apostrophe

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The punctuation mark ('), used to show missing letters or possession.

   Use an apostrophe to show that the book belongs to Tom: Tom's book.

2. 2
   noun

   A passage in writing or speech that addresses an absent or imaginary person.

   The poet uses an apostrophe to speak directly to the dead king.

Simplified etymology

Apostrophe entered English through late Latin from Greek apostrophos, “accent of elision,” derived from apostrephein, “turn away.” It first denoted the omission of one or more letters before becoming the name of the punctuation mark.

From French apostrophe, or Latin apostrophus, from Ancient Greek ἀπόστροφος (apóstrophos, “accent of elision”), a noun use of an adjective from ἀποστρέφω (apostréphō, “to turn away”), from ἀπό (apó, “away from”) + στρέφω (stréphō, “to turn”).

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External links

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• Cambridge Dictionary
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