et tu, brute
/ɛt ˈtu ˌbɹuteɪ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.24 in modern English
11
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
phrase
"You too, Brutus" or "even you, Brutus"; expressing a recognition of betrayal.
Example Sentences
- "[Prince Edward:] Et tu Brute, wilt thou stab Cæsar too? A parlie sirra to George of Clarence."
- "[Casca stabs Cæsar in the Neck. Cæsar catches hold of his Arm. He is then stabbed by several other Conspirators, and at last by Marcus Brutus.] Cæsar: Et Tu Brute?—Then fall, Cæsar. [Dies. The senators and people retire in confusion.]"
- "And that is the reason why a young buck with an intelligent looking calf's head before him, is somehow one of the saddest sights you can see. The head looks a sort of reproachfully at him, with an “Et tu Brute!” expression."
- "“Oh, Gilbert, not you,” implored Anne, in an et-tu Brute tone. “I thought you would understand. Can’t you see how awful it is?”"
- "Barney Custer turned his incredulous eyes upon the lieutenant. “Et tu, Brute?” he cried in anguished accents, letting his head fall back into the girl’s lap. He found it very comfortable there indeed."
- "But according to the Oxford editor of Julius Caesar, ‘Et tu, Brute’ had probably already become a popular tag by the time of True Tragedy [see 1591 cite], readily understood by English speakers just as it is today."
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin et tū, Brūte (literally “and you, Brutus”). Used figuratively from 1591 (sometimes jocularly) to express shock and sadness at the treachery of a good friend. Although apparently an Elizabethan invention, a “genuine antique reproduction”, it appears to have been well known in England before its use in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
- Root: et tū, Brūte