| 释义 |
noughtpron.n.adv.adj. Origin: Formed within English, by compounding. Etymons: ne adv.1, aught pron., adj., and adv. Etymology: < ne adv.1 + aught pron., adj., and adv. (see β forms at that entry). Compare naught pron., n., adj., and adv., of which some of the Middle English and later forms given here may show continuations (see note below), not adv., n., and int.For parallel formations in other Germanic languages compare Old Dutch niewiht , Old Saxon neowiht , niowiht , nieht , etc., Old High German niowiht , neowiht , nieht , niht , etc., (German nicht ), and, without /x/, in Old Frisian (East) nāwet , nāwit , nauwet , nauwit , naut , nōwet , nout , (West) nāt , nēt , Old Dutch niewet (Middle Dutch niewet , nuwit , Dutch niet ), Old High German niuwet , niot , niet , etc. A simpler form occurs in Old English ne wiht , ne..wiht , Middle Dutch niwet , Old High German niwiht , niwet , Gothic ni..waiht . Compare also Old English nānwiht in the same sense ( < none adj. + wight n.). Examples of nought and naught have been allocated to this entry and naught pron., n., adj., and adv. according to the presence of o or a as the main vowel. Middle English forms with o could be the reflex of either (i) Old English nōht or (ii) Old English nāht with rounding and raising of the vowel (in southern and midland Middle English) to open ō and subsequent shortening. Middle English forms with a probably in the main continue Old English nāht , with shortening of ā before the consonant cluster (compare the discussion s.v. aught pron., adj., and adv.). For convenience the Old English forms are distributed on the same basis as the later forms. The o forms and a forms remained distinct in Middle English because the sequences -augh- and -ough- were phonologically different; however, in some dialects in late Middle English -ough- came to sound like -augh- , and this pronunciation was gradually introduced into standard English during the 17th cent. (see E. J. Dobson Eng. Pronunc. 1500–1700 (ed. 2, 1968) II. §240). During the latter period, therefore, the two words became indistinguishable in sound. From the Old English period onwards there is no clear distinction in meaning or function between the two words. (naught adj. is attested considerably earlier than the adjectival uses below, but it is unclear whether this is simply an accident of the historical record, or reflects a real distinction in use.) Usage of one word or the other in any given sense varies relatively freely (and sometimes differs between editions of the same work) down to the 20th cent., although some patterns have been enforced by printers and dictionaries. In early modern English the adjectival senses ‘worthless’, ‘bad’, ‘immoral’ were especially associated with naught (compare naughty adj.), although the use of nought was not uncommon. More recently the two major surviving senses ‘nothing’ and ‘(the character representing) zero’ have generally been assigned to the forms naught and nought respectively, the former perhaps on the analogy of aught pron.; exceptions are frequent, and in the United States (where the latter sense is less usual) naught is the main recognized spelling. In northern dialects nought generally preserved Middle English -o- ; the vowel of the form nowt (for which see nowt pron., adj., adv., and n.2) generally has the same sound as that of grow, flown, and other words which had a diphthong /ɔu/ in Middle English. The form nȝt is attested in late Middle English as an abbreviation. A. pron. 1. the world > existence and causation > existence > non-existence > [adverb] > not α. eOE (Mercian) (1965) xxxiii. 9 (10) Timete dominum omnes sancti eius, quoniam nihil deest timentibus eum : ondredað dryhten alle halge his for ðon nowiht wonu bið ðæm ondredendum hine. eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory (Hatton) (1871) l. 389 Sien ða hæbbendan swelce hie nowiht hæbben. OE (Northumbrian) x. 26 Nihil enim opertum quod non reuelabitur : nowiht forðon gedegled þæt ne se unwrigen. a1200 (?c1175) Poema Morale (Trin. Cambr.) 152 in R. Morris (1873) 2nd Ser. 224 Þan he biðohte an helle fur þat nowhiht [v.r. nawiht] ne mai quenche. c1275 (?c1250) (Calig.) (1935) 884 (MED) Hi ne soþ her nowiȝt bote sorwe. c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Otho) 1589 Ne sal ȝeo habbe no-wiþt [c1275 Calig. nawiht]. 1815 D. Humphreys i. 21 I'm a figure tu; a nine without a tail to it, which proves, du what you will, I'm not in danger; for, they say, nought is never in danger. 