naughtpron.n.adj.adv.

Brit.

/nɔːt/, U.S.

/nɔt/,

/nɑt/

Forms:

α. Old English nawuht, Old English–early Middle English nawiht, late Old English nawith, late Old English nawuiht, late Old English–Middle English nawit, early Middle English nauyt, early Middle English navich, early Middle English navith, early Middle English nawhit, early Middle English nawicht, early Middle English nawihht ( Ormulum), early Middle English nawiðt, Middle English na wete, Middle English nawight, Middle English nawjght.

β. Old English–early Middle English naht, Old English–Middle English nauht, Old English–Middle English nawht, late Old English næht (Kentish), late Old English nahtte (dative), early Middle English nagt, early Middle English nah (transmission error), early Middle English naþt, Middle English nacht, Middle English naȝt, Middle English naȝte, Middle English naȝuth (transmission error), Middle English naȝwth, Middle English natht, Middle English nauȝ (transmission error), Middle English naughst, Middle English nauȝht, Middle English nauȝst, Middle English nauȝt, Middle English nauȝte, Middle English nawȝht, Middle English nawȝt, Middle English (1800s– English regional) naght, Middle English–1500s nawght, Middle English– naught, 1500s naughte, 1500s–1600s naugh; Scottish pre-1700 nacht, pre-1700 1700s– naught, pre-1700 1900s– naucht.

γ. late Old English–Middle English nawt, Middle English nauth, Middle English nawth, Middle English nayt, Middle English–1500s naut, 1500s nawlt, 1500s nawtt, 1800s naet (Scottish); English regional 1800s nate (Kent), 1800s neat (Dorset), 1800s neawt (northern).

Origin: Formed within English, by compounding. Etymons: English na , no adv.¹, wight n.; ne adv.¹, aught pron.

Etymology: Either < na, variant of no adv.¹ + wight n., or < ne adv.¹ + aught pron. (see α. forms at aught pron., adj., and adv.). Compare nought pron., n., adv., and adj. As adjective, developed from predicative use of the noun.In northern Middle English texts the full form nawight may represent Old English nānwiht rather than nāwiht . The form nȝt is attested in late Middle English as an abbreviation. For the comparative history of naught and nought see nought pron., n., adv., and adj.

A. pron.

1. Nothing, not anything; = nought pron. 1a. Now archaic and literary.

ΚΠ

α.

eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xliv. 329 Me hyngrede, & ge me nawuht [eOE Junius nauht] ne sealdun etan.

OE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Corpus Oxf.) ii. x. 134 Eallinga nawiht mægenes ne nyttnesse hafað sio æfæstnes, þe we oð ðis hæfdon & beeodon.

OE King Ælfred tr. Psalms (Paris) (2001) xiv. 5 Se þe þone awyrgdan for nawuht hæfð.

c1225 (?c1200) Sawles Warde (Bodl.) (1938) 20 (MED) Hwet se beo of heardes, ne drede ich nawiht nesches.

c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 1324 (MED) Mani dor & man..of hswucche na wiht ne con.

β. OE Blickling Homilies 53 Þa halgan..þe on þyssum life naht ne sohton, ne ne gyrndon to hæbenne.lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1072 He þær naht ne funde þæs þe him þe bet wære.lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Bodl.) iii. 9 Ðis Mod..nauht elles nat butan gnornunga.?a1160 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1137 Þe biscopes & lered men heom cursede æure, oc was heom naht þar of, for hi uueron al forcursæd & forsuoren & forloren.1340 Ayenbite (1866) 131 (MED) Þanne yefþ him god iuele þet mannes miȝte ne is naȝt and þet he ne may naȝt.c1387–95 G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. 756 Of manhode hym lakked right naught.?a1475 (a1396) W. Hilton Scale of Perfection (Harl. 6579) i. ii. f. 2^v Ȝif he mikel haue, mikel do; ȝif he litel haue, lesse do; and ȝif he naȝuth haue, þat he þanne haue a good will.a1500 (?c1450) Merlin 18 (MED) Leet my moder be in pese that natht knoweth of that thow puttest on hir.1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 113 The Pope had the more hate vnto him, for that he had brought him vp of naught.1639 J. Clarke Paroemiologia 126 Naught is never in danger. It will last longer than a better thing.1645 J. Milton On Christ's Nativity: Hymn xxiv, in Poems 11 Naught but profoundest Hell can be his shroud.1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 139 Unconstrain'd he nothing tells for naught . 1738 J. Swift Compl. Coll. Genteel Conversat. 46 You have the old Proverb on your Side, Naught's ne'er in Danger.1873 T. Hardy Pair of Blue Eyes II. x. 229 'Twould have been as naught, for the box were glued all round.1906 Daily Chron. 12 July 3/3 High-sniffing pretenders..affect to find in Mr. Meredith's poetry naught that is obscure.1979 Listener 6 Dec. 767/3 The worldly concerns of these, after all, mainly literary reviews, are as naught if they do not try to establish and follow clear-eyed standards of literary value.1998 N.Y. Mag. 12 Jan. 80/1 The wretched exits of both the Jets and the Giants have left New Yorkers with naught but Knicks and Rangers to root for.γ. lOE King Ælfred tr. St. Augustine Soliloquies (Vitell.) (1922) i. 7 Ðu þe us lærdest þat we nawt unalyfdes dydon.a1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine 1186 (MED) Nes nawt iteiet to þe treo þer he deide upon, to drahen buten fleschtimber.

2. In the dative in early use.

a. to bring (also †do) to naught: (in early use literal) to reduce to nothing, to destroy; (in later use chiefly figurative) to frustrate. Cf. nought pron. 2a. Now archaic and literary.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)]

to bring to noughteOE

forspillc893

fordilghec900

to bring to naughtOE

astryea1200

stroyc1200

forferec1275

misdoa1325

destroyc1330

naught1340

dingc1380

beshenda1400

devoida1400

unshapea1400

to wend downa1400

brittenc1400

unloukc1400

perishc1426

defeat1435

unmake1439

lithc1450

spend1481

kill1530

to shend ofc1540

quade1565

to make away1566

discreate1570

wrake1570

wracka1586

unwork1587

gaster1609

defease1621

unbe1624

uncreate1633

destructa1638

naufragate1648

stifle1725

stramash1788

disannul1794

destructify1841

locust1868

to knock out1944

dick1972

OE Paris Psalter (1932) lix. 11 He sona mæg ure fynd gedon fracoþe to nahte.

lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Bodl.) x. 23 Ne eart þu no eallunga to nauhte gedon.

c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 9421 Hii asailede þe verste ost & broȝte almest to naȝte.

c1395 G. Chaucer Canon's Yeoman's Tale 1401 A man may lightly lerne if he haue aught To multiplie and brynge his good to naught.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Esdras i. 11 In y^e east haue I brought two landes and people to naught.

1548 L. Shepherd Doctour Doubble Ale To folow such learning As now a dayes is taught It wolde sone bring to naught His olde popish brayne.

1579 E. Hake Newes out of Powles Churchyarde newly Renued v. sig. Eiii How oft it comes to passe, The yongmen brought to naught therby [sc. by wealth], are witnesses.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iii. 158 Or shall the Adversarie thus obtain His end, and frustrate thine, shall he fulfill His malice, and thy goodness bring to naught .

1809 W. C. Bryant Embargo 9 See in his [sc. the farmer's] stores his hoarded produce rot, Or Sheriff sales his profits bring to naught.

1889 ‘M. Twain’ Connecticut Yankee xi. 132 It will grieve you that you had thought by vanities of the mind to thwart and bring to naught the will of Him that giveth not a castle a direction from a place except it pleaseth Him.

1908 C. M. Doughty Adam Cast Forth 60 How weak man's substance is; That liveth, by daily meat, as a beast's flesh; Else his clay breathing being were brought to naught.

2000 Business Day (S. Afr.) (Nexis) 11 Feb. (National section) 3 Such a move would bring to naught efforts to revitalise the city centre of SAs capital.

b. to come (also †become, †go, etc.) to naught: (in early use literal) to become nothing, to perish; (in later use chiefly figurative) to come to nothing, to be in vain. Cf. nought pron. 2b. Now archaic and literary.

ΚΠ

OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) i. 182 For ði is se man betera gif he gode geðihð, þonne ealle ða nytenu sindon, for ðan ðe hi ealle gewurðað to nahte.

lOE Metrical Charm: Against Wen (Royal 4 A.xiv) 13 Alswa litel þu gewurþe þet þu nawiht gewurþe.

c1300 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 79 Al sal gon þat man hier houet, and al it scal bicome to naut.

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 91 (MED) Þe drope of þe deawe..ualþ agrund and to naȝte becomþ.

1592 T. Kyd Spanish Trag. ii. sig. D^v Endeuour you to winne your daughters thoughts, If she giue back, all this will come to naught.

1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Perir,..to come to ruine, or to naught.

1669 S. Pepys Diary 6 Mar. (1976) IX. 471 He joins with me in his fears that all will go to naught as matters are now managed.

1705 E. Ward Fair Shell but Rotten Kernel i. 11 Had that good Doctrine all along been taught, Those Ills that prosper'd, would have come to naught.

1849 H. Melville Mardi II. liv. 227 His diabolical machinations against this ineffable land must soon come to naught.

1869 ‘M. Twain’ Innocents Abroad xi. 104 It was a pity that so many weeks of dreary labor should have come to naught at last.

1929 A. Pollitzer Let. 17 Aug. in G. O'Keeffe & A. Pollitzer Lovingly, Georgia (1990) 277 Producers asking him to do press for plays—which are such flops that the job comes to naught.

1988 H. C. R. Landon Mozart's Last Year xiii. 195 Wolfgang's next scheme was to import Aloysia and her father to Paris..but this plan came to naught.

3. (all) for naught.

a. In vain, unsuccessfully. Cf. nought pron. 4a. Now archaic and literary.

ΚΠ

c1225 (?c1200) Hali Meiðhad (Bodl.) (1940) 693 (MED) Al for nawt þu prokest me to forgulten.

a1425 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (1987) v. 1230 His bretheren and his sustren gonne hym freyne Whi he so sorwful was..But al for naught.

a1500 (a1450) Partonope of Blois (BL Add.) (1912) 10983 (MED) Now Armauntes wounde is serched and sought, Wele tented and bounde all for naught. Armed in no wise myght he be.

1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes sig. S.iii A litle hope I caught: That for a whyle my life did stay. But in effect, all was for naught.

1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes vii. 36 His might continues in thee not for naught .

1820 T. Dibdin Ivanhoe i. ii. 17 The dream was not dreamed for naught, the vision cometh not in vain.

1886 O. F. Adams Post-laureate Idyls 46 All for naught my quest.

1904 Collier's 7 May 7/3 If we are going to take all the little islands of the seas and hold them with a mailed hand..then what I have said goes for naught.

1973 Jrnl. Polit. Econ. 81 624 The two-parameter model seems to be standing up well to the data. All is for naught, however, if the critical condition C3 is rejected.

