An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A → particle used to express → negation, → denial, refusal, or prohibition.

Etymology (EN): Not, variant of noht, naht “in no way,” from O.E. nawiht “nothing” (from na “no, never” + whit “whit”), akin to Pers. na, nâ, as below.

Etymology (PE): Na “no, not,” variants nâ, ni, ma- (prohibitive) “not;” from Mid.Pers. nê, ma “no, not;” O.Pers. naiy, nai “not;” Av. nôit, naē “not;” cf. Skt. ná “not;” cf. L. ne-, in-, un-; Gk. ni; Lith. nè; O.C.S. ne “not;” E. not, as above; PIE *ne-.