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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Ăs’ter-ism, n.

noun

n. [Fr. astérisme, Gr. ἀστερισμός, from ἀστήρ, star.]

  1. (Astron.) (a.) A constellation. [Obs.] (b.) A small cluster of stars, whether included in a constellation or not.
  2. (Printing.) (a.) An asterisk, or mark of reference. [Obs.] (b.) Three asterisks placed in this manner [ *] to direct attention to a particular passage.