1836 C. Dibdin i. 10 After being tossed about like a cork in a kennel, two days and two nights, here we are at last like two pretty babes in a wood. However, we somehow get through every thing; but, then, ‘Nought's never in danger’. 1853 R. S. Surtees xi. lx. 344 ‘He was nearly killed last time.’.. ‘Oh, nought's never in danger!’ observed Bob Spangles. 2. the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (transitive)] eOE (Mercian) (1965) lxxvii. 59 Ad nihilum redegit nimis Israhel : to nowihte gebegeð swiðe [Israhel]. c1175 ( Ælfric (Bodl.) 50 He to nohte dæð [OE Laud to nahte gedeð] ure derigendlicæ feond. c1230 (?a1200) (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 138 [The Eucharist] bringeð to noht al þes deofles wiheles. c1300 Holy Cross (Laud) 4 in C. Horstmann (1887) 1 (MED) Alle þe heþene men þat neiȝ him were, sone he dude to nouȝte. c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) 5466 (MED) Þe contreye folc com mid gret route & driue hom al to noȝte. a1382 (Bodl. 959) 2 Kings xxiii. 7 Þei schul ben brent vn to nouȝt [L. usque ad nihilum]. 1389 in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt (1931) 42 (MED) He schal be so tymelich vesited & holpen þat he ne schal..for defaute of help, be brouȝt to nouȝt. c1400 (?c1390) (1940) 680 So had better haf ben þen britned to noȝt. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) III. 1212 They shall by proces brynge us all to nought. a1513 W. Dunbar (1998) I. 135 Wo wirth the fruct wald put the tre to nocht. 1533 W. Hilton ii. xlv Spoyleth hym & renteth hym al to nought. 1563 N. Winȝet (1890) II. 21 Sen then nocht onlie smal thingis bot the maist heich wes doung almaist to nocht. 1581 J. Heywood tr. Seneca Troas (new ed.) iii. iii, in T. Newton et al. tr. Seneca f. 112 The haughtiest heart at lengh they bring to nought. a1592 R. Greene (1599) iii. l. 5 [They] are now in armes, entending to destroy And bring to nought, the Prince of Aragon. c1650 J. Spalding I. 136 [They] brocht all to nocht. 1651 A. Weamys 90 The Treacherie of Plaxirtus was brought to nought, for Pyrocles and Musidorus were miraculously preserved. 1782 W. Cowper Conversation in 232 Recov'ring..The faculties that seem'd reduc'd to nought. 1851 J. Baillie i. iii. 172 Our good saint will bring to nought Their wicked machinations. 1871 E. A. Freeman IV. xviii. 186 Zeal and courage..brought to nought by..cowardice and selfishness. 1926 ‘H. MacDiarmid’ Drunk Man in (1993) I. 121 The fond hope brocht to nocht. 1989 A. Livesey (BNC) 41 The Austrians were not able to trap Plelive, and Conrad's plan was brought to nought. eOE (Mercian) (1965) lvii. 6 (8) Ad nihilum deuenient uelut aqua decurrens : to nowihte bicumad swe swe weter eornende. c1175 ( Ælfric's Homily on Nativity of Christ (Bodl. 343) in A. O. Belfour (1909) 82 Nu beð summe isceaftæ..swa isceapene þet heo..endæð & to nohte iwurðæþ [OE Julius to nahte gewurðaþ]. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 10960 Þær affterr warrþ itt efft to nohht. a1300 in C. Brown (1932) 81 (MED) Al shal gon þat her mon howet, al hit shal wenden to nout [v.r. bicome to naut]. a1464 J. Capgrave (Cambr. Gg.4.12) (1983) 83 (MED) Þat empire wastid and went to nowt. a1500 (c1477) T. Norton (BL Add.) (1975) 278 (MED) Many doctours..haue this science soughte, yet al theire labours haue tornyde in-to noghte. 1526 1 Cor. ii. 6 Wisdom of this worlde..(which goeth to nought). 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie (1888) I. 157 The maiestie of the Romane Jmpire..almaist was cum to nocht. 1602 R. Carew i. f. 84 All which..is now growne to nought, or naught. c1680 W. Beveridge (1729) II. 301 Carried away by the next wind that blows and so comes to nought. 1776 J. Leacock iv. vii. 55 Such foolish councils, with no wisdom fraught, Must end in wordy words. and come to nought. 1869 R. Browning III. vii. 43 All human plans and projects come to nought. 1888 Sc. Serm. in 34 19 Sae the precious seed cam' tae nocht ava. 1900 J. L. Robertson Hughie's Appraisement in 72 Thank Heaven! his howkin' cam' to nocht. 1984 5 Dec. 19/6 The talks came to nought. the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > abstaining or refraining from action > abstain or refrain from (action) [verb (transitive)] > refrain from using or doing c1350 (a1333) William of Shoreham (1902) 109 For ȝef he let to noþe.., Ich segge hym wel to soþe [etc.]