obelus
- noun
- /ˈoʊbələs/
- Archaic
:
obelisco
- A weathered obelus stood in the center of the old town square for centuries.
Examples
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Historians discovered a small obelus near the ruins, likely used as a boundary marker.
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The ancient stone obelus marked the entrance to the forgotten village.
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Look at that tall obelus in the park!
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The obelus marks the spot where the battle took place.
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The ancient stone obelus marked the entrance to the forgotten village.
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A weathered obelus stood in the center of the old town square for centuries.
-
Historians discovered a small obelus near the ruins, likely used as a boundary marker.
Synonyms
160
3.4
A large structure that honours a famous person or important event
52
2.6
A tall upright support for a building or a standing stone used as a monument
12
7.7
A tall four-sided stone pillar that gets narrower toward a pointed top and marks a place
3
9.9
A tall stone slab with writing or pictures used as a monument
1
9.9
A tall stone with writing that honors a person or event from long ago
How Tall
Surface Forms
Etymology
Obelus comes from Greek obelos, meaning 'spit' or 'pointed stick', which is the same root as obelisk. At first it meant a small pointed pillar or stake used as a marker or monument, so an obelus can be a standing stone that marks a place.