non.1
/nəʊ/, U.S. /noʊ/ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > absence of doubt, confidence > assured fact, certainty > making certain, assurance > of course, certainly [phrase]
to iwissea1000
mid iwissea1000
in wisc1000
to wis(se)c1000
without(en (any) weenc1175
sans fail1297
thereof no strife1297
but werea1300
forouten werea1300
out of werea1300
without werea1300
without deceit1303
for certainc1320
it is to wittingc1320
withouten carec1320
without nayc1330
without noc1330
without (but out of) dread1340
no doubtc1380
without distancec1390
no fresea1400
out of doubta1400
without doubta1400
for, (in, at obs.), of, to (a) certaintyc1400
withouten stance14..
hazel woods shakea1413
of, on, in warrantisec1440
sure enough?1440
without question?1440
wythout diswerec1440
without any dispayrec1470
for (also of) a surety?a1475
in (also for) surenessa1475
of certainc1485
without any (also all) naya1500
out of question?1526
past question?1526
for sure1534
what else1540
beyond (also out of, past, without) (all) peradventure1542
to be a bidden by1549
out of (also without) all cry1565
with a witness1579
upon my word1591
no question1594
out of all suspicion1600
for a certain1608
without scruple1612
to be sure1615
that's pos1710
in course1722
beyond (all) question1817
(and) no mistake1818
no two ways about it (also that)1818
of course1823
bien entendu1844
yessiree1846
you bet you1857
make no mistake1876
acourse1883
sans doute1890
how are you?1918
you bet your bippy1968
c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) 118 Inglond was yhoten þo Michel Breteyne, wiþ outen no.
c1330 (?a1300) Arthour & Merlin (Auch.) (1973) 307 So þai deden, wiþ outen no.
c1400 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Laud) (1952) 519 (MED) He fonde al sooþ, wiþouten noo.
c1400 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Laud) (1952) 4156 (MED) From Capadoce, wiþouten noo, Of kniȝttes hym com þousandes twoo.
2.
a. An utterance of the word no; an instance of its use; a denial.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > negation > [noun] > utterance or instance of
nayc1390
non1551
no1598
not1608
a1425 ( in J. T. Fowler Memorials Church SS. Peter & Wilfrid, Ripon (1882) I. 53 (MED) Per suum na vel suum ya.
1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 413 Hencefoorth my wooing minde shalbe exprest In russet yeas, and honest kersie noes . View more context for this quotation
1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue ii. 202 It is hee that can giue you an I, or a No, whether I shall goe or stay.
1685 tr. B. Gracián y Morales Courtiers Oracle 15 The gracefull manner so guilds and sets off a No, as to make it more esteemed than an ill seasoned Yea.
1736 H. Fielding Pasquin i. 11 Let the Audience know they can speak, if it were but an Ay, or a No.
1789 A. Young Jrnl. 30 June in Trav. France (1792) i. 129 She determined..to go to church,..and give a solemn No instead of a yea.
1825 Spirit of Public Jrnls. 183 As two noes will make a yes.
1834 T. Carlyle Sartor Resartus ii. vii. 58/1 (heading) The Everlasting No.
1866 J. Ruskin Ethics of Dust v. 97 Resolutely whispered No's.
1960 I. Watt in Ess. in Crit. July 259 The last general stylistic feature of the passage..was the use of negative forms. There are 6 ‘noes’ or ‘nots’ in the first 4 sentences.
a1983 ‘R. West’ This Real Night (1984) I. ii 55 We could hear..the crisp yesses and noes with which she began each of her answers.
1999 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 15 July 16/3 At Khartoum I fought very much against the famous three nos [sc. no recognition, no negotiation, and no peace with Israel].
b. A negative vote or decision; a refusal.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > negation > [noun] > vote
no1588
non placet1589
non1679
nay1685
1588 ‘M. Marprelate’ Oh read ouer D. Iohn Bridges: Epitome sig. B3 Here then is the puritans I, for the permanencie of this government, and M. doctors no.
1655 H. L'Estrange Reign King Charles 119 When the same parity of reasoning was urged, Bellarmines No was produced.
1886 W. E. Gladstone Home Rule Manifesto 8 With you..it rests to deliver the great Aye or No, on your choice.
1992 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 20 Oct. a30/3 How asinine That the ballot's design Permits only a Yes or a No If compromise Is what makes us wise.
3. † a. The negative side or party. Cf. aye n. 2a. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > negation > [noun] > side
the negative1579
no1621
1621 Orig. Jrnls. House of Commons 13 Feb. 10 f. 24 Question whether the I or no to goe out... The no yielded before division of the house.
1647 J. Lilburne Rash Oaths Unwarrantable 47 Mr. Hollis, Sir William Luis, tellers for the no, with the no:s 128 so that the qu[e]stion past with the negative.
b. A person who votes against a proposal, esp. in a parliamentary division. Usually in plural. Frequently in the noes have it: those voting against a proposal are in the majority; a proposal has been voted against; also in extended use.Usually contrasted with aye or yea.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > negation > [noun] > vote > those who vote negatively
no1657
nay1742
content1779
1657 T. Burton Diary (1828) I. 324 A member stood up and said, that the Noes in the former question had it.
1669 A. Marvell Wks. (1875) II. 289 The ayes proved 138 and the noes 129;..and when at last the tellers for the ayes would have agreed the noes to be 142, the noes would needs say that they were 143.
1710 True Acct. Last Distemper T. Whigg ii. 50 The No's fronting to the East, the Yea's to the West.
1781 J. Hatsell Precedents Proc. House of Commons 73 If this question for adjournment takes place before four o'clock in the afternoon, and there is a division upon it, the Yeas go forth; if after four o'clock, the Noes.
1817 Parl. Deb. 1st Ser. 332 The House then divided on the previous question moved by Lord Castlereagh:—Ayes..208 | Noes..152 − Majority 56.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. vi. 26 The Ayes were one hundred and eighty-two and the Noes one hundred and eighty-three.
1909 T. H. Lewin Lewin Lett. I. ii. 187 Not a single dissentient voice being heard, the Chairman gravely announced—‘The Noes have it,’ and sat down.
1909 Westm. Gaz. 17 June 2/3 Tellers for the No, Mr. Pirie and Mr. Watson Rutherford... It must be a proud moment in a member's life when he finds two fellow-members waiting to count him and him alone.
1972 Pearce Rep. June 2 We believe that most of the ‘Noes’ sprang from a genuine, deeply-felt opposition to the Proposals.
1984 J. Archer First among Equals (1985) xii. 138 He followed the surge of Labour members into the Noes lobby.
1985 M. Meyer Strindberg xii 189 The noes had it; the play was withdrawn after nine performances.
2009 Assembly Jrnl., State of Wisconsin (99th Regular Session) 16 Sept. 373/2 Passage: Ayes: 6—Representatives Hebl, Colon, Kessler, Cullen, Richards and Turner. Noes: 4—Representatives Gundrum, Kerkman, Kramer and Zipperer.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
Non.3
/ˌɛnˈəʊ/, U.S. /ˌɛnˈoʊ/ Chemistry.
The element nobelium.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > chemistry > elements and compounds > metals > specific elements > nobelium > [noun]
No1957
nobelium1957
1957 P. R. Fields et al. in Physical Rev. 107 1461/2 We suggest the name nobelium, symbol No, for the new element in recognition of Alfred Nobel's support of scientific research and after the institute where the work was done.
1990 G. T. Seaborg & W. D. Loveland Elements beyond Uranium ii. 49 The first correct identification of the half-life of 254102No was in 1966–1967 by groups working at Dubna.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
noadj.
/nəʊ/, U.S. /noʊ/α. late Old English–Middle English na, early Middle English næ; English regional (chiefly northern) 1600s neay, 1700s–1800s naa, 1800s naiya, 1800s nau, 1800s nayah, 1800s ne'a, 1800s neaa, 1800s nee, 1800s ney, 1800s neye, 1800s– na, 1800s– nae, 1800s– naha, 1800s– naw, 1800s– ne, 1800s– nea, 1800s– neah, 1800s– neea, 1800s– neeah, 1800s– ni; Scottish pre-1700 nay, pre-1700 naye, pre-1700 nea, pre-1700 ney, pre-1700 1700s– na, pre-1700 1700s– nae, pre-1700 1700s– ne, 1700s– nee; Irish English (northern) 1900s– nae; N.E.D. (1907) also records a form Middle English nai.
β. Middle English noy, Middle English–1500s (1600s Scottish) noo, Middle English–1700s noe, Middle English– no; English regional 1600s–1800s noo, 1800s– noa, 1900s– nooa.
(determiner).
1. With a singular or plural noun. Not any.† c. Any. Obsolete. rare.
a. Accompanied by other negatives, with overall negative force (sometimes with more emphasis than a single negative). Now regional and irregular.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > non-existence > [adjective] > no, none, or not any
nanyeOE
no (none) suchOE
noneOE
none-kinsOE
nolOE
no kina1400
zero1823
nix1846
nought1945
bugger-all1948
damn all1953
fuck-all1961
eff-all1965
zilch1969
zip1969
zippo1973
sod all1978
negative1984
the world > space > place > absence > [adjective] > not any
noneOE
nolOE
lOE St. Margaret (Corpus Cambr.) (1994) 166 Hire on þan wætere na lað ne gewearð.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1127 Na god þær ne dide, ne na god ðær ne læuede.
?a1160 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1137 Micel hadde Henri king gadered gold & syluer, & na god ne dide me for his saule thar of.
a1225 (?c1175) Poema Morale (Lamb.) 80 in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 165 (MED) Nis na lauerd swich se is crist.
a1250 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 3 (MED) Nis no wummon iboren þet ðe beo iliche.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 12665 Nes þer na king his ilike.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 304 (MED) Þat deol þat made Innogen, no tonge telle ne may.
c1350 Apocalypse St. John: A Version (Harl. 874) (1961) 13 (MED) Þouȝ ich..ȝiue my body to brenne, & I ne haue no charite, Al is nouȝth worþ to me.
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) 6802 (MED) For God no synne wyl þey nat lete.
c1430 (c1386) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women 1749 Lucretia, By no craft hire beaute nas nat feyned.
a1500 (?a1425) tr. Secreta Secret. (Lamb.) 63 (MED) Ne gyf þou no credence to no wymmen.
1567 Compend. Bk. Godly Songs (1897) 144 Lat neuer na euill thing vs befall.
1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene v. xii. sig. Y4v Sith no redemption nigh she did nor heare nor see. View more context for this quotation
1633 Orkney Witch Trial in J. Maidment Misc. Abbotsford Club (1837) 151 Becaus he could not get no fisch that ȝeir.
1674 Answer States-General in Phenix (1708) I. 288 England had never no thoughts of securing this Right of the Flag by a formal Treaty.
1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 66 I had lost no time, nor abated no Dilligence.
1804 ‘E. de Acton’ Tale without Title II. 180 I never reads no Novels; for I knows nothing they are good for.
1858 E. Waugh Birthplace Tim Bobbin ii Naw; we never see'n no boggarts neaw.
1871 Mrs. H. Wood Dene Hollow III. iii. 45 ‘'Tain't o' no good your stopping’, he..said.
1897 Daily Tel. June in J. R. Ware Passing Eng. Victorian Era (1909) 182/2 Soldiers! Why, soldiers ain't no class.
1968 Listener 20 June 796/3 He's not going to be put in no poorhouse.
1985–6 Sight & Sound Winter 18/1 He hasn't been for no hundred jobs at all.
b. Without other negative.little or no: see little adj., pron., n., and adv. Phrases 3c.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > non-existence > [adjective] > no, none, or not any > no or not a
noc1175
nary1746
α.
