a. [ OE. artik, OF. artique, F. arctique, L. arcticus, fr. Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; a bear, also a northern constellation so called; akin to L. ursus bear, Skr. &unr_;ksha. ] Pertaining to, or situated under, the northern constellation called the Bear; northern; frigid;
☞ The arctic circle is a lesser circle, parallel to the equator, 23° 28′ from the north pole. This and the
n.