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obelus

 - 3 dictionary results

ob⋅e⋅lus

  [ob-uh-luhs]
Use obelus in a Sentence
–noun, plural -li  [-lahy] .
a mark (− or ÷) used in ancient manuscripts to point out spurious, corrupt, doubtful, or superfluous words or passages.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < LL < Gk obelós spit, pointed pillar
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To obelus
ob·e·lisk   (ŏb'ə-lĭsk)   
n.  

  1. A tall, four-sided shaft of stone, usually tapered and monolithic, that rises to a pointed pyramidal top.

  2. Printing The dagger sign (†), used especially as a reference mark. Also called dagger, obelus.


[Latin obeliscus, from Greek obeliskos, diminutive of obelos, a spit, obelisk.]
ob'e·lis'cal (-lĭs'kəl) adj., ob'e·lis'koid' (-koid') adj.
ob·e·lus   (ŏb'ə-ləs)   
n.   pl. ob·e·li (-lī')

  1. A mark (— or ÷) used in ancient manuscripts to indicate a doubtful or spurious passage.

  2. Printing See obelisk.


[Middle English, from Late Latin obelus, from Greek obelos, a spit, obelus.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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