β. a1275 Body & Soul (Trin. Cambr. B.14.39) l. 86 in A. S. M. Clark Seint Maregrete & Body & Soul (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Michigan) (1972) 133 Mai no mon þenne striue.c1300 (c1250) Floris & Blauncheflur (Cambr.) (1966) l. 38 Sire, nimestu no ȝeme Hu þis child murninge sit?a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 234 Ðor-of ðurte hire ðinken no same.a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 1076 (MED) No gome þort him blame.c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xix. 19 (MED) Ergo, is no name to þe name of ihesus.a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Wisd. xiii. 13 The residue of these thingis, which he makith to no [L. nullos] werk.c1475 Mankind (1969) 555 (MED) I haue no lede on my helys.1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection Pref. sig. Aii Specially to such that vnderstande no latine.1542 N. Udall in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eminent Lit. Men (1843) 3 Noo sikenes, noo losse of worldly goodes, none ympresonyng, noo tormentes.1615 W. Lawson Country Housewifes Garden (1626) 19 There is no tree like this for soundnesse.1667 S. Pepys Diary 9 Aug. (1974) VIII. 378 I perceive he doth really make no difference between any man.a1687 W. Petty Polit. Arithm. (1690) Pref. That there is no Trade nor Employment for the People.1712 W. Rogers Cruising Voy. 419 They added, that they had no Embarkations, but one Ship.1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 42 Our constitution has made no sort of provision towards rendering him..responsible. View more context for this quotation1816 J. Austen Emma II. i. 15 There is no comparison between them. View more context for this quotation1891 Law Times Rep. 63 691/1 There was no evidence that Nunney had authority to arrest.1925 J. Conrad Suspense i. i. 1 A lank man in a shabby sailor's jacket..seemed to have no doubt of her nationality.1988 V. Bramwell Woman Bk. Beauty & Health vii. 111 No discussion on keeping your body beautiful would be complete without mention of how to sunbathe safely.c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 8622 Comm nan reȝȝn onn eorþe.
a1300 in R. Morris Old Eng. Misc. (1872) 200 (MED) Þu salt hauen na god buten An.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 16 (MED) Wit sarazins wald þai na saght.
?a1425 Mandeville's Trav. (Egerton) (1889) 2 A flokk of schepe þat has na schepehird.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 157 Nychtbouris gude, yat he had na clame to.
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 371 Quhar it failȝeys, na wertu May be off price.
1508 W. Kennedy Flyting (Chepman & Myllar) in Poems W. Dunbar (1998) I. 215 Thare is na lorde that will in seruice tak the.
?a1600 ( R. Sempill Legend Bischop St. Androis in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xlv. 355 He had nea toung for to denye it.
1656 in J. A. Clyde Hope's Major Practicks (1938) II. 246 The lords will allow of nae advocatts heirafter bot onlie 50.
1684 G. Meriton York-shire Dial. 26 It'l git neay Cawd, it's bedded up to th' Een.
1721 A. Ramsay Prospect of Plenty 15 Nae nation in the warld.
1786 R. Burns Poems 83 Let nae saving-fit Abridge your bonie Barges.
1804 G. Galloway Battle of Luncarty 69 In argument ne papist e'er could ding him.
1833 York Minster Screen 60 T'other had ne'a business there.
1997 C. Brookmyre Country of Blind (2001) i. 16 It's nae wunner there's nae bulbs in the lights in hauf the closes.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > generality > [adjective] > not specified > of any kind > any
anyOE
noc1500
c1500 Melusine (1895) 242 The Duches is brought to bed of the most fayrest sone that euer was seen in no land.
d. In parallel phrases, with implied copula.
(a) no ——, no —— and variants: if there is no ——, then there is no ——.Now esp. in no pain, no gain: it is not possible to achieve something without effort. no win, no fee: if the client does not win, no legal fee will be payable (referring to a contingency payment system used in litigation); usually attributive.no names, no pack drill: see name n. and adj. Phrases 20.
ΚΠ
1531 W. Tyndale Expos. Fyrste Epist. St. Jhon sig. Bvii O Popyshe forgiuenes with whom it goeth after the commen prouerbe, no peny no pardone.
1640 Bagshaw in J. Rushworth Hist. Coll.: Second Pt. (1721) II. 1343 Episcopacy is inseparable to the Crown of England; and therefore it is commonly now said, No Bishop no King, no Mitre no Scepter.
1647 J. Howell New Vol. of Lett. 60 I am of the I[t]alians mind that said Nulla nuova, buona nuova, no newes good newes.
1692 in J. P. Baxter Documentary Hist. Maine V. 376 Ther may be men Enough found to doe ye worke no purchas no pay.
1701 London Gaz. No. 3740/4 Deputations, commonly call'd ‘No Purchase no Pay’, for seizing Uncustomed and Prohibited Goods to certain Persons.
1751 J. Bridges (title) No foot, no horse.
1855 A. Bain Senses & Intellect Introd. ii. 62 Our present insight enables us to say with great probability, no currents, no mind.
1860 M. S. Poems 207 The vision and the ecstasy of heaven Are only theirs whose hearts to heaven are given. No pain no gain.
1980 D. Francis Reflex xiii. 161 No rides, no income. You start looking at ‘sits vac’.
1985 Guardian 29 Aug. 2/8 Mr. Pearce, whose firm operate a no-win, no-fee offer, emphasised that he only wanted to talk to relatives.
1987 Observer 22 Feb. 50/6 He's an assiduous trainer and a tactical perfectionist committed totally to the philosophy of ‘No pain, no gain.’
1989 Independent (Nexis) 2 Feb. With the introduction of ‘no win, no fee’, there is an opportunity to correct this.
2001 Navy News Sept. 11 (advt.) A new ‘no win, no fee’ legal service providing a personal injury accident claims facility, at no expense, to MoD personnel nationwide.
(b) —— or no —— (with repetition of ‘——’): whether or not the person or thing is or has what is denoted by the noun; whether what is indicated is present or not.
ΚΠ
a1639 T. Dekker et al. Witch of Edmonton (1658) ii. i. 18 But Witch or no Witch, you are a motherly woman.
1722 D. Defoe Jrnl. Plague Year 26 The people of this band went over the fields or roads, path or no path, way or no way, as they pleased.
1781 W. Cowper Anti-Thelypthora 132 Forms or no forms, pluralities or pairs, Right reverend Sirs! was no concern of theirs.
1834 D. Crockett Narr. Life iv. 61 I was determined to stand up to my rack, fodder or no fodder.
1874 A. C. Swinburne Bothwell iii. ii. 250 Yesterday, Man or no man, this was a living soul; What is this now? This tongue that mourned to me.
1927 M. Sinclair Hist. Anthony Waring xviii Tony determined to find out. Aunt or no aunt, he would go to her.
1998 P. Lively Spiderweb (1999) vi. 65 Archaeology is not a growth area these days, tourism or no tourism.
e. In a notice or slogan consisting of a noun phrase forming the subject or complement of an implied verb.
(a) Denoting that something is forbidden or unwelcome: let there be no ——, no —— is allowed, etc. Cf. no smoking phr., no parking adj., etc.
ΚΠ
a1625 J. Fletcher Bonduca iv. iv, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) 65 Swet. Mercy yet. Bond. No talking: puff, there goes all your pitie.
1782 F. Burney Cecilia IV. viii. vii. 298 No talking! no thanking! no compliments of any sort!
1821 P. Egan Life in London iv. (Farmer) You shall be admitted into the preserve; but remember no poaching.
1861 Goulburn (New S. Wales) Herald 19 Sept. 2/2 It is not by accident that flags are unfurled with mottoes upon them, as ‘roll up’, ‘no Chinese’.
1930 Amer. Speech 6 91 No petting, sparking, spooning, etc.
1959 Numbers Feb. 13/1 ‘No dogs,’ said Mr Reginald.
1994 Sun (Baltimore) 15 Apr. c5/5 Going to the movies became their passion that summer, and Mr Waters' had only one rule: No talking once the lights went down.
(b) Denoting objection or opposition to something, as no popery, no surrender.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > sect > Christianity > Roman Catholicism > anti-Catholic > [noun]
no popery1813
1813 W. C. Plunket in Parl. Deb. 1st Ser. 24 814/1 Assailed by the Hell-shout of ‘No Popery’.
1827 R. Young in Orange Minstrel (1832) 78 Though oft in battle closely prest, His word was Derry's ‘No Surrender’.
1830 Ann. Reg., Chron. 9 Nov. 191/2 ‘No Peel—down with the raw lobsters!’
1883 P. McNeill Tranent & Surroundings xi. 126 An incongruous mass of women..were..shouting vociferously, ‘No militia! No militia!’
1912 G. B. Shaw John Bull's Other Island Pref. p. vi/2 He chalks up No Surrender merrily, and puts up one of the famous fights of history.
1971 J. Boyd Flats (1981) 76 Got bless ye'all... Not an inch! No Surrender!
1984 R. Hutchinson Rat in Skull 17 On one side ‘No surrender’, and the other ‘Kick the Pope’.
f. With verb understood: the person or thing indicated by the noun is not to be found.
ΚΠ
1806 W. Wordsworth Horn Egremont Castle in Poet. Wks. (1949–50) V. 32 Months passed on, and no Sir Eustace! Nor of him were tidings heard.
1944 F. Clune Red Heart 11 At eight o'clock Mick was still missing, so a nightlong search was made—but ‘no Mick’.
1990 T. McEwen McX (1991) ii. 66 Three rooms, two chimneys, corbie steps but no corbie to climb them.
2001 Independent 3 Mar. (Mag.) 21/1 Two hundred officers were thrown on to the case, but it baffled them: no forced entry, no sign of a struggle, no murder weapon.
2. Negating a (usually singular) noun in a predicate, frequently with emphatic force.
a. Not (a), certainly not (a).Cf. no joke at joke n. 3; to be no oil painting at oil painting n. 1b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > absence > [adjective] > not a
noc1330
ne'er aa1350
c1330 (c1250) Floris & Blauncheflur (Auch.) (1966) 42 (MED) He nis no marchaunt, as me þinkez.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 334 (MED) Be no tellere of talis.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iii. 1823 (MED) For who that is of man no king, The remenant is as no thing.
1423 in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt Bk. London Eng. (1931) 131 (MED) Mawde Sheppyster holt opyn Shopp and retaylith, and ys no Frewoman.
c1475 Mankind (1969) 238 Ȝe sey trew, ser; ȝe are no faytour.
1532 T. More Confut. Tyndale in Wks. 450/1 I take Moyses for no leder of ye children of Israel.
1596 J. Harington New Disc. Aiax Answer Let. sig. Av A streame that seemes to be no streame, by corne fieldes that seeme no fieldes, downe a streete no streete.
1634 T. Herbert Relation Some Yeares Trauaile 157 Great Personages, who otherwise are no Nymrods vpon earth.
1649 A. Ascham Bounds Publique Obed. 51 The remaining Members make no house.
1721 R. Wodrow Hist. Sufferings Church of Scotl. (1838) I. i. ii. 112 Mr. Dickson replied, he well knew his grace was no coward.
1749 T. Smollett tr. A. R. Le Sage Gil Blas I. i. i. 1 He chose a wife..who, tho' she was no chicken, brought me into the world ten months after her marriage.
1798 J. Ferriar Illustr. Sterne iii. 55 Sterne was no friend to gravity.
1815 M. Elphinstone Acct. Kingdom Caubul ii. vii. 252 Wanton cruelty and insolence are no part of the Afghaun character.
1845 P. J. Bailey Festus (ed. 2) 63 Inspiration cometh from above, And is no labour.
1895 Bookman Oct. 22/2 He was no ruler of consummate ability.
1925 J. M. Murry Keats & Shakespeare v. 56 The importance of Shakespeare to Keats at this time is no invention.
1978 E. Blishen Sorry, Dad ii. ii. 50 I know people who say that Alice is no book for a child.
2002 N. Nicholson Fanny Burney ii. 23 Evelina, like Fanny, is no sop.
b. Denoting approximation to nullity: hardly any, as in no distance and no time.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective] > very small in amount or degree > approximating to nullity
no1786
1786 ‘A. Pasquin’ Royal Academicians 36 If you don't shut your mouth, immediately in no time, and give your tongue a holiday, [etc.].
1832 Chambers' Edinb. Jrnl. 26 May 129/3 The painter..promises to put men upon the house next morning, so that it will be got ready for your reception in no time.
1868 G. G. Channing Early Recoll. Newport, R.I. 143 The money was..arranged as to facilitate the payments in ‘no time’, understood in my day, to mean the shortest period.
1869 ‘M. Twain’ Innocents Abroad xxiii. 231 Oh, you must come—no distance at all.
1891 ‘L. Falconer’ Mademoiselle Ixe vi. 165 [The mare] will get over to Carchester in no time.
1917 P. MacGill Brown Brethren vi 95 Bowdy..went outside. ‘I'll be back again in no time,’ were his final words.
1957 F. Kohner Gidget 39 In no time flat the guys had demolished the contents of the lunch bag—not a crumb left for me.
1961 E. Wilson in R. Brown & D. Bennett Anthol. Canad. Lit. in Eng. (1982) 343 You see, just a few feet, no distance.
1976 G. Gordon 100 Scenes from Married Life 16 The years that had to me passed since I'd left home seven days previously had to them been no time, perhaps had not occurred.
