Semicolon (noun)

A punctuation mark (;) used to indicate a pause between clauses in a sentence, indicating a closer relationship between them than a full stop (period) would.

Origin:

The word 'semicolon' originated in the 15th century and is derived from the latin word 'semicolon', meaning 'a half colon'.

Examples:

1. The author used a semicolon to separate clauses in a complex sentence.
2. The semicolon helped clarify the relationship between the two independent clauses in the sentence.
3. In writing, the semicolon is used to separate items in a list if the items themselves contain commas.
4. The semicolon can also be used to separate clauses in a sentence when the clauses are long or contain commas.
5. Correct use of the semicolon can greatly improve the readability and clarity of writing.