n.
Pronunciation: ' n ō
Function: adverb
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English n ā , from ne not + ā always; akin to Old Norse & Old High German ne not, Latin ne-, Greek n ē - ― more at AYE
Date: before 12th century
1 a chiefly Scottish : NOT b ― used as a function word to express the negative of an alternative choice or possibility <shall we go out to dinner or no >
2 : in no respect or degree ― used in comparisons <you're no better than the rest of us>
3 : not so ― used to express negation, dissent, denial, or refusal < no , I'm not going>
4 ― used with a following adjective to imply a meaning expressed by the opposite positive statement <in no uncertain terms>
5 ― used as a function word to emphasize a following negative or to introduce a more emphatic, explicit, or comprehensive statement <it's big, no , it's gigantic>
6 ― used as an interjection to express surprise, doubt, or incredulity
7 ― used in combination with a verb to form a compound adjective < no -bake pie>
8 : in negation <shook his head no >