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etcetera

[ et-set-er-uh, ‐se-truh ]
/ ɛtˈsɛt ər ə, ‐ˈsɛ trə /
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noun, plural et·cet·er·as.
a number of other things or persons unspecified.
etceteras, extras or sundries.
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Origin of etcetera

First recorded in 1375–1425; noun use of et cetera

Other definitions for etcetera (2 of 2)

et cetera
[ et set-er-uh, se-truh ]
/ ɛt ˈsɛt ər ə, ˈsɛ trə /

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.

Origin of et cetera

First recorded 1100–50; late Old English, from Latin et cētera, equivalent to et “and” + cētera, accusative neuter plural of cēterus “the rest of, the remainder”

usage note for et cetera

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.

how to pronounce et cetera

Pronunciations with [k] /k/ substituted for the first [t]: /t/: [ek-set-er-uh], /ɛkˈsɛt ər ə/, or [ek-se-truh], /ɛkˈsɛ trə/, although occasionally used by educated speakers, are usually considered nonstandard.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use etcetera in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for etcetera

et cetera

etcetera

/ (ɪt ˈsɛtrə) /

and the rest; and others; and so forth: used at the end of a list to indicate that other items of the same class or type should be considered or included
or the like; or something else similar
Abbreviation: etc., &c
See also etceteras

Word Origin for et cetera

from Latin, from et and + cetera the other (things)

usage for et cetera

It is unnecessary to use and before etc as etc (et cetera) already means and other things. The repetition of etc, as in he brought paper, ink, notebooks, etc, etc, is avoided except in informal contexts
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
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