. c1350 (a1333) William of Shoreham (1902) 64 Ac ȝef þer were ryȝt treuþyng,..To soþe, Hy scholde aȝen to þe spousyng, And lete al þat to noþe. 1594 W. Shakespeare (new ed.) sig. Gv It was not she that cald him all to nought; Now she ads honors to his hatefull name. 1739 M. Delany (1861) II. 37 [The Duchess of Portland]..calls herself all to nought for having been so long in her debt. 1828 J. K. Paulding 174 We must do something for the march of mind and the progress of public improvement, or the citizen geese will call us all to nought, and choose other wise geese in our stead. 3. the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > worthless OE Homily: Apocalypse of Thomas (Corpus Cambr. 41) in (1955) 73 20 Gold & seolfor ne bið nohtte weorð. c1225 (?c1200) (1973) 343 Hwa walde ileuen þis, Þet is as noht wurð? c1350 (Harl. 874) (1961) 13 (MED) Þouȝ ich..ȝiue my body to brenne, & I ne haue no charite, Al is nouȝth worþ to me. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 220bv What is in þe myddis of þe stok is litil worþ oþer nought worþ. c1400 J. Wyclif (1871) III. 367 Men sey þat oþer newe ordiris and reulis ben noeȝt worth. c1440 (?a1375) Abbey Holy Ghost (Thornton) in G. G. Perry (1914) 52 Werkes þat we wyrke are noghte worthe to Godbut þay be done in the lufe of God. c1485 ( G. Hay (2005) 171 Jt passis his power, and tharfore the obligacioun is nocht worth. 1569 R. Grafton II. 109 That neither Rome can shew any such graunt,..& if they could it were right nought worth. 1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay xviii. 330 That thing..which is giuen for nought, and by such as are nought worth. 1606 B. Jonson 753 Mirrors, though deckt with Diamants, are nought worth, If the like Formes of Things they set not forth. 1610 R. Tofte tr. N. de Montreux 148 Hauing done the seruice good, I am nought worth, & vile. a1896 W. Morris Echo's Love's House in (1910–11) IX. 103 Is my praise nought worth for all my life undone? the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > that which is unimportant the world > existence and causation > existence > non-existence > [noun] > that which is non-existent > a thing that does not exist > a mere nothing c1425 J. Lydgate (Augustus A.iv) ii. 1150 (MED) Grete damagis..Grekis han vp-on vs wrouȝt, With-oute cause, for a þing of nouȝt. c1500 (?a1475) (1896) 2050 (MED) Hit was but a whew, A dreme, a fantasy, & a thyng of nought. 1551 R. Robinson tr. T. More sig. Cviiv They be constrayned to sell it for a thyng of nought. 1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay x. 157 Seeing that a thing of nought is able to doe so much. 1611 Isa. xxix. 21 That..turne aside the iust for a thing of nought . View more context for this quotation 1743 R. Blair 37 Each Earth-born Joy grows vile, or disappears, Shrunk to a Thing of Nought. 1823 W. Tennant ii. iii. 53 Give, give, to daughter, spouse, and family, Him whom thy dungeons, for a thing of nought, A bauble of scarce punishable fault, Hold. 1867 E. H. Plumptre tr. Sophocles Oedipus the King in tr. Sophocles (ed. 2) 44 Ah, race of mortal men, How as a thing of nought I count ye. 1903 I. Wilkinson in IV. 304/2 [North Yorkshire] A thing of nought [a valueless trifle]. a1931 T. S. Moore Jonathan in (1931) 172 Scorned as a thing of nought... No better fed than dogs. 2000 (Nexis) 12 Dec. 24 This..merely highlights the cold-shower effect of watching Monaghan's flaccid drama being chilled to a thing of nought by director Izzy Mant. 4. (all) for nought. the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > uselessness, vanity, or futility > in vain [phrase] c1300 St. Kenelm (Laud) 101 in C. Horstmann (1887) 348 Þo þe luþere quene þat i-sai þat hit was al for nouȝt [etc.]. a1325 (c1250) (1968) l. 2014 His wif..swanc for nogt. a1393 J. Gower (Fairf.) ii. 1164 (MED) For noght he preide Of hire astat to knowe. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 7298 ‘Sir,’ þai said, ‘þou sais for noght.’ c1430 (c1386) G. Chaucer 2206 But al for nought; his wey he is ygon. 1477 W. Caxton tr. R. Le Fèvre (1913) 77 Yet they sent agayn vnto the king.., but that was for nought. a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil (1960) xi. xi. 106 For nocht scho was desyrt with mony a man, And moderis feill..Desyrit hyr thair gude douchter, in vane. 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie (1888) I. 244 Colman & ffinnan oft had admonised him, bot in vane, and al for not. 1600 E. Fairfax tr. T. Tasso vii. cxiii. 139 Euery way and euery meane he sought, To stay his flying mates, but all for nought. 1633 P. Fletcher ii. xii. 4 Yet all for nought: another took the gain. 1819 W. Scott I. vi. 112 The dream is not dreamed for nought, and the vision cometh not in vain. 1897 B. Stoker ix. 110 All our subtle arrangements went for nought. 