aught

At all, in any degree, in any respect.

Adverb

  1. At all, in any degree, in any respect.
    • […] and if your love Can labour aught in sad invention, Hang her an epitaph upon her tomb, And sing it to her bones [...] - 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William...

Origin

From Middle English aught, ought, from Old English āht, āwiht, from ā (“always", "ever”) + wiht (“thing", "creature”). More at wight.

Forms

owt

Noun regional, uncountable

  1. Estimation.
    • in my aught
  2. Of importance or consequence (in the phrase "of aught").
    • an event of aught
  3. Esteem, respect.
    • a man of aught
    • Show some aught to your elders, boy.

Origin

From Middle English aught (“estimation, regard, reputation”), from Old English ǣht (“estimation, consideration”), from Proto-West Germanic *ahtu. Cognate with Dutch acht (“attention, regard, heed”), German Acht (“attention, regard”). Also see ettle.

Noun proscribed, sometimes

  1. Zero.
  2. The digit zero.

Origin

Rebracketing of a naught.

Forms

aughts

Related

naught owt

Noun archaic

  1. Whit, the smallest part, iota.

    Synonyms: bit jot ace atom atomy aught bissel crumb glimpse dab damn dash diddly glint dot spatter drop dusting fleck glimmer hint flip flyspeck grain

Forms

aughts owt

Derived

naught

Numeral

  1. Obsolete or dialectal form of eight.
    • Seven — aught — aught tines on the antlers. By G—d, a hart of aught tines, and the first of the season! - 1822 May 29, [Walter Scott], The Fortunes of Nigel. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III) (in English),...

Origin

From Middle English ahte, from Old English eahta (“eight”). More at eight.

Pronoun

  1. Anything whatsoever, any part.
    • for aught I know/care
    • […] wouldst thou aught with me? - c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard,...
    • But go, my Son, and ſee if aught be vvanting / Among thy Father's Friends; […] - 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act V, scene i, page...

Forms

owt

Verb

  1. Obsolete or dialectal form of ought

Origin

Originally the past tense of owe.

Forms

aughts aughting aughted