his life: As a grand sickness 
at such a year: An extraordinary fortune such a 
year: An eminent danger at such a time, &c. By 
these, where they have not the true, but only the 
estimate time when a person was born, they find out
the true hour and minute of the Native's birth, as 
exactly as they could have found out at what age 
such accidents should have happened to him, had 
the true time of birth been given them.

Accidental
Dignities  and Debilities are certain casual 
affections of the Planets, whereby they are streng­
thened or weakned, by reason of being in such a 
house of the Figure, or the like. As a Planet in the
mid-Heaven has five Accidental Dignities: In the 
12th house as many Accidental Debilities. They 
are called Accidental, because they are suddenly 
altered, and in contra-distinction to Essential Forti­
tudes and Debilities: As when a Planet is in his own 




House, or in his fall. The Table of the Planets essen­
tial dignities is common in Mr. Lillie's Almanack. 
That of their Accidental Fortitudes and Debilities, 
you have in his Introduction, p. 115.

Acre,  
A measure for Land, containing (by the 
Statute) 160 square Rods or Perches. See the Ap­
pendix.

Acronycal,  From a Greek word Acronychos;
signifying, of, or belonging to the evening, is one 
of the remarkable manners of the Rising or Setting 
of Stars, and different both from Cosmical, or He­
liacal: For when a Star rises when the Sun Sets, 'tis 
said to Rise Acronycally; and when it Sets when the 
Sun Sets, 'tis said to Set Acronycally.

Acute Angle,
 Is an Angle less than a Right An­
gle, or less than 90 degrees, and therefore called 
Acute, that is, sharp: As in Scheme 1. the Angle 
O. A. B. containing but 40 degrees, is an Acute An­
gle.

Addition  is one of the five vulgar Rules of 
Arithmetick; and is no more but a putting toge­
ther, or collection of two or more numbers into 
one.

Æra,  A Latin word, and sometimes from the 
Greek, called Epocha, is the beginning of an ac­
count of Time, founded on some extraordinary ac­
cident. As we Christians reckon from the Birth of 
our Saviour: The old Romans, from the founda­
tion of their City, &c. Hence the Birth of Christ, 
or the Building of Rome, is called the Æra of our 
or their account.

Æstival Solstice, From Æstas, Summer, Sol,
the Sun, and Sto, to stand; is when the Sun enters
Cancer, (generally the 11th of June) For when 
the Sun is got furthest from the Equator, and is 




ready to return, 'tis called a Solstice, that is to say, 
a stay of the Sun, because he seems then for some 
time to stand still. The other called the Hyemal, 
Brumal, or Winter Solstice, is in December, when he 
enters Capricorn.

Aggregate,  The whole gathered together; 
the Sum, or Total.

Airy Triplicity;
Astrologers having divided 
the 12 Signs of the Zodiack into four Threes, accord­
ing to the four Elements, call'd Gemini, Libra, and 
Aquary, the Airy Triplicity.

Alcochoden,  
or the Giver of Life; is a Planet 
that disposes of, or has dignities in the Hylegiacal 
(or principal) places of the Figure when a person 
is born; and according to his condition, so may 
the Natives life be expected to be longer or shor­
ter.

"Alcochoden" not found in the OED.



Aldebaran, The name of a Royal Fixed Star 
in the 4th degree of Gemini, within almost three 
degrees of South Latitude, of the nature of Mars, 
and so violent, that Astrologers say, being with the 
Luminaries, or Saturn or Mars, especially in the
Ascendant, he threatens an untimely or violent 
death.

Alfridarie, is a word often used by Arabian 
Astrologers, and signifies a temporary power which 
the Planets claim over the life of a Native in such 
an order; which being both difficult, and vain, I 
omit.

Algebra, is an Arabick word, and signifies an 
abstruse sort of Arithmetick, the art of Equation, 
or a certain Rule for the finding out the hidden 
powers of numbers, as well absolute as respective. 
See the derivation in Dee's Mathematical Preface 
to Euclid.




Alhadida, is a word seldom used by English Au­
thors, but signifies only the Label or Index that 
moves upon the Centre-pin of an Astrolabe.

"Alhadida" not found in the OED.



Aliquot parts, 
are the even or equal Numbers 
that may be had out of any great Number; As 6. 
4. 3. 2. 1, are severally Aliquot parts of 12; be­
cause six may be had twice in 12. Four may be 
had thrice in 12. Three may be had four times 
in 12. Two may be had six times in 12. And One, 
twelve times.

Alligation, A Rule of Arithmetick; so named, 
because it teacheth to knit or bind together divers 
things of unequal prices, whereby to find how 
much of each must be taken, according to the 
question propounded.

Almagest, The Title of an excellent Book, 
written by Ptolomy, of the Sphere, &c.

Almanack, The word is originally Arabick, 
and signifies as much as distribution, or numeration,
whence our Annual Books, wherein the days of 
the month, Eclipses, Lunations, Festivals, &c. are 
set down, numbred, and distributed, are so cal­
led.

Almicanthars, 
are Circles of Altitude pa­
rallel to the Horizon.

"Almicanthars" not found in the OED.



Almuten, 
An Arabian word, and term in Astro­
logy, signifying the Lord of a Figure, or strongest 
Planet in a Nativity, viz. That Planet that hath 
most Essential and Accidental Dignities.


Altern Base, A term used in Trigonometry, 
distinguishing from the true Base: As thus; in ob­
lique Triangles the true Base is always either the 
sum of the Sides, (and then, the difference of the 
Sides is called the Altern Base,) or the true Base is 
the difference of the Sides, and then the sum of the 




Sides is called the Altern Base. As in the Oblique ­
Triangle, A D E (in Scheme 6.) A C is the sum, 
and A F the difference of the Sides D E and D A; 
A E is the true Base, and A I the Alternate Base, ac­
cording to Norwood. 

Altitude, [Lat. Height,] the Sun, Moon, Stars, 
&c. being any number of degrees above the Hori­
zon, are said to have so many degrees of Alti­
tude.

Amblygonium,
 
From the Greek Ambluys, 
blunt, or obtuse, and Gonia, an Angle; is a term 
in Geometry, and signifies a Triangle, that hath 
one of its Angles obtuse, that is, greater than a 
Right Angle. See Angle.

Amblygon, is of the same derivation and sig­
nification, but used for an obtuse Cone, viz. A 
Cone whose Axis is shorter than the Radius of its 
Base.

Amphiscii,  
(From the Greek Amphi, on either side, and
Scia, a shadow, or, in English, people of
double shadows) are the Inhabitants of those
Regions under the Equator, or between the Tropicks of
Cancer and Capricorn, because their
shadows are cast sometimes towards the North, and sometimes
towards the South, according to the Sun's different course;
such are the people of the Golden Chersonesus, or
Malacha in the East-Indies, the Isle of
St. Thomas, the middle of the Isle of St.
Laurence, &c.

Amplitude,  Lat. signifies the space or number 
of degrees contained between the East or West 
point of the Horizon, and the Rising or Setting of 
the Sun, Moon, or any Star; or if the Sun, Moon, 
or Star be above the Horizon, then so many de­
grees as are contained between the Azimuth of the 




Sun, Moon, or Star, and the said East or West point, 
shall be called their Amplitude.

Anabibazon, Gr. Anabibazo, to lift up, or rise; 
The Dragon's-head, or the Northern Node of the &#263E;, where she
passes from South to North Latitude, (thus marked &#260A; is sometimes so called, because 'tis above the other
Node, called the Tail.

"Anabibazon" not found in OED.



Anacamptics, A branch of the Opticks, cal­
led also Catoptrics, a Science, which by the Rays of 
some luminous object, reflected on a plain super­
ficies, partly obscure, and partly diaphanous, con­
siders, and finds out its form, affections, greatness, 
distance, and the like.

Antedates earliest OED citation (1696).



Anaclatics, Are also part of the Opticks, which 
by the lines of the Stars, and other visual objects, 
refracted in a medium of different thickness, mea­
sures their figures, magnitudes, distances, &c.

"Anaclatics" not found in OED.



Analemma, Gr. [properly the Firmament, but 
used for] A plain Projection of the Sphere, called al­
so the Orthographical Projection, where the Sphere 
is cut into two Hemispheres, and the Eye placed at 
an infinite distance vertically to one of the Hemi­
spheres, then a right line extended from the Eye to 
any assigned point in the Sphere, called Surface of that
Hemisphere, shall project the assigned point upon the 
plain, and the distance upon the plain from the 
Apex, or top of the Hemisphere, to the projected 
point, is equal to the sine of the Arch from the ver­
tex of the Hemisphere to the assigned point, the 
Radius being the Semidiameter of the Sphere. See
the Description and Use of the English Globe, sect. 6.

Analysis, Gr. [A resolution, unfolding, or 
untwisting of a Matter, Argument, or Problem;] 
Whence the Adjective Analytical, done, or doing, 
by way of opening, or resolving.




Analogie, Gr. [Proportion, or like compari­
son;] but in Mathematicks 'tis a double compa­
rison, or proportion of Numbers or Magnitudes one 
to another: As when we say, as 4 is to 2, so is 8 to 
4. Hence Analogical, proportionate, or alike.

Anareta, Is a Greek word, and signifies, A 
cutter off; and therefore Astrologers use it for the 
killing Planet, or Planet threatning death in a Na­
tivity, which is usually the Lord of the Eighth, or 
one posited near the Cusp of the 8th. &c.

Angle, In Geometry, the meeting of two Lines 
make an Angle. As in Scheme 1, A is an Angle, so 
is B and C, &c. Thus B is the Angle of the sides 
B A and B C; and C is the Angle of C A and C B. 
Thus the meeting of two Walls in a Building 
makes a Corner, (call'd in Latin Angulus, whence 
this term of Art is derived.) An Angle is either 
Right, Acute, or Obtuse. A Right Angle is, 
when a Right Line falls perpendicularly upon an­
other Right Line, so as it leaves an equal space on 
either side: for where it so touches the other Line, 
it makes two Right Angles. As in Scheme 3, the 
line B A makes two Right Angles at A, on the line 
D A C. It contains just 90 Degrees. An Acute 
Angle is less than a Right one, that is, it leaves less 
space between both sides, and is more sharpned. It 
contains less than 90 Degrees. But an Obtuse 
[blunt or broad] Angle, is that which is greater 
than a Right one, and less sharp, and contains more 
than 90 Degrees. As in Figure 1 The meeting or 
joyning of the Lines B A and A C at A, makes two 
Right Angles. The Lines C A and B A at A makes 
an Acute Angle at C: and the Lines B C and B D 
meeting at B, makes an Obtuse Angle at B.




In Astrology certain Houses of a Celestial 
Scheme are called Angles, viz. The Horoscope, 
or first House, the Angle of the East; the 10th 
House, the Angle of the South; the 7th House, 
Angle of the West; and the 4th House, the Angle 
of the North. See Fig. 2.

Angle of Incidence, is an Angle made by 
a line that falls a-slope upon another line; as in 
Fig. 1. The line C A falling so upon the line BA, 
makes at CAB an Angle of Incidence with the line 
B A.

Angle of Reflection, is an Angle made by a 
straight line, which proceeds from the Angle of In­
cidence, as the line AI is an Angle of Reflection to 
the line AC. And note, that both these terms, An­
gle of Incidence, and Angle of Reflection, 
are chiefly used in Dialling, and sometimes in Astro­
nomy, for calculating Eclipses of the Luminaries.
Now in Dialling, the Angle of Incidence is made 
by the straight line that proceeds from the Sun to 
the Dial-plane. And the Angle of Reflection is made 
by the straight line that proceeds from the Angle 
of Incidence, making on the other side a perpendi­
cular Angle equal to the Angle made by a perpen­
dicular, and the line of Incidence, as is best demon­
strated in Ceiling Dials; for the Glass receiving 
the beam of the Sun, reflects it upon the Ceiling 
with the same Angle it receives its beam from the 
Sun; so that the Angle of Reflection is equal to 
the Angle of Incidence.

Angle of the Sun's Position, is the An­
gle made by the Intersection of an Arch of a Me­
ridian Line, with an Arch of an Azimuth, or any 
other great Circle cutting through the body of the 
Sun.




Angle of Parallax. See Parallax.

Animodar, commonly called the Animodar of 
Ptolemy, because he invented it; is one of the 
ways of Rectifying Nativities, or artificially to find 
out the exact minute ascending at Birth; which is 
thus: Consider the degree of the Sign wherein the 
last New Moon was before the Birth; or if it 
were a Full Moon, the degree of that Sign either of 
the Luminaries that was above the earth, was in,
and see which Planet hath most Essential Dignities 
in that degree: And if the degree it be in, is 
nearer to the Cusp of the Ascendant, than to the 
Cusp of the mid-Heaven, place so many degrees 
Ascending as the Planet that so ruled the degree 
wherein the last New or Full Moon was, is in the
Sign; but if its degrees be nearer the mid-Heaven 
than the Ascendant, make the degrees of the mid-­
Heaven the same its are, and so vary your former 
Figure according to either of those Angles. But 
neither this way, nor that other called the Trutine 
of Hermes, is so much to be approved as the me­
thod of Rectifying by Accidents; but are chiefly 
used in Childrens Nativities, calculated before Ac­
cidents have happen'd.

"Animodar" not found in OED.



Antartick. See Artick.

Antecedent of the Reason, By Geometrici­
ans is termed the Quantity in all Proportion that 
refers it self to another: As that to which another 
refers it self, is termed the Consequent of the Rea­
son. Thus, in the Reason of a line of six Feet, to a 
line of three Feet; the line of six is the Antece­
dent, and the line of three, the Consequent of the 
Reason.

Antilogarithme, The Complement of the 
Logarithme of any Sine, Tangent, or Secant to 
90 degrees.




Antipodes, From the Gr. Anti, against; and pous,
podos, a foot: People going with their feet right
against ours; or the Inhabitants of one part of the 
Earth diametrically opposite to another. St. Austin 
de Civitat. Dei, L. 16. C. 9. derides the notion;
and others of the Fathers denied that there could 
be any such thing: but now, not only in reason 
from the sphærical form of the Earth, but also 
from experience, we are satisfied of the truth of 
the opinion.

Antiscions, From the Gr. Anti, against; and 
scia, a shadow, are places of the Zodiack of the 
same vertue: As the Antiscion Signs are those which, 
with reference to each other, are equally distant 
from the first degree of the two Tropical Signs 
&#264B; and ਜ਼. As for example, The Sun in the 10th
degree of Taurus, is as far distant from the first de­
gree of &#264B;, as when he is in the 20th degree of &#264C;. 
And therefore he is said to cast his Antiscion to the
20th of &#264C; that is, he giveth vertue or influence 
to any Star or Planet that at that time either is in 
the same degree, or casteth any Aspect into it.

Antoeci, Gr. From Anti, against; and oicos, an house 
or dwelling: [People dwelling just contrary;] Those 
are called so by Geographers, that dwell in equal 
or opposite Parallels, having the same Latitude and 
Elevation of the Pole, but not of the same Pole, 
but the other on the contrary side of the Equator; 
so that as much as the North-Pole is Elevated to 
one, so much is the South to the other: As the An­
tœci of London are those that dwell in 51&#00BD; South, 
having like Ascensions, but in opposite Signs, like 
length of days, and temperature of Climate, but 
not in the same, but quite contrary months.

Apertio Portarum; Lat. [An opening of the 




Gates.] 'Tis used by Astrologers to signify 
some great and evident change of Air, upon 
certain meetings or configurations of the Pla­
nets, whence such Positions or Aspects are called 
Apertiones Portarum; and those so accounted, are 
the Conjunctions, Squares, or Oppositions of Pla­
nets: whose houses are opposite: As Saturn and the 
Sun; (Leo the house of the latter being opposite 
to ੜ the house of the former.) Saturn and the 
Moon, Jupiter and Mercury, Mars and
Venus, (for 
the like reason.) And so much greater will the mu­
tation be, if the Moon separate from one, and ap­
plying to the other, convey and reinforce their 
vertue.

Apomecometrie,
From the Greek Apo, from 
mécos, a distance, and metria, a measuring; is an 
Art teaching the Practiser how to measure things 
at a distance, viz. how far they are off from 
him.

Apparent, The apparent or visible place of 
any Star or Planet, is that place of Heaven which 
it seems to be in by the straight line that proceeds 
to it from the eye. See Parallax.

Aperture, From the Lat. Aperio, to open. The 
Glass at the further end of a Tube; it hath some­
times part of its circumference covered with a 
Pastboard, having a round hole in it, that the Ob­
ject, if it be small, may be the better beheld in the 
centre of the Glass; and then so much of the Glass 
as is seen through that hole, is called the Aperture,
as well as the whole circumference.

Apex, [L. The top, or highest Point.] There 
are the pictures of Stars placed on the Reets of the 
Mathematical Jewel, and upon some Astrolabes, 
and one of the points of the Stars is always longer 




than the rest. This point is called the Apex, and
is indeed the place of the Star; the whole figure 
of the Star being made only to guide you there­
unto.

Aphelion, A Greek word, from Apo, from, and
Helios, the Sun; is that point in which the Earth,
or any Star, is furthest distant from the Sun; as
Perihelion is when 'tis nearest the Sun.

Apheta, Gr. otherwise called Hylech, [The 
Giver of Life.] In the Figure of ones Nativity, 
Ptolemy reckons up only four Significators that can 
be so accounted, viz. The Light of the Time; 
(that is, the Sun by day, the Moon, if born in the 
night.) The Planet that has most dignities in the 
places of the Luminaries, the part of Fortune, and 
the Ascendent.

Aphorism, Gr. A general rule, or short notable 
observation experienc'd for a truth in Art.

Aplanes, [Setled, or free from wandring. A 
Greek word, from Alpha, which in composition, 
is of privative signification, and planesi, wandring.] 
Fixed Stars, in contradistinction to Planets, are so 
called, but most-times the Sphere it self wherein 
they are placed.

"Aplanes" not found in OED.



Application, is a term in Astrology, used when 
two Planets within the quantity of their Orbs are 
drawing near together either by Conjunction, or 
Aspects: Note, that the Superior Planets are not 
said to apply to the Inferiors, (unless they be Re­
trograde,) but ever the lighter to the more pon­
derous. As if ♄ be in 10 degr. of Taurus, and 
♂ in the 7th d. of the same Sign, here ♂ applies to 
a ♂ with ♄. If Mars had been in 7 d. of &#264B;, he 
had applied to a ય of ♄, and so of the rest. An
Application may happen three ways; as when both 




Planets being Direct, the swifter overtakes the  
slower; or when both are Retrograde, and the 
lighter does not come Direct, till he comes up to the 
body or Aspect of the heavier; or when one is 
Direct in fewer, the other Retrograde in more de­
grees of a Sign. The first brings on business fairly 
and kindly, the other two either suddenly perfect 
it, or after many hopes and crosses utterly destroy
it.

Apotome, [A thing abruptly cut off; from 
the Greek Apotemno, to cut off.] A term in Geo­
metry: As if from a Rational Line ACD be cut 
off a Rational Line AC commensurable in power 
only to the whole; the remainder BC is irrational, 
and may be called an Apotome, or a Residual. 
See Euclid. Elem. 10. Prop. 74. for the demonstra­
tion, and Elem. 10. Third definition.

Apogæon, From the Gr. Apo, from, and gé,
or gaia, the Earth. The highest part of the Pla­
nets Eccentrick, or Epicycle, or the point where 
they are furthest off the Earth, and more elevated, 
and strong. As the Sun is in his Apogæon about 
the 6th deg. of Cancer, being then 4588960 miles 
from the earth; whereas in Perigæon, when he 
is in Capricorn, he is not above 4272480; so that 
the whole quantity of his Elongation, or the space 
between one and t'other is in a direct line 316480 
miles. And note, the Apogæa, and Perigæa of the 
Planets are not fixt always in the same place, but 
varied in Time; being observed, according to the
order of the Signs, to be moved with a daily (but 
exceeding) slow and almost insensible Progression. 
All which causes irregularity in the Planets mo­
tions, being slower in their Apogæons, and swifter 
in their Perigæons. See Abfis.




Aporrhæa, The Moon is called so by Greek 
Authors, when she separates from one Planet, 
and applies to no other. See Void of Course.

Not in this sense in the OED.



Aquarius, A Water-bearer, from the Lat. 
Aqua, water. The Eleventh Sign of the Zodiack, 
thus character'd ੜ; 'tis one of the Houses of Sa­
turn, of the Aiery Triplicity, &c.

Arch, (By some written Arke, and derived 
from the Lat. Arcus, a Bow.) Is a part of a Circle
intercepted from one point to another, by which
Geometrically, and by way of Proportion, we ga­
ther the quantity of the whole Circle, or some other 
thing sought after. As in Fig. 1, BL is an Arch, 
so is LI, and LF, or any part of a Circle less than 
a whole Circle.

Arch of direction, A quantity of the Equa­
tor intercepted between two points in Heaven, 
whereof one is the place of the Significator, the
other of the Promissor; and which one of them, 
in a certain space of time, must run over, until he 
is devolved to the other.

Architecture, is a Mathematical Science, which 
teaches the Art of Building, or a skill obtain'd by 
precepts of Geometry, &c. teaching the right way 
of designing all sorts of Structures; and is three­
fold, Edification, or the Art of Building of Hou­
ses: Gnomonica, or Dialling; and Machinatio, the 
mystery of Machines, or Engines. See Vitr. L. 2. 
C. 3.

Arctos, Gr. [The Bear.] A Constellation in the 
North part of Heaven, whence the North-Pole being 
near thereunto, is called the Pole-Arctick; and the 
Circle described 23&#U+00BD; degr. from the same Pole, 
The Arctick Circle, as the opposite or South-Pole 
of the World, and Circle thereunto, are termed 




the Antarctick Pole and Circle. But note, There are 
two Arctick and Antarctick Poles, and two Arctick 
and Antarctick Circles, viz. Those of the Poles of 
the World, and those of the Poles of the Eclip­
tick.

Area, Lat. [An open space, or yard, but] in Geo­
metry, the plain superficies comprehended between 
the sides of any Figure, plain or circular.

Argument, The Arch by which we seek ano­
ther Arch, (or part of a Circle) is called by Mathe­
maticians, the Argument, in resemblance of Argu­
mentation in Logick; for as a Logical Argument 
leads us to the knowledg of something before un­
known, so this Arch notifies to us another Arch un­
known, proportional.

Argument of the Moons Latitude, is her 
distance from the Dragons-Head, or Tail, viz. 
where the Orbit of the Moon in two points diametri­
cally opposite, is interfected by the Ecliptick, where­
by we find out the quantity of the real obscura­
tion in Eclipses, or how many digits are darken­
ed.

Argument of Inclination, is an Arch of 
the Orbit intercepted between the Node ascend­
ing, and the place of a Planet from the Sun, being
numbred according to the succession of the Signs.
See Harmon. Cœlest. Book 2. Cap. 14.

Aries, Lat. [The Ram.] One of the Celestial 
Signs, and first in order in the Zodiack, of the fiery 
Triplicity; the House of Mars, and Exaltation of 
the Sun, who coming to enter the first degree there­
of, makes the days begin to exceed the nights, which 
is called the Vernal Equinox, or Revolution of the 
World.

Arithmetick,
From the Greek word Arith­, 




mos, numbers. The Art of Numbring, one of the 
principal Disciplines of the Mathematicks, and 
which necessarily precedes the rest, being conver­
sant about Discrete Quantity, that is, Numbers, 
and thereby distinguish'd from Geometry, which 
considers Continued Quantity; yet are they not so 
opposed, but that they joyn hands, and help each 
other; Geometry carrying the same proportion to
Arithmetick, as a point to an unite, a line to a Sim­
ple number, and a Body to a Number compounded; 
and in most of their operations they mutually bor­
row terms and assistances from one another.

Armillary Sphere, From the Lat. Armilla, 
a bracelet, or round ornament for the Arm. An 
hollow Sphere made up only of the Circles, and 
not representing the solid body of the Celestial 
Globe, or places of the fixed Stars.

Artificial day From Sun-rising to Sun­
setting.

Artificial night From Sun-set to Sun-ri­
sing.

Artificial Numbers,
Secants, Sines, Tangents. 
See Logarithmetical 
Numbers, Secants, 
Sines, Tangents.

Ascendent, From Ascendo, to arise. That 
part of Heaven which ascends, or is coming up 
above the Horizon in the East; called also, the Ho­
roscope, the Angle of the East, and the First House 
in a Celestial Figure, which signifies the begin­
ings of things, the life corporate, and manners 
of a Native, &c. But by some Authors, all that 




quarter of Heaven, spreading from the fourth 
House, by the way of the East to the mid-Hea­
ven, is called the Ascendant, because the Planets 
therein, and parts of the Primum Mobile, are al­
ways rising; and on the opposite part, from the 
Meridian to the 4th House by the West, they are
always descending. See Fig. 2.

Ascensions and Descensions of Signs, 
are parts of the Equator, which do co-ascend, [rise] 
or set with such a Sign or part of the Zodiack, or 
any Planet hapning to be therein. And these 
Ascensions and Descensions are either Right 
or Oblique. Right Ascensions are parts of the 
Equator, which ascend by a Right Line, compre­
hending all those parts of Heaven which are con­
tained under a Right Line drawn by the Poles of 
the World, and the opposite parts of the Equator; 
and always happen in a Right or Direct Sphere. 
But in an Oblique Sphere, only in the Right Circle 
or Meridian. Oblique Ascensions and Descensi­
ons are parts of the Equator, which rise or set ob­
liquely in an Oblique Sphere, that is, where one 
of the Poles is elevated, and the other depressed;
and the more oblique the Sphere is, the more ob­
lique will the Ascension of the Equator be, and 
consequently less of it ascend with Northern Signs, 
and more with Southern: and, on the contrary, the 
greater Arch will descend with Northern Signs than 
with Southern. And this Arch of the difference 
intercepted between the Right and Oblique Ascen­
sion, is called the Ascensional difference. See
Sphere.

The Ascensional difference, [which is on­
ly the number of degrees remaining after substra­
ction of the Oblique from the Right Ascension:] 




For having the Elevation of the Pole of your 
place, and the Declination of the Star, presently the 
Ascensional difference appears, which according as 
the Declination is Northern or Southern, is to be ad­
ded or substracted from the Right Ascension of the 
same Star; which being done, gives the Ob­
lique Ascension or Descension at the said Elevation 
of the Pole, by which means Directions are per­
fected.

Aspect, From the Lat. Aspicio, to behold: is a
correspondence or familiarity of two Planets mu­
tually beholding each other with some Ray har­
monically consider'd; or when they are posited at 
such a certain distance in the Zodiack wherein 
they mutually help or afflict one another; or have 
their vertues encreased or depraved: For by good
Aspect they assist, but in evil they are said to hurt 
each other. Of these Aspects properly there are 
but 4., viz. Sextile, Quartile, Trine, and Opposition; 
to which is added a Conjunction, though improper­
ly called an Aspect. Kepler defines an Aspect 
thus; that it is an Angle formed on the earth, by 
the luminous Rays of two Planets, efficacious to the 
stirring up of Nature; for when two Planets are 
joyned with, or beheld of each other, they seminate 
something in sublunary Bodies according to their own 
nature. See the Appendix.

Asterism, [From Astrum, a Star.] A Con­
stellation; or parcel of fixed Stars put together, so 
as to represent the figure of some particular thing, 
and thence all called by a common name; as the 
Bear, the Harp, the Lion, &c. are Constellations.

Astrolabe, A Mathematical Instrument to ob­
serve the Sun or Stars with; otherwise called a 
Planisphere, because it represents in Plano, almost 




the whole Celestial Doctrine, as the Motions, Di­
stances, Ascensions, Descensions, Declinations, &c. 
of the Stars.

Astrology, From the Greek Aster, a Star; 
and Logos, the speech or reason; and therefore sig­
nifies in English, the speech or language of the Stars. 
It is a Science that teaches a conjectural know­
ledg, obtained from the observation and position 
of the Stars; of the success of things depending on 
Celestial Influences; to predict the grand mutations 
of nature, and natural fortune of man, woman, 
or child.

Astronomy, [The Law of the Stars; Gr. From 
Aster a Star; and Nomos, a Law, or Rule.] A 
Science that teacheth us the affections and motions 
of the Planets and Celestial Bodies for any time 
past, present, or to come.

Athazer, is when the Moon is in the same de­
gree and minute with the Sun, or when she is 12 
degrees, or 45. 90. 150. 168. 180. 192. 215. 270. 
or 34.8 degrees from him.

"Athazer" not found in OED.



Atmosphere, [The Sphere of Vapours: Gr. 
From Atmos, a vapour; and Sphoera, a sphere.] That 
part of the Air which is nearest to the Earth, as 
far as the Terrestrial vapours ascend; for the Earth 
and all the Planets are enclosed in their several At­
mospheres; so much of the Circumambient Air as is 
within the Sphere of their respective Activity, be­
ing called the Atmosphere of the Earth, or of such 
a Planet.

Austral, [Southern] Signs,  The six last Signs 
of the Zodiack, viz. &#264E;, &#264D;, ਗ਼, ਜ਼, ੜ, and ੝, are so called, because they are on the South-side of the Equinoctial.

Automata, [Gr. Self-movers.] Mechanical 




Instruments or Engines, that going by a Screw, 
Spring, or Weight, &c. seem to move of them­
selves; as a Clock, a Jack, &c.

Autumn, Harvest, or Fall of the Leaf; one 
of the four Quarters of the Year, begining when 
the Sun enters &#264E;. Called so from the Latin Verb 
Augeo, which signifies, to Encrease, because then 
the Fruits of the Earth are encreased to full ma­
turity, and the Husbandman's Gains augmented 
thereby.

Aur, or Auge. See Apogæon, which signifies
the same.

Axiom, Gr. A Common Sentence, Principle, or 
Ground of any Art, generally taken for granted.

Axis, Lat. An Imaginary Line which passing 
from one Pole of the World through the Centre of 
the Earth, is terminated in the other Pole, about 
which we conceive the whole Machine or frame of 
the World to be turned.

Azimene, Gr. [Lame, or Weak.] Certain de­
grees in the Zodiack are called so by Astrologers; 
because Persons born when any of them Ascend, 
are generally lame, blind, or have some other incu­
rable Imperfection.

Azimuth, is an Arabick word, signifying the 
Arch of a great Circle of Heaven, imagined to pass 
from the Zenith to the Nadir, cutting the Horizon 
at Right Angles.

The Azores are Islands in the North Latitude 
of 40 degrees, said by some to be scituated at the 
true Western Meridian, whence they would Com­
pute the Longitude of all places from thence, rather 
than the Fortunate Islands.


B




BAckstaff, An Instrument used by Sea-men for 
observing the Height of the Sun with ones 
back towards it, whereby the great inconveni­
ence of the Sun's beams glaring in the Eye is
avoided.

Barren Signs, Gemini, Leo, and Virgo, are 
counted so by Astrologers: As, if a Question be 
propounded whether one shall have Children, or 
not? If one of these Signs Ascend, or be upon the 
Cusp of the 5th House, they take it for an Argu­
ment that the Querent shall have none.

Base, or Basis, The Ground-work, or Foun­
dation of a matter, the Pedestal of a Statue; in 
Geometry and Perspective, either the Ground-Line, 
or the Flat upon which other Lines or Figures are 
Erected.

Besieged, is when any Planet is placed be­
twixt the Bodies of the two Malevolent Planets 
Saturn and Mars; as ♄ in 15. ੘. Mars in 10. of 
੘, and ♀ in 13. ੘. Here Astrologers call Venus 
Besieged, and it represents (says Mr. Lilly) in Que­
stions, a man's going out of God's Blessing into the 
warm Sun, if Venus be his Significatrix.

Bestial Signs are, Aries, Taurus, Leo, Sagit­
tary, and Capricorn, because they bear the names, 
and are represented on the Celestial Globe in the 
Figure of Four-footed Creatures.

Bicorporeal, Double-bodied: A word some­




times used by Geometricians, but oftner by Astro 
logers, Gemini, Sagittarius, and Pisces are Bico­
rporeal Signs.

"Bicorporeal" antedates earliest OED citation (1686).



Bimedial, If two medial Lines (as in Fig. 4.) 
AB. and CD. commensurable in power onely, 
containing a Rational Rectangle, are compounded, 
the whole AC shall be irrational, and is called a 
first Bimedial Line. For the Demonstration, see 
Euclid, Elem. 10, Prop. 38.

Biquintile, Is a new Aspect observed by Kep­
ler; so called, because it consists of two fifth parts 
of the whole Circle, viz. 144 Degrees, and counted 
a benevolent Aspect, as the Quintile, Sextile, and 
Trine are, though of smaller force.