1925 11 521 These instructions and warnings were all for nought; the Governor continued the course of opposition he had marked out for himself. 1990 June 84/3 The influence of Mexican administration and all those decades of transpacific commerce were not for nought in their cuisine. the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > qualification > [adverb] > however, nevertheless, notwithstanding c1325 (c1300) (Calig.) 1442 Þis romeins were vor noȝt ouercome atte laste. the world > existence and causation > causation > chance or causelessness > [adverb] > without cause or reason a1500 (?c1450) 490 (MED) We haue euell and folily spedde of the atynes that we haue vndirtake a-gein the Queenes knyghtes for envye and for nought. 1553 T. Wilson f. 66 It is not for noughte so communely said: I wil handle you like a warde. a1598 D. Fergusson (1641) sig. C He loves me for little, that hates me for nought. 1607 J. Norden iii. 84 It is spacious in circuit,..and beareth not the name for nought, for the Manner is faire. a1628 J. Carmichaell (1957) No. 965 It is not for nocht the cat winked. 1721 W. Gibson iii. viii. 197 His Cordial Powder, which he says has not that Epitheton for nought. 1793 H. Boyd 357 It was not then for nought the soldiers seem'd To hail his name at parting. 1859 ‘G. Eliot’ li. 539 She only thinks it 'ud be troubling thee for nought, just to come in to say good-by over again. 1889 A. C. Swinburne Armada vii. i, in 3rd Ser. 56 Lord..it was not for nought thy word was given us, to guard and guide. society > trade and finance > charges > freedom from charge > [adverb] 1535 Gen. xxix. B Because thou art my brother, shalt thou therfore serue me for nought? 1555 J. Heywood sig. B.iv As good to play for nought, as to worke for nought. 1651 Burnett Family Papers in (1973) IV. 560/2 Gratis or for nought, unpaying any thing therfor. 1671 J. Milton 1215 To thir Masters gave me up for nought . View more context for this quotation a1770 J. Jortin (1771) I. iv. 65 He would eat no man's bread for nought. 1785 W. Cowper i. 675 We travel far, 'tis true, but not for nought; And must be brib'd [etc.]. 1859 ‘G. Eliot’ I. i. i. 13 When y'are six an' forty..ye wonna be so flush o' workin' for nought. 1874 J. G. Holland iv. 30 Poor precious gift, that goes for nought From willing heart and ready hand, And wins no favor unbesought. 1993 J. Byrne (BNC) vii There's no need to throw away your wares for nought when business is so poor. the mind > emotion > humility > modesty > be modest [verb (intransitive)] > efface oneself a1529 J. Skelton (c1530) p. iv Correct fyrst thy self; walk and be nought. 1565 (Brandl) 747 Come away, and be nought a whyle. 1573 i. ii. sig. B iij With all my harte and auengeance, come vp and be nought. 1658 W. Johnson tr. F. Würtz ii. i. 47 Experience, that great Teacher, tels us to be nought, at all times to undertake for health. B. n. 1. the world > existence and causation > existence > non-existence > [noun] the world > space > place > absence > [noun] > nothing or absence of anything the world > existence and causation > existence > non-existence > [noun] > nothing > nothing at all OE (Northumbrian) Liturgical Texts (Durham Ritual) in A. H. Thompson & U. Lindelöf (1927) 109 Deus qui potestate uirtutis tuæ de nihilo cuncta fecisti : god ðu ðe mæhte mægnes ðines of nohte alle worhtest. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 12009 Forr i þe shop off nohht. a1275 Body & Soul (Trin. Cambr. B.14.39) l. 62 in A. S. M. Clark (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Michigan) (1972) 127 Bodi, wi nauedis þe bi þout..Of him þat sop us hal of nout wat tu suldes im yelden? a1325 (c1250) (1968) l. 269 Wisdom..made ilc ðing of nogt, Quuat-so-euere on heuone or her is wrogt. a1350 Short Metrical Chron. (Rawl.) 384 in (1931) 46 147/1 (MED) God made þe worlde of noȝth. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 345 He þat mad al thing o noght. c1460 Abraham & Isaac in N. Davis (1970) 33 (MED) Who is þere, in þe hye Lordes name, Þat al þing shope of nought? a1500 (?a1450) (Gloucester) (1971) 743 (MED) Lucifer..was made of nowȝte. a1513 W. Dunbar (1998) I. 102 God..That him of nocht wrocht lyk his awin figour. 1567 (1897) 131 O Lord, quhilk wrocht all thingis of nocht. 1635 J. Swan i. §1. 4 All this All did once of nought begin. 1642 H. More sig. Gv To their ancient nought their empty selves betake. a1711 T. Ken Hymnarium 43 in (1721) II. The boundless Gulf betwixt Eternal Nought and Being fix'd. 1817 P. B. Shelley i. xxv. 13 When life and thought Sprang forth, they burst the womb of inessential Nought. 