ditto
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1dit·to
noun \ˈdi-(ˌ)tō\ plural dittos
Definition of DITTO
1
: a thing mentioned previously or above —used to avoid repeating a word —often symbolized by inverted commas or apostrophes
2
: a ditto mark
See Examples of DITTO
- Until recently most of us believed that such regimens, which usually require a personal trainer, were available only to women whose bodies are their fortune (think Madonna), or who have nothing better to do with their time (ditto). —Jennifer Newman,Elle, June 1993
- Flexner is especially good at showing how misguided attempts to repair furniture can cause more problems than they solve. Using a nail instead of glue to tighten a loose leg on an old chair (as I myself have done) will often destroy the chair, by splitting the wood and ruining the joint (ditto). —David Owen, Atlantic, September 1989
- David is not exactly a crank who writes to writers, although he is probably a bit of that too. I don't know how he gets his living, or whether his letters romanticize either his proverty (he reports only a hunger for books) or his passion (ditto); still, David is a free intellect, a free imagination. —Cynthia Ozick, New York Times Book Review, 25 Mar. 1984
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Origin of DITTO
Italian ditto, detto, past participle of dire to say, from Latin dicere — more at diction
First Known Use: circa 1639
Other Printing Terms
2dit·to
adjective \ˈdi-(ˌ)tō\Definition of DITTO
: having the same characteristics : similar
Examples of DITTO
- <another mega mall filled with chain stores selling ditto merchandise>
Origin of DITTO
(see 1ditto)
First Known Use: 1776
Related to DITTO
- Synonyms
- akin, analogous, cognate, comparable, connate, correspondent, corresponding, alike, like, matching, parallel, resemblant, resembling, similar, such, suchlike
- Antonyms
- different, dissimilar, diverse, unakin, unlike
3dit·to
adverb \ˈdi-(ˌ)tō\Definition of DITTO
: as before or aforesaid : in the same manner
Examples of DITTO
- <Tuesday was spent working all day, and Wednesday was spent ditto.>
- I worry that I don't have whatever synapses you need to anticipate fun. Although I often enjoy parties, I don't look forward to them. Ditto travel, romantic dinners, even shopping. —O, The Oprah Magazine, January 2007
- Work your way up through the faculty ranks, they said. Don't get pigeonholed by focusing on affirmative action or African-American studies. Ditto for women's issues. Good advice, maybe, but Simmons, 56, the new president of Brown University, never paid much attention to it. —Barbara Kantrowitz, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2001/7 Jan. 2002
- She sinks to her knees and seizes a package, eagerly looking at the tag. It will be from her, or to her, and she will recognize her own name. But the card is blank. Ditto the next package; ditto the third. They are all blank. —Mary Tannen, New York Times Magazine, 20 Dec. 1998
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Origin of DITTO
(see 1ditto)
First Known Use: 1706
Related to DITTO
- Antonyms
- differently, dissimilarly, otherwise
4dit·to
transitive verb \ˈdi-(ˌ)tō\Definition of DITTO
1
: to repeat the action or statement of
2
[from Ditto, a trademark] : to copy (as printed matter) on a duplicator
Examples of DITTO
- <since you've said what I wanted to say—only better—I will just ditto your comments in my final report>
- My favorite was “Sports Collector's News” (the exact pluralization and positioning of the apostrophe I can't quite remember), a dittoed journal produced in some Wisconsin backwater by a man with a Ukrainian surname. —Alexander Wolff, Sports Illustrated, 15 Sept. 1986
Origin of DITTO
(see 1ditto)
First Known Use: 1725
Learn More About DITTO
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