mark off

English

Verb

mark off (third-person singular simple present marks off, present participle marking off, simple past and past participle marked off)

1. (transitive) To separate by or as with a boundary line.
   • 1913, Catholic Encyclopedia‎^[1]:

     The Latin form, templum, from which the English temple is derived, originally signified an uncovered area marked off by boundaries; especially the place marked off by the augurs to be excepted from all profane uses."

   • 1916, John Dewey, Democracy and Education:

     A society marked off into classes need be specially attentive only to the education of its ruling elements.

2. (transitive) To indicate as dealt with, as on a list.

Synonyms

• (to separate by a boundary): delineate
• (to indicate as dealt with): check off