obelize

A scholar obelizes a questionable passage in an ancient manuscript.

Definition

1. Verb (transitive):
   • To mark with an obelus (†): "obelize" means to place a critical mark, typically a dagger (†) or an obelus (÷ or —), in the margin of a text to indicate that a passage is spurious, doubtful, or corrupt. This is a technical term used in textual criticism, especially in editing ancient manuscripts.

Usage Examples

• (The editor marked the line with an obelus to show it was likely not original.)
• (The scribe placed a critical mark next to those verses to indicate uncertainty.)

Advanced Usage

• "to obelize a passage": to formally indicate in a scholarly edition that a text segment is considered inauthentic or problematic.

  • The philologist obelized the entire paragraph after finding no support in earlier manuscripts. (The scholar marked it as dubious.)

• "obelized text": text that has been marked with an obelus for critical annotation.

  • The obelized text was printed in a smaller font to distinguish it from the main body. (The marked text was visually set apart.)

Variants and Related Words

• Obelus (noun): a critical mark († or ÷) used in ancient and medieval manuscripts to indicate a spurious or doubtful passage.

  • The obelus was placed next to the line that the editor found suspicious. (The mark itself.)

• Obelization (noun): the act or process of marking text with an obelus.

  • The obelization of the manuscript took several months of careful study. (The process of marking.)

Synonyms

• Annotate: to add notes or marks to a text (broader, not specific to the obelus).
• Censure: to criticize formally (can imply marking as flawed, but not specific to textual criticism).
• Stigmatize: to mark as disgraceful or faulty (used figuratively, not in textual criticism).

Related Idioms

• There are no common idioms using "obelize," as it is a specialized scholarly term.

Phrasal Verbs

• There are no phrasal verbs formed with "obelize," as it is a rare, technical verb.