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According to an online etymology, the word "arctic" comes in late 14th century, artik, from O.Fr. artique, from M.L. articus, from L. arcticus, from Gk. arktikos "of the north," lit. "of the (constellation) Bear," from arktos"bear," the Bear being a northerly constellation. From the usual I.E. base for "bear" (cf. Avestan aresho, Armenian arj, Albanian ari, L. ursus, Welsharth); The -c- was restored 1550s.

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7y ago
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9y ago

Generally the Arctic Circle marks the extent of ice-covered ocean in the winter of the Northern Hemisphere. Above the imaginary line of the Arctic Circle, about 66.3° N latitude, it is possible to have a day with 24 hours of sunlight (summer) and a day with 24 hours of night (winter). This is because the pole tilts either toward or away from the Sun as the Earth moves in its orbit.

As for the derivation of the name, it comes from the Greek arktos, meaning bear, Ursa Major, North Star.

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9y ago

The Arctic Circle is the southernmost latitude in the Northern Hemisphere at which the sun can remain continuously above or below the horizon for 24 hours. The position of the Arctic Circle is not fixed. It directly depends on the Earth's axial tilt, which fluctuates within a margin of 2° over a 40,000-year period, notably due to tidal forces resulting from the orbit of the Moon. The Arctic Circle is currently drifting northwards at a speed of about 15 m (49 ft) per year.

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7y ago

The word "Arctic" comes to us from late Middle English: via Old French from Latin arcticus, articus, from Greek arktikos, from arktos 'bear, Ursa Major, North Star.'

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9y ago

From the Greek arktos, meaning bear, Ursa Major, North Star.

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9y ago

It's from the Greek arktos, meaning bear, Ursa Major, North Star.

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11y ago

It is from Greek arktikos, meaning northern.

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13y ago

It's line of latitude that makes a circle. with the North Pole as the centerpoint.

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Q: Why is the Arctic called the Arctic?
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Young arctic wolves are called pups.


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