SG Heritage Dictionary

Word of the Day: Catachrestical

Asterism [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. A constellation; a sign in the zodiac.

2. The figures of the twelve asterisms.

3. An asterisk, or mark of reference. [This is less proper.]

Asterism [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

2. A small cluster of stars.

3. An asterisk, or mark of reference.

4. Three asterisks placed in this manner, /, to direct attention to a particular passage.

5. An optical property of some crystals which exhibit a star-shaped by reflected light, as star sapphire, or by transmitted light, as some mica.