SEMICOLON, in grammar, one of the points or stops used to distinguish the several members of a sentence from each other.
The mark or character of the semicolon is (;), and has its name as being of somewhat less effect than a colon; or as demanding a shorter pause.
The proper use of the semi-colon is to distinguish the conjunct members of a sentence. Now, by a conjunct member of a sentence is meant, such a one as contains at least two simple members.—Whenever, then, a sentence can be divided into several members of the same degree, which are again divisible into other simple members, the former are to be separated by a semi-colon. For instance: "If fortune bear a great sway over him, who has nicely stated and concerted every circumstance of an affair; we must not commit everything, without reserve, to fortune, lest she have too great a hold of us." Again: Si quantum in agro locisque desertis audacia potest, tantum in foro atque iudiciis.
Semicolon eiis impudentia valeret; non minus in causa cederet Aulus Cæcinnus Sexta Æbutii impudentie, quam tum in vi faciendi cessit audacie. An instance in a more complex sentence we have in Cicero: Res familiaris primum bene parta sit, nulloque turpi questu; tum quam plurimis, modo dignis, se utilem prebeat; deinde augeatur ratione, diligentia, parsimonia; nec libidini potius luxuriæque, quam liberalitati & beneficentiæ pareat.
But though the proper use of the semi-colon be to distinguish conjunct members, it is not necessary that all the members divided hereby be conjunct. For upon dividing a sentence into great and equal parts, if one of them be conjunct, all those other parts of the same degree are to be distinguished by a semi-colon.—Sometimes also it happens, that members that are opposite to each other, but relate to the same verb, are separated by a semi-colon. Thus Cicero: Ex hac parte pudor, illinc petulantia; hinc fides, illinc fraudatio; hinc pietas, illinc scelus, &c. Hither likewise may be referred such sentences, where the whole going before, the parts follow: as, "The parts of oratory are four; invention, disposition, elocution, and pronunciation."