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obelus
[ ob-uh-luhs ]
/ ˈɒb ə ləs /
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noun, plural ob·e·li [ob-uh-lahy]. /ˈɒb əˌlaɪ/.
a mark (− or ÷) used in ancient manuscripts to point out spurious, corrupt, doubtful, or superfluous words or passages.
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Origin of obelus
1350–1400; Middle English <Late Latin <Greek obelós spit, pointed pillar
Words nearby obelus
obedient plant, obeisance, obelia, obelisk, obelize, obelus, obento, Oberammergau, Oberhausen, Oberland, Oberlin
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use obelus in a sentence
The purpose of the doubly pointed obelus is plainly indicated here, as it accompanies two of these catchwords.
A Sixth-Century Fragment of the Letters of Pliny the Younger|Elias Avery Lowe and Edward Kennard RandBut such was not the usage of Budaeus; he employed the obelus merely to call attention to something that interested him.
A Sixth-Century Fragment of the Letters of Pliny the Younger|Elias Avery Lowe and Edward Kennard RandIn his peculiar notation, Asides are marked by inverted commas, and obvious stage business is indicated by an obelus.
The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [9 vols.]|William Shakespeare
British Dictionary definitions for obelus
obelus
/ (ˈɒbɪləs) /
noun plural -li (-ˌlaɪ)
a mark (— or ÷) used in editions of ancient documents to indicate spurious words or passages
another name for dagger (def. 2)
Word Origin for obelus
C14: via Late Latin from Greek obelos spit
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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