▪ I. nought, n., a., and adv.
(nɔːt)
Forms: α. 1–3 nowiht, 1 -wuht, 3 -wyht, -wiþt (-wist, -whit). β. 1–4 noht (3 Orm. nohht), 3–4 nohut; 3–5 (6–9 Sc.) nocht; 3–4 nogt, 3–6 noght (4–5 -te); 3–5 noȝt (4 noeȝt), 4–5 noȝte (4 -the); 3 noþt, 6 Sc. notht, 4 (6 Sc.) noth; 3 noh, 4 nogh, 6–7 Sc. noch. γ. 3–5 nouht, 5 nowhte, 6 (9) Sc. noucht; 3–6 nouȝt (4 -th), 4–5 nouȝte (4 -the), nowȝte; 3– nought (5 nougt, nough), 5–6 noughte (5 now-); 3 nouthe, 4 nouþe, 4–5 nouth, 5 nowth(e. δ. 3 nowit, -wyt, 2–4 (8 dial.) nout, 5–7 noute, 3–5 (9 dial.) nowt.
[OE. nówiht, -wuht, f. ne ne + ówiht, var. of áwiht: see aught and naught.
Parallel formations to OE. náwiht, nówiht appear in OS. nêowiht, niowiht, OHG. nêowiht, nio-, niewiht, nieht (G. nicht), and with the guttural dropped in OHG. niewet, niet, MDu. niewet, nieut, niet, OFris. nawet, nauet, naut. A simpler form occurs in OHG. niwiht, -weht (Goth. ne waihts, OE. ne..wiht).]
A. n.
1. Nothing. (Now only literary.)
| α c 825 Vesp. Psalter xxxiii. 10 Ondredað dryhten.. forðon nowiht wonu bið ðæm ondredendum hine. c 897 K. ælfred tr. Gregory's Past. C. 389 Sien ða hæbbendan swelce hie nowiht hæbben. c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. x. 26 Nowiht forðon [is] ᵹedeᵹled þæt ne se unwriᵹen. c 1200 Moral Ode 152 (Trin. Coll. MS.), Þan he biðohte an helle fur þat nowiht ne mai quenche. c 1275 Lay. 3182 Ich þe segge soþ riht, ne sal ȝeo habbe no wiþt. |
| β c 888 K. ælfred tr. Boethius vii. §1 Þonne nis þe noht swiðor þonne ðæt þæt þu forloren hæfst þa woruldsælða. c 900 tr. Bæda's Hist. i. xxvii. (1890) 80 Þæm besmitenum..noht bið clæne. 971 Blickl. Hom. 147 Næfde heo noht on hire buton þæt an. c 1128 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1128, Þa hi þider comon ða ne was hit noht buton læsunge. c 1200 Ormin 18749, & nohht nass wrohht wiþþutenn himm Off all þatt iss summ shaffte. c 1250 Lutel soth Serm. 6 in O.E. Misc. 186 Wel we witen alle þaȝ ich eou noȝt ne telle. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. A. 520 No mon byddez vus do ryȝt noȝt. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 24 Al was in to pouldre broght, And so forth torned into noght. c 1440 Generydes 144 For his plesur trowly ther lakkyd noght. 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 161 [He] can nocht ellis do bot sitt on the felde. 1567 Satir. Poems Reform. iv. 181 In earth..sen nocht is permanent. a 1585 Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae 149 Quhat gif..it coist thee nocht Bot randring it againe? 1611 Sir W. Mure Elegie Wks. (S.T.S.) I. 15 Nocht els bot cruell Cupid's ire my martyrdome constrainis. c 1650 ― Ps. cxix. 20 Besyde Thy judgements noght, no time, contents. 1724 Ramsay Vision vi, Let nocht thy hairt affray. 1791 Burns Lament Earl Glencairn iii, But nocht in all revolving time Can gladness bring again to me. |
