The phrase "bring naught" is often misspelled as "bring not". The correct spelling is "naught", which is pronounced as /nɔːt/. The IPA phonetic transcription shows that the "au" in "naught" is pronounced as the "aw" sound in "jaw", and the "gh" is silent. "Naught" means zero or nothing, and it is often used in place of "not" to convey a stronger sense of emptiness or absence. So next time you want to say "bring nothing", remember to use the correct spelling of "bring naught".
The phrase "bring naught" is an idiomatic expression derived from archaic English that denotes the act of rendering something completely useless, futile, or ineffective. It can be defined as a verb phrase that implies bringing about a state of nothingness, of reducing the significance or value of something to zero or complete insignificance.
When an action or endeavor "brings naught," it means that all efforts, intentions, or objectives associated with that particular action have failed or resulted in a lack of achievement, progress, or any favorable outcome. The phrase suggests a complete absence of success, with no positive or desired consequences being derived from the effort undertaken.
This expression conveys a sense of disappointment, frustration, or futility, highlighting the utter lack of impact or result from a specific action or undertaking. It emphasizes that the efforts invested were in vain, leading to a sense of dejection or despair.
In a broader sense, "bring naught" serves as a cautionary reminder of the potential outcome of endeavors that lack effectiveness, purpose, or meaningful direction. It urges individuals to carefully consider the consequences and significance of their actions before proceeding, as failure or futility may be the ultimate result.
The phrase "bring naught" is a combination of the verb "bring" and the noun "naught".
The word "bring" originated from the Old English word "bringan", which means "to carry, convey, or bring". It entered Middle English as "bringen" with the same meaning. Over time, the pronunciation and spelling evolved to become "bring".
On the other hand, "naught" comes from the Old English word "nāwiht" or "nāht", meaning "nothing" or "no thing". It is a compound word derived from "nā" (no) and "wiht" (thing).
So when the two words are combined, "bring naught" simply means to bring nothing or to not bring anything.