1899 F. W. O. Orde 383 Wild night not half so wild in terror As is the dreadful thought Which drives me with its hounding error, Into Eternal Nought. 1907 J. Davidson iv. 96 The soul..sloughs and crumbles into nought. the world > existence and causation > existence > non-existence > [noun] > that which is non-existent > a thing that does not exist a1425 (?a1400) (Harl. 674) (1944) 121 (MED) Þof al þi bodely wittes kon fynde þer noþing to fede hem on..do on þan þis nouȝt, elles þat þou do it for Goddes loue; &..trauayle besily in þat nouȝt with a wakyng desire to wilne to haue God. c1450 (c1400) Julian of Norwich (1978) 45 (MED) In this blyssede revelacyon god schewyd me thre noughtes, of whilke nouȝttes this is the fyrste that was schewyd me: of this nedes ilke man & woman to hafe knawynge that desyres to lyeve contemplatyfelye, that hym lyke to nouȝt alle thynge that es made for to hafe the love of god that es vnmade. ?a1475 (a1396) W. Hilton (Harl. 6579) ii. xxvii. f. 97v (MED) Þis is þan a good mirknes & a riche nouȝt þat bryngiþ a soule to so mikel gostly ese & so stille softnes. 1642 H. More sig. G5 Bringing hid Noughts into existencie, Or sleeping Somethings into wide day-light. the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > [noun] > zero ?c1425 Crafte Nombrynge in R. Steele (1922) 20 (MED) A 0 is noȝt, And twyes noȝt is but noȝt. 1588 A. King tr. P. Canisius p. vi Giff nocht restis, ye divisor 19. sall be it. 1612 J. Davies 155 Take nought from Nought, & nought remaines; & so, the summe of All is lesse then vanitie. 1730 H. Fielding v. xv. 71 Logick indeed! can your Logick teach you more than this? two and two make four: Take six out of seven, and there remains one,..take Nought out of twenty, and there remains a Score. 1788 T. Jefferson (1859) II. 464 The honor of their nation has been calculated at nought. 1884 tr. H. Lotze 269 The proportion ρα: ρβ = b: a must always subsist; therefore m cannot be nought. 1981 A. Judd i. iv. 63 ‘And they were aged nought to fourteen.’ ‘Children!’ 1991 16 Feb. 56/1 The man is dressed in the elegant black and white of Cambridge before the First World War. ‘If nought is divided by nought is the answer infinity?’ he asks. society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > cricket > batting > [noun] > running > no score by batsman 1862 I. 354 It is certainly curious that Beldham should have made two noughts in this contest. 1876 V. 165 Thirty-three noughts were obtained in the match. 1938 L. MacNeice vii. 98 The next man is out for nought. 1976 J. Snow 44 My return read nought for 117. 1993 15 Mar. (Sports Plus Suppl.) p. viii/1 Tufnell took nought for 50 from 13. the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > one who is unimportant > worthless a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 16990 Again þe pine he for me drou, bot als a noght it were. a1450 (?1404) in J. Kail (1904) 21 Þis world is a fayre nouȝt, A fals lemman. c1450 (?a1400) (Ashm.) 1742 Slike a nekard as þi-selfe, a noȝt of all othire. a1475 in F. J. Furnivall (1871) 33 (MED) Of all noȝtes it is noȝte. 1568 A. Scott (1896) xxxv. 17 Sall non be so off nochtis, no! Quhilk bene of cursit kind. a1592 R. Greene (1594) sig. B4 We..Come to buy needlesse noughts to make vs fine. 1595 E. Spenser sig. D3 Like bladders blowen vp with wynd, That being prickt do vanish into noughts. ?1614 W. Drummond Urania in A Nought, a Thought, a Mascarade of Dreames. 1923 G. Watson 221 Nocht,..a mean or insignificant person. 1944 R. Jarrell in Aug. 268 (title) The sick nought. 1961 T. T. Kilbucho 12 But when I h'ard the pettit nocht, I turned awa' an' grat. †3. the mind > possession > poverty > [noun] society > society and the community > social class > the common people > low rank or condition > [noun] c1400 (Rawl. B. 171) 216 A Knyght þat þe Erl hade brouȝt vp of nouȝt. a1475 (c1441) in R. H. Robbins (1959) 176 (MED) I that was browght up of noght, A prince me chese to be hys make. a1475 (Lansd.) (Ph.D. diss., Univ. of Washington) (1965) 10455 (MED) Þe þridde þanne is a ȝong man Þat late riche to wexe he bigan And is y-come vp of noght. 1592 A. Day 2nd Pt. Eng. Secretorie sig. F1v, in (rev. ed.) To relieue..such a one, in bringing him from nought to ought, from the dunghill to the courte, from woe to wealth. society > morality > moral evil > evil nature or character > lack of magnanimity or noble-mindedness > [noun] > worthlessness ?a1425 (?a1350) T. Castleford (1940) 403 (MED) He trowyt þat scho vold do hym noght, ffor he vnkyndly to her wroght. a1450 (?c1405) in J. Kail (1904) 27 Þouȝ þou be of feble fame, Bere good visage; þy nouȝt aspye. 