ASTERISK

views updated May 29 2018

ASTERISK. A star-shaped mark (*), used in writing and printing: (1) To indicate a reference or annotation, especially a first footnote, in which case it follows the word, phrase, or sentence being marked in a text, and precedes the footnote or reference. (2) To mark a cross-reference in an encyclopedia or similar work: *Darwin or *Darwin, meaning ‘Darwin (see entry under that name)’. (3) To mark the omission of a letter, especially in four-letter words: f**k for fuck. (4) In philology, to mark a reconstructed form not (yet) attested in a text or inscription: for example, the hypothetical Latin word *ultraticum proposed as the source of English outrage and Italian ultraggio. (5) In linguistics, to mark a word, phrase, sentence, or utterance as unacceptable for grammatical, semantic, or other reasons: for example, *I went for to do it discounted as a sentence of standard English. See ELLIPSIS.

asterisk

views updated Jun 11 2018

as·ter·isk / ˈastəˌrisk/ • n. a symbol (*) used to mark printed or written text, typically as a reference to an annotation or to stand for omitted matter. ∎  a thing resembling a star in shape: soft asterisks of pollen.• v. [tr.] [usu. as adj.] (asterisked) mark (printed or written text) with an asterisk: asterisked entries.

Asterisk

views updated May 14 2018

Asterisk (Gk., ‘a star’). A metal (usually gold or silver) instrument used in Greek Orthodoxy to cover the paten so that the covering veils do not touch the consecrated bread during the eucharist.

asterisk

views updated May 14 2018

asterisk a symbol (*) used to mark printed or written text, typically as a reference to an annotation or to stand for omitted matter. The word comes (in late Middle English) via late Latin from Greek asteriskos ‘small star’.

asterisk

views updated May 18 2018

asterisk XVII. — late L. asteriscus — Gr. asterískos, dim. of astḗr STAR.