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"N" Word Origins

Where do words come from? Trace the origin and history of any English word, from its Latin, Greek or Old English roots through to its modern meaning. Every etymology is sourced.

“N” Word Origins

nones
Origin
From Latin nōnus (“ninth”). As a day of the Roman calendar, via nōnae (“ninth days”) from the original Roman practice of counting forward to the next full or new crescent moon, the nones' occurrence 8 days before the ides of every month (9 counting inclusively) following the establishment of a fixed calendar, and from the Latin practice of treating most recurring calendrical days as plurals. Some scholars believe the name is a variant of the nundines (nūndinae fēriae (“ninth-day festival”)), the Roman market days held every eight days (9 counting inclusively), which were likely announced for each coming month by the Roman kings on the first-quarter days. As a time of day, via the plural form of Middle English, Anglo-Norman, & French none and Latin nōna (“ninth hour”) after the manner of earlier matins, vespers, etc. As a meal, from the time of day, whether from its plural, genitive, or the occasional adverbial sense of -s.
nonesuch
Origin
From none + such. First attested in 1590.
nonetheless
Old English
A reshaping of the older word natheless, influenced by none, ultimately from Old English meaning "not the less."
nonevacuated
Origin
From non- + evacuated.
nonevangelical
Origin
From non- + evangelical.
noneviction
Origin
From non- + eviction.
nonexciting
Origin
From non- + exciting.
nonexistence
Origin
From non- + existence.
nonexistent
Origin
From non- plus existent.
nonexpert
Origin
From non- + expert.
nonfactual
Origin
From non- + factual.
nonfanatic
Origin
From non- + fanatic.
nonfat
Origin
From non- plus fat.
nonforeigner
Origin
From non- + foreigner.
nonfree
Origin
From non- + free.
nong
Origin
Likely a shortening of the earlier slang term ning-nong.
nonhearing
Origin
From non- + hearing.
nonheathen
Origin
From non- + heathen.
nonhemorrhagic
Origin
From non- + hemorrhagic.
nonhereditary
Origin
From non- + hereditary.
nonhousing
Origin
From non- + housing.
nonhumanist
Origin
From non- + humanist.
noni
Origin
Borrowed from Hawaiian noni.
nonideally
Origin
From nonideal + -ly.
nonindustrial
Origin
From non- + industrial.
noninfectious
Origin
From non- + infectious.
noninferiority
Origin
From non- + inferiority.
noninhabitant
Origin
From non- + inhabitant.
noninnocence
Origin
From non- + innocence.
noninstance
Origin
From non- + instance.
nonintellectual
Origin
From non- + intellectual.
noninterference
Origin
From non- + interference.
nonirradiating
Origin
From non- + irradiating.
nonjudge
Origin
From non- + judge.
nonjudgmental
Origin
From non- + judgmental.
nonjuvenile
Origin
From non- + juvenile.
nonlegitimacy
Origin
From non- + legitimacy.
nonliquidation
Origin
From non- + liquidation.
nonliteral
Origin
From non- + literal.
nonlocal
Origin
From non- + local.
nonmagician
Origin
From non- + magician.
nonmagnetic
Origin
From non- + magnetic.
nonmaterial
Origin
From non- + material.
nonmaterialism
Origin
From non- + materialism.
nonmaterialist
Origin
From non- + materialist.
nonmateriality
Origin
From non- + materiality.
nonmissile
Origin
From non- + missile.
nonmurder
Origin
From non- + murder.