anecdote

[ an-ik-doht ]
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noun,plural an·ec·dotes or, for 2, an·ec·do·ta [an-ik-doh-tuh]. /ˌæn ɪkˈdoʊ tə/.
  1. a short account of a particular incident or event, especially of an interesting or amusing nature.

  2. a short, obscure historical or biographical account.

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Origin of anecdote

1
First recorded in 1670–80; from New Latin anecdota or French anecdotes, from Late Greek, Greek anékdota “things unpublished” (referring particularly to Procopius's unpublished memoirs of Justinian and Theodora), neuter plural of anékdotos, equivalent to an- an-1 + ékdotos “given out,” adjective derivative of ekdidónai “to give out, publish” (ek- ec- + didónai “to give”)

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British Dictionary definitions for anecdote

anecdote

/ (ˈænɪkˌdəʊt) /


noun
  1. a short usually amusing account of an incident, esp a personal or biographical one

Origin of anecdote

1
C17: from Medieval Latin anecdota unpublished items, from Greek anekdotos unpublished, from an- + ekdotos published, from ekdidonai, from ek- out + didonai to give

Derived forms of anecdote

  • anecdotic, adjective
  • anecdotalist or anecdotist, noun

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