List of words that may be spelled with a ligature

This list of words that may be spelled with a ligature in English encompasses words which have letters that may, in modern usage, either be rendered as two distinct letters or as a single, combined letter. This includes AE being rendered as Æ and OE being rendered as Œ.

Until the early twentieth century, the œ and æ ligatures had been commonly used to indicate an etymological connection with Latin or Greek. Since then they have fallen out of fashion almost completely and are now only used occasionally. They are more commonly used for the names of historical people, to evoke archaism, or in literal quotations of historical sources. These ligatures are proper letters in some Scandinavian languages, and so are used to render names from those languages, and likewise names from Old English. Some American spellings replace ligatured vowels with a single letter; for example, gynæcology or gynaecology is spelled gynecology.

The fl and fi ligatures, among others, are still commonly used to render modern text in fine typography. Page-layout programs such as QuarkXPress and Adobe InDesign can be configured to automatically replace the individual characters with the appropriate ligatures. However this is a typographic feature and not part of the spelling.

Given names

Note: The variants Ædith, Cœline and Matthœo were a used (see citations), hypercorrected form of the names.

Non-ligature formLigature formOther forms
AlfredÆlfred
Ethel-/Aethel-/Oethel-Æthel-/Œthel-(prefix of various names, e.g. Æthelthryth )
AesopÆsop
CecilCæcil
CeciliaCæcilia[1]
CaesarCæsar
CelineCæline, Cœline[2]
CorneliusCornælius[3]
EdithÆdith[4]
EmiliaÆmilia[5]
EmilianÆmilian
EthelŒthel, Æthel
LetitiaLætitiaLeticia, Letizia[6]
MattheoMatthæo, Matthœo[7][8]
EdipusŒdipusOedipus
PhoebePhœbePhoebë, Phœbë


Given names, that may be spelt with ß in German

The grapheme ß was originally made out of the characters Long S (ſ) and z, the latter of which evolved into s. In Germany, the grapheme is still used today. Throughout history, various names have been spelt with ß. Many of the spelling variations are hypercorrected variants of other spellings of the name. Nowadays, most of the spelling variations and names are considered archaic or obsolete.

Non-ligated formLigated formOther formsGenderEtymology
AgnesAgneß[9]AgnessefDerived from the Greek Ἁγνή Hagnḗ, meaning 'pure' or 'holy'.
AndreasAndreaß[10]Andreiß, Dreiß, DreßmFrom the Greek word "andreios" , "manly"
AnsgarAnßgar[11]Ansgarius (Latinized)mFrom the Old Norse word "Ásgeirr" , "God + Spear"
BalthazarBalthaßar[12]Balthasar, BaltazarmFrom Akkadian "𒂗𒈗𒋀" , "Bel protects the king"
BartholomäusBartholomeiß[13]Barthelmeß,Bartholomæus,[14] Bartholomeß,[15] BerthelmeßmFrom the Apostle Bartholomew
KlausClauß[16]Claiß, Clauß, Clawß, KlaßmA contraction of "Nicholas"
ElsbethElßbeth[17]Elßgen, Elßlin, ElßefDerivative of "Elisabeth"
EndresEndreßEnderß, Endereß, Enndreß[18]mDerivative of "Andreas"
ErasmusEraßmus[19]Eraßmuß, AßmusmDerived from Greek ἐράσμιος (erasmios) meaning "beloved"
FranzFranß[20]FrancescomFrom Latin "Francius" meaning "Frank, Frenchman"
GillisGilliß[21]GilesfFrom Latin "Aegidius" meaning "a wearer of goatskin"
HansHanß[22]Hannß[23]mA short form of "Johannes"
/Heinsaß/m(Unknown)
JarosławJaroslauß[24]JarosławamComposed of the elements jar meaning 'strong' or 'powerful' and sława meaning 'glory' or 'fame'
JasperJaßper[25]/mFrom Latin iaspis, from Ancient Greek ἴασπις (íaspis)
JohannesJohanneß[26]JohannmA variant of the Greek name (Ιωάννης) and Classical Latin (Ioannes), itself derived from the Hebrew name Yehochanan, meaning "Yahweh is gracious"
JossJoß[27]/m/fFrom the Old French name "Gosse", derived from "God"
MathisMathißMatheß, Matheiß, Mattheiß, Matthiß[28]mMeans “gift of Yahweh” (from Hebrew “mattath/מַתָּת” = gift + “yah/יָה” = referring to the Hebrew God).
NielsNielß[29]NilsmDerived from the name Nicholas
NarzissNarziß[30]/mFrom the Greek Νάρκισσος
NicolausNiclauß[31]Nicklaß[32]mDerived from the Greek name Νικόλαος (Nikolaos), understood to mean "victory of the people", being a compound of νίκη nikē "victory" and λαός laos "people".
OswaldOßwaldOßwaltmComposed of two Anglo-Saxon elements, Ōs meaning "god" and weald meaning "rule" or "power"
PaulPaulß[33]Paulus, PaulußmFrom Latin meaning "Small" or "Humble"
TheussTheuß[34]Schultheß, Schulthieß, ThießmFrom Latin "Thelonius" , meaning "Ruler of the people"
ThomasThomaß[35]/mDerived from the Aramaic personal name תאומא /tɑʔwmɑʔ/, meaning "twin" and "leader."
ThonisThonniß[36]/mDerivate of "Antonius"

