none

UK: nʌn | US: nʌn

Definition

  1. pron. not any; no part or quantity of something

  2. adv. by no amount; not at all (e.g., "none the wiser")

Structure
no <not>ne <old negation>
Etymology

The word "none" originates from Old English nān, a contraction of ne ("not") + ān ("one"). It evolved to signify "not one" or "not any," retaining its core negation logic. The ne element reflects Proto-Germanic negation, while ān ties to the numeral "one." Over time, nān simplified to "none," preserving its dual negation and quantity-denying function.

Examples

  1. None of the cookies were left after the party.

  2. She checked the list twice, but none of the names matched.

  3. He was none too pleased with the results.

  4. None can deny the impact of climate change.

  5. The teacher said none had completed the assignment perfectly.