Etymologically
Log in

non

This is an old revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 18 October 2026 at 18:19. It may differ significantly from the current version. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Current version Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈnoːn][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈnɔn][1]

Forms

nōn (negative particle)[1]

Etymology

It is probably from the Old Latin form noenum,[2][3] which de Vaan explains as from Latin ne- (“not”) + ūnum (“one”), “not one”, from *ne-oinom.[4] The long /oː/ can only be explained by a contraction of *ne-oino- to *nōino-, and the loss of the final ⟨-um⟩ is irregular, perhaps because the word was unstressed.[4] Wiktionary calls the origin uncertain and mentions another proposal, Proto-Indo-European *nó-h₁ ne (“not at all”), compared with Gaulish nane (“not”).[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It appears from Naevius on;[4][5][6] Plautus also has noenum and Lucilius noenu.[4][5][6]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it is the regular negative of a statement, of a single word (nōn magnus), and in questions expecting “yes” (compare nōnne).[2] It also answers a question (“no”), and with a noun it can mean “non-” (nōn corpus, a thing that is not a body).[2] Quintilian criticized its use with a jussive subjunctive in place of nē.[2]

Ennius, Lucilius and Varro are quoted for the old form noenum (noenu).[6]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – First recorded in Naevius.[4][5]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses both nōn and noenum.[6][5]
  • c. 35–95 AD – Quintilian censures nōn with the perfect subjunctive in prohibitions.[2][5]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. not (negating a sentence, clause, word or phrase).[2][6]
  2. (in questions expecting a positive answer) Not?[2]
  3. (in answers) no.[2]
  4. (with a noun) That which is not, non-.[2]
  5. (with a jussive subjunctive, rare) Let not, do not.[2]

Word family

  • nōnnēmō
  • nōnnisi
  • nōnnūllus
  • nōnnumquam
  • nōnnusquam
  • nōndum

Usage notes

Nōn posse nōn + infinitive means “to be unable not to”, i.e. to be bound to do something.[2] The fixed phrase nōn nisi means “only”.[2][7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  4. ^ a b c d e de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press