Obelize
/ˈɒbəlˌaɪz/noun
To mark a passage with an obelus or to annotate text critically.
Did you know?Obelize comes from the same Greek root as obelisk, both ultimately tied to a word for a spit or pointed stake, so a proofreading mark and a stone monument share a surprisingly sharp ancestry.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
GRK
obelos
“A spit, pointed stake, or small dagger-shaped object.”
Hellenistic Greek
GRK
obelos
“A critical mark in manuscripts, shaped like a dagger or spit, used to indicate doubtful or spurious text.”
Medieval Latin
LAT
obelus
“A scribal mark for doubtful passages.”
Late Middle English
ENG
obelisen
“To mark with an obelus; to annotate critically.”
Modern English
ENG
obelize
“To mark a passage with an obelus or to annotate text critically.”