naught
naught
Pronunciation
It's important to note that the pronunciation of "naught" can vary slightly between different English dialects, particularly between British and American English. Here's a breakdown:
British English (RP):
/nɔːt/
/n/ - as in "net"
/ɔː/ - as in "caught" or "thought"
/t/ - as in "top"
American English:
/nɔt/ or /nɑt/ (depending on whether the cot-caught merger is present)
/n/ - as in "net"
/ɔ/ or /ɑ/ - as in "cot" or "father"
/t/ - as in "top"
Key points to remember:
The vowel sound is the primary difference. In British English, it's a longer "o" sound, while in American English, it's generally a shorter "o" or "a" sound.
The word only has one syllable.
Word Form Variations
When considering the word "naught," it's important to understand that its variations are more about its usage as different parts of speech rather than traditional singular/plural forms.
Naught as a noun:
It primarily functions as an uncountable noun, meaning "nothing." In this form, it doesn't typically have a plural.
However, you do see the form "naughts" used to describe the numeral 0, especially when referring to games like "naughts and crosses" which is commonly known as tic-tac-toe.
Naught as a pronoun:
It can also serve as a pronoun, again meaning "nothing." Like the noun form, it doesn't have typical plural variations.
Related forms:
It's worth noting the existence of "naughty," which is a related adjective, derived from "naught." This word, of course, has its own variations (naughtier, naughtiest).
"nought" is also a variation of the word "naught" and is interchangeable in many instances.
In essence, "naught" itself is relatively fixed. The key variations are in how it's used (noun or pronoun) and the existence of related words like "naughty."
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
1. Noun:
Definition:
The state of being nothing; nonexistence; a lack of value or consequence.
The numeral zero.
Synonyms:
Nothingness, zero, nil, void, emptiness, cipher, aught.
Antonyms:
Something, everything, existence, value, substance.
Example:
"All their plans came to naught."
"The naughts and crosses game was ready to begin."
2. Pronoun:
Definition:
Nothing.
Synonyms:
Nothing, zilch, nada.
Antonyms:
Anything, something.
Example:
"His words amounted to naught."
Important Notes:
"Naught" is primarily used as a noun or pronoun.
It is considered somewhat archaic or literary in modern English.
It is important to remember the variation of "nought" which is very similar in definition and use.
It is also important to remember the related adjective "naughty" which has a completely different meaning.
Examples of Use
1. In News and Online Publications:
"But their efforts to slow him down have so far been for naught." (Los Angeles Times)
This demonstrates the common phrase "for naught," meaning "without result." This phrase is still used in journalistic writing to convey that an effort was wasted.
"The round-the-clock effort won't go for naught, either." (Dallas News)
Here, "for naught" is used to assure that an effort will have a positive result.
"Sony and Essel held talks in 2019, but these came to naught." (Variety)
"came to naught" is a common phrase showing that something failed.
2. In Entertainment and Literature:
The phrase "naughts and crosses," which is a British English term for the game tic-tac-toe, is still in use. This is a very common use of the word.
In fantasy literature, particularly that which aims for an older, more traditional style, "naught" may appear.
Older literature frequently uses the word, so it is found in many classic books.
3. In General Public Discourse:
The phrase "for naught" is probably the most common way people will encounter this word in everyday language. It's used to express that an action was pointless or wasted.
"R-naught" is a term used in Epidemiology. It is used to describe the reproductive number of a virus. This is very common in modern discourse, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key Observations:
The most frequent usage in contemporary English is within the idiom "for naught" or "came to naught."
While "naught" itself might sound old-fashioned, the concept it represents—nothingness or futility—is timeless.
10 Famous Quotes Using Naught
"All our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow…signifying nothing and naught." — William Shakespeare
"Vanity of vanities; all is vanity and striving after the wind—it profits naught." — Ecclesiastes 1:2
"Love not wisely but too well—and gained naught for it." — Othello, William Shakespeare
"In war, even victories can lead to naught." — Winston Churchill
"Without direction, ambition comes to naught." — Aristotle
"All my efforts were for naught, but still I rose again." — Maya Angelou
"A man who learns naught from failure is doomed to repeat it." — George Santayana
"What is gold if your soul counts it for naught?" — Dante Alighieri
"Seek wisdom, for riches without it lead to naught." — Proverbs
"He plotted for gain, but gained naught and lost his peace." — Friedrich Nietzsche
Etymology
Imagine going way back to Old English, the ancestor of our modern English language. There was a word, "nāwiht," which literally meant "not anything." If you say "na" and "wiht" quickly, you can start to hear how it became "naught."
"Nā" meant "no" or "not."
"Wiht" meant "thing" or "creature."
So, "nāwiht" (naught) basically meant "no thing."
Over time, this Old English word evolved. The "nāwiht" became "nought" and then "naught." Its core meaning stayed the same: nothing.
The first known uses of these words are found in very old English texts, and they consistently meant "nothing."
Essentially, "naught" has always been about the idea of absence, lack, or zero. It's a word that has carried that meaning through centuries of language change.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Naught
Common Phrases:
"For naught":
This is by far the most common phrase. It means "in vain," "without success," or "for nothing."
Example: "All our efforts were for naught."
"Came to naught":
Similar to "for naught," this phrase means "failed" or "ended in nothing."
Example: "Their plans came to naught."
"Naughts and crosses":
This is the British English term for tic-tac-toe.
This is a very common phrase, even in modern times.
Why it's Limited:
Archaic nature: "Naught" sounds old-fashioned, so modern speakers tend to use "nothing" or "in vain" instead.
Limited word class: It's primarily a noun or pronoun, which limits its versatility in forming idioms.
Supplementary Phrases and Idioms (with Synonyms):
"To set at naught":
This means "to treat as worthless" or "to disregard."
Synonyms: "to dismiss," "to ignore," "to belittle."
Example: "He set their warnings at naught."
"To bring to naught":
This means to destroy or to cause failure.
Synonyms: to ruin, to abolish, to destroy.
Example: "The new laws brought their business to naught."
"His words amounted to naught":
This phrase means that someone's words had no value or effect.
Synonyms: "His words were meaningless," "His words had no impact."
"All is naught":
This phrase would be used to express that everything is worthless.
Synonyms: "Everything is worthless," "All is for nothing."
"Make naught of":
This means to treat it as unimportant.
Synonyms: to minimize, to trivialize.
While "naught" itself might not be the star of many idioms, the concept it represents—nothingness—is found in many common expressions.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of naught from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
