Where does “nohow” come from?
Nohow derives from English no and how, with no tracing to Latin numero (ablative of numerus, meaning "by number") and ultimately Proto-Indo-European ne (meaning "not").
nohow (English): In no way; not at all; by no available means
Definitions
- In no way; not at all; by no available means
Ancestry of “nohow”, step by step
nohow traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English Nō
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Nō | — |
| 2 | Middle English | no | no |
| 3 | Old English | nā | no |
| 4 | Old English | ne | not; or, and not; "ne... ne..." is used to mean "... |
| 5 | Old English | ealles | completely, wholly, entirely; totally,... |
| 6 | Old English | -es | possessive marker, indicating that an object... |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | -as | used in formation of adverbs |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -ēs | Primarily forms adjectival bahuvrīhi compounds |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | -ess | — |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | -os | Creates action nouns or result nouns from verbs;... |