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where does the word ditto come from

by Carmelo Erdman Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

The word ditto comes from the Tuscan language, where it is the past participle of the verb dire (to say), with the meaning of "said", as in the locution "the said story". The first recorded use of ditto with this meaning in English occurs in 1625. In English, the abbreviation "do." has sometimes been used.

What does the word ditto! mean?

To duplicate or make copies of. To ditto is defined as to make copies of something or to repeat an action. An example of ditto is to make copies of a receipt using a Xerox machine. Ditto is defined as something you say to show you are in agreement or to signify that something you already said can be said again.

Is Ditto a real word?

Yes, ditto is a real word. Ditto means “same” Or “like wise”. It is used in informal english. It can also be used as idiom. Yes, it is a real word.

What does Ditto mean origin?

  • otherwise
  • disparate
  • contradistinct
  • mismated
  • at variance
  • peculiar
  • opposed
  • other
  • changed
  • a far cry from

More items...

What was the origin of the word 'ditto'?

“DITTO” came into the English language in the 1670’s. It came from the Tuscan dialect Italian “DETTO” and was used by the Italians to avoid repetition of month names in a list of dates. When adopted in English the meaning was “the same thing” or “the same as above” and remains so today.

What movie has the quote "Ditto"?

It’s a crucial line in the 1990 movie Ghost, a favorite phrase of Rush Limbaugh’s dittoheads, and the reigning copy machine of the mid-20th century, but what does ditto really mean, and where did it come from?

Where does the word "what you said" come from?

But the “what you said” use is centuries older than the machine. It comes from Italian ditto, a dialect variation on detto, meaning “said," the past participle of dice, “to say.”. It was used in Italian as in il ditto libro, “the aforesaid book.”. In English, it came to be used in the 17th century to avoid having to repeat words ...

Is "ditto" a noun?

Ditto gradually drifted from a noun meaning “ the aforesaid” or “the same” (as in a 1759 cookbook: “Parsley roots, and leaves of ditto”) to an adverb meaning “I agree with what you just said.”. The force of ditto goes beyond mere agreement though.

What does "ditto" mean in Italian?

Its generalized meaning of "the aforesaid, the same thing, same as above" is attested in English by 1670s. In early 19c. a suit of men's clothes of the same color and material through was ditto or dittoes (1755).

When did dittos come out?

In early 19c. a suit of men's clothes of the same color and material through was ditto or dittoes (1755).

Examples of ditto in a Sentence

Adverb I worry that I don't have whatever synapses you need to anticipate fun. Although I often enjoy parties, I don't look forward to them. Ditto travel, romantic dinners, even shopping. — O, The Oprah Magazine, January 2007 Work your way up through the faculty ranks, they said.

History and Etymology for ditto

derivative of ditto entry 3; (sense 2) from the duplicator machines using alcohol-based inks manufactured by the Ditto Corporation of Chicago, Illinois

What does "ditto" mean in Italian?

In Italian dīcere became dire and dictus became detto, or in the Tuscan dialect ditto. Italian detto or ditto meant what said does in legal English, as in "said property.". Thus the word could be used in certain constructions to mean "the same as what has been said"; for example, having given the date December 22, ...

What does "ditto marks" mean?

1. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) the aforementioned; the above; the same. Used in accounts, lists, etc, to avoid repetition and symbolized by two small marks (〃) known as ditto marks, placed under the thing repeated. Abbreviation: do

Where did the slang term ditto come from?

It comes from Italian ditto, a dialect variation on detto, meaning “said,” the past participle of dice, “to say.” It was used in Italian as in il ditto libro, “the aforesaid book.” In English, it came to be used in the 17th century to avoid having to repeat words and phrases in accounting and commercial language.

What does the slang word ditto mean?

Ditto is defined as something you say to show you are in agreement or to signify that something you already said can be said again. An example of ditto is what you would say when someone says “I like pie,” if you also like pie.

When was ditto added to the dictionary?

Oxford’s first example of this expanded use of “ditto” is from The New World of Words (4th ed.), a 1678 dictionary by Edward Phillips: “Ditto (Italian, said) a word used much in Merchants Accompts, and relation of Foreign news; and signifieth the same place with that immediately beforementioned.”

What does ditto mean in British?

UK /ˈdɪtəʊ/ ditto noun. ditto (for) someone/something phrase. DEFINITIONS1. used for saying that you agree with what someone has just said or that your feelings or wishes are the same as theirs.

What does ditto mean in Latin?

Word History: Ditto originally comes from the Latin word dictus, “having been said,” the past participle of the verb dīcere, “to say.” In Italian dīcere became dire and dictus became detto, or in the Tuscan dialect ditto.

Is ditto a slang word?

Ditto is actually not necessarily a slang term. It is used to express agreement with a statement instead of just repeating the same opinion. For example: If you and your friend are at a restaurant and your friend says “this food is awful”, you would say “ditto” to express that you agree with her.

Is ditto a formal word?

The formal definition of “ ditto” doesn’t quite mean “likewise,” true, but at least in American English it’s a widely accepted slang usage. I wouldn’t use it in formal language, but I also wouldn’t call it incorrect per se.

What does the word ditto mean?

According to the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language and other sources like American Heritage and Collins English Dictionary, the word ditto can be used as a noun, adjective, or adverb to refer to something being the same as what was previously said or written above.

What is the origin of the word ditto?

According to Mental Floss, the word ditto which is famously used in the movie Ghost starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore comes from the Italian ditto, which is a Tuscan dialect variation on the Italian detto, which means “said.” This is the past participle of dice, an Italian verb meaning to say.

How can the word ditto be used in a sentence?

The word ditto is often used in a response to someone who has just said something that you agree with. It can also be used in a table to show that one entry is the same as the above. Below are a few examples of ditto.

What are synonyms and antonyms of ditto?

There are many different words that one can use in place of the word ditto. These are called synonyms, which are words and phrases that have the same meaning as another word or phrase. Synonyms are useful to know if you are trying to avoid repeating yourself as well as if you are working on expanding your vocabulary.

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