▪ I. none, n.
(nəʊn)
[a. F. none or ad. L. nōna: see noon and nones. ME. examples of the form belong to noon n.]
† 1. (See quots.) Obs.
| 1656 Blount Glossogr., None of the day, is the third quarter of the day beginning at Noon and lasting till the Sun be gone half way towards setting. 1706 in Cotes tr. Dupin's Eccl. Hist. (1725) II. v. 43 The last [part of the day], which began at the middle of the Afternoon, i.e. at half the Time between Noon and Sun-setting, was called None, because it began at the Ninth Hour. |
2. = nones 2.
| 1845 Lingard Anglo-Sax. Ch. I. vii. 297 note, The third of these hours was called..terce; the sixth, midday; and the ninth, none. 1877 J. D. Chambers Div. Worship 129 Including also Sext and None from Septuagesima to Easter. |
| attrib. 1845 Lingard Anglo-Sax. Ch. I. vii. 296 The prime-song,..none-song and even-song for [the service] of the day. 1853 Rock Ch. Our Fathers III. 65 As soon as they hear the none-bell, they take to meat. |
▪ II. none, pron., a., and adv.
(nʌn)
Forms: α. 1 nán (pl. náne), 2–4, Sc. 5–6 (north. 9) nan (2–4 pl. nane), 4–5, Sc. 6–9 nane, 8–9 north. naan(e; 4, Sc. 6 nain; Sc. 5 nayne, 6 naine, neyn(e, 9 neen; north. 7 neane, 9 neean, nin. β. 2–6 (9 dial.) non (pl. 2– none), 4–6 (9 dial.) noon, 4–5 noone, 5 noyn, 5– none; 9 dial. noan(e, nooan.
[OE. nán, f. ne ne + án one a. = OFris. nên (nin, nan), ON. neinn: cf. OS. nên, MDu. (Du.) neen, OHG. (G.) nein, no!
In OE. nán was inflected in the same way as án (see one); the forms which chiefly survive in early ME. (down to c 1300) are the acc. sing. masc. nænne, nenne, nanne, nonne, and the dat. sing. fem. nare (OE. nánre), nore.
In early use commonly accompanied by another negative.]
A. pron.
1. a. No one, not any (one), of a number of persons or things. Also, neither of two persons or things (now dial.).
In later use commonly with pl. verb: cf. 2 b.
| α 835 Charter 41 in O.E. Texts 448 Ᵹif þæt ᵹesele..ðæt ðer ðeara nan ne sie ðe londes weorðe sie. c 937 O.E. Chron. (Parker MS.) an. 937, Myrce ne wyrndon heardes hond-plegan hæleþa nanum. c 1000 ælfric in Assmann Ags. Hom. (1889) ii. 205 Heora nan ne sealde swylce leafe næfre. c 1200 Ormin 13931 Ne chæs himm nohht te Laferrd Crist Till nan off hise posstless. c 1205 Lay. 26589 Ne mihten heo..heore nenne [c 1275 none of ȝam] adun bringe. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints Prol. 104 He had þame inflammyt swa, þat nan of þaim vald part hym fra. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 4981 Nane of þair bodys on bra ne banke, Was neuir aftir sene. c 1560 A. Scott Poems (S.T.S.) II. 26 Thay wer sa haisty.., That nane of thame wald ȝeild. 1588 A. King tr. Canisius' Catech. 86 b, Þat nain of Christs sacraments ar vsit to saluatione. 1640 King & a poore Northerne Man 346 in Hazl. E.P.P. IV. 306, I wod all may win and neane of you leese. 1721 Ramsay Prospect of Plenty 115 Dare she nane of her herrings sell..? 1785 Hutton Bran New Wark (E.D.S.) 142 Hes naane of ye seen a young thing, giggling and laughing? 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. xviii, I want naething from nane o'ye. 1865 Mrs. E. Lynn Linton Lizzie Lorton II. 215, I mind when nin on 'us daur say bo til a guse afore my mither. |
