not

not
\ \ [14] In Old English and early Middle English the simple particle ne was used for making negative sentences. But it was evidently often felt to be in need of some reinforcement, for purposes of emphasis, and to do this job noht was brought in. Ancestor of modern English nought [OE], it was a compound formed from ne and ōwiht ‘anything’ (precursor of archaic modern English ought). By the end of the 13th century this was being widely used as the sole negator in sentences, the ne having been dispensed with, and we soon find spellings reflecting the sort of reduction in pronunciation from nought to not that one would expect from its often weakly-stressed position.
\ \ Cf.⇒ NOUGHT, OUGHT

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Not — not …   Medieval glossary

  • Not — Not …   Deutsch Wörterbuch

  • not — W1S1 [nɔt US na:t] adv [Date: 1300 1400; Origin: nought] 1.) used to make a word, statement, or question negative ▪ Most of the stores do not open until 10am. ▪ She s not a very nice person. ▪ You were wrong not to inform the police. ▪ Can we go… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • not — [ nat ] adverb *** 1. ) used for making negatives a ) used for making a sentence, expression, or word negative: He would not listen to anything she said. Barbara s not coming to the party. I don t feel sorry for her. Do not forget your promise.… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • not — 1. Not is used to form negative statements and questions, and is attached both to individual words and to whole clauses by means of their verbs, normally requiring the use of an auxiliary verb such as do or have: We do not want to go / not… …   Modern English usage

  • not — not·ed; not·e·laea; not·er; not·ta·way; not·ting·ham; not·ting·ham·shire; not·tur·no; ochro·not·ic; per·not; pi·not; po·go·not·o·my; po·go·not·ro·phy; pyc·not·ic; ste·not·ic; te·not·o·mist; te·not·o·mize; te·not·o·my; zo·o·not·ic; NOT; not·geld;… …   English syllables

  • Not as We — Single by Alanis Morissette from the album Flavors of Entanglement Released …   Wikipedia

  • Not as We — «Not as We» Sencillo de Alanis Morissette del álbum Flavors of Entanglement Grabación 2007 Género(s) Piano Rock Duración 4:45 (Versión Album) 4:24 (Radio Edit) …   Wikipedia Español

  • Not — • Not die; , Nöte – ohne Not; zur Not; mit Müh und Not – wenn Not am Mann ist; seine [liebe] Not haben – Aber: nottun; Seefahrt tut not – Not sein, Not werden (veraltend für nötig sein, werden) – in Not, in Nöten sein – Aber: vonnöten sein – Not… …   Die deutsche Rechtschreibung

  • Not — Not, adv. [OE. not, noht, nought, naught, the same word as E. naught. See {Naught}.] A word used to express negation, prohibition, denial, or refusal. [1913 Webster] Not one word spake he more than was need. Chaucer. [1913 Webster] Thou shalt not …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Not Me — Single by Amy Pearson from the album Who I Am Released October 20, 2007 Format …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”