Wood on Words: Seeing stars — and words they inspire

"Twinkle, twinkle, little star, "How I wonder what you are. "Up above the world so high, "Like a diamond in the sky."

"Star light, star bright, "The first star I see tonight, "I wish I may, I wish I might "Have the wish I wish tonight."

The two nursery rhymes above have two different attitudes toward the wonders of the night sky.

The first is that of an astronomer: What is that thing and how did it get there?

The second is that of an astrologer: What's in it for us?

Both professions involve stargazing, but the former is about science and the latter about entertainment.

Originally, the two were inseparable. Eventually, the science of the stars moved away from the underlying premise of astrology that the positions of the stars, planets, moon and sun "affect human affairs and that one can foretell the future by studying the stars."

Even so, I'm sure scientists would agree that there's one star that affects nearly everything on our planet: the sun.

The "astro-" in the whole array of words from "astrobiology" to "AstroTurf" comes from the Greek word for "star," which is also the inspiration for the flower "aster" and the starlike mark "asterisk."

Human beings have been partial to stars as symbols for many centuries, including in badges and other representations of authority; in flags, including our nation's "Stars and Stripes" or "Star-Spangled Banner" and the Confederacy's "Stars and Bars"; the "star of Bethlehem" from the time of the birth of Jesus; and the "star of David" for Judaism and the state of Israel.

Luminaries in show business, sports and other fields are called "stars," and those that command the most attention (and money) are said to have "star power."

People who are fascinated by "stardom" and feel drawn to "famous or eminent people" are "star-struck."

But "seeing stars" also can be a painful experience, when a blow to the head creates "the sensation of lights brightly flashing before the eyes."

Someone who tends to be a dreamer or especially "impractical, unrealistic, overly optimistic" and so on is "starry-eyed." An informal word for a "starry-eyed quality" or "an enchanting, dreamlike state or mood" is "stardust," which is also the title of a classic song by fellow Hoosier native Hoagy Carmichael.

The astrological aspect is present in the language, too. When something good happens, we might say we "thank our lucky stars," even if we don't really believe in it. And when bad luck strikes, perhaps the unfortunate victim was "star-crossed" - that is, "destined to an unhappy fate."

The incredible accomplishments of space exploration and the enduring popularity of such creations as "Star Trek" and "Star Wars" keep us reaching for the stars, trying "to boldly go where no man has gone before," perhaps even to "a galaxy far, far away."

Wouldn't it be something if we finally made contact with another life form on another world? I just hope our first question isn't, "So, what's your sign?"

Barry Wood is a senior copy editor at the Rockford Register Star. Contact him at bwood@rrstar.com or write to Wood on Words, 99 E. State St., Rockford, IL 61104.