Middle English Dictionary Entry
nōn pron.
Entry Info
| Forms | nōn pron. Also none, (N) nain, (early & N) nan(e, (early) noan & (infl.) nones, nenne, nonen, (early infl.) nanne, nænne, nanan & (?error) noen. |
| Etymology | OE nān |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) No person(s; no one; no creature; (b) neither person; (c) nothing.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)82/24 : Ne ondred he him nænne for þan ðe nan oðer nis mihtiȝræ þonne he.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)128/24-5 : Þær nan ne swæltæð, forþam ðe þær ne byð nan acenned.
- c1175 Body & S.(1) (Bod 343)25 : Næle hit nan mit fingres feire stracien.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)1948 : Nan ne shollde filedd ben Þurrh hæþenn macchess mæne.
- a1225(OE) Lamb.Hom.VA (Lamb 487)115 : He ne mei nenne irihtlechan ȝif he bið him seolf unrihtwis.
- a1225(OE) Vsp.A.Hom.Init.Creat.(Vsp A.22)217 : Gif non man ne þoht of Gode, non ne spece of him; Gif non of him ne spece, non hine ne lufede; Gif non hine ne lufede, non to him ne come.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)766 : Alle to gadere he heom nom; nane [Otho: nanne] he ne lafde.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1583 : Ne durste him nan [Otho: no man] abiden.
- (1258) Procl.Hen.III in PST (1881)*173 : And noan ne nime of loand ne of eȝte wherþurȝ þis besiȝte muȝe beon let oþer iwersed on onie wise.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3232 : Ðor god wile, is non helpeles.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)9604 : To him þe king truste mest, ne þer nas non so hey Þat so muche wuste is priuite, ne that him were so ney.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)158 : In court non better beloued þer nas.
- c1330 Orfeo (Auch)36/423 : Ich, no non þat is wiþ me, No sent neuer after þe.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)157/4 : Wel me behoueþ to loky þet ich ne wille ine mine herte nenne [Vices & V.(2): no wiȝht: F nuli] deme, ne me anlicny to nonen.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)234/1 : Vor maydenhod is a tresor of zuo grat worþ þet hit ne may by be nonen y-zet a pris.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.107 : Non ne may bygge ne selle bot ȝif he haue þe merk.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)227 : Of lere ne of lykame lik him nas none.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Prov.30.30 : A leoun, most strong of bestis, at nonys aȝencomy[n]g shal dreden.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)3 Kings 3.12 : I haue don to þee aftir þi woordis & ȝifen to þee a wijs herte & an vndirstondynge, in so myche þat noon [WB(2): no man; L nullus] be-forn þee were lijk þee.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.176 : It is to wondre of thilke werre, In which non wot who hath the werre.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1538 : No man fynden shal Noon in this world that trotteth hool in al, Ne man ne beest.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)180a/a : Þere fore þei forsaken dignite of knyȝthode and suffre none to ryse and to be gretter among hem vndir þe title of knyȝthode.
- a1400(c1250) Floris (Eg 2862)82 : Now ben þese children swyþ woo..Drewryer þinges neuer noon were.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)10 : Kyng arthour þat was so rike, Quam non in hys tim was like.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1968 : I bad al-sua Nain be sa bald þat oþer sla.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6823 : Ne heield to nan [Frf: nane; Trin-C: none], þof þai be fele, A-gain þe dome þat þou wat lele.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)20.49 : He þat wrouȝte al þe worlde was wilfullich nedy; Ne neuer none so nedy ne pouerere deyde.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)700 : Lorde, þy seruaunt draȝ neuer to dome, For non lyuyande to þe is justyfyet.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2104 : Þer passes non bi þat place so proude in his armes Þat he ne dyn[g]ez hym to deþe with dynt of his honde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.4320 : Þe Grekis..wel vnneþe þer left noon alyue.
- (1423) Let.Bk.in Bk.Lond.E.(Gldh LetBk I & K)110/56 : None be chose Rectour of Medicyns bot he be doctour of Medicyns.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)108/3 : Before þe hall dure standez certayne lordes..for to kepe þat nane entre in at þe dure.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)7170 : Toas..Is comen of alle the beste lynage..Ther is non gretter hem amonge.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)800 : Þere is non but he..Doth þat plesaunce, ne non eke do can Swech maner dedis of religion as he doth.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)94/28 : Þe temptyng fend is so feble þat he may ouercome noone but þoo þat wul be ȝolden to him.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)31/37 : Non oweþ to take þis riche tresour to kepe, þat is, cure of mannes soule, but he kan loue.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)14529 : Sen non may helpe bot he our myse forto amend, mekly suffer suld we what saynd þat he wyll send.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)241/23 : Shall none myssedo you, madam, that to me longis.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)40 : Noon is Cristis disciple but if he forsak al þing for him.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)48 : For seþen Y was y-bore, Ne fond Y me be-fore Non so fayr of syȝt.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)8766 : Also euery þing þat lijf is on Moote fele þe wynd, but see it may noon.
