obelus

noun

obe·lus | \ ˈä-bə-ləs also ˈō-

plural obeli\ ˈä-bə-ˌlī

, -ˌlē also ˈō- \

Definition of obelus

1 : a symbol − or ÷ used in ancient manuscripts to mark a questionable passage

2 : the symbol ÷

History and Etymology for obelus

Middle English, borrowed from Late Latin, borrowed from Greek obelós, odelós (Doric) "spit, four-sided pointed pillar, obol, line in a manuscript marking a passage as spurious," perhaps of pre-Greek substratal origin

Note: The b/d variation has led to the assumption of an original labiovelar *g^w, though d would be expected in Attic-Ionic rather than the normally occurring b; obelós has hence been explained as a borrowing from an Aeolic dialect. In the sense "obol" (a weight and coin valued at 1/6 of a drachma) obelós has a variant obolós; the medial o is an alleged instance of vowel assimilation. The need for special explanations to account for the idiosyncrasies in these forms has led to the hypothesis that the etymon was a loanword from a pre-Greek language.

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obelus

Definition of obelus

First Known Use of obelus

History and Etymology for obelus

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