Æ

Note that some words contain an ae which may not be written æ because the etymology is not from the Greek -αι- or Latin -ae- diphthongs. These include:

  • In instances of aer (starting or within a word) when it makes the sound IPA [ɛə]/[eə] (air). Comes from the Latin āër, Greek ἀήρ.
  • When ae makes the diphthong // (lay) or // (eye).
  • When ae is found in a foreign phrase or loan word and it is unacceptable to use the ligature in that language. For example, when in a German loan word or phrase, if the a with an umlaut (ä) is written as ae, it is incorrect to write it with the ligature.
Non-ligature formLigature formOther formsEtymology
acanthaesthesiaacanthæsthesiaacanthesthesiaFrom Ancient Greek ἄκανθα (ákantha, “thorn”) + αἴσθησις (aísthēsis, “sensation”)
AchaeanAchæanAchean, Achaian, AkhaianFrom Latin Achaeus or Achaius, from Ancient Greek Ἀχαιός (Akhaiós)
AchaemenidAchæmenidFrom Ancient Greek Ἀχαιμενίδης
adhesiveadhæsiveFrom Latin "adhaerere"
AeaeaÆæaEëäFrom Greek Αἰαία (Aiaíā)
aeciosporeæciosporeaeciosporeNew Latin aecium from Ancient Greek αἰκία (aikía, “injury, insult”) and New Latin spora from Ancient Greek σπορά (sporá, “seed, a sowing”)
aecidiumæcidium(aecidium)New Latin aecidium, from Greek αἰκία (aikia)
aeciumæcium(aecium)New Latin aecidium, from Greek αἰκία (aikia)
aediculeædiculeedicule (AmE)From Latin aedicula (“small house”), diminutive of aedis (“a house”)
AegisÆgisEgis (archaic in AmE)Latin from Greek Αἰγίς (Aigis)
Aegyptus Ægyptus Egyptus (Biblical) Latin from Greek Αἴγυπτος (Aígyptos)
emulateæmulateFrom Latin "aemulare"
enigmaænigmaFrom Latin "aenigma" meaning riddle
AenonÆnonFrom Greek, Αἰνών
AeolianÆolianLatin Aeolis from Greek mythology Αἰολίς (Aiolis)
AeolisÆolisLatin Aeolis, from Greek Αἰολίς (Aiolis)
aeonæoneon (AmE)Late Latin aeon, from Greek αἰών (aion).
equalæqualFrom Latin "aequus, a, um" meaning equal
aeraæraera (AmE)
aerugiteærugite(aerugo)Latin aerugo, from aes
aerugoærugo(aerugite)Latin aerugo, from aes
aeschyniteæschyniteeschynite (AmE)Greek αἰσχύνω (aischuno)
aesculinæsculinesculin (AmE)
aesculetinæsculetinesculetin (AmE)
aestheticæstheticesthetic (AmE - rare)Greek αἰσθετικός (aisthetikos)
estimationæstimationFrom Latin "aestimare" meaning to guess
aestivalæstivalestival (AmE)Latin aestivus, from aestas