| γ c 1300 K. Alis. (Weber) 3767 Tho that up the water fyghtis, Yet neotith nought of this knyghtis. 1389 in Eng. Gilds (1870) 7 Ȝif any brother deye, þat haþ nouȝt of his owne to be beried withe. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. i. 210 Bote soffren and sigge nouht, and so is the beste. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 359/2 Nowhte (nowth, K).., nichil. 1484 Caxton Fables of Alfonce ix, I promysed to the nought at al. 1529 Rastell Pastyme (1811) 52 He dyd noughte but made his kyn ryche of the goodys of the church. 1562 J. Heywood Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 38 He that hath right nought, right nought shall possesse. 1600 J. Pory tr. Leo's Africa iii. 187 Besides barly-bread the inhabitants haue nought to liue on. 1665 S. Patrick Parab. Pilgr. 80, I am nought, I have nought, I desire nought. 1718 Hickes & Nelson J. Kettlewell ii. lvii. 178 The whole Course of his Ministry was nought else but an Uniform Obedience. 1781 Cowper Anti-Thelyphth. 182 She whisper'd still that he had nought to fear. 1836 Kingsley Lett. (1878) I. 33 She loved all living things, and nought harmed her. 1860 Tyndall Glac. ii. viii. 267 Nought remains to mark the huge moraine, but a strip of dirt. 1872 Holland Marble Prophecy 46 Then dream that nought so real comes in dreams. |
| δ a 1200 Moral Ode 292 (Egerton MS.), Heom nas nout of godes bode ne of godes hese. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. vi. 119 ‘No’, quaþ an Apeward, ‘for nout þat I knowe’. c 1450 Gesta Rom. (1879) 107 Þe drynk is noute elles but passion. c 1485 Promp. Parv. (S) 359/2 Nowte, nichil. |
| 1741–3 Wesley Jrnl. (1749) 89 She cares not, if she never look in a book. She minds nout but play. 1827–30 T. Wilson Pitman's Pay (1843) 13, I want for nowt that she can gie me. 1864 Tennyson North. Farmer i. i, Thourt nowt o' a noorse. 1913 [see bleeder 3]. 1963 Times 11 Mar. 3/6 The verdict was just, anyway, for Yorkshire took their chances like men who seldom get ‘owt for nowt’, and were better disciplined on a day that demanded it. 1975 Daily Tel. 13 Dec. 9/1 There's nowt else possible in this weather. |
2. a. Nothing; nonentity. Now
rare or
Obs.| c 1200 Ormin 12009 Forr I þe shop off nohht. c 1300 Cursor M. 345 He þat mad al thing o noght. 1388 Wyclif Ps. xxxii[i]. 9 He comaundide, and thingis weren maad of nouȝt. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xlvi. 44 God..That him of nocht wrocht lyk his awin figour. 1567 Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.) 131 O Lord, quhilk wrocht all thingis of nocht. 1635 Swan Spec. M. i. §1 (1643) 4 All this All did once of nought begin. 1642 H. More Song Soul ii. i. iii. vii, To their ancient Nought their empty selves betake. a 1711 Ken Hymnarium Poet. Wks. 1721 II. 43 The boundless Gulf betwixt Eternal Nought and Being fix'd. |
b. Arith. = nothing n. 4.
| c 1430 Art Nombryng 18 Þat wel be noȝt, for a 0 is noȝt. And twyes noȝt is but noȝt. 1588 A. King tr. Canisius' Catech. p. vi, Giff nocht restis, ye divisor 19. sall be it. 1788 Jefferson Writ. (1859) II. 464 The honor of their nation has been calculated at nought. 1884 tr. Lotze's Logic 269 The proportion ρα: ρβ = b: a must always subsist; therefore m cannot be nought. |
c. to be nought: (see
naught n. 1 e).
rare.
| 1565 Kyng Darius (Brandl) 747 Come away, and be nought a whyle. 1573 New Custom i. ii, With all my harte and a vengeance, come up and be nought. |
d. A score of no points in a game.
| 1862 Lillywhite's Cricket Scores I. 354 It is certainly curious that Beldham should have made two noughts in this contest. 1876 Haygarth's Cricket Scores V. 165 Thirty⁓three noughts were obtained in the match. |
3. a. In
phr. to bring, come, go, etc., to nought.
