non

Pronunciation

• IPA: /nɔ̃/^[1]

Forms

non^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Old French non, inherited from Latin nōn (“not”), in stressed position; unstressed, the same word gave ne.^[2][3][4][5] In Latin “nōn” is a strengthened form of the negation ne with the neuter of ūnus (“one”), Old Latin “oinom”, as the archaic forms “noenum”, “noenu” show; the same kind of formation gave nūllus (whence nul).^[2][6][7] The Indo-European negation Proto-Indo-European *ne is also behind Sanskrit न (ná), English not and German nicht.^[6]

Cognate with Romanian nu, Italian no, Occitan non, Spanish no and Portuguese não.^[6][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Strasbourg Oaths (842) have non still in the weak role of ne before the verb; the modern stressed use, negating a word other than the verb, is found in the second half of the 10th century: Enviz lo fist, non voluntiers “he did it reluctantly, not willingly”.^[8][4]

Semantic evolution

The main uses of the adverb were fixed before the end of the 13th century.^[2] As a negative answer and in ne dire ni oui ni non it is found in the 12th century.^[9][6] Non pas dates from 1188 and non mie from 1176–81.^[8] Non pas que + subjunctive is a 14th-century phrase.^[8][2] Non plus (1458) and non seulement… mais (before 1553) followed.^[9]

Before nouns, adjectives and participles non acts as a negative prefix (nonpöant, 1121–34), a use that has given many compounds such as non-lieu (1868).^[8][5] In dialects it competed with néant and nennil.^[5]

Timeline

• 842 – Non in the Strasbourg Oaths.^[8][9]
• 2nd half of 10th century – Non negating a word, in the Vie de saint Léger.^[8]
• 12th century – Non as an answer.^[9]
• 1188 – Non pas.^[8]
• 1458 – Non plus.^[9]
• 1868 – Non-lieu.^[5]

Meanings

Adverb

1. no: a negative answer or refusal: non, merci.^[6][1]
2. Not: negates a word or phrase: non loin d'ici, non pas lui, mais elle.^[9][8]
3. (familiar) Isn't it?, right?: at the end of a question: c'est ça, non ?.^[6]
4. Non plus: neither, either: moi non plus.^[9]
5. Non-: as a prefix before nouns and adjectives: non-violence, non-lieu.^[8][5]

Noun

1. (invariable) A no: un non catégorique.^[1]

Related words

• ne
• nenni
• nul
• sinon
• Latin nōn

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 7, 183a
4. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b c d e f g h i Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
9. ^ a b c d e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse