ASTERISK. A star-shaped mark (*), used in writing and printing: (1) To indicate a reference or annotation, especially a first footnote, in which case it follows the word, phrase, or sentence being marked in a text, and precedes the footnote or reference. (2) To mark a cross-reference in an encyclopedia or similar work: *Darwin or *Darwin, meaning ‘Darwin (see entry under that name)’. (3) To mark the omission of a letter, especially in four-letter words: f**k for fuck. (4) In philology, to mark a reconstructed form not (yet) attested in a text or inscription: for example, the hypothetical Latin word *ultraticum proposed as the source of English outrage and Italian ultraggio. (5) In linguistics, to mark a word, phrase, sentence, or utterance as unacceptable for grammatical, semantic, or other reasons: for example, *I went for to do it discounted as a sentence of standard English. See ELLIPSIS.

as·ter·isk / ˈastəˌrisk/ • n. a symbol (*) used to mark printed or written text, typically as a reference to an annotation or to stand for omitted matter. ∎  a thing resembling a star in shape: soft asterisks of pollen.• v. [tr.] [usu. as adj.] (asterisked) mark (printed or written text) with an asterisk: asterisked entries.

Asterisk (Gk., ‘a star’). A metal (usually gold or silver) instrument used in Greek Orthodoxy to cover the paten so that the covering veils do not touch the consecrated bread during the eucharist.

asterisk a symbol (*) used to mark printed or written text, typically as a reference to an annotation or to stand for omitted matter. The word comes (in late Middle English) via late Latin from Greek asteriskos ‘small star’.

asterisk XVII. — late L. asteriscus — Gr. asterískos, dim. of astḗr STAR.