Etceteras

/ɛtˈsɛtərəz/ noun

Definition

Plural of etcetera; additional items or things of the same kind that are not specifically named.

Etymology

From Latin 'et cetera' meaning 'and the rest.' The phrase combines 'et' (and) with 'cetera' (the rest/other things). It entered English in the 16th century as a way to indicate an incomplete list.

Kelly Says

The abbreviation 'etc.' is so common we forget it's actually Latin—people have been using it for centuries to avoid writing out everything! It's one of the few Latin phrases we use in everyday writing, right up there with 'via' and 'versus.'

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