aestivationæstivationestivation (AmE)Latin aestivare, from aestivus, from aestas
eternityæternityFrom Latin 'aeternus' meaning with out beginning or end
AetherÆtherether (AmE)Latin aether, from Greek αἰθήρ (aither)
aetherealæthereal or ætherialethereal (AmE), ethereal (AmE - rare), aetherial (BrE - rare)
AethrioscopeÆthrioscopeEthrioscopeGreek αἴθριον (aithrion)
aetiologyætiologyetiology (AmE)
algaealgæalgas (very rare)
AlphaeusAlphæus
ambilevousambilævousFrom Latin ambilævus (ambi- ("both") + lævus ("left")), a calque of Ancient Greek ἀμφαρίστερος (ampharisteros).
anaemiaanæmiaanemia (AmE)
anaesthesiaanæsthesiaanesthesia (AmE)
anapaestanapæstanapest (AmE)
antennaeantennæantennas
archaeologyarchæologyarcheology (AmE)
archaebacteria archæbacteria archaea/archæ
AthenaeumAthenæumAtheneum (AmE)
azotaemiaazotæmiaazotemia (AmE)
bacteraemiabacteræmiabacteremia (AmE)
CaedmonCædmonCadmon
caesiumcæsiumcesium (AmE)
ChaldaeaChaldæaChaldea
chaetophorouschætophorouschetophorous
chimaerachimærachimera (AmE)
coaevalcoævalcoeval
curriculum vitaecurriculum vitæLatin meaning ‘course of life’, vitæ
cyclopaediacyclopædiacyclopedia
daedaldædaldedal
daemondæmondemonGreek: δαιμων (daimon)
diaeresisdiæresisdieresis (AmE)
EgyptÆgyptAegypt (Archaic)From the Latinised Ægyptus
encyclopaediaencyclopædiaencyclopedia (AmE)
enigmaænigmaaenigma
EpaenetusEpænetus
equal'æqualaequal (BrE - obsolete)from Latin "aequus"
equasion'æquasionaequasion (BrE - obsolete)from Latin "aequare", "to make equal"
equator'æquatoraequator (BrE - obsolete)The name is derived from medieval Latin word aequator, in the phrase circulus aequator diei et noctis, meaning 'circle equalizing day and night', from the Latin word aequare meaning 'make equal'.
equilateral'æquilateralaequilateral (BrE - obsolete)from Latin "aequus"
equinox'æquinoxaequinox (BrE - obsolete)from Latin "aequi + nocta"
equity'æquityaequal (BrE - obsolete)from Latin "aequitas"
equivalent'æquivalentaequivalent (BrE - obsolete)f from late Latin aequivalent- ‘being of equal worth’
eraæraaera (BrE - rare)Late Latin aera, probably from Latin æs (plural æra)
et ceteraet cæteraet caetera, etc., &c.Latin phrase
esteemæsteemaesteem (BrE - obsolete)Latin aestimare, "to guess"
estimationæstimationaestimation (BrE - obsolete)Latin aestimare, "to guess"
eternalæternalaeternal
