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niet

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: Niet, niet-, and niệt

English

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Interjection

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niet

  1. Alternative spelling of nyet.
    • 1993, Douglas Thompson, quoting Sean Connery, “Michelle in Moscow”, in Pfeiffer: Beyond the Age of Innocence, London: Smith Gryphon, →ISBN, page 148:
      Before if you wanted to make a request they said, ‘Niet.’ You would be shooting something, and they would say you were finished, and it was over.
    • 2003, John Oaksey, “‘Hope you get something to write about’”, in Mince Pie for Starters: A Racing Life, London: Headline, →ISBN, page 162:
      Heedless of my cries of ‘Niet, niet!’, he grabbed poor Vladimir and hoisted him back aboard.
    • 2015, Diane Chandler, chapter 5, in The Road to Donetsk, London: Blackbird Digital Books, →ISBN, pages 46–47:
      “Sorry I have no change.” / “Niet,” No, she protested, unfolding the note and holding it up to the other women.

Dutch

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Etymology 1

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From Middle Dutch niwet, niet, from Old Dutch *niowiht, niewiht, from nio (never) + wiht (thing, creature). The former in turn derives from Proto-Germanic *ne (not) + *aiw- (ever) + *wihtą (thing).

It was originally a pronoun meaning "not a thing", and was later used to reinforce a regular negation. The pronomial meaning was lost in Middle Dutch. English not, and its older forms naught and nought, were formed in the same way, but "not" also lost its sense as a pronoun and became a negation adverb as in Dutch.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /nit/ (standard)
  • IPA(key): /ni/ (often, in fast speech)
  • Rhymes: -it
  • Audio:(file)

Adverb

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niet

  1. not, no, don't: used to express negation.
    Antonym: wel
    Niet storen!
    Do not disturb!
    Dat is niet waar.
    That is not true.
Derived terms
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Descendants
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  • Afrikaans: nie
  • Berbice Creole Dutch: ni
  • Javindo: niet
  • Jersey Dutch: nît,
  • Negerhollands: na, no, nu, ne, ni, nit, niet
  • Petjo: niet
  • Skepi Creole Dutch: ni, niti

Etymology 2

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(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

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niet f (plural nieten, diminutive nietje n)

  1. staple (wire fastener)
Usage notes
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The word is commonly used in the diminutive form

Derived terms
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Descendants
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  • Papiamentu: nit

Etymology 3

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See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

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niet

  1. inflection of nieten:
    1. first/second/third-person singular present indicative
    2. imperative

Anagrams

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Middle Dutch

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Etymology

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From Old Dutch niewiht, *niowiht, from nio (never) + wiht (thing, creature). The former in turn derives from Proto-Germanic *ne (not) + *aiw- (ever) + *wihtą (thing).

Adverb

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niet

  1. not

Alternative forms

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Descendants

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  • Dutch: niet (see there for further descendants)
  • Jersey Dutch: nît
  • Limburgish: neet

Pronoun

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niet

  1. nothing

Further reading

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Norman

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Norman Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia nrf

Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Old French noit, nuit, from Latin noctem, accusative of nox, from Proto-Indo-European *nókʷts.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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niet f (plural niets)

  1. (Jersey, Guernsey) night
    • 2006, Peggy Collenette, “Célébraïr 25 onnaïes”, in P'tites Lures Guernésiaises, Cromwell Press, published 2006, page 18:
      La Marie et Jimmin dormisirent toute la niet et Jimmin s'éville au matin dauve l'épile à sen naïz.
      Marie and Jimmy slept all night and Jimmy woke up in the morning with the peg on his nose.

Old English

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Pronunciation

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Verb

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nīet

  1. third-person singular present indicative of nīedan