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anecdote
noun
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The Greek Smear Job at the Root of Anecdote
The Byzantine official Procopius wrote three historical works in Greek. In the first two, he dealt with wars and public works projects, but the third was something of a departure from this kind of history. Referred to as "Anekdota," from the Greek a- meaning "not," and ekdidonai, meaning "to publish," it contained bitter attacks on the emperor Justinian, his wife, and other notables of contemporary Constantinople. Understandably, it was not published until after its writer's death. English speakers originally used an anglicized version of the book's name for similar secret or unpublished histories or biographies, and by the 17th century, the meaning of anecdote had been broadened to cover any interesting or amusing personal tale.
Examples of anecdote in a Sentence
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'anecdote.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Anecdote.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anecdote. Accessed 12 Oct. 2024.
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anecdote
nounMore from Merriam-Webster on anecdote
Nglish: Translation of anecdote for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of anecdote for Arabic Speakers
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