| β c 1275 [see quot. c 1205 above]. 1388 Wyclif John xvii. 12 Thilke that thou ȝauest to me, Y kepte, and noon of hem perischide. c 1400 Three Kings Cologne (1886) 56 Þey noon of hem ȝit knewe oþir. 1470–85 Malory Arthur ix. xi. 355 That neuer none of hem shold fyghte ageynst other. 1557 North Gueuara's Diall Pr. 4 None of these two were as yet fiftene yeares olde. 1626 W. Fenner Hid. Treasure (1652) 28 None of the wicked in all the world know it. 1680 Dodwell Two Lett. (1691) To Rdr. §2 None of them..ever enduring to hear of any Laical encroachments on the Calling itself. a 1774 Goldsm. Surv. Exp. Philos. (1776) II. 42 None of these however are known to us. 1820 Southey Wesley I. 400 Except Whitefield, none of them had devoted themselves body and soul to the work. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. iii. I. 389 None of these was published oftener than twice a week. 1885 Swinburne Misc. (1886) 339 None of their own countrymen were so competent to control, alike by wisdom and by valour. |
b. In predicative use, denoting exclusion from a certain class: Not any; not one. (Cf. 3 b.)
| c 1440 York Myst. xlviii. 176 Ȝe weryed wightis, ȝe flee hym froo, On his lefte hande as none of his. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 30 b, As though he sayd,..ye were none of my seruauntes. 1551 T. Wilson Logike (1580) 83 He will eate his meate I warraunt you, he is none of these scrupulous consciences. 1634 W. Tirwhyt tr. Balzac's Lett. 143 You are none of those who will finde fault with the Ayre. 1690 Locke Hum. Und. iii. ix. §16 Liquor..which, I think, too, none of the most perplex'd Names of Substances. 1722 De Foe Col. Jack (1840) 79, I am none of their gang. 1823 Lamb Ess. Elia ii. Old Margate hoy, He was none of your hesitating half story-tellers. 1850 Tennyson In Mem. lxxxix, Tho' their sons were none of these. |
c. Followed by a superlative used absolutely.
| 1599 Porter Angry Wom. Abingd. (Percy Soc.) 42 M. Bar. Canst thou read? Nich. Forsooth, though none of the best, yet meanly. 1609 Holland Amm. Marcell. 125 The circuit of the citie, which was none, ywis, of the greatest. 1656 Heylin Surv. France 219 The Jesuits have divers Colledges founded for them, and they are known to be none of the poorest. 1690 Locke Hum. Und. iv. vii. §9 The general Idea of a Triangle (which is..none of the most..difficult). 1718 Felton Classicks (T.), The most glaring and notorious passages are none of the finest. 1814 Byron Wks. (1837) III. 105 You know, I suppose, that T..is none of the placidest. 1888 Rider Haggard Mr. Meeson's Will ix, His understanding was none of the clearest. |
2. a. No one, no person, nobody. Also none other, no other person (now arch.).
Now more commonly as pl.: see b.
