Lewis & Short

septentrĭōnes (septemptrĭōnes), um (sing. and tmesis, v. infra), m. [septemtrio; prop. the seven plough-oxen; hence, as a constellation],

  1. I. Lit., the seven stars near the north pole (called also the Wain, and the Great or Little Bear): neque se septentriones quoquam in caelo commovent, Plant. Am. 1, 1, 117; Cic. Ac. 2, 20, 66; cf. in tmesi: quas nostri septem soliti vocitare Triones, id. Arat. in N. D. 2, 41, 105; so, gurgite caeruleo septem prohibete triones, Ov. M. 2, 528.
    Sing.: septentrio non cernitur, Plin. 6, 22, 24, § 83; so, major, the Great Bear, Vitr. 6, 11: minor, the Little Bear, Cic. N. D. 2, 43, 111; Vitr. 1. 1.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. A. The northern regions, the north (as a quarter of the heavens).
          1. (α) Plur.: satis notum est, limites regionesque esse caeli quattuor: exortum, occasum, meridiem, septentriones, Gell. 2, 22, 3 sq.: inflectens sol cursum tum ad septentriones, tum ad meridiem, aestates et hiemes efficit, Cic. N. D. 2, 19, 49; Varr. R. R. 1, 2, 4; Caes. B. G. 1, 1; 1, 16; 4, 20; 5, 13; 7, 83; Mel. 2, 6, 3; 3, 1, 9; 3, 2, 1.
          2. (β) Sing.: latus oriens spectat: septentrio a Macedoniā obicitur, Liv. 32, 13; Mel. 1, 1, 1; 2, 6, 3; Sen. Q. N. 5, 16; Tac. A. 2, 23; 13, 53; id. H. 5, 6 al.
            In tmesi: Hyperboreo septem subjecta trioni Gens, Verg. G. 3, 381; Ov. M. 1, 64.
    2. B. The north wind.
          1. (α) Plur.: ex eā die fuere septentriones venti, Cic. Att. 9, 6, 3.
          2. (β) Sing.: acer septentrio ortus inclinatum stagnum eodem, quo aestus, ferebat, Liv. 26, 45: a septentrionali latere summus est aquilo, medius septentrio, imus thrascias, Sen. Q. N. 5, 16, 6.
    3. C. Sing., northern countries, the north (as territory; very rare): totum paene Orientem ac Septentrionem ruinā suā involvit, Flor. 3, 5, 21.