shan't

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See also: sha'n't

English

Etymology

shall +‎ -n't; contraction of shalln't or shall not.

Pronunciation

  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 95: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "RP" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈʃɑːnt/
  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 95: 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): /ˈʃænt/

Verb

shan't

  1. (British, archaic in US) Contraction of shall not (negative auxiliary[1]).
    I shan't be coming back after the way you've treated me today.
    • 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.

Usage notes

Used in colloquial British English, Australian English and New Zealand English, in North America, rarely used, and may not be understood. In North America, like shall, it may also be considered formal or pompous, or used to parody British English speakers.

Alternative forms

See also

References

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

Anagrams

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