The word 'zodiacal' is built upon the ancient concept of the zodiac, a belt of the heavens divided into twelve signs, each represented by a constellation. Its core, 'zodiac,' originates from the Greek zōidiakòs, meaning "of the little animals," a derivative of zōion (animal), reflecting the fact that most of the classical zodiac constellations are figures of animals or mythical creatures. The suffix '-al,' of Latin origin, is then appended to form the adjective, shifting the meaning from the belt itself to anything pertaining to it. Thus, 'zodiacal' literally means "pertaining to the circle of little animals," a direct linguistic descendant of the ancient Greek astronomers' pictorial view of the starry sky.

Structure: zodiac (zodiac) + al (adjective suffix) - zodiac: From Latin zōdiacus, from Greek zōidiakòs (kúklos), meaning "(circle) of little animals," from zōidion, diminutive of zōion (animal, living being). In this word, it functions as the core noun base. - al: A suffix of Latin origin (-ālis) used to form adjectives meaning "of, relating to, or characterized by."