Middle English Dictionary Entry
nō-thing pron.
Entry Info
Forms | nō-thing pron. Also nothink(g, noding, noting(e, & (N) nathin, nathink, nathinc, (early or N or NWM) nathing(e & (errors) noþng, no yng. |
Etymology | OE nā-þing |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Nothing; also, nobody: (a) as the unmodified subject of a finite verb or as a predicate nominative; (b) as direct object; niten ~ her-of, to know nothing about this; setten ~ bi (of), care nothing about (sb. or sth., the indigent); taken ~ ther-of, take none of it; (c) modified by a clause beginning with that, the pron. rel., or which; (d) restricted by an of-or o- phrase: nothing of, none of; binimen ~ of, to take nothing from (sth.); ~ of might, nothing as regards might; ~ of tariinge, no delay; (e) ~ but, ~ (elles) but (onli, ~ save, nothing but, only; ~ elles, nothing else; (f) in comparisons: ~ so (swete, muche, etc.), nothing so (sweet, much, etc.); (g) modified by miscellaneous adjectival constructions.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)61/34 : No þing hem ne scall trukien.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)225 : Ne ne mei na þing wiðstonden his wille.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)211/7 : Marie haueð icore bet, & ne schal hire na þing reauin hire dale.
- c1300 SLeg.Nich.(LdMisc 108)140 : No-þing ne schal ou failli.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)1676 : Noþing nas vylour þan þe rode ar þou were þer-on ydo.
- a1325 SLeg.Juliana (Corp-C 145)44 : Euere lai þis maide & lou as hure noþing nere.
- ?c1335 Þe grace of godde (Hrl 913)47 : Silk no sendale nis þer none..Þer nis no þing aboute þe bone To ȝeme þat was ihuddid here.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)2086 : Him ne miȝte no þing [B vr. no prince] atstonde.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.10.26 : No thing [L nihil] is couerid..that shal nat be shewid.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.883 : They kan nat stynte til no thyng be laft.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)79a/b : Wiþouten reste no þing duriþ fynaliche.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)354/33 : I it haue ofte preued euermore, goddis grace goinge tofore, wiþout which grace is no þing fulendid ne no sijknes do awei.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.419 : For inpossible is no þyng to hym þat is almyȝty.
- (a1402) Trev.Dial.MC (Hrl 1900)2/2 : Miche is chalengide of vs, & no þing is yeve us.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.184 : Pelleus..kepte hym cloos, þat no þing hym asterte.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)44 : Alle thyng thurgh his myght made he, For withouten hym myght nathing be.
- a1425 Benj.Minor (Hrl 1022)165 : A saule þat is ȝit ruyde & fleshle knaws not ȝitt bot bodele ynges, & no yng comes ȝitt to þe mynde bot seabull ynges.
- a1450(?a1349) ?Rolle Luf es lyf (Cmb Dd.5.64)26 : Þi lufe es ay lastand..Þarein make me byrnand, þat na thyng gar it kele.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)13/27 : His body [was] to his soule so free þat noþing myȝt harme hym.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)141/11 : Withoute vertue nothyng is noble.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)297 : Nothynge xulde offende Gode in no kynde.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)359 : Nothing multiplieth..But bi one of these two waies.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)18691 : Ne miste he of þan eorle naþing iwinnen.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)39/31 : Ðu na þing ne luuest on ðare woreld ðurh hwat ðu miht forliesen godes luue.
- a1300 PMor.(McC 123)128 : Ac who-so noþing her naueþ ibet, muchel he haueþ to bete.
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)143 : Of Egiptene speche couþe he no þing.
- c1300(c1250) Floris (Cmb Gg.4.27)4 : Mi sone..haue þis ring; Whil he is þin, ne dute noþing.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2055 : He..busked euene to hire bed bud noþing he no fond.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))John 8.28 : Of my silf I do no thing, but as my fadir tauȝte me I speke thes thingis.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3598 : Sende the wise and sey no thyng.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.909 : Out of his place he crepte So stille that sche nothing herde.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.943 : No thyng dorste he seye.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1131 : Olympias..noot here-of noþing.