b
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2423 : For feiþli a fourteniȝt, non hadde seie oþeres face.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.1179 : From hors-bak eche bare oþer doun, For noon þe strok of oþer myȝt schoone.
c
- a1126 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1124 : Se man..þe nan ne heafde stærf of hungor.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)114/7 : For hwan ȝemet þe godspellere þare drihtenlicæ ansyne to þare sunne brihtnesse, buton for þam þe he ne mihte nane brihttre ne wlitiȝre ifinden.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)22/30 : He ne lefþ nenne bote his oȝene wyt.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1178 : The houndes for the boon..foghte al day and yet hir part was noon.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)5399 : Al oure auȝt hit is awey; Now haue we noon [Vsp: noght] wher wiþ we may lengþe oure lif fro day to day.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)578 : Bot non nuyez hym, on naȝt ne never upon dayez, As harlottrye unhonest.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)795 : Watz non autly [read: aucly] in ouþer, for aungels hit wern.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.193 : For after dethe, pleynly as it is, Clerkis wil write, and excepte noon, The pleyn trouthe whan a man is goon.
- a1456(a1426) Lydg.Mum.Hertford (Trin-C R.3.20)71 : What euer he wan..Þe wykday..Sheo wolde on Sondayes drynk it at þe nale; His part was noon.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)9874 : So had he all þat nedes enogh, and wanted none [vr. noone].
2.
In constructions with a genitive pronoun or an of-phrase: (a) not one (of a group of people, deities, demons, bees, a collection of things, etc.); not any of, none of; also, ~ among(es; (b) no part or amount (of a substance, quality); knouen (wissen) ~, to know nothing (of guile, mercy); (c) neither (of two persons, of the banks of a river).
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)64/29 : & buton he wyrde asend, nere ure nan alysed fram synnum ne fram hellepine.
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)24/31 : Ne mihte heora nan hit of þam styde awecgæn.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)1957 : Nan off hemm ne shollde ben Weddedd wiþþ hæþenn macche.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)9271 : Lokeþþ wel þatt ȝure nan Ne segge þuss.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1509 : Nulleð heo leaue nenne [Otho: none] of ous a-liue.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)26589 : Ne mihten heo..heore nenne [Otho: none of ȝam] adun bringe.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)23/15 : Ða ne mihtest ðu nan god don ne nan of ðe hali mihtes ðe godd hadde iscapen ðe to helpen.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)8/14 : Ha ne heheð nan of ure heþene godes.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)285 : Ne og ur non oðer to sunen, oc eurilc luuen oðer.
- a1300(c1250) Floris (Vit D.3)114 : Of xii children nabbe we non..aliue bote þis on.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1881 : God sente on ðat erdfolc swilc dred, Ðan here non iacob scaðe ne dede.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)4092 : Was non of hem told in tale or, Ðo moyses tolde hem and aaron.
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.610 : What he is ȝour non schal wite for me.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)64/30 : Hy ne breken non of his buones.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)5185 : Þan was þar non of al þe wacche þat ys herte ne by-gan to cacche.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.1828 : A gret partie Was dreint..Cam non of hem to londe dreie.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.1122 : Yet may they nat biquethe for no thyng To noon of vs hir vertuous lyuyng That made hem gentil men ycalled be.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)143b/b : And þey [bees] doþ hire kyng so greet worschipe þat noon of hem [L nulle de suis] dar gone out of here hous noþir to gete mete but ȝif þe kyng passe out.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6712 : Þe ox þat slas man..To ded þat beist man sal stan, But o þat fless sal man ete nan.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)455 : Þat dysplesez non of oure gyng.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.330 : Of al þer was noon That lyue myȝt..Any lenger..than his felawe.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2220 : He broghte to outraunce Hem euerychon..That non but on left of ham alyue.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)John 17.12 : Thilke that thou ȝauest to me Y kepte, and noon of hem [WB(1): no man of hem; L nemo ex eis] perischide.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)98b/a : Ȝif þer be manye woundes..of þe whiche þer is none sufficient forto clense þe quiture, þat wounde þat þe quiture declines moste to moste ben enlarged.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)14/25 : Þay schott at hym, bot nane of þam myghte hitt hym.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)121 : In Holi Scripture is noon of these now rehercid gouernauncis groundid or witnessid.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)18371 : There was neuere Sesoigne so hardy that ony of hem aprochen dorsten Ny, Neþer noon of here alther strokis abyde.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)4355 : Among folies all, is noon, I leue, More þan [a] man his gode ful largely Despende, in hop men wol hym releue.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)18/27 : When þei into þe hote fier weren bounden & cast for to brenne þoruȝ biddyng of þe heþen kyng, þat Nabugodonosor was called, þe bondes tobrusten; noon of hem wolde holde.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)503/176 : Ȝe weryed wightis, ȝe flee hym froo, On his lefte hande as none of his.