Bissextile, Leap-Year; (so called, because then 
they said twice the sixth Calends of March) when 
once in four years a whole day is added, to make up 
the odd six hours, which the course of the Sun 
yearly exceeds 365 days, being inserted, or put in 
next after the 24th. of February.

Bisect, [From the Lat. Bis, twice, and Seco, to 
cut,] To cut in two. A Line or Arch that cuts 
another Line, Arch, or Circle into two equal parts, 
is said to Bisect that Line, Arch, or Circle: As in 
Fig. 1. the Line BAF is Bisected by the Line CAI 
in A, and the Line CAI is Bisected by the Line 
FAB in A; so is the Circle BCFI Bisected by 
the two Lines BAF in B and F, and in CI, the 
Lines CAI and FAB; (being prolonged.)

Bisegment, One of the equal parts so Bi­
sected.

"Bisegment" antedates earliest OED citation (1847).



A Body, is Geometrically defined to be a Mag­
nitude which has length, breadth, and depth, and is either Regular,
Irregular, or Mixt: The Regu­
lar Bodies are five, viz. A Cube, a Tetrahedron, a 




Dodecahedron, an Octohedron, and an
Isocahedron. 
Some Geometricians would take in a Sphere for a 
sixth Regular Body, but others reject it. An Irre­
gular Body hath not its sides equal to one another. 
A Mixt Body is made by an equal cutting off the 
Angles of a Regular Body.


Boreal, Lat. [North] Signs, ੘, ਖ਼, &#264A;, &#264B;, 
&#264C;, &#264D;, because placed in the Northern Semicircle 
of the Zodiack.

Box and Needle, An Instrument used in Sur­
veying of Land: and finding out the situation of 
any Side, by the pointing of one end of its Needle 
towards the North.

Antedates earliest OED citation (1696).



Brachiolum, Lat. [A little Arm] A mem­
ber of an Instrument sometimes used upon Astro­
labes, and other projections of the Sphere. 'Tis 
commonly made of Brass, having several joynts, 
that the End or Point may be set to any Degree 
on the Astrolabe. It is by English Writers some­
times called a Creeping Index.

"Creeping Index" not found in OED.



Broken Radiation, A term in the Dioptrick 
Art, wherein is considered the breaking of Beams, 
as they are seen through a Glass or Crystal, cut into 
several plains or faces.

"Broken Radiation" not found in OED.




C

CAcodæmon, [The Greek, Kacos, and Dai­
mon, the Evil Genius.] Astrologers call the 
12th. House so, because of its direful significations, 
as secret Enemies, Imprisonments, &c.




Cadent, [Falling, or Weak, and Abject; from 
the Lat. Cado, to fall:] are Houses next from the 
Angles of an Astrological Figure, as the Third, 
the Sixth, the Ninth, and the Twelfth. Also a 
Planet is said to be Cadent, or in his Fall, when he 
is in a Sign opposite to that of its Exaltation.

Calends, The Ancient Romans divided their 
Months into Calends, Nones, and Ides; which way 
is still used by many writing in Latin. To un­
derstand it, observe 1st, That the Calends were the 
first day of the Month; the next were the Nones, 
being 6, in March, May, July, and October, and 
fell on the 7th day of these Months, but in all 
other Months were but 4, and hapned on the 5th 
day. The Ides were last, eight in every Month, be­
ing on the 15th of the four before-mentioned 
Months, but on the 13th of all the rest.

2ly. Note, that they reckon'd all these back­
wards, as Calendis Maii, is the first of May; but
pridie Calend. Maii, the day before the Calends of 
May, is the 30th of April; III Calend. May, April 
29, and so downwards to XVIII Cal. Maii, which 
is 14 April. Then began the Ides, as Idibus Aprilis 
the 13th of April; Pridie Id. Apr. the 12th April, 
III Id. the 11th of April, and so on to VIII. Id. Apr. 
which is April the 6th. Then were the Nones, as
Nonis Aprilis, April the 15th. Pridie Nonarum,
April the 4th. III. Non. Apr. the third of April. 
IV. Non. Apr. the second, and their Cal. Apr. the first
of April. Thus to go on with May, the second of 
May is VIto Nonarum, (because we told you that
was one of the Months that had 6 of them.) The 
3d day is V. Non. The 7th day, Nonis Maii: The 
8th day, VIII of the Ides of May; The 15th the
Ides of May; but the 16th shall be the 17th of the 




Calends of June; The 17th of May XVI. Calend. 
Junii, and so on. All which the Ancients, for the 
help of memory, expressed in these five Verses.

Prima dies Mensis cujusque est dicta Calendæ.
Sex Nonas Maius, Octobris, Julius & Mars;
Quatuor at Reliqui; dabit Idus quilibet octo.
Inde dies reliquos omnes dic esse Calendas,
Quos retro numerans dices à Mense sequente.

Which I thus English.

The Roman Month its several days divides
By reckoning backwards, Calends, Nones, and Ides.
Eight Ides hath each, and but four Nones they say, 
Yet six have March, October, July, May:
After these Nones, and Ides, the rest of all
The days you must the next Months Calends call. 

I have been the larger upon this, because most 
Authors that have gone about to explain it, have 
left it in as perplexed an obscurity as they found 
it, especially to one unacquainted with the Roman 
Usages. From these Calends comes our common 
word Calendar.

Callippick Period, is an Agreement of the 
great Lunar year with the Nineteen-year Circle of the Sun, found out by one Callippus, and therefore 
so called. It contains 76 years; in which time the 
Lunations, or Changes of the Moon, return to the 
same day of the Month, and hour as before.

Antedates earliest OED citation (1696).



Cancer, [Lat. the Crab.] A Sign of the Zo­
diack, thus character'd, &#264B;; 'tis the House of ☾, and 
the Exaltation of Jupiter; and is so called, as well 
because there are in it 3 Stars on each Side, which 
represent a Crabb's Claws, as because the Sun, when 




he comes into this Sign hastens to the Equator, go­
ing backwards from us like a Crab.

Canon, [Gr. A Rule.] The Tables of Arti­
ficial Sines, Tangents, and Secants, are so  called.

Capital, signifies in Architecture the Ornament 
that is made on the top of a Column, from Capita­
lis in Latin, of or belonging to the Head.

Carpentum, [Lat. A Chariot,] or Throne of 
a Planet, is when he is Posited in a place where 
he has most Dignities, as Aquary of Saturn, be­
cause he has there both House and Triplicity; Sa­
gittary of Jupiter for the same reason, &c.

Capricorn, [Lat. the Goat,] one of the Signs 
of the Zodiack, the 10th in order, thus character'd 
ਜ਼. Earthly, dry, and cold; the House of Saturn, 
and Exaltation of Mars.

Chart, or Card, [From the Lat. Charta, a 
Paper.] A Draught of Sea-Coasts, Sands, Rocks, 
&c. 'Tis also sometimes taken for the round 
Pastbord whereon the 32 Points are described in 
the Nautical Compass.

Cardines, Lat. signifies properly the Hinges 
of a Door, but is used for the chief or most material 
parts on which the rest do in some sort depend; As

Cardinal Points, The Angles, or 1st, 4th, 
7th, and 10th Houses.

Cardinal Signs, The Signs, ੘, &#264B;, &#264E;, 
and ਜ਼.

Cast a Point of Traverse, is a term in Na­
vigation, which signifies to prick down on a Chart 
the Point of the Compass any Land bears from 
you; or to find by Art what Point your Ship bears 
at any instant, or what way the Ship has made.

Catabibazon, From Catabibazo, a Greek 
word, signifying to descend, or go down against. 




The Dragons-Tail; sometimes so called, because 
it goes exactly against the Dragons-Head.

Antedates earliest OED citation (1696).



Cathetus, A Greek word for a Perpendicular. 
See Perpendicular.

Catoptricks, A branch of the Opticks, or an 
Art that teaches to Project a Confused Figure, seem­
ingly without a design; yet when it is reflected on 
a proper Polish'd Body, it shall shew the de­
sign. From the Greek words Cata, against; and 
Opto, to see; because it chiefly treats of  Re­
flexions.

Cazimi, An Arabick word, signifying the Cen­
tre of the Sun: so a Planet is said to be in Cazimi, 
when it is not above 17 minutes distant from the 
Centre of the Sun, as Saturn in 3 degr. 21 minutes 
of Taurus and Sol in 3 degr. 31 min. of ਖ਼. Here
Saturn is in Cazimi, which is reckoned a great For­
titude to any Planet; but how it should be so, 
when Combustion is so grand a Debility, let Astro­
logers consider.

Centiloquium, A Book containing one hun­
dred Astrological Aphorisms commonly ascribed to 
Ptolemy, as its Author, but by some to Hermes 
Trismegistus: So called from the Lat. Centum, an 
hundred; and Loquor, to speak: as much as to say, 
the hundred notable Speeches.

"Centiloquium" not found in OED.



Centre, A Point in the middle of a Sphere, or 
Circle; from which all lines drawn to the Super­
ficies or Circumference are equal. 'Tis also used in 
Perspective for the Visual Point. The word is Greek,
Centron.

Chord, is a streight Line subtended under an 
Arch, dividing a Circle into unequal parts, by 
which it differs from a Diameter: for that passing 
by the Centre divides a Circle into two equal 




parts. Thus the Lines EL, HO, in Fig 1. are cal­
led Chords.

Chorography, From the Greek Choros, a place 
or tract of Ground; Grapho, to write, describe, or 
treat of: Called also Topography, is a part of
Geography, which delivers the description of par­
ticular Provinces or Kingdoms onely.

Chronocrator, From the Greek Chronos, Time; 
and Crator, a Ruler; being as much as to say in
English, Lord of the time. Some take it for the Sun
in the day, and the Moon by night. Others divide 
the life of Man into seven parts, and ascribe the 
Government of each to a particular Planet; as from 
the birth to four years old to the Moon, from thence 
to 14 years old, to Mercury, thence to 22, to Venus, 
&c. And these they call Chronocrators.

"lord of the time" not found in OED.



Circle, Is a plain Figure, contained in one Line 
onely; in the midst whereof there is a Point, from 
whence all Lines drawn to the Circumference are 
equal. As in Fig. 1. the Circle is marked C L O B 
D I F H E, and is described upon the Centre A; 
from whence all straight Lines drawn to the Circum­
ference are equal.

Circles of Altitude. See Almicanthars.

Circle of Inclination is a great Circle about 
the Sun; in the Sphere of the Fixed Stars, falling 
right upon the Ecliptick.

Circles of Position, Arc Circles passing by the 
common Interfections of the Horizon and Meridi­
an, and through any Degree in Heaven, or the Cen­
tre of any Star, or other Point in Heaven, used for 
the finding out how such a Star is situated, in respect 
of the World. The twelve Astrological Houses are 
likewise distinguish'd by Semi-circles of 
Position.

"semi-circle of position" not found in OED.






Circumference, From the Lat. Circum, about, 
and Fero, to bear, or encompass; in Greek Peri­
pherie: They both signifie no more, but the out­
termost Circular Line, which embraces the whole 
Area (or Contents) of any Figure. Sometimes the 
words are used for the whole Superficies of the 
Earth, or for the Convex and outward part of any 
Celestial Sphere.

Circumferentor, Has the same Etimology 
with the last word; but is also the name of an Instru­
ment used for Surveying of Land: So called, I con­
ceive, because 'tis fit and easie to be carried about 
with one. See Rathbourn's Survey, B. 3. Chap. 4.

Civil Days, contain just 24 hours a-piece, 
reckon'd from 12 a clock at Noon, or Night (ac­
cording to the custom of the place) on one day, 
to the same time the next day. In which space of
time, the Equinoctial makes one Diurnal Revolu­
tion on the Poles of the World. See Tutor to Astro­
nomy, Book 2. Probl. 51.

Civil Year, (So called in contra-distinction to 
the Natural,) is the Legal Year, used in conversation 
between man and man, for Bargains, Contracts, &c. 
which with us begins not till the 25th. of March; it 
always contains onely 365 civil days, except in 
the Leap-year, and then it has 366 days.

Climate, From the Greek word Clima, of the 
same signification; is a portion of the Earth or Hea­
ven contained between two Parallels. And for di­
stinction of Places, and different temperature of 
the Air, according to their situation; the whole 
Globe of Earth is divided into 24 Northern, and 
24 Southern Climates, according to the half-hour­
ly encreasing of the longest days; for under the
Equator we call the first Climate: from thence as 




far as the Latitude extends, under which the long­
est day is half an hour more than under the Equa­
tor, viz. 12 hours and an half, is the second Climate: 
where it is encreased a whole hour, the third Climate: 
and so each Northerly and Southerly Climate re­
spectively hath its longest day half an hour longer 
than the former Climate, till in the last Climate 
North and South, the Sun Sets not for half a year 
together, but moves Circularly above the Hori­
zon.

Climacterical Years: So called from the Greek 
word Climax, a Gradation, or Rounds of a Ladder, 
because they are the great Steps, or remarkable De­
grees whereby Man's life ascends, or mounts up to 
its appointed Period, are certain observable years 
which are usually attended with some grand mu­
tation of Life or Fortune. As the 7th year, the 21th, 
made up of three times seven; the 49th, made up 
of 7 times seven; the 63 d, being 9 times seven; 
and the eighty first, which is 9 times nine; which 
two last are often called the Grand Climactericks. 
In which many famous men have been observed to 
die. Not only the Learned Heathen; as Plato, Ci­
cero, Macrobius, &c. have written much of these
Climacterical years; but several Fathers, and Do­
ctors of the Church, as St. Ambrose, Austin, Bede,
&c. have justified the Observation to be neither
Superstitious, nor unprofitable.

Collection of Light, An Astrological phrase, 
when two principal Significators do not behold each 
other, but both cast their several Aspects to a third 
Planet more weighty than themselves, whom they 
both receive in some of their Essential Dignities; 
then is such Planet said to Collect, or gather to­
gether their Lights, which signifies in Art thus, that 




a person somewhat interessed in both Parties, and 
described and signified by that Planet, shall by his 
Interposure effect and accomplish the business, 
which otherwise could not be perfected.

Column, An upright round Pillar, made ac­
cording to the Rules of Architecture; the Body of 
it is called in Lat. Scapus, in English the Shaft or
Shank; the Ornament on the Top, Epistylium, or
Capitellum; in English, the Capital, or Chapiter; 
that which it stands on, Basis, or Pedestal.

Colures, So called either from the Greek Verb
Coláo, which signifies to joyn, or glew together, 
because the other moveable Circles of the Sphere
are (as it were) Conglutinated or united by these; 
or from the Greek words Colobon, a piece or part 
divided from the whole; and Oura, a Tail; be­
cause in the Conversion of the World, these Cir­
cles in most places of the Earth, are never seen whole, 
but only some parts of them, like mutilated Tails: 
Whatever be the Original of the name, they are 
two great Circles imagined in the Heavens, pas­
sing by the Poles of the World, and mutually cut­
ting each other at Right Angles, the one passing 
from Pole to Pole through the begining of Aries 
and Libra, is thence called the Equinoctial Colure; 
The other through the begining of &#264B; and ਜ਼, 
which occasions it to be term'd the Solstitial Co­
lure. Their use is, to divide the Equator, Zodiack, 
and all the Heaven into 4 equal parts, and shew 
the 4 principal Points of the Zodiack, to which, 
when the Sun comes, he distinguishes each quarter 
of the year.

Combust, [Burnt, or scorched; a Participle 
of the Latin Verb Comburo, to burn.] When a 
Planet is not above 8 degr. and 30 minutes distant 




from the Sun either before or after him; he is said 
to be Combust, or in Combustion, as ♃ in 10 degr. 
of ੘, the Sun in 18 of ੘; here ♃ is Combust, which 
is always a great Debility; and in Judgment shews, 
that the party by such a Planet signified, is in great 
fear, and much over-powred by some great per­
son. And note, Combustion is much the worse, when 
the Sun hastens to ♂ with the Planet, than when he 
recedes from him; in regard its the Body of the &sun; 
that doth afflict.

Combust way, By reason of several violent 
and malefique Fixed Stars in the second half of Li­
bra, and throughout the whole Sign Scorpio. All 
that space is called Via Combusta, the Combust way, 
being about 45 degrees in Longitude, which is 
counted unfortunate, and to weaken any Planet 
that happens to be therein, especially the Moon, 
who is there so much Debilitated, that it is reckoned 
next to an Eclipse.

Cometes, Gr. A Comet, or Blazing-Star: so 
called from another Greek word Kome, hair; be­
cause most Comets seem to have hairs about them. 
There are several opinions, or rather offers con­
cerning the Matter they consist of; but the most
vulgar opinion is, that they are Earthy vapours, ha­
ving gross parts strongly compacted, which being 
drawn up sometimes even above the Orb of the 
Moon, are there set on fire, and continue flaming 
for some time; and then, the matter being consu­
med, disappear. They are generally thought to 
be as Beacons fired, to foreshew the approach of 
Divine vengeance, in Sword, Plague, Famine, or 
some other lamentable Calamity.

Commanding Signs,
These first six, ੘, ਖ਼,
&#264A;, &#264B;, &#264C;, and &#264D;, are accounted and called so by Astrologers.




 Commensurable in Power, [From the 
Lat. Con, or cum & mensura, that is to say, equal 
measures.] Right Lines are said to be Commen­
surable in Power, when their Squares are measured 
by one and the same space, or Superficies. See
Euclid. Elem. 10. Definit. 3.

Commensurable Mag­
nitudes, are such as are mea­
sured by one and the same 
Common measure; as A and 
B by C; for C repeated 6 
times, measures A; and re­
peated 3 times, B: Therefore 
A and B are said to be Com­
mensurable. See Eucl. Elem. 
10. Def. 1, 2, &c.

A|---||---||---||---||---||---|

B|---||---||---|

C|---|


Common Signs, are &#264A;, &#264D;, ਗ਼, and ੝. So 
called, because they are characteriz'd in a double 
form; and for that, being respectively at the end 
of each Quarter of the year, they partake of more 
or less of both Quarters; as the Sun in Pisces not 
only ends the Winter, but begins the Spring. Under 
these Signs are born, as Astrologers say, Twins, Her­
maphrodites, Monsters, &c.

Compass, An Instrument Sea-men use to Steer 
the Ship by, much more easy to be understood by 
a sight, than the best description.

Complement, [Lat. From Compleo, properly 
a filling up, or making good: And therefore in 
Arithmetick it signifies that Number that makes a 
lesser Number equal to a greater Number. As 45 
is the Complement of 45 to 90; so in Geometry 
'tis used in the Mensuration of Figures and Bodies: 
as if a Figure or Body contain 7 foot, and 4 foot 
be measured out of it, here 3 is the Complement. 




But by the Complement of an Arch, is usually un­
derstood so much as the Arch wants of 90 degrees 
to make it a Quadrant, or so much as it wants of 180 
degrees to make it a Semicircle, or so many degrees 
as it wants of 360 degrees, to make it a whole 
Circle.

Composite Order, A Way or Order in Ar­
chitecture Compounded out of the other 4 Orders, 
Tuscan, Dorick, Jonick, and Corinthian. 'Tis used
therefore to distinguish the size and shape of Co­
lumns. See Vignola's Compleat Architect, pag. 64.
And when Authors say, The Composite Capital, or 
Composite Base, they only mean the Capital or Base 
that belongs to a Column of the Composite Order. 
So called, because it partakes, and is composed of 
the rest, as aforesaid.

Compound Equation. See Absolute Equa­
tion.

Compound Number, is that which some 
Number may measure besides Unity; as 15, which 
is measured by 5 and 3.

Composition of Reason, is when the Ante­
cedent with the Consequent are taken together, as 
one to be compared to the same Consequent, called 
Composition of Reason, because of the Antecedent 
and Consequent, there is compounded another new
Antecedent. See Euclid. 5th Elem. Def.
14.

Concave, Lat. Hollow, or Bowing: As the 
face of Heaven appears to us; or the in-side of a 
Tube, or the like. The contrary side of which 
bulging out, is called Convex.

Concentrick, Having the same Centre; as 
all Circles that are drawn from one Centre, though 
never so great or little; whence Astronomers call 
those Celestial Orbs, Concentrick, whose Centre is 




the same with the Centre of the World; as they 
term those Eccentrick, (of a different Centre) which, 
though they encompass the Earth, yet they have 
another Centre, and not that of the World.

Cone, [From the Greek Κώnos, properly a 
Pine-Apple;] and from thence it is used by Geo­
metricians to signify a like Figure, viz. A Body 
with a round flat Base, upon which every side of it 
is placed, so as it ends at the top, in a Point hang­
ing directly over the Centre of the Base.

Constellation, A company of Stars called by 
one name. See Asterism; From the Latin Cum, 
with, and Stella, a Star; as much as to say, many 
Stars one with another. As Aries is a Constellation;
the Great Bear is a Constellation; the Little Bear is 
a Constellation, Bootes, Auriga, Canis Major, &c. 
are Constellations.

Contingent Line, is a streight Line where­
on is set the distances of the hour-Lines in the ma­
king Sun-Dials; from the Lat. Contingo, to hap­
pen upon, or touch: it is indeed a Tangent Line.

Contra Antiscion, Gr. The degree and mi­
nute in the Ecliptick, opposite to the Antiscion. 
Which see.

Convex, Lat. The out-side of a Ball, Globe, 
or any round Body. See Concave, that being the 
internal, this the external side or prospect of the 
same thing.

Converse Direction, is a deduction of a 
Significator to the place of the Promittors, made 
by the motion of the Primum Mobile, contrary to 
the succession of the Signs.

Corinthian Order, One of the 5 Orders in 
Architecture, whereby to distinguish the size and 
shapes of Columns; and the Bases, Capitals, &c. 




thereunto properly belonging. See Vignola's Ar­
chitect, pag. 52. because invented, or chiefly used 
at the City of Corinth.

Corollary, An Addition beyond what was pro­
posed. The Illustrations following Geometrical 
Problems, are oft-times called so in Mathematical 
Authors.

Co-Secant, 
Co-Sine, 
and 
Co-Tangent. The Complement of Sines, Se­
cants, or Tangents, to 90 degr. 
or so many degr. as they want
thereof respectively. See Se­
cants, Sines, and Tangents.

Cossick, The old word for Algebra.

Only registered in the OED as an adjective.



Cosmical, Stars are said to Rise Cosmically, when 
they Rise with the Sun; and to Set Cosmically, 
when they Set when the Sun Rises.

Cosmography, An Artificial description of 
the whole World, Earth and Heavens, and the se­
veral parts thereof; but 'tis sometimes used only 
for Geography, or a description only of the Globe
of the Earth.

Course, A Sea-term signifying the Point of the 
Compass which the Ship Sails upon. As if you 
Sail Eastward, 'tis an Easterly Course, &c.

Crisis, 
and
Critical days. 
These terms are chiefly used by 
Physitians; but since they can­
not be found out but by Astro­
nomy, we shall here briefly explain them. Crisis is 
used for a sudden change of a Disease into better 
or worse, Life or Death; and because by experi­
ence it hath been found that such changes happen 
for the most part regularly at such and such times;
Hence they call those days Critical days, which are
commonly believed to be every 7th day, by reason 
of I know not what kind of vertue in that number: 




but the truth is, the reason of those Conflicts be­
tween Nature and the Disease, is the Moons coming 
to the Quadratures, Opposition, or Radical place, 
where she was at the beginning of the sickness; 
and one of these generally happens about the 7th 
day; but as the Moon is swifter, or slower in mo­
tion, it often comes sooner or later. Therefore the 
discreet Physitian ought to consult Ephemerides, 
without which they cannot give any true or ra­
tional Account of their observing these Critical
days: For the better doing it, they should Erect a 
Scheme with 16 Houses; the form whereof you 
have in Mr. Culpeper's Semiotica Uranica.

Cronical. See Acronical.

Cross-Staff, An Instrument Sea-men use to ob­
serve the Height of the Sun or Stars with.

Cube, A Solid Body containing equal and square 
Sides; as a Dye.

Cubed Cube, The sixth Power in Numbers.

Cube Number,
The third Power in Num­
bers.

Cube Root, The Root or Side of the third 
Power: So if 27 be the Cube, 3 is the Side or Root.

Cubed Square, The Biquadrat, or 4th Power. 
Thus 2 is the Side, 4 the Square, 8 the Cube of 
2, 16 the Biquadrate, 32 the 5th Power, and 64 
the 6th Power, or Cubed Cube.

"Biquadrate" antedates the earliest OED citation (1706).



Culmen Coeli, The highest Point in Hea­
ven that any Star or Planet can rise to in any La­
titude. 'Tis taken by Astrologers for the 10th 
House; and when a Star comes to the Meridian of 
any place, 'tis said to Culminate, or be Cul­
minant.


Cuneus, Lat. A Body in form of a Wedg, and 




sometimes a Ruler or Label fitted to a Projection of 
the Sphere in Plano.

Curved, 
or
Curvilineary, 
Crooked, or a Body Hollow­
ed; whence Figures consist­
ing of Triangles, Quadran­
gles, &c. when they are considered as, or referred 
to Circles in the Heaven, are called Curvilineary, 
because they all consist of Arches of Circles.

"Curvilineary" antedates earliest OED citation (1706).



Cusp, The beginning or first Point of each of 
the 12 Astrological Houses is so called.

Cycle [the very same with Circle] of the 
Moon, Is the Revolution of 19 years, which be­
ing expired, all the Lunations return to their former 
place in the Calendar.

Cycle of the Sun, Is a Revolution of 28 
years, for finding out the Dominical Letters, which 
then return all in the same order as before.

Cylinder, [Gr. properly a Rowler, such as is 
used in Gardens] whence in Geometry 'tis used for 
any Solid Body of that shape, viz. whose Base and 
Top are Flat, the Circumference of its Bases Round 
and Equal, and its Shank Long and Streight.

Cypher or Cyfer, a Character used in Arith­
metick, in form somewhat like the Letter o, 
which alone or before (that is, towards the left 
hand of) any Numerical Figure, signifies nothing; 
but after another Figure, (that is, towards the right 
hand) increases that Figure ten times; if two Cy­
phers be placed after a Figure, they increase it 
an hundred times; if three, a thousand times: as 10, 
100, 1000, &c.






D.

DAta, [Lat. Things given or granted] A 
Term in Geometry for something proposed 
or known, in order to the finding out of other 
things unknown. As two Sides and an Angle 
given in a Triangle, to find the third Side; Here 
two Sides and an Angle are the Data. See Eu­
clid's Data.

Davi's Quadrant, An Instrument used by 
Sea-men, wherewith they observe the Heighth of 
the Sun, with their backs toward it, to avoid its 
glaring in their eyes. See Back-staff.

See "David's staff."



Daily Motion, The Progress which any Pla­
net makes in 24 Hours, by his own proper Motion.

Debilities, [Lat. Weaknesses.] Certain Affe­
ctions of the Planets, whereby they are weakned, 
and their Influences become less vigorous, or more 
depraved; and they are either Essential, as when a 
Planet is in his Detriment, Fall, or Peregrine; or 
Accidental, as when he is in the 12th. 8th. or 6th. 
Houses; or Combust, or beheld of the Infortunes, 
&c. By each of which Circumstances, as he is com­
paratively more or less afflicted, so he is said to
have in such a case so many or so few Debilities.

Decanate, [from Decem; Ten] by some called
Decurte, and in Astrologie, The Face, is one 
Third part [or Ten Degrees] of each Sign, attri­
buted to some particular Planet, who being there­
in, shall be said to have one Dignity, and conse­




quently cannot be Peregrine; though if he be not 
otherwise fortified, we may repute him like a man 
ready to be turn'd out of doors, having much ado 
to keep up his sinking Credit. How these Faces 
are assign'd, you may see in the Table of Essential 
Dignities, commonly printed in The Tutor to Astroquently logy.

Decimal Arithmetick, [from Decem, Ten] 
or, The Art of Tens, wherein any Integer, as Pounds, 
Yards, Perches, &c. are taught to be divided into 
Ten, a Hundred, or a Thousand parts.

Declination [Lat. a bending, stooping, or 
going downwards] Is a Term in Astronomy, used 
for the Bending or Digression of any Star, or part 
of Heaven, from the Equator towards either of the 
Poles of the World; and to which of them it hap­
pens to be, thence 'tis called North Declination, or 
South Declination. The beginning of Aries and
Libra have no Declination at all, because they fall
upon the Equator: but the Fixed Stars and Planets 
may Decline as far as the Parallels in which they 
are, even to 90 Degrees. By the Declination of a 
Star, we know the Quantity of its Diurnal and No­
cturnal Arch, its Elevation above the Horizon, 
Distance from the Zenith, Circle of Position, and 
the like. Of great use in Astronomy.

Decumbiture, [Lat. properly a Lying down] 
In Astrology 'tis understood for a Figure erected 
at that moment, when a Disease first invades a Per­
son, or when he is first so sensibly afflicted, as to take 
notice of it, and keep his Bed or Chamber, or re­
frain his Business. By which Figure of the Decum­
biture, the Artist finds out the nature of the Disease, 
Parts afflicted, Prognosticks of Death, or Recovery, 
the most proper Medicaments, true Times of the
Crisis, &c.




Definition, An Explanation, which in few 
words fully expresses what the thing is that is spo­
ken of.

Deferens, [from the Lat. de and fero, to carry]
or, The Deferent, signifies in Astronomy a Circle
or Orb, carrying not so much the Epicycle, as the 
very Body of the Planet fix'd therein, and causing 
the same to be roll'd about the World, whether in 
its Epicycle, or proper Orbite. See Ricciolus, l. 3. 
c. 20.

Degree, The 30th. part of a Sign, or ra­
ther the 360th. part of the whole Circle. As in 
Scheme 1. the several small spaces between the 
two innermost Circles, are Degrees. Each of these 
Degrees are divided into 60 parts, called Minutes, 
each Minute into 60 parts more, called Seconds, 
and so to Thirds, Fourths, Fifths, &c. The di­
stance of one Degree of Heaven is vulgarly ac­
counted to give 60 Miles on Earth; but by Mr. 
Norwood's Experiment it is 69. Of these Degrees, 
Astrologers have noted some to be smoaky, some 
to be dark, some deep-pitted, &c. of which you 
have a Table at large in the Tutor to Astrology.

Depress the Pole. So many Degrees as you 
Sail or Travel from the Pole, you are said to De­
press the Pole, because it becomes lower and nea­
rer to the Horizon: And so many Degrees as you 
approach towards it, so much you are said to Raise 
the Pole, because then it becomes higher, and 
nearer the Zenith.

Descension, A Setting, or going down. See 
Ascension.

Detriment, [Lat. properly Loss or Damage] 
Astrologers call by that name one, and the greatest 
of the Essential Debilities of a Planet, viz. the 




Sign that is Diametrically [or Directly] opposite 
to that which is his House; as the Detriment of the 
Sun is ੜ, because opposite to &#264C;; of the Moon ਜ਼, 
because opposite to &#264B;.

Dexter Aspect, [Lat. a beholding towards the 
Right hand] Is an Aspect contrary to the Order 
of the Signs; as ♄ in ੘, casting his ર, ਲ, or &#25B3;
to any Planet in ੜ, ਜ਼, or ਗ਼. This is called a 
Dexter Aspect, or beholding towards the Right 
hand, or forwards: Whereas if being so in ੘, he 
behold a Planet in &#264A;, &#264B;, or &#264C;, according to the 
natural Succession of the Signs, 'twould be a Sini­
ster [or Left-hand] Aspect. And note, that the Dex­
ter Aspect is, by the Ancients, accounted more 
forcible than the Sinister; but this is contradicted 
by others. See the Tutor to Astrology, p. 55.

Diagonal, [from the Gr. Dia, and Gonia, of 
or belonging to a Corner] In Geometry a Streight 
Line drawn from one Angle of a Square to the 
opposite Angle.

Diagram, A Figure made with Lines or Cir­
cles, for the Demonstration of any Geometrical Pro­
position, such as you have throughout Euclid's 
Elements. But in Musick it signifies a Proportion 
of Measures, distinguished by certain Notes.

Diameter, [from Dia, of or belonging; and
Metria, the Measure of a thing] A Line which go­
eth through the middle part of any Figure; or 
more properly, as 'tis defined by our great Master 
Euclid, A certain Line drawn through the Centre, 
and terminated at each end in the Circumference 
of the Circle, thereby dividing the Circle into two 
equal parts. As in Fig. 1. the Line F B is the Dia­
meter.

Diametrically opposite, Overthwart, right 




a-cross, or exactly Contrary, as one end of a Diame­
ter is to the other.

Difference of Ascension. See Ascensional 
Difference.

Digit, [Lat. Properly a Finger, or Fingers­
breadth,] but used by Astronomers for one Twelfth 
part of the Body of the Sun or Moon, which they 
divided into so many parts, that they might know 
to a twelfth part how much of them was obscured 
in Eclipses.

