ditto
UK[ˈdɪtəʊ]US[ˈdɪtoʊ]
adv
Used to say that the same thing is true of another person or thing mentioned
n
A mark (") that means "the same as above"
v
To repeat or copy something
Etymology
The word 'ditto' entered English in the early 17th century from the Tuscan Italian dialect word 'ditto', meaning "said" or "aforesaid," which itself is a derivative of the Latin 'dictus', the past participle of 'dicere' meaning "to say." Its journey reflects a practical need in clerical and commercial language for a term to avoid repetition in lists and accounts. The Italian term was adopted directly into English, initially in the specific sense of "the aforesaid month or year," before its meaning broadened to signify any identical item or action. This evolution from a participle meaning "said" to a symbol and verb for replication showcases a classic path of semantic generalization driven by bureaucratic efficiency.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword from Italian. It is not productively formed from separable English morphemes.
Examples
I'm tired. Ditto for everyone else here.
Please put a ditto under each repeated item in the column.
He tends to ditto his boss's opinions without adding his own thoughts.