| obelism |
| Definition: The practice of annotating manuscripts by placing marks in the margins. |
| Example:
Modern annotators use: (1) dele (for "delete") (2) stet (Latin for "Let it stand" which means "disregard the previous mark") |
| Etymology:
The word derives from the Greek obeliskos, which is the diminutive of obelos, pointed pillar or needle.
Note: Ancient Greek editors would put obelisks in the margins of manuscripts (e.g., Homer) to indicate lines that were of doubtful origin. |
| Quotation:
"A suitable dictionary … distinguishes the gold and silver words, and obolizes the base Brummagem copper coinage."
(Source: Thomas De Quincey in Blackwoods Magazine (1830 XXVIII. 672) ) |