obelus
[ ob-uh-luh s ]
/ ˈɒb ə ləs /
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.
Origin of obelus
1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin < Greek
obelós spit, pointed pillar
Words nearby obelus
obeisance,
obelia,
obelion,
obelisk,
obelize,
obelus,
obento,
oberammergau,
oberhausen,
oberland,
oberlin
Example sentences from the Web for obelus
But 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