1981 ‘Q. Crisp’ How to become Virgin vii 92 Get yourself a guitar and you'll be a pop star in no time.
3.
a. Modifying an adjective and singular noun and negating the adjective rather than the whole noun phrase (usually implying that an adjective of an opposite meaning would be more correct or appropriate).no small: see small adj. 5c. no such thing, etc.: see such adj. and pron. 27c.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > contrariety or contrast > [adjective] > no or not a
noc1390
c1390 (?c1350) St. Ambrose 577 in C. Horstmann Sammlung Altengl. Legenden (1878) 17 (MED) Þei made no gret nois.
c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 468 (MED) Neither thei ben in no notable degree better.
c1500 in J. P. Collier Trevelyan Papers (1857) 98 Whiche will amounte, yf hyt be well handelyd, to no lyttle summe.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. xlj It is vpon no lyght consyderation omitted.
1597 J. Gerard Herball i. 3 This grasse is vnpleasant, and no wholesome foode for cattell.
1611 Bible (King James) Acts xxi. 39 I am a man which am a Iew of Tarsus, a citie in Cilicia, a citizen of no meane citie. View more context for this quotation
1641 C. Burges Another Serm. House of Commons 62 This is no Empiricall Dosis, but a Probatum est.
1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 650 This one prayer yet remains,..No long petition. View more context for this quotation
1715 M. Davies Εἰκων Μικρο-βιβλικὴ 235 This sort of Meditation is still..in no small esteem and practice.
1773 Ann. Reg. 1772 i. 91 It makes no inconsiderable addition to the revenue of the crown.
1827 B. Disraeli Vivian Grey III. v. vii. 131 With no pleased air.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. v. 528 On this man his party had long relied for services of no honourable kind.
1877 Ld. Tennyson Sir J. Franklin 4 Thou..Art passing on thy happier voyage now Toward no earthly pole.
1956 J. C. Powys Brazen Head i 22 Lil-Umbra could see that her bold divulging..was no small shock to her companion.
1998 Chicago Tribune 15 Mar. vii. 4/5 The most famous dance club in the world, in no small part because of the visionary deejaying of Paul Oakenfold.
b. Preceded by the or a possessive adjective. Usually in no small (see small adj. 5c). Now rare.
ΚΠ
1530 King Henry VIII Let. in R. Fiddes Life Wolsey (1724) Collect. 181 Being informed, to our no little Marvell and Discontentation [etc.].
1559 in J. Strype Ann. Reformation (1709) I. ii. App. ix. 439 Falsifinge..the scriptures, to the no small admiration of all the learned readers.
1581 R. Mulcaster Positions v. 26 Which the most munificent God, by his no niggardishe nature, prouided for them both.
1647 A. Cowley Request in Mistress vi Dost thou deny onely to me The no-great privilege of Captivitie?
1702 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion I. iv. 269 Thus [they] were both invested in those Offices, to the no small displeasure of the Governing Party.
1796 R. Southey Let. 19 Feb. in C. C. Southey Life & Corr. R. Southey (1849) I. 263 He at last fixed upon a leg of mutton, soles and oyster sauce, and toasted cheese—to the no small amusement of those who knew he could get neither.
1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian I. xvii. 307 The first who entered was, to her no small delight, one of her own sex, a motherly-looking aged person of a housekeeper.
a1898 H. Bessemer Autobiogr. (1905) ix. 125 To my no small surprise, I found that I did not stand alone in the Exhibition as the inventor of centrifugal pumps.
4. Modifying a verbal noun or gerund used as the predicate, denoting the impossibility of the action specified. Chiefly with non-referential there (also †it) as subject.
ΚΠ
c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 149 Hwen þe delit iþe lust is igan se ouerforð þet ter nere nan wiðseggunge ȝef þer were eise to fulle þe dede.]
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 23812 (MED) Quen we it proue þat es to late, Es þar na mending þan þe state.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccclxxxvi. 657 It is no goynge thyder, without ye wyll lose all.
1560 Bible (Geneva) Nahum iii. 19 There is no healing of thy wounde.
a1593 C. Marlowe Edward II (1594) sig. D4v Cosin it is no dealing with him now.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) ii. i. 146 Val. No, beleeue me. Speed. No beleeuing you indeed sir. View more context for this quotation
a1643 J. Shute Sarah & Hagar (1649) 108 So the people were so impetuously set upon their lusts, that there was no speaking to them.
1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 39 There was no keeping Friday in the Boat.
1753 Gray's Inn Jrnl. No. 54 There is no going any where without meeting Pretenders in this Way.
1820 W. Irving Sketch Bk. vii. 117 Do what they might, there was no keeping down the butcher.
1849 W. M. Thackeray Pendennis (1850) I. xv. 138 There's no accounting for tastes, sir.
1895 A. I. Shand Life E. B. Hamley I. ii. 21 There was no mistaking the meaning of the invitation, and there was no declining it.
1954 A. Thirkell What did it Mean? 87 There would be no getting hold of the girls as the evenings got longer.
1975 Times 6 Dec. 8/5 Try Village Prospects..R 3 again, I fear, but no avoiding it.
2001 Financial Times 27 Jan. 8/4 There is no mistaking African anger at the external barriers they confront.
Phrases
P1. colloquial. no luck: bad luck; no success.
ΚΠ
1791 T. Holcroft School for Arrogance 102 Three hundreds have been lost, in piddling play. No luck for her!
1839 D. P. Thompson Green Mountain Boys iii. 45 But no luck with your rifle today?
1897 J. Conrad Nigger of ‘Narcissus’ v. 106 How long would this blooming affair last? Too long surely. No luck.
1942–7 R. Jeffers Love & Hate in Coll. Poetry (1991) III. 247 Gore called him and said, ‘No luck’?
1972 M. S. Harper Song 38 While they skinned bear We hunted broken Horses with a plane: no luck.
1999 L. Morris & V. Rauseo Room with View in Best of Frasier 97 (stage direct.) Frasier opens the lid of the piano bench, hoping to find the book, no luck.
P2. colloquial. no bother: (there is) no difficulty.
ΚΠ
1926 J. Devanny Butcher Shop vii. 68 Sectional strikes were always occurring..but now the men are organised into a union and work under a Dominion award, and we have practically no bother with them.
1976 A. McCaffrey Kilternan Legacy iii, in Three Women (1990) 472 No bother once you're in the way of it, but strangelike at first.
1997 J. Ryan Dismantling Mr. Doyle x 136 No bother, Donal.
P3. colloquial (euphemistic). no stuff: seriously (cf. no shit int.).
ΚΠ
1946 M. Mezzrow & B. Wolfe Really Blues Gloss. 376/2 No stuff, no kidding.
1970 C. Major Dict. Afro-Amer. Slang 85 No stuff, expression that implies sincerity.
P4. colloquial. no sweat: (it is) no trouble, (there is) no difficulty.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > easiness > easy, easily, or without difficulty [phrase] > easy to do
(there is) nothing to it1933
no sweat1951
no problem1955
no probs (also prob)1974
1951 E. J. Kahn Peculiar War 45 There's no sweat. We've got plenty of time and territory.
1955 Amer. Speech 30 118 No sweat, no strain n. phr. used adjectivally, easy, no trouble, no difficulty.
1957 F. Kohner Gidget 29 Being a veteran of arguments around the breakfast table my instinct told me it was useless to scratch further. ‘Okay,’ I said, ‘no sweat, please.’
1963 Daily Mail 11 Nov. 8/8 Mumble~mouth especially knows how to blow flicks that cop bread, no-sweat style (knows how to succeed in movies without really trying).
1973 K. Giles File on Death vi. 153 No sweat, mate... We're not looking for trouble.
1984 P. Barker Blow your House Down xi 70 If my wife wanted me to dress up as a frog and sit in a bath full of cold custard I'd do it. No sweat.
1990 Ideal Home Apr. 172/2 (advt.) Saunas to suit. No plumbing. No drainage. No sweat.
P5. colloquial. no messing: seriously, ‘and no mistake!’
ΚΠ
1982 P. Redmond Brookside (Mersey TV transmission script) (O.E.D. Archive) Episode 5. 7 Gizzmo. There won't be anyone in, will there. Damon. Turkey will be—and he'll put the bubble in no messin'. Come on.
1990 J. McGill That Rubens Guy (1991) 10 She's dancing with the radiogram that song again that Bing Crosby she gets dizzy—that Lily Simpson's a right hoor my mammy'll murder her smart as a brush no messing.
1998 C. Aherne et al. Royle Family Scripts: Series 1 (1999) Episode 4. 116 If I was in there with that ugly pig I'd have took a dive. Antony. So would I, no messing.
P6. colloquial. no deal: (there is) no agreement between two parties.
ΚΠ
1984 Observer 5 Feb. 9/6 The civil servants are equally entitled to tell Mrs Thatcher that there is nothing doing, no deal.
1991 Time 11 Feb. 37/1 He wanted to lease islands for ports and loading berths on the gulf from Kuwait; no deal.
2001 M. Blake 24 Karat Schmooze xxxii. 370 No deal. You and your junkie slut girlfriend might be trying to snort the entire national product of Bolivia, but I know you've got plenty salted away.
P7. See additional (chiefly colloquial) phrases at: (and) no mistake at mistake n. Phrases 3, make no mistake at mistake n. Phrases 4, no comment at comment n. 2c, no dice at die n.1 Phrases 7, no fear at fear n. 5a, no probs at prob n. Phrases, no problem at problem n. Phrases, no shit int. and adj., no strings n. and adj., no way adv. and int., no worries int.
Compounds
C1.
a. Forming nouns with the implication that the thing (or person) in question cannot properly be called by that name, owing to the absence of the specific qualities implied by it, as no-faith, no-form, no-jest, etc. Cf. sense 2a.Very common after 1600, but now rare (non- tending to be commoner: see non- prefix 2b).
ΚΠ
1565 T. Stapleton Fortresse of Faith f. 103v Ye see a clere difference..betwene the doctrine..of our firste auncient faith, and of this vpstert no faith.
1612 B. Jonson Alchemist i. i. sig. Bv A..thredden cloake, That scarce would couer your no -buttockes. View more context for this quotation
1631 J. Weever Anc. Funerall Monuments 54 Inuenting..a new certaine no-forme of Liturgie to themselues.
a1704 T. Brown Declam. Praise Poverty (rev. ed.) in Wks. (1730) I. 98 Laugh immoderately at his own no-jest.
1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews II. iv. vii. 218 They..have been thoroughly frightened with certain no Persons called Ghosts. View more context for this quotation
1786 A. M. Bennett Juvenile Indiscretions V. 220 Effeminacy, and these other nothings, that constitute the no-character of a modern beau.
1814 T. Jefferson Writings (1830) IV. 239 I frankly confide to yourself these opinions, or rather no opinions of mine.
1856 C. Merivale Hist. Romans under Empire V. l. 572 The common story of Messalina's impudent no-marriage.
1880 W. Carnegie Pract. Trapping 13 A dog such as I have described, whatever be his breed or his no-breed.
1976 G. C. Spivak in J. Derrida Of Grammatology p. xiii A certain view..has been accepted as the correct one, and, if the minute particulars of that view are examined, a rather different picture (that is also a no-picture, as we shall see) emerges.
b. Forming nouns with the sense ‘that is absent’, ‘that does not exist’, as no-confidence, no-cover, etc.In quot. 1948 the sense is adverbial: ‘without the use of the hands’.
ΚΠ
1613 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. (rev. ed.) ii. xii. 247 To make them feele the emptinesse, vacuitie, and no worth of man.
1649 Bp. J. Hall Resol. & Decisions iii. ix. 344 Under the paine of a no-remission.
1672 H. Dodwell Two Lett. Advice Pref. sig. c6 Subjects would discover..the no-necessity of those reasons produced for their separation.
a1704 T. Brown Lett. from Dead (new ed.) in Wks. (1707) II. ii. 204 Walking in the middle Temple..to get them a Stomach to their No-dinners.
1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) I. 214 Dobchick or Notail.
1835 Court Mag. 6 9/2 His cab is the perfection of ‘quiet’ no-pretence.
1896 W. St. C. Boscawen Bible & Monuments 166 The land of No-Return, the region of darkness.
1940 Ann. Reg. 1939 253 A vote of no-confidence was carried in the Lower Chamber.
1948 D. Ballantyne Cunninghams i. xviii. 92 Ralph showed off, riding no-hands and skidding in the loose metal.
1956 J. G. Porter in A. Pryce-Jones New Outl. Mod. Knowl. 142 Adaptable as he [sc. man] is, can he exist for any length of time under conditions of no-gravity?