- c1450 In þee god (Lamb 853)35 : I bileeue in þe..trynyte, Of which þre noon is more ne moost, But al oon god in persoones þre.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)930/11 : The angels seyde thou were none of the seven felysship.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)493/3 : Hit shold not be lawfull to the seid Nicholas, Iulian, and henry, noþer to none of them, to graunte or to lete to ony man or ony men the forsaid gardeyn.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)44/16 : Amonges all chylderyn þat walkyn on wolde A louelyer chylde is non trewly.
- a1500(1465) Leversedge Vision (Add 34193)29 : And the seid fendis rorid, ȝellid, and criede vp to the seid hill, non of them havyng power to ascend.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)838 : Ne none of vs shal þi frende be.
b
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B:Berberich)76.20.1 : Harise þa molda of, þæt hyre nan on ne cliuiȝe.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2244 : Bereð dat siluer hol agon, Ðat hem ðor-of ne wante non.
- c1390 Bi west (Vrn)14 : Merci was in þat Briddes muynde, But þerof kneuȝ þe Hauk non.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.890 : Sche..wiste of guile non.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9916 : O gret suetnes þar wantes nan.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)215 : Her depe colour ȝet wonted non Of precios perle in porfyl pyȝte.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)3571 : Off þy gold wolde he non.
c
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)16/31 : Heoræ nan oðer icnawæn ne cuðe.
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)604 : Eyther for-ȝaf oþer his loþ, Nas non of hem wiþ oþer wroþ.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2382 : Thus was non ydel of the tuo: That on the plogh hath undertake..That other tok to studie and muse.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)14.239 : If coueitise wolde cacche þe pore, þei may nouȝt come togideres, And by þe nekke namely her none [C: neiþer; vrr. noon, non; noþer] may hente other.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)19 : An olde deer..shal kepe hym þat he shal touche noon of þe brynkes ne non braunches but alway in þe myddel of þe water for cause þat þe houndes shuld not sent of hym.
- ?a1430 ?Hoccl.Poems PS Compl.Virg.(Hnt HM 111)198 : Thou art of confort destitut..And so am I..Noon of vs may alleggen othres peyne.
- c1450(?c1400) 3 KCol.(1) (Cmb Ee.4.32)56/5 : Whan þese ij kyngis syȝen þat þey were nere þe Cite of Ierusalem (þey noon of hem ȝit knewe oþir) þey toke her weye toward þe cite.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)72/16 : Here shall be..the grettist bateyle betwyxte two men..and yette none of hem shall slee other.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)484/1 : And therewithall sir Trystrames and sir Lamorak sware that never none of hem sholde fyght agaynste othir.
- a1500 GRom.(Glo 42)774/20 : Non of þese ij pepull schall haue þe ryng.
3.
In elliptical constructions [often with other negatives]: (a) not one of the persons, animals, etc., previously stated; not any; -- also, with comparatives; (b) not one of the things, activities, qualities, etc., previously named; (c) neither of two previously named things; (d) ben as ~, ben holden for ~, of letters or indentures: to be null or of no effect.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)31816 : He brohte ham halue his oxen..þe oðer no brohte nenne.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)105 : Þe unbileffulle..Werpeð þat gilt..uppen sheppendes þe none ben, bute god self þe alle þing shop.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)271 : Ðe hertes hauen anoðer kinde ðat us og alle to ben minde..weðer so he swimmeð er he wadeð, Is non at nede ðat oðer lateð.
- ?a1300(c1250) Prov.Hend.(Dgb 86)st.29 : He is fre of hors, þat non ne haveþ.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.524 : A bettre preest I trowe that nowher noon ys.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3162 : Who hath no wyf, he is no cokewold..I haue a wyf..Yet nolde I..demen of my self that I were oon; I wol bileue wel that I am noon.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)73a/b : Þerfore David blameþ worthilich þe oþer seruantis of kyng Saul þat were slepinge..Noone was wakinge but all aslepe.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)74/6 : For fewe seintes or none schal men finde of iustices, of prentises, of doctoures, or of lechistres of wordli lawes.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)2116 : I was a man, now am I nane.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)64/19 : Neuerþeles, oftymes it befalliþ þat somme, þat haue ben orrible & customable synners, comen sonner to þe perfeccion of þis werk þen þoo þat ben none.
