iota
/aɪˈoʊtə/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 2.97 in modern English
4
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
3
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The ninth letter of the Greek alphabet (Ι, ι).
noun
A jot; a very small, insignificant quantity.
noun
A bank account that earns interest and pays it to a third party, generally a charity; the principal is typically being held in escrow by the accountholder.
Example Sentences
- "As a Greek numeral, iota represents ten."
- "There are twelve iotas on that page."
- "Human ill-nature needs but some Homoiousian iota, or even the pretence of one; and will flow copiously through the eye of a needle: thus always must mortals go jargoning and fuming […]."
- "They never depart an iota from the authentic formulas of tyranny and usurpation."
- "His expression had not changed one iota except perhaps for an additional tightening of his lips."
- "[E]very iota of its gravitic power."
Etymology
From Ancient Greek ἰῶτα (iôta), ultimately from Proto-Semitic *yad- (“hand”). Doublet of jot and yodh. Sense “jot, small quantity” in reference to a phrase in the New Testament: ”one iote or one title, shall in no wise passe from the law”, iota being the smallest letter of the Greek alphabet.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /aɪˈoʊtə/
- British English: /aɪˈəʊtə/