| β c 1200 Ormin 10960 Þæraffterr warrþ itt efft to nohht. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 5466 Þe contreye folc com mid gret route & driue hom al to noȝte. 13.. Cursor M. 22172 (Edin.), To bring þe cristin men to nochte. 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 680 So had better haf ben þen britned to noȝt. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. ii. 157 The maiestie of the Romane Impire..almaist was cum to nocht. 1888 Scot. Serm. in Brit. Workm. XXXIV. 19 Sae the precious seed cam' tae nocht ava. |
| γ c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 1 Alle þe heþene men þat neiȝ him were, sone he dude to nouȝte. a 1400 Hylton Scala Perf. (W. de W. 1494) ii. xlv, Spoylleth hym and renteth hym all to nought. 1470–85 Malory Arthur xx. xix. 831 They shalle by processe brynge vs alle to noughte. 1526 Tindale 1 Cor. ii. 6 Wisdom of this worlde..(which goeth to nought). 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. i. (1586) 31 b, Yf it be sowed thicke, it comes to nought. 1602 Carew Cornwall 84 All which..is now growne to nought or naught. c 1680 Beveridge Serm. (1729) II. 301 Carried away by the next wind that blows and so comes to nought. 1781 Cowper Conversat. 403 Recov'ring..The faculties that seem'd reduc'd to nought. 1869 Browning Ring & Bk. vii. 902 All human plans and projects come to nought. 1871 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) IV. xviii. 186 Zeal and courage..brought to nought by..cowardice. |
† b. to call to nought (see
naught n. 1 d).
Obs.| 1738–9 Mrs. Pendarves Let. in Mrs. Delany Life & Corr. (1861) I. 37 The duchess of Portland..calls herself all to nought for having been so long in her debt. |
4. † a. In
gen. sing. Of no value.
Obs. rare—1.
| c 1205 Lay. 13947 Eoure godes ne beoð nohtes, in helle heo niðer liggeð. |
† b. nought worth, worth nothing, of no value.
| a 1225 Leg. Kath. 343 Hwa walde ileuen þis, Þet is as noht wurð. c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 367 Men sey þat oþer newe ordiris and reulis ben noeȝt worth. c 1380 Abbey Holy Ghost in Hampole's Wks. (1896) I. 323 No werkes þat we wyrke are noghte worthe to god nor spedfull till oure sawles. 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 182 It passis his power, and tharfore the obligacioun is nocht worth. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 109 That neither Rome can shew any such graunt,..and if they could it were right nought worth. 1587 Golding De Mornay xviii. (1592) 288 That thing..that is giuen for nought, and by such as are nought worth. c 1610 B. Jonson Barriers Wks. (1616) 929 Mirrors, though deckt with diamants, are nought worth, If the like formes of things they set not forth. |
† c. a thing of nought, a mere nothing.
Obs.| c 1425 Lydg. Assembly of Gods 2050 Hit was but a whew, A dreme, a fantasy, and a thyng of nought. 1551 Robinson tr. More's Utopia i. (1895) 53 They be constrayned to sell it for a thyng of nought. 1587 Golding De Mornay x. (1592) 137 Seeing that a thing of nought is able to doe so much. 1611 Bible Isa. xxix. 21 That..turne aside the iust for a thing of nought. 1743 Blair The Grave 739 Shrunk to a thing of nought. |
5. for nought.
† a. ? Nevertheless.
Obs.—1.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 1442 Þis romeins were vor noȝt ouercome atte laste. |
† b. In vain, to no purpose.
