nought

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The number zero.

   The temperature dropped to nought overnight.

2. 2
   noun

   Nothing.

   All his efforts came to nought in the end.

From Middle English nought, noght, noȝt, from Old English nōwiht, nāwiht, which in turn comes from ne-ā-wiht, which was a phrase used as an emphatic "no", meaning "not anything". Equivalent to ne + ought or ne + a + wight. Doublet of naught and not.

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