exclamation point
    n 1: a punctuation mark (!) used after an exclamation [syn:
         exclamation mark, exclamation point]

Admiration \Ad`mi*ra"tion\, n. [F., fr. L. admiratio. See
   Admire.]
   1. Wonder; astonishment. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            Season your admiration for a while.   --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Wonder mingled with approbation or delight; an emotion
      excited by a person or thing possessed of wonderful or
      high excellence; as, admiration of a beautiful woman, of a
      landscape, of virtue.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Cause of admiration; something to excite wonder, or
      pleased surprise; a prodigy.
      [1913 Webster]

            Now, good Lafeu, bring in the admiration. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   Note of admiration, the mark (!), called also exclamation
      point.
      [1913 Webster]

   Syn: Wonder; approval; appreciation; adoration; reverence;
        worship.
        [1913 Webster]

Exclamation \Ex`cla*ma"tion\, n. [L. exclamatio: cf. F.
   exclamation.]
   1. A loud calling or crying out; outcry; loud or emphatic
      utterance; vehement vociferation; clamor; that which is
      cried out, as an expression of feeling; sudden expression
      of sound or words indicative of emotion, as in surprise,
      pain, grief, joy, anger, etc.
      [1913 Webster]

            Exclamations against abuses in the church. --Hooker.
      [1913 Webster]

            Thus will I drown your exclamations.  --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

            A festive exclamation not unsuited to the occasion.
                                                  --Trench.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Rhet.) A word expressing outcry; an interjection; a word
      expressing passion, as wonder, fear, or grief.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Print.) A mark or sign by which outcry or emphatic
      utterance is marked; thus [!]; -- called also exclamation
      point.
      [1913 Webster]

exclamation mark
!
excl
exclamation point
shriek

    The character "!" with ASCII code 33.

   Common names: bang; pling; excl (/eks'kl/); shriek; ITU-T:
   exclamation mark, exclamation point (US).  Rare: factorial;
   exclam; smash; cuss; boing; yell; wow; hey; wham; eureka;
   soldier; INTERCAL: spark-spot.

   The Commonwealth Hackish, "pling", is common among Acorn
   Archimedes owners.  Bang is more common in the USA.

   The occasional CMU usage, "shriek", is also used by APL
   fans and mathematicians, especially category theorists.

   Exclamation mark is used in C and elsewhere as the logical
   negation operation (NOT).

   (1998-09-17)