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i·o·ta

(ī-ōtə)

1. The ninth letter of the Greek alphabet. See Table at alphabet.

2. A very small amount; a bit: not an iota of truth to that tale.

[Latin iōta, from Greek, of Phoenician origin; see yd in the Appendix of Semitic roots.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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