Etc. - And for the rest.

I am working on a project yard and need to make a list of a few items I need to pick-up at the store.  My list may only serve as a reminder of some of the items I need, but not include every individual item I need to get.  My list will look like this:

Go to the store and buy a box of nails, paintbrushes, paint, etc. 

What this list assumes is that the word “etc.” is an indication of more things than the three items listed; additionally it assumes I will remember the rest of the items I intend to purchase at the store for my project.

In Latin the word et means and.  The word cetera means for the rest, or and so forth.  Many times in Latin, words have become compound words because users have compressed them so often they become one word.  Et cetera is one of these words that has been compressed into a compound and abbreviated in the English language with etc.

The dictionary references to etc. will verify this abbreviation as correct.  I can be abbreviated with an ampersand &.  It looks like this when it is abbreviated with an ampersand &c.