none

none · pronoun, determiner, adverb¹

1. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*nainaz“none, nought, nothing”
2. Proto-West Germanic · inherited from*nain
3. Old English · inherited fromnān“not one, not any, none”
4. Middle English · inherited fromnone
5. English todaynone

From Middle English none, noon, non (“not one”), from Old English nān (“not one, not any, none”), from Proto-West Germanic *nain, from Proto-Germanic *nainaz (“none, nought, nothing”), equivalent to ne (“not”) + one. (Regarding the different phonological development of only and one, see the note in one.) Cognate with Scots nane (“none”), Saterland Frisian naan, neen (“no, not any, none”), West Frisian neen & gjin (“no, none”), Dutch neen & geen (“no, none”), Low German nēn, neen, keen (“no, none, no one”), German nein & kein (“no, none”), Latin nōn (“not”).

none · noun²

From the first sense, since they respond “none” when asked about their religion; also a play on words on nun.

none · noun³

1. Latin · derived fromnōna“ninth; ninth hour”
2. French · derived fromnone
3. English todaynone

From French none, from Latin nōna (“ninth; ninth hour”).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 11th c. To no extent, in no way.
• from 13th c. Not at all, not very.
• 14th–16th c. No, not.