Etymologically
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non

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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]
  • 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