Dignities, Are certain Advantages which a 
Planet hath by vertue of being in such a place of 
the Zodiack, or such a Configuration with other 
Planets, &c. whereby his Vertue is encreased and 
 augmented.

Dimetient, Lat. The Measurer: But see Dia­
meter, being the same thing.

Diopter, Gr A Rule or Line placed in the 
middle of an Astrolabe, or any the like Instrument; 
called by some Linea Fiduciae; by others, Alhida­
da. Which see before.

Direct, A Planet is then said to be Direct, when 
by its proper motion it goes forward in the Zodi­
ack according to the succession of the Signs, as from 
10 degr. of ਖ਼ to 20. and thence into &#264A;.

Direction, is a real motion perform'd by the 
motion of the Primum Mobile, whereby the Sun, 
Moon, or any other Star, or part of Heaven, that 
at a mans birth was his Significator, or undertook 
to effect any thing concerning him, are carried to 
another Star, or part of Heaven, signifying likewise 
something referring thereunto; and as it were ex­
pecting the same to compleat an effect; thereby
accomplishing what in the Radix was signified ac­
cording to the time of their Devolution each to 
other.




Discus, [Lat. properly a dish or platter, whence 
it comes to signify] any Figure Round and plain. 
And because the Bodies of the Luminaries, although 
really Spherical, by reason of their distance seem 
plain; therefore they are called Discus Solaris, vel 
Lunaris, the Disck of the Sun or Moon.

Dispositor, [Lat. The Disposer.] In Astro­
logy is that Planet which is Lord of the Sign in 
which another Planet happens to be, whom he is 
therefore said to dispose of.

Distance, A term oft used in Navigation, and 
signifies the Number of Degrees, Leagues, &c. that 
a Ship has Sailed from any proposed Point, or the 
distances in Degrees, Leagues, &c. of any two 
places.

Diurnal, [From Dies, a Day,] daily, or of or 
belonging to day. But Planets or Signs are called 
Diurnal, which contain more Active than Passive 
Qualities; as on the contrary, they that abound in 
Passive Qualities, are said to be Nocturnal. For 
Example, since Saturn is more cold than dry, Jupi­
ter more hot than moist, the Sun more hot than 
dry, they are term'd Diurnal Planets. But Mars 
being more dry than hot, and the Moon more moist 
than cold, are stil'd Nocturnal. The like observe 
of Signs.

Diurnal Motion, is so many degrees and mi­
nutes as a Planet moves by his proper Motion in 
24 hours.

Diurnal Arch, The Arch of degrees that the 
Sun, Moon, or Stars runs between their Rising and 
Setting.

Dodecaedron, Gr. From Dodeca, twelve, and 
Edron, a Side. A Figure in Geometry of Twelve 
Sides, or as Euclid defines it; A Solid Figure con­  




tained under Twelve equal Pentagons, of equal 
Sides and Angles. As Tetraêdron is a Figure con­
sisting of 4 Triangles; Octoêdron of eight Trian­
gles; Isoêdron, a Figure contained under twenty 
equal and equilateral Triangles: So the Dodecaê­
dron consists of twelve Pentagons.

Dodecatemorion, Gr. Properly the twelfth 
part of any thing, but generally used for a Sign, 
or 12th part of all Heaven: As when we say, the 
Dodecatemorion of Aries, or Taurus, &c.

Dominical [or Lords-day] Letter,  From 
the Lat. Dominicus, one of the first 7 Letters of the 
Alphabet, wherewith the Sundays are mark'd
throughout the year in Almanacks: To find which 
it is for every year, there are several Common Ta­
bles and Rules.

Dorick Order, [From the Dorii: A people 
of Achaia in Greece, where this sort of Building 
was first Invented.] One of the 5 Orders in Ar­
chitecture: The perfect description whereof, see 
in Vignola's Compleat Architect. pag. 5.

Dragons Head
and 
Tail, Two Points where the Or­
bit of the Moon Cuts the 
Orbit of the Sun, and the 
Ecliptick; the one of them tends Northwards, the 
Moon beginning there to have North Latitude, and 
the other Southward, where she Commences South
Latitude. This her Deviation from the Ecliptick 
seems to make a Figure like that of a Dragon, 
whose Belly is where she has the greatest Latitude, 
and the Intersections represent the Head and Tail; 
from which resemblance 'tis so called. But note, 
these Points abide not always in one place, but have 
a motion of their own in the Zodiack, but almost 
Retrograde almost 3 minutes a day.




 Duplicate, [or Double] Proportion; double 
the size or proportion of one Figure or Body to 
another Figure or Body.

Duplicate Reason. See Euclid. Elem. 5. De­ 
fin. 10.

Dysis, The 7th House, sometimes so called. 
The word in Greek signifying the West.


E 

EArthy Triplicity,  Signs whose Nature and 
Influence participate of Earthy qualities, viz. 
Coldness and Dryness; which are Taurus, Virgo, 
and Capricorn.

Eccentrick, A Greek word, from Ec, the Præ­
position, and signifying, out of; and Centron, a 
Centre.] Not having the same Centre with the 
World, or with an assigned Circle, of which kind 
several Orbs were Invented by Ancient Astrono­
mers, to solve the Appearances of the Celestial Bo­
dies. Thus the Eccentrick Orb of any Planet, is
that the Concave and Convex of whose Deferent 
have each of them a different Centre from that of
the Universe: But because these Eccentrick Orbs 
are carried with a rapid motion about the Earth, 
they thought it necessary there should be two other 
Orbs to include and carry about the former, which 
in one part, viz. their Concave or Convex should 
be Eccentrick, and in the other Concentrick, (that 
is, having the same Centre with the World.) So 
that each Planet was supposed to have three seve­
 



ral Orbs, &c. But this confused Celestial Clockwork, the
Copernican System has pretty well removed.

Eclipse, [a wanting or failing, from the Greek 
word Ecleipsis] A deprivation of the Light of one 
of the Luminaries, when by their Conjunction in 
the Orbit of the Sun, his Face, by the Interpositi­
on of the Moons Body, is hidden from our sight: 
Or when at their Opposition in the same Orbit, 
the Moon, by the Shadow of the intervening
Earth, is obscured. But between an Eclipse of the 
Sun, and of the Moon, there are several differences. 
1. In the Lunar Eclipse, she really loses her Light, 
and is obscured, by wanting the Illumination of 
the Sun; but in the Solar, he loses not his Light, 
but onely we are deprived of it. So that to speak 
properly, we should call it an Eclipse of the Earth, 
rather than of the Sun. 2. As the Moons Eclipse 
is Real, so 'tis Universal, and appears always in the 
same Quantity on every Superficies of the Earth, 
where 'tis visible; but the Suns Eclipse is not Uni­
versal, but varied greater, lesser, or not at all, ac­
cording to the diversity of the several Climates. 
Lastly, the Moon always begins to be Eclipsed on 
the West side, the Sun on the East side their Bodies.

Ecliptick, [so called from the Greek Verb 
Ecleipo, which signifies to fail, or want, because 
under this Line, the Sun and Moon is in the middle 
of the Zodiack, and always suffer their Eclipses, or 
fail of their Light.] A Line, or rather a great Cir­
cle in Heaven, equally distant from its Poles, as the 
Equator is from the Poles of the World. This is 
called Via Solis, the Sun's Way, or Orbit, because 
the Sun never goes out of it; and is termed the 
Ecliptick, because all Eclipses happen therein.




Elections, [from the Lat. Eligo, to choose.] 
Astrologers mean by this Term certain opportuniti­
es of Times, elected (or chosen) by Astrological 
Observations, as most fit for such a particular Bu­
siness or Enterprise.

Elements, Lat. The first Roots or Principles 
of Things, as Fire, Air, Earth, and Water, whereof 
all Bodies are composed. So Letters are called the 
first Elements of Learning; and Euclid's Fifteen 
Books of Geometry are so called, because without 
being acquainted with the Principles therein laid 
down, no Mathematical work can be undertaken and 
demonstrated.

Elevated, [from the Lat. Elevo, to lift up] A 
certain pre-eminence of one Planet above another; 
or, A concurrence of Two to a certain Act, where­
in one being Stronger, is carried above the Weaker, 
and does alter and depress its Nature and Influence: 
But wherein this being Elevated consists, there are 
several Opinions; some say, when a Planet is near­
est the Zenith, or Meridian: Others will have it 
onely that Planet that is highest, or nearest to the
Apogoeum of his Eccentrick or Epicyle. And Argol 
admits of all these, and several other Advantages, 
and thence advises to collect the several Testimo­
nies, and that Planet who has most, shall be said to
be Elevated above the other.

Elevation of the Pole, The Heighth or 
Number of Degrees that the Pole, in any Latitude, 
is above the Horizon.

Elipsis, Gr. An Oval, or Geometrical Figure, 
in shape of an Egg, comprehended in one onely 
Line, but that not Circular, nor having all its parts 
equally respecting the Centre.

Elongation, Lat. The removal of a Planet 




to the furthest distance it can be at from the Sun; 
commonly taken notice of in Venus and Mercury.

Embolism, A Greek word, signifying the 
Interlacing, or putting in of a Day in the Leap-­
year, but used for the Excess of the Solar Year above 
the Lunar, whereby the Lunations happen every 
subsequent Year eleven days sooner than in that 
fore-going; which when they amount to 30 days, 
make a new Moneth, called the Embolismical Lu­
nation; which must be added, to make the common 
Lunar Year equal to the Solar.

Empyreum, [from the Greek word Pyr, sig­
nifying Fire] The Heaven of Heavens, the Throne 
of God, Residence of Angels, and Eternal Man­
sions of Saints.

Emergent, A Planets getting out from un­
der the Suns Beams, and becoming visible.

Enneatical Days
or 
Years, 
[from the Gr. En­
nea, Nine] Every 
9th. day of a Sick­
ness, or Year of one's Life, which is thought to 
bring some great alteration in the Disease, or Mu­
tation of Fortune. See Critical and Climacte­
rical.

"Enneatical" antedates the earliest OED citation (1728).



Epact, [quasi Epiaucta, that is, an Augmenta­
tion, or Additional Supply] 'Tis used for a Num­
ber whereby we note the Excess of the common 
Solar Year above the Lunar, and thereby may 
find out the Age of the Moon every Year: For 
the Solar Year consisting of 365 Days, the Lunar 
but of 354, the Lunations every Year get 11 days 
before the Solar Year; but thereby in 19 Years, 
the Moon compleats twenty times twelve Luna­
tions, or gets up one whole Solar Year; and hav­
ing finished that Circuit, begins again with the 




Sun; and so from 19 Years to 19 Years: for the 
first Year afterwards, the Moon will go before the 
Sun but 11 days; the second year, 22 days, which 
is called the Epact of that Year; the third Year, 
33 days; but 30 being an entire Lunation, cast 
that away, and counts that Years Epact onely 3; 
the next Years 14; and so on, adding yearly 11 
days, and casting away 30, when the Number 
amounts to more.

Ephemeris, [from the Greek Hemera, a Day] 
A Diary, or Day-book; but especially amongst 
Astronomers those Books which contain the daily 
Motions of the Planets, with their Aspects, and 
other Circumstances, for every day in the year, are 
called Ephemerides.

Epicycle, Gr. A little Circle, whose Centre is 
in the Circumference of a greater; or a small 
Orb, which being fix'd in the Different of a Planet, 
is carried along with its Motion, and yet with its 
own peculiar Motion carries the Body of the Pla­
net fastned to it round about its proper Centre; 
which antient Astronomers attribute to all the Pla­
nets, for solving their Appearances, except the 
Sun.

Epocha, [or rather Epoche. In Greek it signifies 
a Root or Begining] but 'tis generally taken for 
some remarkable Occurrence from whence, or man­
ner whereby, some Nations Date and Measure 
their Computation of Time; as the Olympiads 
amongst the Greeks, the Indictions among the Ro­
mans, &c.

Equal Reason. See Reason.

Equinoctial, 
or 
Equator, 
[From the Lat. Æquus, Equal; 
and Nox, the Night] A great 
Circle, equally dividing the 




Sphere into two parts, whereof one lies towards 
the North, the other towards the South Pole, this 
Circle lying in the middle, and equalling all parts: 
Whence by the Ancients 'tis called, Cingulum 
Mundi, the Girdle of the World; and also the Equi­
noctial, because those that live under it have always 
their Days and Nights both of a length, and so 
have we, and almost all the World, twice a year, 
when the Sun holds this Circle, entring the be­
gining of Aries or Libra, which are called Equi­
noctial Points, or Signs, for that reason; and the 
Times, the Vernal, or Autumnal Equinox.

To Erect a Figure, or draw a Scheme, Is 
onely to divide the 12 Houses aright, and put 
down the proper Sign, Degree, and Minute on
each Cusp, and the Planets in their proper places; 
so that your Figure may truly represent the Po­
sitions of the Celestial Bodies at that moment of 
time for which it is intended. See Fig. 2.

Errones, or Erratick Stars, [A Latin 
word, that properly signifies Wanderers] The Pla­
nets are usually called so, in contradistinction to the 
Fixed Stars, by reason of their having each a pe­
culiar Motion, and divers respects to each other, 
which by such Motion they daily change; where­
as the Stars of the several Constellations, though 
hurried daily round from East to West by the 
Primum Mobile, and back again by a most slow 
and imperceptible Motion of the Firmament; yet 
because themselves move not, but retain always 
the same place in the Firmament, and distance 
from each other, they are justly reputed, in respect 
of the others, Fix'd and Immovable: But these Er­
raticks, or Wanderers.

Essential Dignities, Certain real Advan­
 




tages, whereby a Planet is fortified: as when he is 
in his House, or Exaltation. See Dignities, and a 
Table of them always in Mr. Lilly's Almanack.

Eudemon, [In Greek, Eu signifies Good, or 
Well; and Daemon a Spirit] The Good Genius or
Spirit. The 11th. House of a Celestial Figure is so 
called, by reason of its good and prosperous Signi­
fications; as, store of Friends, Attainment of 
Hopes, &c.

Even Number, Is that which may be divided 
into two parts; as 4, 10, 40, &c. are Even Num­
bers, forasmuch as each of them may be divided 
into two equal parts, whereof their halves are 2, 5, 
20, &c.

Evenly Even, Is that which an Even Num­
ber doth measure by an Even Number; as 32 is 
said to be a Number Evenly even, because 8, an 
Even Number, doth measure it by 4, which is like­
wise an Even Number.

Evenly Odd, Is that which an Even Num­
ber doth measure by an Odd Number; as 30, 
which 2 or 6, Even Numbers, do measure by 15
or 5, Odd Numbers.

Exagonum, [from the Gr. Gonia, an Angle, 
and Hex, six] A Figure consisting of six Angles, 
but in Astronomy a Sextile Aspect. Hence Exagonal

"Exagonum" not found in OED.



Exagonal, Of or belonging to such a Figure 
or Ray. 'Tis sometimes written Hexagonum.

Exaltation, Lat. An Essential Dignity of a 
Planet, next in vertue to being in his proper House. 
Or a place where a Planets Influence is always ob­
serv'd to be very strong; which is, where a Planet 
of a contrary nature is very weak: As Sol, the 
Fountain of Light, in Aries, which is the Fall of 
Saturn, a Lover of Darkness; Jupiter, Author 




of Justice in Cancer, where Mars the Master of 
Misrule is in his Fall, so ☿ in Virgo the Fall of Ve­
nus; one signifying Science and Study, the other 
only Mirth and Pleasures, &c. Thus, Almansor an 
Ancient Astrologer in his Aphorisms to the King of 
the Saracens.

Exhalations, Lat. Vapours drawn up from 
the Earth or Sea into the Air, whereof are genera­
ted all kind of Meteors, as Rain, Hail, Snow, Thun­
der, Lightning, Comets, Falling Stars, &c.

Extraction of Roots, Radix, or the Root, 
is the side of a Figure, or a Number which being 
multiplied in it self, makes the Powers of that 
Number. And the Extraction is but the unravel­
ling of a Power (or Number proposed as a Power) 
to find the Root.

Hence the Extraction of the Square Root is the
finding a Number, which being multiplied in it 
self, shall make a proposed Number.

And the Extraction of the Cube Root is the find­
ing a Number, which being multiplied twice in it 
self, may equal a given Number.

Also the Extraction of a Biquadrat Root, is by
the untwisting of a given Number to find another, 
which being multiplied in it self, and again that 
Product in it self, may make the first given Num­
ber, &c.

Extream Reason, A Right Line is said to be 
divided according to Mean and Extreme Reason, 
when-as the whole is to the greatest Segment, as the 
greatest Segment is to the lesser. See the Demonstra­
tion in Eucl. Elem. 6. Def. 3.

Extuberous Body, Lat. A swelling Body, or 
bulging out, as the knobs on Galls are Extube­
rances.

Antedates earliest OED citation of "Extuberous" (1706).







F

FAce, The third part of every Sign ascribed to 
some Planet, who has therein one Essential Dig­
nity. See Decanate.

Fall, The Fall of a Planet is the Sign opposite 
to that wherein he is Exalted; in which he is said 
to suffer 4 Debilities.

Feral, [or Beastly.] From the Lat. Fera, a wild 
Beast. The Signs so called are &#264C;, and the latter 
part of ਗ਼. Not only because they are called and 
painted as wild Beasts, but because they have really 
some kind of Savage Influence, and give fierce and 
cruel Manners to a Native born under them, espe­
cially if the Luminaries be therein, and the Male­
volents in Angles. The Moon is also said to be 
Feral by some Authors when she is void of Course, 
that is, has separated from one Planet, and applies 
to no other whilst she remains in the same Sign.

Figure, Is defined by Eucl. Lib. 1. Def. 14. to be 
a quantity included under such or such terms or 
bounds. As a Plain Figure, a Spherical Figure, &c. 
But in Astrology 'tis taken for a Scheme or Draught 
of the face of Heaven at some determinate time.

Figurate Number, Is a Number made by 
the multiplication of one Number or more by ano­
ther.

Fiery Triplicity, Are such Signs of the Zo­
diack as excel the rest in Fiery Qualities, viz. Heat 
and Driness, which are &#264C;, ੘, and ਗ਼.





Fraction, From the Lat. Frango, to break. A 
broken Number expressing so many parts of a 
whole, as 2/4 two fourths, that is, one half of any 
thing.

Frigid [or Frozen] Zones, The space be­
tween the Poles of the World, and the Arctick and 
Antarctick Circles respectively, imagined by the 
Ancients, to be altogether uninhabitable, because 
of its excessive Cold.

Finitor, [From the Lat. Finis; the Bounder 
or End.] The Horizon or great Circle dividing 
the upper Hemisphere from the lower, is so cal­
led; because it bounds our sight, which conceives 
that there the Earth and Heavens meet.

Firmament, The Eighth Orb, or Heaven of 
the Fixed Stars.

Fired Signs, Are ਖ਼, &#264C;, &#264F;, and ੜ, so called, 
because the Sun passes them respectively in the 
middle of each Quarter, when that particular sea­
son is more setled and fix'd than under the Sign 
that begins or ends it. Thus the Spring wholly 
prevails when the Sun's in ਖ਼. Summer when in &#264C;. 
Autumn when in &#264F;. And Winter when in ੜ. Be­
sides their Nature and Influence tends more to Sta­
bility and Duration, as may be observ'd in Plant­
ing of Trees, Building, &c.

First Mover. See Primum Mobile.

Forestaff, or Crostaf, An Instrument at Sea, 
for observing the Sun or Stars, &c. with ones face 
towards the object.

Fortitudes, [From the Lat. Fortitudo, strength.] 
Certain advantages which Planets have to make 
their Influences more strong, by being so or so Po­
sited, Qualified or Affected. See Dignities.

Fortunes, The two benevolent Planets ♃ and 




♀, by reason of their kind and friendly Nature, are
generally so called. As ♄ and ♂ for a contrary Na­
ture, are called Infortunes.

Fruitful, [or Prolifick] Signs, are &#264B;, &#264F;, and 
੝. The meaning is, if one enquire if he shall have 
Children, and the Moon and principal Significators 
be in any of these Signs, and strong, there is no 
doubt but he will have Issue.

Frustum, A Latin word signifying a Bit, or 
Piece cut off, or separated from any Body: As the 
Frustum of a Cone is a part or piece thereof.

Frustration, [From the Lat. Frustro, to pre­
vent, or make void.] Is a kind of Debility which 
happens to a Planet when he is applying to the 
Conjunction of another, being within Orbs; but 
before they are Corporally joyn'd one of them be­
comes Retrograde, and so he is frustrated of his 
End.

Furlong, The Eighth part of a Mile, or For­
ty Rods.

Furniture of a Dial, Such are the Paral­
lels of Declination, Length of the day, Azimuths, 
or Points of the Compass; the Planetary Hours, 
Babylonish and Jewish Hours, &c. for Ornament.


G

GAlaxia, [A Greek word, from Gala, Galactos, 
Milk.] See the Milky way.

Gemini, A Latin word signifying Twins.] 
The third Sign in order of the Zodiack, the House 




of Mercury, Common, Airy, and Humane. And 
note this Constellation of &#264A; like the rest, is gone 
back out of its place in the 8th Sphere since Pto­
lemy's time, and begins at 25 &#264A;, and is Extended to 
the 25 of Cancer.


Genesis,
or
Geniture, 
The first a Greek, the second a Latin 
word, both signifying the Birth or 
Nativity of a man, but more used 
for the Figure of Heaven artificially erected for 
that moment of time when an Infant is brought 
into the World. Hence Genethliacal, of or be­
longing to such Geniture or Figure.

Geocentrick,
[From the Greek Gè, the Earth, 
and Centron, the Centre.] Any Planet or Orb that 
has the Earth for its Centre, or the same Centre 
with the Earth.

Geodoesia, Gr. The Art of Measuring Land, 
or Surveying.

Geographie, [From the Greek Gè, the Earth, 
and Grapho, to write, or describe.] A description 
of the habitable World, or a general Survey of 
the whole Terrestrial Globe, containing the Scitua­
tion of all Countreys and Continents, distance of 
Places each from other, &c.

Geometrie, [A Greek word, from Gè;, the 
Earth, and Metron, measure;] signifying no more, 
in a strict sense, but Measuring of the Earth; and 
therefore was anciently used for the two words last 
explained; but now it has been long appropriated 
to the most noble of all the Mathematical Scien­
ces. The Consideration of Continued Quantity, or 
Sensible Magnitudes, whose parts, though never so 
vast or remote, by its Demonstrations are under­
stood and exactly measur'd; so that indeed it has 
the whole Universe for its Object. And therefore 




the profound Dr. Dee would rather have it called
Megethologia, (from the Gr. Megethos, Magnitude, 
and Logos, Speech or Reason) that is, the conside­
ration of Bulk, or all kinds of Magnitudes, rather 
than that narrow unfit name of Geometry.


"Megethologia" not found in OED.



Geomancy, An Art that teaches to resolve 
Questions, and foretel things to come, by certain 
Circles or Pricks made in the Earth; but now it is 
performed somewhat after the manner of Astro­
logy, by Figures on Paper. See Cattons Book of 
this Art. 'Tis derived from Ge and Mantia, A Di­
vination, whence also comes Necromancy, and other 
the like words.

Giver of Life. See Alcochoden, or Hylech.

Globe, Is properly, A solid Body, exactly 
round, contained under one Surface; such as the 
Bodies of the Planets, the Earth, &c. But the word 
is now usually attributed to Two Artificial Repre­
sentations of Heaven and Earth; of which, one 
called the Celestial Globe, shews the several Con­
stellations and Stars, the Circles, Longitudes, and 
Latitudes of each part of Heaven, fitted with 
their Horizon and Meridian to every Elevation of 
the Pole, &c. The other nam'd the Terrestrial 
Globe, discovers on its Surface the Description of 
the whole Earth and Sea, with its Meridians and 
Parallel Circles, &c. whereby the Longitude, La­
titude, and Distance of Places from each other, 
may be presently understood.

Gnomon, [A Greek word, signifying a Shewer, 
or Discoverer, but used for ] The Pin, or Cock, 
or Style of a Dial, the Shadow whereof pointeth out 
the Hour. Hence is called -------Gnomonice

Gnomonice, The Art of Dialling, or that 
part of Astronomy, which by the Shadow of the 




Sun, and sometimes the Moon, artificially made, 
measures their Course, and the space of Time, in 
Hours or otherwise, which elapses during the same, 
and plainly exhibits it to our view.

Golden Number, (so called, because for its 
great use it was yearly set up publickly in Golden 
Letters) Is an Artificial Revolution of a Nineteen 
years Circle, distributed for the years following from 
One to Nineteen, and then begining again.

To find the Golden Number, add One to the 
Year of our Lord, and divide by 19, the Remainder 
is it; but if none remain, then 19 shall be the Gol­
den Number. It was first invented to find out the 
Lunations and Movable Feasts; but at this day 
'tis very insufficient: and therefore Origanus mer­
rily says, Since it will no longer perform its business 
without gross error, instead of Golden he'll call it 
the Leaden Number.

The Golden Rule, The Rule of Three is 
so intituled, by way of Excellency in Arithmetick, 
teaching from Three Numbers known, to find out 
a Fourth unknown, perform'd by multiplying the 
Third Number by the Second, and dividing the 
Product by the First, the Quotient gives the Fourth 
Proportional Number sought for.

Great Circles, Are such as divide the Sphere 
or Globe into Two equal Parts, and are commonly 
accounted Six in number; viz. the Horizon, the 
Meridian, the Equinoctial, the Ecliptick, and the
two Colures.

Great Circle-Sailing, Which directs a 
Ship the nearest Course between two places, in the 
Arch of a Great Circle, would the Winds favour 
to keep therein.

Gregorian Year, The New Account, or 




New Style, instituted upon the Reformation of the 
Calendar, by Pope Gregory the 13th. (from whom 
it takes the name) Anno Domini, 1582. whereby 
ten days being then taken out of the Moneth of 
October, the days of their Months go always ten 
days before ours, as their 11th. is our first day. 
Which new Style or Account is used in most parts 
beyond the Seas, and does much better agree with 
the Solar Year, but yet not exactly. How to do it 
infallibly for ever, see a small Treatise, Intituled, 
The Jewish Calendar explain'd, written by H. Care, 
and some years since published.

Gunter's Chain, 
Quadrant, 
Rule, 
Scale, and 
Sector. 
All useful Ma­
thematical In­
struments, in­
vented, or 
much
improv­
ed by that famous Mathematician, Mr. Edmund
Gunter, sometimes Professor of Astronomy in
Gresham-Colledge, London, and from him bearing
their names. The Descriptions and several Uses 
of all which, being not to be declared in a few 
words, and already set forth by himself, I shall thi­
ther refer the Philo-Mathematick Reader.

Gyre, A whirling Motion, or swift Turning 
round, such as we see in the Flie of a Jack, &c. 
The word is Originally Greek, but used in Latin in 
the same sense.





H

HAle, A Circle about the Sun, Moon, or Stars, 
with a seeming brightness like Rays, being 
thick Vapours, not resolved, but gathered together 
into that part of the Air above which the Star is, 
and so inlightned by its beams, appear like a bright 
Ring round about the Body of the Sun or Star. See
Parhelia.

Hayz,, An Arabian word, used in Astrology, 
to signifie a certain Dignity or strengthning of a 
Planet, by his being in a Sign of his own Sex, and 
a part of the World agreeable to his own Nature; 
as when a Masculine and Diurnal Sign is in the 
day-time above the Earth, and in a Masculine Sign; 
Or a Feminine Nocturnal Planet, in the Night, in 
a Feminine Sign, and under the Earth: But if he be 
onely in a Sign of his Sex, and under the Earth 
in the day-time, being a Diurnal Planet, then he 
is said to be in his Light, but not in Hayz.

Heart of the Sun. See Cazimi.

Heighth of a Figure, Is the Perpendicular 
Line drawn from the Top of the Base. See the Ex­
planation in Eucl. Elem. 6. Def. 4.

Heighth of the Pole. See Elevation of the 
Pole.

Heliacal Rising, [or a Rising of a Star from 
the Sun] Is, when a Star having been under the 
Suns Beams, gets from the same so as to be seen 
again. And Heliacal Setting is, when a Star, 




by the near approach of the Sun, first becomes in­
conspicuous. This is reckoned in the Moon but at 
17 Degrees distance, or thereabouts; but in other 
Stars 'tis as soon as they get distant, or come near 
the Sun by the space of a whole Sign.

Helicosophie, [from Helix, a Spiral-Line, and
Sophia, Wisdom, Craft, or Skill] An Art Mathe­
matical, which demonstrateth the designing of all 
Spiral-Lines in Plano, on Cylinder, Cone, Sphere,
Conoid, and Sphearoid, and their Properties ap­
pertaining. The use whereof in Architecture, and 
divers Instruments and Engines, is most necessary; 
for in many things the Screw worketh the Feat, 
which else could not be performed.

Helix, A Greek word, signifying a winding 
Spiral Figure, or a crooked Line, which is une­
qually distant from the midst of the space, howsoever inclosed.

Hemisphere, [half the Sphere] Generally ta­
ken for one of the two parts made by the Horizon, 
dividing the Heavens into two Segments, whereof 
one is always conspicuous to us, the other not to be 
seen.

Heptagon, [from the Greek Hepta, seven; 
and Gonia, an Angle] A Figure of seven Angles, 
whence Heptagonal, an Adjective, of or belonging 
to such a Figure.

Heteroscii, A Greek word, often used amongst 
Cosmographers, which signifies onely, People that 
have their shadows cast but one way at Noon, such 
are we English, and all the Inhabitants of the Tem­
perate Zones, viz. on either side the Equator, from 
the Tropicks to the Arctick and Antarctick Circle; 
our Shadow at Noon being to the North, theirs to 
the South: Whereas they that live between the 




Tropicks, cast their Shadow now one way, and then 
another, and once a year have no Shadow at all at 
Noon, the Sun being Vertical, or right over their heads.

Hexagon, or Exagonon, A Figure that con­
sists of six Angles, or a Sextile Aspect. From Hex, 
six, and Gonia, an Angle.

Heterogenial, Of a different kind, not alike, 
nor of the same nature; from the Greek Heteros, 
another, or different; and Genos, a Kind or Race.

Holometrum, [The General Measure, or 
Measure of the whole] A Mathematical Instrument, 
for the easie Measuring of any thing; invented by 
Abel Tull, who published a Book of its use. 'Tis de­
rived from Holos, the whole, and Metron, Measure, 
in Greek.

Homocentrick, Having the same or a like 
Centre. See Concentrick; from the Gr. Homos, 
alike; and Centron, a centre.

Homogeneal, [from the same Homos and Ge­
nos] Of the same kind or sort, alike, that which dif­
fers not in Nature, agreeable, &c.

Homologal, Agreeable, or alike to one an­
other in Reason: As when we say, There is the 
same reason of A to B, as of C to D. Here A is 
Homologal to C, as B to D, because of the simili­
tude between Antecedents and Consequents.

Horary Question, A Question ask'd at a cer­
tain Hour. 'Tis a Term used in Astrology, when 
one goes to an Artist, and propounds a Question 
to him, he presently erects a Figure for that Hour,
in which you declare your mind, and from the face 
of Heaven at that time, pretends to resolve you. 
A Horary Question being the Birth or Delivery of 
the Mind, as a Nativity is of the Body; and if it 




be Radical, and soberly ask'd of a discreet Artist, 
there may be no contemptible satisfaction obtained 
by it.

Horizon, [From the Greek word Horizein, 
to Bound, Enclose, or Terminate] A Great Circle 
in the Sphere, so called, because it bounds our sight, 
and divides the upper Hemisphere, or part of the 
Heaven which we behold, from the other lower 
part, which is inconspicuous. More plainly, It is the 
Circle where the Heavens and Earth seem to meet, 
as far off as you can see when you turn your self 
about at Sea, or in an open field: And above 
which, when the Sun or any Star comes, 'tis said to 
Rise; when it goes below it, to Set. But yet more 
particularly, the Horizon is to be considered two 
manner of ways.

First, the Natural Horizon.

Secondly, the Mathematical Horizon.

The first is that apparent Circle we have just now
described. But the second, which is oftner made use 
of in the Doctrine of the Sphere and Astronomy, 
Is a great Circle which divides that part of Heaven 
which we call above us, from that which is counted 
under us, precisely into two equal parts, whose 
Poles are the Zenith and Nadir; and in which Cir­
cle, the Azimaths, or Vertical Circles are numbred; 
and likewise by it our Days and Nights measured 
out unto us; for whilst the Sun is above the Ho­
rizon, it is Day; and when under, Night.

