Daggerlike

Daggerlike is an adjective describing something that resembles a dagger in form or silhouette: slender, tapering to a sharp point, often with a triangular cross-section. It is used across disciplines to convey a sharp, elongated shape.

Etymology and usage notes: daggerlike derives from dagger plus the suffix -like. The root word dagger comes from Old French dague, ultimately from Latin pugio. The term is sometimes written dagger-like with a hyphen; both forms appear in scholarly writing, and style guides may vary on preferred hyphenation.

Applications across fields: In botany, daggerlike describes leaves or floral parts that are narrow and blade-like, tapering to a pointed tip. In crystallography or mineralogy, daggerlike prismatic forms or projections denote slender, piercing features. In architecture and decorative arts, daggerlike elements appear as elongated, pointed motifs in tracery, ornament, or sculpture, contributing a sharp dynamic to the overall design.

Usage considerations: As a descriptive term, daggerlike is most commonly used before a noun in technical descriptions (daggerlike blade, daggerlike projection). When used predicatively, hyphenation is often unnecessary beyond standard adjective usage. The choice between daggerlike and dagger-like may depend on house style or publication norms.

See also: dagger, dagger symbol. The concept of daggerlike forms is related to broad categories of blade-shaped or spear-shaped motifs in design and nature.