tablet
UK: ˈtæblət | US: ˈtæblət
n. a small, flat slab of stone, clay, or wood used for writing or inscriptions.
n. a compressed block of a powdered substance (e.g., medicine).
n. a thin, portable computing device with a touchscreen interface.
tablet = table<flat slab> + et<diminutive suffix>
- table: From Latin tabula ("board, plank, flat piece"), referring to a flat surface.
- et: A diminutive suffix (via Old French -ette), indicating smallness or familiarity.
Etymology Origin:
The word "tablet" traces back to Latin tabula, which originally denoted a flat board or writing surface. Over time, it evolved through Old French tablete (small flat object) to Middle English, retaining the core idea of flatness. The diminutive suffix -et (from -ette) emphasizes the small, portable nature of the object. Modern usage extends the concept to compressed medicine blocks and electronic devices, preserving the "flat slab" imagery.
Ancient scribes carved laws onto stone tablets.
She took a vitamin tablet with her morning coffee.
The artist sketched designs on a digital tablet.
The doctor prescribed two tablets daily for pain relief.
Clay tablets from Mesopotamia reveal early writing systems.