- (?1419-20) Will in Bk.Lond.E.220/34 : Blessyd be god, y owe no thyng.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2174 : Of al that he no thyng ne sette.
- a1425 Ordin.Nuns(1) (Lnsd 378)142/9 : Þe behouis..nathing take of nane of þi frendis.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)22691 : Of wardes settyng na þing þai roght.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)37/19 : The peple grucched, for þei fownden nothing to drynke.
- ?c1430(c1400) Rule & T.St.Francis(1) (Corp-C 296)42 : To þe whiche pouert..hooliche cleuynge..wile ȝe nooþing haue.
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)714 : He hade no thynge to bere But his sadill and his gere.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)4359 : The indigent men setten no þing by.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)674 : We sal..luf no thynk better þan hym.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1586 : Do noþynge aftyr hys red.
- a1450 Chauliac(4) (Cai 336/725)4/23 : I adde þerto no þing of my silf.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)62/11 : We gretly mervelled that we herde no thyng frome you.
- a1456(a1407) Scogan MB (Ashm 59)97 : By avncetrye þus may yee no-thing clayme.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)17a/a : God and kynde no þing doiþ an ydil.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)1110 : The Erle proferd him siluer and golde, And noothing therof take he wolde.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)1319 : Þe stede fell doune deed; Lybeauus noþyng ne sede Bot start hym vp agayn.
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)493 : Noþyng sawe þey þem abowte.
c
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)127 : Ne fremede us na þing þet he were iboren buten he us alesde.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)43/26 : He..ne forleas naþing ðe godd him hadde betaht to liue and to londe to bringen.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)65/15 : Wið þet wuluene fel na þing þet ha deð nis gode licwurðe.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2952 : Ther nys no thyng in this world that he desireth saue oonly worship and honour.
- (1417) Let.War France in Bk.Lond.E.(Gldh LetBk I & K)69/21 : Our entente is noght to move you..to no thyng that myght be perill to your lond.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)7750 : This heven es þe alther-heghest place of alle; Hegher es na thyng þat may bifalle.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)124/6 : Þai er comounly fals, for þai hald na thing þat þai hete.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)121 : No thing is expresseli spoken of in Scripture, which is not there in special openli named.
- a1450(a1396) Hilton CPerf.(Paris angl.41)2 : Þer is no-þing hid in þat oones herte, þat he ne wole schewe it to þat oþer.
- a1450(a1396) Hilton CPerf.(Paris angl.41)17 : Þere is no þing þat so fully occupieþ and byndiþ and ouer-maistriþ a mannys herte as dooþ loue.
- a1450 Ihesu als þow (Cmb Dd.5.64)6 : Nathyn es þat þe may lette.
- ?a1450 MLChrist (Add 39996)4359 : Pilate was ful wo þat day Bot he durst noþinge say.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)36/1 : I wolle hide no thyng that schuld be agayne theym.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)57/176 : Thi neyborys hous desyre þou nowth..nere no thynge þat longyht hym to.
d
- a1225(?c1175) PMor.(Lamb 487)98 : Nabbeð hi naþing forȝeten of al þet ho iseȝen.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)3213 : Ne bid ich no þing of his [Clg: nanne maðmes].
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2195 : Þe loueli white beres..wisten no-þing of þis werk.
- (c1384) Doc.in Bk.Lond.E.230/24 : Byld All the Soyle All only wyth new tymbre; puttyn to no thyng to of the olde tymbre.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.633 : He nolde suffre no thyng of my list.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)119a/b : Ȝif on lampe is wiþdrawe, he bynemyþ noþing of þe oþir liȝtis nouþir leueþ þere of his owne liȝt.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2543 : O prai wald abram nathing haue.
- c1400(?c1308) Davy Dreams (LdMisc 622)78 : Of oþere cloþes seiȝ ich noþing.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)587 : Oþer þer werne þat toke more tom..Þat ȝet of hyre noþynk þay nom.
