late 14c., "small stroke or point in writing" (Wyclif, in Matt. v:18), translating Latin apex in Late Latin sense of "accent mark over a vowel," which itself translates Greek keraia (literally "a little horn"), used by the Greek grammarians of the accents and diacritical points, in this case a Biblical translation of Hebrew qots, literally "thorn, prick," used of the little lines and projections by which the Hebrew letters of similar form differ from one another.
Wyclif's word is borrowed from a specialized sense of Latin titulus (see title (n.)), which was used in Medieval Latin (and in Middle English and Old French) to indicate "a stroke over an abridged word to indicate letters missing" (and compare Provençal titule "the dot over -i-").
"As apex was used by the Latin grammarians for the accent or mark over a long vowel, titulus and apex became to some extent synonymous; hence Wyclif's use of titil, titel to render L. apex" [OED]
Compare tilde, which is the Spanish form of the same word.
双语例句
1. There is not a tittle of evidence against him.
没有一点儿不利于他的证据.
来自辞典例句
2. I don't care one jot or one tittle of what he says.
他所说的我一点也不在乎.
来自辞典例句
3. We abate nothing of our just demands: not one jot or tittle do we recede.
我们的正当要求绝不打任何折扣: 我们一丝一毫也不退让.
来自演讲部分
4. Well - directed tittle - tattle may easily causes its victim to lose his or her livelihood.
针对性很强的聊天,很容易使受害者丢掉饭碗.
来自辞典例句
5. The world situation matters not a jot or tittle to you.
