For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/avq2e. Yeah, it's an asterisk. It's used to denote that there is a note relevant to the word it is attached to. It might say something like You have won a million dollars* *you haven't really It's basically an easy way of footnoting without having to format.
Arak is a generic term used for a variety of spirits found in Asia, particularly Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and some parts of India.
Arachne is a figure in Greek mythology known for her challenge against the goddess Athena. According to the myth, she was the first spider of the world who was originally a young daughter of a shepherd known for his beautiful wools.