Di`a*crit"ic (?), Di`a*crit"ic*al (?), a. [Gr. , fr. to separate, distinguish; through + to separate. See Critic.]
That separates or distinguishes; -- applied to points or marks used to distinguish letters of similar form, or different sounds of the same letter, as, a, &acr;, a, &omac;, &ocr;, etc.
"
Diacritical points."
Sir W. Jones.
A glance at this typography will reveal great difficulties, which diacritical marks necessarily throw in the way of both printer and writer.
A. J. Ellis.
© Webster 1913.