Asterisked for Dummies

"Asterisked" is a word that might seem a little bit tricky, but fear not, my friend! I'm here to make it as clear as crystal for you. So, have you ever noticed those little star symbols (*) that pop up here and there sometimes? Well, when we say that something is "asterisked," it means that it has been marked or highlighted using one of these star symbols, also known as an asterisk.

Let me ask you something: have you ever read a book where there are some words that are a bit different from the others? Those words could have an asterisk next to them. It's like the book is giving you a little extra information or showing you something important that you should pay attention to, kind of like a secret message just for you. So, when we say a word or phrase is "asterisked," it means that it has been singled out or emphasized by marking it with an asterisk, to let us know that it's special or different in some way.

Now, why do you think people use asterisks to mark something? Well, it's like a shortcut for saying, "Hey, look over here! This word is important, so pay attention!" It helps to draw our attention to something specific or provide additional information that might be helpful. For example, in a dictionary or a glossary, you might see certain words being asterisked, and that's because those words have a special meaning or require extra explanation.

Here's a little comparison to help you understand better: Think of an asterisk as a spotlight on a stage. When an actor is performing, sometimes the spotlight focuses on them, making them stand out from the rest of the stage. Similarly, when a word is asterisked, it's like it's been spotlighted, making it stand out from all the other words around it. It's like a signal that there's something important or interesting about that word, just like how a spotlight signals something important happening on a stage.

Another thing to keep in mind is that "asterisked" can also be used in a broader sense, beyond just marking words. It can refer to anything that has been singled out or highlighted in some way, not just within a book or text. For example, let's say there's a list of names of people who have won a competition, and some of the names have been marked with an asterisk. That means those individuals have achieved something extraordinary or have been recognized for their outstanding performance.

Imagine this scenario: You're playing a game of hide and seek with your friends, and one of your friends has an amazing hiding spot that nobody can find. Wouldn't it be cool if that person's name was asterisked on the list of players, indicating that they had found the most creative hiding spot? It's like a way to give them extra recognition or highlight their achievement because they did something special that sets them apart from the others on the list.

So, my dear friend, when we say something is "asterisked," it means that it has been marked or highlighted, typically with an asterisk symbol (*). It's like a way of saying, "Hey, pay attention to this!" or "Look, there's something special about this!" Just like a spotlight on a stage or a secret message in a book, "asterisked" brings our attention to something important or different in a fun and exciting way.