Dagger and Obelus: History and Modern Usage of Typographical Marks
In the world of typography, few symbols carry as much historical weight and diverse meaning as the dagger (†). Known technically as an obelisk or obelus, this mark has evolved from an ancient tool of scholarly critique into a versatile symbol used across science, linguistics, and publishing. Whether marking a footnote or signaling the extinction of a species, the dagger and its variants provide a precise shorthand for complex information.
While most commonly recognized as a footnote marker, the dagger is part of a family of symbols including the double dagger (‡), also known as a diesis, and the rarer triple dagger (⹋). These marks allow writers to layer notations without relying solely on numeric superscripts.
Key Facts
- Primary Use: Acts as a secondary footnote marker after the asterisk.
- Symbolism: Frequently denotes death, extinction, or obsolescence.
- Origins: Derived from the Greek obelos, meaning "roasting spit."
- Variants: Includes the double dagger (‡) and triple dagger (⹋) for deeper levels of notation.
- Scientific Role: Used in physics for Hermitian adjoints and chemistry for transition state species.
The History of the Obelus
The dagger originated from the obelus, a mark used by ancient scholars to highlight or question specific passages in manuscripts. Originally depicted as a plain line or a line with dots, it symbolized a roasting spit or a javelin, representing the act of "skewering" or cutting out dubious text.
The system is attributed to Zenodotus, a Homeric scholar who used these marks to identify corrupt words in the epics of Homer. This method was refined by Aristophanes of Byzantium and later Aristarchus, leading to what are known as "Aristarchian symbols." While the asterisk was used for additions, the obelus signaled corrective deletions of invalid reconstructions.
Throughout the centuries, the symbol's application expanded. The early Christian scholar Origen used it in his Hexapla to note differences between Old Testament versions. St. Jerome later described the contrast between the two primary marks, noting that while an asterisk "makes a light shine," the obelisk "cuts and pierces."
Medieval and Early Modern Evolution
During the Middle Ages, scribes used the dagger for critical manuscript markings and as a notation in early Christian chanting to indicate minor pauses in Psalms. By the 16th century, the printer Robert Estienne employed the symbol to mark textual variations in the Greek New Testament (Textus Receptus).
Modern Applications
Today, the dagger is most frequently encountered in publishing and specialized academic fields. While superscript numerals have largely replaced symbol-based footnotes for consistency, daggers are still used for per-page notes to distinguish them from endnotes.
Death and Obsolescence
The "death dagger" is a common convention in several disciplines:
- Biology: Placed next to a taxon name to indicate the species is extinct.
- Genealogy: Marks a death in family records.
- Philology: Indicates an obsolete word or a form restricted to archaic literary styles.
- Linguistics: Signals an extinct language or language family.
Technical and Specialized Uses
Beyond death and footnotes, the dagger serves specific functions in various professional fields:
- Physics and Mathematics: Denotes the Hermitian adjoint of an operator.
- Chemistry: The double dagger (‡) indicates a short-lived transition state species in chemical kinetics.
- Chess: A stylistic variation where a dagger signifies a check and a double dagger signifies checkmate.
- Library Science: The double dagger is used to delimit MARC subfields.
- Sports: On cricket scorecards, it identifies the team's wicket-keeper.
Unicode and Visual Identification
In digital typography, the dagger family is standardized under Unicode to ensure consistency across different fonts and platforms. It is important to distinguish these from visually similar religious or geometric symbols.
| Symbol | Unicode | Name | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| † | U+2020 | Dagger | Footnotes, death, extinction |
| ‡ | U+2021 | Double Dagger | Third-level footnotes, chemistry |
| ⸸ | U+2E38 | Turned Dagger | Retroflex pronunciation (palaeotype) |
| ⹋ | U+2E4B | Triple Dagger | Medievalist notation |
Users should be careful not to confuse the dagger (†) with the Latin Cross (✝) or the double dagger (‡) with the Cross of Lorraine (☨) or the alveolar click symbol (ǂ) used in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a dagger and an obelus?
Historically, the obelus was the broader term for a mark (often a horizontal line) used to indicate doubtful text. The modern dagger symbol is a direct descendant of the obelus, evolving into the vertical cross-like shape used today.
When should I use a double dagger instead of a dagger?
In traditional footnote sequencing, the asterisk (*) is used first, followed by the dagger (†), and then the double dagger (‡). It is used when a third separate note is required on the same page.
What does a dagger mean in a dictionary or linguistic text?
In philology and dictionaries, such as the Oxford English Dictionary, a dagger indicates that a word or phrase is obsolete and no longer in general use.
How is the dagger used in physics?
In physics and mathematics, the dagger symbol is used to denote the Hermitian adjoint of an operator, a fundamental concept in quantum mechanics.
Is the dagger symbol the same as a Christian cross?
No. While they look similar, the dagger is a typographical mark. In Unicode, the dagger (U+2020) is distinct from the Latin Cross (U+271D) and other religious symbols.