1997 Times 7 July 23/4 The brave efforts of Hinton and his New Zealanders were to count for naught.

b. Without payment, reward, or benefit. Cf. nought pron. 4d. Now archaic and literary.

ΚΠ

1568 E. Tilney Flower of Friendshippe sig. Bj For such amongst the Venetians, there was no money either giuen, or taken, but were maried for naught.

1630 J. Taylor Wks. 145 I'de trusse thee vp for naught, were Hangmen scant.

1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd iv. 86 On what I offer set as high esteem, Nor what I part with mean to give for naught .

1782 B. Franklin Levé 31 Mar. in Writings (1987) 934 Doth Job serve God for naught?

1830 H. More Wks. II. 20 We poor fools..find we've sold our souls for naught.

1861 T. B. Aldrich Pythagoras 20 Can I stoop to..Give dross for dross, or everything for naught?

1914 W. S. Blunt Polit. Wks. II. 283 How shall we bring the price, since ye give naught for naught?

1960 J. Barth Sot-weed Factor ii. xv. 276 She was not wont to bestowe her charms for naught.

1983 J. Tate Constant Defender iii. 51 I recall a miser's white goose sold for naught.

c. For no good reason, without cause. Cf. nought pron. 4c. Now poetic and rare.

ΚΠ

?1577 F. T. Debate Pride & Lowlines sig. Dv^v These..dooe suffer..sclaunder for naught els, but that a knaue, Hath of them made a cloake for deede of shame.

1607 Fayre Mayde of Exchange sig. F^v What sit I heere for naught?

1727 M. Davys Accomplish'd Rake 120 Miss Wary..had not her Name for naught.

1807 W. H. Ireland Stultifera Navis xxxv. 148 Take special care; nor cavil thus for naught.

1876 W. Carlton Young Folks' Centennial Rhymes 27 For naught it [sc. breaking the ice] was done but to spoil the fun Of which we as boys are fond.

a1901 W. E. Channing Coll. Wks. (1967) 986 Condemn me not for naught.

a1930 S. Image Poems (1932) 59 Spirit of Light..[Thou] didst ordain for naught Save in Thine own creative joy up-caught To find its last energy and life intense.

4. to call (rarely to speak) (all) to naught [perhaps < to call all too naught, to condemn as reprehensible] : to attack verbally; to denounce with passion. Cf. nought pron. 2d. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > malediction > [verb (transitive)] > abuse, scold, or wrangle

chidec1230

revilea1393

to call (rarely to speak) (all) to naught1542

vituperate1542

abuse1592

to speak or look daggers1603

outrage1608

cuss1831

slangwhang1880

strafe1915

slag1958

name-call1960

the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > invective or abuse > abuse [verb (transitive)]

vilea1300

rebutc1330

revilea1393

arunt1399

stainc1450

brawl1474

vituper1484

rebalk1501

to call (rarely to speak) (all) to naught1542

rattle1542

vituperate1542

bedaub1570

beray1576

bespurt1579

wring1581

misuse1583

caperclaw1589

abuse1592

rail1592

exagitate1593

to shoot atc1595

belabour1596

to scour one's mouth on1598

bespurtle1604

conviciate1604

scandala1616

delitigate1623

betongue1639

bespatter1644

rant1647

palt1648

opprobriatea1657

pelt1658

proscind1659

inveigh1670

clapperclaw1692

blackguard1767

philippize1804

drub1811

foul-mouth1822

bullyrag1823

target1837

barge1841

to light on ——1842

slang1844

villainize1857

slangwhang1880

slam-bang1888

vituperize1894

bad-mouth1941

slag1958

zing1962

to dump on (occasionally all over)1967

1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes Table Dionysius would call Aristippus foole and all to naught.

1559 Certayne Serm. (new ed.) in J. Griffiths Two Bks. Homilies (1859) i. 134 David, when Semei did call him all to naught, did not chide again.

1631 J. Mabbe tr. F. de Rojas Spanish Bawd ix. 112 They will reuile their mayds, and call them all to naught.

1658 W. Gurnall Christian in Armour: 2nd Pt. 188 His enemies from this take advantage to speak him all to naught.

?1706 E. Hickeringill Priest-craft: 2nd Pt. v. 51 Queen Elizabeth..reigned..above 30 Years after the Pope had call'd her all to naught.

1781 in Essex Inst. Historical Coll. (1913) XXVI. 115 One of the French Captains..struck him in the head, and called him all to naught.

1849 W. Irving Rip Van Winkle 147 From even this stronghold the unlucky Rip was at length routed by his termagant wife, who would suddenly break in upon the tranquillity of the assemblage and call the members all to naught.

1877 E. Leigh Gloss. Words Dial. Cheshire To call to naught, to abuse violently.

†5. to be naught: to keep quiet; to withdraw or be unobtrusive. Usually in imperative. Cf. nought pron. 6. Obsolete.In quots. 1606 and a1625 perhaps with punning allusion to sense C. 2c.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > humility > modesty > be modest [verb (intransitive)] > efface oneself

to be noughta1529

to be naught1593

1593 G. Peele Famous Chron. King Edward the First sig. E2^v Let go and be naught I say.

1606 G. Chapman Gentleman Vsher iii. sig. E Kisse her; yfaith you must; get you togither and be naughts awhile, get you together.

a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) i. i. 33 Be better employed, and be naught a while.

a1625 J. Fletcher Humorous Lieut. v. iii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Sss4^v/1 So get ye together, and be naught.

B. n.

1. That which does not exist; nothingness. Cf. nought pron. 1a. Now archaic and rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > existence > non-existence > [noun] > that which is non-existent

naughtOE

nothing1535

nothingnessa1631

non-existence1646

nonentity1656

nihilation1695

nonent1885

OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) xvi. 311 Þæt him sy sumera þinga eaðelicor to arærenne þone deadan of ðam duste, þonne him wære to wyrcenne ealle gesceafta, of nahte.

a1225 (?OE) MS Vesp. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 233 (MED) S[t]rang he his and michti, for he ȝesceop alle þing of nahte.

c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. v. 489 (MED) God..of nauȝte madest auȝte.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Macc. vii. 28 God made them and mans generacion of naught.

1609 A. Gardyne Garden Grave & Godlie Flowres sig. D ^v God..Who in his Wisdome hes All Natures made of naught.

1893 F. Thompson Poems 53 ‘None but I makes much of naught’ (He said).

1990 J. S. Downard in A. Parfrey Apocalypse Culture (rev. ed.) 321 Zero is a symbol of naught, nothing, nonexistence, zip, the big bagel.

†2.

a. Wickedness, evil, moral wrong. Cf. nought pron. 3b. Obsolete. naught-fremend n. [ < naught n. + freme v. + -end suffix¹] evildoer.In early modern use chiefly in to do (also play the) naught. In quots. 1594 and 1597 spec. with reference to adultery (cf. sense C. 2c.).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > [noun]

woughc888

naughteOE

manOE

evilness1000

fakenOE

witherfulnessc1200

lithera1225

villainy?c1225

lithernessa1240

unwrastshipa1250

felonyc1290

shrewheadc1290

litherhead1297

illa1300

wicknessa1300

follyc1300

iniquity13..

shrewdom13..

wickhedec1305

shrewdheadc1315

shrewdnessc1315

unwrastnessc1315

wickednessa1340

malicea1382

unequityc1384

lewdnessa1387

mischiefa1387

wickedleka1400

wickedredea1400

badnessc1400

shrewdshipc1400

shrewnessc1425

ungoodlihead1430

wickdomc1440

rudenessc1451

mauvasty1474

unkindliness1488

noughtinessa1500

perversenessa1500

illnessc1500

filthiness?1504

noisomeness1506

naughtiness?1529

noughtihoodc1540

inexcellence1590

improbity1593

flagition1598

meschancy1609

scelerateness1613

pravity1620

meschantnessa1630

flagitiousness1692

flagitiosity1727

nefariousness1727

bale-fire1855

ill-conditionedness1866

iniquitousness1870

society > morality > moral evil > wrong conduct > evildoing or wrongdoing > [noun]

sinc825

naughteOE

unnuteOE

sinningc1000

unrightOE

un-i-selthlOE

wonder1154

misguiltc1200

misdoinga1225

teeninga1225

miss?c1225

crimec1250

misdeed?c1250

wickednessa1300

mischiefa1387

evil-doing1398

mistakinga1400

perpetrationc1429

wrongingc1449

maledictionc1475

maleficence1533

wicked-doing1535

foul play1546

misdealing1571

flagition1598

delinquency1603

malefaction1604

meschancy1609

malefacture1635

misacting1651

guilt1726

flagitiosity1727

malpractice1739

malfeasance1856

peccation1861

miscreance1972

the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > [noun] > zero > amount

noneeOE

naughteOE

nilc1550

naughts1559

zeroa1703

society > morality > moral evil > wrong conduct > evildoing or wrongdoing > do evil or wrong [verb (intransitive)]

misdoOE

lithera1300

malignc1425

to do (also play the) naught1594

to hold a candle to the devil1598

eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xxxv. 241 Ðonne mon ongiet mid hwelcum stæpum ðæt nawht [L. nequitia] wæs ðurhtogen.

OE Paris Psalter (1932) lviii. 2 Genere me fram niþe nahtfremmendra þe her unrihtes ealle wyrceað [L. eripe me de operantibus iniquitatem] .

?1521 Bk. Ghoostly Fader sig. Ci^v Lechery, robory or man slaught. He must be knowen or thou doste naught.

1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. lxj The Magistrate doeth naught [L. inique facit], but you doe muche worse.

1594 in Rec. Ely Consistory Court K5/187 Cross and Willowes his wife played the naught together in a pitt.

1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III i. i. 100 I tell thee fellow, He that doth naught with her, excepting one Were best he doe it secretly alone.

