shannot

English

Alternative forms

• sha'not

Etymology

Contraction of shall not, first attested in the 16th century but likely inherited from Late Middle English. Displaced by shan't in most dialects of English after the early modern period. Parallel to cannot and obsolete or dialectal wonnot, hannot, donnot.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈʃænɑt/
• Rhymes: -ɒt

• Audio (Southern England)

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Verb

shannot

1. (obsolete or Northern England dialectal) Contraction of shall not.

   Synonym: shan't

   • 1660, James Shirley, The Wedding […], act 4:

     Beau. If e’re extremities did kill, we both / Shall die this very minute. Gra. You sha’not go.

   • 1678, T. D. [Thomas d'Urfey], The Fool Turn’d Critick […], page 57:

     Assure your self, though you have married her, you shall not long enjoy your happiness; you sha’not Sir.

   • 1685, Nathaniel Lee, Sophonisba: or, Hannibal’s Overthrow […], page 33:

     And thou, dread God of Love, try every Dart. / You shannot stir.

   • 1695, Thomas Southerne, Oroonoko: A Tragedy […], published 1699, page 36:

     But though I languish for my Liberty, / I wou’d not buy it at the Christian Price / Of black Ingratitude: they shannot say, / That we deserv’d our Fortune by our Crimes.

   • 1891, Robert Williams Buchanan, “Come, Live With Me, and Be My Love”: An English Pastoral, page 224:

     “Shame or no shame,” said George, “she shall live.” ¶ “She shannot, she shannot!” screamed the old man.

   • 1895, Marshall Mather, Lancashire Idylls, page 300:

     ‘Well, I’m baan to wrostle wi’ Him, an’ if He flings me aw shannot ax yo’ to pick me up, noather.’