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et cetera

 - 3 dictionary results

et cet⋅er⋅a

  [et set-er-uh, se-truh]
–adverb
and others; and so forth; and so on (used to indicate that more of the same sort or class might have been mentioned, but for brevity have been omitted): He had dogs, cats, guinea pigs, frogs, et cetera, as pets. Abbreviation: etc.
Use et cetera in a Sentence
Origin:
1100–50; late OE < L

Usage note:
Et cetera, a Latin phrase, appears in English writing most frequently in its abbreviated form, etc. This phrase is used frequently in technical and business writing, somewhat less frequently in general informal writing, and sometimes in literary or formal writing. Expressions such as and so forth and and so on are useful substitutes. Because “and” is included in the meaning of et cetera, the expression and et cetera is redundant.

Pronunciation note:
Pronunciations with [k] substituted for the first [t]:  [ek-set-er-uh], or [ek-se-truh], although occasionally used by educated speakers, are usually considered nonstandard.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To et cetera
et cet·er·a   (ět sět'ər-ə, sět'rə)   
Abbr. etc.
And other unspecified things of the same class; and so forth.
n.   et·cet·er·a (ět'sět'-)

  1. A number of unspecified persons or things.

  2. etceteras Additional odds and ends; extras.


[Latin : et, and + cētera, the rest, neuter pl. of cēterus; see ko- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

et cetera 
1418, from L., lit. "and the others," from et "and" + neut. of ceteri "the others."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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