1528 T. More Dialogue Heresyes i. xii, in 133/2 Ye are..more redy to beleue .ii. simple women that a man will do nought, than .x. or .xx. men that god wyll do good. a1538 T. Starkey (1989) 4 I wyl not yet say..that therin they dyd utturly nought. 1622 W. Whately (new ed.) ii. 136 We shall grow worse and worse, euen from ought to nought, as the Prouerbe speaketh. 1651 C. Cartwright i. 4 Else you'll fall from nought to worse, from thence to nothing. society > morality > moral evil > wrong conduct > act wrongly or immorally [verb (intransitive)] 1565 in F. J. Furnivall (1897) 129 The said Thomas Grenehalgh had plaid the nought with the said Jone, in the house of the said Margaret, her mother. 1603 in K4/106 She had played the nought dyvers tymes. 1658 R. Brathwait 110 To my Lure she is so kindely brought, I looke that she for nought should play the nought. the world > relative properties > number > mathematical number or quantity > [noun] > zero > nought or character zero a1660 H. Hammond (1664) iii. 42 A defect in the power of numbering, that discerns no difference between Ciphers and Millions, but onely that the noughts are a little the blacker. 1718 J. Chamberlayne tr. B. Nieuwentyt I. xvi. 336 With 39 Noughts or Cyphers following. 1852 P. J. Bailey (ed. 5) 11 The spheres themselves are but as shining noughts Upon the mantle of the night impearled. 1888 B. Lowsley 164 The words ‘Tit-tat-toe’..being said by the one who first makes three crosses, or noughts in a row. 1930 R. C. Sherriff Badger's Green in II. ii. 307 Also I don't like the enormous noughts you draw when a batsman is unfortunate and fails to score. 1993 P. Darvill-Evans (BNC) 284 ‘A ten followed by fourteen noughts,’ the Doctor said, ‘that's the number of synapses in an individual human brain.’ C. adv.the world > existence and causation > existence > non-existence > [adverb] > not > not at all eOE (Mercian) (1965) lxxxviii. 20 (23) Nihil proficiet inimicus in eo : nowiht fromað se fiond in him. OE 119 Hie seoþþan ealle worlde wean & ealle þreatas oforhogodan, & him nowiht fore ne ondredon. c1225 (?c1200) (1973) 2103 (MED) Alle þine þreates ne drede ich..riht noht. a1250 (?c1200) (Maidstone) (1955) 103 Þo heo wel wolde, ne mei heo noht [a1275 Trin. Cambr. nowit] wiþ-helden. c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon (Otho) 25632 Ne dorste þar no cniht to vuele hit teorne ne [read no] wiht [c1275 Calig. na wiht]. c1300 St. Edmund Rich (Laud) 30 in C. Horstmann (1887) 432 (MED) It ne grefde heom riȝht nouȝht. a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus (BL Add.) f. 251 Þe branne norissheþ litel or elles right nouȝt. a1450 in J. Wyclif (1871) III. 500 (MED) Bodely etyng ne profites nouth to soule. 1483 (Caxton) v. i. 68 Me semyd that wonder lytel or nought my peynes were abredged. ?1504 S. Hawes sig. ee.iiii Where I am poore and sette by nought. 1568 E. Tilney (new ed.) sig. Bivv But vertues are laide aside, and nought accounted off. 1590 E. Spenser ii. iv. sig. P6v As a blindfold Bull at randon fares, And where he hits, nought knowes, & whom he hurts, nought cares. 1870 W. Morris 127 Never complaining; resting nought, And yet scarce asking what he sought. 1887 W. Morris tr. Homer I. xi. 203 Odysseus, nought do we deem thee..To be a cheat. β. eOE (Mercian) (1965) xlii. 1 Ivdica me deus et discerne causam meam de gente non sancta : doem mec god & toscad intingan minne of ðeode noht haligre. eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory (Tiber.) (Junius transcript) (1871) xxxi. 206 Næron ge noht æmettige, ðeah ge wel ne dyden. OE 171 Ne þurfan ge noht besorgian hwæt ge sprecan. lOE (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1131 On þa tun þa wæs tenn ploges..ne belæf þær noht an. c1175 (Burchfield transcript) l. 11343 Nohht ne maȝȝ þe mann. Bi bræd all ane libbenn. c1275 Kentish Serm. in J. Hall (1920) I. 217 (MED) Ha niste nocht þe miracle, ac þo serganz wel hit wiste. J. Gaytryge (York Min.) (1901) 36 (MED) The secund commandement biddes us noght take In ydelship..the name of our god. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 15315 Noth fete allan, bot hefd and hand. c1425 (c1400) 5903 He that wil not whan he may, When he wolde, he getis it noght. a1500 (1839) 2 Thei durst noȝt come neghe the castelle. 1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen 4 Thay..suld noth be slayne. 