What does "no" mean?
No: That goodness is no name, and happiness no dream. Byron. Note: In Old England before a vowel the form non or noon was used. "No man." "Noon apothercary." Chaucer.
Additional senses
- 2.Nay; not; not at all; not in any respect or degree; -- a word expressing negation, denial, or refusal. Before or after another negative, no is emphatic. We do no otherwise than we are willed. Shak. I am perplx'd and doubtful whether or no I dare accept this your congratulation. Coleridge. There is none righteous, no, not one. Rom. iii.
- 3.No! Nay, Heaven forbid. Coleridge.
- 4.A refusal by use of the wordd no; a denial.
- 5.A negative vote; one who votes in the negative; as, to call for the ayes and noes; the noes have it.
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
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- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00