Ampersand
logogram representing the conjunction word "and"
The ampersand (&), also referred to as the and sign, is a logogram (a diagram standing for a word).
Ampersand | |
---|---|
& | |
∧, ۽, ⅋, &, et, 🙰, 🙱, 🙲, 🙳, 🙴, 🙵, Ɛ̸, | |
Usage | |
Writing system | Latin script |
Type | Logographic and Ideographic |
Language of origin | Latin language |
Unicode value | U+0026 |
Alphabetical position | (27) |
History | |
Development | |
Time period | ~100 to present |
Descendants | • ⅋ |
Sisters | Ϗ/ϗ (ligature of κ, α and ι in a similar fashion to &) |
Transliteration equivalents | + ۽ ∧ |
Variations | ∧, ۽, ⅋, &, et, 🙰, 🙱, 🙲, 🙳, 🙴, 🙵, Ɛ̸, |
Other | |
Other letters commonly used with | &C (etC) |
It represents the Latin conjunction et, which means and. The ampersand symbol is not only a logogram, but also a ligature. It joins the old handwritten Latin letters e and t of the word et, so that the word is represented as a single glyph.[1]
With a c added on it means "et cetera", "and so on".
In everyday writing, the ampersand is sometimes written like a reversed 3 with a vertical line through it.[2]
References
change- ↑ "The ampersand & more" with Kory Stamper, part of the "Ask the Editor" video series at Merriam-Webster.com
- ↑ A Visual Guide to the Ampersand (Infographic)