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.

Symbol

Y

1. abbreviation of aenire· (“tera-”, SI prefix)

Related terms

• y (“pico-”)