Obs.| c 1290 St. Kenelm 101 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 348 Þo þe luþere quene þat i-sai þat hit was al for nouȝt [etc.]. a 1300 Cursor M. 7298 ‘Sir’, þai said, ‘þou sais for noght’. c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 2206 Ariadne, But all for nought, his wey he is gon. 1430–40 Lydg. Bochas ix. xxxi. (1554) 32 b, But al for nought they were so indurate. c 1477 Caxton Jason 58 Yet they sent unto the king.., but that was for nought. 1513 Douglas æneis xi. xi. 106 For nocht scho was desyrt with mony a man, And moderis feill..Desyrit hyr thair gude douchter, in vane. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. iv. 244 Colman & Finnan oft had admonised him, bot in vane, and al for no{supt}. |
† c. Without payment or recompense; gratis.
| 1535 Coverdale Gen. xxix. 15 Because thou art my brother, shalt thou therfore serue me for nought? 1562 J. Heywood Prov. & Epigr. (1867) 138 As good to play for nought, as to woorke for nought. 1671 Milton Samson 1215 To thir Masters gave me up for nought. a 1770 Jortin Serm. (1771) I. iv. 65 He would eat no man's bread for nought. 1784 Cowper Task i. 675 We travel far, 'tis true, but not for nought; And must be brib'd [etc.]. |
d. For no reason, without good cause.
rare.
| 1607 Norden Surv. Dial. iii. 84 It is spacious in circuit,..and beareth not the name for nought, for the Manner is faire. |
6. to set at nought: to despise, defy, scorn, disregard. So
† to put to nought;
to give nought of (see
give v. 9 d).
| a 1340 Hampole Ps. ix. 33 Halymen sall be despisid þan, and sett att noght. c 1375 Cursor M. 14459 (Fairf.), Alle þat.. þe iewes sette atte noȝt. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xxxii. 144 All erthely thingez þai sette at noȝt. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems lxxxiv. 5 Setand at nocht God nor manis blame. Ibid. xliv. 9 Wo wirth the fruct wald put the tre to nocht. 1534 Whitinton Tullyes Offyces iii. (1540) 148 What shal I say of them that setteth all honest and iust thinges at nouȝt? 1634 Milton Comus 444 The huntress Dian..set at nought The frivolous bolt of Cupid. a 1720 Sewel Hist. Quakers (1795) I. iv. 247 The protector..would have given him audience, had not others set him at nought. 1850 Marsden Early Purit. (1853) 40 Had she not set at nought the wishes of such men as Jewel, Grindal, Horn, and Parker. |
7. With
a and
pl. a. A thing or person of no worth or value; a mere nothing.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 16990 Again þe pine he for me drou, bot als a noght it were. a 1400–50 Alexander 1742 Slike a nekard as þi-selfe, a noȝt of all othire. c 1400 26 Pol. Poems 21 Þis world is a fayre nouȝt, A false lemman. c 1560 A. Scott Poems (S.T.S.) xxxv. 17 Sall non be so off nochtis, no! Quhilk bene of cursit kind. c 1590 Greene Fr. Bacon iii, We..Come to buy needlesse noughts to make vs fine. 1595 Spenser Col. Clout 718 Like bladders blowen up with wynd, That being prickt do vanish into noughts. |
† b. pl. in predicative or adverbial use.
Obs. rare.
| 1561 Winȝet Tractates Wks. (S.T.S.) I. 21 Quhilk auctoritie geue ȝe esteme as nochtis, be reasoun it wes geuin to ȝow..be ane papiste bischope. 1589 Greene Menaphon (Arb.) 89 Repentant thoughts Of daies ill spent, for that which profits noughts. |
c. Arith. A cipher.
noughts and crosses: see
ought n.3| a 1660 Hammond Serm. Wks. 1684 IV. 379 A defect in the power of numbering, that discerns no difference between Ciphers and Millions, but only that the noughts are a little the blacker. 1718, 1801 [see cipher n. 1]. 1839–52 Bailey Festus 11 The spheres themselves are but as shining noughts Upon the mantle of the night impearled. 1889 Spectator 26 Oct., A majority so elected is but a series of noughts intended to elevate the power of one. 1894 K. Grahame Pagan P. 140 True, noughts-and-crosses might be indulged in. |
8. a. Low estate and poverty.
rare—1.
