— asterismal , adj.
/as"teuh riz'euhm/ , n.
1. Astron.
a. a group of stars.
b. a constellation.
2. Mineral. a property of some crystallized minerals of showing a starlike luminous figure in transmitted light or, in a cabochon-cut stone, by reflected light.
3. three asterisks printed to draw attention to a passage it precedes.
[ 1590-1600; asterism ( ós ) a marking with stars. See ASTERISK, -ISM ]