| α c 960 Rule St. Benet (Schröer) xlii. 67 æfter þæm nihtsange ne sy nanum alyfed, þæt he æniᵹ word cweþe. c 1000 Ags. Gosp. John xv. 24 Ᵹif ic nane weorc ne worhte on him þe nan oðer ne worhte. a 1122 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1066, He dyde swa mycel to gode..swa nefre nan oðre ne dyde toforen him. c 1200 Ormin 493 Þatt nan ne shollde wurrþenn Þa sett to wurrþenn prest, butt iff He prestess sune wære. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 123 Nes þer nan þet mahte neauer eanes wrenchen hire..ut of þe weie. a 1300 Cursor M. 1968, I bad al-sua Nain be sa bald þat oþer sla. c 1320 Sir Tristr. 899 Aȝaines him stod þer nan In land. 1340 Ayenb. 237 Þe ilke þet is uoul ne may nenne oþrenne klensy. a 1400 Pol., Rel. & L. Poems 259 He is boþe god and man: swilc ne sawe neuere nan. c 1470 Henry Wallace x. 140 Thow thinkis nan her at suld thi falow be. 1533 Gau Richt Vay 27 Faith is sa neidful that neyne kane be saiff without it. 1588 A. King tr. Canisius' Catech. App., To defende the pure mans cause, quhen thair is nan to take it in hand by him. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Sheph. iv. ii, I'll wed nane else. 1788 Burns I Hae a Wife i, I'll tak cuckold frae nane, I'll gie cuckold to nae-body. 1818 Scott Rob Roy xix, Nane could ever say that o' the trades o' Glasgow. |
| β a 1175 Cott. Hom. 217 Ȝif non of him ne spece, non hine ne lufede. Ȝif non hine ne lufode, non to him ne come. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 223 Ne was ðor non lik adam. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 9604 To him þe king truste mest, ne þer nas non so hey. 1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 6 To write Inglis gestes fond he non his pere. c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 23 Almost noon shal be so nyse and worldly proude as þes stynkynge heretikis. 1447 O. Bokenham Seyntys (Roxb.) 51, I noon but the Know, lorde, that may my comfort be. c 1489 Caxton Blanchardyn xxxix. 148 Noon was there, my self nor noon other, that myghte recomforte her. 1509 Barclay Shyp of Folys (1570) 58 Wisedome will that we should refrayne From foolishe deming, and nones death discus. a 1586 Sidney Arcadia (1622) 323 A vow..that I would neuer marry none, but such one as was able to with⁓stand mee in armes. 1608 Heywood Lucrece (1638) 179 His willfull Edicts..In which nones tongue is powerfull save the Kings. 1677 Lady Chaworth in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. V. 37 All from Court say the House will infailibly sit, but none dares warrant how long. 1766 Fordyce Serm. Yng. Wm. (1767) I. ii. 74 The ladies..would be the apes of none in dress. 1805 T. Harral Scenes of Life I. p. vii, Let none attempt to excuse himself. 1855 Tennyson Maud i. xviii. i, There is none like her, none. 1880 Swinburne Stud. Shaks. 209 None other..than him⁓self alone could have mingled..such human passion. |
| Comb. 1601 Shakes. All's Well iii. ii. 108 Is't I That..expose Those tender limbes of thine, to the euent Of the none-sparing warre? |
b. pl. No persons.
Now the commoner usage, the sing. being expressed by no one.
| c 888 K. ælfred Boeth. xxvii. §1 Þæt þær nane oðre an ne sæton buton þa weorðestan. c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. 31 Ne doð hit none swo ofte se þe hodede. c 1205 Lay. 766 Alle to gadere he heom nom, nane he ne lafde. a 1300 Cursor M. 11396 A folk ferr.., Wonnand be þe est occean, þat bi-yond þam ar wonnand nan. 1357 Lay Folks Catech. 112 We, thas ilke, and nane othir than we er now,..sal rise up. c 1530 Ld. Berners Arth. Lyt. Bryt. 409 He strake none but that they lost their lyves. 1582 N. Lichefield tr. Castanheda's Conq. E. Ind. i. i. 2 b, Of which Religion wer then none other but Portingales. a 1641 Bp. R. Montagu Acts & Mon. (1642) 65 None have all; all must have some. 1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. Ded., None have been so greedy of Employments..as they who have least deserv'd their Stations. 1759 Goldsm. Bee No. 8 ¶ 5 None but they alone could have either skill or strength to bring the prisoners back again. 1790 Burke Fr. Rev. 69 None but traitors would barter it away for their own personal advantage. 1813 Southey Nelson I. 37 The contagion had become so general, that there were none who could work at it. 1887 Stedman Victorian Poets (ed. 13) 37 None but sentimentalists and dilettanti confuse their prose and verse. |
† c. none other, no other thing (or course); nothing else. Obs. (See other B. 7.)