1957 L. F. R. Williams State of Israel 158 The four years of the legislature's statutory life (which is, of course, always liable to be shortened by a vote of no-confidence).
1960 Times 5 July 18/2 Edwards has had 10 contests and won nine of them, featuring rather unluckily in a no-contest (or double disqualification).
1977 Belfast Tel. 22 Feb. 29/5 When there are three draws (score or no-score) in your ten selections.
1986 Teacher 26 May 8/2 Immediate no cover in secondary schools and emergency only cover in primary schools is continuing in Nottinghamshire.
C2. With adjectives.† a. With the force of non- or un-, as no-certain, uncertain; no-concluding, inconclusive. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1650 O. Cromwell Declar. Lord Lieut. Irel. sig. B3 To prove this no concluding Argument (but yet well enough agreeing with your learning) I give you this Dilemma.
1658 Earl of Monmouth tr. P. Paruta Hist. Venice ii. i. 15 Being allured by the no-certain promises of Princes.
1751 F. Coventry Hist. Pompey the Little (ed. 2) ii. ix. 245 A no-thinking scribler of magazines.
b. In parasynthetic compounds, as no-coated, no-coloured, no-shaped, no-tongued, no-tempered.
ΚΠ
1821 P. Egan Tom & Jerry 346 The no-pinned hero..gave, as a toast, ‘Success to Flat-catching.’
1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 2nd Ser. 286 He was a brown whiskered, white hatted, no-coated cabman.
1875 S. Lanier Symphony 121 I speak for each no-tongued tree.
1887 W. Morris in J. W. Mackail Life W. Morris (1899) II. 179 A queer little no-shaped slip cut off from some workshop.
1895 Outing 26 338/1 This discolored, no-colored gown.
1916 J. Joyce Portrait of Artist i. 53 His no-coloured eyes looking through the glasses.
1927 Brit. Weekly 11 Aug. 410/5 Patience is being long-tempered instead of Short-tempered or no-tempered.
1988 U. Holden Unicorn Sisters i 18 The croquet hoops made crooked loops against the no-coloured grass.
C3.
a. Corresponding to phrases at sense 1e(b).† (b) Forming derivative nouns denoting a person who is opposed to the thing indicated by the parent noun, as no-poperist: a person opposed to Roman Catholicism. no-religionist: a person who has no religion. Obsolete.
(a) Forming adjectives denoting objection or opposition to the thing in question.
ΚΠ
1823 D. O'Connell Let. 25 Mar. (1888) II. 454 This coming from a no popery man as Mr Goulburn is, strikes deeply into the Orange.
1882 E.W. Hamilton Diary 13 Apr. I. 252 The no-rent manifesto..the No Rent party.
1892 Daily News 11 Mar. 5/7 The no-surrender attitude which the vast majority of the men have assumed.
1931 Times 17 Nov. 13/3 The starting of a no-rent campaign by the Congress in the United Provinces is now almost certain.
2000 Church Times 10 Mar. 14/1 Stirrers of the demos like the numerous no-popery street orators, shared a common horror of the Roman Catholic Church.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > aspects of faith > theism > atheism > [noun] > person
wanbelieverc1440
unbeliever1526
infidela1530
nullifidian1564
atheist1571
sceptic1638
disbeliever1648
non-believer1649
scorner1651
scoffer1691
sceptic-Christian1711
nothingarian1776
nothingist1797
no-religionist1827
nihilist1854
netheist1855
non-theist1857
agnostic1869
nescient1872
post-Christian1886
bush baptist1902
no-Goddite1952
society > faith > sect > Christianity > Roman Catholicism > anti-Catholic > [noun] > person
anti-Catholic1780
no-poperist1827
1827 S. Smith in Lady Holland Mem. (1855) II. 273 Jesuits abroad—Turks in Greece—No-Poperists in England!
1838 N. Hawthorne Amer. Note-bks. (1883) 169 A group of Universalists and no-religionists sat around him.
1884 P. Schaff et al. Relig. Encycl. III. 2167 The wave of no-sabbathism now sweeping from Europe to America.
1886 Pall Mall Gaz. 28 July 3/1 The right of the Government to deal with No-Renters as with rebels.
b. Forming adjectives with the sense ‘that does not have, involve, or need (the thing denoted by the following noun)’, as no-school poet; no-colour, (cf. no-coloured at Compounds 2b); also with bare infinitive of a verb used as a noun, as no-stretch, etc. See also no-calorie adj., no-fault adj. and n., no-fines adj. and n., etc.
ΚΠ
1832 R. Southey in Q. Rev. 47 95 The other of these no-school poets favoured us with some samples of his poetry.
1845 E. A. Poe Compl. Wks. (1902) XIV. 170 The pure, the no-color, black.
1858 O. W. Holmes Autocrat of Breakfast-table xii. 336 A real, genuine, no-mistake Osiris.
1898 Daily News 13 Oct. 4/4 The Cape Ministry has resigned in consequence of the No-Confidence Vote on Tuesday night.
1902 R. Machray Night Side of London ii. 23 The clubs, both high-class and no-class, are not all closed.
1930 E. Pound Draft of XXX Cantos vii. 27 Brown-yellow wood, and the no colour plaster.
1936 ‘J. Beynon’ Planet Plane 58 I didn't think we were going to hit the no-gravity zone so soon.
1939 J. Joyce Finnegans Wake i. 125 And uses noclass billiardhalls with an upandown ladder?
1969 New Statesman 18 July 80/1 ‘It's a gas, man, it's a rave,’ says a no-bra girl.
1970 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 26 Sept. 1/5 (caption) Empty cans and no-deposit bottles lie around a tree.
1977 Time 21 Nov. 45/3 Jewel, along with its 59–store affiliate, the Star Market chain in the Boston area, now offers as many as 88 no-brand products ranging from flour to laundry detergent.
1985 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 9 Oct. a10/1 (advt.) Call Eaton's Home Security for a no-charge estimate.
1987 Graphics World Nov.–Dec. 49 (advt.) The only professional DTL rub-down system with the no-stretch, no-crease Mylar backing.
1990 Aviation World July–Aug. 36/2 There are three basic types of exercise; no notice, synthetic and live. No notice readiness exercises are held twice a year.
c. Forming adjectives with the sense ‘that does not require (that which is indicated by the following noun)’. Frequently with the bare infinitive of a verb used as a noun, as no-iron, no-dig.
ΚΠ
1943 N.Y. Times 24 Jan. 45 (advt.) No-iron seersucker.
1958 Economist 1 Nov. 435/2 Nobody really doubts that ‘no deposit’ business will also be done.
1976 Conservation News Nov.–Dec. 22/2 The reader is given a brief understanding of the workings of the soil, including a useful survey of digging versus no-digging systems.
1985 Water Bull. 3 May 7/1 In 1975 it would..have been difficult to find many people in the water industry who instantly understood the full implications of the term ‘no-dig’... The term did not exist before noon on 14 February 1984.
1989 Bon Appetit Sept. 14/1 Luxurious sheets and pillowcases in the softest no-iron 200 thread count Mostly Cotton percale.
1993 New Idea (Melbourne) 17 June 94/2 Hydroponics and no-dig gardening allow you to grow food around the home without harming the environment.
C4.
no-decision n. chiefly U.S. (a) Boxing a round or bout in which a referee decides in neither boxer's favour; (b) Baseball a game in which a pitcher plays but is not credited with a win, loss, or save.
ΚΠ
1910 N.Y. Times 27 Feb. (Sporting section) 2/7 An agreement was reached today..for a 10-round no-decision boxing bout in Milwaukee.
1927 Ring Oct. 7 He received $100 for eight no-decision rounds.
1980 Washington Post (Nexis) 13 Mar. f1 Then Martinez, 24, finished the year 1-8, pitched a decent no-decision in the playoffs, but was bombed in the Series.
1988 R. Angell Season Ticket xiv. 360 A hatful of strong no-decision outings.
2002 Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.) (Nexis) 1 Mar. c3 They fought on July 28 in Los Angeles, but that bout was ruled a no-decision after Lewis was head-butted.
no-eye pea n. Caribbean a pigeon pea of the variety Cajanus cajan var. flavus, which has pure yellow flowers.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > pulses or plants producing pulses > [noun] > bean > other types of bean-plant
horse-bean1684
Angola pea1756
pole bean1770
Congo pea1812
Canavalia1828
no-eye pea1837
overlook1837
bean-vine1838
asparagus-bean1856
sword-bean1875
jack bean1885
horse-gram1886
winged bean1910
tepary1912
adzuki1914
siratro1962
1837 J. Macfadyen Flora Jamaica I. 296 Cajanus flavus, no-eye pea.
1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore Treasury Bot. I. 189 C. indicus..is now naturalised and cultivated in the West Indies, [etc.]... The variety bicolor..is called the Congo pea in Jamaica. The variety flavus..is called the No-eye pea.
1920 W. Fawcett & A. B. Rendle Flora Jamaica IV. 71 C. cajan... The ‘No Eye Pea’ has a corolla of a uniform yellow colour.
1968 J. W. Purseglove Trop. Crops: Dicotyledons I. 236 Cajanus cajan... Pigeon pea... Other common names include red gram, Congo pea, no-eye pea.
no-hair adj. Astronomy relating to or designating a theorem according to which the only properties of a celestial object that can survive its collapse to a black hole are its mass, angular momentum, and electric charge, so that a black hole can be completely specified by these three parameters.
ΚΠ
1974 Communications Math. Physics 36 306 A formulation of a generalized ‘no-hair-conjecture’ is motivated in such a way.
1980 Physical Rev. D. 22 2327 The no-hair conjecture is proved for the uncharged black holes of supergravity theory.
1993 S. Hawking Black Holes & Baby Universes (BNC) 106 The no-hair theorem implies that a large amount of information is lost in a gravitational collapse.
no-kill adj. North American that does not involve killing (esp. fish); (also) designating an area in which animals may not be killed.
ΚΠ
1964 N.Y. Times 20 Aug. 22/5 More and more there is talk of ‘no kill’ projects on stretches of water.
1971 N.Y. Times 26 Jan. 29/7 Throughout the nation, fish and game departments have experimented with ‘fishing for fun’, or ‘no-kill’ areas for trout.
1986 Chicago Tribune (Nexis) 27 May 4 b Pet Rescue is one of the largest no-kill shelters in the Midwest and perhaps the most controversial.
2000 N.Y. Times 9 Apr. viii. 10/3 The organization will actively promote no-kill striper fishing.
no-look adj. chiefly U.S. Basketball designating a pass, shot, etc., made by a player without looking in its intended direction, in order to deceive an opponent; frequently in no-look pass.
ΚΠ
1977 Washington Post 12 Dec. d1/5 He controlled the tempo by dishing out no-look passes, hanging in the air before handing off to wide-open teammates and penetrating the lane for one of those flip layups that have no right to go in but usually do.
1989 Sports Illustr. 18 Dec. 46/1 Magic [Johnson]..brought into fashion the full-court bounce pass—‘It was the only way I could get the thing there’—and the no-look pass.
1997 D. Simon & E. Burns Corner 127 Even R.C. endures long enough to gather in a no-look dish-off from Dewayne and power up for a three-point play.
no-mind n. Buddhism (esp. in Zen philosophy) a mental state in which the mind is not conscious of itself.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > absence of perception > [noun]
discognisancec1475
imperception1644
imperceptiveness1662
imperceptivitya1680
non-perception1692
unconsciousness1712
imperceptibility1781
incognizancea1856
impercipience1882
no-mind1934
no-thought1949
no-mindness1959
society > faith > sect > non-Christian religions > Buddhism > [noun] > concepts in
satori1727
karma1785
prajna1828
sunyata1828
dharma1829
Buddha dharma1853
middle way1863
Eightfold Path1870
middle path1877
Noble Truth1877
anitya1882
dukkha1886
anatman1894
Buddha dhamma1894
anatta1904
anicca1904
no-self1921
no-mind1934
nothingness1940
no-thought1949
no-mindness1959
1934 D. T. Suzuki Ess. Zen Buddhism 3rd Ser. ii. 84 ‘Mind is still subject to measurement. Who is the Buddha?’ ‘No-mind is he.’
