TIL that during the 19th Century, "&" was taught as the 27th letter of the alphabet. The alphabet ended with "X, Y, Z, and per se and", but this became slurred over time until it just became "ampersand".
britannica.com/topic/ampersand
#til #todayilearned
reddit.com/r/todayilearned/com…
Ampersand | Origins, Meaning, & Usage | Britannica
Ampersand, term used to refer to the symbol &, which stems from the ligature of the Latin word et, meaning “and.” The term ampersand is derived from “and per se and.” The symbol has also been used as part of &c in lieu of etc. (et cetera).Encyclopedia Britannica