| a 1300 Cursor M. 4147 Quen ruben sagh þair was nan oþer Bot algat for to sla þer broþer. 1388 Wyclif 1 Sam. xxi. 9 Here is noon other outtakun that. a 1400–50 Alexander 735* (Dubl.), Dame, now is þar none other to do bot deme it þi seluen. 1611 Bible Gen. xxviii. 17 This is none other, but the house of God. 1645 Cromwell Let. 14 June, Sir, this is none other but the hand of God. |
3. ellipt. a. Not any (such thing or person as that previously or subsquently mentioned).
| α 971 Blickl. Hom. 169 Se þe hæbbe twa tunecan, selle oðre ðam ðe nane næbbe. a 1122 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 443, Brytwalas..heom fultumes bædon wið Peohtas, ac hi þær nefdon nænne. Ibid. an. 1116, Þis ᵹear wæs swa gæsne on mæstene, swa þæt on eallon þison lande..ne ᵹehyrde me of nanan seᵹcean. c 1205 Lay. 15819 Ich habbe lim & stan, on leode nis betere nan. 1375 Barbour Bruce i. 173 For litill enchesone or nane, He was arestyt syne and tane. c 1470 Henry Wallace iv. 201 He bad him gyftis ser: Wallace wald nayne. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems lxvi. 54 Vnworthie I..Ane kirk dois craif, and nane can haif. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. Prol. 7 The grettest parte of the Ile hes sa plentiful feildes that nane mair plentiful. c 1620 A. Hume Brit. Tongue (1865) 13 This symbol can be no reason serve that sound, nor nane of that kynd. 1785 Burns Halloween v, Then, straught or crooked, yird or nane, They roar. |
| β c 1290 Beket 24 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 107 Þat Amiral ane faire douȝter hadde..none mo for-soþe he nadde. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 2447 Y hadde richesse; now haue y non! c 1400 Gamelyn 165 The knight thoughte on tresoun and Gamelyn on noon. c 1485 Digby Myst. (1882) iii. 501 In wynter a stomachyr, In somer non att al. 1562 J. Heywood Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 131 Better an akyng eye then none. 1583 Stubbes Anat. Abus. ii. (1882) 72, I thinke it is better to haue meane fare than none at all. 1658 Baxter Saving Faith v. 34 A Belief and Love indeed he hath, but morally..it is as none. 1697 Sir T. P. Blount Ess. 108 The Egyptians seem to have had only knowledge enough to know that their neighbours had none at all. 1718 Freethinker No. 22 ¶101 It seems to be a much greater Affront..to have an ill opinion of him, than to have none at all. 1796 H. Hunter tr. St.-Pierre's Stud. Nat. (1799) II. 250 That the cocoa-trees which have houses around their roots become much more beautiful than those where there are none. 1813 Shelley Q. Mab ii. 85 None but a spirit's eye Might ken that rolling orb. 1859 FitzGerald Omar Khayyám liv, Better be jocund with the fruitful Grape Than sadden after none, or bitter, Fruit. |
b. In predicative use, denoting lack of the essential qualities of the thing or person mentioned. (Cf. 1 b.) † Also, null, of no effect.
| c 888 K. ælfred Boeth. xxx. §1 Forhwy þe haten dysiᵹe men mid leasre stemne wuldor, nu ðu nane neart. c 1386 Chaucer Miller's T. Prol. 54 Yet nolde I..demen of my⁓self that I were oon; I wol beleve wel that I am noon. 1442 Rolls of Parlt. V. 43/2 That it be voide and non in lawe. 1551 T. Wilson Logike (1580) 3 Thei bee like those that goe for honest men, and are none. 1592 West 1st Pt. Symbol. §11 e, If there be any error or deceipt.., that Contract is either made altogether none, or of none effect. 1604 Shakes. Oth. iii. iii. 126 Men should be what they seeme, Or those that be not, would they might seeme none. 1653 Walton Angler To Rdr., How to make a man that was none, an Angler by a book. |
c. none of, not at all, not in the least.
