Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Nothing
Noth′ing
,Noun.
[From
no
, a. + thing
.] 1.
Not anything; no thing (in the widest sense of the word thing); – opposed to
anything
and something
. Yet had his aspect
nothing
of severe. Dryden.
2.
Nonexistence; nonentity; absence of being; nihility; nothingness.
Shak.
3.
A thing of no account, value, or note; something irrelevant and impertinent; something of comparative unimportance; utter insignificance; a trifle.
Behold, ye are of
nothing
, and your work of nought. Is. xli. 24.
’T is
This
nothing
, says the fool; but, says the friend,This
nothing
, sir, will bring you to your end. Dryden.
4.
(Arith.)
A cipher; naught.
Nothing but
, only; no more than.
Chaucer.
– To make nothing of
. (a)
To make no difficulty of; to consider as trifling or important.
“We are industrious to preserve our bodies from slavery, but we make nothing of suffering our souls to be slaves to our lusts.” Ray.
(b)
Not to understand;
as, I could
.make nothing of
what he saidNoth′ing
,adv.
In no degree; not at all; in no wise.
Adam, with such counsel
nothing
swayed. Milton.
The influence of reason in producing our passions is
nothing
near so extensive as is commonly believed. Burke.
Nothing off
(Naut.)
, an order to the steersman to keep the vessel close to the wind.
Webster 1828 Edition
Nothing
NOTH'ING
,Noun.
1.
Not any thing; not any being or existence; a word that denies the existence of any thing; non-entity; opposed to something. The world was created from nothing.2.
Non-existnce; a state of annihilation.3.
Not any thing; not any particular thing, deed or event. Nothing was done to redeem our character. He thought nothing done, while any thing remained to be done.A determination to choose nothing is a determination not to choose the truth.
4.
No other thing.Nothing but this will entitle you to God's acceptance.
5.
No part, portion, quantity or degree. The troops manifested nothing of irresolution in the attack.Yet had his aspect nothing of severe.
6.
No importance; no value; no use.Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of naught. Isaiah 41.
7.
No possession of estate; a low condition.A man that from very nothing is grown to an unspeakable estate.
8.
A thing of no proportion to something, or of trifling value or advantage.The charge of making the ground, and otherwise, is great, but nothing to the profit.
9.
A trifle; a thing of no consideration or importance. Tis nothing, says the fool; but says the friend, this nothing, sir, will bring you to your end.
To make nothing of, to make no difficulty or to consider as trifling, light or unimportant.
We are industrious to presere our bodies from slavery, but we make nothing of suffering our souls to be slaves to our lusts.
NOTH'ING
,adv.
Adam, with such counsel nothing sway'd--
In the phrase, nothing worth, the words are transposed; the natural order being, worth nothing.