Signs of the Zodiac
Preserved but no longer current.
The zodiac was divided by the ancients into twelve equal parts, proceeding from west to east; each part of thirty degrees, and distinguished by a sign; these originally corresponded to the zodiacal constellations bearing the same names, but now, through the precession of the equinoxes, they coincide with the constellations bearing the names next in order.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Signs of the Zodiac” mean?
The zodiac was divided by the ancients into twelve equal parts, proceeding from west to east; each part of thirty degrees, and distinguished by a sign; these originally corresponded to the zodiacal constellations bearing the same names, but now, through the precession of the equinoxes, they coincide with the constellations bearing the names next in order.
Is “Signs of the Zodiac” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.