aught

pronoun (old use)

«aught» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition and Early Modern English — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

Everyday

(old use) Aught means anything at all. tree →
In «for aught I know» it means as far as I know, for all I know. tree →

In the lessons

in fairy tales and old stories, a way of asking if someone knows anything about a matter.

Examples

Do you know aught of the lost boy? tree →
If you hear aught, come and tell me. tree →
She may be at home, for aught I know. tree →

Note

nothing for maths; in old tales «aught» means anything, not zero, so do not read it as a count

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah it means "anything," as in "aught of the carcass."

Interpretation. The laws of uncleanness are read as teaching that even a small contact with the dead can make a person unclean until evening.

Examples

And whosoever beareth aught of the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. (Torah LEV.11.25, JPS 1917) tree →
And if aught of their carcass fall upon any sowing seed which is to be sown, it is clean. (Torah LEV.11.37, JPS 1917) tree →
And if a man will redeem aught of his tithe, he shall add unto it the fifth part thereof. (Torah LEV.27.31, JPS 1917) tree →
For all this Job sinned not, nor ascribed aught unseemly to God. (Writings JOB.1.22, JPS 1917) tree →
If I have withheld aught that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail; (Writings JOB.31.16, JPS 1917) tree →
And they said: 'Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken aught of any man's hand.' (Prophets 1SA.12.4, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

nothing for maths; in old tales «aught» means anything, not zero, so do not read it as a count

Early Modern English

Meaning

Anything at all. tree →

Then and now

No longer common; today we say anything.

Examples

And whosoever beareth aught of the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. (Torah LEV.11.25, JPS 1917) tree →
Say, knowest thou aught of Mabon?" (Celtic Fairy Tales) tree →
And if aught of their carcass fall upon any sowing seed which is to be sown, it is clean. (Torah LEV.11.37, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Today: anything.

On Mova

Trees and pragmatics of «aught» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«aught» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
Trees and pragmatics of «aught» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«aught» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.
Trees and pragmatics of «aught» in the Early Modern English dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
«aught» in the Early Modern English dictionary on Mova free.

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