- aurora
- late 14c., from L. Aurora, the Roman goddess of dawn, from PIE *ausus- "dawn," also the name of the Indo-European goddess of the dawn, from base *aus- "to shine," especially of the dawn (cf. Gk. eos "dawn," auein "to dry, kindle;" Skt. usah, Lith. ausra "dawn;" L. auster "south wind," usum "to burn;" O.E. east "east").