| c 1400 Brut (E.E.T.S.) 216 A Knyght þat þe Erl had brouȝt vp of nouȝt. |
b. Worthless character or conduct.
| c 1400 26 Pol. Poems 27 Ȝe, þouȝ þou be of feble fame, Bere good visage, þy nouȝt aspye. 1586 A. Day Eng. Secretary ii. (1625) 31 To relieve such an one..in bringing him from nought to ought. 1622 W. Whately Gods Husb. ii. 136 We shall grow worse and worse, euen from ought to nought, as the Prouerbe speaketh. 1651 C. Cartwright Cert. Relig. i. 4 Else you'll fall from nought to worse, from thence to nothing. |
† c. to do nought, to do wrong.
to play the nought, to act immorally.
Obs.| 1538 Starkey England i. i. 6, I wyl not yet say..that therin they dyd vtturly nought. 1565 Child Marriages 129 The said Thomas Grenehalgh had plaid the nought with the said Jone, in the house of the said Margaret, her mother. |
9. Comb., as
nought-availing,
nought-fearing,
nought-worth.
| 1589 Nashe Anat. Absurd. Wks. (Grosart) I. 44 Least he..make a nought worth peeble his Jewell. 1591 Florio 2nd Fruites 127 A counterfaite, lazie, and nought-worth seruant. a 1591 H. Smith Wks. (1867) II. 237 These nought-fearing fellows, these high-stomached men,..are brought down by danger. 1613 Drummond of Hawthornden Cypress Grove Wks. (1711) 118 With unprofitable and nought-availing Stubbornness. |
B. adj. [
Cf. naught a., which is the more usual form.]
† 1. a. Of material things: Bad in condition or in their own kind.
Obs.| 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) I. 51 As a sore membre þat is nouȝt from membres þat beeþ hole and sounde. 1402 Hoccleve Lett. Cupid 321 The soyl ys noght, ther may no trouthe growe! 1496 Fysshynge w. Angle (1883) 32 Whan they ben in a slough or elles deed thenne ben they nought. c 1540 Plumpton Corr. (Camden) 239 The cofer wherin your said court rowles lieth is nought & the lock therof not worth a pene. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. i. (1586) 44 With continuall bearing of Hey, it hath growen to be mossie and nought. 1611 Bible 2 Kings ii. 19 The water is nought, and the ground barren. 1693 Evelyn De la Quint. Compl. Gard. I. 38 All that is nought in the Ground must of necessity be removed. 1704 Swift Batt. Bks. Misc. (1711) 237 'Tis too plain, the Materials are nought. 1728 E. Smith Compl. Housew. (1750) 5 If [the egg is] muddy or cloudy, and the yolk broken, it is nought. |
† b. Of actions, etc.: Bad, wicked.
Obs.| a 1425 Cursor M. 14459 (Trin.), Alle þat he wiþ loue hem souȝt þe iewes entent was euer nouȝt. 1481 Caxton Myrr. iii. xxi. 181 That synne is nought, ffor as moche as it is voyde and disgarnysshed of all goodnes. 1531 Elyot Gov. (1580) 180 If the purpose be noughte he can not..hope to obtain it. 1598 R. Grenewey Tacitus, Ann. vi. ix. (1622) 134 A people not vnderstanding what is good, nor hauing a care of that which is nought. 1607 J. Davies Summa Totalis vi. Wks. (Grosart) I. 5/2 Hate, Anger, and the like, in vs are nought, But in thee good, and iust. |
† c. Immoral, vicious.
