asterism

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: as=ter=ism

CIDE DICTIONARY

asterism, n. [Gr. , fr. 'asth`r star; cf. F. astérisme.].

•  A constellation.  [1913 Webster]
•  An asterisk, or mark of reference.  [1913 Webster]
•  An optical property of some crystals which exhibit a star-shaped by reflected light, as star sapphire, or by transmitted light, as some mica.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

asterism, n.
1 a cluster of stars.
2 a group of three asterisks calling attention to following text.

Etymology

Gk asterismos (as ASTER, -ISM)