OBELISK

obelisk

(noun) a stone pillar having a rectangular cross section tapering towards a pyramidal top

dagger, obelisk

(noun) a character used in printing to indicate a cross reference or footnote

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

obelisk (plural obelisks)

A tall, square, tapered, stone monolith topped with a pyramidal point, frequently used as a monument.

(printing) The dagger sign (†), especially when used as a reference mark.

Verb

obelisk (third-person singular simple present obelisks, present participle obelisking, simple past and past participle obelisked)

(entomology, of a dragonfly) To adopt the obelisk posture; to point the tip of the abdomen towards the sun.

Source: Wiktionary


Ob"e*lisk, n. Etym: [L. obeliscus, Gr. obélisque.]

1. An upright, four-sided pillar, gradually tapering as it rises, and terminating in a pyramid called pyramidion. It is ordinarily monolithic. Egyptian obelisks are commonly covered with hieroglyphic writing from top to bottom.

2. (Print.)

Definition: A mark of reference; -- called also dagger [&dag;]. See Dagger, n., 2.

Ob"e*lisk, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Obelisked; p. pr. & vb. n. Obelisking.]

Definition: To mark or designate with an obelisk.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

24 April 2024

DECIDE

(verb) reach, make, or come to a decision about something; “We finally decided after lengthy deliberations”


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Coffee Trivia

The word “coffee” entered the English language in 1582 via the Dutch “koffie,” borrowed from the Ottoman Turkish “kahve,” borrowed in turn from the Arabic “qahwah.” The Arabic word qahwah was traditionally held to refer to a type of wine.

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