nil
See also: Appendix:Variations of "nil"
English edit
Etymology edit
From Latin nīl, a contraction of nihil, nihilum (“nothing”). See nihilism.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
nil (usually uncountable, plural nils)
- Nothing; zero.
- 1946, Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, I.19:
- As to Aristotle's influence on him, we are left free to conjecture whatever seems to us most plausible. For my part, I should suppose it nil.
- (sports) A score of zero
- The football match ended in a nil-nil draw.
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
nothing
|
zero (in sports)
Determiner edit
nil
- No, not any.
- 1982, Gavin Lyall, Conduct of Major Maxim, Hodder & Stoughton Ltd:
- But after two or three hours and nil results, you have to accept that the trail is cold and you can't justify that level of manpower.
Related terms edit
See also edit
Anagrams edit
Golin edit
Alternative forms edit
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
nil
Derived terms edit
References edit
- Gordon Bunn, Golin Grammar (1974)
Interlingua edit
Pronunciation edit
Pronoun edit
nil (indefinite)
Latin edit
Etymology edit
Syncopic form of nihil, in turn from nihilum, from ne- (“not”) + hilum (“a hilum; a trifle, a bagatelle”), or unknown origin
Pronunciation edit
- (Classical Latin) IPA(key): /niːl/, [niːɫ̪]
- (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): /nil/, [nil]
Noun edit
nīl n (indeclinable)
- (chiefly poetic) nothing
- Bene scripsisti de me, Thoma. Quam ergo mercedem accipies? Nil nisi te.
- You have written well of me, Thomas. What reward therefore will you receive? Nothing other than you.
References edit
- “nil”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- “nil”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
Tok Pisin edit
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Etymology edit
Noun edit
nil
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