Not
Origin
From Middle English not, nat, variant of noght, naht ("not, nothing"), from Old English *nÅht, nÄht ("nought, nothing"), short for nÅwiht, nÄwiht ("nothing", literally no thing, no creature), corresponding to nÄ ("no") + wiht ("thing, creature"). Cognate with Scots nat, naucht ("not"), Saterland Frisian nit ("not"), West Frisian net ("not"), Dutch niet ("not"), German nicht ("not"). Compare nought and aught. More at no, wight.
Full definition of not
Adverb
not
- Negates the meaning of the modified verb.
- 1973, .Well, I'm not a crook. I've earned everything I've got.
- Did you take out the trash? No, I did not.Not knowing any better, I went ahead.
- To no degreeThat is not red; it's orange.
Usage notes
In modern usage, the form do not ... (or don’t ...) is preferred to ... not for all but a short list of verbs (is/am/are/was/were, have/has/had, "do/does/did, " when do is the main verb, it too requires do not...
can/could, shall/should, will/would, may/might, need):
They do not sow. (modern) vs. They sow not. (KJB)
American usage tends to prefer don’t have or haven’t got to have not or haven’t, except when have is used as an auxiliary (or in the idiom have-not):
I don’t have a clue or I haven’t got a clue. (US)
I haven’t a clue or I haven't got a clue. (outside US)
I haven’t been to Spain. (universal)
The verb need is only directly negated when used as an auxiliary, and even this usage is rare in the US.
You don’t need to trouble yourself. (US)
You needn’t trouble yourself. (outside US)
I don’t need any eggs today. (universal)
The verb dare can sometimes be directly negated.
I daren't do that.
Related terms
Conjunction
- And not.I wanted a plate of shrimp, not a bucket of chicken.He painted the car blue and black, not solid purple.
Usage notes
The construction “A, not B†is synonymous with the constructions “A, and not Bâ€; “not B, but Aâ€; and “not B, but rather Aâ€.
Interjection
not!- (slang, 1990s) Used to indicate that the previous phrase was meant sarcastically or ironically.I really like hanging out with my little brother watching Barney... not!Sure, you're perfect the way you are... not!