Horizontal Line, Any Line drawn parallel 
to the Horizon, upon a Plain, or Dial.

Horizontal Proiection, A Projection of the 
Sphere in Arches of Circles, called Stereographick, 
wherein the Sphere is pressed into the Plain of the 




Horizon, and the Meridians and Parallels of the 
Sphere projected thereon.

Horologiography, The Art of Making, or 
Treating of Clocks, Dials, and other Instruments, 
to tell the time of the Day. From Horologium, a 
Clock or Dial; and Grapho, to Write or Treat of.

Horometrie, [from the Gr. Hora, an Hour; 
and Metron, Measure] The Art of Measuring or 
Dividing Hours, and keeping Account of Time.

Horoscope, [from the Gr. Horos, the utmost 
bounds of a thing, and Scopeo, to view, watch, or 
look abroad as far as one can] The Angle of the 
East, or that part of Heaven which Arises every 
moment from the lower Hemisphere to our sight, 
exactly East; the Ascendant, or first House; but 
more properly, the Sign and Degree on the Cusp 
of that House. And since the same has a very great 
signification of the Constitution, Corporature, and 
Manners of a Native, 'tis used in Authors sometimes 
for the General Fate of a Man's Life. It differs, as 
you may perceive, from Horizon, because that is 
the whole Circle round about, this onely that point
of the Ecliptick which lies in the East.

Hour-Circle, Is part of the Furniture of a 
Globe, being a small Brazen Circle fitted on the 
Meridian, whose Centre is the Pole of the World, 
divided into 24 Hours, which in a Revolution of 
the Globe, are all pointed at with an Index for that 
purpose, fitted on the Axis of the Globe. See Tutor 
to Astronomy, p. 6.

Houses of Heaven, A Twelfth part of the 
Heavens, considered in the situation of the World, 
is called a House. For Astronomers divide the 
whole Sphere into Four equal parts, by the Meri­
dian and Horizon, and each of these Quadrants 




into Three other parts, thereby making Twelve 
Divisions of the whole, which are called Houses, 
which are reckoned in order, contrary to the Mo­
tion of the Primum Mobile: As, the first House is 
the Horoscope; the second, not that which the 
Stars come to next above the Earth, but that to­
wards the North, under the Earth. Of the reason for 
this division of the Heavens, and why such a parti­
cular Signification is ascribed to each House, see 
Morine in Astrologia Gallica; or that exquisite 
Tract by Mr. Coley, in English, called, The Key to 
Astrology new Filed.

Humane Signs, Are counted amongst 
Astrologers not onely those Signs of the Zodiack, 
which have, as it were, the form of Man, as Gemi­
ni, Virgo, Aquarius, and the first half of Sagitta­
rius; but also such Asterisms without the Zodiack, 
as are usually represented in humane shape, as Per­
seus, Andromeda, Cassiopoea, Cepheus, Orion, &c. 
It being found by experience, that the same were 
not either casually or fantastically ranged in such 
Figures, by the wisdom of the Antients, but by 
reason of a certain Affinity, Connexion, or Sym­
pathy which they had with Mankind. Hence that 
common Axiom in Astrology, The meeting of the 
Infortunes in a Humane Sign, especially in the 8th. 
House, causes the Pestilence, and great Mortality 
amongst men. And that of Ptolomy, in Contiloquio, 
Whoever has neither the Lords of his Geniture, nor 
the Ascendent, in Humane Signs, will himself be a 
stranger to Humanity, or of churlish savage be­
haviour.

Hydrography, [from the Gr. Hydor, Water, 
and Grapha, to Write or Treat of] An Art con­
versant in the Description and Measuring of the Sea, 




or great Waters; teaching how they may be Sail'd, 
or pass'd over with greatest conveniency; the 
Nature of Bays, Rocks, Shelves, Counter-Tides, 
Soundings, and other Remarkables on the Coasts; 
what Winds they lie obnoxious to, how far in a
Right Line one Port is from another, &c.

Hyleg, or Hylech, An Arabick word, signi­
fying, The Giver of Life; A Planet, or part of 
Heaven, which in a Man's Nativity, becomes, in 
an Astrological sence, the Moderator or Significa­
tor of his Life. Hence

Hylegiacal Places, Are such, as when a 
Planet happens to be posited therein, he may be 
said to be Hyleg, or fit to have the Government of 
Life attributed to him; which places are generally 
reckon'd five, viz. The Ascendent, the Mid-­
Heaven, the 7th. House, the 9th. and the 11th. 
House.

Hypogeon, [under the Earth, from the Greek 
Preposition, Hypo, under, and Ge, the Earth] but
especially the 4th. House, or Imum Coeli is so called.

"Hypogeon" not found in OED (but see "hypogeum," from 1706).



Hypoteneusa, [a Greek word, properly sig­
nifying, A Line drawn under] but used by Geo­
metricians, when a Right Line is drawn under two 
Right Lines, that make a Right Angle, and of 
which, one is bigger than the other, then the Line 
subtended (or Hypoteneusa) must needs exceed each 
of them in length. As in Fig. 5. the Line B C is 
the Hypoteneusa to the Lines A B and A C.

Hypothesis, Gr. A Supposition, a Sentence 
laid down, and taken up for granted for Arguments 
sake, or to be discoursed of. So the several Models 
of the World conceited and delivered by Ptolomy, 
Copernicus, Tycho, &c. are called such an one's Hypothesis.





I


I JAcobs Staff, A Mathematical Instrument for 
taking Heights and Distances. See Cross-staff.

Ichnography, [from the Gr. Ichnos, a Pattern, 
and Grapho to Write] The Art of making of Mo­
dels of Building, a Plat-form, the Plot of a House to 
be built, drawn out on a Paper, describing the form 
of all the Rooms, Lights, Chimneys, &c. according 
to which form the Workman goes to work. See 
Vignola's Compleat Architect, in the Preface.

Icosaedron, Gr. A solid Figure, contained un­
der twenty Equal and Equilateral Triangles. 'Tis 
one of the five sorts of Regular Bodies; so called, 
because all the Plains wherein they are contained 
are Equal, Equilateral, and Equiangular. They are
by some term'd Platonical Bodies, because Plato in 
Timeo, compares the Simple Bodies of the World, 
Fire, Air, Water, Earth, and Sky, to these. The 
other four are, Cube, Tetraêdron, (or four Triangles) 
Octaêdron, (or eight Triangles) and Dodecaêdron, 
(or twelve Triangles.)

Ides. See Calends.

Ignis Fatuus, [Lat A foolish Fire] A Jack 
with a Lantern, or Will with the Wisp. An Exha­
lation or Light, frequently seen in Meadows, 
Church-yards, &c. supposed to lead people out of 
the way; by reason of its irregular skipping up and 
down, (as Fools use to do) according as the Air is 
agitated, 'tis called Fatuus.




 Impure Logarithm, Or a Defective Loga­
rithm, or the  Logarithm of less than Unity.

Imum Coeli, [Lat. The bottom of Heaven.] 
The fourth House in a Figure of the Heavens, 
called also Fovea, [the Ditch,] and Angle of the 
Earth.

Incidence, [Lat. A Falling upon] the place 
where two Lines or Rays meet, or light one upon 
the other.

Inclination,
[Lat. A bowing downward, or 
leaning awry] but when we speak of the Inclina­
tion of a Planet, we mean its motion towards such 
or such a Point in Heaven.

Incommensurable Quantities, are those 
which have no Aliquot part, or any common mea­
sure that may measure them: As is the Diameter 
of a Square, and the Side of the same Square. For 
although that each of those Lines have infinite 
Aliquot parts, as the half, the third, and other parts; 
yet not any part of the one, be it never so little, 
can possibly measure the other; as is demonstra­
ted, 10 Elem. Propos. 117. by Euclid.

Increas'd in Number, [Auctus Numero, in 
Latin.] A Planet is said to be so, when by his pro­
per motion he exceeds his mean motion. See 
Swift.

Index, [Lat. A Shewer, or Discoverer.] The 
Table of a Book. In Musick D. Sol. Re. in the 
Gamut. The longer piece of Wood of the two 
in a Jacob's Staff. In a Globe 'tis a little Ruler to 
be put upon the Pole, pointing out the time on the 
Hour-Circle.

Indiction, Lat. The space of fifteen years, in 
which space the Roman Tribute throughout all the 
Empire being Indicted, that is, appointed and limi­




ted to be paid in, they therefore used to reckon 
and date their Writings such a year of the Indi­
ction. To find this year of the Indiction for any 
year of our Lord, Add 3 to the year of our Lord, 
and divide by 15, what remains besides the Quo­
tient, is the year of the Indiction; if nothing re­
main, then 'tis 15.

Infortunes, Saturn and Mars are so called, 
because of their malevolent Natures, and unfortu­
nate Influences.

Informed Stars, [That is, without form.] 
Such of the Fixed Stars as are not cast into, or 
ranged under any Constellation, or form. See Spo­
rades.

Ingress, Lat. An Entrance upon, or going in­
to; 'tis used chiefly in Astrology, for the Sun's en­
tring the first Scruple of one of the four Cardinal 
Signs, especially Aries, which they account the 
Annual Revolution of the World.

Integer, [Lat. Whole, Entire, or Compleat.] 
In Arithmetick a whole Number: As one pound, 
whereas 4/4 four fourth parts of a pound signifies the 
same thing, and is only a way of expressing that 
Integer by Fractions.

Intercalary day,
[From the Lat. Inter, be­
tween, and Calo, to call, or insert.] The odd day 
put in, or inserted in the Leap-year, whereby the 
6th Calends of March (that is with us the 24th 
of February) was reckon'd twice.

Intersection,
A cutting off, a chopping of 
one Line upon, or through another. From Inter, 
between, and Seco, to cut.

Inverse;
See Transposed Reason.

Jonick, From Jonia, a Province of Greece. 
One of the Five Orders of Architecture, or Arti­




ficial modes of Building there first practised. See 
Vignola's Compleat Architect, p. 38.

Jove. See Jupiter; Jovis being only the Ge­
nitive Case thereof.

Joys of the
Planets, Are certain Digni­
ties hapning to them, either by being in the place 
of a Planet of like Condition and Nature, as the 
Sun, in houses of Jupiter, Saturn of Mercury, Ve­
nus of the Moon, &c. or in a house of the Figure 
agreeable to his own Nature. Thus ♄ delights in 
the 12th, ♃ the 11th, ♂ in the 6th, ਱  in the 9th, 
♀ in the 5th, ☿ in the Ascendent, and the Moon in 
the third.

Iris, Gr. The Rain-bow, called also by the 
Ancients, the Daughter of Thaumantis, that is, 
Wonder, from the admirable variety of Colours 
therein.

Irrational Lines,
Such as are Incommensura­
ble to a Rational Line supposed in Length and 
Power, and not in Length only. So Figures 
Incommensurable to the Rational Square, may be 
called Irrationals, or Surds. In like manner the 
Reason that is between Quantities Incommensura­
ble, is called Irrational Reason. For further Light, 
see the word Reason.

Isagon, A Figure consisting of equal Angles; 
From the Gr. Isos, equal; and Gonia, an Angle.

Antedates earliest OED citation for "Isagon" (1696).



Isoperimetrœ, From the same Isos, and Peri­
metros, a circuit. Figures that have equal Circum­
ference, or Contents.

Antedates earliest OED citation for "Isoperimetrœ" (a. 1690).



Isosceles, [A thing of equal shanks.] A trian­
gular Figure in Geometry, having two Sides only 
equal, but the third bigger or lesser than either of 
them.

Julian Year,
The old Account instituted by 




Julius Caesar, which to this day we use in England, 
in contra-distinction to the New Account framed 
by Pope Gregory.

Jupiter, [The Genitive Case in Latin being
Jovis, we often call him Jove in
English.] One of 
the seven Planets, placed above Mars, and next to 
Saturn, he is counted the greater Fortune, being of 
a benign temperate nature, and makes his Revo­
lution in about 12 years, and 312 days, having 
the Sun for his Centre; as the Learned Tycho ob­
serv'd. By Galilaeus and others assisted with the 
Telescope, notice has been taken of four Stars guard­
ing and waiting upon this Planet's Body, in seve­
ral Epicycles observing him for their Centre; be­
ing now further off, now nearer to him, sometimes 
hidden by him, &c. and yet their motion not equal; 
for one of them is observed to Compleat its Re­
volution in one day and about 18 hours, the second 
in three days and almost 13 hours, the third in se­
ven days and 4 hours, and the last in sixteen days 
and 18 hours. Some say this Planet is called 
Jupiter, as if we would say, Juvans Pater, an 
Helping Father, by reason of his kind Influ­
ences.


K

KAlends, See Calends.

Kalendar, See Calendar.

Kakotyche, [Gr. Evil Fortune.] The Sixth 
House of a Figure is sometimes so called, from its 




bad significations; as Diseases, &c. and being
the 
most Abject part of Heaven.

Not found in OED but see "kako-." 



The rest seek in Letter C.


L

LAtitude, [Lat. Breadth or Width.] A term 
used both by Astronomers and Geographers.

In Astronomy, 'tis the space that any Planet, or 
other Star does, or can wander from the Ecliptick 
towards either of its Poles: And as this deviation 
is either towards the North, or South, so it takes the 
denomination of North or South Latitude. Note, 
the Sun going on always in the very Ecliptick, can 
never have any Latitude, nor can it be above 9 de­
grees in any other of the Planets; but in fixed 
Stars it may be greater and greater, even to 90 
degrees, that is, to the very Poles of the Ecliptick. 
Nor did the Ancients think it could be above 6 de­
grees in any Planet; but experience in ♂ and ♀ proves the contrary.

In Geography, the distance of the Equator from 
the Vertex (Zenith, or Point of Heaven right over 
Head) of any Countrey or City, is called The La­
titude of that place; or more plainly, 'tis An Arch 
of the Meridian comprehended between the Equa­
tor and the Place enquired after; numbred on the 
Meridian from the Equator both ways, viz. North 
and South, till it come to the Poles, or 90 degrees; 
and agrees with the Elevation of the Pole above 
the Horizon; as the Elevation of the Equator 




above the Horizon agrees with the distance of the 
Pole from the Zenith.

Lemma, A Greek word that signifies an As­
sumption, or the Title or Argument in a Mathe­
matical Author of what he intends to Treat.

Leo, [Lat. The Lion.] The Fifth Sign in the 
Zodiack, thus characteriz'd &#264C;. 'Tis the House of 
the Sun, who therein causes the greatest heats, be­
ing of the fiery Triplicity, hot, dry, and barren, 
and therefore was called the Lion, for the resem­
blance it had to the nature of that Royal Ani­
mal.

Level, An Instrument used by Carpenters and 
other Mechanick Artificers, called in Latin Libra, 
or Libella, a Ballance: The use of it is for the try­
ing or examining of a Plain or Floor, whether it 
do lye parallel to the Horizon or not: As the Plumb­
rule is for trying of an erect Perpendicular, as a 
Column-Pillar, &c. whether it stand right, or 
not.

Libra, [Lat. The Ballance.] One of the Signs 
exactly opposite to Aries, thus mark'd &#264E;; and cal­
led so, because when the Sun enters thereinto, he 
makes the days and nights even, as if they were 
pois'd in a pair of Scales. 'Tis the house of Ve­
nus, and Exaltation of Saturn, Airy, movable, hot, 
moist, &c. Ptolemy observes that persons born un­
der this Sign, are of good Countenances, and plea­
sing Manners; but for the most part, the cause of 
their own deaths.

Light of the Time, Is the Sun in the day­
time, and the Moon in the night: For so we know 
they were Originally appointed, the Sun to Rule by 
day, and the Moon by night.

Light, A Planet is said to be Light, that is, nim­
 




ble or quick, compared to another that moves 
slower: As the Moon in respect of all the Planets. 
The Sun in regard of the 3 Superiors. But ab­
solutely the 3 inferiors, Venus, Mercury, and the 
Moon, are called Light, and the Superiors Pon­
derous, [or heavy,] because generally their Diurnal 
motion does not exceed that of these; though some­
times when ♀ and ☿ are retrograde, or stationary, 
the Superiors move faster than they.

Limbus, [A Latin word signifying a Border, 
or Fringe,] used by Astronomers for the outtermost 
Limb of an Astrolabe, or the like Geometrical Instru­
ment, in the Plane whereof are inscribed the hours 
and degrees thereunto answering, the names of 
Winds, &c.

OED records this sense of "Limbus" first in 1738.



A Line, Is a Length void of Breadth, or as 
others define it, the Flux of a Point conceived to 
move from place to place, Length being the proper 
difference of a Line, as Breadth is of a Superficies, 
or Solidity of a Body; yet is there not such a Line 
without Breadth in any material thing. But as the 
Point, so the Line which we draw, is the Sign of 
that which we Conceive in mind: For if the Point 
which we Conceive be moved, and leaveth an Ima­
ginary Tract, that shall be a Line; Long, by rea­
son of the motion, but not Broad, because the 
Point from whence it proceedeth, is void of all 
Extension.

Line of Incidence, A Ray starting from 
some Luminous Body, and ending on a Point of 
some Superficies; the knowledg whereof is chief­
ly necessary for finding out the Greatness and Du­
ration of an Eclipse.

Line of the mean Motion, A Right Line 
terminating the mean motion or place of a Star, 




which in an Epicycle is imagined to be drawn from 
the Centre of the World to the Center of the same 
Star; but in the Eccentrick from the Center of the 
Eccentrick, by the Centre of the Star to the  Eclip­
tick.

Logarithms, [Derived from two Greek  
words, Logos, reason, and Arithmoi, Numbers,] Are 
Artificial Numbers invented by Arithmeticians, to 
the end that being put in the place of Natural Num­
bers, they may be fit to manifest what Progressive 
difference there is in them: For they always keep 
in themselves the same Progression Arithmetical, as 
those in whose stead they are Constituted, do Pro­
gression Geometrical. Hence it comes to pass, that
when 4 Numbers have proportion one to the other, 
the Sum of the Logarithm of the first and last shall 
be equal to the Sum of the 2 middle ones. As 
for Example, take two Numbers, 4 and 8, where 
one is as big again as the other. Hence the like pro­
portion shall be between all Numbers doubly as 
big as each other: As between 5 and 10, 12 and 
24, 24 and 48, 50 and 100, &c. And therefore 
the Logarithms of the Numbers, 4 and 10, 4 and 
24, 4 and 48, 4 and 100, added together, will be 
equal to the Aggregate of the Logarithms, 8 and 5, 
8 and 12, 8 and 24, 8 and 50, &c. The use of 
these Logarithms is very excellent, both for ease 
and saving of time; for whatever can be done by 
the Golden Rule by a wearysome Calculation, and 
tedious Circuit through Multiplication and Divi­
sion, that a 4th Number unknown, may be found 
out from 3 known; this by Logarithms is per­
formed at one single operation: For if 2 Numbers 
be to be multiplied, take their Logarithms, and you 
have your intent only by Addition: If to be divi­
 



ded, you need onely use Substraction. For example, 

43 ----- Log. ----- 1, 633468
25 ----- Log. ----- 1, 397940
                           -----------
1075 ---Log. ----- 3, 031408

Would you multiply 43 by 25; set down those 
Numbers, and against them set their respe­
ctive Logarithms. So the Logarithm of 43 is 
1, 633468; of 25 is 1, 397940, which added, 
make 3, 031408. Which Logarithm being found 
in the Table, the absolute Number answering 
thereunto is 1075. And so much is the Product of
43 multiplied by 25.

Logistica, [being of the same derivation with 
the last Word] Is a part of Arithmetick, which 
applies the Rules of Computing, Multiplying, and 
Dividing, to Degrees of Signs, Circles, and Angles; 
as also to Days and Hours, Minutes of Degrees or
Hours, &c.

Longitude, [Lat. Length] Is considered in a 
two-fold respect: Either by Astronomers, and 
then 'tis reckon'd in the Zodiack, from the first De­
gree of Aries to the last of Pisces; and this by Cir­
cles passing by the Poles of the Zodiack, and each 
of its Degrees at opposite places. So that the Arch of 
the Ecliptick intercepted between the first Degree of 
Aries, and that Circle which passes through 
the Centre of any Star, shall be said to be the Lon­
gitude of that Star; and the more 'tis distant from 
the said point, the greater is its Longitude.

But Longitude, amongst Geographers, is, 
An Arch of the Equator, comprehended between the 
first Meridian, and the Meridian of the Place you 




enquire after; and shows how much one Place is 
more Eastern or Westernly than the other. For the 
greater a Places Longitude is, so much the more is 
it situate towards the East, and consequently the 
Sun Rises earlier, and comes to the Meridian 
sooner. Whence to compute the first or true Me­
ridian, whether from the Canaries, or Fortunate 
Islands, according to Ptolomy and the Ancients; or 
the Azores, as most of the Moderns do, has been 
heretofore disputed; nor is it much material, if the 
World were but agreed upon it: We always in 
our Maps and Globes reckon it from the Isle Gra­
tiosa, one of the Azores. By this, the Greater or 
Lesser Distance of Places from each other may be
found out, allowing for every Degree 60 Miles.

Lord of the Year, Is that Planet that has most 
Testimonies of Fortitude in a Revolutional Fi­
gure.

Lord of the Geniture, Is that Planet that 
has greatest strength in the Figure of any Persons 
Nativity, (called Geniture, from the Latin word 
Gigno, to beget) and so becomes principal Signifi­
cator of his Temperament, Manners, Affections of 
his Body, &c. But what Planet this shall be, is con­
troverted: for Julius Firmicus, a celebrated Au­
thor, that flourish'd about 320 years after Christ, 
would have it to be the Lord of that Sign into 
which the Moon enters next after the Birth, ex­
cept onely the Luminaries, as being universal Sig­
nificators. But we must note this Author to be a bet­
ter Latinist than Astrologer; and the sounder opi­
nion is, To constitute that Planet of the Five, Lord, 
that being in fit Places, shall have most Dignities 
in the places of the Luminaries, the Ascendant, the 
Mid-Heaven, and part of Fortune.




Lord of the Hour, Is a Planet governing 
each 12th. part of the Day, and also of the Night, 
severally and respectively, divided into 12 parts, 
which therefore we call Unequal, (as being varied 
according to the Length of the Day) or Planetary 
Hours, beginning at Sun-rising, and the first Hour 
attributed to that Planet which that Day is assigned 
to, as on Sunday to ਱, on Munday to ☾, and so count­
ing downwards, as the Planets are situate, and be­
ginning again, till all the 12 Hours are past, and 
then going on with the next Planet for the Night; 
but reckoning a greater or lesser space for the No­
cturnal Hours, as the Night happens to be Longer 
or Shorter than the Day. Some Authors ascribe a 
great deal of vertue to these Horary Rulers; but the 
Judicious Morine seems to slight the observation of 
them.

Lucifer, [Lat. a Bringer of Light] Venus is 
called so, when she is Oriental, and Rises before the 
Sun; which the Greeks also term Phosphorus, and 
the Vulgar, The Day-Star: So when she Sets after 
the Sun, she is called Hesperus, or the Evening-­
Star.

Luminaries, [Lat. Great Lights] The Sun 
and Moon, called so by way of Eminence, for their 
extraordinary Lustre, the one ruling the Day, the 
other the Night.

Luna, The Latine name for the Moon, the 
lowest or next to Earth of the seven Planets, Femi­
nine, and Nocturnal; for that borrowing her Light 
from the Sun, she excels in Passive Qualities and 
Moisture: And therefore as the Sun presides over 
the Heart, Spirits, and Blood, so the Moon over the 
Brain, Bowels, and Phlegm. She perfects her course 
in the Zodiack in the space of 27 days, 7 Hours, 




and 41 Minutes; but till she overtakes the Sun 
again, is required 29 Days, 12 Hours, and 44 Mi­
nutes. Hence arises a three-fold Moneth, of Pera­
gration, or Periodical, wherein she finishes her Re­
volution. 2ly. Synodical, the space of time between 
her parting from, and returning to the Sun. And 
3ly. The Moneth of Illumination, that is, the space 
that she is visible to be seen, which is about 26 Days 
and 12 Hours. There have not been wanting some, 
both Ancient and Modern Philosophers, that have 
conceited the Body of the Moon to be Inhabitable; 
but this seems repugnant to Divinity. Quae supra 
nos, nihil ad nos.


M

MAgick, [from Magos, a Greek word, signi­
fying an Interpreter of Divine Mysteries, 
properly the study of Natural Wisdom] A good 
and innocent Science, teaching the knowledge and 
mutual application of Actives to Passives, thereby 
performing many excellent and wonderful works. 
Such were the Three Magi, or Wise men that came 
out of the East to worship our Saviour. But after­
wards the Study being depraved by the Arabians, 
and fill'd with many Superstitious Vanities, the 
word became to be taken in an ill sense, for Conju­
ration, or some such wicked Art, that by confede­
racy with, and the assistance of the Devil, does either 
truly do, or rather in a jugling deceitful way 
seem to perform some Miraculous Operations, or 




above the ordinary attainments of Humane Na­
ture. In which Pliny represents Zoroaster as the 
first Grand Master.

Magnitude, [Lat. Greatness, or Bigness] Is 
the proper Subject of Geometry, about which 'tis 
busied; as Speech is of Grammar, or Reasoning of 
Logick. 'Tis defined to be, A Continued, or Con­
tinual Quantity. As Number is said to be a Discrete 
(or Disjoyned) Quantity; for one, two, three, four, 
do consist of one, two, three or four Unities, which 
are disjoyned and severed parts: whereas the parts 
of a Line, Surface, and Body, are contained and
continued without distinction or separation.

Malesick, [Causing evil or mischief, a Latin 
word, from Malus, Evil, and Facio, to do] But is
generally applied to Saturn or Mars, by reason of 
the ill effects attributed to them by Astrologers.

Mapp, [Lat. Mappa] a Geographical, and some­
times a Chorographical Description of the Earth, or 
some particular parts of it, projected upon a plain 
Superficies, describing the form of Countreys, Ri­
vers, Situations of Cities, Hills, Woods, and other Remarks.

Mars, [sometimes called Mavors, both Latin 
names for him] The third (in order descending) 
of the Planets, being in nature Hot and Dry, but 
excelling in Driness, finishing his Revolution in 
the space of almost two years. He (as all the rest of 
the Planets, except the Moon) has the Sun for his 
Centre, so that when he is Achronically opposite
to him, he seems to be below him, nearer the Earth, 
and appears almost as big as Venus, having a 
greater Parallax than the Sun, viz. four Minutes, 
as has oft been observed: Hence, when he is in the 
lowest Absis of his Orb, we find a great Intension 




of Heat, if it be Summer, or Remission of Cold in 
Winter: And the contrary, when he is in his Apo­
gæon; for the distance between them is said to be 
1690280 miles, and therefore no wonder if it 
somewhat increase or abate his Effects on Earth, 
as he is so much nearer to, or further from it. This 
Planet, by Astrologers, is called, The Lesser Infor­
tune, an Enemy to Humane Nature, by reason of 
his scorching and over-drying Qualities. He signi­
fies Military Men, Chyrurgeons, Smiths, &c. and 
of Diseases, such as proceed from Adust Choler and 
heat of Blood, as acute Fevers, Yellow Jaundice, 
Small-Pox, and the like.

Masculine 
Planets 
or 
Signs. 
 This Term is 
used by Astro­
logers, not to 
denote any real distinction of Sex in the Celestial 
Bodies, but onely Analogically serves to signifie 
the Qualities they are principally endued with: 
For if a Planet or Sign excel in Active Qualities, 
(that is, Heat, or Coldness) then 'tis said to be Mas­
culine; but if its Passive Qualities (that is, Moi­
sture, and Driness) exceed, then 'tis called Feminine. 
Of Planets, Venus and the Moon are counted Fe­
mine, all the rest Masculine, except Mercury, who is 
a kind of an Hermaphrodite: Of Signs, Aries, Ge­
mini, Leo, Libra, Sagittary, and Aquary, are
Mas­
culine; the other six Feminine.

Mazzaroth, A Chaldean word, signifying the 
Zodiack; 'tis used, Job 38. 32. Canst thou bring forth
Mazzaroth in his season? but seems there to intend 
some Constellation.

Mathematicks.
The word Mathesis being 
originally Greek, signifies Learning or Discipline. 
And the Ancients concluding onely those Sciences, 




which are founded upon Certainty, and proceed 
by Demonstration worthy of that name, called 
them, Mathematicks. They contain in general,
Geometry, Arithmetick, Astronomy, and Musick; 
but indeed comprehend many other most excellent 
and useful Branches of Learning; as, Cosmography, 
Hydrography, Opticks, Astrology, Navigation, Ar­
chitecture, &c. Of the Necessity, Profit, Extent, 
Use, Dignity, and Excellency of all which, see 
John Dee's most profound and incomparable Pre­
face to Euclid's Elements.

Matutine, [a Latin word, of, or belonging 
to the Morning] Astronomers call the other six 
Planets so, when being Oriental from the Sun, they 
are above the Earth when he Rises, and Vespertine 
when they Set after him. Now the three Superior 
Planets are strongest, being Oriental and Matutine;
but the three Inferiour, when they are Occidental 
and Vespertine. The reason is, because the first in 
the first Case, but the last in the second, do then 
descend to the lowest part of their Orb, are increased 
in light, and approaching nearer the Earth; and 
so on the contrary, the Inferiors Matutine, the Supe­
riors Vespertine, are weakned.

Measure of Time,
Is a matter much to be 
regarded in handling Nativities, that when you 
have a Direction, you may know how long it will 
be before it operates. For which purpose there are
three opinions: First, Ptolomy's, to direct the 
Ascendant by Oblique Ascensions, the Mid-heaven 
by Right Ascensions; and finding the Difference, 
allow for every Degree of the Equator one year. 
The second of Maginus, (induced thereto, as he 
confesses, by our late mentioned Dr. Dee of Lon­
don) which is, For the common Measure of one 




Years space in the Directions of every Significator, 
to take that Ark of the Equator agreeing to the 
apparent motion of the Sun at the time of birth, 
according to his Right Ascensions, and not Oblique 
Ascensions of the Region. The last, and now ge­
nerally approved and practised, is that of Valentine 
Naibod in his Comment upon Ptolemy, which is, 
to find the distance between the Significator and 
Promittor, as in the first way, and then reckon for 
one of those degrees, one year five days and eight 
hours, and for every minute, six days and four hours;
of which you have Tables in most Genethliacal
Authors.

Mechanicks, [From Mechanè, a Greek word, 
signifying Endeavour, Contrivance, or Invention.] 
Are those Operations which are dispatch'd as well 
by the labour of the hands, as of the brain. A skill 
enabling a Workman without knowledg of Ma­
thematical Demonstrations, perfectly to work, and 
finish any sensible work by the Mathematician De­
monstrated, or Demonstrable. Furthermore, as their 
Arts, so such Workmen themselves are often called
Mechanicks: A word ignorantly used by the 
Vulgar, in contempt, whereas there are scarce any 
Faculties more necessary to Humane Life.

Medium Coeli, Lat. In English, The Mid-­
Heaven, Is the tenth House, or Angle of the 
South in an Astrological Figure: In which, Planets 
and Stars have the greatest Altitude that they can 
have, and consequently dart Rays more direct, and 
of greater Efficacy; it signifies Kings, Governors, 
Commanders, all sorts of Magistrates; a private 
man's Preferment, Profession, or Trade. Jupiter or 
the Sun found here, are very propitious; but Saturn 
or the Dragons-Tail in this House are said to deny 




such a Native Honour, and signify that he shall 
be but little esteemed in the World.

Mercators Cart, or Projection; A Pro­
jection of the Face of the Earth in Plano, where­
in the degrees upon the Meridian increase towards 
the Poles, in the same proportion that the Parallel 
Circles decrease towards the Poles: called Merca­
tors Cart, or sometimes Projection, because Mer­
cator was the first that published Carts so made; 
though our Countrey-man Mr. Wright was the first 
that made the Tables for this Projection. See 
Wright's Correction of Errors.

