"Atall" is a colloquial contraction of the phrase "at all" and serves as an adverb in Standard English. It is a combination of the preposition "at" and the indefinite article "all." This term is commonly used to indicate the absence or lack of something to emphasize a negative condition.
When used in a sentence, "atall" typically modifies verbs, adjectives, or adverbs to strengthen the negation or disbelief conveyed by the statement. It suggests that there is not even a small amount of the mentioned quality, action, or feeling being discussed. For example, in the sentence "I don't like spinach atall," it emphasizes the speaker's strong aversion to spinach, implying that they do not enjoy it in the slightest degree.
The contracted form "atall" is mostly encountered in spoken English and often follows negating constructions like "not" or "no." It is often employed in informal contexts, conversations, or dialects. While acknowledged as fuzzy by grammatical standards, "atall" allows for concise speech and reinforces the negative sentiment being expressed.
Overall, "atall" is an informal linguistic adaptation, originating from the reduction of "at all," that emphasizes the absence or degree of something, typically when discussing preferences, actions, or feelings.
