An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A mirror arrangement with clock drive that reflects light from a celestial body to a fixed position. → coelostat; → heliostat.

Etymology (EN): From L. sidero-, from sidus (genitive sideris) “star, constellation”

• -stat prefix denoting something that stabilizes, keeps, fixes, from -stata, from Gk. -states “one that causes to stand,” or statos “standing,” from *sta- “to stand.”

Etymology (PE): Axtardâštâr, from axtar, → star, + dâštâr “holder, maintainer,” from dâštan “to hold, maintain; to have; to possess;” Mid.Pers. dâštan; O.Pers./Av. dar- “to hold, keep back, maintain, keep in mind;” cf.
Skt. dhr-, dharma- “law;” Gk. thronos “elevated seat, throne;” L. firmus “firm, stable;” Lith. daryti “to make;” PIE base *dher- “to hold, support.”