Mercury, The least of all the Planets, and 
lowest, except the Moon. Though some place him 
in the very Deferent of the Sun, and allow him not 
any proper Orb, but only an Epicycle, whereby 
sometimes he is placed above the Sun, and rendred 
invisible. 'Tis certain he is never above 28 de­
grees, or there-abouts, removed from the Sun, nor 
Venus above 48. And therefore neither of them
both can ever make any Aspect with the Sun, but 
a Conjunction, which in truth is none. This Pla­
net Mercury is of a dusky colour, but seldom seen, 
for the reason aforesaid; his mean motion is 59 
minutes, and 8 seconds; but sometimes so swift, 
that he goes a whole degree and 40 minutes in a 
day. His nature is various, and participates much 
with the Planet he is with, or beheld by; yet in his 
own nature he is cold and dry, a great stirrer up of 
Winds; and being strong, signifies a good wit, or 
subtil, politick brain, studious and docible; but 
when Ill-dignified, an hair-brain'd, troublesome, 
prating fellow, a Liar, or Buffoon, &c. He gene­
rally denotes one of an high stature, (but if Ori­
ental, more low,) an high fore-head, and somewhat 




narrow, long face, long nose, his eyes but small, and
neither perfectly black, nor gray; thin lips and 
nose, little hair on the chin, but much on his head, 
of a sad brown, or enclining to blackness; long 
arms, fingers and hands, his whole Body slender, 
and little; nimble in his gate, and quick in all his 
motions; his complexion palish, or like an Olive 
or Chesnut-colour: He signifies all Letter'd men, 
Philosophers, Mathematicians, Merchants, Secre­
taries, Advocates, Ambassadors, and sometimes 
Thieves, Taylors, Carriers, Footmen, Solicitors, 
busy Secretaries, and they unlearned, but talkative; 
Conceited Schoolmasters, &c.

Meridian, Is a Semi-Circle imagined in Hea­
ven, that reaches from North to South, and passes 
through the Zenith of the Place we inhabit in, in­
to both the Poles: It Cuts the Equator at Right 
Angles; and its Axis is a Line passing by the Cen­
ter of the Earth to the Heavens, and the ends there­
of are called the Poles. 'Tis so called from the La­
tin word Meridies, signifying Noon; because when 
the Sun, by the motion of the Primum Mobile, is 
brought to the Meridian of any place at all times 
of the year, it there makes Noon; and therefore 
by the help thereof, is found the Quantity of Day 
and Night; the Semidiurnal and Seminocturnal 
Arch of any Star, &c.

But you must know, that there are infinite Meri­
dians in Geography; for all places lying East or 
West from one another, have different Meridians; 
so that a man moving directly North and South, 
keepeth the same Meridian; but going East or 
West, alters it. But the Meridians delineated up­
on the Terrestrial Globe, are in number 36; So 
that between two Meridians is contained 10 de­




grees of the Equator: From the first of these Me­
ridians, (which is divided into twice 90 degrees) 
accounted from the Equator towards either Pole, 
is the beginning of Longitude; which upon our 
English Globes, is at the Isle Gratiosa, one of the Isles 
of the Azores, and numbred in the Equator East­
wards, with 10, 20, 30, &c. to 360 round about 
the Globe, till it end where it began. See Tutor to 
Astronomy, pag. 8.

Meridional, Southern, or towards the South; 
From the Lat. Meridies, the Noon-Point, which 
being always to us in the South, is likewise taken 
for it.

Metonick Year, [So called from one Meton, 
an Athenian that invented it;] Is the space of 19 
years, (and thence for the most part called, The Great 
Metonick Year.) In which space of time, the Lu­
nations return, and happen as they were before.

Mesolabum, (as Slucius calls it, or as Mr.
Oughtred calls it, Mesolabium,) Gr. from Meson, 
and Lambano, an Instrument for finding mean Pro­
portions.

Meteors, Gr. Are imperfect mixtures of the 
Elements drawn up by the Sun and Stars, and 
there hapning into several Forms. As sometimes 
where the matter is extraordinary, into Comets, bla­
zing Stars, strange Appearances in the Air, Ignes 
fatui, &c. but commonly into Hail, Snow, and 
Hoary Frost, which are soon resolved again into the 
form of their Elements.

Mid-Heaven. See Medium Cœli.

Mile, See the Postscript explaining and de­
fining this and all other Measures used amongst us.

Milky-way, [Called in Greek Galaxia, in 
Latin Via Lactea, which are all of the same in 




sense, in the three several Languages.] Is the only 
real Circle in Heaven; for in a clear night 'tis al­
ways conspicuous like a Swadling-band, infolding 
the Constellations of Cassiopea, the Eagle, part of 
Sagittary, the Tail of Scorpio, the 
Centaur, the 
Ship Argo, the feet of Gemini and Perseus, &c. It 
appears with a kind of whiteness like Milk, but 
the cause thereof was much disputed, till our mo­
dern Telescopes convinc'd us, that 'tis only a heap 
of Stars, which by reason of their smalness, and 
distance from the Earth, cannot be distinctly dis­
cern'd, and yet altogether make that part more 
bright than the rest of the Firmament. The Poets 
Fable that 'twas made by Ganimedes spilling a large 
Bowl of Nectar, and that it was the Gallery through 
which the Gods went to Council with Jupiter. See 
Ovid 1. Met. Est via sublimis, &c.

Minute, In Latin Minutum, from Minus, less. 
Is the sixtieth part of a whole Degree, or Hour: So 
that every hour or degree of the Equator or Zo­
diack is divided into 60 Minutes, every Minute 
into 60 Seconds, each Second into 60 Thirds, and 
so to 10ths, or further, if you think you can carry 
your Conception so far.

Moon, See Luna.

Moveable Feasts,
Are those Festivals which, 
though they are celebrated on the same day of the 
week, have no fix'd seat in the Calendar, but in se­
veral years happen on several days of the moneth; 
of which kind, besides Easter and Whitsontide, &c. 
are all the Lords days in the year, whereof many 
being called by particular strange names in our 
Common Almanacks, I shall here take leave to ex­
plain them in order; Since, if all the Almanack­
makers themselves can well understand the reasons 




thereof, I am sure not one in a thousand of their 
Readers understand it. 

To begin then with the year: If there be any  
Sunday between the Circumcision of our Lord, 
called New-years-day, and Twelfth-day, called Epi­
phany, [from the appearance of the Star to the
Wise men,] such Sunday has no name assigned. 
The Sundays following Epiphany, are noted in or­
der; as the 1st, the 2d, &c. after Epiphany; and 
they are sometimes more, and sometimes fewer: 
As Easter falls high, or low; for they must be en­
ded, and give place to Septuagesima, which is al­
ways the 10th Sunday inclusively before Easter, 
and thence is so called, as being Seventy days before 
it: So the next Sunday is called Sexagesima, and 
the next after that Quinquagesima, called also Do­
minica Bacchanaliorum; the Sunday of Revellers 
or Bacchanalians, because then, and in the week 
following, many Christians shew themselves as mad 
as the Drunken Worshippers of Bacchus amongst 
the Heathen. 'Tis also called Esto mihi, because 
then the Introitus was out of Psalm 30. v. 3. be­
ginning Esto mihi. The Wednesday in this week 
is Dies Cinerum, or Ashwednesday, being the begin­
ning of Lent, on which they were wont to be­
sprinkle their heads with Ashes. The next Sunday 
is Quadragesima, or the first Sunday in Lent, cal­
led also Invocavit, because then is sung that of the 
Psalmist, Invocavit me, & ego exaudiam eum, He
called upon me, and I will hear him. The second 
Sunday in Lent is called Reminiscere, for the 
same reason, taken from Psalm the 25th. v. 6. Re­
member, O Lord, thy tender mercies, &c. The
third, Oculi, from the 15th ver. of the same Psalm, 
Oculi mei semper ad Dominum, Mine eyes are ever 




towards the Lord. The fourth, Laetare, from that 
Isa. 66. 10. Laetare cum Jerusalem, Rejoyce thou 
with Jerusalem: Some call it Dominica de Rosa, be­
cause then the Pope holds a Golden Rose in his 
hand at Church before all the People; and others 
Dominica de Panibus, because the miracle of the 
five Loaves in the Gospel is explained: This day 
with us is generally term'd Mid-Lent Sunday. The 
5th Sunday in Lent is called Indica, from Psalm 43. 
ver. 1. Judg me, O God, and plead my cause. The 
next is Palm-Sunday; so called from the Palm-­
branches which the people strew'd before our Sa­
viour entring Jerusalem: 'Tis likewise called Do­
minica Magna, for the Great and Ineffable Good 
wrought in the week following for the faithful; 
for the Friday next is Good-Friday, as the day 
whereon our Blessed Saviour suffered for the sins 
of mankind. Then comes Easter-Sunday, cele­
brated in memory of our Saviour's Resurrection, 
which is the Foundation and Rule for all the movea­
ble Feasts. After this follows the Quinquagesimal, 
or space of 50 days between Easter and Whitson­
tide. All which the Ancient Christians kept as a 
Festival, containing 6 Sundays: The first Quasi­
modo Geniti, from that of 1 Pet. 2. 2. As new­
born Babes, &c. 'Tis also called Dominica in Al­
bis, because those that were Baptized at Easter, used 
to go in White Garments all the week, which this 
day at night they left off. The second Sunday is 
called Misericordia, from Psalm 32. 5. The third 
Jubilate, from Psalm 65. 1. The fourth, Cantate, 
from Psalm 97. 1. The fifth, Vocem Jucunditatis, 
from the Introit that day beginning so; 'tis also 
called Rogation-Sunday, and the whole week fol­
lowing, Rogation-week, because then they made 




their Processions into the Fields, said the Litany, 
and made their Prayers and Requests [Rogationes] 
to God publickly. The Thursday in this week is 
Holy Thursday, kept in memory of our Saviour's 
Ascension into Heaven. The last is called Exaudi, 
from that of Psal. 27. Hear, O Lord, my voice. 
Then succeeds the Grand Feast, called by us Whit­
sontide, (because people appeared in such colour'd 
Garments anciently;) but in Greek Pentecost. Which, 
as it was observed by the Jews in memory of the 
Promulgation of the Law at Mount Sinai, just 50 
days after their Pass-over, so Christians observe it 
the seventh Sunday after Easter, (called still Pas­
cha,) by reason that then the Holy Ghost was sent, 
and the Gift of Tongues conferr'd upon the A­
postles. The next is Trinity Sunday, and from 
thence the Sundays are reckon'd in order; as first, 
second, third, &c. after Trinity, to the first Sunday 
in Advent. Which time of Advent [or Coming] 
being a kind of Preparation for the Grand Festi­
val of our Lord's Birth, contains the four Sundays 
next before Christmass; and are reckon'd by num­
ber, as first, second, &c. Sunday in Advent. And 
thus much of Movable Feasts, which may seem a 
Digression, but not to be condemn'd by them that 
perhaps had never heard so much, if they had not 
met it here.

Movable Signs,
Are the same that are na­
med Cardinal, viz. Aries, Cancer, Libra, and 
Capricorn; so called, because they are Arguments 
of the Motions of Times; as from which, the mu­
tations of the Seasons are made in Spring, Summer, 
Autumn, and Winter; one passing to the other ac­
cording to the Predominancy of the four first Qua­
lities; so Aries and Libra bring in the Spring and 




Autumn, Cancer and Capricorn Summer and Win­
ter, each of them excelling in suitable qualities. 
And as these Signs are the beginning of Mutation 
in Celestials, so in these Inferiors they cause Muta­
bility, and are tokens of Mutations, as on the con­
trary, Fixed Signs are of Stability. 

Multiplex, Manifold, from Multus, many, and
Plico, to fold.

Multilateral,
[Many Sided.] All Figures that 
have more than four Right Lines, are so called by 
Euclid El. 1. From the Latin, Multus, many; and 
Latus, a Side.

Multiplication,
Is a common Rule in Arith­
metick, serving instead of a manifold Addition. In 
it there are two Numbers given, one to be multi­
plied (which is the greater) called the Multiplicand; 
the other that by which it is to be multiplied, called 
the Multiplicator; and a third Number to be found, 
called the Product, which as often shall contain the 
first Number, as there are Unites in the second.

Musick, Gr. Is one of the Seven Liberal Sci­
ences, and a fourth Branch in the general Division 
of the Mathematicks, having for its Object Dis­
crete Quantity or Number, but considers it not ab­
solutely like Arithmetick, but with proportion of 
Time and Sound, and in order to making a delight­
ful Harmony; so that indeed Musick is nothing 
else but the Agreement, apt Proportion and Mix­
ture of Acute, Grave, and Mixt Sounds.

Mute [or Dumb] Signs,  Are those which 
are denominated from Creatures that have no voice, 
as Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces; and in Nativities, 
when the Significators are therein, do spoyl, or cause 
some Impediment in the Native's speech.

Mutilated, [Lat. Lame, or Deficient:] Other­




wise called Azimene Degrees; are certain degrees 
in several Signs: As from the 6th, to the 10th of
Taurus; from the 9th, to the 15th of Cancer; the 
18. 27 and 28 of Leo; the 18 and 19 of Scorpio; 
the 1. 7. 8. 18 and 19 of Sagittary; the 26. 27. 
28 and 29 of Capricorn; and the 18 and 19 of 
Aquary, that threaten the Native that has them As­
cending, or the Moon Lord of the Ascendant, or of 
the Figure, in them, with lameness, deafness, halt­
ing, or some Inseparable defect in some eminent 
Member. And amongst the Fixed Stars, Caput Me­
dusae, if mixed with the Significators by Direction
or otherwise, is said generally to threaten Behead­
ing, or loss of Limbs.


N

NAdir, Is an Arabick word, and signifies that 
Point of Heaven under the Earth, which is 
Diametrically opposite to the Point directly over 
our Head, which in the same Language is called 
the Zenith; so that they both are as it were Poles 
of the Horizon, and distant from it on each Side 
90 degrees, and consequently fall upon the Meri­
dian, one above, the other under the Earth; and 
look what distance one of them has from the Equa­
tor, and one of the Poles of the World; the same 
on the contrary has the other to the opposite Pole, 
and adverse part of the Equator.




 Natural 
Day 
and 
Year, 
The space of 24 hours, 
or Revolution of the 
Primum Mobile; one 
Revolution of the Sun by his proper motion, or 
365 days and almost 6 hours.

Nativity, In an Astrological sense, is the true 
time of any person's Birth, viz. when he first begins 
to breath in the World, and thereby in a peculiar 
manner becomes liable to the Celestial Influences; 
but is appropriated rather to the Scheme or Figure 
of the Heavens carefully Erected for that moment 
of time. The word is from the Lat. Nascor, to be 
born, or rather its participle, Natus sum.

Navigation, Is an Art that demonstrateth, 
how by the best way, aptest direction, and shortest 
time, a sufficient Ship, between any two places (in 
passage Navigable, assigned) may be Conducted, 
and in all storms and disturbances hapning, how to 
use the best possible means to recover the place first 
Assigned.

Nebulous [Cloudy] Stars, Are certain 
Fixed Stars of a dull, pale, and obscurish Light. 
So called either because they look Cloudily, or ra­
ther because they generate Clouds; and setting with 
the Sun, render the Air troubled, and duskish: As 
also they are found by Experience, being joyn'd 
with the Luminaries to afflict a Native with blind­
ness or dimness. There are also in every Sign cer­
tain degrees called Dark, and others Smoaky, 
which have the like effect in altering the Complex­
ions, and impairing or obscuring their Understand­
ings; whose principal Significators happen to be 
Posited therein. Of which, and several other Divi­
sions of the Signs, see a necessary Table, in that 
useful Enchiridion for all Artists; Entituled, A Tu­
tor to Astrology, p. 64.




Neomenium, A Greek word used by some 
Authors, that signifies only the New Moon, or 
Change.

New Moon. See Noviluneum.

Nocturnal, [From the Lat. Nox, the night,] 
Of or belonging to the night. Signs or Planets are 
said to be so, in which Passive Qualities, as moisture 
and driness, excel. See Diurnal. Also the name of an 
Instrument used for the observation of the Stars, &c.

Nodes, [A Latin word signifying properly 
Knots, twistings or twinings one over another; but] 
by Astronomers used to signify the Intersections of 
the Orbit [tract or course] of the Sun, commonly 
called the Ecliptick; and the Orbits of the other 
Planets that have Latitude: So that the Point where 
a Planet passes over the Ecliptick out of Southern
Latitude into Northern, is called its North-Node.
And where it descends from North to South, its
South-Node, which change their places in the
Zo­
diack like the Planets, but contrary to the succession 
of the Signs; yet those of the three Superior Pla­
nets move insensibly; those of the three Inferiors
faster; but those of the Moon are only or chiefly 
taken notice of, commonly called, the Dragons-­
head and Tail. Which see before.

Nona Sphoera,
[Lat. The Ninth Sphere;] 
Is usually termed Primum Mobile, it is the First 
Mover, being above the 8th Sphere or Starry Hea­
ven, and carrying with it all the Inferior Spheres 
with a most swift motion from East to West, finish­
ing its Revolution in 24 hours.

Novilunium, From the Lat. Novus, new; and 
Luna, the Moon. The Latin word for all that 
time before and after the Moons Conjunction with 
the Sun, (or Change) wherein she is not visible. But 




to find the exact moment of the Conjunction, 
some Authors prescribe a pleasant sensible Experi­
ment, viz. Take a Glass or Silver Vessel, fill'd 
with Lye or fair Water, into which some time be­
fore, put the Ashes of an Olive-tree or Vine, which 
will rest quiet in the bottom; but as soon as the 
Moon enters the Diameter of the Sun, will rise, 
trouble the Water, and be hurried round, not rest­
ing till she is perfectly past the Body of the Sun. 
This my Author affirms he hath often tried.

Nones. See before in Calends.

Northern Signs,
The first six Signs are called 
so, because they decline from the Equinoctial 
Northward.

Number, Is commonly defined to be, A Col­
lection of Units, or Multitude composed of Units; 
so that One cannot be properly termed a Number, 
but the begining of Number: Yet I confess this 
(though generally received) to some seems questio­
nable, for against it thus one might argue: A Part 
is of the same matter of which is its Whole; An 
Unit is part of a multitude of Units; Therefore an 
Unit is of the same matter with a multitude of 
Units: But the matter and substance of Units is
Number; Therefore the matter of an Unit is 
Number. Or thus, A Number being given, If 
from the same we substract o, (no Number) the 
Number given doth remain: Let 3 be the Num­
ber given, and from the same be taken 1, or an 
Unit, (which, as these will say, is no Number) then 
the Number given doth remain, that is to say, 3, 
which to say, is absurd. But this by the by, and 
with submission to better Judgments.

Numeration, [Lat. Numbring] the first of 
the five Vulgar Rules of Arithmetick, teaching to 




read truly any Sum or Number, or write it down 
aptly when 'tis propos'd.

Numerator, Is the upper Figure in a Fra­
ction; so called, because it Numbers how many 
parts are to be taken out of those into which the 
Whole is divided: And the under Figure is called 
Denominator, because it shews how the parts taken
are to be denominated, whether Seconds, Thirds,
&c. As &#00BC; One Fourth part, One is Numerator, 
Four Denominator.


O

OBeying Signs, The Southern, or last 
six Signs of the Zodiack are so called.

Oblique, Crooked, bending or winding towards 
one side. The word Oblique signifying crooked, 
warpt, or bending.

Oblique Ascension. See Ascension.

Oblique Sphere.
See Sphere.

Oblique Angle.
See Angle.

Oblique Signs.
See Signs.

Oblong, A long Square, or Figure in Geometry, 
of four Sides, and Rectangled, but not Equilateral, 
or not having all the Sides equal to one another, 
though its opposite Sides be.

Obtuse, Blunt, or Broad.

Obtuse Angle. See Angle.

Occidens, 
and 
Occidental 
Occidens is Latin for the West,
because the Sun and Stars do 
occidere, fall down, or Set 




there. 'Tis properly therefore that part of the Ho­
rizon where the Equator, or a Star therein, descends 
into the lower Hemisphere. But 'tis improperly, 
yet frequently taken for all that Arch of the Ho­
rizon, which defines the Occidual Amplitude of 
the Stars. Hence in Astronomy, the 7th. House from the Horoscope is called, The Angle of the West. In Geography, the West was anciently 
reckon'd from the Fortunate Islands, but now is 
generally counted from the Azores.

Occidental, 
Oriental, 
A Planet is said to be Occi­
dental, when it Sets after the 
Sun; but Oriental, when it 
rises in the morning before him. See Matutine.

Octahedron, [from Octo Eight, and Hedren, 
a Side] Is a Solid Figure, contained under eight 
Triangles, Equal, and Equilateral. Eucl. Elem. 11.

Olympiads, the Space of four years, where by 
the Antient Greeks reckoned their Memorable Oc­
currences; they took their Original from those 
famous Games celebrated every 5th. year in Elis, 
and came into use about 500 years after the de­
struction of Troy: And in the year of the world 
3248. Before the Institution of these Olympiads 
the Greeks History is generally fabulous.

Opposition, [from the Lat. Oppono to op­
pose, thwart, or contradict] Is, when two Planets 
being distant 180. degrees behold one another 
diametrically opposite; and therefore is Counted 
an Aspect of the greatest Enmity: Yet between the 
Benevolents (especially of the same Nature) it 
becomes good, as some Artists are of opinion.

Opticks, [so called from a Greek word signi­
fying Seeing, and from the Lat. Perspective] 
An Art Mathematical which demonstrates the 




manner and properties of all Radiations, Direct, 
Broken, and Reflected. See a Book entituled, Pra­
ctical Perspective.

Orb, [A Latine word, signifying properly any 
round thing, and so 'tis often taken for the World; 
but in an Astronomical sence] It is taken for the 
Deferent of each Planet, which is vulgarly called 
its Sphere: Yet in truth, an Orb differs from a 
Sphere; for this properly signifies a Globe, con­
tained under one onely Superficies, and solid even 
to the Centre; but an Orb is a Spherical Body, li­
mited with two Superficies, one outward, which 
is Convex, (or bulging forth) the other inward, 
which is a Concave, (or hollow, vaulted over like 
an Oven.) And therefore look how many Hea­
vens, so many Orbs there are, the Higher en­
compassing the Lower; and how much the Con­
cave Superficies of the uppermost is, so much also 
is the Convex of the Nethermost, much like the 
several Peels or Coats of an Onion. But because 
every Orb or Heaven contains within it self like­
wise other Orbs; as for example, the Orb of the 
Sun contains three other several Orbs, of which, 
two are Excentrick after a certain sort, and the 
third simply so: Therefore for avoiding confusion 
of words, use has obtain'd, that now the Heavens 
themselves should not be called Orbs, but Spheres; 
and thus the greatest Sphere is the Primum Mobile; 
next the Sphere of the Fixed Stars, after that of 
Saturn, then of Jupiter, &c. to that of the Moon, 
the lowest and least of all, as well in circuit as thick­
ness, the compass of her Concave being 758250 
miles; the thickness, that is, the space contained 
between her Concave and Convex 109056 miles; 
the compass of her Convex, which is the same 




with the Concave of Mercury, as aforesaid 1443750 
miles. 

The thickness of Mercuries Orb 370480; the 
compass of his Convex Superficies 3772500 
miles.

The thickness of the Orb of Venus 3413756; 
the Circuit of her Convex 25230375 miles.

The thickness of the Deferent of the Sun 
339102; the compass of its outward Convex
Superficies 27361875 miles.

The thickness of the Orb of Mars 27339375; 
the compass of its Convex 199209375 miles.

The thickness of the Orb of Jupiter is extended 
unto 19775497; the compass of its Convex 
323512500 miles.

The thickness of the Orb of Saturn is 
29474574; the compass of his Convex, and con­
sequently of the Concave Superficies of the Firma­
ment or Heaven, in which the Fixed Stars are 
placed, 508781250 miles.

The compass of that Firmament 80241471; 
and the compass of its Convex 1017562500 
miles; which last sum is the circuit of the Concave 
of the Primum Mobile; but its thickness, or the 
measure of its Convex, is by no means to be found 
out: yet rationally by comparison we may judge 
it so vast, that even the Starry Orb may not be 
much more comparable to it, than our Earthly 
Globe to the Firmament. Well then, from this 
Immense Fabrick may we with the Psalmist cry 
out, The Heavens declare the glory of God, and 
shew forth the Workmanship of an Almighty and 
Adorable Architect. They that would be satis­
fi'd further on this Subject, let them read Clavius 
on the Sphere of Sacroboscus, cap. 1.

 


Orbit, [Lat.] Is properly the Tract left by a 
Wheel in the Road; hence Astronomers use the 
word to signifie the way or course of the Sun, 
(peculiarly called the Ecliptick) as also of any 
other Planet moving on according to the Cir­
cle of its Latitude; nor is this without reason: 
for the transient Planet leaves behind him I know
not what impression or footsteps of his Virtue and 
Quality, as Snails and other Insects leave marks 
of their tabifick quality in the path they pass over.

Oriens, [from the Lat. Orior, to arise] The 
East point properly where the Sun Rises, when he 
is in the Equinoctial points Aries and Libra, but 
serves for all that part of the Horizontal Circle in 
which the Sun, at any time in the year rises to us. 
Hence comes the word Oriental, of or belonging 
to the East, or  pertaining to Rising. See Oc­
cidens.

Orthogon, [from the Greek Orthos, Right, 
and Gonia, an Angle] A Right Angle, or a Geo­
metrical Figure which consists of Right Angles, and 
has an Equality of all its parts.

Orthographie, [from Orthos, True or Right, 
and Grapho, to write; so that] The true English 
of this word being of Greek descent, is true or right 
Writing, and so 'tis used by Grammarians. But in 
the Mathematicks, and particularly in Archite­
cture, 'tis taken for the Model, Platform, and de­
scription of the Front and Bigness of a House that 
one is going to build, contrived according to the 
Rules of Geometry; according to which Idea or 
Pattern, the whole Fabrick is erected and finished. 
'Tis a term also frequent in Perspective; and 




therein, the Orthography of any Body or Build­
ing, is the fore-right side of any Plain, that is, the 
side or plain that lies parallel to a straight Line, 
that may be imagined to pass through the outward 
convex points of your two Eyes, continued to a 
convenient length: So that the Office of Ortho­
graphy is, to delineate, the fore-right Plain.

Oval Figure,
[from the Lat. Ovum, an 
Egg] Geometricians call that so which resembles 
an Egg, round, but Oblong, so that Lines drawn 
from its outmost Superficies to the Centre, are not 
equal, and yet answer well enough to each other 
from the opposite sides: It differs from an Illipsis,
because that is plain and circumscribed by one 
onely Line, whereas this is solid, included every 
where with a Superficies, as a Globe is; onely the 
Globe is exactly round, which this is not.

Oxygon, or
Oxygonium, [from the Greek 
Oxys, acute, or sharp, and Gonia, an Angle] Is a Ge­
ometrical Triangular Figure, having necessarily 
all its three Angles acute; in which it differs from 
an Amblygon, that must have but two acute, and 
the third obtuse. Therefore every Oxygonal Tri­
angle may be either Equilateral, which necessarily 
will not be a Right Angle, and consist of three
Acute Angles; or an Isosceles, viz. if it have two 
equal Sides, and those greater than the Third; 
or a Scalenum, which hath all its Sides unequal. 
Whereas an Amblygon can onely be an Isosceles, or 
a Scalenum, but not Equilateral; since a Figure 
which has altogether equal Sides, can in no wise 
terminate in an Obtuse Angle.





P

PAnselene, A Greek word, used by some Au­
thors for the Full Moon; from Pan, All, or 
the Whole, and Selene, the Moon.

"Panselene" antedates earliest OED citation (1706).



Parabola, (or, according
to some, Para­
bole)  [a Greek word, signifying a Plant] Is a 
Figure in Geometry, or Area, circumscribed by 
two Lines, one Right, and the other Crooked; of 
which, the great Archimedes wrote much, and 
first of all, with many Arguments and Demon­
strations attempted to Square it, and that not with­
out success.

Parallax, A Greek word, signifying a Change 
or Variation, but used in Astronomy for the De­
viation or Error of the Sight, occasion'd by the 
distance of the Term of the visual Line, proje­
cted from the Superficies of the Earth to a Star, 
or other Phaenomenon in Heaven, from the Term 
of another Line projected from the Centre of the 
Earth to the Body of the same Star, in the place 
where he truly is: For when we behold the Stars 
from the Earths Superficies, which is almost 3035 
miles from its Centre, it must needs follow, that 
the place designed, by a Right Line from the 
Centre of the Earth, would be different from what 
we now make, so that the Star would seem to be 
quite otherwise situate. This variation or diversity 
of Aspect is called the Parallax, which is greater 
or lesser, according to the greater or lesser nearness 




that the Star has to the Earth. Besides, it has place, 
in a Ray obliquely cast, or when a Star, not being 
Vertical, projects his Beams, as it were, on one 
side, and so to the Centre and Superficies of the 
Earth: For when 'tis Vertical, casting its Beams 
directly to the Superficies, it must needs pass by 
the Centre which is just under, and so suffer no 
Parallax: Therefore the further they are from 
the Zenith, and nearer the Horizon, so much the 
greater is their Parallax; which on the contrary 
is proportionably decreased, as they more and more 
approach the Vertix. 

Comets and new Appearances in the Aery Re­
gion suffer the greatest Parallax, next the Moon, 
and other Planets, to whom the Earth carries some 
sensible proportionate bulk: But higher, as in the 
Sphere of the Fixed Stars, to which the whole Earth 
is but as a Point, there is no Parallax; nor is it 
sensible in Saturn, or Jupiter; but Mars in Pe­
rigaeon, has a Parallax of 4 Minutes; in Apo­
gaeon, scarce any at all; Sol generally 3 Minutes, 
Venus and Mercury very little; but the Moon, 
when near the Horizon, almost a whole Degree, 
and always appears lower than indeed she is. By 
help of this Parallax, we know the distance of the 
Planets between themselves, and from the Earth, 
the time of their true Conjunction, and especially 
come to distinguish the true moment of Eclipses 
from the apparent.

Parallels, A Greek word, signifying things 
that are equal to each other mutually, when com­
pared together, and so are Circles or Lines equi­
distant from each other, which though infinitely 
extended, can never touch. But more usually the
word is taken for Circles of a like distance from 




the Equator; and this as well considered on the 
Superficies of the Earth, as in the Heavens; for 
those that are in the same distance from the Equa­
tor towards the same Pole, are said to be in the 
same Parallel. Now as there are infinite Meridi­
ans, so there are infinite Parallels; and as the Me­
ridian Lines on the Globe are drawn onely through 
every 10th. Deg. of the Equator, so are the Paral­
lels but to each 10th. Deg. of the Meridian. These 
Parallel Circles run East and West about the Globe, 
even as the Equator; onely the Equator is a great 
Circle, and these are every one less than other, dimi­
nishing gradually till they end in the Pole.

Parallel Sphere,
hath one Pole of the 
World in the Zenith, the other in the Nadir, and 
the Equinoctial Line in the Horizon; so called, 
because the Sun, Moon, or Star, in a Diurnal Re­
volution of the Heavens, neither ascend higher, 
nor descend lower, but always move parallel to the 
Horizon. The Earth is thus posited under the 
Poles, and there a whole year makes, as it were, 
one day, viz. six months Light, and six Darkness. 
See Sphere.

Parallelogram,
Is a Quadrilateral (or four­
sided) Figure, whose two opposite Sides are paral­
lel, or equi-distant; from the word Parallel and 
Gramma, a Letter or Figure. It is also the name of 
an Instrument, whereby two Copies of a thing may 
be writ or drawn at once.

Parallelopleura, Are imperfect Parallelo­
grams, and Irregular Correspondencies of the 
Angles or Sides whereby they are constituted; for 
they are a sort of Trapeziums, as having unequal 
Angles or Sides, but not all so; for they keep at
least somewhere a certain regularity and propor­
 



tion of Parallels, whence they do not extend so larg­
ly as Trapeziums which include every kind of figure 
in any manner Irregular, yet like them they may 
be Multiplyed and Diversifyed almost Infinitely. 
Whereof see Clavius on Euclide.

"Parallelopleura" not found in OED.



Parallelopipedon.
Gr. Is a solid figure con­
sisting of 6 plane equal sides, of which every one 
is equal, and Parallel to that which is opposite to it. 
So that every Parallelopipedon may be called a 
Prism, but not every Prism a Parallelopipedon, 
as by the Definition of a Prism will appear. See 
Prism.

Parelia, [Mock-Suns] are Reflexions of the 
Solar Beams in hollow watrish Clouds, which like 
a Glass they receive, and so lively represent his 
Image that there appears as it were another Sun, 
and make it difficult to a vulgar Eye to distinguish 
which is the real, and which the fictitious one; 
for sometimes the Reflection is single, only on one 
side, sometimes double on either side, and the true 
Sun in the midst. Their natural signification is to 
denote approaching Rain.


Paratelene, [A Mock-Moon] the same kind 
of Resemblance of the Moon, as Parelion is of the 
Sun, and occasion'd by the same means, but not so 
frequently; Both words are part Latin part Greek, 
the first from Par (equal or like to) and Elios or 
Helios (the Sun) The second from the same Latin 
word Par, and the Greek word Selene signifying 
the Moon.

"Paratelene" not found in OED.

