Y
Radestrian
Etymology
Originally coined in the 1960s to resolve the dilemma of the extant prefix atenire· (“mega-”) already having the symbol A. The approach for the new symbol, as well as the symbol for the corresponding aenirje· (“pico”), was to add a stroke to the base letter, i.e. Ⱥ and ⱥ, akin to the simultaneously coined symbol for lirenire· (“giga-”), X, originally Ł. These varied in written form and developed via Ø and ø (which were discouraged due to their likeness with ∅) into Q and q by the late 70s, though this was still disfavoured amongst many due to not being part of the standard Radestrian alphabet. With the advent of oenire· (“peta-”) in the 70s, which was assigned the symbol O, the symbol Q was finally ousted due to its similarity with O, as well as its exclusion from the alphabet, in favour of Y (and y) for its vague resemblance of Q and q (via Ϙ if the loop were disconnected at the top) and its inclusion in the Radestrian alphabet.
Of course, the favourability of inclusion within the Radestrian alphabet has since been disregarded, with the development of the symbol Ł, which is not part of the alphabet.
Symbol
Y
- abbreviation of aenire· (“tera-”, SI prefix)
Related terms
- y (“pico-”)