Definition of the word naught

The origin of the word "naught" can be traced back to Old English, where it was spelled "nāht" and pronounced "nahht". It was originally an adjective meaning "no" or "not" and was derived from the Old English word "nā" meaning "no" or "not". The word "naught" evolved from the Old English word over time, as the "h" was dropped and the "a" was changed to "o" to conform with the standard spelling rules of Middle English. In Middle English, "nawght" was used as both an adjective and a noun meaning "nothing" or "no thing". The word "naught" continued to be used in Early Modern English as a noun meaning "nothing" or "not anything". It was also used as an adverb meaning "not at all". The use of "naught" declined in popularity in the 17th century as the word "ne'er" (meaning "never") became more commonly used. Today, the use of "naught" is rare in modern English, with the more common words "nothing" and "not" being preferred. "Naught" is still sometimes used in dialectal English, particularly in Northern England and Scotland, where it is still commonly used as a noun meaning "nothing".