Etymology From Middle English none, noon, non (“not one”), from Old English nān (“not one, not any, none”), from Proto-West Germanic *nain, from Proto-Germanic *nainaz (“none, nought, nothing”), equivalent to ne (“not”) + one. (Regarding the different phonological development of only and one, see the note in one.) Cognate with Scots nane (“none”), Saterland Frisian naan, neen (“no, not any, none”), West Frisian neen & gjin (“no, none”), Dutch neen & geen (“no, none”), Low German nēn, neen, keen (“no, none, no one”), German nein & kein (“no, none”), Latin nōn (“not”).
1
Not any of a given number or group.
None of those is a good example. None are even acceptable.
None of this meat tastes right.
1 more example
There were many but now there are none.
2
No one, nobody.
None of those people is my father.
3
No person.
None of those people are my parents. None shall pass.
Alas, none of these people were writing the reviews.2006, Clive James, North Face of Soho, page 253:
Etymology From Middle English none, noon, non (“not one”), from Old English nān (“not one, not any, none”), from Proto-West Germanic *nain, from Proto-Germanic *nainaz (“none, nought, nothing”), equivalent to ne (“not”) + one. (Regarding the different phonological development of only and one, see the note in one.) Cognate with Scots nane (“none”), Saterland Frisian naan, neen (“no, not any, none”), West Frisian neen & gjin (“no, none”), Dutch neen & geen (“no, none”), Low German nēn, neen, keen (“no, none, no one”), German nein & kein (“no, none”), Latin nōn (“not”).
1
West Country Not any; no (usually used only before a vowel or h)
Archaic outside Scotland
Thou shalt have none other gods but me.
the foles toke their lampes, but toke none oyle with them.1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Matthew:
2 more examples
None lasses were in the dunces' row. If one had been there people would have looked at her and felt sorry but not boys.2008, James Kelman, Kieron Smith, Boy, Penguin, published 2009, page 138:
That evening Elsie had none but strictly official communication with Mrs. Earlforward, who never once removed her mask, nor by any sign invited Elsie to come back within the warm pale of humanity.1924, Arnold Bennett, Riceyman Steps, page 222:
none
adv
Etymology From Middle English none, noon, non (“not one”), from Old English nān (“not one, not any, none”), from Proto-West Germanic *nain, from Proto-Germanic *nainaz (“none, nought, nothing”), equivalent to ne (“not”) + one. (Regarding the different phonological development of only and one, see the note in one.) Cognate with Scots nane (“none”), Saterland Frisian naan, neen (“no, not any, none”), West Frisian neen & gjin (“no, none”), Dutch neen & geen (“no, none”), Low German nēn, neen, keen (“no, none, no one”), German nein & kein (“no, none”), Latin nōn (“not”).
1
To no extent, in no way.
I felt none the worse for my recent illness.
my lack of education hasn't hurt me none1973, Paul Simon, “Kodachrome”:
2
Not at all, not very.
He was none too pleased with the delays in the program that was supposed to be his legacy.
Both the religiously dis-identified ("nones") and the religiously committed report mystical experiences.2003, Jacob A. Belzen, Antoon Geels, Mysticism: A Variety of Psychological Perspectives, page 50:
Stable nones, that is, people who report in both years that they have no religious affiliation, are, in fact, much less religious2010, Robert D. Putnam, David E Campbell, American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us, page 591:
2 more examples
we have grouped people into nones (no religion), Jews, Catholics, mainline Protestants, and evangelical protestants.2013, Michael Corbett, Politics and Religion in the United States:
So the “nones” are those three groups together: atheist, agnostic, nothing in particular. That group has grown from 5 percent of America in 1972 to about 30 percent of America today.2026 January 22, Ross Douthat, quoting Ryan Burge, “America’s Very Weird Religious Future”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:
none
noun
UK /nəʊn/ · US /noʊn/
Etymology From French none, from Latin nōna (“ninth; ninth hour”).
1
Alternative Alternative form of nones: the ninth hour after dawn; (Christianity) the religious service appointed to this hour.
2
Obsolete Synonym of midafternoon: the time around or following noon or nones.
None of the day, is the third quarter of the day beginning at Noon and lasting till the Sun be gone half way towards setting.1656, T. Blount, Glossographia:
The last, which began at the middle of the Afternoon, i.e. at half the Time between Noon and Sun-setting, was called None, because it began at the Ninth Hour.1706, L.E. Dupin, “v, 43”, in D. Cotes, transl., A New Ecclesiastical History of the 16th Century, volume II: