no

I. adverb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English nā, from ne not + ā always; akin to Old Norse & Old High German ne not, Latin ne-, Greek nē- — more at aye Date: before 12th century 1. a. chiefly Scottish not b. — used as a function word to express the negative of an alternative choice or possibility <

shall we go out to dinner or no

> 2. in no respect or degree — used in comparisons <

you're no better than the rest of us

> 3. not so — used to express negation, dissent, denial, or refusal <

no, I'm not going

> 4. — used with a following adjective to imply a meaning expressed by the opposite positive statement <

in no uncertain terms

> 5. — used as a function word to emphasize a following negative or to introduce a more emphatic, explicit, or comprehensive statement <

it's big, no, it's gigantic

> 6. — used as an interjection to express surprise, doubt, or incredulity 7. — used in combination with a verb to form a compound adjective <

no-bake pie

> 8. in negation <

shook his head no

> II. adjective Date: 12th century 1. a. not any <

no parking

> <

no disputing the decision

> b. hardly any ; very little <

finished in no time

> 2. not a ; quite other than a <

he's no expert

> 3. — used in combination with a noun to form a compound adjective <

a no-nonsense realist

> III. noun (plural noes or nos) Date: 1588 1. an act or instance of refusing or denying by the use of the word no ; denial <

received a firm no in reply

> 2. a. a negative vote or decision b. plural persons voting in the negative IV. abbreviation 1. north; northern 2. [Latin numero, ablative of numerus] number