What does obelisk mean?

Definitions for obelisk
ˈɒb ə lɪskobelisk

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word obelisk.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. obelisknoun

    a stone pillar having a rectangular cross section tapering towards a pyramidal top

  2. dagger, obelisknoun

    a character used in printing to indicate a cross reference or footnote

Wiktionary

  1. obelisknoun

    A tall, square, tapered, stone monolith topped with a pyramidal point, frequently used as a monument.

  2. obelisknoun

    The dagger sign (), especially when used as a reference mark.

  3. Etymology: 1569. From obelisque, from obeliscus, from ὀβελίσκος, diminutive of ὀβελός.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Obelisknoun

    1.A magnificent high piece of solid marble, or other fine stone, having usually four faces, and lessening upwards by degrees, till it ends in a point like a pyramid. John Harris

    Etymology: obeliscus, Latin.

    Between the statues obelisks were plac’d,
    And the learn’d walls with hieroglyphicks grac’d. Alexander Pope.

    He published the translation of the Septuagint, having compared it with the Hebrew, and noted by asterisks what was defective, and by obelisks what redundant. Nehemiah Grew.

Wikipedia

  1. Obelisk

    An obelisk (; from Ancient Greek: ὀβελίσκος obeliskos; diminutive of ὀβελός obelos, "spit, nail, pointed pillar") is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape or pyramidion at the top. Originally constructed by Ancient Egyptians and called tekhenu, the Greeks used the Greek term obeliskos to describe them, and this word passed into Latin and ultimately English. Ancient obelisks are monolithic; they consist of a single stone. Most modern obelisks are made of several stones.

ChatGPT

  1. obelisk

    An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow, tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top. These monuments are often made of a single piece of stone (monolithic) and are typically used as architectural or commemorative landmarks. The term originates from ancient Egypt, but obelisks can also be found in Rome, Ethiopia and other parts of the world.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Obelisknoun

    an upright, four-sided pillar, gradually tapering as it rises, and terminating in a pyramid called pyramidion. It is ordinarily monolithic. Egyptian obelisks are commonly covered with hieroglyphic writing from top to bottom

  2. Obelisknoun

    a mark of reference; -- called also dagger [/]. See Dagger, n., 2

  3. Obeliskverb

    to mark or designate with an obelisk

  4. Etymology: [L. obeliscus, Gr. 'obeli`skos, dim. of 'obelo`s a spit, a pointed pillar: cf. F. oblisque.]

Wikidata

  1. Obelisk

    An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top. Like Egyptian pyramids, whose shape is thought to be representative of the descending rays of the sun, an obelisk is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon. Ancient obelisks were often monolithic, whereas most modern obelisks are made of several stones and can have interior spaces. The term stele is generally used for other monumental standing inscribed sculpted stones.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Obelisk

    ob′e-lisk, n. a tall, four-sided, tapering pillar, usually of one stone, finished at the top like a flat pyramid: (print.) a dagger ( † ).—adj. Ob′eliscal.—v.t. Ob′elise, to mark with an obelisk, to condemn as spurious, indelicate, &c.—n. Ob′elus, a mark ( — or ÷ ) used in ancient MSS. to mark suspected passages, esp. in the Septuagint to indicate passages not in the Hebrew:—pl. Ob′eli. [Through Fr. and L., from Gr. obeliskos, dim. of obelos, a spit.]

The Nuttall Encyclopedia

  1. Obelisk

    a tall four-sided pillar, generally monolithic, tapering to a pyramidal pointed top, erected in connection with temples in Egypt, and inscribed all over with hieroglyphs, and in memorial, as is likely, of some historical personage or event; they are of ancient date.

Suggested Resources

  1. obelisk

    The obelisk symbol -- In this Symbols.com article you will learn about the meaning of the obelisk symbol and its characteristic.

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of obelisk in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of obelisk in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

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"obelisk." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 18 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/obelisk>.

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