xoxo

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From use of X/x to mean “kiss” and O/o to mean “hug”. Use of “X” to indicate a kiss attested since 1763,[1][2] preceded by medieval use of an “X”, which was then kissed by illiterates to indicate a signature.[3] Use of “O” is more recent, and presumably created by analogy (e.g., X/O in tic-tac-toe). Speculative theories on precise origins abound.

Noun

xoxo

  1. Abbreviation of hugs and kisses, usually placed at the end of a letter.
    Synonyms: 88, X's and O's

References
  1. OED: “X”. 1763 Gilbert White Letter (1901) I. vii. 132, I am with many a xxxxxxx and many a Pater noster and Ave Maria, Gil. White.
  2. Douglas Harper (2001–2024) chapter X, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
  3. How Stuff Works: How Valentine's Day Works

Ewe

Adjective

xoxo

  1. old

Adverb

xoxo

  1. already

Gun

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Proto-Gbe *χoχó. Cognates include Fon xóxó, Saxwe Gbe xíxó, Adja xoxu, Ewe xoxo

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /xó.xó/

Verb

xóxó (Benin)

  1. to be old

Mapudungun

Adjective

xoxo (Raguileo spelling)

  1. convex

References
  • Wixaleyiñ: Mapucezugun-wigkazugun pici hemvlcijka (Wixaleyiñ: Small Mapudungun-Spanish dictionary), Beretta, Marta; Cañumil, Dario; Cañumil, Tulio, 2008.

Venetian

Alternative forms

Etymology

Inherited from Late Latin iōsum, from Classical Latin deorsum.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): [ˈz̠oːz̠o̞]

Adverb

xóxo

  1. down
    Antonym: suxo

References
  • AIS: Sprach- und Sachatlas Italiens und der Südschweiz [Linguistic and Ethnographic Atlas of Italy and Southern Switzerland] – map 1611: “scendete laggiù!” – on navigais-web.pd.istc.cnr.it
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