16 January 2014

ampersand

[am-per-sand, am-per-sand]

noun

– a character or symbol (& or ) for and : Smith & Jones, Inc.

The ampersand symbol (&) originated in Ancient Rome. ‘&’ was a cursive form of the word ‘et’ (in which the ‘e’ and the ‘t’ flowed into one another). In the 19th century, the ampersand was added to the end of the english alphabet, making it the 27th letter. Initially, it wasn’t called an ampersand, instead it was the phrase ‘and per se’ (meaning ‘by itself). Reciting the alphabet concluded with ‘ … x, y, z, and per se’. The word ‘ampersand’ is a mondegreen of ‘and per se’. Although the word ‘ampersand’ and its symbol (&) are in common usage, it was eventually dropped from the alphabet.

Some fonts clearly show the origin of ‘&’. These can be viewed here: http://www.adobe.com/type/topics/theampersand.html

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Today’s quote

You can’t process me with a normal brain.

Charlie Sheen.

On this day

16 January 1920 – Prohibition commences in the U.S. with the passing of the 18th Amendment which prohibited the importation, exportation, transporting, selling and manufacturing of alcohol.

16 January 1945 – Adolf Hitler flees to his bunker with his long-time companion, Eva Braun. They remain there for 105 days until he takes his own life.

16 January 1979 – The Shah of Iran is forced to flee Iran following the mutiny of his Army and a revolution led by students, which resulted in the Ayatollah Khomeini taking over the leadership of the country.