shan't
English
editEtymology
editFrom shall + -n't; contraction of shalln't or shall not, historically via shannot.
Pronunciation
edit- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈʃɑːnt/
Audio (Southern England): (file) - Rhymes: -ɑːnt
- (US) IPA(key): /ˈʃænt/
- Rhymes: -ænt
Verb
editshan't
- (UK, Ireland, colloquial; archaic in US, Canada; dated in Australia, New Zealand) Contraction of shall not (negative auxiliary[1]).
- I shan't be coming back after the way you've treated me today.
- 1922, Rex [Ellingwood] Beach, “chapter XXIV”, in Flowing Gold, New York, N.Y.: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers, by arrangement with Harper & Brothers, →OCLC, page 290:
- That's not a threat, sir, for they have played fair with me, and I sha'n't sacrifice a penny of their money—unless they force me to do so. But—I'm in control. I'm sitting pretty. They can't unseat me, and I warn them not to try.
Usage notes
editStill used in colloquial British English and Irish English. In North America, Australia and New Zealand it is rarely used, and may not be understood. In North America, like shall, it may also be considered formal or pompous, or used to parody British English and Irish English speakers.
Alternative forms
editCoordinate terms
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ Arnold M. Zwicky and Geoffrey K. Pullum, Cliticization vs. Inflection: English n’t, Language 59 (3), 1983, pp. 502-513
Anagrams
editCategories:
- English terms suffixed with -n't
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- Rhymes:English/ɑːnt
- Rhymes:English/ɑːnt/1 syllable
- Rhymes:English/ænt
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