zetahttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zeta_n1%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezeta, n.¹
Revised 2018

zetanoun1

  1. ?a1425–
    (The name of) the sixth letter (ζ, Ζ) of the Greek alphabet.
    In transliterating ancient Greek, usually rendered as z.
    1. ?a1425
      If ȝe wil wit of þe abce of Grew and what kyn letters þai hafe, here ȝe may see þam and þer names also: alpha α, beta β, gamma γ, delta δ, e breuis ε, epissima ς, zeta ζ, [etc.].
      Mandeville's Travels (Egerton MS.) (1889) 11 (Middle English Dictionary)
    2. 1589
      The letter zeta, of the Hebrewes & Greeke and of all other toungs is in truth but a double ss. hardly vttered.
      G. Puttenham, Arte of English Poesie (new edition) ii. xi. sig. N*iv
    3. 1640
      The one [Consonant] we derive from the Greeke Letter Zeta, whose force it retaines: the other few Nations besides our owne are acquainted with, especially to make the use we doe of it.
      S. Daines, Orthoepia Anglicana 18
    4. 1789
      First, it is written, like other ancient inscriptions, in capitals... Secondly, the ancient form of the Pi is observed, and the prostrate Eta is used for the Zeta.
      Critical Review vol. 67 494
    5. 1841
      The Greek zeta is made in this form on some early monuments.
      D. Sharpe in C. Fellows, Account Discov. Lycia 451
    6. 1953
      He used a character like the Greek zeta for both s and z, which he identified with s.
      R. F. Jones, Triumph of English Language v. 156
    7. 2014
      Zetabyte..is from Greek zeta, the sixth letter of the Greek alphabet.
      Courier Mail (Australia) (Nexis) 11 October (Lifestyle section) 18

zeta, n.¹ was revised in June 2018.

zeta, n.¹ was last modified in December 2024.