any meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

any

adv

US, UK /ɛni/ · US /ɪni/

Etymology From Middle English any, eny, ony, ani, aniȝ, eniȝ, æniȝ, from Old English ǣniġ (“any”), from Proto-West Germanic *ainīg, *ainag, from Proto-Germanic *ainagaz, from Proto-Germanic *ainaz (“one”), equivalent to one + -y. Cognate with Saterland Frisian eenich (“some”), West Frisian iennich (“only”), Dutch enig (“any, some”), Afrikaans enig (“any”), German Low German enig (“some”), German einig (“some”); via Proto-Indo-European *óynos cognate with Latin ūllus (“any”), Latin ūnicus (whence Italian unico (“unique”), French unique (“unique”)). Piecewise doublet of unique.

1

To even the slightest extent, at all.

'That wouldn't surprise me any.'1934, Agatha Christie, chapter 4, in Murder on the Orient Express, London: HarperCollins, published 2017, page 104:

2

Used before different, before comparatives with more and less, and idiomatically before other comparatives, generally in interrogative, hypothetical, or negative contexts.

If you get any taller, you'll start having to duck through doorways!
Is she any less enthused now that it's raining?

4 more examples

Is her enthusiasm any less now that it's raining?
You don't seem to be any the worse after such a tragic experience.
I will not remain here any longer.
I wasn't any too easy in my mind.1934, Rex Stout, Fer-de-Lance, Bantam, published 1992, →ISBN, page 58:

3

US Used to modify a verb, generally a finite verb or a non-finite verb in object position.

That doesn't bother me any.
Unfortunately, I don't expect the documentation to help any.

any

det

Etymology From Middle English any, eny, ony, ani, aniȝ, eniȝ, æniȝ, from Old English ǣniġ (“any”), from Proto-West Germanic *ainīg, *ainag, from Proto-Germanic *ainagaz, from Proto-Germanic *ainaz (“one”), equivalent to one + -y. Cognate with Saterland Frisian eenich (“some”), West Frisian iennich (“only”), Dutch enig (“any, some”), Afrikaans enig (“any”), German Low German enig (“some”), German einig (“some”); via Proto-Indo-European *óynos cognate with Latin ūllus (“any”), Latin ūnicus (whence Italian unico (“unique”), French unique (“unique”)). Piecewise doublet of unique.

1

In the negative or interrogative, With plural or uncountable nouns One at all; at least one; at least one kind of; some; a positive quantity of.

Near-synonym: some
Do you have any biscuits?

4 more examples

Do you have any food?
Do you think there's any point to/in trying to explain?
It won't do you any good.
"Give me your pen." — "I don't have any pen."

2

A/an, each or some, no matter its/their identity or nature.

Choose any item you want.
Any person may apply.

4 more examples

Representative democracy is better than any other system.
Press any key to continue.
The character '#' matches any digit 0–9.
Please bring some plates — any plates will do.

3

With time designations An unspecified but imminent (second, minute, day etc.).

They'll be arriving any day.
I expect the phone to ring at any moment.

Derived terms: 71 terms
any and all, any and every, anybody, anycast, any day, any exposure is good exposure, any fule kno, any given Sunday, any good, any hole's a goal, anyhow, any longer, any minute now, any moment now, anymore, any more, any nook or cranny, any number of, any old, anyon, anyone, any other business, anyplace, anypony, any port in a storm, any press is good press, anyroad, any road, anyshit, any the wiser, anything, anytime, any time, any time now, any time soon, Anytown, anyway, any way, any way one cuts it, any way one slices it, anywhat, anywhen, anywhence, anywhere, any which way, anywhither, anywho, anywhom, anywise, at any cost, at any event, at any given moment, at any hand, at any rate, at any risk, by any chance, by any means, by any measure, by any stretch, for any sake, getting any, in any case, in any event, in any shape or form, just any, know any better, not by any manner of means, not on any account, of any use, on any view, with any luck
Related terms: some, anny

any

pron

Etymology From Middle English any, eny, ony, ani, aniȝ, eniȝ, æniȝ, from Old English ǣniġ (“any”), from Proto-West Germanic *ainīg, *ainag, from Proto-Germanic *ainagaz, from Proto-Germanic *ainaz (“one”), equivalent to one + -y. Cognate with Saterland Frisian eenich (“some”), West Frisian iennich (“only”), Dutch enig (“any, some”), Afrikaans enig (“any”), German Low German enig (“some”), German einig (“some”); via Proto-Indo-European *óynos cognate with Latin ūllus (“any”), Latin ūnicus (whence Italian unico (“unique”), French unique (“unique”)). Piecewise doublet of unique.

1

Any thing(s) or person(s).

Any may apply.