Dictionary

hadn't en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈhæd.n̩t/

Etymology

Etymology tree English had Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Germanic *ne Proto-West Germanic *ne Proto-Indo-European *h₂ey- Proto-Indo-European *-u Proto-Indo-European *h₂óyu Proto-Indo-European *-osinflu. Proto-Germanic *aiwaz Proto-West Germanic *aiw univ. Proto-West Germanic *naiw Proto-Indo-European *wekʷ- Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *wékʷtisder.? Proto-Indo-European *weǵʰ- Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *wéǵʰtisder.? Proto-Germanic *wihtą Proto-West Germanic *wiht Proto-West Germanic *naiwwiht Old English nāwiht Old English *nōht Middle English nought Middle English not English notder. English -n't English hadn't From had + -n't.

Meanings

1. (abbreviation, alt-of, contraction, informal) Contraction of had + not (negative auxiliary).
   alt of had
   • Hadn't we better apologize? Surely we hadn't to be late.

Forms