sha'n't

See also: shant and shan't

English

Etymology

Contraction of shall +‎ -n't (“contraction of not”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈʃɑːnt/

  • Audio (US):

    (file)

  • Rhymes: -ɑːnt
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈʃænt/
  • Rhymes: -ænt

Contraction

sha'n't

1. Dated spelling of shan't.
   • 1697, [John Vanbrugh], The Provok'd Wife: A Comedy, as It is Acted at the New Theatre, in Little Lincolns-Inn-Fields, London: Printed by J. O. for R. Wellington, at the Lute in St. Paul's Church Yard, and Sam. Briscoe in Covent-Garden, →OCLC, act III, page 33:

     Bel[linda] […] Nay you ſha'n't go one ſtep out of the room. / […] Lady B[rute] Pray give me leave. / Lady Fanc[yfull] You know I won't. / Lady B. Indeed I muſt. / Lady Fanc. Indeed you ſha'n't. / Lady B. Indeed I will. / Lady Fanc. Indeed you ſha'n't. / Lady B. Indeed I will. / Lady Fanc. Indeed you ſha'n't. Indeed Indeed Indeed you ſha'n't. (Exit Lady Fanc. running. They follow.

   • 1866, Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, chapter 2, →ISBN, page 14:

     [Alice:] I'm sure I sha'n't be able!

   • 1922, Rex [Ellingwood] Beach, “chapter XXIV”, in Flowing Gold, New York, N.Y.: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers, by arrangement with Harper & Brothers, →OCLC, page 290:

     That's not a threat, sir, for they have played fair with me, and I sha'n't sacrifice a penny of their money—unless they force me to do so. But—I'm in control. I'm sitting pretty. They can't unseat me, and I warn them not to try.

Further reading

• Michael Quinion (May 26, 2001) “Sha’n’t versus shan’t”, in World Wide Words.

Anagrams

• Hants, NHTSA, Thans, ha'nts, hants, hasn't, snath