viz.

Meaning

Videlicet: namely, to wit, that is to say, specifically, as an illustration.

Synonyms

namely

videlicet

that is to say

to wit

i.e.

that is

scilicet

specifically

above all

Pronounced as (IPA)

/vɪz/

Etymology

From Medieval Latin viꝫ, from Latin vidēlicet (“that is to say, namely”), short for vidēre licet (“it is permitted to see, look (it is) legal”). The ‘z’ was originally not a letter but a common Middle Latin scribal abbreviation ꝫ that was used for -et, specifically a Tironian note. The symbol resembled ‘z’, or rather 3 and Ȝ, and hence is thus represented in type. Compare ⁊, the Tironian symbol for Latin et (“and”) (in isolation, not as suffix).