The ampersand symbol

The ampersand symbol “&” originated as a ligature of the letters “e” and “t,” representing the Latin word “et,” meaning “and.” The symbol evolved from the handwritten combination of these letters into a distinct symbol over time. The term “ampersand” is a corruption of the phrase “and (&) per se and,” historically used when reciting the alphabet to acknowledge that “&” represented the word “and.” This linguistic evolution reflects the dynamic nature of symbols and their adaptation throughout history.