comma Hear it!

comma definition

comma (käm′ə)

noun

  1. a mark of punctuation (,) used to indicate a slight separation of sentence elements, as in setting off nonrestrictive or parenthetical elements, items in a series, etc.
  2. a slight pause

Etymology: L < Gr komma, clause in a sentence, that which is cut off < koptein, to cut off < IE base *(s)kep-, to cut, split > capon, shaft

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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