- (c1450) Let.Oxf.in OHS 35285 : He..bequethyd unto us..all þe latyn bokes þt he had..off þe whych gods we have no thynge yet receyved.
- ?c1450 Recipe MS Bühler 21 in SML Baugh (Mrg B 21)289 : I knowe no-thyng of his flour.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.150/8 : To ryȝht disposicions noþyng of tarying ofte to Be browȝght.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)312/18 : Sir Persaunte of Inde is nothyng of myght nor strength.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)379 : Of the Sheep is cast a-way no thyng.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)10492 : He is boþe tendre and grene And of þis world haþ no þing sene.
e
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.DD (Lamb 487)45 : Ne beo in hire [Sunday] naþing iwrat bute chirche bisocnie.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)47 : Þat dai hie ne com nauwer ute ne noðing ne hanlede bute þane mete þat hie hire self et.
- (c1392) ?Westwyk EPlanets (Peterh 75)34/19 : Lettere D ne seruyth of nothyng ellis but for to shewe the wher thow shalt bygynne thy reknyng.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.1166 : Sche wolde him nothing elles sein Bot of hir name.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.1866 : Te deum was oure song and no thyng elles.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1926 : Telleth hym that I wol hym visite, Haue I no thyng but rested me a lite.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)13377 : Lastis na-þing bot god ay.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)68/24 : Þou schalt..do noþing but occupie þe wiþ hure in preieres.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)3/20 : Noþing þat longeþ to man is glorious but vertue.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)40b/b : What is a veine? No þing elles but a norischinge place of blode.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)896 : Nothing save the deth only Mighte thee fro me departe trewely.
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)170 : Sall he no thyng see Bot þe leues of the tree.
- a1450(a1396) Hilton CPerf.(Paris angl.41)21 : No þing haþ soþfast beinge but God.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)142 : He..says no thyng bot suthfastnes.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)3/18 : For noþing ellis but onely for to kyndil þi loue to hym.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)12/31 : We noþing haue of oureself but oonly synne.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)39/11 : Of oureself we haue noþing but synne one.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)425 : She desired nothing ellis.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1239/14 : He saw nothyng but wawis and wyndys.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)1232 : Thei do nothing but multiplie Erroure.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)120/17 : Beleve and doubte nothing but that He knoweth the thingis to come principally.
f
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)29/10 : Na þing ne etflid mon sonre þen his ahne heorte.
- a1300 PMor.(Jes-O 29)287 : Ne doþ heom noþing so [Trin-C: naht alse] wo in þe loþe bende Ase þat witen heore pyne ne schal habbe non ende.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)4445 : Lucye ne wilnede noþemo no þing somoche alonde As to fiȝte mid a such kniȝt.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)74a/a : As noþing is more profitable to þe comyn profit þan a good riȝtful lord, so no þing is wors þan an Iuel lord.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)313b/a : No þing [L nulla res] is so temperat and so nyȝ acordyng to þe euene compleccioun of mankynde as swetnesse of sauour.
- a1400(c1250) Floris (Eg 2862)118 : Loue is at his hert roote Þat noþing is so soote.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)560 : He has it [man's soul] wroght als frend and fere, for-þi es nathing him sua dere.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.2089 : No þing is so good As be confederid with his owne blood.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)603 : Hym thoughte there nas nothyng to hym so due As Cleopatras for to love and serve.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)350 : O wikke Fame! for ther nys Nothing so swift, lo, as she is.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.5.4a : Him þinkeþ for þe time noþing likiþ hym so mikel as for to preyen.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)17/5 : He hatyd nothynge [vr. notynge] so myche as that a man sholde speke of his boldnys.
g
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3013 : Heo ne seide naþing seð.
- a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)5/16 : Heald þine tunge fram yfelre spece & þine lippe noþing focenlices ne specen.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)234 : Ne nis na þing hwerþurh monnes muchele madschipe wreððeð him wið mare.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.2507 : Ther was nothing desobeissant Which was to Rome appourtenant.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)853 : His grace it was and nathing oþer [Trin-C: noon oþere] Þat he wald bicom our broþer.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)65/19 : Noþing childliche he dide in his werkes.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)522 : May no thyng be seyd sothere.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1844 : 'What tydyngys bryngyst þou abowte?' 'Noþynge goode, þat schalt þou wete.'
