Nihil
/ˈnaɪ.ɪl/noun
A term used to denote nothingness or the absence of anything.
Did you know?In philosophy, Nihilism explores the belief that life is devoid of meaning, echoing the ancient roots of this concept in discussions of existence and reality.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ne-
“not; indicating negation or absence.”
Latin
Latin
nihil
“nothing; a term used to express void or non-existence.”
Medieval Latin
Medieval Latin
nihil
“continued use in philosophical texts to denote nothingness.”
17th Century
English
nihil
“adopted into English, primarily in philosophical contexts.”
Modern English
English
nihil
“retains its original meaning, often associated with existential discussions.”