Procyon

[ proh-see-on ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Astronomy.

a first-magnitude star in the constellation Canis Minor.

Procyon

/ ˈprəʊsɪən /

noun

the brightest star in the constellation Canis Minor, a binary with a very faint companion. Visual magnitude: 0.34; spectral type: F5IV; distance: 114 light years

Procyon

/ prō′sē-ŏn′ /

A very bright binary star in the constellation Canis Minor, with an apparent magnitude of 0.34. Scientific name: Alpha Canis Minoris.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of Procyon¹

1650–60; < Latin < Greek Prokýōn name of a star, equivalent to pro- pro- ² + kýōn dog ( hound ¹ ); so called because it rises just before Sirius, the Dog Star

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Word History and Origins

Origin of Procyon¹

C17: via Latin from Greek Prokuōn literally: before the Dog, from pro- ² + kuōn dog; so named because it rises just before Sirius, the Dog Star

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Example Sentences

I heard talk, in the Procyon port, of a spy that had managed to get through on a Lhari ship.

From Project Gutenberg

One day, at last, he stood at the viewport, watching Procyon Alpha nearing.

From Project Gutenberg

The companion of Sirius is about ten magnitudes and that of Procyon about twelve magnitudes fainter than the star itself.

From Project Gutenberg

The other is the cruiser Procyon, the only real warship on Uller, with a main battery of four 200-mm guns.

From Project Gutenberg

In 1834 and 1840 he began to suspect a want of uniformity in the proper motion of Sirius and Procyon respectively.

From Project Gutenberg

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procuress Procyonidae

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