1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen 14 Thay yat bannis or wil notht heir thaime. 1571 in J. Cranstoun (1891) I. xxvi. 5 Ȝe neid nocht for to feir The craft..of man. 1652 in B. H. Hossack (1900) 254 That ye suffer nocht my nevoy..to want quhat they stand..in neid off. a1657 W. Mure Misc. Poems xiii, in (1898) I. 31 Bereft of breath, ȝit nocht from lyfe depoised. 1724 A. Ramsay III. 87 It's nocht fit an mortal man Should ken all I can tell. a1835 W. Motherwell Elfinland Wud in (1849) 59 My horss he can nocht stand his lane, (For cauldness of this midnicht air.) 1872 M. MacLennan 38 I hae noucht understandin' o' it. 1901 N. Munro ii Man, Behauld the End of All. Be Nocht Wiser than the Hiest. 1931 18 Dec. In Summer-time in laum'er broun, An' nocht kenspeckle frae the rest. 1962 in (1968) VII. 437/2 I did nocht. the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > qualification > [adverb] > however, nevertheless, notwithstanding c1275 Kentish Serm. in J. Hall (1920) I. 222 Nocht for þan..ne solde no man targi for to wende to godalmichti. c1300 (Harl. 2277) (1845) l. 135 (MED) Ac noȝt for than ic bidde the..In oure Louerdes servise to wende. c1380 (1879) 1176 (MED) Noȝt for þat ȝe schul wel sen þat þay schul haue greuaunce. a1400 (a1325) (Gött.) 8345 Bot noght for-þi ne tald he noght þe bod-word. c1480 (a1400) St. Andrew 465 in W. M. Metcalfe (1896) I. 76 Nocht-þane, bot þu consent to me,..I sall ger men þe crucify. c1485 ( G. Hay (2005) 100 And ȝit nocht than thai graunt yat the Emperour is temporale lord. a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. (Rawl.) (1898) 225 And noght for that they bene moste febill of body. a1500 ( J. Yonge tr. (Rawl.) (1898) 239/19 In tymes..al þe body of man is hote, and noȝth for than the stomake is colde. a1525 Bk. Sevyne Sagis 646, in W. A. Craigie (1925) II. 21 Bot nocht for þi He had be fer in to þat case. society > morality > moral evil > wrong conduct > [adverb] 1533 T. More vi. p. cclxxi He ment..some suche vnknowen as hym selfe woteth not whom, that is gone out of our chyrch..& byleueth not as we do by cause we byleue nought, nor lyueth not as we do bycause we lyue nought. D. adj. I. In predicative use. †1. the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > [adjective] a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 51 As a sore membre þat is nouȝt from membres þat beeþ hole and sounde. a1450 (a1400) (BL Add.) (1921) 160 (MED) Hure wois is hors and noght þer-to. 1496 Treat. Fysshynge wyth Angle in (rev. ed.) sig. iiij Whan they ben in a slough or elles deed thenne ben they nought. c1540 in T. Stapleton (1839) 239 The cofer wherin your said court rowles lieth is nought & the lock therof not worth a pene. 1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach i. f. 44 With continuall bearing of Hey, it hath growen to be mossie and nought. 1611 2 Kings ii. 19 The water is nought, and the ground barren. View more context for this quotation 1693 J. Evelyn tr. J. de La Quintinie i. ii. xii. 38 All that is nought in the Ground must of necessity be removed. 1750 (ed. 14) 5 Take the egg, hold it up against the sun.., if muddy or cloudy, and the yolk broken, it is nought. society > morality > moral evil > [adjective] the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > evil action > [adjective] a1400 (a1325) (Trin. Cambr.) 14459 (MED) Alle þat he wiþ loue hem souȝt þe iewes entent was euer nouȝt. 1481 W. Caxton tr. iii. xxi. 181 That synne is nought, ffor as moche as it is voyde and disgarnysshed of all goodnes. 1531 T. Elyot iii. xxvi. sig. dvv If the purpose be nought, he can nat..hope to optayne it. 1607 J. Davies sig. A3v Hate, Anger, and the like, in vs are nought; But in thee good, and iust. society > morality > moral evil > evil nature or character > [adjective] c1400 J. Wyclif (1871) III. 488 Þo hoore-hows þat alle men knowen is nouȝt. c1475 (Folger) (1969) 924 (MED) Why hatyst þou vertu? why louyst þat ys nought? 1526 W. Bonde ii. sig. Iiiii Many dyd myracles that were nought of lyueng, as the enchauntours of Pharao. a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in (1557) 56/2 She was nought of her body. 1546 J. Bale f. 75v Callynge them all that nought was. 1628 in B. Cusack (1998) 298 Hee sayth that on plimor of assencontlie was noght wth her a gainst the seston. the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > [adjective] c1400 (?a1300) (Laud) (1952) 3020 He haþ..dryuen out of felde Darrye..Ytaken his children and his wyue; Jt nys nouȝth myd hym forto stryue. c1475 (?c1400) (1842) 28 (MED) Þat is no power, but fals pride..and as to ȝend and effect is nowȝt. c1535 M. Nisbet (1905) III. Prol. to Rom. 347 That ande all lyk argumentes ar nocht. 