Definition of apostrophe

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< apostrophe

apostrophize >

a·pos·tro·phe²

(

-p

-f

) KEY

NOUN:

The direct address of an absent or imaginary person or of a personified abstraction, especially as a digression in the course of a speech or composition.

ETYMOLOGY:
Late Latin apostroph, from Greek, from apostrephein, to turn away ; see apostrophe¹

OTHER FORMS:
apos·trophic (

-str

k) KEY (Adjective)

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