ampersand: a symbol for “et” meaning “and”

cursive: handwriting

recite: to say

per se: by of or in itself; as such

slur: to say words quickly so that they run together

 

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How the Ampersand Got its Name

Once upon a time, in the 19th century, the ampersand was included in the alphabet. The ampersand originated as a cursive e beside a cursive t, which meant “and” in Latin. When reciting the alphabet in English, it became customary for students to include single letters that were also words. At the end of the alphabet, students would say “X,Y,Z and, per se, & (and)”. Eventually, students slurred that last bit together to create the word “ampersand”. While this custom eventually fell out of use, the ampersand is still used today for stylistic reasons or to write “and” in short form.