[en-ee] 
| 1. | one, a, an, or some; one or more without specification or identification: If you have any witnesses, produce them. Pick out any six you like. |
| 2. | whatever or whichever it may be: cheap at any price. |
| 3. | in whatever quantity or number, great or small; some: Do you have any butter? |
| 4. | every; all: Any schoolboy would know that. Read any books you find on the subject. |
| 5. | (following a negative) at all: She can't endure any criticism. |
| 6. | an unspecified person or persons; anybody; anyone: He does better than any before him. |
| 7. | a single one or ones; an unspecified thing or things; a quantity or number: We don't have any left. |
| 8. | in whatever degree; to some extent; at all: Do you feel any better? |
| 9. | any which way, in any manner whatever; indifferently or carelessly: Doing your work any which way is just not good enough. |
| an·y (ěn'ē) adj.
Any one or more persons, things, or quantities. adv. To any degree or extent; at all: didn't feel any better. [Middle English ani, from Old English ǣnig; see oi-no- in Indo-European roots.] Usage Note: When used as a pronoun, any can take either a singular or plural verb, depending on how it is construed: Any of these books is suitable (that is, any one). But are any (that is, some) of them available? · The construction of any is often used in informal contexts to mean "of all," as in He is the best known of any living playwright. In an earlier survey this example was unacceptable in writing to 67 percent of the Usage Panel. · Any is also used to mean "at all" before a comparative adjective or adverb in questions and negative sentences: Is she any better? Is he doing any better? He is not any friendlier than before. This usage is entirely acceptable. The related use of any to modify a verb is considered informal. In writing, one should avoid sentences like It didn't hurt any or If the child cries any, give her the bottle. See Usage Notes at every, they. |
any
In addition to the idioms beginning with any, also see at any rate; by any means; go to any length; in any case; under any (no) circumstances.
i