- cannot
- Date: 15th century can not
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
cannot
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cannot — is usually written as one word, although can not occurs from time to time in letters, examination scripts, etc. The contraction can t is fairly recent (around 1800) and does not occur (for example) in Shakespeare. Can t is often articulated even… … Modern English usage
cannot — [kan′ät΄, kə nät′] can not cannot but have no choice but to; must … English World dictionary
Cannot — Can not [Can to be able + not.] Am, is, or are, not able; written either as one word or two. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
cannot — c.1400, from CAN (Cf. can) (v.) + NOT (Cf. not). O.E. expressed the notion by ne cunnan … Etymology dictionary
cannot — ► CONTRACTION ▪ can not … English terms dictionary
cannot — can|not [ kæ,nat, kə nat ] modal verb *** the negative form of CAN. The less formal way of saying and writing this is can t: Please don t tell me what I can and cannot do! What if the parties cannot agree? You cannot escape the law. cannot (help) … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
cannot */*/*/ — UK [ˈkænɒt] / US [ˈkæˌnɑt] / US [kəˈnɑt] modal verb the negative form of can. The less formal way of saying and writing this is can t Please don t tell me what I can and cannot do! What if the parties cannot agree? You cannot escape the law. •… … English dictionary
cannot — /kan ot, ka not , keuh /, v. 1. a form of can not. 2. cannot but, have no alternative but to: We cannot but choose otherwise. [1350 1400; ME] Usage. CANNOT is sometimes also spelled CAN NOT. The one word spelling is by far the more common:… … Universalium
cannot — can|not [ˈkænət, nɔt US na:t] modal v 1.) a negative form of can ▪ Mrs Armstrong regrets that she cannot accept your kind invitation. 2.) cannot but formal used to say that you feel you have to do something ▪ One cannot but admire her… … Dictionary of contemporary English
cannot — This term should be spelled as one word (cannot) unless you wish to emphasize not. Such usage is rare, but it is permissible in a statement such as I can hear you, but I can not understand you. Use of can t for cannot is sanctioned by widespread… … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
cannot — contraction can not. Usage Both the one word form cannot and the two word form can not are acceptable, but cannot is far more common. Reserve the two word form for constructions in which not is part of a set phrase, such as ‘not only … but… … English new terms dictionary
