obelisk
UK[ˈɒb.əl.ɪsk]US[ˈɑː.bə.lɪsk]
n
A tall, four-sided stone pillar that tapers to a point at the top, originally erected in ancient Egypt.
n
A symbol resembling such a pillar (†) used in printing and writing.
Morpheme Breakdown
obel
isk
obel
pointed pillar
isk
diminutive suffix
Etymology
The word 'obelisk' traces its lineage to the ancient Greek obeliskos, a diminutive of obelos, meaning "spit" or "pointed pillar." This term was used by Greek travelers and historians to describe the monumental, needle-like stone structures they encountered in Egypt. The Greek obelos itself may have deeper, uncertain origins, possibly from a Proto-Indo-European root related to pointing or piercing. The diminutive suffix -iskos was added, not necessarily to indicate small size, but to form a derivative noun, which passed into Latin as obeliscus and subsequently into English, preserving the core concept of a tall, tapering, pointed monument.
Analysis
Structure: obel (pointed pillar) + isk (diminutive suffix)
obel (from Greek obeliskos, a diminutive of obelos meaning "spit, pointed pillar, needle"), isk (a diminutive suffix in Greek, via Latin -iscus, indicating a smaller or related form).
Examples
The ancient obelisk, known as Cleopatra's Needle, now stands on the Thames Embankment in London.
The text used an obelisk to mark a footnote.
They marveled at the hieroglyphs carved into the sides of the granite obelisk.