Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

naught

 - 4 dictionary results

naught

  [nawt]
Use naught in a Sentence
–noun
1. nothing.
2. a cipher (0); zero.
–adjective
3. lost; ruined.
4. Archaic. worthless; useless.
5. Obsolete. morally bad; wicked.
–adverb
6. Obsolete. not.
—Idioms
7. come to naught, to come to nothing; be without result or fruition; fail.
8. set at naught, to regard or treat as of no importance; disdain: He entered a milieu that set his ideals at naught.
Also, nought.

Origin:
bef. 900; ME; OE nauht, nāwiht (nā no 1 + wiht thing). See nought, wight 1 , whit
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To naught
naught also nought   (nôt)   
n.  

  1. Nonexistence; nothingness.

  2. The figure 0; a cipher; a zero.

pron.  Nothing: All their work was for naught.
adj.  

  1. Nonexistent.

  2. Insignificant.


[Middle English, from Old English nāwiht : nā, no; see ne in Indo-European roots + wiht, thing; see wekti- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

naught 
O.E. nawiht "nothing," lit "no whit," from na "no" (from PIE base *ne- "no, not;" see un- (1)) + wiht "thing, creature, being" (see wight).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Idioms & Phrases

naught

see come to nothing (naught).

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see naught on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way