The word "constellation" comes from the Latin word "constellatio". This word itself is a combination of two Latin words:

* "con" meaning "together" or "with"

* "stella" meaning "star"

Therefore, "constellatio" literally means "a group of stars" or "stars together".

This name accurately reflects how constellations were perceived by ancient civilizations – as groupings of stars that formed recognizable patterns in the night sky.