Pilcrow

Pronunciation: /ˈpɪlˌkroʊ/

Definitions of pilcrow

noun a typographical symbol (¶) used to indicate a new paragraph or section in a text

Example Sentences

A1 I don't know what a pilcrow is.

A2 The pilcrow symbol looks like a backwards 'P'.

B1 In typography, a pilcrow is used to indicate a new paragraph.

B2 When editing a document, it's helpful to use pilcrows to organize the content.

C1 The pilcrow has a long history in written language, dating back to the Middle Ages.

C2 Some word processing programs allow you to customize the appearance of the pilcrow symbol.

Examples of pilcrow in a Sentence

formal The pilcrow is a typographical character used to indicate a new paragraph.

informal I always use the pilcrow symbol when formatting my documents.

slang Hey, can you add more pilcrows to separate the sections in this report?

figurative The pilcrow represents a fresh start in the story of our company's success.

Grammatical Forms of pilcrow

• past tense: pilcrowned
• plural: pilcrows
• comparative: more pilcrow
• superlative: most pilcrow
• present tense: pilcrows
• future tense: will pilcrow
• perfect tense: have pilcrowned
• continuous tense: is pilcrowing
• singular: pilcrow
• positive degree: pilcrow
• infinitive: to pilcrow
• gerund: pilcrowing
• participle: pilcrowned

Origin and Evolution of pilcrow

First Known Use: 1440 year

Language of Origin: Middle English

Story behind the word: The word 'pilcrow' comes from the Middle English word 'pylcrafte' which means 'paragraph'.

Evolution of the word: Originally used to mark paragraphs in manuscripts, the pilcrow symbol evolved to indicate the beginning of a new paragraph in printed text. Over time, it has also been used to denote the start of a new line or to highlight important sections in a document.