# dagger

/ˈdæɡɝ/ (US) · /dˈæɡɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dagger
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a weapon

noun · CEFR B2

a short knife with a sharp point used for stabbing.

For teachers: a short-bladed stabbing weapon, typically double-edged and tapering to a sharp point.

- The museum displayed an ancient dagger made of bronze and gold.
- The assassin concealed a small, ornate dagger beneath his cloak, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

### 2. printing symbol

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the symbol † used in books to show a note or a date of death.

For teachers: a typographical mark (†) used as a reference to a footnote or to indicate a person's death.

- Look for the dagger symbol next to the name for more information.
- The editor used a dagger to mark the footnote, as the asterisk had already been employed for a previous citation on the same page.

Usage: The symbol is often called an obelisk in formal printing contexts.

### 3. decisive sports play

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · American English

a shot or goal late in a game that makes it almost impossible for the other team to win.

For teachers: a decisive score or play made near the end of a competition that effectively secures victory for one side.

- His three-pointer at the last second was the dagger that ended the game.
- The striker's second goal in the eighty-ninth minute was the absolute dagger, extinguishing any hope of a comeback for the visiting team.

### 4. to stab

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to stab someone or something with a dagger.

For teachers: to pierce or wound with a short-bladed weapon.

- The villain tried to dagger the hero during the final fight.
- In the final act of the tragedy, the protagonist is daggered by his own trusted advisor in a shocking betrayal.

## Examples

- He held the small dagger in his hand.
- The knight drew his dagger to defend himself against the sudden attack.
- Her criticism was a dagger to his pride, sharp and precise in its delivery.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.