Reference > Brewer’s Dictionary > Naught (not “nought”).

 Nature.Naught, 
CONTENTS · BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD
E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
 
Naught (not “nought”).
 
Naught is Ne (negative), aught (anything). Saxon náht, which is ne áht (not anything).   1
       
“A headless man had a letter [o] to write.
He who read it [naught] had lost his sight.
The dumb repeated it [naught] word for word.
And deaf was the man who listened and heard [naught].”
       
Dr Whewell.
 


 Nature.Naught, 

 
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