naught

Naught is a noun meaning nothing; in modern English it is chiefly literary or archaic and is often replaced by nothing or zero. It appears in phrases such as "for naught" meaning in vain, and "to come to naught," meaning to come to nothing. It can also appear in the fixed expression "naught but," meaning merely or only.

Etymology: from Old English nāwiht "not a thing," from ne "not" + wiht "thing." It is cognate with German nichts and Dutch niets and related to the broader Germanic roots for negation and thing.

Usage: In contemporary usage, naught occurs most often in historical, religious, or stylistic contexts; it is rarely used in everyday conversation. In mathematics or formal writing, zero or nothing is preferred. The term also shows up in literature and poetry to evoke antiquity or solemnity.

In culture: In British English, the game tic-tac-toe is called "noughts and crosses"; the term "nought" refers to the circular marks used to represent O's in that game.

See also: aught; zero; nothing.