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==Etymology and original usage== |
==Etymology and original usage== |
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''Viz.'' is the medieval [[scribal abbreviation]] for ''videlicet''. It is the letters ''v'' and ''i'' followed by the common medieval Latin contraction for ''et'' and ''-et'', which was a [[glyph]], '''{{Unicode| |
''Viz.'' is the medieval [[scribal abbreviation]] for ''videlicet''. It is the letters ''v'' and ''i'' followed by the common medieval Latin contraction for ''et'' and ''-et'', which was a [[glyph]], '''{{Unicode|Ȝ}}''', similar in appearance to the numeral '''3''' or the [[Middle English]] letter [[yogh]] ('''{{Unicode|Ȝ}}''') although it was not related to either.<ref group="note">According to E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, the same abbreviation mark was used for habet (habꝫ) and omnibus (omnibꝫ).</ref> <!--I suppose it is not a Tironian note.--> |
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''Videlicet'' is a [[contraction (grammar)|contraction]] of Classical Latin ''vidēre licet'', which meant "it may be seen, evidently, clearly" (''vidēre'', to see; ''licet'', third person singular present tense of ''licēre'', to be permitted). In Latin, ''videlicet'' was used to confirm a previous sentence or to state its contrary. |
''Videlicet'' is a [[contraction (grammar)|contraction]] of Classical Latin ''vidēre licet'', which meant "it may be seen, evidently, clearly" (''vidēre'', to see; ''licet'', third person singular present tense of ''licēre'', to be permitted). In Latin, ''videlicet'' was used to confirm a previous sentence or to state its contrary. |
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Revision as of 01:44, 3 April 2010
Viz. (also rendered viz without a full stop) and the adverb videlicet are used as synonyms for "namely", "that is to say", and "as follows".
Background
Viz. is an abbreviation of videlicet, which itself is a contraction from Latin of "videre licet" meaning "it is permitted to see."[1][2][3] Both forms introduce a specification or description of something stated earlier; this is often a list preceded by a colon (:). Although both forms survive in English, viz. is far more common than videlicet.
A similar expression is scilicet, abbreviated as sc., which is Latin for "it is permitted to know". Viz. is usually used to elaborate or detail text which precedes it, while sc. provides a parenthetic clarification, removes an ambiguity, or supplies a word omitted in preceding text. In legal usage, scilicet often appears abbreviated as SS. or § in a caption providing a statement of venue and is read as "to wit".[4]
- Viz. is usually read aloud as "that is", "namely", or "to wit",[5] but is sometimes pronounced as /vɪz/.[citation needed]
- Videlicet is Template:Pron-en or /wɪˈdeɪlɨkɛt/.[5]
- Scilicet can be read as "namely," "to wit," or "that is to say," or pronounced /ˈsɪlɨsɛt/ or /ˈskiːlɨkɛt/.[6]
Etymology and original usage
Viz. is the medieval scribal abbreviation for videlicet. It is the letters v and i followed by the common medieval Latin contraction for et and -et, which was a glyph, Ȝ, similar in appearance to the numeral 3 or the Middle English letter yogh (Ȝ) although it was not related to either.[note 1]
Videlicet is a contraction of Classical Latin vidēre licet, which meant "it may be seen, evidently, clearly" (vidēre, to see; licet, third person singular present tense of licēre, to be permitted). In Latin, videlicet was used to confirm a previous sentence or to state its contrary.
Examples
- The main point of his speech, viz. that our attitude was in fact harmful, was not understood.
- My grandfather had four sons that grew up, viz.: Thomas, John, Benjamin and Josiah.[7]
In contradistinction to i.e. and e.g., viz. is used to indicate a detailed description of something stated before, and when it precedes a list of group members, it implies (near) completeness. Example:
- The noble gases, viz. helium, neon, argon, xenon, krypton and radon, show a non-expected behaviour when exposed to this new element.
Notes
- ^ According to E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, the same abbreviation mark was used for habet (habꝫ) and omnibus (omnibꝫ).
References
- ^ OED
- ^ The New Fowler's Modern English Usage (revised third edition, 1998), pp. 825, 828.
- ^ American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (fourth edition, 2000), p. 1917
- ^ Black's Law Dictionary (sixth edition, 1990), p. 1403.
- ^ a b AMHER (fourth edition, 2000), p. 1917.
- ^ AMHER (fourth edition, 2000), p. 1560.
- ^ The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin at Project Gutenberg.
