Word Study
any
CIDE DICTIONARY
any, a. & pron. [OE. æni, æni, eni, ani, oni, AS. \'d6nig, fr. ān one. It is akin to OS. ēnig, OHG. einic, G. einig, D. eenig. See One.].
- One indifferently, out of an indefinite number; one indefinitely, whosoever or whatsoever it may be. [1913 Webster]" Any is often used in denying or asserting without limitation; as, this thing ought not be done at any time; I ask any one to answer my question." [1913 Webster]"No man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son." [1913 Webster]
- Some, of whatever kind, quantity, or number; as, are there any witnesses present? are there any other houses like it? Ps. iv. 6. [1913 Webster]"It is often used, either in the singular or the plural, as a pronoun, the person or thing being understood; anybody; anyone; (
pl. ) any persons." [1913 Webster]"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, . . . and it shall be given him." [1913 Webster]"That if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem." [1913 Webster]
any, adv.
To any extent; in any degree; at all. [1913 Webster]
"You are not to go loose any longer." [1913 Webster]
"Before you go any farther." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
any, adj., pron., & adv.
--adj.
1 (with interrog., neg., or conditional expressed or implied) a one, no matter which, of several (cannot find any answer). b some, no matter how much or many or of what sort (if any books arrive; have you any sugar?).
2 a minimal amount of (hardly any difference).
3 whichever is chosen (any fool knows that).
4 a an appreciable or significant (did not stay for any length of time). b a very large (has any amount of money).
--pron.
1 any one (did not know any of them).
2 any number (are any of them yours?).
3 any amount (is there any left?).
--adv. (usu. with neg. or interrog.) at all, in some degree (is that any good?; do not make it any larger; without being any the wiser).
--adj.
1 (with interrog., neg., or conditional expressed or implied) a one, no matter which, of several (cannot find any answer). b some, no matter how much or many or of what sort (if any books arrive; have you any sugar?).
2 a minimal amount of (hardly any difference).
3 whichever is chosen (any fool knows that).
4 a an appreciable or significant (did not stay for any length of time). b a very large (has any amount of money).
--pron.
1 any one (did not know any of them).
2 any number (are any of them yours?).
3 any amount (is there any left?).
--adv. (usu. with neg. or interrog.) at all, in some degree (is that any good?; do not make it any larger; without being any the wiser).
Idiom
any more to any further extent (don't like you any more). any time colloq. at any time. any time (or day or minute etc.) now colloq. at any time in the near future. not having any colloq. unwilling to participate.
Etymology
OE {aelig}nig f. Gmc (as ONE, -Y(1))
THESAURUS
any
a, a certain, all, all and some, all and sundry, an, any one, anybody, anyone, anything, atomic, aught, certain, each, each and all, each and every, each one, either, every, every one, exclusive, individual, indivisible, integral, irreducible, lone, measured, monadic, monistic, one, one and all, quantified, quantitative, quantitive, quantized, simple, single, singular, sole, solid, solitary, some, something, somewhat, unanalyzable, undivided, uniform, unique, unitary, wholeROGET THESAURUS
any
Absence of Choice
N absence of choice, no choice, Hobson's choice, first come first served, random selection, necessity, not a pin to choose, any, the first that comes, that or nothing, neutrality, indifference, indecision, arbitrariness, coercion (compulsion), neutral, neuter, indifferent, uninterested, undecided, either, who cares?, what difference does it make?, There's not a dime's worth of difference between t.Quantity
N quantity, magnitude, size, amplitude, magnitude, mass, amount, sum, quantum, measure, substance, strength, force, mathematics, mathesis, category, general conception, universal predicament, armful, handful, mouthful, spoonful, capful, stock, batch, lot, dose, yaffle, quantitative, some, any, aught, more or less, a few, to the tune of, all of, a full, the sum of, fully, exactly, precisely.Part
N part, portion, dose, item, particular, aught, any, division, ward, subdivision, section, chapter, clause, count, paragraph, verse, article, passage, sector, segment, fraction, fragment, cantle, frustum, detachment, parcel, piece, lump, bit cut, cutting, chip, chunk, collop, slice, scale, lamina, small part, morsel, particle, installment, dividend, share, debris, odds and ends, oddments, detritus, excerpta, member, limb, lobe, lobule, arm, wing, scion, branch, bough, joint, link, offshoot, ramification, twig, bush, spray, sprig, runner, leaf, leaflet, stump, component part, sarmentum, compartment, department, county, fractional, fragmentary, sectional, aliquot, divided, in compartments, multifid, disconnected, partial, partly, in part, partially, piecemeal, part by part, by by installments, by snatches, by inches, by driblets, bit by bit, inch by inch, foot by foot, drop by drop, in detail, in lots.For further exploring for "any" in Webster Dictionary Online