EthiopiaÆthiopiaAethiopia
Eudaemoniceudæmoniceudemonic
faecesfæcesfeces (AmE)
fairyfæriefaerie
formulaeformulæformulas
fraenumfrænumFrenum
GaeaGæaGaia
Graeco-RomanGræco-RomanGreco-Roman (AmE)
haemoglobinhæmoglobinhemoglobin (AmE)
haemolysishæmolysishemolysis (AmE)
haemophiliahæmophiliahemophilia (AmE)
haemorrhagehæmorrhagehemorrhage (AmE)
haemorrhoidhæmorrhoidhemorrhoid (AmE)
hyaenahyænahyena
HymenaeusHymenæus
hypaethralhypæthralhypethral
hyperbolaehyperbolæhyperbolas (AmE)
hypnopediahypnopædia
IdumaeaIdumæaIdumeaFrom "Edom" (Esau).
IrenaeusIrenæus
ischaemiaischæmiaischemia (AmE)
IturaeaIturæaIturea
Judaeo-Judæo-Judeo-
judaeophobejudæophobejudeophobe (AmE)
leukaemialeukæmialeukemia (AmE)
medievalmediævalmediaeval (BrE)
nebulaenebulænebulasplural – New LatinLatin ("mist"); akin to Old High German nebul ("fog") → Greek nephelē, nephos ("cloud")
nymphaenymphænymphs
nymphaeanymphæa
orthopaedicorthopædicorthopedic (AmE)
paeanpæanpean (AmE)
paeonpæon
pedagoguepædagogue or pædagogpedagog (AmE), (paedagogue and paedagog exist but are both somewhat archaic)
pederastypæderastypaederasty
paediatricspædiatricspediatrics (AmE)
paediatricianpædiatricianpediatrician (AmE)
paediatristpædiatristpediatrist (AmE)
paedophilepædophilepedophile (AmE)
palaeobotanypalæobotanypaleobotany (AmE)
palaeocenepalæocenepaleocene (AmE)
palaeoclimatologypalæoclimatologypaleoclimatology (AmE)
palaeographypalæographypalaeography (AmE)
palaeolithicpalæolithicpaleolithic (AmE)
palaeographypalæographypaleography (AmE)
palaeontologypalæontologypaleontology (AmE)
palaeozoicpalæozoicpaleozoic (AmE)
PanacaeaPanacæaPanacea (AmE)
pandemoniumpandæmoniumpandaemonium
PangaeaPangæaPangea (AmE)
parabolaeparabolæparabolas (AmE)
personaepersonæpersonas
Plantae Plantæ
premiumpræmiumpraemium
pretoriumprætoriumpraetorium, also prœtoriumBoth forms with æ and œ seen, from Latin, praetōrium
Primevalprimævalprimaeval (BrE - rare)
QuaestorQuæstor
RhaetiaRhætia
septicaemiasepticæmiasepticemia (AmE)
scarabaeidscarabæid
scarabaeoidscarabæoid
subpoenaesubpœnæ
supernovaesupernovæsupernovas
synaeresissynæresissyneresis (AmE)
synaesthesiasynæsthesiasynesthesia (AmE)
ThaddaeusThaddæusThaddeus
toxaemiatoxæmiatoxemia (AmE)
uraemiauræmiauremia (AmE)
vertebraevertebræ
viraemiaviræmiaviremia (AmE)
ZacchaeusZacchæusZaccheus
zoogloeaezoöglœæ

