n.
Pronunciation: ˌ kän(t)-st ə - ' l ā -sh ə n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English constellacioun, from Anglo-French constellation, from Late Latin constellation-, constellatio, from Latin com- + stella star ― more at STAR
Date: 14th century
1 : the configuration of stars especially at one's birth
2 : any of 88 arbitrary configurations of stars or an area of the celestial sphere covering one of these configurations
3 : an assemblage, collection, or group of usually related persons, qualities, or things <a constellation of ⋯ relatives, friends, and hangers-on ― Brendan Gill> <a constellation of symptoms>
4 : PATTERN , ARRANGEMENT <taking advantage of the shifting constellation of power throughout the known world ― H. D. Lasswell>
– con · stel · la · to · ry \ k ə n- ' ste-l ə - ˌ to ̇ r- ē \ adjective