English
nil
Nil comes from Latin nīl ‘syncopic form of nihil (“nothing”)’, and goes back to nihilum.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEnihilum‘nothing’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEnīl‘syncopic form of nihil (“nothing”)’
- Englishearliest quotation 1928nil
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEnihilum‘nothing’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEnīl‘syncopic form of nihil (“nothing”)’
- Englishearliest quotation 1928nil
Earliest quotation: 1928, Frank J. Hirschboeck, Treatment of Functional Heart Disease: “Sedatives, contrary to popular lay and medical opinion, are…”
Linked words
through Latin nihilum ‘nothing’
Today it means
noun Nothing; zero.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin nihilum / nil