First Known Use: 1533
Dictionary
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
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Origin of APOSTROPHE
Latin, from Greek apostrophē, literally, act of turning away, from apostrephein to turn away, from apo- + strephein to turn
Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms
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
APOSTROPHIC 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”)
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