1627 R. Sanderson Ten Serm. 411 From doing nothing proceede to doing naught.

1649 R. Lovelace Lucasta: Epodes, Odes, Sonnets, Songs 72 Naught [shall] be ignote not so much out of Feare Of being punisht, as offending Her.

b. A thing of no worth or value. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > that which is unimportant > worthless

hawc1000

turdc1275

fille1297

dusta1300

lead1303

skitc1330

naught1340

vanityc1340

wrakea1350

rushc1350

dirt1357

fly's wing1377

goose-wing1377

fartc1390

chaff?a1400

nutshella1400

shalec1400

yardc1400

wrack1472

pelfrya1529

trasha1529

dreg1531

trish-trash1542

alchemy1547

beggary?1548

rubbish1548

pelfa1555

chip1556

stark naught1562

paltry?1566

rubbish1566

riff-raff1570

bran1574

baggage1579

nihil1579

trush-trash1582

stubblea1591

tartar1590

garbage1592

bag of winda1599

a cracked or slit groat1600

kitchen stuff1600

tilta1603

nothing?1608

bauble1609

countera1616

a pair of Yorkshire sleeves in a goldsmith's shop1620

buttermilk1630

dross1632

paltrement1641

cattle1643

bagatelle1647

nothingness1652

brimborion1653

stuff1670

flap-dragon1700

mud1706

caput mortuuma1711

snuff1778

twaddle1786

powder-post1790

traffic1828

junk1836

duffer1852

shice1859

punk1869

hogwash1870

cagmag1875

shit1890

tosh1892

tripe1895

dreck1905

schlock1906

cannon fodder1917

shite1928

skunk1929

crut1937

chickenshit1938

crud1943

Mickey Mouse1958

gick1959

garbo1978

turd1978

pants1994

1340 Ayenbite (1866) 59 (MED) Huanne..hi nolleþ zigge aperteliche, hi hit makeþ a naȝt and makeþ zuo moche ham milde.

c. Something wrong or faulty in method. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > lack of truth, falsity > an error, mistake > [noun]

misnimming?c1225

errora1340

defaulta1387

balkc1430

fault1523

jeofail1546

errat1548

trip1548

naught1557

missa1568

missinga1568

slide1570

snappera1572

amiss1576

mistaking1579

misprize1590

mistake1600

berry-block1603

solecism1603

fallibility1608

stumblea1612

blota1657

slur1662

incorrectnessa1771

bumble1823

skew1869

(to make) a false step1875

slip-up1909

ricket1958

bad1981

1557 T. Tusser Hundreth Good Pointes Husbandrie sig. B.i^v All soules that be thursty, bid threshe out for mawlt: well handled and tended, or els thou dost nawlt.

1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball 38 Ignorant Apothecaries do dayly use it in steede of the right Cotyledon, wherein they do naught, and commit manifest errour.

1658 W. Johnson tr. F. Würtz Surgeons Guid i. ii. 4 Naught will be naught, and never good, though it had been practised a thousand years.

d. An evil or wicked thing. Also: a bad or wicked person. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > evil thing > [noun]

shrewc1315

bad1576

malum in se1622

naughta1639

the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > evil person > [noun]

fiendc1220

shrewc1250

quedea1275

felon1340

malfeasorc1380

evil-doer1398

forfeiter1413

pucka1450

malefactor?c1450

wicked-doerc1450

improbe1484

wicked1484

Gomorrheana1529

dunghill1542

felonian1594

naughta1639

black sheep1640

pimp1649

hellicat1816

malfeasant1867

a bad sortc1869

bad seed1954

bloody1960

society > morality > moral evil > [noun] > evil thing

shrewc1315

naughta1639

a double whammy1951

society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > [noun] > wicked person

warlockOE

shrewc1250

quedea1275

wick1297

felon1340

son of perditionc1384

nicec1400

pucka1450

sorrowc1450

improbe1484

wicked1484

naughtyc1580

stigmatic1597

thornback1599

stigmatist1607

naughta1639

dungeona1728

a1639 W. Whately Prototypes (1640) ii. xxix. 182 Here is revenge, filthinesse and fraud, and a number of naughts put together to make each other worse.

1657 J. Trapp Comm. Esther vii. 7 Unlesse it be Harang, that naughtiest of all naughts.

1855 E. C. Gaskell North & South I. xviii. 223 The law expenses would have been more than the hands themselves were worth—a set of ungrateful naughts!

a. The figure or character 0, representing zero; = nought pron. 4. Now chiefly U.S.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > [noun] > zero > nought or character zero

cipher1399

nullity1587

nullo1598

zero1604

null1648

naught1649

noughta1660

ought1821

aught1822

oh1908

1649 J. Milton Εικονοκλαστης xxvii. 223 After all thir paines and travell to be dissolv'd, and cast away like so many Naughts in Arithmetick.

1825 M. E. (title) Airy nothings: or scraps and naughts, and odd-cum-shorts.

1848 D. Adams Arithm. (rev. ed.) 10 There is another character, 0; it is called a cipher, naught, or nothing.

1879 G. Meredith Egoist xix ‘There is a figure naught,’ said he.

1912 Science 5 Apr. 535/1 The department has erected in Brookline a 700 foot span of number two naught bare stranded wire to represent a transmission span on towers.

1947 Jrnl. Hist. Ideas 8 112 All arithmetical ideas can be symbolized by only two signs representing one and naught.

1997 B. Morrow Giovanni's Gift ii. 128 All was winding down toward a vortical black hole for me, my several decades in the world having amounted to a great big zilch, a grand naught, a goose egg.

b. U.S. Not any quantity or number, zero; = nought n. 1c.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > [noun] > zero

nothing?c1425

nought?c1425

zeroa1703

naught1864

nowt1865

1864 F. C. Bowen Logic (ed. 2) 444 The one would only double his fortune, and the other reduce his to naught.

1909 Amer. Math. Monthly 31 303 Angles varying from naught to 720° = 4π.

1994 Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 344 451 As usual, an empty sum is assumed to be naught.

C. adj.

†a. Worthless; useless, bad, poor; vain. Cf. nought pron. 1a, 2 and stark naught adj. and n. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > worthless

naughteOE

unworthc960

nought worthOE

unworthya1240

vaina1300

lewd1362

base?1510

to be nothing toc1520

stark naught1528

nothing worth1535

worthilessa1542

draffish1543

baggage1548

dunghill?1555

valureless1563

toyish1572

worthless1573

out (forth) of door (also doors)1574

leaden1577

riff-raff1577

drafty1582

fecklessc1586

dudgeon?1589

nought-worth1589

tenpenny1592

wanwordy?a1595

shotten herring1598

nugatory1603

unvalued1604

priceless1614

unvaluable1615

valuelessa1616

waste1616

trashya1620

draffy1624

stramineous1624

invaluable1640

roly-poly?1645

nugatorious1646

perquisquilian1647

niffling1649

lazy1671

wanworth1724

little wortha1754

flimsy1756

waff1788

null1790

nothingy1801

nothingly1802

twopenny-halfpenny1809

not worth a flaw1810

garbage1817

peanut1836

duffing1839

trash1843

no-account1845

no-count1851

punky1859

rummagy1872

junky1880

skilligalee1883

footle1894

punk1896

wherry-go-nimble1901

junk1908

rinky-dink1913

schlock1916

tripe1927

duff1938

chickenshit1940

sheg-up1941

expendable1942

(strictly) for the birds1943

tripey1955

schlocky1960

naff1964

dipshit1968

cack1978

the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > instrumentality > [adverb] > by any means or at all > by no means or not at all

naughteOE

not exactly1893

no what1900

eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Otho) xxxvi. 109 Gif hwa..mid fulle willan forlæt ælc good & fulgæð ðæm yfle, & bið ðeah gesce[adwi]s. Ic secge sie unmehtig & eac ealles nauht.

OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 2nd Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) xiii. 132 Gif ic me sylfne wuldrige, þonne bið min wuldor naht.

c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 1480 (MED) Owar þe lauerd is wel aht, Oþer aswunde & nis naht.

c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. xviii. 74 (MED) Of muche moneye þe metal is ryght nauht.

?a1425 tr. Catherine of Siena Orcherd of Syon (Harl.) (1966) 333 (MED) Al þis is ȝoue to þee of me for þin heelþe, þat þou schuldist knowe þisilf nawht and haue þe moore matir of mekenesse and not of pryde.

1503 Act 19 Hen. VII c. 6 The said Persons..mix good Metal and bad together, and make it naught.

1625 S. Purchas Pilgrimes II. 1715 Their armour and weapons are very naught and weake, as well the one as the other.

1693 J. Evelyn tr. J. de La Quintinie Compl. Gard'ner ii. iv. i. 2 By Branches that are naught, I mean those that are of false Wood.

1738 J. Swift Compl. Coll. Genteel Conversat. 18 Tom sings well; but his Luck's naught.

1785 W. Cowper Epist. to J. Hill in Task 288 The punishment importing this, no doubt, That all was naught within.

1819 Ld. Byron Let. 12 Aug. (1976) VI. 207 The poem will be naught.

1851 H. Melville Moby-Dick cxix. 555 All their pains seemed naught.

a1859 J. Austin Lect. Jurispr. (1879) II. 692 Codes and codification are manifestly naught.

1874 A. Trollope Phineas Redux I. ii. 21 For the maintenance of love and friendship, continued correspondence between distant friends is naught.

†b. Law. Of no legal value; invalid, null. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > law > rule of law > illegality > [adjective] > legally invalid or faulty

vicious1393

void1433

naughtc1449

irrite1482

frustrate1497

null1542

bad1613

inofficial1632

null and void1651

unfirm1660

uncurrent1702

invalid1768

inept1818

inoperative1885

c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 430 (MED) God forbede that ech dede..be holde nauȝt and badde if..therfro bi mannis freelnes..synne and yuel comen.

c1460 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Oseney Abbey (1907) 59 (MED) Also both parties consentid that þe compromisse i-maade to-gedur bytwene þem of þe saide thynges be nawȝht and be i-cancellid.

1540 Act 32 Hen. VIII c. 5 The said pretended mariage, which is of it selfe naught and of no force.

1632 R. Sanderson 12 Serm. 62 The election is de jure nulla, naught and voide.

1660 Exact Accompt Trial Regicides f. 53^v Your Plea is naught, illegal, and wicked, and ought not to be allowed.

†c. Of food or drink: unwholesome, bad; unfit for consumption. Cf. naughty adj. 4b. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > qualities of food > [adjective] > unwholesome

unwhole?c1225

unwholesome1297

queasyc1450

contagious?a1500

naughty1535

spilled1574

naught1588

spilt1595

1588 T. Kyd tr. T. Tasso Housholders Philos. f. 20 Things, which (beeing dryed) wold become both hard, and naught to eate, without some kinde of liquor or Conserues.

1610 Bible (Douay) II. Jer. xxiv. 3 The good figges, exceeding good, and the naughtie figges exceeding naught: which can not be eaten because they are naught.

1661 S. Pepys Diary 29 Oct. (1970) II. 203 We..would have been merry; but their wine was so naught..that we were not so.

1718 F. Hutchinson Hist. Ess. conc. Witchcraft xv. 213 Which after the first taste he refused,..but said, It was naught.

1813 C. Marshall Introd. Knowl. & Pract. Gardening (ed. 5) xvii. 288 The raspberry is quite naught [1798 very bad] when stale.

†d. Bad or incorrect in method. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > lack of truth, falsity > an error, mistake > [adjective]

erringa1340

overseena1393

willa1400

out of one's book (also books)1549

straying1553

faulting1566

deceived1569

seek1569

tripping1577

amiss1582

mistaking1582

naught1597

errant1609

solecistical1654

solecismical1656

wrong1695

solecistic1865

1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke 80 It is verie naught, to ascend or descend in that manner.

e. Of a hope, plan, endeavour, etc.: forlorn, vain, ruined; as nothing. Now archaic.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > [adjective] > destroyed

forwroughta1325

lorna1400

destroyedc1440

perishedc1440

shentc1440

defeatc1540

spiltc1540

dissolved?1541

interempt1561

baned1568

mischievedc1570

defeated1578

ruined1585

downcast1592

gone1598

collapsed1610

to take up for hawks' meat1612

naughta1616

blasted1747

wreckeda1821

butchered1839

fucked-up1863

kaput1895

piled-up1906

shambled1940

a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) iii. i. 230 Goe, get you to [y]our House: be gone, away, All will be naught else.

a1625 J. Fletcher Rule a Wife (1640) v. 57 My cause was naught, for 'twas about your honour: And he that wrongs the Innocent nere prospers.

