et
verb
a simple past tense of eat.
Jump To:
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et
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Et
Etethyl.
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-et
-eta noun suffix having properly a diminutive force (now lost in many words): chalet; islet; owlet; tablet.
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e.t.
e.t.abbreviationelectrical transcription.
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E.T.
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ET
ETabbreviationEmployment Training: a government scheme offering training in technological and business skills to unemployed people
et
1 American
[et]
/ ɛt /
verb
Nonstandard: Chiefly North Atlantic, South Midland, and Southern U.S.
et
2
American
[et]
/ ɛt /
conjunction
Latin.
Et
3
American
Symbol, Chemistry.
-et
4
American
e.t.
5
American
abbreviation
E.T.
6
American
Or
ET
ET
1
British
abbreviation
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Employment Training: a government scheme offering training in technological and business skills to unemployed people
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Egypt (international car registration)
-et
2
British
suffix
Et
3
British
symbol
et
4
British
abbreviation
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:
Mr. Amodei et al. would do themselves and the country a service by explaining that commonplace principle to Washington.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
Jean Smart was expected to tie a bow on her “Hacks” run with her eighth win, et voilà.
From Salon ● Sep. 15, 2026
The store, Asanti, filed for bankruptcy in 2010, and his wife started a new business, Mimi et Cie, LLC, which he eventually took over.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 31, 2026
Wales had ridden a wave of emotion to get there, a golden generation of players - Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey et al - scaling new heights under the guidance of their charismatic manager Chris Coleman.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
Folks that had finished working and had cleaned up and already et waved or started calling to me from their stoops.
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
Et cetera, et cetera, and so on and so forth.
From Slate ● Feb. 7, 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
The two notes that create the ear-piercing clash are placed at a distance of eleven steps from one other: an E and the Et above it.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
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 -et, as in lancet, is of French and classical origin.
From A Handbook of the English Language by R. G. (Robert Gordon) Latham
The same is the case with the superadded syllables: -kin being Saxon; -et Norman.
From A Handbook of the English Language by R. G. (Robert Gordon) Latham
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 Walter John Clark
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
Highlife's layered guitars, horn sections and storytelling have shaped national identity for more than a century, popularised by legends such as E.T.
From Barron's ● Jan. 9, 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
While Mom, Dad, and Nadia are on the living room couch watching E.T. that night, I make Inkling a bed in my laundry basket.
From "Invisible Inkling" by Emily Jenkins
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
ET before participating in policy meetings at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
Remember that, if you’re ever forced to defend yourself from an ET.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
It was a little hard to tell that it was an ET sweatshirt, though, since both the letters and the sweatshirt were the exact same shade of purple.
From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
