asterisk en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈastɹɪsk/ (British, Southern, Standard)
- /ˈæst(ə)ˌɹɪks/ (General-American, proscribed, sometimes)
- (General-American) audio
- /ˈæstəˌɹɪsk/ (General-American)
- /ˈastɾɪsk/ (Scotland, Wales)
- /ˈastəɹɪsk/ (British, Southern, Standard)
- /ˈastəɾɪsk/ (Scotland, Wales)
- /ˈæstɹɪsk/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈæstəɹɪsk/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂eHs- Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Indo-European *h₂stḗr Proto-Hellenic *astḗr Ancient Greek ᾰ̓στήρ (ăstḗr) Proto-Indo-European *-iskos Ancient Greek -ῐ́σκος (-ĭ́skos) Ancient Greek ἀστερῐ́σκος (asterĭ́skos)bor. Late Latin asteriscusder. Middle English asterisk English asterisk The noun is derived from Middle English asterisk [and other forms], from Late Latin asteriscus (“asterisk; small star”), from Ancient Greek ἀστερῐ́σκος (asterĭ́skos, “asterisk; small star”), from ᾰ̓στήρ (ăstḗr, “celestial body (star, planet, and other lights in the sky such as meteors)”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eHs- (“to burn; to glow”)) + -ῐ́σκος (-ĭ́skos, diminutive suffix). Doublet of asteriscus and piecewise doublet of starrish. Noun sense 1.1.2 (“something which is of little importance or which is marginal”) refers to the use of an asterisk to denote a footnote or marginal note in a text; in other words, information that is not important enough to be incorporated into the main text. Noun sense 1.1.3 (“blemish in an otherwise outstanding achievement”) refers to the use of an asterisk in a sporting record to indicate that the record is qualified in some manner (for example, that the sportsperson was found to have taken performance-enhancing drugs at the time). The verb is derived from the noun.
Meanings
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(dated) A small star; also (by extension), something resembling or shaped like a star.
Add one Ray unto the common Luſtre; add not only to the Number but the Note of thy Generation; and prove not a Cloud but an Aſteriſk in thy Region.
c. 1670s (date written), Thomas Brown [i.e., Thomas Browne], “Sect[ion] XXXII”, in John Jeffery, editor, Christian Morals, […], Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] [A]t the University-Press, for Cornelius Crownfield printer to the University; and are to be sold by Mr. Knapton […]; and Mr. [John] Morphew […], published 1716, →OCLC, part I, page 38:
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(dated) A small star; also (by extension), something resembling or shaped like a star. ▸ The star-shaped symbol *, which is used in printing and writing for various purposes, including to refer a reader to a note at the bottom of a page or in a margin, and to indicate the omission of letters or words; a star.
Data were collected from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Nutrition Coordination Center (NCC) Carotenoid Database (Holden et al., 1999) and correspond to raw foods unless indicated with an asterisc (cooked) or two asteriscs (canned).
2012, Úrsula Flores-Perez, Manuel Rodriguez-Concepcion, “Carotenoids”, in Andrew Salter, Helen Wiseman, Gregory Tucker, editors, Phytonutrients, Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell, →ISBN, figure 3.2 caption, page 94:The Hôtels marked with one asterisc are Restaurants also. Those marked with two asteriscs have Table d'Hôte.
1869, “Notices Useful to the Foreigner”, in One Week at Venice: Illustrated Guide for Visiting Every Thing Worthy of Consideration, Venice: Colombo Coen’s New Library, […], →OCLC, page 128:There is no punctuation, but three signs are used, namely, 1st, the asterisc (※); 2nd, the obelus (—:); and 3rd, the two dots (:). The asteriscs indicate the words of the Hebrew text, not admitted by the Seventy into their Greek version, which words are included between the asterisc and the two dots; […]
[1849, M. J. B. Silvestre, “Plate LXI. Square Uncial Greek Writing. IVth. or Vth. Century. Fragments of the Greek Pentateuch, in the Bibliothèque Royale.”, in Frederic Madden, transl., Universal Palæography: Or, Fac-similes of Writings of All Nations and Periods, […], volume I, London: Henry G[eorge] Bohn, […], →OCLC, page 163:On the other hand, The New York Times favors the 'it doesn't exist' formula. It has prudishly renamed the play Shopping and … [Mark Ravenhill's play Shopping and Fucking (1996)] Everyone does it, no one will name it! The Times doesn’t even give it an asterisk or two. Three little dots must suffice. "How was it for you, my darling?" "That was the greatest three little dots I ever had in my life!"
