ANECDOTA, a term used by some authors, for the titles of Secret Histories; but it more properly denotes a relation of detached and interesting particulars. The word is Greek, ἀνεκδοτα, q. d. things not yet known or hitherto kept secret. Procopius gives this title to a book which he published against Julianian and his wife Theodora; and he seems to be the only person among the ancients who has represented princes such as they are in their domestic relations.—Varillas has published Anecdotes of the House of Medicis.

ANECDOTES is also an appellation given to such works of the ancients as have not yet been published. In which sense, M. Muratori gives the name Anecdota Graeca to several writings of the Greek fathers, found in the libraries, and first published by him.—F. Martene has given a Theatrum Anecdotarum Novus, in folio, 5 vols.

ANE, in commerce, a measure for grain, used in some provinces of France. At Lyons, it signifies also a certain quantity of wine, which is the load an ass can carry at once: which is fixed at 80 English quarts, wine-measure.