not

nɒt

3 definitions

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#1·6h ago

Negates the meaning of the modified verb.

Did you take out the trash? — No, I did not. I do not think it was my turn, was it?

Origin: From , a variant of noght, naht, from , shortening of nōwiht, nāwiht, corresponding to ne + ōwiht, āwiht, corresponding to ā + wiht. Cognate with , not, , , , . Compare nought, naught and aught. More at no, wight, whit. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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#2·6h ago

To no degree.

Not knowing any better, I went ahead.

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#3·6h ago

(litotes) Used to indicate the opposite or near opposite, often in a form of understatement.

It was felt desirable that she not leave school before fourteen.

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