1993 Osho Everyday Meditator 192/2 This is what I have called the quantum leap from mind to no-mind.
no-mindness n. Buddhism (esp. in Zen philosophy) the condition achieved when the mind is not conscious of itself.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > absence of perception > [noun]
discognisancec1475
imperception1644
imperceptiveness1662
imperceptivitya1680
non-perception1692
unconsciousness1712
imperceptibility1781
incognizancea1856
impercipience1882
no-mind1934
no-thought1949
no-mindness1959
society > faith > sect > non-Christian religions > Buddhism > [noun] > concepts in
satori1727
karma1785
prajna1828
sunyata1828
dharma1829
Buddha dharma1853
middle way1863
Eightfold Path1870
middle path1877
Noble Truth1877
anitya1882
dukkha1886
anatman1894
Buddha dhamma1894
anatta1904
anicca1904
no-self1921
no-mind1934
nothingness1940
no-thought1949
no-mindness1959
1959 D. T. Suzuki Zen & Japanese Culture iv. 74 All things are accomplished when one attains a mind of ‘no-mind-ness’ according to the great Zen master.
1966 P. Kapleau Three Pillars of Zen ii. v. 201 Mindlessness, on the other hand, or ‘no-mindness’ as it has been called, is a condition of such complete absorption that there is no vestige of self~awareness.
no-thought n. = no-mind n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > absence of perception > [noun]
discognisancec1475
imperception1644
imperceptiveness1662
imperceptivitya1680
non-perception1692
unconsciousness1712
imperceptibility1781
incognizancea1856
impercipience1882
no-mind1934
no-thought1949
no-mindness1959
society > faith > sect > non-Christian religions > Buddhism > [noun] > concepts in
satori1727
karma1785
prajna1828
sunyata1828
dharma1829
Buddha dharma1853
middle way1863
Eightfold Path1870
middle path1877
Noble Truth1877
anitya1882
dukkha1886
anatman1894
Buddha dhamma1894
anatta1904
anicca1904
no-self1921
no-mind1934
nothingness1940
no-thought1949
no-mindness1959
1949 D. T. Suzuki Zen Doctr. of No-mind 29 When..the seeing of self-nature has no reference to a specific state of consciousness, which can be logically or relatively defined as a something,the Zen Masters designate it in negative terms and call it ‘no-thought’ or ‘no mind’, wu-nien or wu-hsin.
1956 A. Huxley Adonis & Alphabet 34 In Zen the virgin consciousness was called Wu-nien or Wu-hsin—no-mind or no-thought.
1960 A. Koestler Lotus & Robot ii. x. 240 It [sc. Zen] proclaims to be the philosophy of no-mind (Wu-hsin), of no-thought (Wu-mien [sic])..and of ‘going ahead without hesitation’.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
nov.
/nəʊ/, U.S. /noʊ/ 1. intransitive. To say no (to a person), to refuse approval.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > negation > negate [verb (intransitive)]
to say nay?a1300
no1820
1820 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 8 271 Yes-ing and No-ing to the great man's will.
c1843 W. L. Rede Our Village i. ii. 20 The more we keep on imploring, the more she keeps no, no, no-ing.
2001 N. Weinstock As long as she needs Me 140 There were days, entire years of his life, spent yessing and noing on the phone.
2. transitive. To answer (a person) with no, to reject (a person).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > negation > negate [verb (transitive)]
to nick —— with nayc1330
no1835
1835 Court Mag. 6 168/1 It is of the utmost importance..that you should No the world.
1965 D. Ireland Chantic Bird vii 69 The ordinary bloke only gets these ideas when his woman Noes him.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
noadv.1
/nəʊ/, U.S. /noʊ/α. Old English nawa, Old English–Middle English na, Middle English næ, Middle English nea; English regional 1700s nea (northern), 1800s– ner (before a vowel); Scottish pre-1700 1700s– ne (now chiefly northern), pre-1700 1800s na, 1700s– nae /ne/ (now chiefly northern), 1700s– nee (now chiefly northern); New Zealand 1900s– nae.
β. Old English– no, Middle English noo, 1500s 1700s noe, 1900s– no'.
γ. As enclitic English regional (chiefly northern) 1800s– na, 1800s– nor (before a vowel); Scottish pre-1700 1700s– na /nə/, /nɪ/, pre-1700 1700s– ne, 1700s– nae, 1800s nin.
1. Not, in no way, by no means. Now Scottish, Irish English (northern), and Caribbean, and (in sense 1b) in representations of Pidgin English or imperfectly spoken English.In earlier use, frequently occurring with another negative.† d. na war (it): were it not, had it not been, but for (the fact that, etc.). Obsolete.
a. Preceding a word other than a finite verb or a phrase or standing alone in place of a clause.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > non-existence > [adverb] > not
neeOE
noughteOE
naughteOE
noeOE
nayc1175
notc1330
nata1350
nit1894
α.
β. eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) li. 395 Nu sculon ge no eallunga to swiðe lufian ðisne middangeard.OE Crist I 84 No gebrosnad wearð mægðhad se micla.OE Blickling Homilies 13 Ne herede heo hine no mid wordum anum, ac mid ealre heortan.a1200 (?c1175) Poema Morale (Trin. Cambr.) 77 in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 222 Nis him no þing forholen..Ne bie hit no swo derne idon.a1250 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Nero) (1952) 153 Þauh noþelater. Betere is þo þene no.?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 57 (MED) Þis ilk Magnus lyued þer no longe.1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 96 They spak no altogither raschlie.1628 J. Doughty Church-Schismes in Disc. Divine Mysteries 22 Papistrie thwarts and cuts the very life-strings of a sauing beleefe. Semi-pelagianisme no so.1683 J. Dryden & N. Lee Duke of Guise ii. ii. 19 No Yet, my Lord of Guise, no Yet.1710 Kirk-session Rec. 27 Aug. in Boharm Parish Mag. (1897) Aug. The session after consideration thought fitt no to refuse the offer.1725 A. Ramsay Gentle Shepherd i. ii. 11 He's get his Will: Why no?1861 E. B. Ramsay Reminisc. Sc. Life 2nd Ser. 182 Is it the fashion for them no to go on?1973 People's Jrnl. 28 July (Inverness & Northern Counties ed.) 4/5 Who says the Scots are a dour lot? No' us anyway!1988 M. Mustapha Playboy of W. Indies 4 No need ter mention anyting, no even ter yer fadder.eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Otho) xxxix. 128 Þa ongan he sprecan swiðe fiorran ymbutan, swelce he na þa spræce ne mænde, & tiohhode hit ðeah þiderweardes.
OE Beowulf 1536 Swa sceal man don, þonne he æt guðe gegan þenceð longsumne lof; na ymb his lif cearað.
a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 123 Ne nom he na alle þa þe þer inne weren.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 1327 Beo þa dai na swa long.
b. Preceding a finite verb (or auxiliary) and without do-construction.Also, in Old English and early Middle English, preceding a verb negated by ne.
ΚΠ
α.
β. eOE (Mercian) Vespasian Psalter (1965) liii. 3 (5) Fortes..non proposuerunt deum ante conspectum suum : ða strongan..no foresettun god biforan gesihðe heara.OE Wanderer 96 Hu seo þrag gewat, genap under nihthelm, swa heo no wære.OE Blickling Homilies 17 Se þe..bideþ þæs ecan leohtes, & no ne geblinneþ.c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) 15882 Oðer brohte enne; þe oðer no brohte nenne.a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2236 Us sal ben hard If we no holden him non forward.a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 1554 Alle men vpon molde no schuld my liif saue.a1400 (c1300) Northern Homily: Knight who did Penance among Worms (Coll. Phys.) in Middle Eng. Dict. at No No gif thou of the self na tale.a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) 11781 (MED) If he no war god of might, vr goddes alle had standen up right.1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) ix. 471 That him sair repent sall he..May fall, quehen he no mend it may.a1600 ( W. Stewart tr. H. Boece Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) I. 272 At this time I no will Onto the Romanis do injure or ill.1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 180 What! he no hear you swear, curse, speak the great Damn.1794 European Mag. 26 144 De noder day When Buckro no be beating.1833 Mrs. A. C. Carmichael Domest. Manners W. Indies II. 135 Misses, you no peak lie, me savey dat well.1835 J. M. Wilson Hist. Tales Borders I. 119 It's weel for ye that no kens what it is to be a footba' at you ain fireside.1894 Caledonia 1 309 Eat her up, man, an' no haiver.1924 I. Adair Glowerower 90 I no want onything.1938 X. Herbert Capricornia xviii. 250 ‘All time tink we go out wid boys. We no can talk boys. But dem sister proper mad long boys demself.’1971 K. Awoonor This Earth, my Brother xiv. 176 If I no lie, e lef small mek the tiem catch tree o'crock.1986 O. Senior Summer Lightning & Other Stories 68 But see here Miss Mary you no think Cherry buck up the devil own self when she carrying her?1995 L. Gunst Born fi' Dead 204 If you no see me with a gun inna' me pocket, you know I is a fuckery.OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) vii. 25 Þa com þær ren & mycele flod & þær bleowun windas & ahruron on þæt hus & hyt na ne [c1200 Hatton hit naht ne] feoll.
OE Rule St. Benet (Tiber.) (1888) lviii. 98 Aut certe si non scit litteras, alter ab eo rogatus scribat; et ille novitius signum faciat : oððe soðes gif he na can stafas, oðer fram him gebeden write & se nicumena mearce do.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) 9294 Þer he na ne come ȝif hit nere for swike-dome.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 1172 (MED) I na gult him neuer.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) 16948 (MED) If i ȝu lije na [a1400 Vesp. ne] sall.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) iv. 200 That he na mocht His aynd bot with gret panys draw, Na spek.
c1500 (?a1437) Kingis Quair (1939) lxvii Tho began myn axis and turment, To sene hir part, and folowe I na myght.
?1508 Balade in Sir Eglamour (Chepman & Myllar) sig. cviiiv I dar noght speke For I na dare my hert it is so sare.
c1580 ( tr. Bk. Alexander (1921) II. ii. 1385 The quethir the dame Ydeus Na gettis thow nocht.
c. Following a finite verb or auxiliary. Also (Scottish and English regional (northern)) suffixed, esp. with auxiliary verbs.Also, in Old English and early Middle English, following a verb negated by ne.
ΚΠ
α.
β. eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xviii. 139 Ðætte ða sacerdas ne scoldon no hiera heafdu scieran mid scierseaxum..ac hie scoldon hie efsigean mid scearum.OE Seafarer 66 Ic gelyfe no þæt him eorðwelan ece stondað.c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (1973) 1939 Ȝef ha nule no, ha schal beon tohwiðeret.c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) 7524 He ne blakede no.a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) 2 Kings xx. 38 I schal no [L. non] turnen aȝeen to þe tyme þat I waaste hem.a1450 (?1409) St. Patrick's Purgatory (Royal) 60 (MED) We wil no suffre the.a1586 King Hart 727 in W. A. Craigie Maitland Folio MS (1919) I. 277 Be no wraith with me, my lady deir!1588 R. Parke tr. J. G. de Mendoza Hist. Kingdome of China 8 They doe no leaue one foote of grounde vnsowen.a1657 W. Mure Misc. Poems in Wks. (1898) I. 49 Cease, serpent, seik no to subdue And kill ane hert.1661 P. Henry Diaries & Lett. (1882) 79 My Father will no cease unlesse my Vncle acknowledge..that hee hath done him wrong.1720 A. Ramsay Edinb.'s Salut. to Ld. Carnarvon iv I'll no make muckle vaunting.1786 R. Burns Poems 170 Alas! it's no thy neebor sweet, The bonie Lark.1816 W. Scott Antiquary III. xv. 326 I maunna say muckle about them that's no weel and no very able.a1894 R. L. Stevenson Weir of Hermiston (1896) viii. 245 Oh, my dear, that'll no dae!1942 Scots Mag. May 106 Ye needna be feared at the cattle-beasts. They'll no meddle ye.1951 S. H. Bell December Bride i. iv. 33 Why do ye no like Mr Pentland?1998 R. Carr Brixton Bwoy i. 14 Me never meant it, Pops, do no beat me, Pops.γ. c1580 ( tr. Bk. Alexander (1921) II. ii. 2149 That he sall na chaip this maner.1588 in Paisley Mag. (1828) 1 382 I wald remove sir, ȝit I canna.a1599 R. Rollock Sel. Wks. (1849) I. 433 Luik that the sweitnes of it blunt na sa thy taist.1618 Kirkcudbright Town Council Rec. (1948) II. 225 To make the vell cleine and muckna.1720 A. Pennecuik Streams from Helicon (ed. 2) i. 76 I vow I'd rather giv'n ten Dollars, Before I had nae bred you Scholars.1725 A. Ramsay Gentle Shepherd i. i. 5 I needna mak sic Speed.1786 R. Burns Holy Fair xiv, in Poems 47 They canna sit for anger.1794 R. Burns in Morning Chron. 10 May 3/2 If it winna, canna be.1816 W. Scott Old Mortality i, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. II. 20 Them that shame na to take upon themsels the persecuting name of..tories.a1828 T. Bewick Howdy & Upgetting (1850) 13 [Thou] dis na leuk vara pleasd.1881 D. Thomson Musings 45 O' muntin' I hae plenty o't, O' claes I am na scant.1893 R. L. Stevenson Catriona xxii. 268 She cannae stop here.1932 W. D. Cocker Poems Scots & Eng. 63 The King shall hae his richts; but dod! He'll get them when he..mells na wi' the things o' God.1951 S. H. Bell December Bride ii. xiv. 160 There, Sarah, dinna take on. Things will aye be someway.1976 R. Bulter Shaela 2 Ta trap doon debaetless on da daek o some ship, I hae nae da courage to mak sicca trip.1995 D. M. Flinn Fearful Summons 105 We do na have Alien Parks or Environpods or Fantasy Stimulators.OE West Saxon Gospels: John (Corpus Cambr.) x. 21 Ne synt na þis wodes mannes word.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) anno 1083 Hi ferdon æfter heom into þam mynstre, & wolden hig utdragan, þaða hig ne dorsten na utgan.
