2447: Dagger Mark † Aug 23, 2021

The dagger mark (†), also known as a obelus, or as an obelisk has been used for a variety of purposes since antiquity. Now, this symbol indicates death, especially in German language contexts, but it also acts as a secondary footnote marker when an asterisk (*) has already been used. It originated as a line (–) or with two dots (÷) as a way to indicate language that was dubious and may need to be cut, with the specific imagery representing a spit or a spitroast. Later, it was used for the end of a marked passage, and then gaining its use in footnotes, to be followed by a tertiary (‡). Between all these uses, especially in religious literature and symbols for cantillation it was used extensively in medieval Christians, but it never has had explicit reference to Christianity or crucifixes. Still, today many falsely intuit a religious connection.