- c1450 Mandev.(4) (CovCRO Acc.325/1)1437 : Þereby men mowe witen anone Wheþer thei ben bastarde or be none.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)151/4 : Ther is no lord of lond in lordchep to me lyche, non lofflyere, non lofsummere.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)8284 : Fourty Geauntis haue I slayne; Strenger saw thou neuer nane.
b
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1115 : Ðises geares wæs swa strang winter mid snawe & mid forste swa nan man þe þa lifode ær þan nan strengre ne ge munde.
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1116 : Þis gear wæs swa gæsne on mæstene swa þat on eallon þison lande ne eac on Wealon ne gehyrde me of nanan segcean.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)56/12 : Þe þe reden cunne, þe ræde; þe þe nan ne cunne, he lyste þam redendan.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)15819 : Ich habbe lim & stan; on leode nis betere nan.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.Creed (Trin-C B.14.52)21 : He deað þolede for to beten ure nede; he ne hadde him selue nane.
- a1200 PMor.(Trin-C B.14.52)243 : [H]ie secheð reste þar non [vr. nan] nis.
- a1250(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(*Glb A.19-James)119/465 : Ofte tunȝe breceþ bon, þeih he habbe him-selue non.
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)33/567 : Tak nu her þis goldring..Þer nis non betere anonder sunne Þat eni man of telle cunne.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)1182 : His limes al-so he bi-heold, hou faire heo weren and freo, Þe hondene faire and longe fingres, fairore ne miȝten none beo.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3006 : Fleges kin sal hin ouer-gon, And al his lond to sorge ten, Oc in lond gersen ne sal non ben.
- a1325(?c1300) NPass.(Cmb Gg.1.1)162 : Þei iyef him..Þrythi plates of god mone..Was þer non [vrr. none, noen] þat he forsok.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)157/34 : Þeruore him ssel eurich more defendi of þo half huer ha yziȝþ þet his castel is mest fyeble and aye þe ilke vice uiȝte huer ha ziȝþ þet he is mest asayled ine zuyche guod þet he ne spari nenne [F nului].
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.846 : Konne he lettrure or konne he noon, As in effect he shal fynde it al oon.
- a1400(c1250) Floris (Eg 2862)130 : He loueth mete ne drynke, Ne may noon in his body synke.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)1.21 : Treuthe..comaunded of his curteisye in comune þree þinges; Arne none nedful but þo.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)812 : For synne he set hymself in vayn Þat neuer hade non hymself to wolde.
- c1410(c1350) Gamelyn (Hrl 7334)165 : The king þought on tresoun and Gamelyn on noon.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.285 : Loue hath lost his syȝt To ȝeue a pris wher noon is disserued.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.466 : Thynk nat on smert, and thow shalt fele non.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)3887 : Wundyr were þat eþir styke or stoon Shuld lyf grant & þe self haue noon.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)5349 : Of alle his truage þey relesed hym þer..So þat he neuere ne payed non To Rome.
- (c1451) Paston (EETS)1.241 : Als for tydyngys, we have none gode in þis contre.
- a1475 Rev.St.Bridget(3) (Gar 145)26/22 : God..takyng a body of man-kynde..made all thynges aȝayne, shewyng by his passyon and deth his love vn-to man, more þan þe which myght noon bee.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.12.8a : For þis is contemplacion, and þat oþer is non.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)52a/a : His spotil is swete; he haþ litil þirst or noon.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)706 : There arn but sex dedly synnys; lechery ys non.
- 1485(a1470) Malory Wks.(Caxton:Vinaver)17/20 : The kyng made grete joye and sente the kynges and knyghtes grete presentes; But the kynges wold none receyve.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)11 : The holy man seide..'thow oughtest to have penaunce'..And she answerde, 'Ye can not charge me with noon but I will gladly perfo[r]me it.'
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)1/4 : Of the goodnesse or of the badnesse of the sentence, take they litel hede or els non.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)259b/b : And bestes beþ dyuerse as þe snayl þat haþ schelles and þe hirchoun haþ prikkes, and a man haþ none.
d
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Esth.16.17 : Wherfore þoo lettris þat vndir oure name he ȝaf forþ witeþ to ben as noon [Dc 369(1): as none; WB(2): voide; L irritas].
- (1405) Doc.in Flasdieck Origurk.42 : Then thes forsaid endenturs stond voyde and be holden for none.