Current
Tironian notes are still used today, particularly, the Tironian "et", used in Ireland and Scotland to mean and (where it is called agusan in Irish and Scottish Gaelic), and in the "z" of "viz." (for 'et' in videlicet).
In blackletter texts (especially in German printing) it was used in the abbreviation ⟨⁊c.⟩ = etc. (for et cetera) still throughout the 19th century.
The Tironian "et" can look very similar to an "r rotunda" (ꝛ), depending on the typeface.
In Old English Manuscripts, the Tironian "et" served as both a sonic and morphological place holder. For instance a Tironian "et" between two words would be phonetically pronounced "ond" and would mean "and". However if the Tironian "et" followed the letter "s", then it would be phonetically pronounced "sond" and mean water (cognate with English sound). This additional function of a phonetic as well as a conjunction placeholder has escaped formal Modern English; for example, one may not spell the word "sand" as "s&" (although this occurs in an informal style practised on certain internet forums). This practice was distinct from the occasional use of "&c." for "etc.", where the & is interpreted as the Latin word et ("and") and the "c." is an abbreviation for Latin cetera ("(the) rest").
Read more about this topic: Tironian Notes
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