[ad. Gr. ἀστερισμός a marking with stars, a constellation, f. ἀστήρ star: see -ISM.]
1. A group or cluster of stars; a constellation.
1598. Chapman, Bl. Beggar, Plays 1874, 12. All set in number and in perfect form, Even like the Asterisms fix’d in heaven.
1774. J. Bryant, Mythol., I. 341. The zodiac, and its asterisms.
1869. Dunkin, Midn. Sky, 151. Cepheus was one of the old forty-eight asterisms.
† 2. loosely, A star, or anything shaped like one.
1657. Reeve, God’s Plea, 55. Oh that Mercy is such a bright Star, and yet that we have neither observed the Asterism, nor [etc.].
1743. trans. Heister’s Surg., 19. There are other [Compresses] again in the form of an Asterism.
3. A group of three asterisks placed thus (***) to direct attention to a particular passage. Rarely, a single asterisk (*) so used.
1649. G. Daniel, Trinarch., xvi. This full Quotation, by an Asterisme Set in the margent of a middle Page.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., I. 193. To which an asterism (*) is prefixed.
1871. Ringwalt, Encycl. Print., 48. Asterism, three asterisks placed in this manner [***]
4. Min. (Also in mod.L. form asterismus.) An appearance of light in the shape of a six-rayed star seen in some crystals, as in star sapphire.
1879. Rutley, Stud. Rocks, x. 135. This asterismus is due to the presence of included microliths or small crystals.