 

Part of Fortune,
Is said to be the Lunar 
Horoscope, or place in the Scituation of the world, 
from whence the Moon takes her progress at that 
moment that the Sun Emerges from the Line of 
the East; And therefore if you take it upon a New 




Moon, twill fall in the Ascendant, If upon a Full 
Moon, in the 7th house. &c. The usual way of 
taking or finding it is thus: 

1. Take the Sign, Degree, and Minute of the 
Moons place.

2. The Sign, Degree, and Minute of the Suns
place; Substract the Latter from the Former, 
adding 12. Signs to the Moons place if it can 
not be done otherwise;

What remains add to the Sign and Degree of 
the Ascendant, and if both make above 12 
Signs, cast away 12. and what Signs, De­
grees, and Minutes remain, (Reckoning 
here as in the whole Work from the begining 
of Aries) Let your part of Fortune be there.

Tis called part of Fortune, because most Astrolo­
gers do regard it in Judgments of a Natives For­
tune, Estate or Riches: And according as tis well 
or ill affected, pronounce concerning the Same; 
Its Character is thus ♁; but being only an Ima­
ginary point can cast no Ray or Aspect. There 
are likewise other parts, as Part of Life, Part of
Death, Part of the Wife &c. Invented by the
Arabians, but being generally exploded as vain 
I omit them.

Partile Aspect,
Is not as some may fancy 
by the sound of the word partly or almost an Aspect, 
or an Aspect in Part; But the most exact and full 
Aspect that may be so called, because it consists 
precisely of so many parts or 
degrees as are requisite 
to Compleat such an Aspect even to a Degree; As 
Mars in 24 Degrees of Aries, and Venus in just the 
24th of Libra, this is a Partile Opposition; The 
Sun in one Degree of Taurus and the Moon in one 
Degree of Cancer make a Partile Sextile; And it 




is a more strong Sign or Argument in judgments 
for performance of the thing, or that the matter 
is near hand Concluded, when the Aspect is so 
Partile, and signifies Good, than when 'tis Platick, 
but it's as much a Sign of present Evil when Mis­
chief is threatned, whereas the Platick Aspect shews 
something past or to Come, rather than now pre­
sent or suddenly imminent. See Platick.

Part Proportional, A part or number a­
greable and Analogous to some other part or Num­
ber; Or Medium to find out some part or Num­
ber unknown by proportion and equality of Rea­
son.

Pentagon, [Gr. from Pente five, and Gonia 
an Angle] Is a Geometrical figure having five 
Angles, whether they be Equilateral (of equal 
sides) or not; If it be Equilateral it is also called a 
regular Isoperimeter, which in the Heavens makes 
that New Aspect called a Quintile, but if it have 
unequal sides then it is called absolutely Irregular, 
and may like Trapezia's, many ways be varied.

Pentangle, The same, only a Greek and Lat. 
word joyned, having five Angles.

Perch, See the Appendix of Measures.

Peregrine, [A Latine word that properly 
signifies a Stranger, one out of his own Country 
where he has no Home, nor Authority] It is a 
Term attributed by Astrologers to a Planet that is 
found in a place of Heaven, where he has none of 
his five Essential Dignities. viz. House, Exalta­
tion, Triplicity, Term, or Face; So Saturn in the 
10th of Aries is Peregrine, but in
the 27th Degree 
cannot be said to be so, because there he is in his 
own Terms: Or if there be a mutual Reception of 
two Planets by House or Exaltation, as the Sun 




in Virgo, Mercury in Leo, then neither of them 
shall be said to be Peregrine; In other Cases where 
a Plannet is so, it is Counted an Essential weakning, 
and like being in his Detriment reckon'd five De­
bilities.

Perihelion, [Gr. from Peri about, and He­
lios the Sun,] That point of a Planets Orb wherein 
he is nearest to the Sun.

Perimeter, A Greek word, the same with Cir­
cumferentia in Latine, or That which incloses any 
Figure, as the Perimeter of a Triangle is a Line 
made of 3 Lines; of a Circle, a Periphery, of a 
Cube, a Surface compounded of six Surfaces, of a 
Sphere, one whole Spherical Surface. &c.

Periœci, [Gr. from Peri about and Oiki 
habitations] The Periœci of any place is in the same 
Latitude, but is distant in the Longitude 180 De­
grees. viz. half the Circumference of the Earth in 
that Parallel. Thus the Piriœci of England is about 
20 Degrees to the Eastwards of Cathaio; In the 
Perioeci of any Place there happens not that Con­
trariety of Seasons in the year, that doth in the Anti­
podes, nor in the Length of Days: for the Days
in both Places are of equal Length, but in the 
Times of the Day there is the same contrariety: for 
though their Spring be our Spring, and the rest of 
their Seasons of the year the same with ours; yet 
their Morning is our Evening, and their Night 
our Day. See Antœci.

Periphery, A Greek word signifying That 
Circular Line which goes about and Infolds the 
whole Area or Content of a Circular Figure: The 
proportion of which to its Diameter is as 22 to 
Seven: the word is likewise sometimes taken for the 
whole Superficies of the Earth, or for the Convex 




and outermost part of any Celestial Sphere.

Periscii, [from the Greek Peri, about, and 
scia, a shadow] People that live within the com­
pass of the Artick and Antartick Circles; so called, 
because their shadow is various, and runs round 
about them.

Perpendiculum,
and 
Perpendicular, 
 [From the Lat. Perpen­
do, to hang down] 
A Perpendicular, or 
Plumb-line, is an Instrument well known to Ma­
thematicians, and most Mechanicks, used for the 
finding out whether any Pillar, Wall, &c. stand 
upright. Hence Geometricians call that a Perpen­
dicular, which is let fall from above to a certain 
Bottom, with the same streightness as the Plummet 
hangs in a Perpendiculum. Astronomers also are 
wont to say, those Stars that are Vertical (or right 
over our heads) are Perpendicular, because their 
Beams fall so upon us.

Perspective,
[from the Latine Perspicio, to 
look at, or through] A Faculty, which, according 
to Geometrical Precepts, by the visual Rays, spe­
culates and measures all visible Bodies and Colours, 
&c. and is three-fold; One strictly called Per­
spective, which renders a reason of those Appea­
rances, which offer themselves to our sight other­
wise than the things really are, by reason of their 
different situation and distance. The second is con­
versant about several Refractions, which it for the 
most part considers in or from Looking-glasses, 
'tis thence called Ars Specularia. The third is em­
ploy'd about Shadows, and shows how those 
things that in Painting appear confused and dis­
orderly, by the diversity of site or placing, may 
appear agreeable, and in order; and so on the con­





trary: And this is called Sciatoptrica. Of all which, 
see Kerchers elaborate Treatise, entituled, Ars 
magnae Lucis & Umbrae. See also Practical Per­
spective.

"Sciatoptrica" not found in OED.



Phases, A Greek word, signifying Appea­
rances, or the manner of things showing them­
selves, and therefore used for the several postures 
in which the Planets (especially the Moon) offer 
themselves to our sight, as obscure, horned, half 
illuminated, or full of light; which, by the Tele­
scope, may likewise be observed in Venus and Mars.

Phœnomena, [from the Greek Phainomi, to 
shew or appear] Appearances, or strange Sights; 
often used for Comets, or new Stars, whether in 
the Elementary or Aetherial Region.

Phœnon, Saturn is sometimes called so, from 
his Nature, the word signifying bloody, sad, and 
cruel.

"Phoenon" not found in OED.



Phosphorus, The Usher or Harbinger of Day; 
Venus is so called in Greek, when she is our Morn­
ing-Star.

Pilasters, A Term in Architecture, signifying 
Square Pillars, that usually stand behind Columns 
to bear Arches, &c.

Pisces, [Lat. the Fishes] The twelfth and 
last Sign of the Zodiac in the Southern Semicircle, 
but bordering on Aries, and therefore common, 
waterish, cold, and moist. The House of Jupiter, 
and Exaltation of Venus.

Planets, The word is originally Greek, and 
signifies as much as Wanderers; whence we call 
them Erratick Stars, viz. Stars not placed in the 
Firmament, as the Fixed, but in Orbs of their own, 
and by their proper motions wandring in the Zo­
diack, contrary to the motion of the Primum Mo­




bile, from West to East, according to the succession 
of the Signs. They are in number Seven, (not to 
speak of those lately discovered about Jupiter and 
Saturn) viz. Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sol, Venus, 
Mercury, and the Moon. These all differ from the 
rest of the Stars, not onely in Motion, as aforesaid, 
but also in Light, being to be known from the 
other, in that they never Twinkle, which the Fixed 
always do.

Planisphere,
[from Planus, Plain, and Sphæ­
ra, a Sphere] A Sphere described in Plano, or a 
plain or flat Projection of the Sphere; viz. all the 
Lines and Circles thereof: And thus the Maps 
either of Heaven or Earth are called  Planispheres.

Plain, amongst Geometricians, is a flat Super­
ficies; that is, a Superficies that lies equal between its 
Lines, whereby 'tis opposed to a Spherical Body, 
and a Circle, which are circumscribed with a 
crooked Line, or Superficies. Hence that vulgar 
Axiom, That a Spherical Body touches not a Plain 
but in one Point.

Planetary Hour.
See Lord of the Hour.

Plain Chart,
A Plat or Chart that Sea-men 
Sail by, whose Degrees of Longitude and Latitude 
are made of the same length. Thus in plain sailing

Plain Sailing,
Sea-men keep their Account 
of Sailing East, West, North, South, or any other 
Point of the Compass, and of the Distance the Ship 
has Run upon the Plain Chart.

Plain Scale,
A thin Ruler of about a Foot in 
length, whereon is graduated the Line of Chords, 
Leagues, Rhumbs, &c. By which little Instrument 
Sea-men are much help'd to keep an Account of the 
way the Ship has made.




 Planimetry, The Art of Measuring Plains and Superficies.

Platick Aspect,
Is a Term to distinguish it 
from Partile. Platus in Greek signifies wide, or 
broad; so this Aspect takes more room than the 
other which is confined to the same Degree, whereas 
this is a Ray cast, not exactly from one Planet to the 
Body of another Planet, but onely within the Orb 
of his Light. To know when this Aspect happens, 
you must know the quantity of each Planets Orb; 
and add them together, and take one half thereof, 
and if your Planets be within so many Degrees of 
a Partile Aspect, then they are in Platick Aspect 
one with another; the quantity allowed to each 
Planet for its Orb, before or after any Aspect, is as 
follows.

     d            m 
Saturn 10 00
Jupiter 12 00
Mars 07 30
Sol 17 00
Venus 08 00
Mercury 07 00
The Moon 12 30

Now suppose Venus in the 10th. Degree of Tau­
rus, and Saturn in 18 Degrees of Virgo; here she 
is in Platick Trine with him, because she is within 
the moiety of both their Orbs; for the moiety of 
Saturns Rays or Orb is 5 deg.
and of Venus 4. and 
the distance between them and their perfect Aspect 
is but 8 deg.

Thus also the Fixed Stars have an Orb of Acti­
vity on either side, those of the first magnitude 
7 deg. 30 min. of the second Magnitude 5 deg. 




30 min. of the Third 3 deg. 40
min. of the 
Fourth 1 deg. 30 min. And note, that this Platick 
Aspect is cast either on this side, or beyond the 
Body of the Planet; the first is called Application, 
for in that case, the Planet aspecting applies and 
disposes himself to have familiarity, and come to a 
Partile Aspect with the other. The second is na­
med Separation, for then it has been in Partile
Aspect, and now by motion is parting away, but 
yet not got out of the bounds of its Orbs; which 
is chiefly regarded in the Moon: and the nearer 
this is to a Partile Aspect, so much the more effi­
cacious it is; and better generally is an Application, 
than Separation or Deflux. See Partile-Aspect.

Plumb-Line. See Perpendiculum.

A Point, [in Latine Punctum] is the smallest 
part of Quantity, or that Extreme which can be 
divided into no further parts. The same (in a man­
ner) in Quantity, as a Unit in Number, an Instant 
in Time, or a Sound in Musick. To apprehend 
its Nature and Use, let us imagine an exceeding 
small Tittle, Prick, or Point made on a Paper with 
the nib of a Pen, which if again it shall be drawn 
out further, it will make a Line, having Length 
indeed, but not Breadth or Depth, and terminated 
at the two Ends with Points. Next, let us suppose 
the same Character indivisible, and produced long­
wise and broadwise, two or more parallel Lines 
touching each other side by side, will make a Su­
perficies; and then, if at last it be produced as well 
to be deep as long and broad, which it will be, if 
several Superficies be conceived one upon another, 
then have we a solid Body, capable of all dimen­
sion. And thus are exhibited all the three kinds of
Quantity, according to the three-fold Dimension 




about which all the labour and speculations of Geo­
metry are employ'd.

Poles, [from πολέω, a Greek word, that sig­
nifies to turn about] are properly the two Extre­
mities of an Axis about which anything movable 
is turn'd: And because in the Heavens there is 
such a regular and never ceasing Circular Motion, 
and many Moveables, of which, each goes by its 
proper Orbit, therefore the Poles are very much 
to be minded in our Considerations of the Heavens, 
and as many Orbits as there are, so many double
Poles are to be conceived. Thus the Poles of the
Horizon are the Zenith and Nadir; the Poles of 
the Meridian, the two Points of the Rising and 
Setting of the Equator in the Horizon; the Poles 
of the Equinoctial Colure, are the two Solstitial 
Points Cancer and Capricorn; the Poles of the 
Solstitial Colure, the two Equinoctial Points Aries 
and Libra; the Poles of the Equator, and Circles 
thereunto Parallel, are the two Poles of the World; 
and lastly, of the Zodiac and Ecliptic, the Poles of 
the Zodiac, which describe two lesser Circles, 
Artick and Antartick, distant 23 Degrees and a 
half from the Poles of the World. Yet the word 
Poles absolutely taken, and without addition, is 
usually meant the Poles of the World, because 
onely they continue immovable, and all the Spheres 
hurried by the motion of the Primum Mobile, are 
once in 24 hours wheel'd round about them. Or, 
2ly. the Poles of the Zodiack, about which are 
turn'd all the second Movables, as the Starry Hea­
ven, or Orbs of the Planets, from West to East, in 
appointed periods.

But since these Poles are onely Points conceived 
in the Heavens, therefore that the Artick Pole of 




the World may be known, we must imagine a 
Right Line from the Pole-star to another next it 
in the Tail of the Little Bear; on which Line, 
make an Equilateral Triangle towards the Head of 
the Great Bear, at the top of which Triangle is the 
true place of the Pole. But this labour will be
saved in the next Age, for then the Pole-Star, that 
has 88 Deg. Declination, will have 90, and so fall 
directly on the Pole.

Pole or Perch, A Measure. See the Appendix.

Polar Circles, The Arctick and Antarctick 
are so called. See Arctos.

Polar Draught, A Representation of the Earth, or of the Heavens,
projected upon the Poles 
of the Equator. In Polar Draughts, all the Meridian-­
Lines are Equi-distant from each other in every 
Parallel, but the Circles representing the Parallels
are not Equi-distant from one another.

Poles of a Dial. All Dials, though upright, 
or Inclining, or Reclining, are yet Horizontal Di­
als in some part of the Earth, and the Zenith and 
Nadir of that Horizon are the Poles of that Dial.
But how to find where these Poles will fall, see 
Tut. to Astron. & Greg. Book. 5. Prob. 14.

Polyedron,
Polygon, 
and 
Polygram, 
A Geometrical 
Figure con­
sisting of ma­
ny 
Plain Faces,
Angles, 
Lines.
Edron being Greek for a Basis, Face, or Side; Go­
nia for an Angle, and Gramma for a Line.

Ponderous, [Lat. heavy or slow] Those Pla­
nets are said to be so that move leisurely and slowly, 
like a man under a burden; as Saturn, Jupiter, 
and Mars, who never by their Diurnal Motion can 
reach one whole Degree.




 Position, A putting, placing, or represent­
ing of things; As the respect of a Planet, in an 
Astrological Figure, to other Planets and parts of 
the Figure, is called his Position.

Postventional, Coming, or that is to come 
after. They are words seldom used but in reference 
to the Lunations, (Change or Full of the Moon) 
next before or after any great Conjunction of the
Superiors, Appearance of a Comet, Revolution of 
the World, or other Figure; from consideration 
of which foregoing or following Lunation, the 
Artist is assisted in his Judgment.

Preventional, [from the Lat. Proevenio] 
Coming, or that hath come, Before.

The Prime of the Moon, An old word for 
signifying the New Moon at her first appearing, or 
about three days after the Change, at which time 
she is said to be Primed.

Prime Figure, Is that which cannot be di­
vided into any other Figures more simple than it 
self; as a Triangle in Plains, the Pyramis in So­
lids; for all Plains are made of the first, all Bodies 
or Solids compounded of the second. 

Prime, or First Number, Is defined by 
Euclid to be that which onely Unity doth mea­
sure, as 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 33, 29, 31, 
&c. for onely Unity can measure these.

Primum Mobile, [Lat. the First Mover] 
Is the Ninth Sphere, which includes both the Fir­
mament, or Heaven of Fixed Stars, and all the 
Spheres of the Planets, and hurries them round from 
East to West once in 24 hours, on the Poles of the 
World. And this Heaven is known onely by its 
Motion, for there be in it no Stars, no Images, nor 
Characters, (as some have vainly and superstiti­




ously fancied) for even the Signs and Circles which 
we imagine to be therein, are onely fictitious. 
Yea, some of the Learned (amongst whom is the 
Noble Tycho himself) are of opinion, that there is 
no such distinct Sphere, Anastron, (or without 
Stars) and onely serving for Motion: For they con­
ceive probably, that the Diurnal Conversion of 
the World, is not caused by any such separate Pri­
mum Mobile, but from the nature of the whole 
Celestial Region; that is, that the whole Æther 
is moved on the Poles of the World by its proper 
vertue, conferred on it by God, from East to West; 
in which, in the mean time, all the Stars and Planets 
are carried, by their proper Motions, from West to 
East, on Poles of the Zodiack; which are therefore 
called Secunda Mobilia, to distinguish them from 
the other.

Prisme, [In Greek Prisma signifies a sawing 
or cutting, but used in Geometry for] A solid Fi­
gure, contained of Plains, two of which (those that 
are opposite to one another) are equal, alike, and 
parallel; but the others are Parallelograms. 

Problem, Gr. Is a Proposition, which requir­
eth some action or doing, as the making of some 
Figure, or to divide a Figure or Line, to apply 
Figure to Figure, to add Figures together, or to 
substract one from another, &c. As the first Propo­
sition of Euclid's first Book is a Problem, viz. Up­
on a given terminated Right Line, to make an Equi­
lateral Triangle; which, after the Demonstrations
is concluded after this manner, Therefore, &c. which was to be done.

Profections,
[from Proficiscor, to pass, or go 
forwards] Are equal and regular progressions of the 
Sun, and other Significators, through the Signs 




of the Zodiack, according to the Successions of 
the Signs, allowing to each Profection the whole 
Circle, and one Sign over: As if the Sun, in the 
first year, be in 24 Degrees of Aries, next year he 
shall be in 24 Degrees of Taurus. Besides these 
Annual Profections, there are others Monthly and 
Annual. But being devises not much regarded by 
Modern Artists, I shall not hear trouble the Reader 
further about them.

Prohibition,
[Lat. a forbidding or hinde­
rance] Is, when two Planets, that signifie the effe­
cting, or bringing to conclusion any thing de­
manded, or applying to an Aspect, and before they
can come to a true Aspect, another Planet inter­
poseth either his Body or Aspect, so that thereby the 
matter is hindered and retarded.

Projection of the Sphere, Is a describing 
the Lines and Circles of the Sphere, or so many of 
them as the purpose requires, upon a flat surface. 
Thus Maps, Astrolabes, Sun-Dials, Quadrants, &c. 
are all Projections of the Sphere.

Promittors, or Promissors, [Lat. from 
Promitto, to promise or engage, to bring somewhat 
to pass] A term used in the Genethliacal part of 
Astrology, treating of Directions; so called, be­
cause they promise in the Radix something to be 
accomplish'd, when the time of the Direction is 
fulfilled; and are onely the Planets, or their Aspects, 
or in some cases Fixed Stars, to whom the Signifi­
cators, that is, the Horoscope, Mid-heaven, Sun, 
Moon, and Part of Fortune, are directed.

Proper Motion,
Is the Motion of a particu­
lar Planet from West to East, in contradistinction of 
its enforced Diurnal Motion from East to West, 
caused by the Primum Mobile.




Proportion, [called in Greek Analogy, and 
sometimes after the Latines, Proportionalitas] Is a 
similitude or likeness of two or more reasons between 
themselves. This is the Basis on which the whole 
Structure of Geometry is founded, and the scope 
to which all its Precepts tend. But because Quan­
tity is two-fold, Continu'd and Disjoyn'd, hence 
arises a Two-fold Proportion, Geometrical, and 
Arithmetical; the first is regarded in Continued 
Quantity, the second in Numbers, comparing one 
with another, and thereby coming to the know­
ledge of others before unknown; yet both are per­
formed by Numbers, and retaining each his own 
name, extends it self to consider the others Quan­
tity, according to the divers reason of Proportions, 
and habitude of one thing to another; applying 
afterwards to Continued Quantity what was made 
out by Quantity Discrete: And on the contrary, 
feigning in Numbers all the Passions of Continued 
Quantity, that what in one is conspicuous, may 
be made appear so in the other, by the same reason 
of Habitude. Thus in Quantity Discrete, 'tis as 
easie as in Continued, to assign a Whole and Parts, 
Indivisible Points, which are Units, composing the 
same Discrete Quantity, Numbers, Plain, Solid, 
Square, and all other sorts of Figures. The Arith­
metical Proportion therefore is, when three or more 
Numbers proceed with the same difference, as 
4, 7, 10, 13, 16, &c. each Number exceeding 
that which goes before by the Number Three. But 
the Geometrical Proportion is, when three or more 
Numbers have the same Reason, as 2, 6, 18, 54, 
162, &c. where every Number bears the same pro­
portion to that which precedes, or Triple Reason, 
containing three times as much.




Of Proportions, whether in Continued or Dis­
crete Quantities, some are Rational, others Irra­
tional: The Rational is that which two Commen­
surable Quantities have between themselves. The 
Irrational that which two Incommensurables have. 
Now those Quantities are said to be Commensurable, 
which have one common Aliquot part, or which 
one common Measure can mete; as are Lines of 
20 and of 8 Inches, whereof the Aliquot part is 
a Line of 4 or of 2 Inches. But Incommensurable
Quantities have no Aliquot parts; that is, there 
is no common Measure given that may measure 
them; as is the Diameter of a Square, and the Side 
of the same Square: For though each of those 
Lines have infinite Aliquot parts, as the Half, 
the Third, &c. yet 'tis not an Aliquot part com­
mon to both, that is, not any Aliquot part of the 
one, be it never so little, can possibly measure the 
other. There are divers other Considerables about 
Proportions, for which, see Euclid, Elem. 5.

Proposition,
[from the Lat. Propono, to pro­
pound, or shew forth] Amongst Geometricians is 
a Sentence set forth to be proved by Reasoning and Demonstrations, and therefore is again repeated in 
the end of the Demonstration.

Prorogator of Life, The same with Hylech, 
which see.

Prostapheresis,
[A Greek word, signifying as 
much as filling up, or Adequation] Is that part of 
the Ecliptick which is to be added or substracted 
from the Mean Motion of the Planets to obtain 
the True, or from their True to obtain their Mean 
Motion.

Pseudostella, [Greek, a false Star] Any kind 
of Comet or Phænomenon newly appearing in 
the Heavens like a Star.




 Pyramid, [so called from the Greek word Pyr, 
signifying Fire, because a flame ends Taper in a 
point like this Figure] So a solid Figure contained 
under diverse Plains, which meet or Terminate, 
at one and the same point being drawn from another 
plain which is for the Base of the Pyramid; and 
here note that every Body whether Opacous or Lu­
minous transmits its shadow or Light after a Pyra­
midal Form. Only the Luminous Body casts it so, 
that the Vertex (Top) of the Pyramid form'd is 
in that point of the Luminous body from whence 
the Light proceeds, and the Basis on the Superficies 
of the Body Inlightned, but an Opacous body casts 
it shadow contrary-wise, the Basis of the Pyramid 
by it made, being in the Superficies of the body 
making the shadow, and the Vertex in a point of any 
body to which the shadow is extended.

Pyrois, [Greek Fiery] A Greek name for 
Mars, from his firy Nature, colour and brightness 
so called.


Q

QUadrant, [from the Lat. Quatuor Four] 
Is the 4th part of a whole Circle, or 90 De­
grees, and from thence the Name of an Instrument, 
which amongst all Mathematical ones may justly
Claim the Preeminence, for by its help almost all 
the operations of Geometry, Astronomy, and 
other Mathematical Sciences are both effected, and 




easily apprehended; but especially the Elevation 
of the Pole, and height of the Sun or other Stars 
above the Horizon; Their Declination, Distance 
from each other, Place in the Zodiac, &c.

Quadrant of Altitude, Is the part of the 
Furniture of an Artificial Globe, being a thin Brass 
Plate divided into 90 Degrees, and marked up­
wards with 10, 20. &c. being Rivetted to a Brass 
Nut which is fitted to the Meridian, and hath a 
screw in it, to screw upon any Degree of the Meri­
dian; when it is used it is most commonly screwed 
to the Zenith. Its use is for Measuring the Altitudes, 
finding Amplitudes, and Azimuths, and describing 
Almicantarahs. See Tutor to Astronomy, pag. 6.

Quadrat, See Square.

Quadrangle, A Geometrical Figure consist­
ing of four Angles, as a Parallelogram, Rhombus, 
Rhomboides, &c.

Quadrature of the Circle, See Squaring 
of the Circle.

Quadrilateral,
having 4 Sides.

Quadrupedial, [From the Lat. Quatuor 4, 
and Pes a Foot, four-footed] Signs, See
Beastial.

Quadruple, Fourfold.

Quarters of
Heaven, The four principal, 
East, West, North, and South; but in Astronomy 
they are Intersections of the Sphere considered as
well in the World as in the Zodiack, of which two 
are Oriental and counted Masculine, reckoned from 
the Rising of the Sun to his place at high Noon, 
and from the West to the Imum Coeli in the world, 
and from the begining of Aries to the begining of 
Cancer, and from the begining of Libra to the 




end of Sagittary, and the other two just the con­
trary.

Quantity, Is the proper and largest object of 
Geometrical Arts, not as tis an accident adhering 
to matter, and endued with sensible qualities; (For 
so the consideration of it belongs to Philosophers) 
but as it is an Extension of parts, and a certain apt 
measure both to measure other quantities, and be
measured again by them. See Point.

Querent, [From the Lat. Quaero to seek] 
An Enquirer, the person that demands a Question 
of an Astrologer generally signified by the Ascendent 
its Lord, and Planets therein, and the Moon. Hence

Quesited, The party or thing Enquired after, 
or concerning, whose Significator is varied accord­
ing to his Relation to the Question, or nature of the 
business belonging to such or such an House; As if 
a Question be askt about a Brother, the third House 
and its Lord shall signifie him; If a Child, the
5th, &c.

Quinque-Angled,
That has 5 Angles, from 
the Lat. Quinque, Five.

"Quinque-angled" not found in OED.



Quintuple, Five-fold.

Quintile, One of the New Aspects invented 
by Kepler, thus marked, Q. It happens when Pla­
nets are distant a 5th part of the Zodiack or 72 
Degrees, and in its Nature is good and favourable.

Quincunx, Another of those New Aspects, 
when Planets are distant 5 Signs or 150 De­
grees.

Quotient, A term in Arithmetick derived from 
the Latine word Quoties, how often; because it 
shows how often a small Number in Division is con­
tained in a greater, as 4 is  the Quotient of Twenty 
divided by 5.





R

RAdius, Lat. properly a Ray or beam of the 
Sun, but in the Opticks tis defined to be a Lu­
minous straight Line, or an Illumination made by 
a right Line, and yet that is but one sort of them, 
for there are two others; A Reflex Ray, which is 
transmitted from the body Illuminated either back 
to the Luminous body, or sideway on some other 
Object; and a Refracted Ray, which is when the 
Medium is too thick, and so it glances into a thin­
ner, or too thin, and so it chooses one more thick, 
as when from the Air tis diffused upon the Water. 
In Astronomy, a Radius or Ray is taken for the 
Aspect or Configuration of two Stars: so we say 
Saturn beholds Venus with an Hostile Ray, &c.
when she is square with him; but amongst Geome­
tricians by Radius is meant, the greatest Sine, which 
is the Semidiameter of a Circle, and the half Chords 
subtended under the whole Circle, after which fol­
low other Lesser Circles always Less and Less even
to the Complement of the Arch under which they 
are subtended; by which (by the help of the Rule 
of Proportions) we find out the Quantity of the 
other Sines, and the Arch by which each is subtended, 
as also of the Tangent and Secant: In Scheme 
1. A B is Radius to that Circle. See further Radix.

Radix, [In Lat. a Root] by similitude taken 
from the root of a Tree; from whence all the body 




and Branches proceed: It is used by Artists for the 
begining of things, or the foundation whence is 
drawn the reason of Computing the Celestial Mo­
tions, relating to such a person or thing, so the Na­
tivity or figure erected for the time of any persons 
birth, is called The Radix in respect of Revolutions, 
Directions, Progressions, &c.

Rational way of Erecting
a Figure, 
Is a way of Distributing the spaces of the Houses;
Invented first by Abraham Avenesra, and since
highly asserted by Regiomontanus, who for the Ex­
cellency of it in his apprehension called it the Ratio­ 
nal way, as esteeming the method prescribed by Pto­
lomy and others of the Ancients absurd or fantastick, 
Now the Division they propose, is to divide the
Equator (as Ptolomy and his followers did the 
Zo­
diac) into twelve equal parts by 6 great Circles 
drawn through mutual Sections of the Horizon and 
Meridian, &c. Being the way now commonly 
Practised by all Astrologers in Erecting their Figures.

Reason, This word is used by Mathematicians 
in a peculiar Sence, and is thus Defined by Euclid 
El. 5. Reason is an Habit of two Magnitudes of 
the same kind compared the one to the other, accord­
ing to Quantity: whereby it appears, that when 
two Quantities of the same kind, as two Numbers, 
two Lines, two Superficies, two Solids, &c. are
Compared to one another according to Quantity; 
that is to say, according as one is greater or less than 
the other, or equal thereto, such Comparison is 
called Reason, or (as others will have it) Propor­
tion; Reason and Rational in this Sence is variously 
divided, as Reason, Rational, and Irrational, Rea­
son of equality and inequality, Reason Multiplex, 




Reason Multiplex Superparticular, &c. For all
which see Euclid. in the 5th El. aforesaid, where 
they are all explained: and no pretender to Mathe­
maticks being to be supposed to be without that 
most Necessary Author, I think it not necessary here 
to transcribe them.

Reception, [Lat. a Receiving or Entertain­
ing from Recipio] Is a kind of accidental Dignity 
or Fortitude happening to two Planets (especially 
if they are agreeable in nature, and friendly) when 
they are found in each others Houses, Exaltation, 
or other essential Dignities, as ਱ in ੘ and ♂ 
in &#264C; 
Or &2609; in ਖ਼ and ☿ in ੘. The first is a Reception 
by House, (which is the best and strongest) The 
second is a Reception by Triplicity, if the Question 
or Nativity be by day.

Reflexion, Lat. Is a Redoubling of the 
Action or quality sent from some Agent upon the 
Patient, whereby the same Action or quality pro­
duced in the Patient, is intended, and Acted over, 
endeavouring to tend back again to the first Agent. 
So Light darted from the Sun upon a Looking-glass 
is intended (or made more strong) and turn'd back 
encreased through the same Medium that it came; 
Tis to this Reflection of the Solar Beams that Hea­
ven ows those thousands of Beauties which every 
clear night we admire: for the Stars are supposed 
to have no Light of their own, but what they re­
ceive this way from the Sun.

Refraction, [Lat. a breaking back or again] 
The word is used in Astronomy and Perspective, 
to signify that diversity of Aspect, and Error of the 
Sight which happens in our contemplating the Stars, 
or beholding any other bodies at a great distance, 
either by Optick Instruments, or any other interpo­




sed Diaphonous body, when thereby the Rays or 
Species of the Visible object are broken, and repre­
sent the things otherwise than in truth they are; 
as is manifest in Looking-glasses, which according 
to their greater Density or rarity notably alter the 
Object; the general Cause of Refractions are the 
obliquity of the Sight, and the thickness of the Air, 
which the thicker it is the greater will be the Re­
fraction, hence Stars near the Horizon are most 
obnoxious to it, whereas in the Meridian the Air is
more clear and free from vapours, so that there they 
suffer little or no Refraction; the knowledge here­
of is of good use in Eclipses to find out the true time 
of Incidence, Greatness and Duration from the Ap­
parent.