| 1571 Campion Hist. Irel. (1633) 175, I am none of Henryes Deputy. 1638 Featly Strict. Lyndom. i. 81 The Church of Rome I grant is a mother,..but shee is none of our mother. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 455 ¶4 This Match was none of her own choosing. 1719 De Foe Crusoe i. (Globe) 236 It was none of my Business. 1764 Foote Patron iii. Wks. 1799 I. 359, I am determined he shall be none of the man. |
4. No part or amount of some thing, quality, etc.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 9916 O gret suetnes [Gött. suete grennes] þar wantes nan. 13.. Coer de L. 3547 Off thy golde wolde he take non. 1553 T. Wilson Rhet. (1580) 29 Seleucus would none of that in any wise. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 114 b, This woman wold have none of this gere done for her. 1610 Shakes. Temp. ii. i. 51 Of that there's none, or little. 1638 Baker tr. Balzac's Lett. (vol. II.) 182 Beelief it cannot be without contesting, I will none of it. 1656 A. Wright Five Serm. To Rdr., This Pulpit aye hath so much of the New light, as it hath almost none of the Old day of the Gospel. 1742 Richardson Pamela III. 169 My Lady said, None of your reproaching Eye, Pamela. 1779 J. Moore View Soc. Fr. (1789) II. xcvi. 433 No!..says John, none of your coaxing. 1872 Morley Voltaire (1886) 6 Yet we recognise that none of it was ever the dreary still⁓birth of a mind of hearsays. |
B. adj.
1. a. Not any; = no a. 1. Now arch.
In later use only before vowels and h, and after 1600 almost entirely supplanted by the reduced form no. For examples of OE. nán man, þing, see no man, nothing.
| α c 888 K. ælfred Boeth. iii. §4 Þæt was þæt nan anweald nære riht butan rihtum þeawum. 971 Blickl. Hom. 21 Þæt leoht on nanre tide ne ablinneþ. Ibid. 33 Ne þincþ us þæt nan wundor. c 1055 Byrhtferth's Handboc in Anglia VIII. 301 Þonne þæs ᵹeares ne beoð nane epactas. a 1122 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1013, Mycel his folces adranc on Temese, forðam hi nanre brycᵹe ne cepton. c 1200 Ormin Ded. 274 Nan wihht, nan enngell, nan man, Ne naness kinness shaffte. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 9121 Of engelond ne can ich nanne red. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints ix. (Bartholomew) 24 Of þare god gat þai nan answere. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) Pref. 1 He desserued neuer nane euill. c 1470 Gol. & Gaw. 286 Thair gat he nane homage, For all his hie parage. 1513 Douglas æneis viii. i. 106 Thus I declayr the nane vncertane thing. |
| β c 1200 Trin. Coll. Hom. ii. 165 Nis nower non trewðe. c 1205 Lay. 5658 Ne nomen heo nonne cniht quic. c 1275 Passion Our Lord 676 in O.E. Misc. 56 Hi nolden þo bileue..vor nore pyne heore prechynge. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 10555 He was told of non honour Bot he had ben wyþ kyng Arthour. c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 169 Þis lore þat Cristis scole axiþ loveþ none gabbingis. c 1430 Two Cookery Bks. 35 Ȝif þou wolt make it in spycery, þen putte non chykonys þer-to. 1484 Caxton Fables of æsop vi. xv, Men ought not to leue none euyll vnpunysshed. 1535 Coverdale Esther (Apocr.) xvi. 17 Ye shal do well, yf ye holde them of none effecte. 1579 Fulke Heskins' Parl. 91 The vsage of the Church..will prooue it to bee none abuse. 1641 J. Shute Sarah & Hagar (1649) 174 You are inimicitious to those that offer you none injury. 1755 Connoisseur No. 98 ¶7 This extravagant and ill⁓judged Generosity renders all her numerous excellencies of none effect. 1801 Strutt Sports & Past. i. i. 10 Henry the second..endeavoured to render these grants of none effect. |
b. Followed by other. Now arch. (See also nother and otherwise.)