1826 W. Scott Woodstock I. iii. 90 All's naught, girl—and our evil days are come at last.

1851 H. Melville Moby-Dick xlii. 207 In some dim, random way, explain myself I must, else all these chapters might be naught.

1992 Inside Energy (Nexis) 4 May 1 Work on the bill could all be naught if we don't have a responsible rule from the Rules Committee.

a. Morally bad, immoral; wicked. Occasionally also in weakened sense: naughty. Now archaic and rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > [adjective]

woughc888

litherc893

frakeda900

sinnyc950

unrighteouseOE

baleOE

manOE

unfeleOE

ungoodc1000

unwrasta1122

illc1175

nithec1175

wickc1175

hinderfulc1200

quedec1275

wickedc1275

wondlichc1275

unkindc1325

badc1330

divers1340

wrakefula1350

felonousc1374

flagitiousc1384

lewdc1386

noughta1387

ungoodly1390

unquertc1390

diverse1393

felona1400

imperfectc1400

unfairc1400

unfinec1400

unblesseda1425

meschant?c1450

naughtyc1460

feculent1471

sinister1474

noughty?1490

ill-deedya1500

pernicious?1533

scelerous1534

naught1536

goodlyc1560

nefarious1567

iron1574

felly1583

paganish1587

improbate1596

malefactious1607

villain1607

infand1608

scelestious1609

illful1613

scelestic1628

inimicitious1641

infandous1645

iniquous1655

improbous1657

malefactory1667

perta1704

iniquitous1726

unracy1782

unredeemed1799

demoralized1800

fetid1805

scarlet1820

gammy1832

nefast1849

disvaluable1942

badass1955

bad-assed1962

society > morality > moral evil > [adjective]

unfairc888

missOE

ungoodc1000

quedec1275

wondlichc1275

badc1330

divers1340

quedeful1340

shrewdc1384

lewdc1386

ungoodly1390

diverse1393

noughta1400

imperfectc1400

noughtyc1400

unblesseda1425

sinister1474

naughty?a1500

podea1522

naught1536

pelsy1785

1536 R. Beerley Let. in W. B. Scoones Four Cent. Eng. Lett. (1880) 35 And mayck me wych am now nawtt to cum unto grace [and] goodnes.

1582 Bible (Rheims) Matt. vi. 23 But if thine eye be naught: thy whole body shal be darksome.

1603 M. Drayton Barrons Wars iii. iii. 49 A man as subtile, so corrupte, and naught.

1656 R. Sanderson 20 Serm. 184 Where the Gods are naught, who can imagine the Religion should be good.

1707 G. Farquhar Beaux Stratagem ii. 13 Stay, stay, Brother, you shan't get off so; you were very naught last Night.

1740 S. Richardson Pamela II. 253 There was no pleasing her; and I was a Creature, and Wench, and all that was naught.

1954 C. S. Lewis Horse & his Boy iv. 59 It was naught, playmate, very naught of thee to use us so.

†b. With reference to sexual behaviour: promiscuous, licentious. Cf. nought adj. 1c. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > morality > moral evil > evil nature or character > [adjective]

illa1200

thewlessa1327

unrightyc1350

wronga1382

noughtc1400

unhonestc1422

ill-disposedc1460

naughtyc1460

thowless1487

misaffectionate1533

naught1550

ill-conditioned1614

uncharactered1841

1550 Bibliotheca Eliotæ Aquariolus,..a wyttall, that suffreth his wife to be naught.

1594 J. Lyly Mother Bombie i. i. sig. A2^v Rascall, doest thou imagine thy mistres naught of her bodie?

1617 T. Middleton & W. Rowley Faire Quarrell v. sig. I I say shee's naught... Your intended Bride is a whore.

1693 W. Congreve Old Batchelour iii. ii. 28 I'll never see you again, 'cause you'd have me be naught.

†c. to be naught with: to have illicit sexual relations with, to commit adultery with. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

a1555 H. Latimer 27 Serm. (1562) ii. f. 121^v His mistresse perceiuyng his beauty, cast her loue vpon him, and so would haue hym to be naught with her.

1606 P. Holland tr. Suetonius Hist. Twelve Caesars 3 But her afterward hee divorced, suspecting that she had beene naught with P. Clodivs.

a1641 R. Montagu Acts & Monuments (1642) 264 That he had, in his absence, been naught with Mariamne.

1699 T. Cockman tr. Cicero Offices iii. xxv. 305 Upon a false Suspicion, that he had been naught with his Mother-in-law.

†3. Injurious, harmful; unlucky. Usually with for or to. Cf. nought pron. 3. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > [adjective]

unbeheveeOE

unprofitablec1350

thriftlessc1400

undisposingc1400

disprofitable1548

disadvantageous1550

incommodious1579

disadvantageable1587

unadvantageable1603

lossful1611

naught1620

disvantageous1622

disserviceable1645

incommodous1677

unserviceable1698

zero-sum1965

downside1983

the world > action or operation > adversity > calamity or misfortune > [adjective] > inauspicious

perilousc1390

unlucky1519

unchancy1533

unhappy1533

infortunate1548

sinistrous?c1550

luckless1584

dismal1588

ominous1589

fatal1590

bad-bodinga1592

disastrous1598

inauspicious1599

black1604

naught1620

inauspicate1632

infaustous1656

infaust1658

ill-omened1685

black boding1743

wanchancy1768

oracular1820

inominous1832

widdershins1926

1620 J. Melton Astrologaster 46 It is naught for any man to giue a paire of kniues to his sweet heart.

1658 W. Johnson tr. F. Würtz Surgeons Guid ii. iii. 52 That [diet] which is good for man proveth very naught to a woman.

†D. adv.

1. [Originally the accusative of the noun used adverbially: compare aught adv.] Not. See also nat adv., nought pron. 2. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > existence and causation > existence > non-existence > [adverb] > not

neeOE

noughteOE

naughteOE

noeOE

nayc1175

notc1330

nata1350

nit1894

α.

eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xliii. 317 Ne fæste ge ðæs nawuht me.

c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 15551 Tær bilæf þe laferrd..acc nawihht lannge.

c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (1973) 473 For þi þet te lare..ne helpeð nawiht eche lif to habben, ne ȝelpe ich nawiht þrof.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 654 Yhon tre cum þou nawight to.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Coll. Phys.) 24626 (MED) Fra me wald þai nawit twin Til I com mi cosinis Inne.

β. eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Otho) v. 13 Nu ðu ne þe[a]rft þe nauht ondrædan.OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 2nd Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) i. 10 Þæt fyr ne derede naht þam ðrim cnihtum.lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1095 Swiðe mænifealdlice steorran of heofenan feollan, naht be anan oððe twam, ac swa þiclice þæt hit nan mann ateallan ne mihte.c1175 ( Homily: Hist. Holy Rood-tree (Bodl. 343) (1894) 26 Beo ðu istrongod & þu naht þæs tintreȝa ne ondred.a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 35 On ðare oðre woreld and naht hier.c1275 Kentish Serm. in J. Hall Select. Early Middle Eng. (1920) I. 216 (MED) Ne ne offreth him nacht on lepiliche to day, ac alle þo daies i þo yere gostliche.c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 185 Þe gret evel ne comeþ naȝt þer þat me clupeþ þat holi fur.1340 Ayenbite (1866) 103 Ane man of huam me ne kan naȝt his name.a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. 3786 Medea, which foryat him naght, Was redy there.a1425 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (1987) i. 581 Be thow naught wroth.c1450 Mandeville's Trav. (Coventry) (1973) 887 (MED) There shalle he take the brode watres And londe naught til he come to Acres.?a1475 (a1396) W. Hilton Scale of Perfection (Harl. 6579) i. vi. f. 4^v (MED) Þis felynge..lesteþ nauȝht wel longe.?1507 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 97 He will naught lat me lif alane.c1570 J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1830) 135 The King wes nacht content.1575 J. Rolland Treat. Court Venus iv. f. 62 I nacht decerne that thing.γ. a1225 MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 63 (MED) God..ȝife us..in cherite to wnien inne þet we ne fallen naut ine sunne.c1225 (?c1200) Sawles Warde (Bodl.) (1938) 22 Þah ha ne trust nawt on hire ahne wepnen.c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Laud) (1901) 285 (MED) Hye nas naut bliþ.

2. [From sense C.] Badly; wrongly. Cf. nought adv. 4. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > [adverb]

noughtlyeOE

wrothec888

unrighteouslyeOE

foullyOE

naughtlyOE

wrothlyc1200

litherlya1225

unwraste?c1225

illc1275

vilelyc1290

shrewdly13..

felonly1303

unwrastlyc1320

viciouslya1325

diverselyc1325

wickly1338

lewdlyc1384

badlyc1405

foula1425

mischievouslyc1426

felonously1436

felonmentc1470

wickedfullyc1480

villainously1484

meschantlya1492

sinisterly1491

noughtily1528

naughtily?1529

perniciously1533

illy1549

naught1549

bad1575

evilly1581

nefariously1599

scelerately1632

improbously1657

piggishly1756

iniquitously1796

pervertedly1804

society > morality > moral evil > wrong conduct > [adverb]

wrongly1303

abusively1531

nought1533

naught1549

1549 M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. II. Phil. iii. f. viii I rushe not here awaye and there awaye rashely I care not whither, for he loseth his game, that runneth naught.

