Deeper Dive: not

not Not. [Contr. from ne wot. See 2d Note.] Wot not; know not; knows not. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Not, adjective Shorn; shaven. [Obs.] See Nott.
Not, adverb [OE. not, noht, nought, naught, the same word as E. naught. See Naught.] A word used to express negation, prohibition, denial, or refusal.
Not one word spake he more than was need. Chaucer.

Thou shalt not steal. Ex. xx. 15.

Thine eyes are upon me, and I am not. Job vii. 8.

The question is, may I do it, or may I not do it? Bp. Sanderson.
Not.... but .... or

Not but ... only.
[Obs. or Colloq.] Chaucer.


-- Webster's unabridged 1913





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