What is a symbol?

•Main Entry: 1sym·bol

•Pronunciation: 'sim-b&l

•Function: noun

•Etymology: in sense 1, from Late Latin symbolum, from Late Greek symbolon, from Greek, token, sign; in other senses from Latin symbolum token, sign, symbol, from Greek symbolon, literally, token of identity verified by comparing its other half, from symballein to throw together, compare, from synballein to throw.

•Date: 15th century

	This is what the Dictionary has to say about symbols.  A bit dry, but a decent starting point.