Septentrion (sep-TEN-tree-on) noun – the north. From Latin septentrionalis, from septentrio, singular of septentriones, originally septem triones, the seven stars of the constellation Ursa Major, the Great Bear, from septem (seven) and triones (a team of three plow oxen. These are the principal stars of the Great Bear, which is located in the region of the north celestial pole. These stars are more commonly perceived as the Big Dipper.
I learned all that and much, much more about the word septentrion, which I’d never heard of before, thanks to an e-mail buddy. It’s the kind of critical e-mail that I