Dictionary

~ en · SYM

Etymology

(indicating emotion): Perhaps borrowed from Japanese ~, 〜, 〰, emphatic form of ー (long vowel mark).

Meanings

1. (diacritic, obsolete) Written on a letter, usually a vowel, in place of an omitted n or m.
   • And he [Jesus] made a ſcourge off ſmale cordes / and drave thẽ all out off the temple / bothe ſhepe and oxen / ãd powred doune the changers money / and overthrue their tables. 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, John ij:[15], folio cxxj, verso:
   • Yet could she for some yeares, so carry her selfe among them, that they found cause in the delicacie of her sex, of admiration, not of cõtempt : & which was notable, even in the time that many countries were full of wars (which for old grudges to Corinth were thought still would conclude there) yet so hãdled she the matter, that the threatens ever smarted in the threatners; she using so straũge, and yet so well‐succeeding a temper, that she made her people by peace, warlike ; her courtiers by sports, learned ; her Ladies by Love, chast. c. 1580 (date written), Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “[The Thirde Booke] Chapter 21”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC, folio 283, recto:
   • And immediatly his fete ãd anclebones receaved ſtrenght / and he ſprange / ſtode / ãd alſo walked / ãd entred with them into the temple walkinge / and leapynge / and laudynge god. 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Acts iij:[7–8], folio clvij, recto:
   • The Lord is not ſlacke cõcerning his promiſe (as ſome men count ſlackneſſe)[…]. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Peter 3:9, column 2:
   • And you ſhall finde, that the ſcriptures will instruct the man of God vnto all good works, & make him wiſe vnto ſaluation, if theſe wil not ſerue your turn, ſeeke where you wil, & find yͤ deuil & eternal damnatiõ. 1580, T. Stapleton and Martiall (Two Popish Heretikes) Confuted, and of Their Particular Heresies Detected, London: Middleton, Henrie, page 167:
   • The begyñyng off the Goſpell of Ieſu Chriſt the ſonne off God / as yt ys written in the prophettꝭ[…] 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Mark j:[1–2], folio xliij, verso:
   • cõtempt — contempt
2. (Internet, obsolete) Approximately.
   • In case you hadn’t heard, we have another Bravolebrity breakup on our hands. And by that, I mean The Valley stars Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright are getting divorced ~six months after announcing their separation. 2024 August 29, Mehera Bonner, “Brittany Cartwright Served Jax Taylor Divorce Papers While They Were Filming ‘The Valley’”, in Cosmopolitan:
   • She brought ~10 shirts for a two-day trip.
3. (Internet, obsolete) Indicating joy, elation, excitement, or a playful tone.
   • “Bufh! Y-Y-You can leave everything to us, Miss Horn!” “We’ll keep your luggage safe!” “Oh god, my nose won’t stop bleeding…” “Please, misters! And thanksies~” Horn exclaimed enthusiastically as she got away from them. 2016, Yukiya Murasaki, translated by ZackZeal, How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord, volume 6, J-Novel Club, published 2018, →ISBN:
   • Awesome~ I hope you enjoy your trip!

Relateds

≈ (approximately)