Refraination, [from the Latine Particle Re, 
and Fraenum a Bridle, a holding back as with a 
Bridle] 'Tis a kind of weakning to a Planet, which 
is called so by Astrologers when a Planet going to 
an Aspect with another, before they come up to it 
becomes Retrograde, and thereby is as it were pluckt 
back, as Saturn in 12 Degrees of ੘ Mars in 7 Degrees here ♂ hastens to
a Conjunction of Saturn, 
but before he comes to the 10th or 11th Degree 
of ੘, he becomes Retrograde, and by that means 
refrains to come to a ♂ of ♄. who still moves for­
ward in the Sign. Nothing signified by the for­
mer Conjunction will be Effected.

To Rectify a Nativity, Is to bring the Esti­
mate and supposed time to the true and real time of a 
persons Birth. For which there are several ways, 
as the Animodar of Ptolomy, the Trutine of Hermes, 
and by Accidents, which last as the most certain is 
generally followed.

Reclining, [Lat. to Lean backwards] A 




Term used in Dyalling for a Plane, that leans from 
you when you stand before it. See Mechanick Dyalling.

Rectangle, A Right Angle. See Angle.

Regular Figures, Are such as are Equilate­
ral, and of equal Angles, as are all Isoperimeters, 
and yet these words not Synonimous, for Isoperi­
metral Figures are understood to be those which 
contain equal Circuits; But Regular Figures are 
those where the Angles and Lines or Superficies are 
equal: On the contrary, those are called Irregular, 
which have not the Equality of Sides and Angles,
as are Prisms and Trapezia's; and to know these, 
Describe a Line about any Figure from its Centre 
at its Angles, if the Circumference equally touch 
all the Angles, the Figure is Regular, otherwise Irregular.

Retrograde, [Lat. moving or going back­
wards] A Planet is said to be so by Astronomers, 
when by his proper Motion in the Zodiac he moves 
contrary to the succession of the Signs; as if he go 
from the second degree of Aries to the first, and so 
into the 30th degree of Pisces, which is by all ac­
counted the greatest Debility that can happen to a
Planet, as to be swift in Motion is a very great 
Fortitude; the reason whereof seems to be this, 
that when a Planet is swift, he strives more against 
the Motion of the Primum Mobile, and staying 
longer above the Earth has more time to diffuse his 
Light and Influence on Inferiors, whereas he that 
is Retrograde is so far from resisting, that he An­
ticipates the Motion of the Primum Mobile, and
finishes his Revolution in less than 24 hours, so has 
not time to affect inferiors so powerfully with his 
Qualities, and consequently must be accounted weak; 




and this (by the way) may be one reason why the 
Planets have more power over us than the Fixed 
Stars. 

To Retrogradation all Planets, except the Lu­
minaries, are subject; not that really they move
backward, but because they are carried every one 
in his Epicycle, which has the Sun for his Centre and 
so whilst the Orbs are carried about with the rapid 
motion under the Primum Mobile, their Bodies, in 
respect of us, seem sometimes to move backwards, 
sometimes to stand still, and sometimes move 
swifter and slower, though in truth they always go 
on equally and in the same manner in their Epi­
cycle. But when they are in their first station, de­
scending from their Apogaeon to their Perigæon, they appear Retrograde, as you may 
sensibly be­
hold in a Sphere.

Revolution, [Lat. a turning round, or rol­
ling about] Is the Circulation of any Sphere or 
Star, till it return to the same point in which it 
was when first it began to move. Thus Saturn 
finishes his Revolution in the Zodiac in the space 
of almost thirty years, Jupiter in twelve, Mars in 
two, the Sun in one year, the Moon in one month, 
and the Primum Mobile in the space of one natural 
day, that is, 24 hours. But sometimes, especially 
among Astrologers, the word is more strictly ta­
ken for the return of the Sun precisely to the 
same point of the Zodiac that he was in at the 
beginning of a thing. Thus the Figure of his en­
tring Aries is called the Revolution of the World. 
So in the Doctrine of Nativities, a Revolution is 
the annual return of the Sun to that very point 
wherein he was at the Radix, or time of Birth. 




And the Figures erected at these moments of time, 
are called Revolutional Figures.

Rhabdology, [from the Greek Rhabdos, a 
Rod] A way of counting and measuring by Rods; 
called Napiers Bones.

Rhombus, Is a Geometrical Figure, having 
four Sides, and those equal, but the Angles unequal, 
two opposite ones being Acute, the other two Ob­
tuse. So called from the Greek word Rhombos, 
which signifies the Fish called a Turbot, and the 
Quarrels of Glass in a Window.

Romboides, Is of the same derivation, being 
just of such a shape or form, a Figure of four Sides, 
having not onely its Angles, but Sides too unequal; 
yet so, that two as well Sides as Angles opposite 
to each other are equal: And is a Figure between 
a Rhombus and a Parallelogram; 
from the one it takes proportion of Angles, from the other corre­
spondence of Sides: And therefore for its likeness 
to a Rhombus, is called Rhomboides.

Rhumbs, Are neither Circles, nor Streight 
Lines, but Helispherical or Spiral Lines; but in 
Plain Cards, and Mercators Cards, they are repre­
sented by Streight Lines: They proceed from the 
point where we stand, and wind about the Globe 
of the Earth, till they come to the Pole, where at 
last they lose themselves. They represent the 
Thirty two Winds of the Mariners Compass. 
Their use is to shew the Bearing of any two Places 
one from another: that is to say, upon what Point 
of the Compass any Shoar or Land lies from an­
other. They were first called Rhumbs by 
the Por­
tugals, and that name since continued by all Au­
thors, (as well Latine as others) that have occasion 
to speak of them.




Right Angle, See Angle.

Right 
Ascension,
Descension. 
See Ascension.

Right Line, Is that which is equally distend­
ed between its points; that is, hath nothing of turn­
ing or bending any way, and consequently of all 
Lines is in its nature the shortest.

Right Sphere,
See Sphere.

Right Sine, See Sine.

Roman Indiction,
See Indiction.

Rod, 
Rood, 
See the Appendix of Measures.

Rule of Three, A Rule in Arithmetick, so 
called, because by the help of Three Numbers 
given, it finds out a Fourth unknown; and for 
the Excellency of its use is stiled, The Golden Rule: 
The way is, to multiply the Third Number by the
Second, and dividing by the First, the Quotient 
shall be the Fourth Number sought. As if the 
Question were thus: If a Pillar of 6 Foot high cast 
a Shadow of 10 Foot; how high must that Tower 
be that casts a Shadow of 125 Foot? Set your
Numbers thus, still observing to set Numbers of 
the same Nature over against one another.

10   Z 6
125

And having wrought it, you will find the Quo­
tient to be 75 Foot, which is the heighth of the 
Tower enquired after.

Ruminant Signs, [from the Lat. Rumino, 
Signs chewing the cud] Are those Signs of the 




Zodiac represented by Creatures that use that Qua­
lity, viz. Aries, Taurus, and Capricorn. And it
seems the Moon, in any of them, causes effects 
somewhat like that of Beasts, holding their meat 
in their throat, and chewing it over again. For 
Physicians caution us by no means to take Phy­
sic then, because 'twill lie long in the Stomach, and 
be apt to be cast up again by Vomit; and there­
fore Vomits do best then.

Rythmos, A Greek word, signifying Num­
ber, or rather the Harmony and Proportion of 
Numbers. Whence come the Words Arithmetick, 
Logarithms, Rithm, which we commonly write 
Ryme, &c.


S

SAgittarius, [Lat. the Archer, or Bowman, 
from Sagitta, an Arrow; in Greek 'tis called 
also Chiron, and Philyrides] Is the 9th. in order of
the 12 Signs of the Zodiac, the House of Jupiter,
and Triplicity of him and the Sun. The Ancients
would have the Dragons-head to be exalted in it;
but many modern Artists do not agree thereunto. 
'Tis a fiery common Sign; in the first Mediety, 
(or half) Humane; in the rest, Ferine, (wild, or 
bestial.) The reason of the name of this Sign 
must be drawn from the Poetical Fable of Chiron, 
the Son of Saturn, who was a Centaur, (that is, 
half a Man and half a Horse) Whence the Herb 
Centaury is so called, he being the first that found 




it out, for he had great skill both in Herbs and 
Astronomy; insomuch that at last (as the Story 
goes) he was translated into Heaven, and turn'd 
into this Constellation.

Satellites, [a Latin word, signifying pro­
perly Gentlemen of the Guard, or Soldiers attend­
ing a Prince for the safety of his Person] Is taken 
by Astronomers for those Planets who are continu­
ally waiting upon, and roll'd round about 
another Planet; as Venus and Mercury may be 
called the Satellites of the Sun. But the word is
chiefly used for those new discovered small Planets, 
or little Erratick Stars, which make their Revolu­
tions about Saturn and Jupiter, and retain their
Bodies for their Centre; of which, four belonging 
to Jupiter and two to Saturn, were lately discovered 
by Galilæus.

Saturn, The slowest of the Planets, and most 
remote from the Earth, his Sphere being imme­
diately next under the Heaven of the Fixed Stars, 
by reason of which distance, he seems to us the least, 
though in truth greater than any of all the Seven, 
except the Sun and Jupiter: Of a 
leaden, whitish, 
somewhat obscurish colour; by nature cold and 
dry, and so inimical to the nature of Man and all
Creatures, that he is generally counted the Greater 
Infortune. He is slow in Motion, requiring 29 
years, 157 days, and 22 hours to finish one Re­
volution in the Zodiac; and his greatest North 
Latitude is 2 degr. 48 min. but towards the South 
2 degr. 49min.

Scalenum, [from Scala, the Latine word for 
a Ladder, with which this Figure has some remote 
resemblance] Is a kind of Triangle, having all 
its Angles and Sides unequal, whereby 'tis oppo­
 



site to an Equilateral Triangle; the Mean be­
tween them both is the Triangle called Isosceles, 
which has two of its sides onely unequal.

Scenography, [from the Greek words Scenè, 
a House or Tabernacle, and Grapho, to write or 
describe] Is a Model or Descripion of the Front and 
Sides of a Building, or the Art of rightly contriving 
Draughts in Architecture.

But in Perspective, the Scenographick appearance 
of any Figure, Body or Building, is that Side that 
declines from, or makes Angles with that streight 
Line imagined to pass through the two outward 
convex points of your Eyes, generally called by 
Workmen the Return of a fore-right Side; and 
differs from the Orthographick Appearance in this, 
that the latter represents the Side of a Body or 
Building as it is seen, when the Plain of the Glass
stands parallel to that Side. But Scenography re­
presents it as it seems through a Glass not parallel to
that Side. See Practical Perspective, fol. 4.

Sciography, [from Scia, Greek for a Sha­
dow, and Grapho, to write or describe] Is the Art 
of Shadows, comprehending Dialling, and part of 
Astronomy, as far as serves for finding out the 
hour of the Day or Night, or other Question, by 
the Shadow of the Sun, Moon, or Stars.

Scheme, [from Schema, a Greek word, sig­
nifying a Form, Figure, or Shape of a thing] 'Tis 
used by Astrologers mostly for the Representation 
of the Celestial Bodies, in their true Places for any 
moment; or an Astrological Figure of the Heavens, 
often termed Schema Coeli, and the doing of it, 
Erecting or Drawing a Scheme. 'Tis taken like­
wise for the Draught or Representation of any
Geometrical or Astronomical Figure or Problem 




by Lines sensibly to the Eye, though these are more
frequently called Diagrams.

Scorpio, [Lat. the Scorpion] The Eighth 
Sign of the Zodiac, and House of Mars. 'Tis 
called so, by reason of the sympathy it has with 
our Terrestrial Scorpions, who when the Moon is 
in this Sign, are said to be more fierce and dan­
gerous. Nay, Authors affirm, that a House begun 
to be built when this Sign is on the Ascendent, 
will continually be haunted with Serpents. Its na­
ture is prolifick, watery, and Fixed; but veno­
mous, treacherous, boasting, &c.

Secant, See Sine.

Second, The sixtieth part of a Minute.

Sector, [Lat. a Cutter] The Sector of a Circle 
is defined by Euclid, Lib. 3. to be a Figure con­
tained under two Right Lines, which constitute an 
Angle at the Centre, and the Circumference com­
prised between the same Lines. Hence the word is 
used for a Mathematical Instrument of excellent
use, whereof our worthy Artist Mr. Edmund 
Gunter has written a compleat Treatise, to which I 
refer you.

Segment [Lat. from
Seco, to cut] of a Cir­
cle, Is a Figure comprehended under a Right Line 
and the Circumference of a Circle, whereby so 
much seems to be cut off from the rest.

Semicircle, [Lat.] half of a Circle, whence 
in the Sphere and great Circles it imports always 
180 Degr. and in the Zodiac six Signs; Semis in 
Latin signifying half.

Semidiameter,
Half the Diameter.

Semiquadrat, [Lat. Half a Square] Is one 
of those new Aspects invented by Kepler, com­
monly marked thus, S. q. and happens, when two 




Planets are distant from each other the fourth part 
of the Semi-circle, or one Sign and 15 Degr. This 
Aspect is chiefly regarded in Judgments on Dis­
eases, or in Lunations concerning the Weather; 
for then the Moon becoming visible, makes her 
effects manifest: Whence that vulgar Latine Proverb, 

Quarta, Quinta, Qualis; Tota Luna Talis.

As is the Fourth and Fifth days weather, 
So's that Lunation all together. 


"Semiquadrat" not found in OED.



Separation, Is when two Planets have been 
in Conjunction or Partile Aspect, and the Lighter 
by reason of his Swifter motion, is going out of the 
moiety of both their Orbs. And this is two-fold; 
First, Simple, when both are direct, but the ligh­
ter Planet in most Degrees. The second Mutual, 
when the Planet that is in most Degrees is Direct, 
and he in the least Degrees Retrograde, for then 
there is a Separation made on both sides. The con­
sideration of this is of great use in Astrology; for 
admit two Planets, being Significators in a 
Question of Marriage, are lately separated but a 
few minutes, we may judge there has been but few 
days before great probability of effecting the Mar­
riage; but now it hangs in suspense, and there seems 
some dislike or rupture in it: and according to the 
number of Degrees that the swifter Planet wanteth 
ere he can be wholly separated from the more pon­
derous, so many days, weeks, months and years as
the Signs are movable, common, or fix'd, may it 
be ere the two Lovers will wholly desist, or see the 
matter quite broke off.




Septangulus, [from Septem, Latin for seven, 
and Angulus, an Angle] A Figure in Geometry 
consisting of seven Angles, whether it be Plain or 
Solid, Regular or Irregular. 'Tis sometimes called 
Heptangulus also, from the Greek word Hepta, 
seven.

Septentrional,
[Lat. from Septentrio, the 
North] Northern, of or belonging to the North; 
so we say, Septentrional Latitude, and Septentrio­
nal Signs, as the first six Signs, because they de­
cline towards the North from the Equinoctial.

Serpentine Line,
a crooked winding Line, 
that incloses it self continually, as a Serpent wraps 
her self up in folds. See Spiral.

Sesquiquadrate,
One of the new Aspects, when 
two Planets are distant from each other as much as 
makes a Square, that is, 3 whole Degrees; and 
also half another Square, that is in all, 4 Signs and 
15 Degrees of the Zodiac. 'Tis of the same nature 
with the Square, unlucky, but in a less degree.

Sexagenary, [Lat. from Sexaginta, sixty] 
of or belonging to sixty. And indeed this Division 
of Degrees into 60 Minutes, and each minute into 
60 Seconds, is of great use in Astronomy; for be­
ing a Number divided by many, 'tis the most con­
venient for Calculation; to ease which the more, 
there are Tables called Sexagenary Tables.

Sexagenary Tables, Contrived of parts 
proportional, where by Inspection you may find 
the Product of two Numbers to be multiplied, or 
the Quotient of two that are to be divided, &c.

Sexangle, A Figure consisting of six Angles.

Sextans, [Lat.] A sixth part.

Sextile, [Lat.] An Aspect, when two Planets 
are distant one sixth part of the Zodiac, viz. two 




whole Signs. 'Tis sometimes called in Greek Hexa­
gon, which signifies the same thing. 'Tis of the 
nature of a Trine, good and friendly, but more weak 
and imperfect.

Shade of Extuberance, The Shadow made 
by the greatest swelling part of a Body, more par­
ticularly of a Globulous Body.

Sidereal Year.
See Solar Year.

Signifer, [Lat. from Signum, a Sign, and 
fero, to bear or carry] The Zodiac is sometimes so 
called, because therein are all the 12 Signs. See 
Zodiac.

Signs, Are certain Notes in the Zodiac, di­
vided by equal Twelve parts, each of which consist 
of 30 Degrees in length, and 12, or rather 18, in 
breadth. And that the Natures of them may be 
taken notice of, whether by reason of the Fixed 
Stars that are with them respectively; or by those 
effects which the Sun, passing through each of 
them, causes in things below; they are mark'd 
and called by Images and Names of Animals, or 
other things which might best represent their Qua­
lities; in which the Antients were very curious, not 
to give Appellations at random, but after a curi­
ous disquisition of all circumstances, so that it 
would be almost impossible to give them any other 
names, which should hint so many of their pro­
perties as they already given do; which are, 
Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, 
Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius, and
Pisces. Now you must note, that all Stars are said 
to be in one of these Signs, not onely those which 
are within the Latitude of the Zodiac, but those 
without it too: So that as if the Ecliptick were 
divided into 12 equal parts, and Circles from the 




Points of the Divisions described by or through the 
Poles of the Zodiac; whatever is included betwen 
those two Semicircles, or in the Superficies, which 
the two Semicircles enclose from one Pole of the 
Zodiac to the other, shall be said to belong to that 
Sign, which is included within these two Semicir­
cles in the Zodiac.

Signs, of 
Short Ascension 
are &#264B; &#264C; &#264D;
&#264E; &#264F; ਗ਼
Long Ascension 
are
ਜ਼ ੜ ੝
੘ ਖ਼ &#264A; 
These Signs of long Ascension 
continue two hours and more 
upon the Ascendant, but those of short Ascensions
little more than an hour, and some less, for the 
first Ascend rightly, the last obliquely; for under­
standing whereof, we must note, that those Signs 
are said to Rise obliquely, with whom there Ascends 
a lesser Portion of the Equator; whence it follows 
that the Arch of the Zodiac containing such Signs 
Ascends more Crookedly than the Equator does; But 
those Ascend rightly, who rise more right than the 
Arch of the Equator answering to them, that is,
Ascend with more Degrees than the Equator: 
Furthermore, those Signs that Ascend obliquely, 
Set afterwards Rightly, because a lesser portion of 
the Equator goes down with them, and those that 
Ascend Right, Set obliquely. 

Sines,
Tangents, 
and 
Secants. 

These Terms having common 
relation to Spherical Trigono­
metry: I have thought fit to 
Explain them here all at once.

For the word Sine, in Latine Sinus, it signi­
fies properly the wideness between two Terms, 
hence that Crookedness within the breast and the 
folding of the Arms which we call a persons bosom is 




called in Latin Sinus; so the space contained be­
tween Crooked shoars, which run out far like two 
Arms of the Continent into the Sea, in English cal­
led a Bay, is exprest likewise in Latin by this word
Sinus. Hence by way of similitude, Geometrici­
ans call the Halves of the Chords, or Right Lines, 
which shut up the Cavity of any Arch, Sines. 

Tangent comes from the Latin word Tango to 
Touch, and Secant, from Seco to Cut, the reason of 
which Appellations are plain, the first being a per­
pendicular Right line without a Circle, falling upon 
the end of the Diameter of the Circle, the second a 
Line drawn from the Centre of the Circle towards 
the first, and Cutting the Circle, which if Con­
tinued long enough, the first must at length needs
Touch it; but for more evident satisfaction, See 
Figure 1. where the Lines that are called Sines, 
Tangents, Secants, and their Complements have 
the word Sine, Tangent, Secant, &c. over them.

Sine, 
Tangent, 
Secant,
Complement, The arch of 
a Circle numbred in Degrees, 
that any given Sine, Tangent 
or Secant wants of 90 Degrees: as the Sine, &c. 
of 55 Degrees being given, its Sine &c. Comple­
ment shall be the Sine of 35 Degrees.

The use of these Sines, Tangents, and Secants, 
and their Complements, are very great in the Mea­
suring of all sorts of Triangles; as well Rectilineal, 
as Spherical.

Sinister 
Aspect,
[Lat. Left-handed, or towards 
the Left-hand] Is a position of 
two Planets that happens according to the succession 
of the Signs, as Saturn in Aries, and Mars in the 
same Degrees of Gemini; here Saturn is said to cast 
a Sinister Aspect to Mars, but on the Contrary, 




Mars beholds Saturn with a Dexter Aspect, be­
cause 'tis Contrary to the Succession of the Stars, 
and this Sinister Aspect is of more force than a Dexter 
one, says an Ingenious Modern Author (Salmon
Synopsis Medicinae. p. 14) but acknowledges his 
opinion therein to be Contrary to that of the Ancients.

Sol, [Lat. the Sun] The King of the Planets, 
Fountain of Light, and Eye of the World, by na­
ture hot and dry; a Fortune by Aspect, but Infor­
tune by Body; he has many names given him, both 
by Poets and other Authors, as Sol, Titan, He­
lios, Appollo, Poean, Diespiter, &c. His mean 
Motion is 59 m. and 8 s. sometimes but 57 m. 
16 s. never above 61 m. and 6. s. never Retro­
grade, always without Latitude, because always in 
the Ecliptick, &c.

Solar year, Is either Tropical or Sideral, 
Tropical [from Tropè a Greek word signifying 
Conversion, or Returning, whence the two Tro­
picks take their name] is that space of time wherein 
the Sun returns again to the same Equinoctial or 
Solstitial Point, which is always equal 365 days, 
5 hours, and about 55 minutes; the Sideral or 
Starry year, is the space wherein the Sun comes back 
to any particular fixed Star, which is a little longer
than the other; viz. 365 days, 6 hours, and 9
minutes.

Solid, Lat. Is a Body that hath both Length, 
Breadth, and Thickness, and all Solids are either 
Spherical or Eliptical, which have properly no 
Side or Angle; or Prisms, which are contained in 
Plains; or Trapezia's, which are bodies Irre­
gular.

Solid Number, Is so called by way of Ana­




logy, being that which is made of three Numbers 
mutually Multiplying one another, which Num­
bers shall be called its Sides, as are 2. 3, 4. in re­
spect of 24.

Solstice, [In Lat. Solstitium from Sol the
Sun, and Sto to stand] Is that time when the Sun 
Entring the Tropical Points is got furthest from the 
Equator, and before he returns back towards it, it
seems for some days at a stand, being moved in the 
same Parallel, scarce making any Lines but almost 
perfect Circles, so small is his progress; these Sol­
stices are two; the Estival or Summer Solstice, when 
the Sun Enters Cancer on the 11th of June, making 
the longest day and Shortest night, and the Hyemal 
or Winter Solstice on the 11th of Dec. when he 
Enters Capricorn, the nights being at longest, and 
the days at shortest: but this is only in these 
Northern Regions, for under the Equator there is 
no variation, but a Continual Equinox, and in the 
Southern parts Capricorn makes the longest day, and 
Cancer the longest night.

Solution, An unfolding, explaining, or giving 
satisfaction to any Question, from Solvo in Latine 
to loose or unty.

Speculum, [a Latine word signifying pro­
perly a Looking-Glass, but] used for a kind of a 
Table framed by Astrologers after they have erected 
the Figure of a Nativity; Containing the Planets 
and Cusps with their Aspects, Terms, &c. all in 
their proper places; thereby to find out the pro­
gression of the Significators to Promittors, and 
Rectify the Estimate time of the Scheme by Acci­
dents: See the Form and manner of drawing it, in Mr. Coleys Clavis Astrologiae.

Sphere, [a Greek word, in Latine Globus, a 




round thing or Ball in English] Is defined in Geo­
metry by Euclid to be, A Solid Body, contain'd 
in one onely Superficies; in the midst whereof 
there is a Point conceived, to which all Lines 
drawn from the Superficies are equal. 

But in Astronomy 'tis taken more specially for 
the whole Frame or Machine of the World, being 
of a Spherical Figure: but most strictly, for the 
Primum Mobile, embracing all the other Orbs and 
Celestial Bodies, which, in the space of one Natu­
ral Day, is volv'd and carri'd round on the Poles
of the World about the Earth, according to Pto­
lomy; and which by reason of its different habi­
tude, or respect of the parts of the Earth to its 
Poles, is said to be either Right or Oblique.

A Right or Direct Sphere hath both the Poles of the
World in the Horizon, & the Equinoctial transiting 
the Zenith; so that all the Circles parallel to the E­
quator make Right Angles with the Horizon, and 
by it are divided into two equal parts, the Sun, Moon,
and Stars being always 12 
hours above, and 12 hours 
below the Horizon; conse­
quently the Days and Nights 
always just 12 hours long:
and is called Right, because 
all the Celestial Bodies, by the 
Diurnal motion of the Pri­
mum Mobile Ascend directly 
above, and Descend directly below the Horizon 
As at the Isle of St. Lawrence, and other places 
under the Equator. The adjoyned Figure is a re­
presentation of the Right Sphere.




An Oblique Sphere is, 
where one of the Poles is ele­
vated above, the other de­
pressed below the Horizon; 
as in all places wide of the 
Equator. The adjoyned Fi­
gure is a representation of the 
Oblique Sphere.

A Parallel Sphere is so called, 
because there the Equator 
lies directly in the Horizon, 
and in parallel thereunto; the 
whole year there being but 
as one Natural day, viz. one 
half year Day, and the other 
Night. The adjoyning Figure 
represents a Parallel Sphere.

From this division of the Sphere arises the di­
versity of Ascensions, to wit, of the Degrees of 
the Equator, and parts answering thereunto, thence 
denominated Right or Oblique. For in a Right 
Sphere, all the Ascensions are Right; but in an 
Oblique Sphere, Oblique.

All which is demonstrated sensibly in that Ma­
thematical Instrument called the Sphere, which 
hence takes its name, having the Poles, Lines, and 
Great Circles therein represented.

Besides this, the Orb of each Planet is called, 
the Sphere of such a Planet: and sometimes the 
word is likewise used for the Sphere of a Planets 
Activity, and that extension of Light and Vertue, 
so far as any Planet is capable of making or re­
ceiving a Platick Aspect; and how far that is re­




spectively in each, see Platick. See also Atmo­
sphere.

Spherical, of or belonging to a Sphere; and 
hence Spherical Triangles are those which serve for 
measuring Distances by the Great Circles of the 
Sphere.

Spiral Line, [Lat.] A Tortuous or crooked 
Line, unequally distant from the midst of the space, 
howsoever inclosed; which seems to be almost a 
Circle, onely it does not meet, and like that, run 
again into it self, but keeps on at a proportionate 
distance or deviation, like the making up of Ropes, 
or the foldings of a Serpent, when she lies close in
so many Rings with her body.

Square, In Geometry, is a Figure that is Equi­
lateral and Right Angled; that is to say, which 
hath the four Sides equal, and the Angles Right. 
But in Astrology, a Square in an Aspect be­
tween two Planets that are distant a fourth part of
the Circle, or 90 Degrees; for from those Points, 
Lines drawn to one another, will make a perfect 
Equilateral Rect-Angled Square. This is an un­
fortunate Aspect, but not so prejudicial as an Oppo­
sition.

Square Number,
A Number equally even, 
or contained under two equal Numbers; as 25, 
which rises equally even by the mutual multiplica­
tion of 5 into or by 5.

Square, Called in Latin Norma, Gnomon, 
or Canon, is an Instrument consisting of two shanks,
including a Right Angle, commonly known to, and 
used by Carpenters, &c.

Squaring the Circle, Is a contriving to any 
Circle a Square equal thereunto, and exactly cor­
respondent: A thing that has puzled the ablest 




Mathematicians, being in truth, to find out the 
Area of some Square that shall be exactly equal 
to the Area of some Circle, so that the Area's of 
both Figures shall be alike capacious. This, 
though the great Archimedes, and others, have 
not exactly done, yet they have come near enough 
for any use, and taught those things, which, if 
fully understood and pursued, the Circle may 
come to be Squared: For if they have Squared a 
Parabola, (which is an Area intercepted between 
two Lines, one Right, and the other Arcular, or bow­
ing) why should not the Circle it self, which con­
sists of two Parabola's, be as well Squared?

Sporades, [from the Greek Sporos, scattered 
up and down, or in several places] Are those Stars 
dispersed in the Firmament, which were never 
yet rank'd in any particular Constellation, nor had 
peculiar names assigned. They are called thus by 
way of Analogy, from the Islands called Sporades 
near Crete in the Carpathian Sea, which were not 
described by Ptolomy, nor inserted in the old Maps.

"Sporades" not found in the OED.



Stationary, 
and
Station. 
[from Sto, Lat. to stand] 
The Consistence of the Pla­
nets in their Eclipses, when 
they are furthest off their Centre in respect of 
the Zodiack, and being to be either Direct or 
Retrograde, is called their Station. To under­
stand which, we must note, that all the Planets, ex­
cept the Moon, are moved in their small Orb or 
Epicycle about the Sun, whom they respect as 
their Centre, (according to Tycho) and in the 
mean time both they and their greater Orbs, or 
Deferents, are carried about by the Primum Mo­
bile, yet keep on their proper Motion according 




to the succession of the Signs, and have four re­ 
markable points: First, their Apogæum, where 
they are furthest from the Earth, and are all above 
the Sun, joyned with him in the same Ecliptical 
Degree, whereby the Superiors become Oriental, 
but the Inferiors Occidental. The second is their 
Perigæum, where they are below the Sun, and
nearest to the Earth, yet joyned again to the Sun 
in the same Degree of the Ecliptic, and from thence 
the Superiors become Occidental, and the Inferi­
ors Oriental. The other two points are on each 
side, in which they are farthest removed from the 
Sun, and are called their Stations, because as they 
are Ascending therein to their Apogæum, or De­
scending therein to their Perigæum, they seem in a 
manner to stand still, and not change their place in 
the Zodiac: Of which, the first Station is that on
the right hand of the Sun, where they begin to 
go backward in the Zodiac, passing by their Pe­
rigæon to their second Station, when being on 
the left hand of the Sun, they begin to grow Di­
rect. 

Hence a Planet is said to be Stationary, when he 
is about either of these his Stations, Ascending or
Descending in his Epicycle to his Apogæum or 
Perigæum, for that he seems not at all, or insensi­
bly at least, to be moved in the Zodiac, but per­
sisteth long in the same Degree, as long as he 
Ascends or Descends in those parts of his Orb,
which are directly under one Degree of the Zo­
diac.

Sterenometrie, [from two Greek words, 
Stereon, a Solid, and Metria, a Measure] Is none of 
the least amongst the Mathematical Sciences, and 
properly a Branch or Handmaid to Geometry; 




Treating of Measuring all sorts of Solid bodies.

"Sterenometry" not found in OED.



Stilbon, [from the Greek word Stilbos, 
bright or shining] One of the names of the Planet 
Mercury, because he twinkles more than any of 
the rest of the Planets.

"Stilbon" not found in OED.



Sublunaries, [from the Latin Sub, under, 
and Luna, the Moon] All things below the Moon, 
as the Elements, and all things mixt or composed 
of them, whether Perfect or Imperfect, Animated 
or Inanimated, all being liable to the Influences of 
the Celestial, and especially the impressions of the 
Moon, as the common Conveyancer of the Superi­
ors Vertues down to these Inferiors.

Stratarithmetrie,
[from the Greek Stratos, 
an Army, and Arithmetice] Is the skill appertain­
ing to War, by which a man can set in Figure 
Analogical to any Geometrical Figure appointed, 
any certain number or sum of men of such a Fi­
gure capable, and certifie of the over-plus (if any 
be) and of the next certain sum, which, with the 
over-plus, will admit a Figure exactly proportio­
nal to the Figure assigned. By which skill also, 
of any Army or Company of Men (the Figures and 
Sides of whose orderly Standing or Array is 
known) he is able to express the just number of 
men within that Figure contained, or (orderly) 
able to be contained: And this Figure and Sides 
thereof he is able to know either by, and at hand, or 
afar of. See Dr. Dee's Preface to Euclid's Ele­
ments.

Succedent-Houses, Are so called, because 
they succeed or follow Angles in a Celestial Figure; 
as the 11th. the 2d. the 5th. and the 8th. which 
succeeding, is yet not so much in Order, as in Con­
dition and Dignity: For a Planet in them is 




counted moderately strong, though not so much as 
in Angles; whereas in Cadent Houses he is most of 
all debilitated.

