■ determiner
1》 ~t any.
2》 quite the opposite of: it was ~ easy task.
3》 hardly any.
■ exclamation used to give a negative response.
■ adverb
1》 [with comparative ] ~t at all: they were ~ more able to do it than I was.
2》 Scottish ~t.
■ ~un ( plural ~es ) a negative answer or decision, especially in voting.
Phrases
~ can do informal I am unable to do it.
~ go informal impossible, hopeless, or forbidden.
~ longer ~t ~w as formerly.
~ place N. Amer. ~where.
~t take ~ for an answer persist in spite of refusals.
~ two ways about it ~ possible doubt about something.
~ way informal under ~ circumstances; ~t at all.
~ worries informal, chiefly Austral. all right; fine.
or ~ or ~t.
Origin
OE nō , nā (adverb), from ne '~t' + ō , ā 'ever'.