Nota bene
Nota bene is a Latin phrase
which first appeared in English writing. Often abbreviated as NB, n.b., or with the ligature, the phrase is Latin for "note well" and comes from the Latin roots notāre and bene. It is in the singular imperative mood, instructing one individual to note well the matter at hand, i.e., to take notice of or pay special attention to it. In Modern English, it is used, particularly in legal papers, to draw the attention of the reader to a certain aspect or detail of the subject being addressed. While NB is also often used in academic writing, note is a common substitute.
The markings used to draw readers' attention in medieval manuscripts are also called nota bene marks. The common medieval markings do not, however, include the abbreviation NB. The usual medieval equivalents are anagrams from the four letters in the word nota, the abbreviation DM from dignum memoria, or a symbol of a little hand, called a manicule or index, with the index finger pointing towards the beginning of the significant passage.
