asterisms
|as-ter-isms|
/ˈæs.tə.rɪ.zəmz/
(asterism)
star pattern
Etymology
'asterism' originates from Neo-Latin, specifically the word 'asterismus', ultimately from Greek 'asterismos', where 'aster-' meant 'star'.
'asterism' changed from Greek 'asterismos' to Neo-Latin 'asterismus' and then entered English as 'asterism' in modern usage.
Initially, it meant 'a grouping or sign of stars', but over time it also came to refer to the typographical symbol '⁂' and retained the astronomical sense of a recognizable star pattern.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a recognizable pattern or group of stars in the night sky, often part of or crossing one or more constellations (e.g., the Big Dipper is an asterism).
Many cultures identified asterisms such as the Pleiades and the Big Dipper.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a typographical symbol (⁂) composed of three asterisks arranged in a triangular formation, used historically to indicate a minor break in text or a subdivision.
Older printed books sometimes use asterisms to mark a small break between sections.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/15 09:10