1552 H. Latimer Serm. (1562) 139 They that are so vsed to swearing, do very naught.

1631 B. Jonson Staple of Newes Intermean iv. 4 in Wks. II How doe's the Play please you? Censure. Very scuruily, me thinks, and sufficiently naught.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2003; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	naught
释义	naughtpron.n.adj.adv. Brit. /nɔːt/, U.S. /nɔt/, /nɑt/ Forms: α. Old English nawuht, Old English–early Middle English nawiht, late Old English nawith, late Old English nawuiht, late Old English–Middle English nawit, early Middle English nauyt, early Middle English navich, early Middle English navith, early Middle English nawhit, early Middle English nawicht, early Middle English nawihht ( Ormulum), early Middle English nawiðt, Middle English na wete, Middle English nawight, Middle English nawjght. β. Old English–early Middle English naht, Old English–Middle English nauht, Old English–Middle English nawht, late Old English næht (Kentish), late Old English nahtte (dative), early Middle English nagt, early Middle English nah (transmission error), early Middle English naþt, Middle English nacht, Middle English naȝt, Middle English naȝte, Middle English naȝuth (transmission error), Middle English naȝwth, Middle English natht, Middle English nauȝ (transmission error), Middle English naughst, Middle English nauȝht, Middle English nauȝst, Middle English nauȝt, Middle English nauȝte, Middle English nawȝht, Middle English nawȝt, Middle English (1800s– English regional) naght, Middle English–1500s nawght, Middle English– naught, 1500s naughte, 1500s–1600s naugh; Scottish pre-1700 nacht, pre-1700 1700s– naught, pre-1700 1900s– naucht. γ. late Old English–Middle English nawt, Middle English nauth, Middle English nawth, Middle English nayt, Middle English–1500s naut, 1500s nawlt, 1500s nawtt, 1800s naet (Scottish); English regional 1800s nate (Kent), 1800s neat (Dorset), 1800s neawt (northern). Origin: Formed within English, by compounding. Etymons: English na , no adv.¹, wight n.; ne adv.¹, aught pron. Etymology: Either < na, variant of no adv.¹ + wight n., or < ne adv.¹ + aught pron. (see α. forms at aught pron., adj., and adv.). Compare nought pron., n., adv., and adj. As adjective, developed from predicative use of the noun.In northern Middle English texts the full form nawight may represent Old English nānwiht rather than nāwiht . The form nȝt is attested in late Middle English as an abbreviation. For the comparative history of naught and nought see nought pron., n., adv., and adj. A. pron. 1. Nothing, not anything; = nought pron. 1a. Now archaic and literary. ΚΠ α. eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xliv. 329 Me hyngrede, & ge me nawuht [eOE Junius nauht] ne sealdun etan. OE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Corpus Oxf.) ii. x. 134 Eallinga nawiht mægenes ne nyttnesse hafað sio æfæstnes, þe we oð ðis hæfdon & beeodon. OE King Ælfred tr. Psalms (Paris) (2001) xiv. 5 Se þe þone awyrgdan for nawuht hæfð. c1225 (?c1200) Sawles Warde (Bodl.) (1938) 20 (MED) Hwet se beo of heardes, ne drede ich nawiht nesches. c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 1324 (MED) Mani dor & man..of hswucche na wiht ne con. β. OE Blickling Homilies 53 Þa halgan..þe on þyssum life naht ne sohton, ne ne gyrndon to hæbenne.lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1072 He þær naht ne funde þæs þe him þe bet wære.lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Bodl.) iii. 9 Ðis Mod..nauht elles nat butan gnornunga.?a1160 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1137 Þe biscopes & lered men heom cursede æure, oc was heom naht þar of, for hi uueron al forcursæd & forsuoren & forloren.1340 Ayenbite (1866) 131 (MED) Þanne yefþ him god iuele þet mannes miȝte ne is naȝt and þet he ne may naȝt.c1387–95 G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. 756 Of manhode hym lakked right naught.?a1475 (a1396) W. Hilton Scale of Perfection (Harl. 6579) i. ii. f. 2^v Ȝif he mikel haue, mikel do; ȝif he litel haue, lesse do; and ȝif he naȝuth haue, þat he þanne haue a good will.a1500 (?c1450) Merlin 18 (MED) Leet my moder be in pese that natht knoweth of that thow puttest on hir.1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 113 The Pope had the more hate vnto him, for that he had brought him vp of naught.1639 J. Clarke Paroemiologia 126 Naught is never in danger. It will last longer than a better thing.1645 J. Milton On Christ's Nativity: Hymn xxiv, in Poems 11 Naught but profoundest Hell can be his shroud.1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 139 Unconstrain'd he nothing tells for naught . View more context for this quotation1738 J. Swift Compl. Coll. Genteel Conversat. 46 You have the old Proverb on your Side, Naught's ne'er in Danger.1873 T. Hardy Pair of Blue Eyes II. x. 229 'Twould have been as naught, for the box were glued all round.1906 Daily Chron. 12 July 3/3 High-sniffing pretenders..affect to find in Mr. Meredith's poetry naught that is obscure.1979 Listener 6 Dec. 767/3 The worldly concerns of these, after all, mainly literary reviews, are as naught if they do not try to establish and follow clear-eyed standards of literary value.1998 N.Y. Mag. 12 Jan. 80/1 The wretched exits of both the Jets and the Giants have left New Yorkers with naught but Knicks and Rangers to root for.γ. lOE King Ælfred tr. St. Augustine Soliloquies (Vitell.) (1922) i. 7 Ðu þe us lærdest þat we nawt unalyfdes dydon.a1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine 1186 (MED) Nes nawt iteiet to þe treo þer he deide upon, to drahen buten fleschtimber. 2. In the dative in early use. a. to bring (also †do) to naught: (in early use literal) to reduce to nothing, to destroy; (in later use chiefly figurative) to frustrate. Cf. nought pron. 2a. Now archaic and literary. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)] to bring to noughteOE forspillc893 fordilghec900 to bring to naughtOE astryea1200 stroyc1200 forferec1275 misdoa1325 destroyc1330 naught1340 dingc1380 beshenda1400 devoida1400 unshapea1400 to wend downa1400 brittenc1400 unloukc1400 perishc1426 defeat1435 unmake1439 lithc1450 spend1481 kill1530 to shend ofc1540 quade1565 to make away1566 discreate1570 wrake1570 wracka1586 unwork1587 gaster1609 defease1621 unbe1624 uncreate1633 destructa1638 naufragate1648 stifle1725 stramash1788 disannul1794 destructify1841 locust1868 to knock out1944 dick1972 OE Paris Psalter (1932) lix. 11 He sona mæg ure fynd gedon fracoþe to nahte. lOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Bodl.) x. 23 Ne eart þu no eallunga to nauhte gedon. c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 9421 Hii asailede þe verste ost & broȝte almest to naȝte. c1395 G. Chaucer Canon's Yeoman's Tale 1401 A man may lightly lerne if he haue aught To multiplie and brynge his good to naught. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Esdras i. 11 In y^e east haue I brought two landes and people to naught. 1548 L. Shepherd Doctour Doubble Ale To folow such learning As now a dayes is taught It wolde sone bring to naught His olde popish brayne. 1579 E. Hake Newes out of Powles Churchyarde newly Renued v. sig. Eiii How oft it comes to passe, The yongmen brought to naught therby [sc. by wealth], are witnesses. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iii. 158 Or shall the Adversarie thus obtain His end, and frustrate thine, shall he fulfill His malice, and thy goodness bring to naught . View more context for this quotation 1809 W. C. Bryant Embargo 9 See in his [sc. the farmer's] stores his hoarded produce rot, Or Sheriff sales his profits bring to naught. 1889 ‘M. Twain’ Connecticut Yankee xi. 132 It will grieve you that you had thought by vanities of the mind to thwart and bring to naught the will of Him that giveth not a castle a direction from a place except it pleaseth Him. 1908 C. M. Doughty Adam Cast Forth 60 How weak man's substance is; That liveth, by daily meat, as a beast's flesh; Else his clay breathing being were brought to naught. 2000 Business Day (S. Afr.) (Nexis) 11 Feb. (National section) 3 Such a move would bring to naught efforts to revitalise the city centre of SAs capital. b. to come (also †become, †go, etc.) to naught: (in early use literal) to become nothing, to perish; (in later use chiefly figurative) to come to nothing, to be in vain. Cf. nought pron. 2b. Now archaic and literary. ΚΠ OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) i. 182 For ði is se man betera gif he gode geðihð, þonne ealle ða nytenu sindon, for ðan ðe hi ealle gewurðað to nahte. lOE Metrical Charm: Against Wen (Royal 4 A.xiv) 13 Alswa litel þu gewurþe þet þu nawiht gewurþe. c1300 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 79 Al sal gon þat man hier houet, and al it scal bicome to naut. 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 91 (MED) Þe drope of þe deawe..ualþ agrund and to naȝte becomþ. 1592 T. Kyd Spanish Trag. ii. sig. D^v Endeuour you to winne your daughters thoughts, If she giue back, all this will come to naught. 1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Perir,..to come to ruine, or to naught. 1669 S. Pepys Diary 6 Mar. (1976) IX. 471 He joins with me in his fears that all will go to naught as matters are now managed. 1705 E. Ward Fair Shell but Rotten Kernel i. 11 Had that good Doctrine all along been taught, Those Ills that prosper'd, would have come to naught. 1849 H. Melville Mardi II. liv. 227 His diabolical machinations against this ineffable land must soon come to naught. 1869 ‘M. Twain’ Innocents Abroad xi. 104 It was a pity that so many weeks of dreary labor should have come to naught at last. 1929 A. Pollitzer Let. 17 Aug. in G. O'Keeffe & A. Pollitzer Lovingly, Georgia (1990) 277 Producers asking him to do press for plays—which are such flops that the job comes to naught. 1988 H. C. R. Landon Mozart's Last Year xiii. 195 Wolfgang's next scheme was to import Aloysia and her father to Paris..but this plan came to naught. 3. (all) for naught. a. In vain, unsuccessfully. Cf. nought pron. 4a. Now archaic and literary. ΚΠ c1225 (?c1200) Hali Meiðhad (Bodl.) (1940) 693 (MED) Al for nawt þu prokest me to forgulten. a1425 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (1987) v. 1230 His bretheren and his sustren gonne hym freyne Whi he so sorwful was..But al for naught. a1500 (a1450) Partonope of Blois (BL Add.) (1912) 10983 (MED) Now Armauntes wounde is serched and sought, Wele tented and bounde all for naught. Armed in no wise myght he be. 1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes sig. S.iii A litle hope I caught: That for a whyle my life did stay. But in effect, all was for naught. 1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes vii. 36 His might continues in thee not for naught . View more context for this quotation 1820 T. Dibdin Ivanhoe i. ii. 17 The dream was not dreamed for naught, the vision cometh not in vain. 1886 O. F. Adams Post-laureate Idyls 46 All for naught my quest. 