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.

Nearby words

obeisance, obelia, obelion, obelisk, obelize, obelus, obento, oberammergau, oberhausen, oberland, oberlin

Origin of obelus

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for obeli

The plan of expressing suspicion by obeli was a good one—it raised the question of genuineness without foreclosing it.
Studies on Homer and the Homeric Age, Vol. 1 of 3|W. E. Gladstone

British Dictionary definitions for obeli

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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012