Œ

Common formLigature formOther formsEtymology
amenorrhoeaamenorrhœaamenorrhea (AmE)From Greek α (a) + μένόρροια (mēnorroia)
amoebaamœbaameba (AmErare)New Latin amoeba, from Greek ἀμοιβή (amoibē)
apneaapnœaapnoea (BrE)New Latin apnoea, from Greek απνοια (apnoia)
coelacanthcœlacanthFrom Greek κοῖλος (koîlos, “hollow”) + ἄκανθα (ákantha, “spine”)
coeliaccœliacceliac (AmE)Latin coeliacus, from Greek κοιλιακος (koiliakos)
coeptis cœptis On the Great Seal of the United States, Annuit cœptis from Latin, coeptum.
Confoederatio Helvetica Confœderatio Helvetica Latin for "Helvetic Confederation". The Roman and now formal name for Switzerland. The abbreviation CH is derived from the initialization of this Latin phrase.
diarrhoeadiarrhœadiarrhea (AmE)Middle English diaria, from Late Latin diarrhoea, from Greek διάρροια (diarroia)
dyspneadyspnœadyspnoea
ecologyœcologyoecology
economicsœconomicsoeconomics
economyœconomyoeconomy
ecumenismœcumenismoecumenism, rarely ocumenism
esophagusœsophagusoesophagus (BrE)
estrogenœstrogenoestrogen (BrE)
estrusœstrusoestrus
federalfœderalfoederal  archaic; thus virtually never foundLatin foedus
fetidfœtidfoetid (BrE)Latin fētidus
fetorfœtorfoetor (BrE)Middle English fetoure, from Latin fētor
fetusfœtusfoetus (BrE)Middle English fetus, from Latin fētus
gonorrhoeagonorrhœagonorrhea (AmE)Greek γονόρροια (gonorrhoia)
homeomorphismhomœomorphismhomoeomorphism (BrE)From Greek ὅμοιος (homoios) + μορφος (morphos)
homeopathhomœopathhomoeopath (BrE)From Greek ὅμοιος (homoios) + πάθος (pathos)
homeostasishomœostasishomoeostasis (BrE)From Greek ὅμοιος (homoios) + στάσις (stasis)
homoeozoichomœozoichomeozoic (AmErare)From Greek ὅμοιος (homoios) + ζωικός (zōikos)
hors d'oeuvrehors d'œuvreFrench hors d'œuvre
logorrhoealogorrhœalogorrhea (AmE)From Greek
maneuvermanœuvremanoeuvre (BrE)French manœuvre, from Old French maneuvre, from Medieval Latin manuopera, from Latin manū operārī
oedemaœdemaedema (AmE)
oeilladeœillade
oenologyœnologyenology (AmE)From Greek οίνος (oinos) + λόγος (logos)
oenomelœnomel
oenotheraœnothera
oesophagusœsophagusesophagus (AmE)
oestrusœstrusestrus (AmE)Greek οἶστρος (oistros) ‘gadfly or frenzy’
OethelwaldŒthelwaldŒthelwald of Deira
oeuvreœuvreFrench œuvre, from Old French uevre, from Latin opera
onomatopoeiaonomatopœia
penologypœnology
phoenixphœnixphenix (rare)
pretoriumprœtoriumprætorium or praetoriumBoth forms with œ and æ seen, from Latin, praetōrium.
subpoenasubpœnasubpena (rare)
tragedytragœdytragoedy
zoogloeazoöglœa-

Notes

  1. ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ The variants that change '-æ' or '-œ' to '-s' are not variants in spelling, but the same meaning of the word with a different way of forming plurals.
  2. ^ "caesium" (see article) is preferred by the IUPAC.

Also, ligatures may be used in personal names as well, i.e. Maecenus as Mæcenus etc.

