Emily Dickinson Lexicon

aster (-s), n. [Gk 'star'.] (webplay: little).

Flower with ray-like petals; kind of plant with many beautiful flowers.

asterisk (-s), n. [L. < Gk 'little star'.] (webplay: name, star).

Punctuation mark * ; star-like marker; typographical indicator; [often used in writing in place of an author's name.]

asteroid, n. [Gk 'star-like'.]

Shooting star; astral debris; pieces of old planets that appear as streaks of light in the earth's atmosphere.

astir, adv. [prothesis; see stir, v.]

1. Alive; living. 16/Ap13 I would distil a cup … Drinking to her no more astir
2. Awake; arisen; waking up from sleep.
3. Disturbed; upset; moved into chaos; excited.

astonish (-s), v. [Possibly < OFr estone-r, stun, stupify, shock, strike senseless.] (webplay: stop).

Confound; daze; surprise; fill with wonder.

astonished, verbal adj. [see astonish, v.]

Numb with amazement; overwhelmed with wonder.

astonishment, n. [see astonish, v.]

Surprise; marvel; miracle; spectacle; wonder; eye-opener; revelation; amazing event; [fig.] renewal; rebirth; renaissance.

astral, adj. [L. astr-um, star.] (webplay: star).

Heavenly; celestial; planetary; other worldly; [fig.] planetarium; orrery.

astray, adv. [prothesis; see stray, v.]

Wandering; away from home; out of bounds; [fig.] erring; deviant.

astrology, n. [Fr. < L. < Gk 'account of the stars'.]

Horoscope reading; occult science; star divination; fortune-telling by the position of stars and planets; practical application of astronomy to human relations; [NW] “This science … supposed the heavenly bodies to have a ruling influence over the physical and moral world.”