septentrion

Borrowed from Latin septentriō, septentriōnem the northern regions, the north, from septentriones the seven stars near the north pole, called Charles's Wain, or the Great Bear, also those called the Little Bear; properly, the seven plow oxen; septem (“seven”) + trio, originally a plow ox: compare French septentrion.

septentrion (plural septentrions)

1. (obsolete) The north or northern regions.
   • Chaucer, Boece, Book II

     And ek this Nero governyde by ceptre alle the peples that ben undir the colde sterres that highten the septemtryones. (This is to seyn he governede alle the peples that ben under the partye of the north.)

   • Shakespeare, Henry VI (act 1, scene 4)

     Thou art as opposite to every good / As the Antipodes are unto us, / Or as the south to the septentrion.

septentrion (comparative more septentrion, superlative most septentrion)

1. (obsolete) Of or relating to the north; northern.
   • Milton

     From cold septentrion blasts.

• septentrion in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

• pretentions

Borrowed from Latin septentriō, septentriōnem.

septentrion m (plural septentrions)

1. septentrion, north

• nord

• septentrional