noun / pronoun
naught
NAWT/nɔːt/
Nothing or zero.
The empty purse holds naught, and nothing falls into the man's hand.
Etymology
'No' plus 'thing' gives the literal sense 'not a whit': not even a single thing, and therefore nothing at all.
In context
But all their pains seemed naught. Though lifted to the very top of the cranes, the windward quarter boat Ahab’s did not escape.
More examples
- Without reliable evidence, these accusations count for naught.
- She refuses to let months of practice be for naught.
- The old ledger records the balance as naught.
Forms
naught · naughts