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Ursa   Listen
noun
Ursa  n.  (Astron.) Either one of the Bears. See the Phrases below.
Ursa Major, the Great Bear, one of the most conspicuous of the northern constellations. It is situated near the pole, and contains the stars which form the Dipper, or Charles's Wain, two of which are the Pointers, or stars which point towards the North Star.
Ursa Minor, the Little Bear, the constellation nearest the north pole. It contains the north star, or polestar, which is situated in the extremity of the tail.






Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48








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"Ursa" Quotes from Famous Books



... thick and close in the deep blue of the sky, the milky way glowing like a silver veil. Ursa Major wheeled gigantic in the north. The great nebula in Orion was a whorl of shimmering star dust. Venus flamed a lambent disk of pale saffron, low over the horizon. From edge to edge of the world marched the constellations, ...
— The Octopus • Frank Norris

... that of any felon who has gone from the Old Bailey these many years. Yes, I should like to have him work in the plantations.'" We were the plantations then, and Rousseau was destined to work there in another and much more wonderful fashion than the gruff old Ursa Major imagined. However, there is always a refreshing heartiness in his growl, a masculine bass with no snarl in it. The Doctor's logic is of that fine old crusted Port sort, the native manufacture of the British conservative mind. Three or four nations have, therefore England ought. ...
— Among My Books - First Series • James Russell Lowell

... longitude. We sailed so far to the south that we entered the torrid zone and penetrated the circle of Cancer.... Having passed the equinoctial line and sailed six degrees to the south of it, we lost sight of the north star altogether, and even the stars of Ursa Major—or, to speak better, the guardians which revolve about the firmament—were scarcely seen. Very desirous of being the author who should designate the other polar star of the firmament, I lost, many a time, my night's sleep, while contemplating ...
— Amerigo Vespucci • Frederick A. Ober

... Ursa Major and Minor, most important to seamen, as instantly indicating by the pointers and pole-star the true north at night, much more ...
— The Sailor's Word-Book • William Henry Smyth

... constant and endless procession. All of the principal stars are now well known, and their limits clearly defined upon charts, so that we can easily acquire a knowledge of them. The inhabitants of North America have the constellation of Ursa Major, or the Great Bear, and the North Star always with them; they never wholly disappear below the horizon. When the mariner sailing north of the equator has determined the position of the "Great Bear," two of whose stars, known as "the pointers," indicate the North ...
— Foot-prints of Travel - or, Journeyings in Many Lands • Maturin M. Ballou

... Trove The Red Cross in the Window Enter M. le Docteur Perpetual Motion Ursa Major Meal Considerations The Two Colonels The Young and Brave Malcontent The Aristocrat Papa, Mama, et Bebe Juvenile Progress Automoblesse oblige Sable Garb A Football Team Mistress and Maid Sage and Onions Marketing Private Boxes ...
— A Versailles Christmas-Tide • Mary Stuart Boyd

... In the night Ursa Major (the Great Bear) is not only useful to find the north star, but its position, when the pointers will be vertical in the heavens, may be estimated with sufficient accuracy to determine the north even when the north star can not be seen. In tropical latitudes, the zodiacal stars, such as ...
— The Prairie Traveler - A Hand-book for Overland Expeditions • Randolph Marcy

... as "Ursa Major;" but, as Goldsmith generously said of him, "No man alive has a more tender heart; he has nothing of the bear about him but his skin." The kindliness of Johnson's nature was shown on one occasion by the manner in which he assisted ...
— Character • Samuel Smiles

... water-mountains, bounding from their deep basin—ten miles deep, I am told—are not entirely there on thy behalf! Meseems they have other work than floating thee forward; and the huge winds that sweep from Ursa Major to the Tropics and Equator, dancing their giant waltz through the kingdoms of Chaos and Immensity, they care little about filling rightly or filling wrongly the small shoulder-of-mutton sails in this cockle-skiff ...
— Christopher Columbus and His Monument Columbia • Various

... I think I do. This is June. That's the North Star over the point of that tree, as you said, and above it is Ursa Minor, and winding in and out between it and the Big Dipper is Draco. Then to the east, higher up, are Cygnus, Lyra, and Aquila. And ...
— A Hoosier Chronicle • Meredith Nicholson

... "I entreat you: wait! See," he added, pointing to the constellation of Ursa Minor, "beyond those visible stars a future lies before us; I will place you there. As for Pere Anselme, I cannot admit what has been said, for it is not true. It is an invented tale. But be patient with me; ...
— The Lesser Bourgeoisie • Honore de Balzac

... saw ruin in prospects of Bruin, The Great Northern Bear, treading India's soil. How bogies may blind us! On our side the Indus They fancy friend Ursa spies nothing but spoil; But Ursa's invited to come, and delighted To visit you, not as aggressor, but guest. So welcome him brightly, and treat him politely. And trip with him lightly, you'll ...
— Punch, Or The London Charivari, Vol. 100., February 7, 1891 • Various



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