The phrase "till now" describes a period of time up to the present moment. It is pronounced /tɪl naʊ/ using the International Phonetic Alphabet, where the first syllable "till" is pronounced like "kill" without the "k," and the second syllable "now" is pronounced like "cow" with an "n" sound at the beginning. The spelling of "till" is derived from the Middle English word "til" which means "to" or "until," while "now" comes from the Old English word "nū." Together, they form an idiomatic expression that refers to the present moment.
"Till now" is an idiomatic phrase that refers to the time that has passed or the circumstances that exist up until the present moment. It is commonly used to express the continuation or current state of a particular situation, event, or condition.
The phrase "till now" can be understood as a temporal marker, signaling the time period that extends until the present point in time. It implies that the mentioned action, occurrence, or status has been ongoing or valid from an earlier point until now, emphasizing the relevance of the past to the present moment.
For instance, someone might say: "Till now, I have been working on this project alone," indicating that their solo effort had been in progress until the current time. Similarly, one might say: "Till now, he had never failed a test," meaning that up until this point, he always achieved success on his exams.
In summary, "till now" denotes the period leading up to the present moment and accurately conveys the sense of continuity and current relevance. It is often used to highlight the past occurrences, actions, or states that have persisted up until now, helping to provide context or emphasize the importance of preceding events.
To the present time.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "till" in "till now" is derived from the Middle English word "til" or "tillen", which means "to" or "until". Its origins can be traced back to the Old English word "tilian", meaning "to strive after" or "to obtain".
The word "now" is derived from the Old English word "nu", which means "at the present time" or "at this moment". It is the period from the present to the future.
When combined, "till now" refers to the time leading up to the present moment.