aught

¹

Or ought

[awt]

noun

1. anything whatever; any part.

   for aught I know.

adverb

1. Archaic.,  in any degree; at all; in any respect.

aught

²

Or ought

[awt]

noun

1. a cipher (0); zero.

2. aughts, the first decade of any century, especially the years 1900 through 1909 or 2000 through 2009.

aught

³

[awkht]

verb (used with object)

Scot.

1. to own; possess.

2. to owe (someone or something); be obligated to.

adjective

Scot.

1. possessed of.

noun

1. Archaic.

   1. ownership; possession.

   2. property; a possession.

aught

⁴

[awkht]

adjective

Scot.

1. eight.

2. eighth.

aught

¹

/ ɔːt /

pronoun

1. anything at all; anything whatever (esp in the phrase for aught I know )

adverb

1. dialect,  in any least part; to any degree

aught

²

/ ɔːt /

noun

1. a less common word for nought

Word History and Origins

Origin of aught¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English aught, ought, Old English āht, āwiht, ōwiht, equivalent to ā, ō “ever” + wiht “thing”; wight ¹

Origin of aught²

First recorded in 1820–25; from a naught, taken as an aught ( auger ). See naught

Origin of aught³

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English æht; cognate with Old High German ēht, Gothic aihts; akin to owe, own

Origin of aught⁴

First recorded in 1100–50; Middle English aghte, aughte, variant of eighte; eight

Word History and Origins

Origin of aught¹

Old English āwiht, from ā ever, _ay ¹ + wiht thing; see _wight ¹

Example Sentences

The duo, composed of brothers Pusha T and Malice, is well known for setting a new precedent for rap throughout the aughts.

From Los Angeles Times

A Chicago native and Grammy nominee, Soulja Boy rose to prominence in the early aughts, but in recent years has faced legal repercussions for his treatment of women in his inner circle.

From Los Angeles Times

Osbourne’s last album with Sabbath was more than 20 years in the rearview when he returned to pop culture consciousness in the early aughts.

From Salon

Remember that sage advice that worked for Democrats back in the late aughts and early 2010s but now sounds like advice pulled from a 1950s guide to etiquette?

From Los Angeles Times

Segal said he met Kaye in the early aughts and had crossed paths with her over the years at other TV productions.

From Los Angeles Times