ain't
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
1. From the earlier form an’t, a contraction of am not, are not, and is not. The shift from IPA: /ænt/ to IPA: /eɪnt/ parallels a similar change in some dialects with can't. In other dialects the pronunciation shifted to IPA: /ɑːnt/, and the spelling aren't, when used to mean "am not", is due to the fact that both words are pronounced IPA: /ɑːnt/ in some non-rhotic dialects. Historically, ain't was present in many dialects of the English language, but not in the southeastern England dialect that became the standard, where it is only found in the construction aren't I?.
2. From the earlier form han't, a contraction of has not and have not. Han't shifted from IPA: /hænt/ to IPA: /heɪnt/, and underwent h-dropping in most dialects.
[edit] Pronunciation
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Audio (US) (file)
[edit] Contraction
ain't
- (dialectal or informal) are not, aren’t; is not, isn’t; am not.
- (dialectal, informal) have not, haven’t; has not, hasn’t.
- (dialectal, informal) do not, don’t; does not, doesn’t; did not, didn’t.
[edit] Quotations
- 1885 — Gilbert & Sullivan, The Mikado
- We figure in lively paint -
- Our attitude’s queer and quaint —
- You’re wrong if you think it ain't, oh!