1998 February 16, John Heilpern, “Shopping and Fucking: Is that all there is?”, in The Observer, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 17 May 2022:Above all, the 48-page timetables of the new service, which have been distributed free at every station in the scheme, are a model to the rest of B.R. For the first time on British Railways, so far as we are aware, a substantial timetable has been produced, not only without a single footnote but also devoid of all wearisome asterisks, stars, letter suffixes and other hieroglyphics.
1960 December, “The Glasgow Suburban Electrification is Opened”, in Trains Illustrated, London: Ian Allan Publishing, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 714:I having been looking at your pamphlet, and shewing it, but I mention no names. I don't see the use of names, for my part, unless it be to put in asterisks. It is—yes—very, indeed.
1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Publishing”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 13:He is in the right to put the Aſteriſks, not the VVords into the text; becauſe They do indeed give us [notice, that there is in Them] as much additional meaning, as there vvould be in thoſe vvords vvhich they ſo properly repreſent.
1754, Thomas Edwards, “Canon XVIII. He may Explane His Author, or Any Former Editor of Him; by Supplying Such Words, or Pieces of Words, or Marks, as He Thinks Fit for that Purpose.”, in The Canons of Criticism, and Glossary; […], 6th edition, London: […] C. Bathurst, […], →OCLC, page 157:
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(dated) A small star; also (by extension), something resembling or shaped like a star. ▸ The star-shaped symbol *, which is used in printing and writing for various purposes, including to refer a reader to a note at the bottom of a page or in a margin, and to indicate the omission of letters or words; a star. ▸ Something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol.
Using a crafting knife, cut a small asterisk shape in the center of each black circle. Gently pierce each asterisk with a wooden skewer to make a hole. Once done, simply insert your stove knobs, and you're almost ready!
2016, Courtney Sanchez, “Retro Stove”, in DIY Box Creations: Fun and Creative Projects to Make out of Really Big Boxes!, Lake Forest, Calif.: Walter Foster Jr., Quarto Publishing Group, →ISBN, page 48:
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(dated, figuratively) A small star; also (by extension), something resembling or shaped like a star. ▸ The star-shaped symbol *, which is used in printing and writing for various purposes, including to refer a reader to a note at the bottom of a page or in a margin, and to indicate the omission of letters or words; a star. ▸ Something which is of little importance or which is marginal; a footnote.
I don't want to be an asterisk in my kids' lives. I don't want to be just some guy who sporadically appears and then disappears again.
2016, Charles [Wesley] Marshall, “More SkyMiles, Less Family”, in The Good Dad Guide, Eugene, Or.: Harvest House Publishers, →ISBN, part 6 (Prevent), page 142:The opposing view sees it as an abject failure and historically irrelevant. This verdict was neatly summed up by the New York Times financial columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin when he predicted, a year on from the event: "It will be an asterisk in the history books, if it gets a mention at all."
2021 September 12, Andrew Anthony, “‘We showed it was possible to create a movement from almost nothing’: Occupy Wall Street 10 years on”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 20 Jan 2023:
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(US, dated, figuratively) A small star; also (by extension), something resembling or shaped like a star. ▸ The star-shaped symbol *, which is used in printing and writing for various purposes, including to refer a reader to a note at the bottom of a page or in a margin, and to indicate the omission of letters or words; a star. ▸ A blemish in an otherwise outstanding achievement.
They came into the tournament highly ranked, but with a little bit of an asterisk as their last two wins had been unconvincing.
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(dated, qualifier:Eastern Orthodoxy) A small star; also (by extension), something resembling or shaped like a star. ▸ An instrument with radiating arms resembling a star which is placed over the diskos (or paten) used during the Eucharist to prevent the veil covering the chalice and diskos from touching the host on the diskos.
Then he [the deacon] reverently covereth the holy Cup with the veil. Likewise he placeth the Asterisk upon the holy Diskos, and the veil over it, and saith the following prayer with the Priest, silently, […]
1866, John Chrysostom, “Liturgy of the Catechumens”, in [anonymous], transl., Service of the Divine and Sacred Liturgy of Our Holy Father John Chrysostom. […], London: Joseph Masters, […], →OCLC, pages 69–70:The diskos, then, typifies the heavens, and for that reason, it is round, and holds the Master of heaven. What is called the ‘asterisk’ represents the stars, especially the one at the birth of Christ, just as the veils represent the firmament, the swaddling clothes, the shroud, and the burial cloths.
2013, Bryan D[ouglas] Spinks, quoting Symeon of Thessalonica (in translation), “The Eucharist and Anaphoras of the Byzantine Synthesis”, in Do This in Remembrance of Me: The Eucharist from the Early Church to the Present Day (SCM Studies in Worship and Liturgy), London: SCM Press, →ISBN, page 126:The asterisk is one of the sacred objects used in the Byzantine rite. It is placed on the paten to protect the Eucharistic bread from contact with the special veil that covers it. The name derives from the shape of the object and symbolically recalls the Biblical words: "And the star came and stood above where the child was" […] [Matthew 2:9].
