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Tironian et, U+204A "⁊".

Tironian notes (notae Tironianae) is a system of shorthand said to have been invented by Cicero's scribe Marcus Tullius Tiro. Tiro's system consisted of about 4,000 signs^{[citation needed]}, somewhat extended in classical times to 5,000 signs. In the Medieval period, Tironian notes were taught in monasteries and the system was extended to about 13,000 signs^{[citation needed]}. The use of Tironian notes declined after A.D. 1100 but some use can still be seen through the 17th century.

Two Tironian et in context (third line from bottom and second line from above), from a Bible written by a Belgian scribe.

The first report of its use is by Plutarch who notes that in 63 B.C. it was used to record Cato's denunciation against Catiline:

This only of all Cato's speeches, it is said, was preserved; for Cicero, the consul, had disposed in various parts of the senate-house, several of the most expert and rapid writers, whom he had taught to make figures comprising numerous words in a few short strokes; as up to that time they had not used those we call shorthand writers, who then, as it is said, established the first example of the art.^[1]

Dio Cassius attributes to Maecenas the invention of shorthand, and states that he employed his freedman Aquila in teaching the system to numerous others.^[2]

Isidore of Seville, however, details another version of the early history of the system^[3], ascribing the invention of the art to Quintus Ennius, who he says invented 1100 marks (Latin: notae). Isidore states that Tiro brought the practice to Rome, but only used notae for prepositions. Isidore tells of the development of additional notae by various hands, viz, Vipsanius, "Philargius," and Aquila (as above), until Seneca systematized the various marks to approximately 5000 notae.

Two Tironian notes are still used today: the Tironian “et” in Ireland – also used elsewhere in blackletter texts as late as 1821 – and the “z” of “viz” (short for videlicet), which denotes a Tironian symbol shaped somewhat like a “z”.

The Tironian “et” can look very similar to an “r rotunda” , 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 place holder has escaped formal Modern English. For example one may not spell the word "sand" as "s&".

The possibilities to use Tironian notes on modern computers are very limited. The Tironian et ("and") ⁊ is available at Unicode point U+204A. A number of other Tironian signs has been assigned to the Private Use Area of Unicode by the Medieval Unicode Font Initiative (MUFI) who also provide links to free typefaces that support their specifications.

A pay and display sign in Dublin with the Tironian et for the Irish agus (“and”).

• Gaelic script

1. ^ Plutarch. "Cato the Younger." Lives. John Dryden, translator.
2. ^ Dio Cassius. Roman History. 55.7.6
3. ^ Isidorus. Etymologiae or Originum I.21ff, Gothofred, editor

• Karl Eberhard Henke: Über Tironische Noten Manuscript B 16 of the "Bibliothek der Monumenta Germaniae Historica", c. 1960 (German)