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 semicolon 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 semicolon.

For instance: "If fortune bear a great way 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 defertis audacia potest, tantum in foro atque judicis impudentia valeret; non minus in causa cederet Aulus Caccinna Sexta Æbutil impudentiae, quam tam in vi facienda celsit audacia. An instance in a more complex sentence we have in Cicero: Res familiaris primum bene parte fit, nulloque turpi quaestu: tum quam plurimis, modo dignis, se utilem praebat; deinde augentur ratione, diligentia, parsimonia; nec libidoi potius luxuriaque, quam liberalitati et beneficentiae pareat.

But though the proper use of the semicolon be to distinguish conjunct members, it is not necessary that all the members thus divided 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 semicolon.—Sometimes also it happens, that members that are opposite to each other, but relate to the same verb, are separated by a semicolon. Thus Cicero: Ex hac parte pudor, illinc petulantia; hinc fides, illinc fraudatio; hinc pietas, illinc jejunia, &c. To this 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."