Subtense, [Lat.] Is a Line drawn under an 
Arch of a Circle, or a Right-Line drawn within a 
Circle, at each end terminated in the Circumfe­
rence, cutting the Circle besides the Diameter in­
to two unequal parts, to both of which it is sub­
tended, that is, hung or drawn underneath them.

Substraction,
[Lat. from sub and traho, to 
withdraw] A common Rule of Arithmetick, 
teaching how artificially to take a lesser Number 
out of a greater, and find what remains overplus 
of the greater, when the value of the smaller is sub­
stracted, that is, withdrawn, or taken away from it.

Succession of the Signs, Is that order in 
which they are usually reckoned; as first Aries, 
next Taurus, then Gemini, &c.

Sunday-Letter.
See Dominical  Letter.

Summer-Solstice.
See Æstival Solstice.

Superficies,
As much as to say, Superna fa­
cies in Latin, that is, the uppermost or outward 
face: for by this word, Geometricians mean the 
external part of any Body, which is beheld with the 
eyes, and touch'd with the hands; being defined by 
Euclid to be a Longitude and Latitude without 
Depth or Thickness: whereby it differs from a
Point, which has no Dimension; from a Solid, that 
has all kinds of Dimension; and from a Line, that 
enjoys onely Length, and is void of both Breadth 
and Depth.

Superiors, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars are 
called so by way of Eminence, because their Orbs 
are above the Sun; as the other three Planets,
Inferiors, for the contrary  reason.




Symmetrie, A Greek word signifying Pro­
portion, but it is usually meant a faculty acquired 
by precepts of Geometry which in Architecture pur­
sues the Order of Nature, and makes all the parts 
of any Structure compleatly agree to, and with
the whole.

Surd, [in Latin properly Deaf or unreason­
able] whence Euclid calls figures Incommensu­
rable to the Rational square, Surds, and so like­
wise Lines Incommensurable to, (that is having 
not any common Measure with,) the proposed 
Rational Line, are called Surds, or Irrationals, or 
things Inexplicable.

Surface, see Superficies, being the same.

Swift in Motion, A Planet is said to be so, 
when by his own proper diurnal Motion he exceeds 
or moves further than his mean diurnal Motion! 
Which is accounted amongst the Chief fortitudes of 
a Planet: As to be slow in Motion, that is when his 
Motion happens to be less than his mean Motion, 
is a great Debility, the reason whereof see in the 
Word Retrograde; The mean Motions of all 
the Planets are daily, (that is in the space of 24 
hours) as follows,

Saturn 2 Minutes, and 1 Second, Jupiter 
4 min. 59 sec. Mars 31 min. 37 sec. the 
Sun 59 min. 8 sec. Venus 59 min.
8 sec. 
Mercury 59 min. 8 sec. and the Moon 13 deg. 
10 min. and 36 sec. in a day.

So that you need only look in an Ephemeris, and 
take the diurnal Motion of a Planet by Substract­
ing his place the day before, if he be direct, or the 
contrary, if Retrograde, and you have his present 




Motion, which compared with this Table, you 
see whether he be to be counted Swift or Slow. Note, 
you will find some Planets move much further 
sometimes in a day, but these are their true mean 
Motions, which if exceeded he is reckon'd Swift, 
and the more he exceeds it, so much the stronger.

Synodus, [A Greek word signifying a meet­
ing or Convention] used by Astronomers Com­
monly for a Conjunction of two or more Planets, 
and sometimes for their meeting by Beams in other
Aspects.

Synopsis, A brief and Orderly Representa­
tion or view taken of a thing.

Systeme, A Greek word whereby is intended 
the general Constitution, Fabrick and Harmony 
of the Universe, or an orderly Representation there­
of, according to some noted Hypothesis, wherein 
the Celestial Bodies are so disposed amonst them­
selves, and in respect of the Earth; as their Scitua­
tion, Order, Motions and Passions, may in such an 
Authors opinion best answer Appearances and Phi­
losophical Demonstrations; To this purpose the 
Ancients agreed, that the Globe of the Earth and 
Sea should be the Centre of the World, about 
which was diffused the Air, and round that the more 
light Element of Fire; Then the Orb of the 
Moon, and so Mercury, Venus, Sol, Mars, Ju­
piter, and Saturn, in order, all respecting the 
Earth as their Centre; After which they placed 
the Firmament or Orb of the fixed Stars, and last of 
all the Primum Mobile.

But of late, Copernicus, (a most ingenious Astro­
nomer) the better to Solve the appearances Invented, 
or rather revived, (for it was many ages before 
Started by some old Philosophers, but now buried 




and forgot) he, I say, revived another Hypothesis, 
which Constitutes the Sun Immoveable in the 
Centre of the World, next the Orb of Mercury, 
then Venus, in the third place the Globe of Earth, 
with the Moon continually moving about it, to 
which Globe of Earth, he assigns a threefold Mo­
tion, Diurnal, in 24 hours from West to East, which 
was before attributed to the Primum Mobile, An­
nual, which the Sun antiently challeng'd, and a 
third of Libration, whereby he solvd the Inequa­
lity of the Equinoxes, and obliquation of the 
Ecliptick from the Equater, for the 5th. Planet 
he places Mars, then Jupiter, then Saturn, and 
last of all the Sphear of fixed Stars, 

Since this, the Noble Tytho Brahe proposed his
Hypothesis, making the Earth the Centre of both 
the Luminaries, and the Orb of fixed Stars, but 
the Sun the Centre of the other four Planets; 
whom he counts all Eccentrick to the Earth, 
and constantly moving in the fluid Ether about 
the Sun, &c.

All these Systemes have found their Disciples, 
and Propugnators: if any have a mind to be better 
Instructed in all or any of them, there are Sphears 
extant fitted for every of them, and shewing all 
the Motions and Affections of the Celestial Bodies 
truly, according to the intention of each Hypothesis.

Syzygiæ, [The word originally Greek signi­
fies a marriage, society, or familiarity,) but is 
used for the Entercourse of the Planets one with 
another, or the Commixtures of their Beams, either 
by Corporal Conjunction, or other Aspects; and 
therefore you shall find in some Ephemerides over 
the Left hand page, Syzygiæ Lunares, that is, the
Lunar Aspects.


 


T

TAble of Houses, are Tables Calculated 
for the Assistance of young Artists in setting 
of a Figure; for by the help thereof the meanest 
Capacity may presently Learn to do it, but without
them it would be exceeding difficult. See Tutor to 
Astrology.

Tangent, See Sine.

Taurus, [Lat. the Bull] the second Sign 
of the Zodiac, fixed and Earthly, the house of Venus, 
and Exaltation of the Moon, called by this name,
because 'tis found by Experience, Persons born un­
der it are Laborious, but slow of Apprehension, 
and have high Foreheads, and sticking out on both 
sides like Bullocks; or rather because this Sign does 
more peculiarly Affect such Cattel; and being pos­
sest with an Infortune, threatens Murrain and 
Destruction to them.

Telescope, [Gr. a large Optick Instrument in­
vented by Galilaeus, for observing the Celestial bo­
dies, whereby several new Phænomena have been 
discovered and great Improvements made in Astro­
nomy.

Temperate Zone,
See Zone.

Term, In Geometry is the bounds or limits of 
a thing, as a Point of a Line &c.

Terms, In Astrology, are certain Degrees 
of the Signs, in which such respective Planets have 
been observed to have their virtues and strength en­




creased; whence a Planet in those Terms is said to 
have two Dignities; To know what Terms each 
Planet has, See the ordinary Table of Essential 
Dignities, every year in Mr. Lillies Almanack.

Tetrahedron,
[from the Gr. Tetra four and 
Hedron a Side] A solid Figure comprehended un­
der 4 equal equilateral Triangles.

Tetragonus, or Tetragonum, [from 
the Gr. Tetra four, and Gonia an Angle] Signifies any Figure consisting of 4 Angles; but is used 
generally by Astronomers for a square  Aspect.

Thaumaturgick,
[A Greek word signifying 
the Wonder-working] Is one of those Arts men­
tioned by Dr. Dee in his Preface to Euclid, and 
by him Defined to be that Art Mathematical, which 
giveth certain order to make strange works of the 
Sense to be perceived, and of men greatly to be
wondred at. See Dr. Dee's Preface to
Euclid.

Theodelite, A Mathematical Instrument for 
Surveying of Land. See Rathbourns Surveying.

Theme, Is frequently used by Astrologers for 
the Position of the Superior bodies at any moment, 
when they inquire the success of any thing then be­
gun, or proposed: Calling their Figure Thema 
Caeli.

Theorem, A Greek word signifying a Propo­
sition, which requireth the searching out, and de­
monstration of some Property or Passion of some 
Figure, wherein is only Speculation and Contem­
plation of mind, without doing or working of any 
thing; whereby it differs from a Problem, in which 
something is always to be done.

Topographie,
[Gr. from Topos a place, and 
Grapho to describe] The Description of some par­
ticular place; See Chorographie.




 Torrid Zone, See Zone.

Translation of Light and
Nature, Is 
when a Light Planet separates from a more weigh­
ty one, and presently Joins to one more heavy; 
As suppose ♄ in 20 Degrees of ੘, ♂ in 15 of ੘ 
and ☿ in 16 of ੘, here ☿ being a swift Planet se­
perates from ♀ and translates his virtue to Saturn; 
which purports in Judgment, that if a thing be pro­
mised by ♄ then such a man as is signified by ☿ 
shall procure the assistance of a Martial man to
Sa­
turn to effect the business; be it a Marriage, a Suit, 
or the Like.

Transom, The Vane of a Cross-staff. viz. 
A wooden member to be set across the Cross-staff, 
having a square Socket in it, upon which it slides 
Stiff upon the square of the Cross-staff, and may be 
set to any of the Graduations on it.

Transits, [from the Latin verb Transeo to 
pass by or over] are a kind of Familiarities of the 
Stars, acquired by their Motion, through remarka­
ble places of a Persons Radical Figure; as if the 
Ascendant be Sagittary, and Jupiter at any time by 
his proper Motion pass over the Degree Ascending; 
the Native is then healthy and fortunate, if Mars, 
he is moved to Choler, imbroil'd in Quarrels &c. 
And oftimes agreable Transits do bring into Act 
the matter signified by a Direction, whereby we 
may nearly Guess of the day, when any Considera­
ble Accident will happen.

Traverse, A Term in Navigation. See To Cast 
a point of Traverse.

Trapezia, Are all sorts of Irregular Figures 
in Geometry, that is, such where neither the Sides 
nor Angles equally Correspond. The word seems to 
come from the Gr. Trapeza, a Table.




Trapezoides, are a Species of Trapezia's, for 
they Comprehend all solid Irregular Figures, which 
have not Parallel sides, and these are such, as either 
are altogether Irregular, or that in somethings ob­
serve a kind of rule of Equality; as Prisms, &c.

"Trapezoides" antedates the earliest OED citation (1704).



Triangle, A Figure with three Angles, whence 
also, the word Triangular, of or belonging to 
such a Figure.

Trigon, In Greek, is strictly the same with 
Triangle in Latine; but is used for the Aggregate 
of three Signs of the same Nature and Quality, be­
holding each other with a Trine Aspect, and are 
accounted according to the four Elements; Thus 
Aries, Leo, and Sagittary are the
Fiery Trigon, or 
Triplicity; Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn the Earth­
ly; Gemini, Libra, and Aquary the Aiery; And 
Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces the Watry. Hence Trigonocratores

Trigonocratores,
[Crator in Gr. signify­
ing a Governor] the Lords of these Trigons. viz. 
Sol and Jupiter of the fiery; Venus and the Moon of 
the Earthly, Saturn and Mercury of the Aiery, and 
Mars alone of the Watry.

"Trigonocrator" not found in OED.



Trilateral, Three Sided.

Trigonometry,
[A Greek word compounded 
of Treis three, Gonia, an Angle, and Metria Measure] 
A Mathematical Science, teaching how to Resolve 
all Triangles as well plain as Spherical: whereby 
three Sides or Angles being given out of six Con­
tained in a Triangle, the other three unknown are 
found out; In order to which, the Tables of Sines, 
Tangents, and Secants, are of use; as shewing 
the Quantity of the half Chords, which are subtend­
ed to parts of the Circumference within the 
Circle.

Trimorion, Gr. the Aggregate of three Signs 




Contiguous, by which there is Constituted a square 
Aspect to the Apheta or Giver of Life, who coming 
to that Direction commonly cuts off the vital Thred; 
And therefore since three Signs, viz. 90 Degrees 
may sometimes give 120 Degrees of Direction and 
not more, therefore some think 120 years to be 
the utmost Extent generally of humane Life since 
the Flood.

Triplicity, See Trigon.

Trine, Lat. an Aspect of Friendship and Ami­
ty between two Planets Distant from each other a 
third part of the Circle, that is, 120 Degrees.

Trochilike, The Wheel-Art, or the Mathema­
tical Skill Demonstrating the Properties of all Cir­
cular Motions, Simple and Compound; Derived 
from the Gr. Trochos a Wheel.

Tropicks, [from the Gr. Tropè a Conversion 
or Turning] Two lesser Circles in the Sphere 
equally distant from the Equator, viz 23 Degrees,
on each side, being the bounds of the Suns Devia­
tion from the Equinoctial, which when he touches 
he seems to stand still, and soon returns towards the 
Equator: The Northern one is Called the Tropick 
of Cancer, that makes our longest day, the Southern 
one, the Tropick of Capricorn that makes our longest 
Night.

Trutine of Hermes, [properly a Trowel, 
and sometimes a Measure] An Artificial method of 
Rectifying a Nativity by finding out the day of 
Conception and the Place of the Moon then: said to 
be Invented by Hermes Trismegistus; but the same 
being Common in most Authors, and what makes 
it less Considerable, not much regarded; but the 
Rectification by Accidents generally followed, I 
shall not here set it forth at large. Those that would 




make use of it (and in Childrens Nativities Calcu­
lated before Accidents have happened it may be of 
use) may see the manner of doing it in Mr. Coleys 
Clav. Astrol.

Tuscan-order,
One of the five Ancient orders 
in Architecture; used by the Tuscans in Italy: For 
the Form of it, and all the other orders; See The 
Compleat Architect. p. 16.


V

V VAne. See Transum.

Variation of the
Needle, The Turn­
ing or Deviation of the Needle in the Mariners 
Compass some small matter from the true North 
Point, which happens more or less in all parts.

Venus, [some say from the Lat. Venio. to 
come, because every body, sooner or later, comes 
to Loves dotage, of which she is Lady] The 
brightest and most resplendant of all the Stars, 
whether Erratick or Fixt, the Sun always excepted; 
and this not because she is bigger than the rest, 
but because she is nearer the Earth than any of 
them, except Mercury, as appears by her having 
Parallax of almost 3 Minutes; whence it may al­
so be gathered; that she is less than the Earth. 'Tis 
a Feminine Planet, accounted the Lesser Fortune, 
and finishes her Revolution about the Sun in the 
space of almost one year, and when she is at her great­
est Elongation from him, (which is never above 
48 Degrees) shines so bright as to cast a shadow: 




Yea, by the help of the Telescope it hath been ob­
served, that she changes her appearances, and has 
almost the same variety of Phases as the Moon, so 
as sometimes to seem Full, sometimes Half-full, 
sometimes Horned, and sometimes not at all, viz. 
when she is above or under the Sun in Apogæon or 
Perigæon of her Epicycle, joyned to him in the same 
Degree of the Eclyptick.

Versed Sine,
See Sine and Scheme 1.

Vertex, In Latine, is the Point in Heaven 
just over our Heads, Perpendicular to the place 
where any one Lives. Hence a Star is said to be 
Vertical, that happens to be in that Point, and 
Vertically hangs over any place; and so the E­
quator is said to be Vertical to them who have 
a continual Equinox; because, it constantly passes 
by the Vertex of the Place, and the Sun at Noon 
darts down his Rays so Perpendicularly, that no 
shadow is produced; this Point the Arabians call 
Zenith; which see afterwards: 'tis called Vertex, 
[which in Latine signifies the Top of a Mans 
Crown,] by reason it is so right over head, as 
aforesaid.

Vespertine, when a Planet sets after the Sun. 
See Matutine.

Vesperugo, the Evening-Star, Venus, when 
she shines after Sun-Set; both the words come from 
the Latine Vesper, the Evening.

Via Combusta
Lat. See Combust way.

Via Lactea Lat. See Milky way.

Violent Signs,
are those in which the Ma­
lefick Planets, viz. Saturn or Mars have any no­
table Dignitie, as House or Exaltation, such are ੘, &#264E;, 
&#264F;, ਜ਼, and ੜ. And also those in which there 
are any violent fixed Stars of note, and within the 




Zodiac, as Taurus, for Caput Algol, and others.

Virgo, [Lat. the Maid or Virgin,] the 6th. 
Northern Sign of the Zodiac, next to the Autum­
nal Equinox, and therefore Common: by Nature 
Earthy, Cold and Dry, the House and Exaltation 
of Mercury.

The Visual Point
in Perspective, is not that 
Point the Eye is placed in (as young Students in 
that Art are apt to think,) but is a point in the 
Horizontal Line, wherein all the Occular Rays unite; 
As if ye were in a long straight Gallery, where the
two Sides, the Floor and Cieling seem to incline 
and touch each other in a Point or common Centre, 
which Point reflected on a Glass erected perpen­
dicularly on the Base, is called the Visual Point.  See 
Practical Perspective, fol. 6.

Vnite 
or
Unity 
An Unite is the begining of Num­
ber, and (Properly, for here we 
speak not of Fractions) receiveth 
no division in Numbers, even as a Point in Mag­
nitudes; or thus Unity is defined by Euclide L. 7. 
Unity is that according to which every thing of 
those which are, is said to be one.

Vnder the Sun
Beams [Sub Radiis, scilicet 
Solis,] Is when any Planet is not fully Elongated, 
or distant 17 deg. from the body of the Sun, either 
before or after him; this though not so bad as 
Combustion, which is only till a Planet is got 8 deg. 
30 min. from him, yet still tis an Affliction, and 
reckoned 4 accidental Debilities.

Void of Course,
A Planet is said to be so, 
when he is separated from one Planet, and doth not 
during his being in that Sign, Apply to any other, 
either by Body or Aspect; This is most observed 
in the Moon; You shall seldom see a Business go 




handsomly forward, whilst she is so.

Vmbra, A shadow, a word oft used in the ob­
scuration of Eclipses.


W

WInter Solstice,  See Solstice.

Watry Triplicity, The Signs so ac­
counted being Cold and Moist, are &#264B;, &#264F; and ੝.


Z

ZEnith, An Arabick word, signifying the Point 
in the Heavens right over ones head, being necessarily 90 Degrees
from the Horizon. See 
Vertex.

Zigiatus, Some Astrologers call every person 
so, that is born under Libra: of whom Ptolomy in 
his 
Centiloquium pronounces, That he shall be the
Cause of his own Death; the reason of which Apho­
rism Pontanus gives; because when is Horos­
copical, Taurus will be on the Cusp of the 8th, and 
both Signs being under Venus, therefore the party 
will be apt to occasion his own Death; But we know 
the Stars do but Incline, not Compell, and have 
no force upon the free will of Man, which this 
Aphorism would seem to Infer: more reasonable it is, 




to conclude these Zigiati (if they will call them
so) 
for the most part to make good Poets, Musicians,
Orators, &c. And to be of a good pleasant Humour, 
and delightful to Society, as well because Libra is 
the house of Venus, as by reason of that most benign 
and pleasant Star Spica Virginis therein, upon the As­
cendant.

Zodiac, Gr. Is the Greatest Circle in the Sphear, 
being 12 Degrees broad, as the Ancient Astrono­
mers thought; but the Moderns better acquainted 
with the Motions of ♂ and ♀ assert it to be 18, 
Cutting the Equinoctial into two equal parts: in the 
midst of it is the Ecliptick, under which the Sun con­
stantly moveth, leaving on each side 6 Degr. of La­
titude: 'Tis called the Zodiac from the Greek word a 
Zoon Living Creature; because herein are the 12 
Signs, which for the most part are called by their 
names, and represented in the shape of Living Crea­
tures; The whole Circle is divided by the 12 Signs 
into 360 Degrees; 'Tis from them called Signifer, 
and often times the Oblique  Circle.

Zones, Are certain broad Circles, Encompas­
sing the Heavens and Earth like a Belt, or Girdle, 
whence the Name, [for Zona is Latin for a Girdle:] 
On the Earth, It is a space contained between two 
Parallels, and the Ancient Geographers reckon'd 
them to be 5 in Number, Two Frozen, Two 
Temperate, and One Burning Zone, of which they 
Imagined only the Two middlemost Habitable; 
The two Frozen Zones, are those parts of the Globe Comprehended between the North-Pole and the Ar­
ctick Circle, and the South-Pole, and the Antarctick 
Circle, which they thought could not be Inhabited
by reason of the Extream Cold.

The Temperate Zones, are the spaces contained 




between the Arctick Circle, and the Tropick of 
Cancer on the one side, and the Antarctick Circle,
and 
the Tropick of Capricorn on the other; and between 
those two Tropicks lay the Torrid or Burning Zone, 
which they fancied to be Un-inhabitable by reason 
of the Excessive Heat; but we have now Discovered 
their mistakes, and find not only the cold Coun­
treys somewhat near the Pole, but the warmer Re­
gions under the Equator, to be Plentifully Inhabi­
ted: In which last, notwithstanding the Suns Per­
pendicular Rays at Noon, 'tis most pleasant Living, 
partly by means of the Plenty of Fountains and 
Water, and chiefly by the Equality of the Night, 
and gentle Breezes continually refreshing them a­
bout Noon.



 

AN APPENDIX, 
Of Weights, Measures, &c.
Measures of Length. 


THree Grains of Barley Dry and Round make 
an Inch; 'Tis called in Latin Uncia, and some­
times in English, a Thumbs-breadth.

12. Inches make a Foot. 

3. Foot a Yard, the 16th part whereof, viz. 
2 Inches and &#00BC ; is called a Nail of a Yard.

A Yard and a Quarter makes an Ell, that is to 
say, 3 foot 9 Inches.

Five yards and an half, (that is, 16 foot and an 




half) do make a Rod, Pole, or Perch,  Statute mea­
sure; But the Geometrick Perch or Gad, is 10 
Foot, and in some places but 9 Foot.

Forty Perches in Length, and 4 in Breadth, 
make an Acre of Land; a Quarter of which, is 
called in some Places a Rod.

For all this, See the Statute 33 Edw. 1. de
Terris Mensurandis.

40. Poles or Perches, make a Furlong. 

8. Furlongs, viz. 320 Rods, make a Mile. 

This is likewise Settled by Act of Parlia­
ment. See the Stat. 25 Eliz. An Act 
to restrain New Buildings, &c.

So that in an English Mile there are

320. ---- Rods,
5280. ---- Feet,
And 63360. ---- Inches.

A League,
Is a Measure commonly reckoned 
at Sea, and Contains three such English Miles as of 
Degrees in Heaven, is reckoned to contain 60 
English Miles. See Degree.

Besides these, there are some other Measures of 
Longitude, as

A
Fingers-breadth, [called in Latin Digi­
tus] containing 2 Barley Corns Length, or 4 
laid side to side.

An Hand-bredth, [Palmus, or Palmus Mi­
nor] Three Inches.

A Span, [Spithama, or Palmus Major] 3
Hands-Bredth, or 9 Inches.

A Cubit, Half a Yard, or 2 Spans, being 
Counted from the Elbow to the Top of the Mid­
dle-Finger.




 A Step, [Gradus, or Passus Minor] Two 
Foot and an half.

A Stride, [Passus, or Passus Major] Two 
steps, or 5 foot; from these the Romans Counted 
their Mile, calling it Milliarium, that is Mille 
passus, a 1000 Paces; But our English Mile you 
see before, is 56 Paces more.

A Fathom, Six foot.



Of Liquid Measures.
 



THese amongst us in England, are varied in
their 
Contents according to the several Liquors 
they are to Measure, As

1. For Beer-Measure, 35 Cubical Inches
and a Quarter, do make a Pint.

Two Pints, a Quart.

Two Quarts, a Pottle.

Two Pottles, a Gallon.

Nine Gallons, a Firkin.

Two Firkins, a Kilderkin.

Two Kilderkins, a Barrel, in which, (it 
appears from hence, that) there are 36 
Gallons. viz. 144 Quarts, viz. 288 Pints, 
viz. 10152. Cubical Inches in a Bar­
rel.

2. For Ale-Measure, the Pint, Quart, and 
Gallon, are the same as in Beer-Measure; 
But there are allowed but 8 Gallons to the 
Firkin, 16 to the Kilderkin, and only 32 
to the Barrel; so that a Barrel of Ale is to 
hold but 128 Quarts, viz. 256 Pints, viz. 
9024 Cubical Inches.

3. In Wine-Measure, there are but 29 Cubical




Inches in a Pint, 2 Pints to a Quart, 4 
Quarts to a Gallon, 18 Gallons to a Rund­
let, three Rundlets and an half, or 63 Gal­
lons make an Hogshead; one Hogshead 
and a third part of an Hogshead, that is to 
say, 84 Gallons, make one Tercion of Wine, 
that is the third part of a Tun, a Tercion 
and an half, or 126 Gallons makes a Pipe, 
or Butt, and 2 Pipes or Butts a Tun of 
Wine, which contains 252 Gallons, viz. 
2016 Pints, viz. 58212 Cubical Inches.  

A Barrel for Soap, is 31 Gallons. 



Dry Measures. 



THe Gallon for dry Measures as Corn, &c. is
lesser than the Beer and Ale Gallon, and 
greater than the Wine Gallon, containing 272 
Cubical Inches and a Quarter, and divided into 
Pottles, Quarts, and Pints, as aforesaid.

Two of these Gallons make a Peck.

Two Pecks a Tovet, or Half Bushel.

Two Tovets, or 8 Gallons, a Bushel.

4. Bushels a Strike, or Coom.

2. Strikes a Quarter.



Of Weights. 



1. Of Apothecaries Weights, and their Characters.




Thus markt. 

A Grain --- gr. the least measure or weight 
of a Barly Corn.

A Scruple --- &scruple;. Contains 20 Grains.

A Dram --- &dram;. is 3 Scruples.

An Ounce --- &ounce;. is 8 Drams.

A Pound --- ࡂ. Contains 12 Ounces. 

ss &s;s Semis Half 


Some other things used by Physicians, Chymists,
&c. and their Marks.


An Handful [Manipulus] thus noted --- M.

A Pugil being as much of herbs or the like, as 
can be taken up at once between 2 Fingers and 
ones Thumb, is thus marked --- P.

Ana [that is as much as to say of Each] A. or Ana.

Recipe, Take thou --- ℞

Semissis [half] {half} 

Tartar --- 🜿

Sal ---  {sal} 

Sulphur --- {sulphur} 

Antimony --- ♁

Vitriol --- 🜖



Our other Common Weights are Two-­
fold. 



1. Troy Weight, whereby Bread, Gold, Silver, 
Apothecaries wares, as aforesaid, &c. are 
weighed: Containing only 12 Ounces in the 
pound, Each ounce 20 Penny-Weight, Each 
penny-weight 24 Grains. This seems to 
have been the Ancientest Weight by its




Name, as derived from the Famous City of 
Troy, from whence Brute and his People 
are said to have descended, and to have 
Called London Troy-Novant, or New-Troy: 
which whether true or fabulous, yet it 
may be a good Argument, that this sort 
of Weight, is at least of very Ancient use 
amongst us. 

2. The second and more common Weight, is 
called Averdupois, which being French, is 
in English, Have your weight; signifying it to 
be a fuller and larger Weight than the other, 
for it Contains 16 Ounces, or 128 Drams, 
viz. 384 Scruples, viz. 7680 Grains: by 
this, is weighed all kind of Grocery wares, 
and inferior Mettals, as Iron, Copper, and 
Brass, as also Hemp, Flax, Rosin, Pitch, 
Tarr, &c.

A Great Hundred is not exactly what it seems 
to be by the word, but 112l. so the Half 
Hundred 56 pounds, the Quartern 28, and 
the Half quartern 14 pounds.



Wooll-Weights. 



A Stone 14 pounds.

A Tod 20 pounds.

A Sack is 26 stone, that is 364 pounds.



Cheese Weight. 



A Clove of Cheese is 8 pound.

A Wey of Cheese 32 Cloves, that is 256 pounds,
viz. Twelvescore and 16 pound.




And so much weigheth the Wey of Suffolk 
Cheese, and the like is, or should be, the Barrel of 
Suffolk Butter. 

But the Wey of Essex Cheese is but sixscore 
and sixteen pounds, and their Barrel of Butter the same.

Herrings are allow'd 120 to the Hundred, and 
ten Thousand of them are called A Last.



Characters in Astronomy.





The Planets,                 The Signs
 

Saturn ---♄

Jupiter ---♃

Mars ---♂ 

Sol ---਱ 

Venus ---♀ 

Mercury ---☿

Luna ---☾

Aries ੘---

Taurus ਖ਼---

Gemini &#264A;---

Cancer &#264B;---

Leo &#264C;--- 

Virgo &#264D;--- 

Libra &#264E;---

Scorpio &#264F;---

Sagittarius ਗ਼--- 

Capricorn ਜ਼---

Aquarius ੜ--- 

Pisces ੝---

The Dragons Head &#260A;  

The Dragons Tail &#260B;  

Part of Fortune &#2A01; 



The Aspects New and Old. 



Names.                                   Characters.      Distance.
                                                                   s ----- D 
Conjunction conjunction    0        00 

Vigintile Vig                0        18

Quindecile Qd                0        24

Semisextile ss                1         00

Decile or Semiquintile Dec               1         06 




Semiquadrate, Octile or 
Sesquadrate  Sq               1          15

"Sesquadrate" not found as a headword in OED.



Sextile, Hexagone X                2          00  

Quintile Q                2          12

Quadrate, Square, or Quartile ਲ     3           00  

Tredecile, or Sesquiquintile Td              3           18

Trine &#25B3;       4             0

Sesquiquadrate Ssq             4           15  

Biquintile Bq              4           24 

Quincunx, or Quadrasextile  Vc              5           00

"Quadrasextile" not found as a headword in OED.



Opposition ☍      6           00




G. or Gr. in Latin, 
and D. or Dr. in English 
Degrees, or the 30. part 
of a Sign. See Degree.

M. Minutes ′ thus markt, or the 60th part
of a 
Degree.

S. or Seconds ′ thus markt, or the 60th
part 
of a Minute.

Thirds thus markt ′′′ the
60th part of a Second, 
and so on to Fourths,
&c.

℞. Retrograde, 

Dir. Direct, 

Or. Oriental,

Occ. Occidental, 

M. A. Meridional or South-­
Ascending, 

M.D. South-Descending, 

S. A. Sep­
tentrional or North-Ascending,

S. D. North-­
Descending.




Signs, or Symbols now commonly 
used by some Algebraical Writers.
 



= Is the Sign of Equation, and signifies Equal to. 
As A = B. Is A. equal to B.

> Is the Sign of Majority, and signifies Greater
than, As A > B. Is A greater than B.

< Is the Sign of Minority, or Lesser than, As 
A < B. Is A Lesser than B.

+ Is the Sign of Addition, and signifies more 




As + A + B. Is more A. more B. yet 
sometimes the Sign of the foremost Quantity 
is left out, As A + B = A + B, That is 
more A. more B. Is equal to more A 
more B. 

- Is the Sign of Substraction, and signifies 
Less, As A - B. Is A. less B.

× Is the Sign of Multiplication, and signifies
Multiplied by, As A × B. Is A. multiplied 
by B.

The Sign of Division is a Line drawn Level be­
tween two or more Quantities, As 
A + B - C / D which is thus to be read,
A more B. less C. Divided by D. or some­
times thus D) A B - C. that is, D. 
Dividing A more B. less C.

continued proportion  lexeme="continual proportion(n)">Is the Sign of Continuation, As A, B, C, D, 
E, ࣋. shows that these Quantities are in Con­
tinual Proportion.

:: Is the Sign of Interruption, and denotes the 
middle of 4 Proportionals Interrupted, As 
A, B, :: Y, Z. Is thus read As A. to B. so 
is Y. to Z.

( ) A Parenthesis, with a power-note in it, signifies 
Involution: As A, - B: (2) Is the square of 
A. less B. or, A - B: (3) Is the Cube of 
A. less B.

√ A Radical Sign with an Index in it, signifies 
Evolution, as √2: A - B: Is the Square Root
of A. less B. or, √3: A - B: Is the Cube
Root of A less B. But through an Irregular 
Custome √, is usually taken for a Square Root.