1725 A. Ramsay Gentle Shepherd i. i. 6 Well I kend she meant nae as she spake.
1755 R. Forbes Shop-bill in tr. Ovid Ajax his Speech (new ed.) 38 We'll gar him say, he's nae outwitted.
1816 W. Scott Old Mortality vii, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. II. 156 I see nae sae muckle difference atween the twa ways o't.
1838 W. Howitt Rural Life Eng. I. iii. iii. 312 I'll nae gie it thee.
1875 N. Elliott N. Macpherson 73 I'll nae mention your name.
1991 A. Campbell Sidewinder ii. 18 If it's nae a matter of life and death, what is it then?
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > quality of being exclusive > exclusiveness [preposition] > except or excepting > but for
savingc1450
na warc1480
savec1522
saving for1523
c1480 (a1400) Prol. 98 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 4 Ȝet vald I,..na var eld & falt of sycht, of þe twelf appostolis spek now.
c1480 (a1400) St. Peter 528 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 22 Na war petir hym forbade [etc.].
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) vi. 345 That war voundir for to fall, Na war falt of discrecione.
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) iii. 642 He had bene tane but dout, Na war it that he [etc.].
a1530 (c1425) Andrew of Wyntoun Oryg. Cron. Scotl. (Royal) i. 626 Na war his mercy grete excede Our gilt and our wranguise deid.
e. no fair: not fair; frequently as int. Chiefly in representations of children's speech.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > rightness or justice > wrong or injustice > wrongly or unjustly [phrase] > unfair
not cricket1900
no fair1913
1913 J. Muir Boyhood & Youth i. 23 But that's no fair, for naebody counts craw's nests and fox holes.
1959 I. Opie & P. Opie Lore & Lang. Schoolchildren ix. 161 Juvenile repugnance continues to be expressed by the old standbys..no fair, no good, orrid (usual spelling).
1967 B. Cleary Mitch & Amy vi. 133 Aw, Dad... That's no fair. We are the only kids in the whole school who don't get to watch TV on school nights.
1974 E. Bowen Henry & Other Heroes iv. 78 It struck me as no fair for people to tug at the linchpins of your whole mechanism just because one wheel did not always turn to their taste.
1993 Canad. Living May 174/1 There was a protesting chorus of ‘Oh, Mom’ and ‘No fair’.
2. With comparatives.† b. = none pron. 1b. See also natheless adv. and nathemo adv., and cf. never the latter adv. Obsolete.
a. Not any, not at all (better, etc.). See also no less adj., adv., n., and pron., no mo pron.1, n., adj.1, and adv.1, no more pron., n., adj., and adv.no better than (one) should (or ought to) be: see better adj., n.1, and adv. Phrases 2.
ΚΠ
α.
β. eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Otho) xxxvi. 105 Ic halsige ðæt ðu me no leng ne lette.OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Mark xi. 14 Dixit ei iam non amplius in aeternum quisquam fructum ex te manducet : cuoeð him uutedlice..no leng in ecnise ænig monn wæstm from ðe eteð.c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 42 Ho [sc. the owl] ne miȝte no leng bileue.a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 2455 (MED) It was no more nede to bere þat no forþer for þe beres sake.c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 85 (MED) At alle peryles..I aproche hit no nerre.c1425 (c1400) Laud Troy-bk. 4186 (MED) Thei sayde thei myght no betre do.c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 212 (MED) Þou owyst to sellyn it hym no derere þan þou mayst haue þerfore in markett.a1500 ( Vision E. Leversedge (1991) 126 (MED) Sho beyng no radder departid.1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie i. vi. 4 b A small fountaine beeing no higher set then the pavement.1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy i. ii. iv. iv. 199 Such iests..are no better then iniuries.1697 W. Dampier New Voy. around World xvi. 467 Being out of hopes to find their Habitations, we searched no farther.1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 80. ⁋1 They now no longer enjoyed the Ease of Mind..in which they were formerly happy.1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 42 If they had been able to contrive no better remedy against arbitrary power. View more context for this quotation1836 C. Thirlwall Hist. Greece II. xi. 59 The two factions had no sooner accomplished the object..than they began to quarrel.1891 ‘L. Falconer’ Mademoiselle Ixe vi. 165 I hope that unfortunate fellow is no worse.1937 ‘M. J. Farrell’ Rising Tide xix 140 This tough young man was no older than she was.1987 M. Warnock Memory v. 91 The narrator came out of a new sanatorium, no better, and full of depression.eOE Metres of Boethius xxv. 29 Gif he wyrsa ne bið, ne wene ic his na beteran.
c1175 ( Homily: Hist. Holy Rood-tree (Bodl. 343) (1894) 8 Ne unrotsæ þu me na swiþor.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 13163 Teȝȝ nolldenn nohht tatt boc. Flæshliȝ na lenngre follȝhenn.
a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 129 (MED) Heo weren ipult ut of paradise and ne mehten þer naleng etstonden.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 12366 (MED) For leons durst þai cum na nerr.
c1480 (a1400) St. Mary of Egypt 226 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 302 Hayre scho had, quhyt & streke, rekand na forthire na hir neke.
?1507 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen (Rouen) in Poems (1998) I. 46 He is at Venus werkis na war na he semys.
1508 Golagros & Gawane (Chepman & Myllar) sig. aii*v Na forthir he faris bot foundis away.
1580 J. Hay in T. G. Law Catholic Tractates (1901) 46 In the receaving of it thair is na farder profite.
1790 A. Wheeler Westmorland Dial. i. 14 I'll bide nea langer, sea gang I will.
a1796 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 280 Gelding's nae better than 'tis ca't.
1817 W. Scott Rob Roy II. i. 16 He maun be a saft sap, wi' a head nae better than a fozy frosted turnip.
1865 G. MacDonald Alec Forbes I. xii. 90 Whan I was na bigger than you, Annie, I could win oot at a less hole than that.
1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood xvii. 296 Katrine is a leddy born—there's nae aulder or prouder stock in the land.
1995 P. J. Ritch Mother Wave (rev. ed.) 27 Whan suize-wan rubber butts can wade nae deeper.
ΚΠ
eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Otho) xiii. 28 Ne þincð eow no þy hraðor hiora genoh.
OE Exodus 399 Fyrst ferhðbana no þy fægenra wæs.
lOE King Ælfred tr. St. Augustine Soliloquies (Vitell.) (1922) i. 17 Ne do ic hi na ðe raðor gelice, þeah ic hy togædere nemne.
c1225 (?c1200) St. Margaret (Bodl.) (1934) 42 Iesu Crist, þet is soþ mon & goð [read godd] noðeletere [c1225 Royal noðelatere].
c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 1260 (MED) Nis heom þar fore harem no þe ner.
a1300 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 69 (MED) Ne beo he no þe swift.
c1300 St. Kenelm (Laud) 100 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 348 Ore lourdes miȝte was so muche þat no-þe worse him nas.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 236 Hit com no þe later as he hadde iseyd.
ΚΠ
?a1300 (c1250) Prov. Hendyng (Digby) iv, in Anglia (1881) 4 191 (MED) Beo þi child þe no so dere, And hit wille ounþewes lere, Bet hit oþerwile.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 2710 (MED) Nere þe worc no so strong.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 7778 Nere þe voreward no [a1400 Trin. Cambr. neur] so strong.
4. Expressing the negative in an alternative choice, possibility, etc. Chiefly in whether——or no.The use may have originated in sentences similar to quot. c1500 at sense 1bα. : cf. none pron. 3.
ΚΠ
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1961) Deut. viii. 2 Wheþer þou woldist kepe þe hestys of hym or no [a1382 Douce 369(1) nai; c1400 Lamb. noon; L. non].
a1402 J. Trevisa tr. R. Fitzralph Defensio Curatorum (Harl.) (1925) 44 (MED) Þe parischon douteþ nouȝt..of his ordinarie, weþer his power to assoile his sugetis be y-bounde oþer no.
c1450 Speculum Christiani (Harl. 6580) (1933) 128 (MED) Sal god spar the or no.
a1500 (a1450) Generides (Trin. Cambr.) 2588 (MED) I will..do as ye councell me, Comforte or no.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Judith ix. 20 Yf no, then go fyre out from Abimelech.
1592 R. Greene Quip for Vpstart Courtier sig. D3v He..asketh whether he please to be shauen or no.
1664 H. Power Exper. Philos. i. 2 By which he tryes and feels all objects, whether they be edible or no.
1709 J. Swift Let. conc. Sacramental Test 15 Many of them care not Three Pence whether there be any Church or no.
1736 H. Purefoy Let. 31 July (1931) I. iii. 49 Let mee know by Ned May if you will come or No.
1784 Unfortunate Sensibility I. 182 Whether or no, this coat shall be my favourite coat.
1853 W. Whewell in I. Todhunter William Whewell (1876) II. 393 Whether or no there be virtue or vice in other worlds.
1892 Mrs. H. Ward David Grieve I. 158 It was a half-baked eloquence... But half-baked or no, David rose to it greedily.
1906 L. L. Bell Carolina Lee 38 You'll have to go on being a millionairess, whether you will or no.
1988 Times 3 Mar. 13/3 He..might afterwards complain (rightly or no) that he was not given an accurate account.
ΚΠ
1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles II. cxix. [cxv.] 342 I wyll nat entre there... No wyll? quod Geronette.
a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) ii. iv. sig. D.jv C. What was his name? An. Al. We asked not. C. Cust. No did?
a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) i. iv. sig. B.iiijv R. This is not she. M. M. No is?
1581 B. Rich Farewell Militarie Profession sig. S.j The Doctour..aunswered, that he neuer writte Letter vnto her... No haue? (qþ Mistres Doritie) read you then heare your owne lines.
a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) iv. ii. 208 Io. I had a mighty cause To wish him dead, but thou hadst none to kill him. H. No had (my Lord?). View more context for this quotation
1621 R. Montagu Diatribæ Hist. Tithes 35 You professe your ignorance thus: Non omnino capimus quid sibi velit. No doe? That is marvell that you do not capere.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
noadv.2int.
/nəʊ/, U.S. /noʊ/α. Old English– na; English regional (chiefly northern) 1800s nawe, 1800s– naa, 1800s– naah, 1800s– naw, 1800s– neaa, 1800s– neea; Scottish pre-1700 1700s– na Scottish English /na/, /nɔ/, 1900s– naa, 1900s– naw.
β. Middle English now (perhaps transmission error), Middle English (1800s– English regional) noa, Middle English (1800s– English regional) noo, Middle English– no, 1800s– nooa (English regional (northern)).
Forms with o occurring three or more times are also occasionally attested. A. adv.2
1. † b. After a verb of thinking or implying. Obsolete.
a. Expressing a negative reply to a question, request, etc., or introducing a correction of an erroneous opinion or assumption on the part of another person. Also, in reported speech, with ellipsis of verb of speaking.On the distinction between no and nay, see nay adv.1
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > negation > [adverb] > no
noOE
nayc1175
nonea1382
naw1699
nix1862
naow1884
uh-uh1885
nah1886
nope1888
ixnay1929
the mind > language > statement > dissent or disagreement > [adverb] > expression of correction
noOE
nix1862
α.