Obs.| 1388–9 in Wyclif's Sel. Wks. III. 488 Þo hoore-hows þat alle men knowen is nouȝt. 1513 More Rich. III (1883) 53 She was nought of her body. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 30 b, Many dyd myracles that were nought of lyuyng, as the enchauntours of Pharao. 1550 Bale Eng. Votaries i. (1560) 96 Callynge them all that nought was. |
2. Good for nothing, worthless, useless.
| c 1400 Apol. Loll. 28 Þat is no power, but fals pride, & presumid, & onli in name, & as to ȝend & effect is nowȝt. 1483 Vulgaria 33 Thow kunnest me no thanke, therfore thow art nought to do fore. c 1535 M. Nisbet Prol. Rom. (S.T.S.) III. 347 That ande all lyk argumentes ar nocht. 1550 Crowley Epigr. 1410 A wryter of thynges nought and vayne. 1615 R. Brathwait Strappado (1878) 132 Thou mun not blush, nor colour change for ought, Though th' plea thou hast in hand be nere so nought. 1658 A. Fox tr. Würtz' Surg. ii. i. 47 Experience, that great Teacher, tels us to be nought, at all times to undertake for health. 1790 Borrowdale Lett. (1821) 14 Hees fearful nowt I racken. |
† 3. Injurious
to, bad
for, a thing or person. Also without
const. Obs.| 1532 G. Hervet Xenophon Œcon. (1768) 2, I do not accompte that amonge a mans..goodes, that is nought and hurtful vnto him. 1578 Lyte Dodoens 639 Garlyke is hurtfull and nought for cholerique people. 1658 A. Fox tr. Würtz' Surg. ii. i. 49 A Surgeon..may easily know..what is good or nought for the Wound. 1690 Child Disc. Trade (1698) 111, I conclude..that all restrictions of trade are nought, and consequently that no company..can be for publick good. |
4. at nought feet: in
Aeronaut., very close to the ground, just above the ground.
| 1945 Aeroplane Spotter 20 Sept. 218/1 Other note⁓worthy flying displays were given by the Messenger I, showing off its manœuvrability at nought feet. 1949 F. Maclean Eastern Approaches iii. vi. 372 A large three-engined German flying boat..scared the life out of our cook by skimming past our house at what is known by the R.A.F. as ‘nought feet’. 1960 Observer 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. |
C. adv. [
Orig. the accusative of the
n.]
1. To no extent; in no way; not at all.
| c 825 Vesp. Psalter lxxxviii. 23 Nowiht fromað se fiond in him. 971 Blickl. Hom. 119 Hie seoþþan..him nowiht fore ne ondredon. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 2103 ‘Alle þine þreates ne drede ich’, quoð ha, ‘riht noht’. a 1250 Prov. ælfred 284 in O.E. Misc. 120 Þeyh heo wel wolde, ne may heo hi nowiht welde. c 1275 Lay. 25632 Ne dorste þar no cniht to vuele hit teorne no wiht. 1381 in Wyclif's Sel. Wks. III. 500 Bodely etyng ne profites nouth to soule. 1413 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton) v. i. (1859) 68 Me semyd that wonder lytel or nought my peynes were abredged. 1503 Hawes Examp. Virt. ix. 168 Where I am poore and sette by nought. 1568 Tilney Disc. Mariage B iv b, But vertues are laide aside, and nought accounted off. 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. iv. 7 As a blindfold Bull, at randon fares, And where he hits nought knowes, and whom he hurts nought cares. |
| 1828 Sporting Mag. XXI. 232 ‘It matters nout’, as the Yorkshire men have it. 1870 Morris Earthly Par. II. iii. 127 Never complaining; resting nought, And yet scarce asking what he sought. 1887 ― Odyss. xi. 363 Odysseus, nought do we deem thee..To be a cheat. |