References

  1. "An Ode on Saint Caecilia's Day, adapted to the antient British Musick: Viz. The Salt-Box, the Jews Harp, the Marrow-Bones and Cleavers, the Hum-Strum or Hurdy &c. With an introduction, giving some account of these truly British Instruments". 1763.
  2. Mayo, Herbert (1851). "On the Truths Contained in Popular Superstitions: With an Account of Mesmerism".
  3. https://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/petra-vestvik-24-yk7pnt. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. https://books.google.com/books?id=s0wCAAAAQAAJ&q=%C3%A6dith. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ), George Forbes (Gentleman; Forbes, Susan-Janet-Æmilia (1750). "Answers for George Forbes, and for Susan-Janet-Æmilia Forbes, Lawful Child of the Marriage Betwixt Him and Susanna Countess-dowager of Strathmore, to the Bill of Advocation Presented in Name of the Said Countess".CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. Russell, William Clark (1872). "Memoirs of MRS. Lætitia Boothby".
  7. https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Schreib-Calender_auff_das_Jahr_..._MDCXXXXVIII_..._Auff_..._Oesterreich,_vnd_die_angra%C2%A8ntzende_La%C2%A8ndern._Durch_Joan-_Conradum_Wechtler,_etc._(Wienn_in_Oesterreich_-_gedruckt_bey_Matth%C5%93o_Rick_-_Upper_cover_(c129m2).jpg. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. {{Cite web|url=https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/Matthaeo}}
  9. https://books.google.de/books?id=jbVQAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA45&dq=agne%C3%9F&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjPwKD1nb7sAhVOxhoKHUieAEwQ6AEwBXoECAUQAg#v=onepage&q=agne%C3%9F&f=false
  10. https://books.google.de/books?id=eJ3qAAAAMAAJ&q=andrea%C3%9F&dq=andrea%C3%9F&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiY7s70nr7sAhUlxIUKHX6WA5IQ6AEwBnoECAgQAg
  11. https://books.google.de/books?id=7F9LAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA248&dq=an%C3%9Fgar&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiLnKmwoL7sAhVMRBoKHWwaCpUQ6AEwAXoECAIQAg#v=onepage&q=an%C3%9Fgar&f=false
  12. https://hausbuecher.nuernberg.de/75-Amb-2-279b-13-r/data
  13. https://books.google.de/books?id=KFk_AAAAcAAJ&pg=PA19&dq=bartholomei%C3%9F&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjt2N6fob7sAhUEzhoKHWx8CDkQ6AEwA3oECAQQAg#v=onepage&q=bartholomei%C3%9F&f=false
  14. https://books.google.de/books?id=H7QjlAj3KiAC&pg=PP32&dq=bartholom%C3%A6us&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwifoJ7Pob7sAhUSxIUKHUloAPcQ6AEwAXoECAAQAg#v=onepage&q=bartholom%C3%A6us&f=false
  15. https://books.google.de/books?id=fyVoAAAAMAAJ&q=berthelme%C3%9F&dq=berthelme%C3%9F&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj60Mn8oL7sAhUlz4UKHcAHCmgQ6AEwAXoECAQQAg
  16. http://www.ahnenforschung-in-stormarn.de/geneal/vornamenM.htm
  17. https://www.augsburger-baumeisterbuecher.de/edition/register/namen/lemmas/eintrag/haemmerlin-elssbeth.html
  18. http://www.ahnenforschung-in-stormarn.de/geneal/vornamenM.htm
  19. https://www.geni.com/people/Era%C3%9Fmus-Hinckel/6000000027251442231
  20. https://www.myheritage.de/names/fran%C3%9F_fastabend
  21. http://genwiki.genealogy.net/Aegidius_(Vorname)
  22. http://www.ahnenforschung-in-stormarn.de/geneal/vornamenM.htm
  23. http://www.ahnenforschung-in-stormarn.de/geneal/vornamenM.htm
  24. https://books.google.de/books?id=LIQJAAAAIAAJ&q=jaroslau%C3%9F&dq=jaroslau%C3%9F&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwitzca-q77sAhWOC-wKHYHsBMcQ6AEwBXoECAAQAg
  25. https://www.myheritage.de/names/ja%C3%9Fper_david
  26. http://www.ahnenforschung-in-stormarn.de/geneal/vornamenM.htm
  27. https://www.deutsche-biographie.de/pnd123689473.html
  28. http://www.ahnenforschung-in-stormarn.de/geneal/vornamenM.htm
  29. https://www.vorname.com/name,Niss.html
  30. https://www.baby-vornamen.de/Jungen/N/Na/Narziss/
  31. http://www.ahnenforschung-in-stormarn.de/geneal/vornamenM.htm
  32. http://www.ahnenforschung-in-stormarn.de/geneal/vornamenM.htm
  33. http://www.liederdatenbank.de/artist/4055&prev=search
  34. https://www.baby-vornamen.de/Jungen/T/Th/Theuss/
  35. https://books.google.de/books?id=pDFfAAAAcAAJ&pg=PP406&dq=thoma%C3%9F&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjbl6G6p77sAhWBy6QKHUv-DH04ChDoATADegQICBAC#v=onepage&q=thoma%C3%9F&f=false
  36. https://www.nordicnames.de/wiki/Thonni%C3%9F
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