1904 Collier's 7 May 7/3 If we are going to take all the little islands of the seas and hold them with a mailed hand..then what I have said goes for naught. 1973 Jrnl. Polit. Econ. 81 624 The two-parameter model seems to be standing up well to the data. All is for naught, however, if the critical condition C3 is rejected. 1997 Times 7 July 23/4 The brave efforts of Hinton and his New Zealanders were to count for naught. b. Without payment, reward, or benefit. Cf. nought pron. 4d. Now archaic and literary. ΚΠ 1568 E. Tilney Flower of Friendshippe sig. Bj For such amongst the Venetians, there was no money either giuen, or taken, but were maried for naught. 1630 J. Taylor Wks. 145 I'de trusse thee vp for naught, were Hangmen scant. 1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd iv. 86 On what I offer set as high esteem, Nor what I part with mean to give for naught . View more context for this quotation 1782 B. Franklin Levé 31 Mar. in Writings (1987) 934 Doth Job serve God for naught? 1830 H. More Wks. II. 20 We poor fools..find we've sold our souls for naught. 1861 T. B. Aldrich Pythagoras 20 Can I stoop to..Give dross for dross, or everything for naught? 1914 W. S. Blunt Polit. Wks. II. 283 How shall we bring the price, since ye give naught for naught? 1960 J. Barth Sot-weed Factor ii. xv. 276 She was not wont to bestowe her charms for naught. 1983 J. Tate Constant Defender iii. 51 I recall a miser's white goose sold for naught. c. For no good reason, without cause. Cf. nought pron. 4c. Now poetic and rare. ΚΠ ?1577 F. T. Debate Pride & Lowlines sig. Dv^v These..dooe suffer..sclaunder for naught els, but that a knaue, Hath of them made a cloake for deede of shame. 1607 Fayre Mayde of Exchange sig. F^v What sit I heere for naught? 1727 M. Davys Accomplish'd Rake 120 Miss Wary..had not her Name for naught. 1807 W. H. Ireland Stultifera Navis xxxv. 148 Take special care; nor cavil thus for naught. 1876 W. Carlton Young Folks' Centennial Rhymes 27 For naught it [sc. breaking the ice] was done but to spoil the fun Of which we as boys are fond. a1901 W. E. Channing Coll. Wks. (1967) 986 Condemn me not for naught. a1930 S. Image Poems (1932) 59 Spirit of Light..[Thou] didst ordain for naught Save in Thine own creative joy up-caught To find its last energy and life intense. 4. to call (rarely to speak) (all) to naught [perhaps < to call all too naught, to condemn as reprehensible] : to attack verbally; to denounce with passion. Cf. nought pron. 2d. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > malediction > [verb (transitive)] > abuse, scold, or wrangle chidec1230 revilea1393 to call (rarely to speak) (all) to naught1542 vituperate1542 abuse1592 to speak or look daggers1603 outrage1608 cuss1831 slangwhang1880 strafe1915 slag1958 name-call1960 the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > invective or abuse > abuse [verb (transitive)] vilea1300 rebutc1330 revilea1393 arunt1399 stainc1450 brawl1474 vituper1484 rebalk1501 to call (rarely to speak) (all) to naught1542 rattle1542 vituperate1542 bedaub1570 beray1576 bespurt1579 wring1581 misuse1583 caperclaw1589 abuse1592 rail1592 exagitate1593 to shoot atc1595 belabour1596 to scour one's mouth on1598 bespurtle1604 conviciate1604 scandala1616 delitigate1623 betongue1639 bespatter1644 rant1647 palt1648 opprobriatea1657 pelt1658 proscind1659 inveigh1670 clapperclaw1692 blackguard1767 philippize1804 drub1811 foul-mouth1822 bullyrag1823 target1837 barge1841 to light on ——1842 slang1844 villainize1857 slangwhang1880 slam-bang1888 vituperize1894 bad-mouth1941 slag1958 zing1962 to dump on (occasionally all over)1967 1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes Table Dionysius would call Aristippus foole and all to naught. 1559 Certayne Serm. (new ed.) in J. Griffiths Two Bks. Homilies (1859) i. 134 David, when Semei did call him all to naught, did not chide again. 1631 J. Mabbe tr. F. de Rojas Spanish Bawd ix. 112 They will reuile their mayds, and call them all to naught. 1658 W. Gurnall Christian in Armour: 2nd Pt. 188 His enemies from this take advantage to speak him all to naught. ?1706 E. Hickeringill Priest-craft: 2nd Pt. v. 51 Queen Elizabeth..reigned..above 30 Years after the Pope had call'd her all to naught. 1781 in Essex Inst. Historical Coll. (1913) XXVI. 115 One of the French Captains..struck him in the head, and called him all to naught. 1849 W. Irving Rip Van Winkle 147 From even this stronghold the unlucky Rip was at length routed by his termagant wife, who would suddenly break in upon the tranquillity of the assemblage and call the members all to naught. 1877 E. Leigh Gloss. Words Dial. Cheshire To call to naught, to abuse violently. †5. to be naught: to keep quiet; to withdraw or be unobtrusive. Usually in imperative. Cf. nought pron. 6. Obsolete.In quots. 1606 and a1625 perhaps with punning allusion to sense C. 2c. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > humility > modesty > be modest [verb (intransitive)] > efface oneself to be noughta1529 to be naught1593 1593 G. Peele Famous Chron. King Edward the First sig. E2^v Let go and be naught I say. 1606 G. Chapman Gentleman Vsher iii. sig. E Kisse her; yfaith you must; get you togither and be naughts awhile, get you together. a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) i. i. 33 Be better employed, and be naught a while. View more context for this quotation a1625 J. Fletcher Humorous Lieut. v. iii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Sss4^v/1 So get ye together, and be naught. B. n. 1. That which does not exist; nothingness. Cf. nought pron. 1a. Now archaic and rare. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > existence > non-existence > [noun] > that which is non-existent naughtOE nothing1535 nothingnessa1631 non-existence1646 nonentity1656 nihilation1695 nonent1885 OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) xvi. 311 Þæt him sy sumera þinga eaðelicor to arærenne þone deadan of ðam duste, þonne him wære to wyrcenne ealle gesceafta, of nahte. a1225 (?OE) MS Vesp. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 233 (MED) S[t]rang he his and michti, for he ȝesceop alle þing of nahte. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. v. 489 (MED) God..of nauȝte madest auȝte. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Macc. vii. 28 God made them and mans generacion of naught. 1609 A. Gardyne Garden Grave & Godlie Flowres sig. D ^v God..Who in his Wisdome hes All Natures made of naught. 1893 F. Thompson Poems 53 ‘None but I makes much of naught’ (He said). 1990 J. S. Downard in A. Parfrey Apocalypse Culture (rev. ed.) 321 Zero is a symbol of naught, nothing, nonexistence, zip, the big bagel. †2. a. Wickedness, evil, moral wrong. Cf. nought pron. 3b. Obsolete. naught-fremend n. [ < naught n. + freme v. + -end suffix¹] evildoer.In early modern use chiefly in to do (also play the) naught. In quots. 1594 and 1597 spec. with reference to adultery (cf. sense C. 2c.). ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > [noun] woughc888 naughteOE manOE evilness1000 fakenOE witherfulnessc1200 lithera1225 villainy?c1225 lithernessa1240 unwrastshipa1250 felonyc1290 shrewheadc1290 litherhead1297 illa1300 wicknessa1300 follyc1300 iniquity13.. shrewdom13.. wickhedec1305 shrewdheadc1315 shrewdnessc1315 unwrastnessc1315 wickednessa1340 malicea1382 unequityc1384 lewdnessa1387 mischiefa1387 wickedleka1400 wickedredea1400 badnessc1400 shrewdshipc1400 shrewnessc1425 ungoodlihead1430 wickdomc1440 rudenessc1451 mauvasty1474 unkindliness1488 noughtinessa1500 perversenessa1500 illnessc1500 filthiness?1504 noisomeness1506 naughtiness?1529 noughtihoodc1540 inexcellence1590 improbity1593 flagition1598 meschancy1609 scelerateness1613 pravity1620 meschantnessa1630 flagitiousness1692 flagitiosity1727 nefariousness1727 bale-fire1855 ill-conditionedness1866 iniquitousness1870 society > morality > moral evil > wrong conduct > evildoing or wrongdoing > [noun] sinc825 naughteOE unnuteOE sinningc1000 unrightOE un-i-selthlOE wonder1154 misguiltc1200 misdoinga1225 teeninga1225 miss?c1225 crimec1250 misdeed?c1250 wickednessa1300 mischiefa1387 evil-doing1398 mistakinga1400 perpetrationc1429 wrongingc1449 maledictionc1475 maleficence1533 wicked-doing1535 foul play1546 misdealing1571 flagition1598 delinquency1603 malefaction1604 meschancy1609 malefacture1635 misacting1651 guilt1726 flagitiosity1727 malpractice1739 malfeasance1856 peccation1861 miscreance1972 the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > [noun] > zero > amount noneeOE naughteOE nilc1550 naughts1559 zeroa1703 society > morality > moral evil > wrong conduct > evildoing or wrongdoing > do evil or wrong [verb (intransitive)] misdoOE lithera1300 malignc1425 to do (also play the) naught1594 to hold a candle to the devil1598 eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xxxv. 241 Ðonne mon ongiet mid hwelcum stæpum ðæt nawht [L. nequitia] wæs ðurhtogen. OE Paris Psalter (1932) lviii. 2 Genere me fram niþe nahtfremmendra þe her unrihtes ealle wyrceað [L. eripe me de operantibus iniquitatem] . ?1521 Bk. Ghoostly Fader sig. Ci^v Lechery, robory or man slaught. He must be knowen or thou doste naught. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. lxj The Magistrate doeth naught [L. inique facit], but you doe muche worse. 1594 in Rec. Ely Consistory Court K5/187 Cross and Willowes his wife played the naught together in a pitt. 1597 W. Shakespeare Richard III i. i. 100 I tell thee fellow, He that doth naught with her, excepting one Were best he doe it secretly alone. View more context for this quotation 1627 R. Sanderson Ten Serm. 411 From doing nothing proceede to doing naught. 1649 R. Lovelace Lucasta: Epodes, Odes, Sonnets, Songs 72 Naught [shall] be ignote not so much out of Feare Of being punisht, as offending Her. b. A thing of no worth or value. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > that which is unimportant > worthless hawc1000 turdc1275 fille1297 dusta1300 lead1303 skitc1330 naught1340 vanityc1340 wrakea1350 rushc1350 dirt1357 fly's wing1377 goose-wing1377 fartc1390 chaff?a1400 nutshella1400 shalec1400 yardc1400 wrack1472 pelfrya1529 trasha1529 dreg1531 trish-trash1542 alchemy1547 beggary?1548 rubbish1548 pelfa1555 chip1556 stark naught1562 paltry?1566 rubbish1566 riff-raff1570 bran1574 baggage1579 nihil1579 trush-trash1582 stubblea1591 tartar1590 garbage1592 bag of winda1599 a cracked or slit groat1600 kitchen stuff1600 tilta1603 nothing?1608 bauble1609 countera1616 a pair of Yorkshire sleeves in a goldsmith's shop1620 buttermilk1630 dross1632 paltrement1641 cattle1643 bagatelle1647 nothingness1652 brimborion1653 stuff1670 flap-dragon1700 mud1706 caput mortuuma1711 snuff1778 twaddle1786 powder-post1790 traffic1828 junk1836 duffer1852 shice1859 punk1869 hogwash1870 cagmag1875 shit1890 tosh1892 tripe1895 dreck1905 schlock1906 cannon fodder1917 shite1928 skunk1929 crut1937 chickenshit1938 crud1943 Mickey Mouse1958 gick1959 garbo1978 turd1978 pants1994 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 59 (MED) Huanne..hi nolleþ zigge aperteliche, hi hit makeþ a naȝt and makeþ zuo moche ham milde. c. Something wrong or faulty in method. