Also (4 asterichos, -icus), 7 asterisque, -iske, (-ick), 7–9 -isc. [ad. L. asteriscus, a. Gr. ἀστερίσκος, dim. of ἀστήρ star: see -ISK.]
1. A little star.
1682. Sir T. Browne, Chr. Mor., 38. Add one ray unto the common lustre … and prove not a cloud but an asterisk.
2. transf. Anything shaped or radiating like a star; spec. in Eastern Ch. a star-shaped instrument of gold or silver placed above the chalice and paten to prevent the veil from touching the elements.
1708. Phil. Trans., XXVI. 77. An Irregular Coralline-stone, naturally Engrav’n with Asterisks.
a. 1733. North, Lives, I. 274. The lanthorn is in the centre of an asterisk of glades.
1872. O. Shipley, Gloss. Eccl. Terms, The veil [aer] … is placed over the asterisk, and covers both chalice and paten.
3. esp. The figure of a star (*) used in writing and printing a. as a reference to a note at the foot or margin of the page, b. to indicate the omission of words or letters, c. to distinguish words and phrases as conjectural, obscure, or bearing some other specified character, d. as a dividing mark, or for similar typographical purposes.
[1382. Wyclif, 2 Chron., Prol. Wher euer ȝe seen asterichos … there wijte ȝe of Ebrue added, that in Latyne bokis is not had.
1387. Trevisa, Higden, V. 55. A signe þat hatte asteriscus and is i-shape liche a sterre.]
1612. Brinsley, Pos. Parts, Pref. (1669), 4. For the necessary questions … I have set an Asterisk upon them.
1645. M. Casaubon, Temp. Evils, 47. Set out as imperfect with three asteriscs.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Asterisque.
1796. Pegge, Anonym. (1809), 289. The asterisks in Drake’s Eboracum are intended for Archbishop Lancelot Blackburne.
1824. J. Johnson, Typogr., II. iii. 51. The Asterisk divides each verse of a Psalm into two parts.
