obelus

[ ob-uh-luhs ]

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

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 Rand
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 Rand
In 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) /

nounplural -li (-ˌlaɪ)

a mark (— or ÷) used in editions of ancient documents to indicate spurious words or passages
another name for dagger (def. 2)

Origin of 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

Browse