| c 888 K. ælfred Boeth. v. §1 Ne ᵹebrohte ðe eac nan oþer man on þam ᵹedwolan. c 1200 Ormin 5714 Ne þurrh nan oþerr flæshess lusst. c 1205 Lay. 12628 Nes þer nan oðer [c 1275 non oþer] andswere. 1338 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 5 Sorow & site he made, ther was non other rede. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 87 As be that weie..Bot trewliche in non othre thinges. 1470–85 Malory Arthur ix. xxxvii. 399 Sire Tristram sawe none other boote but rode ageynst hym. 1535 Coverdale 1 Macc. ii. 36 Neuerthelesse they gaue them none other answere. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 146 They perceyued well that there was none other meane. 1611 Bible Transl. Pref. ¶2 Brought to vntimely death for none other fault, but [etc.]. 1713 Swift Frenzy of J. Denny Wks. 1755 II. i. 140, I have none other disease, than a swelling in my legs. 1827 Southey Hist. Penins. War II. 287 Those journalists taught..that Europe should have none other Lord but him. |
c. Placed after (or separated from) the noun.
| α c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. John x. 41 Meniᵹo..cuoedon þætte Iohannes..becon worhte nan. a 1000 Phœnix 51 Nis þær on þam londe..weatacen nan. c 1205 Lay. 600 Nes castel nan swa strong i þon londe of Griclond. a 1300 O.E. Misc. 200 Idel adh ne swere þu Nan. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints xviii. (Egipciane) 999 Vthyr clathis had I nane. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xxxi. 140 Housez hafe þai nane. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 7183 [That] his monkes nane ne some..Suld fra gude leuyng skypp. 1513 Douglas æneis iv. xii. 27 Geif that neuir nane At our cost had arrivit schip Troiane. 1573 Satir. Poems Reform. xlii. 154 Suld their pepill Preiching haue nane? |
| β c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 15805 Of alle þise, heires com þer non. c 1374 Chaucer Anel. & Arc. 148 Natheles gret wondre was it noone. c 1400 Gamelyn 396 Two dayes and two nightes mete had he noon. c 1475 Litt. Red Bk. Bristol (1900) I. 141 Also right shall I none lett. 1535 Coverdale Acts iii. 6 Syluer and golde haue I none. 1630 R. Johnson's Kingd. & Commw. 79 Fortresses they build none. 1676 Hobbes Iliad i. (1686) 12 Remedy was none. 1721 De Foe Mem. Cavalier (1840) 296 Hay for our horses we got none. 1817 Jas. Mill Brit. India II. v. ix. 708 Motives to application..can be discovered none. 1845 M. Pattison Ess. (1889) I. 2 Poetry we have almost none. 1885–94 R. Bridges Eros & Psyche Aug. iv, Harbour knew she none, where her distress Might comfort find. |
C. adv.
1. With comparatives: † a. = no adv.2 Obs. rare.
| a 1122 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1114, Þæs ȝeares syððan he ne heold hired nan oftar. c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 359/18 Ȝif we þe habbez ouȝt mis-don we ne schullen none more. a 1300 Cursor M. 328 For-þi es godd, als sais scripture, Nan [Gött. non] elder þan his creature. 1340 Ayenb. 262 Þeruore ich nelle non more zigge, ac hier ich wille endi mine matire. 1465 Paston Lett. II. 218 On Friday last and non er. c 1475 Rauf Coilȝear 546, I neid nane airar myne erand. a 1682 Sir T. Browne Tract viii (1683) 146 Words..of common use in Norfolk, or peculiar to the East Angle Countries; as..Noneare. [Hence in Hickes (1689) and Ray (1691).] |
b. With the: In no way, to no extent.