1550 R. Crowley sig. Eii A wryter of thynges nought and vayne. 1551 T. Wilson sig. Biij Logique of it selfe is good, when Sophistrie on the otherside is nought. 1615 R. Brathwait 132 Thou mun not blush, nor colour change for ought, Though th' plea thou hast in hand be nere so nought. 1865 30 Dec. 537/1 A man may care, and still be bare, If his wife be nought. the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > [adjective] > to thing or person the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > [adjective] > harmful or injurious > to or for some thing or person 1532 G. Hervet tr. Xenophon f. 3 I do not accompt that amonge a mans..goodes, that is nought and hurtful vnto him. 1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens 639 Garlyke is hurtfull and nought for cholerique people. 1596 sig. B1 In great affaires tis nought to use delay. View more context for this quotation 1658 W. Johnson tr. F. Würtz ii. i. 49 A Surgeon..may easily know..what is good or nought for the Wound. II. attributive. Chiefly British. 4. the world > existence and causation > existence > non-existence > [adjective] > no, none, or not any 1945 20 Sept. 218/1 Other noteworthy flying displays were given by the Messenger I, showing off its manœuvrability at nought feet. 1946 45 176 The cells concerned in the swelling reaction at 48 hr. were not necessarily those which would have been involved at nought hours. 1997 (Nexis) 6 May 9 Today, with the value of that same mine set at a more modest nought dollars, [etc.]. 2001 (Nexis) 6 Aug. (Office hours section) 2 A letter from young Darren, offering his services for nought pence. 1945At nought feet [see sense D. 4a]. 1960 17 Jan. 9/6 If there were an emergency at ‘nought feet’ the airmen could not afford the precious seconds needed to jettison the cockpit canopy normally. 1993 7 May 21 Delighted to discover that there were no low-flying regulations..Boyle indulged himself at nought feet. Compounds 1623 W. Drummond Cypresse Groue in 48 With vnprofitable, and nought availing stubbornnesse. a1591 H. Smith (1867) II. 237 These nought-fearing fellows, these high-stomached men,..are brought down by danger. 1861 E. Atherstone xxi. 357 To the awe-smitten, yet nought-fearing maid, An instant 'mid the blackness had appeared. the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > worthless 1589 T. Nashe sig. Ciii Least he..make a nought worth peeble his Jewell. 1591 J. Florio 127 A counterfaite, lazie, and nought-worth seruant. 1887 W. Morris tr. Homer I. ix. 163 Some solace should I have For all the heap of evil which the nought-worth Noman gave. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online June 2022). noughtv. Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: nought pron. Etymology: < nought pron. Compare naught v. Now rare. the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > hold in contempt [verb (transitive)] (Harl. 221) 360 Nowtun, or syettyn at nowhte, Vilipendo. c1450 (?a1400) (Ashm.) 753 (MED) Þou has noȝtid me now, Nicollas. c1450 (c1400) Julian of Norwich (1978) 56 (MED) For he that was hieste & worthyest was fullyest noghthede & witterlyest dyspyside. c1500 (Ashm.) (1967) 380 (MED) I, Pese, and my syster Mersy bothe, We com no [read not] heder consell to noþe. 1964 in (1965) [Shetland] Nocht, to hold in contempt, to disparage. c1450 (c1400) Julian of Norwich (1978) 45 (MED) And this is the cause why that na saule ys restede to it be noghthed of alle that es made. c1450 (c1400) Julian of Norwich (1978) 60 (MED) For we ere alle in party noghted, and we schulde be noghted folowande oure maister Ihesu to we be fulle purgede, that is to say, to we be fully noghted of oure awne dedely flesche and of alle oure inwarde affeccion. the mind > emotion > humility > modesty > be modest [verb (reflexive)] > be self-effacing ?a1475 (a1396) W. Hilton (Harl. 6579) ii. xx. f. 83v (MED) Soþly vntil a soule kan felablely þurwȝ grace noȝten him self..he is noȝt perfitly meke. a1500 tr. Thomas à Kempis (Trin. Dublin) (1893) 118 Yf þou coudist parfitly nouȝt [L. annihilare] þiself & voide þiself from all loue of creatures. 1956 66 179/2 Freedom is meaningless except to a being who is not what he is and who is what he is not, who noughts his being of fact and who assumes the nothingness of being represented by his freely chosen project of being. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022). <  pron.n.adv.adj.eOE v.1440 |
