# not

Pronunciation: say "NOT" US /nɑt/, UK /nɒt/

## Adverb

1. Used to make a verb, word, or phrase negative, often after an auxiliary verb or shortened to n't.
   - Simple: Used to make a word or sentence mean the opposite, as in 'I do not know'.
   - _We could not find the key._
   - _It is important that she not miss the train._
3. Used in litotes, or understatement, to convey the opposite or near opposite of what is said.
   - Simple: Used to say the opposite in a mild way, as in 'not my best day'.
   - _The hotel was not the cleanest I have stayed in._
   - _She was not unhappy with the result._
4. Used in place of a whole negative clause after verbs such as hope, think, and be afraid, and after the conjunctions if and or.
   - Simple: Used to stand for a whole negative sentence, after words like hope, think, and be afraid, or after if and or.
   - _"Will they finish the bridge on time?" "I'm afraid not."_
   - _Bring a jacket if you have one; if not, we can lend you one._
5. Used before a noun phrase or clause as an exclamation of dismay, annoyance, disbelief, or amusement.
   - Simple: Said before a thing or person to show you are annoyed, upset, or surprised about it.
   - _Not the blue dress again!_
   - _Not my coffee! The cat just knocked the whole mug over._

## Conjunction

2. And not, setting the wrong alternative against the right one ('he painted the car blue and black, not solid purple').
   - Simple: Means 'and not', used to say which of two things you mean.
   - _She ordered tea, not coffee._
   - _The meeting is on Tuesday, not Thursday._

## Interjection

6. Slang interjection tacked on after a pause to reveal that the previous statement was sarcastic ('I really like watching Barney with my little brother… not!'). *(slang)*
   - Simple: Said after a sentence to show you meant the opposite, as a joke.
   - _This is the best party ever… not!_
   - _He's a great driver… not!_

## Noun

7. An instance of the word 'not' used as a noun, standing for a negation or denial; plural 'nots'.
   - Simple: A use of the word 'not', or a statement that something is not true.
   - _The rulebook is a long list of nots._
   - _Every not in the contract was underlined._

## Origin

From Middle English "not," a variant of "noght," from Old English "nāht," a short form of "nāwiht" meaning "nothing" (literally "not anything"). It comes from "ne" (not) plus "āwiht" (anything), and is related to Dutch "niet" and German "nicht."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/not (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).