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > lack of truth, falsity > an error, mistake > [noun] misnimming?c1225 errora1340 defaulta1387 balkc1430 fault1523 jeofail1546 errat1548 trip1548 naught1557 missa1568 missinga1568 slide1570 snappera1572 amiss1576 mistaking1579 misprize1590 mistake1600 berry-block1603 solecism1603 fallibility1608 stumblea1612 blota1657 slur1662 incorrectnessa1771 bumble1823 skew1869 (to make) a false step1875 slip-up1909 ricket1958 bad1981 1557 T. Tusser Hundreth Good Pointes Husbandrie sig. B.i^v All soules that be thursty, bid threshe out for mawlt: well handled and tended, or els thou dost nawlt. 1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball 38 Ignorant Apothecaries do dayly use it in steede of the right Cotyledon, wherein they do naught, and commit manifest errour. 1658 W. Johnson tr. F. Würtz Surgeons Guid i. ii. 4 Naught will be naught, and never good, though it had been practised a thousand years. d. An evil or wicked thing. Also: a bad or wicked person. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > evil thing > [noun] shrewc1315 bad1576 malum in se1622 naughta1639 the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > evil person > [noun] fiendc1220 shrewc1250 quedea1275 felon1340 malfeasorc1380 evil-doer1398 forfeiter1413 pucka1450 malefactor?c1450 wicked-doerc1450 improbe1484 wicked1484 Gomorrheana1529 dunghill1542 felonian1594 naughta1639 black sheep1640 pimp1649 hellicat1816 malfeasant1867 a bad sortc1869 bad seed1954 bloody1960 society > morality > moral evil > [noun] > evil thing shrewc1315 naughta1639 a double whammy1951 society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > [noun] > wicked person warlockOE shrewc1250 quedea1275 wick1297 felon1340 son of perditionc1384 nicec1400 pucka1450 sorrowc1450 improbe1484 wicked1484 naughtyc1580 stigmatic1597 thornback1599 stigmatist1607 naughta1639 dungeona1728 a1639 W. Whately Prototypes (1640) ii. xxix. 182 Here is revenge, filthinesse and fraud, and a number of naughts put together to make each other worse. 1657 J. Trapp Comm. Esther vii. 7 Unlesse it be Harang, that naughtiest of all naughts. 1855 E. C. Gaskell North & South I. xviii. 223 The law expenses would have been more than the hands themselves were worth—a set of ungrateful naughts! 3. a. The figure or character 0, representing zero; = nought pron. 4. Now chiefly U.S. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > [noun] > zero > nought or character zero cipher1399 nullity1587 nullo1598 zero1604 null1648 naught1649 noughta1660 ought1821 aught1822 oh1908 1649 J. Milton Εικονοκλαστης xxvii. 223 After all thir paines and travell to be dissolv'd, and cast away like so many Naughts in Arithmetick. 1825 M. E. (title) Airy nothings: or scraps and naughts, and odd-cum-shorts. 1848 D. Adams Arithm. (rev. ed.) 10 There is another character, 0; it is called a cipher, naught, or nothing. 1879 G. Meredith Egoist xix ‘There is a figure naught,’ said he. 1912 Science 5 Apr. 535/1 The department has erected in Brookline a 700 foot span of number two naught bare stranded wire to represent a transmission span on towers. 1947 Jrnl. Hist. Ideas 8 112 All arithmetical ideas can be symbolized by only two signs representing one and naught. 1997 B. Morrow Giovanni's Gift ii. 128 All was winding down toward a vortical black hole for me, my several decades in the world having amounted to a great big zilch, a grand naught, a goose egg. b. U.S. Not any quantity or number, zero; = nought n. 1c. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > [noun] > zero nothing?c1425 nought?c1425 zeroa1703 naught1864 nowt1865 1864 F. C. Bowen Logic (ed. 2) 444 The one would only double his fortune, and the other reduce his to naught. 1909 Amer. Math. Monthly 31 303 Angles varying from naught to 720° = 4π. 1994 Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 344 451 As usual, an empty sum is assumed to be naught. C. adj. 1. †a. Worthless; useless, bad, poor; vain. Cf. nought pron. 1a, 2 and stark naught adj. and n. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > worthless naughteOE unworthc960 nought worthOE unworthya1240 vaina1300 lewd1362 base?1510 to be nothing toc1520 stark naught1528 nothing worth1535 worthilessa1542 draffish1543 baggage1548 dunghill?1555 valureless1563 toyish1572 worthless1573 out (forth) of door (also doors)1574 leaden1577 riff-raff1577 drafty1582 fecklessc1586 dudgeon?1589 nought-worth1589 tenpenny1592 wanwordy?a1595 shotten herring1598 nugatory1603 unvalued1604 priceless1614 unvaluable1615 valuelessa1616 waste1616 trashya1620 draffy1624 stramineous1624 invaluable1640 roly-poly?1645 nugatorious1646 perquisquilian1647 niffling1649 lazy1671 wanworth1724 little wortha1754 flimsy1756 waff1788 null1790 nothingy1801 nothingly1802 twopenny-halfpenny1809 not worth a flaw1810 garbage1817 peanut1836 duffing1839 trash1843 no-account1845 no-count1851 punky1859 rummagy1872 junky1880 skilligalee1883 footle1894 punk1896 wherry-go-nimble1901 junk1908 rinky-dink1913 schlock1916 tripe1927 duff1938 chickenshit1940 sheg-up1941 expendable1942 (strictly) for the birds1943 tripey1955 schlocky1960 naff1964 dipshit1968 cack1978 the world > action or operation > advantage > usefulness > use (made of things) > instrumentality > [adverb] > by any means or at all > by no means or not at all naughteOE not exactly1893 no what1900 eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Otho) xxxvi. 109 Gif hwa..mid fulle willan forlæt ælc good & fulgæð ðæm yfle, & bið ðeah gesce[adwi]s. Ic secge sie unmehtig & eac ealles nauht. OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 2nd Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) xiii. 132 Gif ic me sylfne wuldrige, þonne bið min wuldor naht. c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 1480 (MED) Owar þe lauerd is wel aht, Oþer aswunde & nis naht. c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. xviii. 74 (MED) Of muche moneye þe metal is ryght nauht. ?a1425 tr. Catherine of Siena Orcherd of Syon (Harl.) (1966) 333 (MED) Al þis is ȝoue to þee of me for þin heelþe, þat þou schuldist knowe þisilf nawht and haue þe moore matir of mekenesse and not of pryde. 1503 Act 19 Hen. VII c. 6 The said Persons..mix good Metal and bad together, and make it naught. 1625 S. Purchas Pilgrimes II. 1715 Their armour and weapons are very naught and weake, as well the one as the other. 1693 J. Evelyn tr. J. de La Quintinie Compl. Gard'ner ii. iv. i. 2 By Branches that are naught, I mean those that are of false Wood. 1738 J. Swift Compl. Coll. Genteel Conversat. 18 Tom sings well; but his Luck's naught. 1785 W. Cowper Epist. to J. Hill in Task 288 The punishment importing this, no doubt, That all was naught within. 1819 Ld. Byron Let. 12 Aug. (1976) VI. 207 The poem will be naught. 1851 H. Melville Moby-Dick cxix. 555 All their pains seemed naught. a1859 J. Austin Lect. Jurispr. (1879) II. 692 Codes and codification are manifestly naught. 1874 A. Trollope Phineas Redux I. ii. 21 For the maintenance of love and friendship, continued correspondence between distant friends is naught. †b. Law. Of no legal value; invalid, null. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > law > rule of law > illegality > [adjective] > legally invalid or faulty vicious1393 void1433 naughtc1449 irrite1482 frustrate1497 null1542 bad1613 inofficial1632 null and void1651 unfirm1660 uncurrent1702 invalid1768 inept1818 inoperative1885 c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 430 (MED) God forbede that ech dede..be holde nauȝt and badde if..therfro bi mannis freelnes..synne and yuel comen. c1460 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Oseney Abbey (1907) 59 (MED) Also both parties consentid that þe compromisse i-maade to-gedur bytwene þem of þe saide thynges be nawȝht and be i-cancellid. 1540 Act 32 Hen. VIII c. 5 The said pretended mariage, which is of it selfe naught and of no force. 1632 R. Sanderson 12 Serm. 62 The election is de jure nulla, naught and voide. 1660 Exact Accompt Trial Regicides f. 53^v Your Plea is naught, illegal, and wicked, and ought not to be allowed. †c. Of food or drink: unwholesome, bad; unfit for consumption. Cf. naughty adj. 4b. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > qualities of food > [adjective] > unwholesome unwhole?c1225 unwholesome1297 queasyc1450 contagious?a1500 naughty1535 spilled1574 naught1588 spilt1595 1588 T. Kyd tr. T. Tasso Housholders Philos. f. 20 Things, which (beeing dryed) wold become both hard, and naught to eate, without some kinde of liquor or Conserues. 1610 Bible (Douay) II. Jer. xxiv. 3 The good figges, exceeding good, and the naughtie figges exceeding naught: which can not be eaten because they are naught. 1661 S. Pepys Diary 29 Oct. (1970) II. 203 We..would have been merry; but their wine was so naught..that we were not so. 1718 F. Hutchinson Hist. Ess. conc. Witchcraft xv. 213 Which after the first taste he refused,..but said, It was naught. 1813 C. Marshall Introd. Knowl. & Pract. Gardening (ed. 5) xvii. 288 The raspberry is quite naught [1798 very bad] when stale. †d. Bad or incorrect in method. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > lack of truth, falsity > an error, mistake > [adjective] erringa1340 overseena1393 willa1400 out of one's book (also books)1549 straying1553 faulting1566 deceived1569 seek1569 tripping1577 amiss1582 mistaking1582 naught1597 errant1609 solecistical1654 solecismical1656 wrong1695 solecistic1865 1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke 80 It is verie naught, to ascend or descend in that manner. e. Of a hope, plan, endeavour, etc.: forlorn, vain, ruined; as nothing. Now archaic. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > [adjective] > destroyed forwroughta1325 lorna1400 destroyedc1440 perishedc1440 shentc1440 defeatc1540 spiltc1540 dissolved?1541 interempt1561 baned1568 mischievedc1570 defeated1578 ruined1585 downcast1592 gone1598 collapsed1610 to take up for hawks' meat1612 naughta1616 blasted1747 wreckeda1821 butchered1839 fucked-up1863 kaput1895 piled-up1906 shambled1940 a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) iii. i. 230 Goe, get you to [y]our House: be gone, away, All will be naught else. View more context for this quotation a1625 J. Fletcher Rule a Wife (1640) v. 57 My cause was naught, for 'twas about your honour: And he that wrongs the Innocent nere prospers. 1826 W. Scott Woodstock I. iii. 90 All's naught, girl—and our evil days are come at last. 1851 H. Melville Moby-Dick xlii. 207 In some dim, random way, explain myself I must, else all these chapters might be naught. 1992 Inside Energy (Nexis) 4 May 1 Work on the bill could all be naught if we don't have a responsible rule from the Rules Committee. 