nought

Meanings

Noun

• Nothing; something which does not exist.
• A thing or person of no worth or value; nil.
• Not any quantity of number; zero; the score of no points in a game.
• The figure or character representing, or having the shape of, zero.

Adjective

• Good for nothing; worthless.
• Wicked, immoral.

Verb

• To abase, to set at nought.

Adverb

• To no extent; in no way; not at all.
• Not.

Pronoun

• Nothing; zero.

Origin

• From Middle English nought, noght, noȝt, from Old English nōwiht, nāwiht (nay + a + wight), which in turn comes from ne-ā-wiht, which was a phrase used as an emphatic "no", meaning "not a thing". Eventually this was reduced into nought, nawt and then not. naught.