Pronunciation: ' ā nt
Etymology: contraction of are not
Date: 1749
1 : am not : are not : is not
2 : have not : has not
3 : do not : does not : did not ― used in some varieties of Black English
usage Although widely disapproved as nonstandard and more common in the habitual speech of the less educated, ain't in senses 1 and 2 is flourishing in American English. It is used in both speech and writing to catch attention and to gain emphasis <the wackiness of movies, once so deliciously amusing, ain't funny anymore ― Richard Schickel> <I am telling youthere ain't going to be any blackmail ― R. M. Nixon>. It is used especially in journalistic prose as part of a consistently informal style <the creative process ain't easy ― Mike Royko>. This informal ain't is commonly distinguished from habitual ain't by its frequent occurrence in fixed constructions and phrases <wellclass it ain't ― Cleveland Amory> <for money? say it ain't so, Jimmy! ― Andy Rooney> <you ain't seen nothing yet> <that ain't hay> <two out of three ain't bad> <if it ain't broke, don't fix it>. In fiction ain't is used for purposes of characterization; in familiar correspondence it tends to be the mark of a warm personal friendship. It is also used for metrical reasons in popular songs < Ain't She Sweet> <It Ain't Necessarily So>. Our evidence shows British use to be much the same as American.