661: Iota and jot Sep 29. 2016

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There are generally two ideas associated with the word, 'iota': first, something that ninth in a set. Much like how 'alpha' 'beta' or 'omega' mean 'first', 'second' and 'last' respectively, based upon their positions in the Greek alphabet, in astronomy, Iota refers to the ninth star in a constellation. Far more commonly, second, it is used to connote small things. This meaning refers to the size of iota, which is the smallest letter in that alphabet. Interestingly, scholars writing the name could either use a (consonantal) I or a J, and so much like how the Latin, 'Iupiter' became 'Jupiter', 'jota' gave us the word 'jot', as in to write something short or quickly, or just the noun meaning "a tiny amount"

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