¹apostrophe

noun apos·tro·phe \ə-ˈpäs-trə-(ˌ)fē\

Definition of APOSTROPHE

: the addressing of a usually absent person or a usually personified thing rhetorically <Carlyle's “O Liberty, what things are done in thy name!” is an example of apostrophe>

— ap·os·troph·ic \ˌa-pə-ˈsträ-fik\ adjective

Origin of APOSTROPHE

Latin, from Greek apostrophē, literally, act of turning away, from apostrephein to turn away, from apo- + strephein to turn

First Known Use: 1533

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile

²apostrophe

noun

Definition of APOSTROPHE

: a mark ' used to indicate the omission of letters or figures, the possessive case, or the plural of letters or figures

— apostrophic adjective

Origin of APOSTROPHE

French & Late Latin; French, from Late Latin apostrophus, from Greek apostrophos, from apostrophos turned away, from apostrephein

First Known Use: 1727

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile

APOSTROPHE Defined for Kids

apostrophe

noun apos·tro·phe \ə-ˈpä-strə-fē\

Definition of APOSTROPHE for Kids

: a mark ' used to show that letters or figures are missing (as in “can't” for “cannot” or “'76” for “1776”) or to show the possessive case (as in “Mike's”) or the plural of letters or figures (as in “cross your t's”)