β. a1250 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Nero) (1952) 99 ‘Noa [c1230 Corpus Cambr. na],’ he seið, ‘ne mei nout makien þeos to sunegen þuruh ȝiuernesse.’c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) 997 Ȝut þu aisheist wi ich ne fare In to oþer londe & singe þare. No, wat sholde ich among hom do?a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 2701 ‘No, madame,’ seide hire douȝter, ‘marie þat graunt.’c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) Zech. iv. 5 ‘Wher thou wost not what ben these thingus?’ And Y saide, ‘No, my lord.’a1425 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (1987) i. 761 ‘Lat be thyne olde ensaumples.’.. ‘No,’ quod tho Pandarus.c1450 (?c1400) tr. Honorius Augustodunensis Elucidarium (1909) 27 ‘Resseyuede not Judas þis sacrament as ferforth as petir?’.. ‘No, forsoþe.’1535 Bible (Coverdale) John i. 21 Art thou the Prophet? And he answered: No.1591 Troublesome Raigne Iohn i. sig. B2 v Wilt thou vpon a frantick madding vaine Goe loose thy land, and say thy selfe base borne? No, keepe thy land.a1616 W. Shakespeare Two Gentlemen of Verona (1623) i. iii. 91 My heart accords thereto, And yet a thousand times it answer's no . View more context for this quotation1646 R. Crashaw Steps to Temple 90 When heaven bids come, who can say no?1702 D. Defoe Shortest-way with Dissenters 3 Now they cry out Peace, Union, Forbearance, and Charity... No Gentlemen, the Time of Mercy is past.1718 G. Sewell Proclam. Cupid 8 The Fools say, Yes; but wiser Chaucer, No.1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield I. xiii. 126 No, cries the Dwarf..no, I declare off.1817 Parl. Deb. 1st Ser. 413 On the question that the bill do pass, being finally put, the cry of ‘No’, from the Opposition side, was very loudly pronounced.1857 J. Toulmin Smith Parish (new ed.) 62 The whole number present at the meeting must range themselves, aye and no, on the two opposite sides of the room.1861 G. H. Lewes Let. 20 Aug. in ‘G. Eliot’ Lett. (1954) III. 446 She allows herself to be preyed upon dreadfully by the boys—she can't say No.1961 Listener 21 Dec. 1065/2 He was made Minister of Labour in a season when the Government's economic policy meant saying ‘no’ to wage demands.1988 Lit. & Theol. 2 164 We may suppose that we read Lacan or Foucault... But no! what we read is French, or French translated into usually American English.OE tr. Apollonius of Tyre (1958) xx. 32 ‘Lareow, ne ofþingð hit ðe gif ic þus wer geceose?’ Apollonius cwæð: ‘Na, ac ic blissige swiðor ðæt þu miht..þe silf on gewrite gecyðan hwilcne heora þu wille.’
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) 766 (MED) ‘Wate þou quar-fore?’ ‘na [a1400 Vesp. nai; a1400 Gött. nay].’
c1480 (a1400) St. Placidus 600 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 86 Þane cane þai at hym hertly spere..gyf he wist quhare he was..he sad: ‘na’.
a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1959) vii. vi. 32 Hes nocht Troy all infyrit ȝit thame brynt? Na: all sic laboure is for nocht and tynt.
1572 (a1500) Taill of Rauf Coilȝear (1882) 79 Na, thank me not ouir airlie, for dreid that we threip.
1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1895) II. 75 Na; not sa: bot he, quhen pleises him selfe wil cum.
1613 in W. Cramond Church of Aberdour (1896) 9 After..lawful tryell of his knowledge..they may say yea or na to his admission.
1634 T. Heywood & R. Brome Late Lancashire Witches iii. sig. F Na, if the Witches have but rob'd of your meat, and restor'd your reason, here has beene no hurt done to day.
1725 A. Ramsay Gentle Shepherd i. i. 3 Na Patie, na! I'm na sic churlish Beast.
1786 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 193 Na faith ye yet! ye'll no be right, Till ye've got on it.
1816 W. Scott Old Mortality vii, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. II. 147 Na, my leddy, it's no that.
1827 J. Wilson Noctes Ambrosianae xxxiii, in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. June 897 Na, sir—I canna say that I should.
1894 R. O. Heslop Northumberland Words (at cited word) ‘Are ye gan win us?’ ‘Na.’
1958 J. Kesson White Bird Passes x. 158 ‘Ye tell her, then, Jeems! Ye ken all the answers!’ ‘Na, hardly.’
1995 I. Banks Whit xxii. 358 Is he jealous? Na; I think he's proud, and he likes watching, anyway.
ΚΠ
1601 Bp. W. Barlow Def. Protestants Relig. 7 We dullard Protestantes thinke no.
1621 R. Montagu Diatribæ Hist. Tithes 388 For my part I thinke no, vnlesse he held possessions in the Land of Promise.
1634 J. Canne Necessitie of Separation v. 218 His wordes import positively no, but we are sure yes, & so will every wise man..affirm too.
c. not to take no for an answer and variants: to refuse to accept denial or a rebuff.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > perseverance or persistence > persevere or persist [phrase]
not to take no for an answer1853
1853 T. C. Haliburton Sam Slick's Wise Saws I. v. 119 You first of all force yourself into my cabin, won't take no for an answer, and then complain of oncivility.
1879 G. Meredith Egoist vii He half refuses. I do not take no from him.
1930 W. S. Churchill My Early Life iv. 74 Come on now, all you young men... Don't take no for an answer, never submit to failure.
1961 Family Jrnl. Dec. 15/3 He would not take ‘No’ for an answer.
1985 Times 14 Nov. 23/1 ‘He won't take No for an answer,’ said one, implying that if he could not get through the front door he would try the lavatory window.
2. Used interrogatively.† a. Questioning a negative statement or inference. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Bodl.) 166 ‘Ne nulle ich..þe mix maumez..heien..for teone ne for tintreohe þet ȝe me mahe timbrin.’ ‘Na? Nult tu?’
a1425 (c1385) G. Chaucer Troilus & Criseyde (1987) ii. 277 ‘Sey ye me nevere er now——What sey ye, no?’ ‘Yis, yys.’
c1450 (c1380) G. Chaucer House of Fame 1895 ‘But these be no suche tydynges As I mene of.’ ‘Noo?’ quod he. And I answered, ‘Noo, parde!’
a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) ii. iv. sig. D.ij T. Yet can I not yonder craftie boy see nor meete. C. Custane. No?
b. Suggesting a negative answer to a previous open question.
ΚΠ
1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan II. xvi. 101 Shall I give him a boost? or no?
1875 E. King Southern States N. Amer. 479 Would we have some more ‘moonshine’? No?
1884 Ld. Tennyson Becket v. iii. 212 Does he breathe? No? No, Reginald, he is dead.
1939 ‘N. Blake’ Smiler with Knife ii. 33 Had tea? No? Good, I'll see what Mrs. Raikes can rake up.
1967 Crescendo Feb. 26/2 Can you find the ‘go to coda’ sign in a hurry? No? Then make it big.
2002 J. Cartwright White Lightning ix. 66 Do we need a close-up of Andrew? No? Okay. Let's move back down the path.
c. colloquial. As a question-tag at the end of a sentence: ‘is that not so?’, ‘am I not correct?’, etc.Sometimes in representations of the speech of those for whom English is not a first language, corresponding to French n'est-ce pas?, Spanish ¿no?, etc.
ΚΠ
1932 L. Golding Magnolia St. i. v. 94 He was at one of those big schools, where they all live together. A public school they call it, no?
1946 E. G. Webber Johnny Enzed in Italy 36 All this us der merry laugh gives, no?
1975 H. McCutcheon Instrument of Vengeance vii. 123 ‘I have many interests.’ ‘But no girls?.. You just love them and leave them, no?’
1998 Independent 2 May i. 15/4 The people who make Watchdog and Esther will now also be in charge of all the features at Radio 4—inspires you with confidence, no?
2000 M. Ondaatje Anil's Ghost 26 Look—the rubbish here in the halls. This is a hospital, no?
3. Repeated for the sake of emphasis or earnestness.In later use in Scottish (in form na, na), as an introductory formula without any direct negation.
ΚΠ
α.
β. c1395 G. Chaucer Franklin's Tale 1590 ‘Hastow nat had thy lady as thee liketh?’ ‘No, no,’ quod he and sorwefully he siketh.1532 (a1475) Assembly of Ladies 63 in W. W. Skeat Chaucerian & Other Pieces (1897) 382 The povre pensees were not diloged there; No, no! god wot, her place was every-where!1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry V f. lxiv No no, I wyll not so accomplishe your cloked request.1630 T. Dekker Second Pt. Honest Whore ii. i. 93 No, no, no, sir, no; I cannot abide to haue money ingender.1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost ix. 913 Loss of thee Would never from my heart; no no, I feel The Link of Nature draw me. View more context for this quotation1720 D. Defoe Mem. Cavalier 74 No, no, says he, I took Care of that.1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1775 I. 486 I answered, also smiling, ‘No, no, Sir; that will not do.’1846 C. Dickens Battle of Life i. 16 ‘There is not a truer heart than Alfred's in the world!’ ‘No—no,..perhaps not.’1939 G. Greene Confidential Agent i. iv. 121 No, no, I haven't been in England for nearly eighteen years.a1983 ‘R. West’ This Real Night (1984) i. ii. 29 No, no, there was no question of putting you off.a1522 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) i. Prol. 24 Na, na, nocht sua, bot knele quhen I thame heir.
1594 A. Hume Treat. Conscience iv. 28 Na, na, thy intention sall be na releuant defence vnto thee.
1682 A. Peden Lord's Trumpet Sounding 20 Na, na, sirs, love to God goes beyond all that.
a1796 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 280 ‘Na, na,’ quo' I, ‘I'm no for that.’
1829 W. Scott Guy Mannering (new ed.) I. xxiii. 238 ‘Had we not better..dismount?’.. ‘Na, na,..we maun cross Dumple at no rate.’
1891 ‘H. Haliburton’ Ochil Idylls 51 Na, na, my lad!
1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood xvii. 299 Na, na, my lamb, dinna be feared that I'll flyte on ye.
1986 R. A. Jamieson Thin Wealth i. 26 Clemmie? Na na, she'll be lang in bed lass.
4. Introducing a more emphatic or comprehensive negative statement.no, you don't: see do v. Phrases 6b.
ΚΠ
c1395 G. Chaucer Clerk's Tale 819 I ne heeld me neuere digne in no manere To be youre wyf. No, ne youre chambrere.
c1450 ( G. Chaucer Bk. Duchess 280 No man had the wyt To konne wel my sweven rede; No, not Joseph.
1509 A. Barclay Brant's Shyp of Folys (Pynson) f. cclviii No wylde beste: no: nat the myghty bere.
1581 W. Fulke in A. Nowell et al. True Rep. Disput. E. Campion (1584) ii. L iiij b We are not iustified by them, no nor by faith, otherwise then instrumentally.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 383 There growes nothing in it good to make ointments, no nor nothing throughout all Europe.
1636 P. Heylyn Hist. Sabbath i. iii. 57 I say there was none kept, no nor none commanded.
1720 D. Defoe Mem. Cavalier 144 The Scots never appeared, no, not so much as their Scouts.
1775 E. Burke Speech Amer. Taxation 36 He never stirred from his ground; no, not an inch.
a1821 J. Keats Otho i. iii, in R. M. Milnes Life, Lett. & Lit. Remains Keats (1848) II. 131 No, not a thousand foughten fields could sponge Those days paternal from my memory.
1884 Ld. Tennyson Becket Prol. 5 Thou art but deacon, not yet bishop, No, nor archbishop.
1906 N. Munro Para Handy (1997) i. 4 There iss not a rock, no, nor a chuckie stone inside the Cumbrie Head that I do not have a name for.
1991 R. S. Jones Force of Gravity (1992) ii. iv. 185 ‘No, that's not it,’ Emmet rounded on him. ‘Stop saying that!’
B. int.
Expressing surprise, incredulity, or dismay in response to a positive statement or to an event.
ΚΠ
1880 ‘M. Twain’ Tramp Abroad xxvii. 276 ‘What hotel are you stopping at?’ ‘Schweitzerhof.’ ‘No! is that so?’
