Anecdote Definition

ănĭk-dōt

anecdota, anecdotes

noun

A short account of an interesting or humorous incident.

American Heritage

Little-known, entertaining facts of history or biography.

Webster's New World

Secret or hitherto undivulged particulars of history or biography.

American Heritage

A short, entertaining account of some happening, usually personal or biographical.

Webster's New World

A short account of a real incident or person, often humorous or interesting.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Anecdote

Singular:

anecdote

Plural:

anecdotes

French from Greek anekdota unpublished items an- not a–¹ ekdota neuter pl. of ekdotos published (from ekdidonai ekdo- to publish) (ek- out ecto–) (didonai to give dō- in Indo-European roots)

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Late 17th century, from French anecdote, from Ancient Greek ἀνέκδοτος (anekdotos, “accounts unpublished”), from ἀν- (an-, “not, un-”) + ἔκδοτος (ekdotos, “published”), from ἐκδίδωμι (ekdidōmi, “I publish”), from ἐκ- (ek, “out”) + δίδωμι (didōmi, “I give”).

From Wiktionary
Virtually identical cognates in other European languages – French anecdote, German Anekdote, Spanish anécdota, among others.

From Wiktionary