SYMBOLS.

In the etymological part three stops are used as symbols in connexion
with the cognate forms cited, namely the comma, the semi-colon, and
the colon. The comma is used to connect various spellings of a word,
as well as parallel forms cited from nearly connected languages; for
instance, s.v. ~daunger~, the OF. forms are so connected. The
semi-colon between two forms denotes that the two forms are
phonetically equivalent, and that the preceding one is directly
derived from, and is historically connected with the one following
this symbol; for instance, s.v. ~bugle~, the OF. _bugle_ is
the phonetic equivalent of the Lat. _buculum_, and is immediately
derived therefrom. The colon between two forms denotes that the two
forms are phonetically equivalent, and that the form following this
symbol is an earlier, more primitive form than the one preceding,
without an immediate interborrowing between the languages being
asserted; for instance, s.v. ~demen~, the Goth, _dómjan_ is
an older form than the AS. _déman_, but _déman_ is not
borrowed from the Gothic. The abbreviation 'cp.' introduces other
cognate forms, and has the same value as the symbol + in Skeat's
Dictionaries.

The asterisk * at the beginning of a word denotes a theoretical form,
assumed (upon scientific principles) to have formerly existed. The
sign = is to be read 'a translation of.' '(_n_)' after Prompt.,
Cath. and other authorities refers to foot-notes or other notes citing
the form in question.

A CONCISE DICTIONARY OF MIDDLE-ENGLISH