1971 ‘G. Charles’ Destiny Waltz ii. 32 ‘Where is his synagogue?’ ‘It used to be in the East End—’ ‘No!’ said Jimmy. ‘I was raised there myself. Whereabouts?’
2001 Games Master Mar. 84/4 (caption) Nooo! Stop her somebody!
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
No.adv.3n.2
A. adv.3
In number.
ΚΠ
1661 R. Lovell Πανζωορυκτολογια, sive Panzoologicomineralogia 129 They goe two months, & then bring forth a blind off-spring like bitches, no. eight or nine.
1693 tr. S. Blankaart Physical Dict. (ed. 2) 146 Take of Jujubes No vi. that is, Six in number.
1719 J. Quincy Lexicon Physico-medicum (1722) No. In Prescription is often used to signify the Number of any Things, as Cariophyllorum No vi. is six Cloves.
1994 Dorland's Med. Dict. (ed. 28) 1141/1 No., abbreviation of L. numero, ‘to the number of’.
B. n.2
Number. Frequently with following numeral.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > numerical arrangement > [noun] > set > sequence > series > designating place in
numberc1350
extreme1571
numero1649
infinitesimal1655
No.1753
Z1842
majorant1925
seed1972
1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. at Otis See Tab. of Birds, No 28.
1797 Encycl. Brit. XI. 721/2 When the magnifiers, No 4, 5, or 6, are used.
1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 2nd Ser. 20 Mrs. Macklin, at No. 4..opened her little street door.
1840 C. Dickens Let. 4 Feb. (1969) II. 18 I am curious to see how the idea of the first No. of my projected work, strikes you.
1873 H. B. Tristram Land of Moab vii. 131 They knew the sportsmen had only No. 7 in their barrels.
1924 J. Buchan Three Hostages xvii. 242 It was eventually arranged that the district-visitor should call at No. 4 the following afternoon.
1937 N. Marsh Vintage Murder v. 47 He was advancing a No. 4 company in St. Helens. I was selling tickets for the worst show in England.
1972 Oxf. Times 15 Sept. 18/1 Conversion of house into 2 No. self contained flats.
1974 M. Gilbert Flash Point ii. 14 It's No. 276 Coalporter Street.
1993 New Yorker 12 Apr. 92/1 He..boarded the No. 7 streetcar.
Compounds
No. eight n. (a) New Zealand = number eight n. (b) at number n. Compounds 3d; (b) Rugby Union = number eight n. (a) at number n. Compounds 3d.
ΚΠ
1876 Saturday Advertiser (N.Z.) 8 July 10 (advt.) Fencing Wire, Nos. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10; Fencing Staples and Wire Stretchers.
1993 Rugby World & Post May 28/2 Ireland might have hoped for a bit of favour at openside, no. 8, tighthead and, to stretch a point, out-half.
2000 Listener (N.Z) 11 Mar. 38 Rutherford..was a hands-on hero who owed a great deal to his New Zealand background and what we would now call the ‘No. 8 fencing wire’ mentality.
2000 Canberra Sunday Times 11 June 92/5 With No 8 Christine Maniti and inside centre Mary Simeonova smashing the NSW ball carriers with crunching tackles, the momentum began to change.
No. nine n. Military slang = number nine n. at number n. Compounds 3d.
ΚΠ
1911 Pharmaceut. Formulas (ed. 8) 922/2 (heading) Army Pill No. 9.
1917 A. G. Empey Over Top 301 ‘No. 9.’ A pill the doctor gives you if you are suffering with corns or barber's itch or any disease at all.
1946 J. Irving Royal Navalese 123 Number-nine Boatswain, the Warrant Wardmaster. As ‘King of the Sick Berth Staff’ this allusion to the No. 9 pill is not inappropriate.
ΚΠ
1822 S. Thomson Narr. Life 63 I began with him by giving medicine to correct and strengthen the system; bathed the wound with my rhumatic drops, or No. 6.
No. Ten n. = number ten adj. and n. at number n. Compounds 3d.
ΚΠ
1880 Leisure Hour 383/2 Doubtless ‘oblivious forgetfulness’ would occur to any one who, having been created a peer of Parliament by a late occupant of No. 10, should happen to be seen by the fallen Minister.
1905 Strand Mag. Apr. 376/1 George II..made a present of No. 10 to his Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, and his successors.
2001 Independent 26 Mar. i. 6/1 No 10 ordered the reopening of the Cabinet Office Briefing Room..as foot-and-mouth continued to spread unchecked across Britain.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
† noconj.1
Obsolete.
1. = nor conj.1
a. With preceding negative clause or word. Frequently in correlative constructions. Cf. ne adv.1 1a.
ΚΠ
α.
β. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 8510 Ne recche ich noht..his seoluer no his goldes. no his claðes no his hors.?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 56 Spare it neuer a dele, Noiþer man no beste, no manere no no toun.c1410 (c1350) Gamelyn (Harl. 7334) 22 Had þei no rest nother nyght no day.1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) v. l. 779 That wood..was nothir thik no lang.a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 109 Nather the feirfull induring of my darrest spous nor the greiting of my bairnes..no ȝeit the heirscheip of my landis.OE tr. Defensor Liber Scintillarum (1969) xxxvii. 262 Ego autem dico uobis non iurare omnino neque per caelum neque per terram : ic soðlice secge eow na swera eallunga na þurh heofon na þurh eorþan.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Domitian A.viii) anno 995 Þa hi to Rome coman, þa nolde se papa naht þæt don, far hi ne brahtan nan gewrit, naþer na of þam cinge na of þan folce.
lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1131 Þa ferde he into Clunni & þær man him heald þæt he ne mihte na east na west.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) 13344 Nis nan kine-lond na swa brad næ swa long.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) 14165 Ah nulle ich castel na burh nane þe bi-techen.
1398 Acts Parl. Scotl. (1844) I. 211 That he sal nocht lette his office na the execucion of it.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 1962 Ete o..nakin worme þat es made, Na o fouxul, þat refes his liuelade.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 5780 (MED) Þis es mi nam, namar na less [a1400 Gött. more ne less].
1453 in C. Innes Registrum de Dunfermelyn (1842) 341 Neuer to be herd in jugement na vtouth.
c1480 (a1400) St. Barnabas 22 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 249 He was nocht dwelland with criste, na in þis warld vakand, na hard nothire, na saw his ded.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) i. l. 105 To thar men with-out thai mycht nocht wyn, Na thai to thaim.
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 318 He wyst nocht quhat to do na say.
?1507 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen (Rouen) in Poems (1998) I. 49 We na fallowis wer..In fredome na furth bering na fairnes of persoune.
a1600 ( W. Stewart tr. H. Boece Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 439 Quhilk hes no strenth..Na dow to weild ane wapin with thair hand.
b. With following negative.
ΚΠ
α.
β. ?c1335 in W. Heuser Kildare-Gedichte (1904) 90 (MED) Silk no sendale nis þer none No bise no no meniuer.a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) 6734 (MED) And to þe pore dyd euyl yn dede No halp hym noȝt yn hys nede.a1600 ( W. Stewart tr. H. Boece Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) I. 61 Stakkis no stoir into na stait ma stand.lOE Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1123 On þa ilca tyma ferden þes eorles sandermen mid unsæhte fram kyng, na of his gyfe naht ne rohton.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) 9680 Nulle ich nauere mare..herren into Rome, næ nauere mare heom senden gauel.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) 9686 Her heo sculeð ibiden bitterest alre baluwen næ biȝeten nan oðer god.
1451 in Hist. MSS Comm.: 11th Rep.: App. Pt. VI: MSS Duke of Hamilton (1887) 26 in Parl. Papers (C. 5060–V) XLVIII. 509 I the forsaid Jhon..sal nothir sel..na analy na na condecion mak of nan of thir landis vndyr wertyn.
c1480 (a1400) St. Peter 6 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 7 Þis petir..vald neuir bow for aduersite, na for na porele þat mycht be.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 25 He..schewe jn dede yat he lufit jt nocht, na nane yat delt with jt.
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) i. 230 A noble hart may haiff nane es, Na ellys nocht that may him ples, Gyff fredome failȝhe.
1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 205 For clerk or preist,..Na for na bischop that wes in Britane.
1589 J. Melville Spirituall Propine 12 Neither knaw wee what thy glory requires..na not our awin neids.
c. Without preceding negative.
ΚΠ
α.
β. ?c1335 in W. Heuser Kildare-Gedichte (1904) 139 (MED) Trist to soster no broþer.a1425 Long Charter of Christ, C Text (Royal 17 C.xvii) (1901) l. 59 Wen þou was so law kest, Þat of any helpe þou hadyst þe lest, No to whan þou suld plene þe.1416 in C. Innes Liber Sancte Marie de Melros (1837) 539 The said party na nane othir man makand thaim impedyment..na molestacione.
c1480 (a1400) St. Theodora 631 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 117 For Ioy na solace bot thru þe, na lykine in my hert ma be.
c1485 ( G. Hay Bk. Law of Armys (2005) 206 We may vndo na gaynsay the commoun lawe.
1508 W. Kennedy Flyting (Chepman & Myllar) in Poems W. Dunbar (1998) I. 215 The firmament na firth was newir cler.
d. Introducing a clause or sentence.
ΚΠ
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1961) Deut. xviii. 10 No [L. nec] be founde in þee þat go aboute his sone or his douȝter ledynge by þe fuyr.
a1586 King Hart l. 168 in W. A. Craigie Maitland Folio MS (1919) I. 259 No saw þai nane never wes half sa proude.
2. That..not; but that, unless.
ΚΠ
c1480 (a1400) St. Justina 82 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) II. 154 Þat wes nocht sa priuely na it wes persawit in hy.
1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) v. 372 Of xxx wes levit nane, Na thai war slane ilkane, or tane.
1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen Richt Vay 12 Thay quhilk..trowis noth na he wirkis al the guid warkis in thayme.
c1580 ( tr. Bk. Alexander (1925) I. i. 1336 He passit by sik thretty That nane was na he gart him ly.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† noconj.2
Chiefly Scottish. Obsolete.
Than.
ΚΠ
?1438 Let. in Wilts. Archaeol. & Nat. Hist. Soc. (1879) 18 12 (MED) Odere tythynges cannot I tell yow no thes for sothe but be here sey.
a1600 ( W. Stewart tr. H. Boece Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 346 Mekle mair..He said to him no I will tell ȝow heir.
a1600 ( W. Stewart tr. H. Boece Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) III. 197 Moir sicker wes in gudlie haist to fle, No to remane.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
> as lemmas
N.O.
N.O. n. (also n.o.) Botany disused = natural order n. 2.
ΚΠ
1811–12 W. J. Titford Sketches Hortus Botanicus Americanus Explan. to Plate vii. i Oyster Plant (tradescantia), n.o. Ensatæ.
1855 E. Smith in Orr's Circle Sci.: Org. Nature II. 187 Narcissales..(N.O.) 43 Taccaceæ or Taccads.
1898 E. E. Morris Austral Eng. 31/2 Bitter-bark, an Australian tree, Petalostigma quadriloculare,..N.O. Euphorbiaceæ.
1928 N.E.D. at Wistaria Any plant of the genus Wistaria (N.O. Leguminosæ).
N.O.
N.O. n. Naval Officer.
ΚΠ
1914 ‘Bartimeus’ Naval Occasions xvii. 144 That girl to-night—Molly—I suppose she has refused half a dozen N.O.'s.
1916 G. Franklin Naval Digression i. xv. 136 Which brings to light another peculiarity of the average N.O.—how he can adopt a friendly ‘hail-fellow-well-met’ attitude to all and sundry and lose nothing in respect by it.
1958 M. Dickens Man Overboard i. 14 There'll be a lot of sharks about waiting for the innocent N.O. with his touching faith in human nature.
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n.1c1330
n.31957
adj.lOE
v.1820
adv.1eOEadv.2int.OEadv.3n.21661conj.1OEconj.2?1438as lemmas
- hornbeaten
- hornbeech
- hornbill
- hornbill cuckoo
- hornbills
- hornbind
- hornblende
- hornblende andesite
- hornblende basalt
- hornblende boulder
- hornblende gabbro
- hornblende granite
- hornblende porphyry
- hornblende rock
- hornblende schist
- hornblende slate
- hornblende syenite
- hornblendes
- hornblendic
- holy ghost orchid
- holy ghost pear
- holy ghost plant
- holy ghost root
- holy ghost's root
- holy grass