cancer

cancer
—cancerous, adj. —cancered, adj. —cancerously, adv. —cancerousness, n.
/kan"seuhr/, n., gen. Cancri /kang"kree/ for 3.
1. Pathol.
a. a malignant and invasive growth or tumor, esp. one originating in epithelium, tending to recur after excision and to metastasize to other sites.
b. any disease characterized by such growths.
2. any evil condition or thing that spreads destructively; blight.
3. (cap.) Astron. the Crab, a zodiacal constellation between Gemini and Leo.
4. (cap.) Astrol.
a. the fourth sign of the zodiac: the cardinal water sign. See illus. under zodiac.
b. a person born under this sign, usually between June 21 and July 22.
5. (cap.) tropic of. See under tropic (def. 1a).
[1350-1400; ME < L: lit., crab; L s. cancr-, dissimilated from *carcr-, with *carc-r- akin to Gk karkínos, Skt karkata crab; see CANKER]
Syn. 2. sickness, evil, plague, scourge.

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(Latin: "Crab") In astronomy, the constellation lying between Leo and Gemini; in astrology, the fourth sign of the zodiac, governing approximately the period June 22–July 22.

It is represented as a crab (or crayfish), a reference to the crab in Greek mythology that pinched Heracles while he was fighting the Lernaean hydra. Heracles crushed the crab, but his enemy Hera rewarded it by placing it in the sky as a constellation.

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      (Latin: Crab), in astronomy, zodiacal constellation lying between Leo and Gemini at about 8 hours 25 minutes right ascension (the coordinate of the celestial sphere analogous to longitude on the Earth) and 20° north declination (angular distance north of the celestial equator). It contains the well-known star cluster called Praesepe or the Beehive.

      In astrology, Cancer is the fourth sign of the zodiac, considered as governing the period c. June 22–c. July 22. Its representation as a crab (or lobster or crayfish) is related to the crab in Greek mythology that pinched Heracles while he was fighting the Lernaean hydra. Crushed by Heracles, the crab was rewarded by Heracles' enemy, Hera, by being placed in the heavens.

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Universalium. 2010.

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