nil

Etymology

From Latin nīl, a contraction of nihil, nihilum (“nothing”). See nihilism.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /nɪl/
• Rhymes: -ɪl

Noun

nil (usually uncountable, plural nils)

1. Nothing; zero.
   • 1946, Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, I.19:

     As to Aristotle's influence on him, we are left free to conjecture whatever seems to us most plausible. For my part, I should suppose it nil.

Determiner

nil

1. No, not any.
   • 1982, Gavin Lyall, Conduct of Major Maxim, Hodder & Stoughton Ltd:

     But after two or three hours and nil results, you have to accept that the trail is cold and you can't justify that level of manpower.

See also

• null
• nil desperandum

Anagrams

• -lin, Lin, lin

Alternative forms

• nl
• nĺ

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [nɨ̆ĺ], [nĺ], [˩˧nɨ̆l]

Noun

nil

1. liquid; water

   Na nil ne dugudige.

   I swallowed water.

References

• Gordon Bunn, Golin Grammar (1974)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /nil/

Pronoun

nil (indefinite)

1. nothing

Etymology

Clipping of nihil, in turn from nihilum, from ne- (“not”) + hilum (“a hilum; a trifle, a bagatelle”), or unknown origin

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /niːl/, [niːɫ]

Noun

nīl n (indeclinable)

1. (chiefly poetic) nothing

   Bene scripsisti de me, Thoma. Quam ergo mercedem accipies? Nil nisi te.

   You have written well of me, Thomas. What reward therefore will you receive? Nothing unless it is you.

References

• nil in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• nil in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers

Etymology

English needle.

Noun

nil

1. needle
2. thorn
   • 1989, Buk Baibel long Tok Pisin, Bible Society of Papua New Guinea, Genesis 3:18 (translation here):

     Ol rop i gat nil na ol gras nogut bai i kamap na karamapim gaden bilong yu.