[as.ter.isk] n [ME, astarisc, fr. LL asteriscus, fr. Gk asteriskos, lit., little star, dim. of aster-, aster] (14c): the character * used in printing or writing as a reference mark, as an indication of the omission of letters or words, to denote a hypothetical or unattested linguistic form, or for various arbitrary meanings -- as.ter.isk.less adj
[2]asterisk vt (ca. 1733): to mark with an asterisk: star