obelus

[ ob-uh-luhs ]

noun,plural ob·e·li [ob-uh-lahy]. /ˈɒb əˌlaɪ/.
  1. a mark (− or ÷) used in ancient manuscripts to point out spurious, corrupt, doubtful, or superfluous words or passages.

Origin of obelus

1
1350–1400; Middle English <Late Latin <Greek obelós spit, pointed pillar

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How to use obelus in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for obelus

obelus

/ (ˈɒbɪləs) /


nounplural -li (-ˌlaɪ)
  1. a mark (— or ÷) used in editions of ancient documents to indicate spurious words or passages

  2. another name for dagger (def. 2)

Origin of obelus

1
C14: via Late Latin from Greek obelos spit

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012