oughtn't

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English

Etymology

ought +‎ -n't

Pronunciation

  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 331: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "UK" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ɔːnt/, /ˈɔː.tənt/
  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 331: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "US" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈɔt.n̩t/, (cot-cought merger) /ˈɑt.n̩t/
    • Audio (US):(file)

Verb

oughtn't

  1. (UK) (US, Canada, dated, rare) ought not (negative auxiliary[1]).

Usage notes

Oughtn't has become rare in North America, and ought not has itself become much less common than it once was there as well.

See also

References

  1. ^ Arnold M. Zwicky and Geoffrey K. Pullum, Cliticization vs. Inflection: English n’t, Language 59 (3), 1983, pp. 502-513
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