1962, Marvin C. Ross, “Copper”, in Catalogue of the Byzantine and Early Mediaeval Antiquities in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection, volume 1 (Metalwork, Ceramics, Glass, Glyptics, Painting), Washington, D.C.: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Trustees for Harvard University, published 1970, →OCLC, paragraph 89, page 73:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| asterisc | alternative | lexicographic | |
| asterisks | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| asterix | alternative | lexicographic |
Deriveds
magic asterisk · asteriskless · asterisklike · gender asterisk
Relateds
asterisk and asterism · vertical bar · bullet · degree symbol · dagger · underscore · asteroid · at sign · aster · prime · ampersand · backslash · pipe · tilde · asterism · number sign
Synonyms
Translations (126)
eo asterisko (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · lv zvaigznīte (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · nn asterisk (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · ru звёздочка (small star; something resembling or shaped like a star) · fi tähti (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · de Asteriskus (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · af asterisk (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · uk астери́ск (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · da stjerne (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · mk ѕве́здичка (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · yue 星號 /星号 (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · ga réalta (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · eo steleto (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · cy seren (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · fo asteriksur (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · nrf êtaile (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · io asterisko (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · de Sternchen (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · ur سِتارَہ (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · kk жұлдызша (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · id asteris (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · fi asteriski (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · sh а̏стериск (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · sq asterisk (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · id bintang (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · is stjörnumerki (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · ms tanda bintang (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · cmn 星號 /星号 (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · vi dấu hoa thị (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · vo stelül (small star; something resembling or shaped like a star) · ru звезди́ца (instrument with radiating arms placed over the diskos used during the Eucharist) · ko 별표 (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · ky жылдызча (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · eu istartxo (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · io steleto (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · ru астери́ск (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · et tärnike (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · bg звезди́чка (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · hy աստղանիշ (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · da asterisk (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · cy serennig (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · az ulduz (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · hi तारक (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · de Asterisk (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · sk hviezdička (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · ru звёздочка (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · ja アスタリスク (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · vo stelül (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · ka ვარსკვლავი (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · id tanda bintang (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · fi tahra (blemish in an otherwise outstanding achievement) · pl asterysk (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · tg ситора (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · ro steluță (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · tr yıldız (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · tr yıldız işareti (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · lt žvaigždutė (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · lt asteriskas (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · xal астериск (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · fi tähti (instrument with radiating arms placed over the diskos used during the Eucharist) · tg ситорача (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · ja 星印 (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · gl asterisco (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · fa-ira سِتارِه (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · sl zvezdica (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · sh zvèzdica (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · mr ताराचिह्न (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · tr asterisk (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · nl sterretje (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · th ดอกจัน (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · vi dấu sao (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · es asterisco (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · ota یلدز (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · mr तारकचिह्न (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · nb asterisk (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · ug يۇلتۇزچە (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · ja スター (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · mr चौफुली (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · la asterīscus (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · fi tähti (small star; something resembling or shaped like a star) · uk зі́рочка (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · sh звѐздица (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · dz སྐར་རྟགས (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · mt asteriks (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · cs hvězdička (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · my ခရေပွင့် (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · fi asteriski (instrument with radiating arms placed over the diskos used during the Eucharist) · ko 애스터리스크 (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · pa ਤਾਰਾ (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · ta உடுக்குறி (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · it asterisco (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · ar نُجَيْمَة (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · sh ȁsterisk (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · mk ѕве́здичка (small star; something resembling or shaped like a star) · et tärn (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · pt asterisco (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · ast asteriscu (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · be зо́рачка (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · sh звјѐздица (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · yi שטערנדל (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · pl gwiazdka (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · fr astérisque (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · gd reul (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · ia asterisco (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · uz yulduzcha (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · sh zvjèzdica (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · ja 星号 (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · grc ἀστερίσκος (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · he כּוֹכָבִית (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · tr yıldız imi (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · ja アステリスク (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · fi tähti-merkki (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · nn stjerne (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · ca asterisc (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · be астэры́ск (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · nrf astérisque (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · el αστερίσκος (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · ar إِجَّامَة (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · hi सितारा (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · hu csillag (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · ro asterisc (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · nb stjerne (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · sv asterisk (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · tl talantanda (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · nl asterisk (star-shaped symbol *; something resembling or shaped like an asterisk symbol) · pl gwiazdka (small star; something resembling or shaped like a star)
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