And?

It’s very strange the information that you come across when looking for something completely unrelated.

One thing that I learned tonight, which seems so obvious I don’t know how I hadn’t realised it before, came to me while I was researching something to do with sleep for my post today. I think I must have known it but merely forgotten… I mean to say I’ve been around for centuries, how could I not know it?!

The English Alphabet used to contain 27 letters.
The ‘missing’ or ‘removed’ character appears to have been in use since possibly before the First Century.
The character is used frequently, even today.
And this is the first time it has been mentioned in the body of this post…

And. Or more correctly and per se and. Ampersand. The ampersand was placed at the end of the alphabet, after Z, and when children of yesteryear were learning it, they would recite all of the letters, ending with the phrase and per se and. Over time it was compacted to ampersand. And was eventually removed from the alphabet, but when this occurred, and who decided that it should no longer be classed as a letter is a mystery. To me, anyway. And I love mysteries!

I had intended to write a post on where I could possibly end up if I were to dream once I’d gone to sleep this evening, but was side-tracked from that train of thought by this random fact. I love a bit of trivia every now and then, and I always love learning something new.

I’ve just realised as well, that this isn’t totally unrelated to what I was looking for when I started writing this post. Well, it’s a link anyway. Zzz is used to indicate sleep, & (the missing character) appeared after Z in the old alphabet.

Everything is connected…

Sep 4, 2011

Mystery, Questions, Random, Time, Words

11 responses to “And?”

penpusherpen

Sep 5, 2011

& …. ampersand. a good word to say and repeat.. and a good read Sir Aquatom, I never knew this either, so thank you for the info. I didn’t get many Zzzz’s last night, travelling always makes me hyper… so I started reading the first in a Series of Books my ex bought. The Railway Detective and that I’d never thought to read. So Sleep went out of the window as I sank into the World of 1851 England, described so well that it drew me in and wouldn’t let me go. ((((Yawn)))} … Good job it’s a free day today or I’d be asleep at my desk. (doesn’t happen often, the free day I mean, not the falling … etc… 😉 ) xPenx

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1. Tom (Aquatom1968)
  
  Sep 5, 2011
  
  I’m finding myself even more fascinated by history, Pen, I’ll have to read a little more about the book you have mentioned.
  I didn’t get anywhere near enough Zzz’s last night. I’ll be caching up later!
  
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Androgoth

Sep 5, 2011

Yes a mystery indeed, actually I have not heard of
this either and so you have certainly added something
here that is unexplained, of course I am sure that you
will enlighten us further through your exhaustive and
somewhat creative research…

Have a fun Monday now 🙂

Androgoth

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1. Tom (Aquatom1968)
  
  Sep 5, 2011
  
  Andro, I’ll call upon my inner detective and see what I can find out! 😀
  
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Emily May

Sep 5, 2011

What a weird coincidence… I found out about the ampersand yesterday at around the same time this post was published!
Anyway, the mystery is very interesting and I’d be happy to share with you any information I happen to pick up about it too. I may not be getting many Zzz’s tonight since I feel much too hyper! 🙂

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1. Tom (Aquatom1968)
  
  Sep 5, 2011
  
  If you don’t get your Zzz’s tonight, Emily, you’ll get them later in the week. They always have a habit of catching up to you! 😀
  
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kateshrewsday

Sep 5, 2011

Lovely bit of triv, Tom 🙂 love to find a manuscript which used it….

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1. Tom (Aquatom1968)
  
  Sep 5, 2011
  
  Thanks, Kate, I’d love to know when it was first used, who used it, and what made them think of using it in the first place… Oops, I’m dwelling too deeply again now.
  Imagine having the power, though, to declare ‘this letter is no longer in the alphabet’! 😀
  
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Raven

Sep 6, 2011

I did not know this and I am thinking my love of the Urban Dictionary has made me less knowledgeable of the true meaning of words. In my defense I have often rebelled and used my own words with no proper meaning which confuses me now in my late afternoon years. ::clearing the throat:: Using her best British Accent she says “care for a couple zzzzzz’s” snort giggle snort
My Inner Mermaid is frolicking her way across the pond…:)

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1. Raven
  
  Sep 6, 2011
  
  I forgot to mention that I am interested in why/who and how the amperstan was removed … is there some Unimaginary in Charge? Oh now I am concerned and it is no wonder you did not sleep but alas you found worthy thoughts to fill the lack of zzzz’s. Always a plus ;D
  
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  1. Tom (Aquatom1968)
    
    Sep 6, 2011
    
    Always indeed, Raven!
    I started to create my own words, and have only come up with one up to now, which is in my dictionary. I know, a one word dictionary… but they all start somewhere! 😀
    
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