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  • et
    et
    verb
    a simple past tense of eat.
  • Et
    Et
    ethyl.
  • -et
    -et
    a noun suffix having properly a diminutive force (now lost in many words): chalet; islet; owlet; tablet.
  • e.t.
    e.t.
    abbreviation
    electrical transcription.
  • E.T.
    E.T.
    abbreviation
  • ET
    ET
    abbreviation
    Employment Training: a government scheme offering training in technological and business skills to unemployed people
Synonyms

et

1 American  
[et] / ɛt /

verb

Nonstandard: Chiefly North Atlantic, South Midland, and Southern U.S.
  1. a simple past tense of eat.


et 2 American  
[et] / ɛt /

conjunction

Latin.
  1. and.


Et 3 American  
Symbol, Chemistry.
  1. ethyl.


-et 4 American  
  1. a noun suffix having properly a diminutive force (now lost in many words): chalet; islet; owlet; tablet.


e.t. 5 American  

abbreviation

  1. electrical transcription.


E.T. 6 American  
Or ET
ET 1 British  

abbreviation

  1. Employment Training: a government scheme offering training in technological and business skills to unemployed people

  2. Egypt (international car registration)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

-et 2 British  

suffix

  1. small or lesser

    islet

    baronet

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Et 3 British  

symbol

  1. ethyl

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

et 4 British  

abbreviation

  1. Ethiopia

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of -et

Middle English, from Old French -et (masculine), -ette (feminine)

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

“We can’t predict what will happen next in it, and that could affect the market’s perception, IPOs, et cetera,” said Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 14, 2026

Madison, Hamilton, et al. would wonder at our credulous view of human nature.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 1, 2026

"Ripple et al. argued that carnivore recovery produced one of the world's strongest trophic cascades," said Dr. Daniel MacNulty, lead author of the new analysis and a wildlife ecologist at Utah State University.

From Science Daily Jun. 14, 2026

And some people like yourself and people who are in the industry, fans, et cetera, were saying, “Why don’t you spin it off with Elsbeth Tascioni?”

From Los Angeles Times May 28, 2026

After we et, I’d go take Mr. Leroy his share.

From "Elijah of Buxton" by Christopher Paul Curtis

Jarunee Phosawad came from Roi Et in eastern Thailand to oversee the cremation of her cousin Kochaporn Sotharat's body and the return home of her ashes.

From Barron's Jul. 14, 2026

It was like, “Oh why, God. Et tu, Jeff?”

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 11, 2025

On Tuesday morning, Jeff Clark, an assistant attorney in the Trump administration, wrote on Twitter: "Disappointing. Et tu Chik-fil-a?"

From Salon Jun. 1, 2023

This especially pleases Midwest chauvinists, who have had to contend with curdled despisers from — Et tu, Brute? — the Midwest.

From Washington Post Dec. 30, 2022

Et tu, Ammu?she thought and smiled, remembering Estha.

From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy

There are also at least two past participles in -et, as slenget, 1923, grethet, 2615, to which add weddeth, beddeth, 1127, In l. 2057, knawed seems put for knawen, for the rime’s sake.

From The Lay of Havelok the Dane by Unknown

The verbs belonging to this class form their preterite in -ete and their past participle in -et.

From A Middle High German Primer Third Edition by Wright, Joseph

To sleep = dorm‑i; suf. -et denotes light sleep; pref. ek- denotes beginning. 7Distracting.

From International Language Past, Present and Future: With Specimens of Esperanto and Grammar by Clark, Walter John

The -et, as in lancet, is of French and classical origin.

From A Handbook of the English Language by Latham, R. G. (Robert Gordon)

Instead of -eth we even find -et, as in herknet, 1.

From The Lay of Havelok the Dane by Unknown

Is it worth paying 0.99% a year for an ETF tailor-made for E.T.?

From The Wall Street Journal May 22, 2026

Spielberg, whose "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" remains one of cinema's defining alien stories, told the crowd he had believed since childhood that humanity was not alone in the universe.

From Barron's Mar. 14, 2026

“I know E.T. wanted to go home, but I hope that if the movie took place in 2024 that my favorite extra terrestrial would come to my party instead.”

From Los Angeles Times Nov. 1, 2024

Sir Chris, who was first inspired to take up cycling by the famous BMX scenes in the film E.T., had won six Olympic, 11 world and 43 World Cup titles by the time he retired.

From BBC Oct. 20, 2024

“So you have until tomorrow morning to get back home, Nate, before, like, the FBI is involved. The whole thing is actually like E.T., all these guys running around looking for you in the woods.”

From "Better Nate Than Ever" by Tim Federle

A permit for the events on Thursday and Friday obtained by the Associated Press said about 100 guests would start arriving around 17:30 ET for a "pre-party night", which would go until 22:30 ET.

From BBC Jul. 3, 2026

ET: This piece has been updated to reflect a new statement from Mitch McConnell’s office.

From Slate Jul. 2, 2026

Remember that, if you’re ever forced to defend yourself from an ET.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 19, 2026

ET on Thursday, Mexico will take on South Africa to kick off this five-week, 104-match fiesta.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 10, 2026

‘What year did ET come out?’ she asks.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler

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