Meanings
symbol ⛎︎
- astronomyA zodiacal constellation of the northern summer said to depict a man (Asclepius) holding a serpent; the serpent is the constellation Serpens.
In 1604 a new star appeared in the eastern foot of Ophiuchus, but disappeared again in 1605.
1893, E. W. Bullinger, Witness of the Stars, London: The author, page 58Synonyms: Serpentarius, Serpent Bearer
Synonyms & antonyms
proper nounA zodiacal constellation of the northern summer said to depict a man (Asclepius) holding a serpent; the serpent is the constellation Serpens.
Origin
- Ancient Greekὀφιοῦχος“serpent-handler”
- LatinOphiūchus
- EnglishOphiuchus
From Latin Ophiūchus, from Ancient Greek ὀφιοῦχος (ophioûkhos, “serpent-handler”), from ὄφις (óphis, “snake”) + ἔχω (ékhō, “to hold”).
More words from Latin, Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Afrikaans Slangdraer
- Slangdraerzodiacal constellation of the northern summer
Ancient Greek Ὀφιοῦχος
- Ὀφιοῦχος (Ophioûkhos)zodiacal constellation of the northern summer
Arabic الْحَوَّاء
- الْحَوَّاء (al-ḥawwāʔ)zodiacal constellation of the northern summer
Catalan Serpentari
- Serpentarizodiacal constellation of the northern summer
Dutch Slangendrager
- Slangendragerzodiacal constellation of the northern summer
Esperanto Serpentisto
- Serpentistozodiacal constellation of the northern summer
Finnish Käärmeenkantaja
- Käärmeenkantajazodiacal constellation of the northern summer
French Ophiuchus, Serpentaire
- Ophiuchuszodiacal constellation of the northern summer
- Serpentairezodiacal constellation of the northern summer
German Schlangenträger
- Schlangenträgerzodiacal constellation of the northern summer
Greek Οφιούχος
- Οφιούχος (Ofioúchos)zodiacal constellation of the northern summer
Hebrew חַוָּה
- חַוָּה (khavá)zodiacal constellation of the northern summer
Irish Fear na bPéisteanna
- Fear na bPéisteannazodiacal constellation of the northern summer
Italian Ofiuco
- Ofiucozodiacal constellation of the northern summer
Japanese へびつかい座
- へびつかい座 (Hebitsukai)zodiacal constellation of the northern summer
Korean 뱀주인(主人)자리
- 뱀주인(主人)자리 (Baemju'injari)zodiacal constellation of the northern summer
Latin Serpentarius, Anguifer
- Serpentariuszodiacal constellation of the northern summer
- Anguiferzodiacal constellation of the northern summer
Lithuanian Gyvatnešis
- Gyvatnešiszodiacal constellation of the northern summer
Malay Peregang Ular
- Peregang Ularzodiacal constellation of the northern summer
Polish Wężownik
- Wężownikzodiacal constellation of the northern summer
Portuguese Ofiúco
- Ofiúcozodiacal constellation of the northern summer
Russian Змеено́сец
- Змеено́сец (Zmejenósec)zodiacal constellation of the northern summer
Spanish Ofiuco
- Ofiucozodiacal constellation of the northern summer
Ukrainian Змієно́сець
- Змієно́сець (Zmijenósecʹ)zodiacal constellation of the northern summer
Cite this entry
Ophiuchus. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Ophiuchus
“Ophiuchus.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Ophiuchus. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Ophiuchus,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Ophiuchus.
Source: Ophiuchus on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.