Common in 19th c., esp. none the better, worse. See also nonetheless adv.
| 1799 Spirit Publ. Jrnls. II. 134 When she found his studying politics made us none the richer. 1820 Byron Wks. (1837) IV. 325 To my mind, they look none the worse for their nudity. 1841 Macaulay Speeches (1853) 237 My circumstances are to be worse, and Johnsons's none the better. |
† 2. or none, or no, or not. (Cf. no adv.1 2.) Obs.
This usage, which is common in Chaucer, may have originated in sentences similar to quot. c 1330.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 6618 O þis watur he gert ilkan Drinc, quer he wald or nan. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 14909 ‘Wheþer ar þei Cristen’, he seide, ‘or non?’ 1390 Gower Conf. I. 46 So that I may finde in this place If thou be gracious or non. 1452 Paston Lett. I. 229 Whethir it be thus or non I can not say. |
3. a. By no means, not at all. Now usually followed by so or too and an adjective forming combs. used attrib.
| 1651 C. Cartwright Cert. Relig. i. 202 His own righteousnesse can none be justified. ? c 1750 in Child Ballads II. 129/1 All was blythe, and all was glad, But Lady Maisery she was neen. 1824 Galt Rothelan II. iii. ii. 20 After some questioning, by which he saw that I was none informed regarding the page. 1879 Spectator 31 May 680 The Horse Guards are none so fond of him. 1885 Law Times LXXIX. 169/2 Their merits are none too liberally recognised. 1928 H. Crane Let. 31 Jan. (1965) 315 Crowds of ambitious but none-too-successful strumpets of moviedom. 1941 Amer. Speech XVI. 57/2 This none-too-accurate article on the DAE. 1963 D. Ballantyne in C. K. Stead N.Z. Short Stories (1966) 151 His none-too-searching questions had already disclosed that the psychologist..was sophisticated enough to take an irreverent view of Freud. 1970 ‘M. Hebden’ Mask of Violence (1971) i. 3 He was dressed in shabby jeans and a none-too-clean shirt. 1974 Country Life 26 Dec. 2016/2 Its class of none-too-hardy evergreens. |
b. As complement with verbs, esp. sleep and worry.
| 1719 De Foe Crusoe i. (Globe) 23 We..lay still all Night; I say still, for we slept none! 1752 Scots Mag. (1753) Sept. 450/1 He had slept none for two nights. 1800 Alex. Carlyle Autobiogr. (1861) 95 He seemed as torpid as George Murray..: he conversed none. 1821 Scott Pirate xviii, By my advice, you will quarrel nane with Captain Cleveland. 1852 J. B. Jones Col. Vanderbomb xv. 198 Our adventurers slept none that night. 1890 J. Service Thir Notandums i. 3, I would weary nane. 1906 Advocate of Peace Mar. 52 Has civilization advanced none from the barbaric days of the 5th century? 1956 B. Holiday Lady sings Blues (1973) xviii. 151, I had never cared what the hell people thought, and jail hadn't changed that none. 1973 E. Bullins Theme is Blackness 65 Now, now, don't you worry none about that, Mother. We'll find a way. |
▪ III. † none, a.2
obs. variant of own.
See N 3, nain a., and own a. 1 ε.
| c 1420 Sir Amadace (Camden) lx, Lette vs leng to-gethir here,..As alle thi none hit ware. 1549 Queen Elizabeth in Ellis Orig. Lett. Ser. i. II. 156 You write that I seme to Stande in my none witte in beinge so wel assured of my none selfe. 1616 Breton Good & Bad, Effem. Fool Wks. (Grosart) II. 13/1 His father's loue, and his mother's none⁓child. 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. vi. 283 Adrian the fourth, our none Countrey-man. 1679 Licentiousness Times in Ebsworth Bagford Ball. (1878) 718 His Worship so wise,..Is by [his] none dear Wife at home made a Fool. |
▪ IV. none
obs. form of noon, nun.