2. a. Morally bad, immoral; wicked. Occasionally also in weakened sense: naughty. Now archaic and rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > [adjective] woughc888 litherc893 frakeda900 sinnyc950 unrighteouseOE baleOE manOE unfeleOE ungoodc1000 unwrasta1122 illc1175 nithec1175 wickc1175 hinderfulc1200 quedec1275 wickedc1275 wondlichc1275 unkindc1325 badc1330 divers1340 wrakefula1350 felonousc1374 flagitiousc1384 lewdc1386 noughta1387 ungoodly1390 unquertc1390 diverse1393 felona1400 imperfectc1400 unfairc1400 unfinec1400 unblesseda1425 meschant?c1450 naughtyc1460 feculent1471 sinister1474 noughty?1490 ill-deedya1500 pernicious?1533 scelerous1534 naught1536 goodlyc1560 nefarious1567 iron1574 felly1583 paganish1587 improbate1596 malefactious1607 villain1607 infand1608 scelestious1609 illful1613 scelestic1628 inimicitious1641 infandous1645 iniquous1655 improbous1657 malefactory1667 perta1704 iniquitous1726 unracy1782 unredeemed1799 demoralized1800 fetid1805 scarlet1820 gammy1832 nefast1849 disvaluable1942 badass1955 bad-assed1962 society > morality > moral evil > [adjective] unfairc888 missOE ungoodc1000 quedec1275 wondlichc1275 badc1330 divers1340 quedeful1340 shrewdc1384 lewdc1386 ungoodly1390 diverse1393 noughta1400 imperfectc1400 noughtyc1400 unblesseda1425 sinister1474 naughty?a1500 podea1522 naught1536 pelsy1785 1536 R. Beerley Let. in W. B. Scoones Four Cent. Eng. Lett. (1880) 35 And mayck me wych am now nawtt to cum unto grace [and] goodnes. 1582 Bible (Rheims) Matt. vi. 23 But if thine eye be naught: thy whole body shal be darksome. 1603 M. Drayton Barrons Wars iii. iii. 49 A man as subtile, so corrupte, and naught. 1656 R. Sanderson 20 Serm. 184 Where the Gods are naught, who can imagine the Religion should be good. 1707 G. Farquhar Beaux Stratagem ii. 13 Stay, stay, Brother, you shan't get off so; you were very naught last Night. 1740 S. Richardson Pamela II. 253 There was no pleasing her; and I was a Creature, and Wench, and all that was naught. 1954 C. S. Lewis Horse & his Boy iv. 59 It was naught, playmate, very naught of thee to use us so. †b. With reference to sexual behaviour: promiscuous, licentious. Cf. nought adj. 1c. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > morality > moral evil > evil nature or character > [adjective] illa1200 thewlessa1327 unrightyc1350 wronga1382 noughtc1400 unhonestc1422 ill-disposedc1460 naughtyc1460 thowless1487 misaffectionate1533 naught1550 ill-conditioned1614 uncharactered1841 1550 Bibliotheca Eliotæ Aquariolus,..a wyttall, that suffreth his wife to be naught. 1594 J. Lyly Mother Bombie i. i. sig. A2^v Rascall, doest thou imagine thy mistres naught of her bodie? 1617 T. Middleton & W. Rowley Faire Quarrell v. sig. I I say shee's naught... Your intended Bride is a whore. 1693 W. Congreve Old Batchelour iii. ii. 28 I'll never see you again, 'cause you'd have me be naught. †c. to be naught with: to have illicit sexual relations with, to commit adultery with. Obsolete. ΚΠ a1555 H. Latimer 27 Serm. (1562) ii. f. 121^v His mistresse perceiuyng his beauty, cast her loue vpon him, and so would haue hym to be naught with her. 1606 P. Holland tr. Suetonius Hist. Twelve Caesars 3 But her afterward hee divorced, suspecting that she had beene naught with P. Clodivs. a1641 R. Montagu Acts & Monuments (1642) 264 That he had, in his absence, been naught with Mariamne. 1699 T. Cockman tr. Cicero Offices iii. xxv. 305 Upon a false Suspicion, that he had been naught with his Mother-in-law. †3. Injurious, harmful; unlucky. Usually with for or to. Cf. nought pron. 3. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > [adjective] unbeheveeOE unprofitablec1350 thriftlessc1400 undisposingc1400 disprofitable1548 disadvantageous1550 incommodious1579 disadvantageable1587 unadvantageable1603 lossful1611 naught1620 disvantageous1622 disserviceable1645 incommodous1677 unserviceable1698 zero-sum1965 downside1983 the world > action or operation > adversity > calamity or misfortune > [adjective] > inauspicious perilousc1390 unlucky1519 unchancy1533 unhappy1533 infortunate1548 sinistrous?c1550 luckless1584 dismal1588 ominous1589 fatal1590 bad-bodinga1592 disastrous1598 inauspicious1599 black1604 naught1620 inauspicate1632 infaustous1656 infaust1658 ill-omened1685 black boding1743 wanchancy1768 oracular1820 inominous1832 widdershins1926 1620 J. Melton Astrologaster 46 It is naught for any man to giue a paire of kniues to his sweet heart. 1658 W. Johnson tr. F. Würtz Surgeons Guid ii. iii. 52 That [diet] which is good for man proveth very naught to a woman. †D. adv. 1. [Originally the accusative of the noun used adverbially: compare aught adv.] Not. See also nat adv., nought pron. 2. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > existence > non-existence > [adverb] > not neeOE noughteOE naughteOE noeOE nayc1175 notc1330 nata1350 nit1894 α. eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xliii. 317 Ne fæste ge ðæs nawuht me. c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 15551 Tær bilæf þe laferrd..acc nawihht lannge. c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (1973) 473 For þi þet te lare..ne helpeð nawiht eche lif to habben, ne ȝelpe ich nawiht þrof. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 654 Yhon tre cum þou nawight to. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Coll. Phys.) 24626 (MED) Fra me wald þai nawit twin Til I com mi cosinis Inne. β. eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Otho) v. 13 Nu ðu ne þe[a]rft þe nauht ondrædan.OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 2nd Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) i. 10 Þæt fyr ne derede naht þam ðrim cnihtum.lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1095 Swiðe mænifealdlice steorran of heofenan feollan, naht be anan oððe twam, ac swa þiclice þæt hit nan mann ateallan ne mihte.c1175 ( Homily: Hist. Holy Rood-tree (Bodl. 343) (1894) 26 Beo ðu istrongod & þu naht þæs tintreȝa ne ondred.a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 35 On ðare oðre woreld and naht hier.c1275 Kentish Serm. in J. Hall Select. Early Middle Eng. (1920) I. 216 (MED) Ne ne offreth him nacht on lepiliche to day, ac alle þo daies i þo yere gostliche.c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 185 Þe gret evel ne comeþ naȝt þer þat me clupeþ þat holi fur.1340 Ayenbite (1866) 103 Ane man of huam me ne kan naȝt his name.a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. 3786 Medea, which foryat him naght, Was redy there.a1425 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (1987) i. 581 Be thow naught wroth.c1450 Mandeville's Trav. (Coventry) (1973) 887 (MED) There shalle he take the brode watres And londe naught til he come to Acres.?a1475 (a1396) W. Hilton Scale of Perfection (Harl. 6579) i. vi. f. 4^v (MED) Þis felynge..lesteþ nauȝht wel longe.?1507 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 97 He will naught lat me lif alane.c1570 J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1830) 135 The King wes nacht content.1575 J. Rolland Treat. Court Venus iv. f. 62 I nacht decerne that thing.γ. a1225 MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 63 (MED) God..ȝife us..in cherite to wnien inne þet we ne fallen naut ine sunne.c1225 (?c1200) Sawles Warde (Bodl.) (1938) 22 Þah ha ne trust nawt on hire ahne wepnen.c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Laud) (1901) 285 (MED) Hye nas naut bliþ. 2. [From sense C.] Badly; wrongly. Cf. nought adv. 4. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > [adverb] noughtlyeOE wrothec888 unrighteouslyeOE foullyOE naughtlyOE wrothlyc1200 litherlya1225 unwraste?c1225 illc1275 vilelyc1290 shrewdly13.. felonly1303 unwrastlyc1320 viciouslya1325 diverselyc1325 wickly1338 lewdlyc1384 badlyc1405 foula1425 mischievouslyc1426 felonously1436 felonmentc1470 wickedfullyc1480 villainously1484 meschantlya1492 sinisterly1491 noughtily1528 naughtily?1529 perniciously1533 illy1549 naught1549 bad1575 evilly1581 nefariously1599 scelerately1632 improbously1657 piggishly1756 iniquitously1796 pervertedly1804 society > morality > moral evil > wrong conduct > [adverb] wrongly1303 abusively1531 nought1533 naught1549 1549 M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. II. Phil. iii. f. viii I rushe not here awaye and there awaye rashely I care not whither, for he loseth his game, that runneth naught. 1552 H. Latimer Serm. (1562) 139 They that are so vsed to swearing, do very naught. 1631 B. Jonson Staple of Newes Intermean iv. 4 in Wks. II How doe's the Play please you? Censure. Very scuruily, me thinks, and sufficiently naught. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2003; most recently modified version published online June 2022). naughtv. Brit. /nɔːt/, U.S. /nɔt/, /nɑt/ Forms: Middle English naȝt, 1900s– naught. Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymons: naught pron.; naught n. Etymology: In sense 1 < naught pron. In sense 2 < naught n. Compare nought v. With sense 2 compare earlier naughting n. †1. transitive. To refrain from, to shun. Cf. nought v. 1. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)] to bring to noughteOE forspillc893 fordilghec900 to bring to naughtOE astryea1200 stroyc1200 forferec1275 misdoa1325 destroyc1330 naught1340 dingc1380 beshenda1400 devoida1400 unshapea1400 to wend downa1400 brittenc1400 unloukc1400 perishc1426 defeat1435 unmake1439 lithc1450 spend1481 kill1530 to shend ofc1540 quade1565 to make away1566 discreate1570 wrake1570 wracka1586 unwork1587 gaster1609 defease1621 unbe1624 uncreate1633 destructa1638 naufragate1648 stifle1725 stramash1788 disannul1794 destructify1841 locust1868 to knock out1944 dick1972 1340 Ayenbite (1866) 9 (MED) Þer by zome bronches þet ne byeþ naȝt dyadlich zenne..and þo me ssel naȝti and wyþdraȝe ase moche ase me may. 2. transitive. Chiefly Theology (Christian Church and Buddhism) and poetic. To bring to nothing; to annihilate. Cf. nought v. 3. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)] > annihilate or blot out of existence dilghec897 defacec1386 annul1395 anientec1400 refer?c1400 extinct1484 annihil1490 delete1495 out-terma1500 perspoil1523 extaintc1540 extinguish1555 blot1561 wipe1564 to cut the throat of1565 annihilate1567 dissipatea1575 annihilate1586 nullify1609 nullize1615 expunge1628 nothing1637 null1647 extramund1654 be-nothing1674 erase1728 obliterate1798 simoom1821 to tear to shreds1837 snuff1852 mop1859 to take out1900 napoo1915 naught1958 1958 Times Lit. Suppl. 10 Oct. 581/3 The Self, the One, in whom a Western mystic..seeks to lose his particular warped and transient self is not Himself naughted, is not naught. 1986 B. Coffey Advent in Poems & Versions (1991) 116 Think total voiding all whatever naughted and you too if once all with us were naught. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < pron.n.adj.adv.eOEv.1340
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naughtpron.n.adj.adv.

naughtv.