ampersand

Definition

The symbol "&".

Etymology

A mondegreen of and per se and, ⟨&⟩ being read as “and”. Letters used by themselves were formerly mentioned according to this pattern, as in “O per se O” for the particle O or “I per se I” for the pronoun I. “And per se and” thus meant ⟨&⟩ by itself, as opposed to forms such as &c. The specific form ampersand is first attested in 1795, originally as a mocking pronunciation spelling, but this name for the symbol is attested since 1777 (as ampuse and), when it is already called common (see quotations).

Example Sentences

• "The ampersand character in many logics acts as an operator connecting two propositions."
• "The Letter commonly called Ipse and and ampuse and viz &. is a corruption of a per se and: spoken very quick; they used formerly it seems to put a single Greek α, for a contraction of and, & so this was a per se and."
• "At length, having tried all the hiſtorians from great A, to amperſand, he perceives there is no eſcaping from the puzzle, but by ſelecting his own facts, forming his own concluſions, and putting a little truſt in his own reaſon and judgment."