shan

Everyday

1. A piece of the word «shan't», which means «shall not», as in «I shan't go». It is not a word by itself in English. tree →
2. (a name) The Shan are a people of Myanmar (Burma) and nearby lands, with their own language; Shan State is in Myanmar. tree →

In the lessons

«Shan't» (shall + not) is mostly British and old-fashioned, used in old books like Alice in Wonderland and The Wind in the Willows: Alice says «I shan't be able!» as she grows tall. Today most people say «won't».

Examples

• «I shan't!» shouted the cross little boy. tree →
• «I shan't be able to reach the key,» said Alice. tree →
• We shan't be long — wait here. tree →
• Shan't is short for shall not. tree →
• The Shan people live in the hills of Myanmar. tree →

Note

Always written shan't with an apostrophe where the letters «ll no» are left out. «Shan» alone is just a fragment (or a name). Modern English: won't.

In Jewish tradition

Only part of the place name Beth-shan, a city in the Jordan valley, where the Philistines hung the bodies of Saul and his sons.

Interpretation. Tradition honors the men of Jabesh-gilead, who rescued and buried Saul's body, as an example of loyalty and kindness to the dead.

Examples

• And they put his armour in the house of the Ashtaroth; and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. (Prophets 1SA.31.10, JPS 1917) tree →
• all the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan; and they came to Jabesh, and burnt them there. (Prophets 1SA.31.12, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Always written shan't with an apostrophe where the letters «ll no» are left out. «Shan» alone is just a fragment (or a name). Modern English: won't.