now

Meanings

1. 1
   adv

   in these times

   it is solely by their language that the upper classes nowadays are distinguished- Nancy Mitford

2. 2
   adv

   used to preface a command or reproof or request

   now hear this!

3. 3
   adv

   at the present moment

   goods now on sale

4. 4
   adv

   in the immediate past

   told me just now

5. 5
   adj

   Present; current.

   […] to my now wife Mabell, my child Elisabeth, & my child now begotten, &c., and they to be joint Exõrs, & if all die, then the same jointly to my brother William Every & my sisters Sarah Skibbowe & Joan Brice.

6. 6
   adj

   Fashionable; popular; up to date; current.

   I think this band's sound is very now.

7. 7
   adv

   At the present time.

   Now I am six.

8. 8
   adv

   Used to introduce a point, a qualification of what has previously been said, a remonstration or a rebuke.

   Now, we all want what is best for our children.

Etymology

From Middle English now, nou, nu, from Old English nū, from Proto-West Germanic *nū, from Proto-Germanic *nu, from Proto-Indo-European *nū (“now”). Doublet of nu ("well?"). Cognates Cognate with Scots noo, nou, now (“now”), Yola neow, now, nowe (“now”), North Frisian nü (“now”), Saterland Frisian nu (“now”), West Frisian no (“now”), Dutch nu, nou (“now”), German nu, nun (“now”), Limburgish noe, Nuu (“now”), Danish, Swedish nu (“now”), Elfdalian nų (“now”), Faroese nú, núgv (“now”), Icelandic nú, núna (“now”), Norwegian Bokmål nu, nå (“now”), Norwegian Nynorsk no, nu, nå (“now”), Gothic 𐌽𐌿 (nu,…