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)735 : For na-þing [vr. noþng] as a-nente me þou has noȝt to mell.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)8/24 : Ther shalle be nothyng resonable but thow shalt have thy desyre.
2.
In phrases: (a) for ~, not for anything, not at all; for ~ but, for no reason except; (b) with ~, by no means, in no way; (c) in ~, in nothing; of ~, about nothing, concerning nothing; (d) as ~, as if nothing; (e) setten bi ~, to care about nothing.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)12419 : Ac he ne mihte for noþing Melga i-finde.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)51/171 : A-ȝein-ward heo miȝhte wel gon, ake forthþe-ward for no-þing.
- c1330 Degare (Auch)13 : Þer nas no man..Þat miȝte..in iustes for noþing Him out of his sadel bring.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)275 : Now telle me, felawe..for no þing ne wonde, sei þou euer þemperour?
- (?c1375-a1390) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3585 : For no thyng but for thy chiualrie, They in thy bed han slayn thee.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1125 : Tel þou hem [tidings] me riȝt anone, and for no-þyng hele þou noȝt.
- c1390 Treat.Mass (Vrn)582 : Þen schul ȝe..sey a luyte orisoun; ffor no þing þat ȝe blynne.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3418 : He nolde answere for nothyng [vrr. nought, ought] that myghte falle.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11149 : Of hir ne wald he for nathing, Lai of hordome mistruing, Bot tok his redd al for to fle.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)1976 : I wole..repente for nothyng.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)114b/b : For no þing put no tente in þe wounde.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1187 : Love wol love; for nothing wol it wonde.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)10/20 : Þis hors wold drawe no drawt in þe mylle for no-þing þe man mygth do.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)12.275 : They growe vnnethe in sad lond or rubrik And for no thing the cley may not vse.
- c1450 Mirror St.Edm.(5) (Cmb Ii.6.40)241 : In al þes ever þinke to do to Godis wil..& nauȝt els for no þinge aȝene Godis wil.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)235/9 : I wold for nothinge go vnder the penon of suche oon, for my fader was neuer vnder his.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)1551 : Ye aunterous knyȝtes, For noþyng ye ne late.
- a1500 LChart.Chr.B (Cmb Ff.2.38)53/78 : Y schall for noþyng lese þe noȝt, ffor y wold dye for thy folye.
b
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)1494 : Ne mahtu, wið na þing, wenden min heorte from him þet ich heie.
c
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.203 : Þai þat desiren þe soþfast blis in heuene owen..affie hym nouȝth in noþing þat he wel dooþ bot onelich ion grade.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.797 : Oones nyltow..tellen of thy sorwes smerte..But lyest as he that lest of nothyng recche.
- a1425 Christ.Belief (LoC 4)13/498 : Adam and Eue .. weped and murnned for him [Abel] a hundreth wynter after his ded so depely þat na comfort ne liking .. of nothynkg might þai haue.
- c1425 Wycl.Concord.in Spec.43 (Roy 17.B.1)271 : For in þe firste foure lettris of þese two wordis, whiche ben c, o, n, & f, in no þing þei discorden.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)31 : I wole telle it and of no thing j wol gabbe yow.
d
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.1824 : Who that is of man no king, The remenant is as no thing.
e
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)175/23 : This said philosophre sette by nothyng in the worlde but only by vertu.
3.
Math. Zero.
Associated quotations
- ?c1425 Craft Number.(Eg 2622)5/12 : Þe cifre tokens nothyng hym selfe.
- ?c1425 Craft Number.(Eg 2622)27/22 : Multiplye 2 be a 0, it wol be nothynge.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1400 Apoc.(2) (Hrl 171)19/2 : For þou seist þat þou art riche & nedist no þing, and þou woost not þat þou art a wretche, & pore, & blynd, & nakid.
Note: Additional quote(s)