whatnot

Pronunciation: /ˈwɒtnɒt/ (British), /ˈwʌtnɑːt/ (American)

Origin: Late 16th century: from 'what' + 'not'

Part of Speech: noun

Meanings:

1. Various items or objects that are not specifically named.
2. Small ornamental objects or items of bric-a-brac.

Example Sentences:

1. "The attic was filled with old furniture, books, and whatnot."
2. "She spent her weekends browsing antique shops for interesting whatnots to decorate her shelves."

Related Words:

• Synonyms: miscellany, odds and ends, bits and pieces, sundries, knick-knacks
• Phrase: "and whatnot" (used to refer to additional things of a similar kind)

Memorization Trick:

Think of "whatnot" as a combination of "what" (questioning) and "not" (negation). It's used when you can't or don't want to specify exactly what you're referring to, so you're essentially saying "what? not this, not that, but everything else."

Additional Notes:

• "Whatnot" is often used in casual conversation as a vague way to include other similar items without listing them all.
• A "whatnot" can also refer to a piece of furniture with shelves for displaying ornaments, originating from the items (whatnots) placed on it.