† 2. = not adv. Obs.| β c 825 Vesp. Psalter xlii. 1 Doem mec, god, & toscad intingan minne of ðeode noht haliᵹre. c 897 K. ælfred Gregory's Past. C. xxxi. 206 Næron ᵹe noht æmettiᵹe, ðeah ᵹe wel ne dyden. 971 Blickl. Hom. 171 Ne þurfan ᵹe noht besorᵹian hwæt ᵹe sprecan. c 1131 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.) an. 1131, On þa tun þa wæs tenn ploᵹes..ne belæf þær noht an. c 1200 Ormin 11343 Nohht ne maȝȝ þe mann Bi bræd all ane libbenn. c 1250 Kent. Serm. in O.E. Misc. 29 Ha niste nocht þe miracle, ac þo serganz wel hit wiste. a 1300 Cursor M. 15315 Noth fete allan, bot hefd and hand. c 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 605 Man when he is til worshepe broght Right understandyng has he noght. c 1400 Laud Troy Bk. 5903 He that wil not whan he may, When he wolde, he getis it noght. 1473 J. Warkworth Chron. (Camden) 2 Thei durst noȝt come neghe the castelle. 1533 Gau Richt Vay 4 Thay..suld noth be slayne. Ibid. 14 Thay yat bannis or wil notht heir thaime. 1571 Satir. Poems Reform. xxvi. 5 Ȝe neid nocht for to feir The craft..of man. 1615 Sir W. Mure Misc. Poems xiii. Wks. (S.T.S.) I. 31 Bereft of breath, ȝit nocht from lyfe depoised. [1724 Ramsay Vision xiii, It's nocht fit an mortal man Should ken all I can tell.] |
| Comb. 1569 Reg. Privy Council Scot. II. 17 The absence and noc[h]t comperance of the saidis personis. |
| γ c 1275 Passion our Lord 36 in O.E. Misc. 38 He nuste nouht þat he wes boþe god and mon. c 1315 Shoreham i. 1835 Ine þe weddynge ne gaynet nouȝt Þaȝ þon þe oþer by⁓swyke. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 3 The cause whi it changeth so It needeth nought to specifie. 1411 Rolls of Parlt. III. 650/1 The sayd Robert wold nouht graunte that he had submytted hym in that mater. c 1470 Harding Chron. Pref. p. vi, He wolde nought suffre I had such waryson. |
| δ c 1205 Lay. 298 Þat bearn nas nowit feie. a 1225 Ancr. R. 28 Ᵹif þu ne const nout ðesne, seie sumne oðer of ðe creoiz. a 1300 Vox & Wolf 153 in Hazl. E.P.P. I. 63 Ne beth nout ȝet thre daies a-go. 1388–9 in Wyclif's Sel. Wks. III. 479 If ȝee wil nout do þis riȝtwisenes. a 1400 Pol. Rel. & L. Poems 259, I am þi broþer, be nout in wer; be nout agast. 1475 Paston Lett. III. 123 Robard Clere..told me that he was nowt payd of the mony that..was borowd of hys modyr. |
† 3. In the phrases
nought (for) than, for thi, for that, nevertheless. Also
noughtwithstanding.
| c 1250 Kent. Serm. in O.E. Misc. 36 Nocht for þan..ne solde no-man targi for to wende to godalmichti. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 4015 Þe king clupede noȝt uor þan is conseil sone. 13.. Cursor M. 8345 (Gött.), Bot noght for-þi ne tald he noght þe bod-word. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints iii. (Andrew) 465 Nocht-þane, bot þu consent to me,..I sal ger mene þe crucify. 1413 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton) ii. lvii. (1859) 56 But nought for thy, blessid be his grace. 1422 tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 225 And noght for that they bene moste febill of body. Ibid. 239 In tymes..al þe body of man is hote, and noȝth for than the stomake is colde. 1456 Sir G. Haye Law Arms (S.T.S.) 107 And ȝit, nocht than thai graunt that the Emperour is temporale lord. |
▪ II. † nought, v. Obs. rare.
[f. prec.] 1. trans. To set (one) at nought.
| a 1400–50 Alexander 753 ‘For þou has noȝtid me now, Nicollas’, he sayd, ‘I swere þe’ [etc.]. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 360/1 Nowtun, or syettyn at nowhte.., vilipendo. |
2. refl. To efface (oneself).
| a 1400 Hylton Scala Perf. ii. xx. (Bodl. MS.) lf. 114 And soþeli vnto a soule kan felabli þoruȝ grace nouȝten him silf..he is not perfytli meke. c 1450 tr. De Imitatione iii. xlvii. 118 Yf þou coudist parfitly nouȝt [L. annihilare] þiself & voide þiself from all loue of creatures. |