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Webster 1913 Edition

Any

A′ny

,
Adj.
& p
ron.
[OE.
æniȝ
,
æni
,
eni
,
ani
,
oni
, AS.
ǣnig
, fr.
ān
one. It is akin to OS.
ēnig
, OHG.
einic
, G.
einig
, D.
eenig
. See
One
.]
1.
One indifferently, out of an indefinite number; one indefinitely, whosoever or whatsoever it may be.
☞ 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.
No man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth
any
man the Father, save the Son.
Matt. xi. 27.
2.
Some, of whatever kind, quantity, or number; as, are there any witnesses present? are there any other houses like it?
“Who will show us any good?”
Ps. iv. 6.
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.
If
any
of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, . . . and it shall be given him.
Jas. i. 5.
That if he found
any
of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Acts ix. 2.
At any rate
,
In any case
,
whatever may be the state of affairs; anyhow.

A′ny

,
adv.
To any extent; in any degree; at all.
You are not to go loose
any
longer.
Shakespeare
Before you go
any
farther.
Steele.

Webster 1828 Edition

Any

AN'Y

,
Adj.
en'ny.
1.
One indefinitely.
Nor knoweth any man the Father, save the Son. Math. 11.
If a soul shall sin against any of the commandments.
Lev. 4.
2.
Some; an indefinite number, plurally; for though the word is formed from one, it often refers to many. Are there any witnesses present? The sense seems to be a small, uncertain number.
3.
Some; an indefinite quantity; a small portion.
Who will show us any good? Ps. 4.
4.
It is often used as a substitute, the person or thing being understood.
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any. Mark 11.
If any lack wisdom, let him ask it of God. James 1.
It is used in opposition to none. Have you any wheat to sell? I have none.

Definition 2024

any

any

See also: ǡny, -any, any%, and -ány

English

Alternative forms

Adverb

any ‎(not comparable)

  1. To even the slightest extent, at all.
    I will not remain here any longer.
    If you get any taller, you'll start having to duck through doorways!

Translations

Determiner

any

  1. At least one; of at least one kind. One at all.
    do you have any biscuits?;  do you have any food?;  I haven't got any money;  it won't do you any good‎
    • Bible, Matthew xi. 27
      No man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son.
    • 1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 1, in The Celebrity:
      In the old days, to my commonplace and unobserving mind, he gave no evidences of genius whatsoever. He never read me any of his manuscripts, […], and therefore my lack of detection of his promise may in some degree be pardoned.
    • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess:
      Meanwhile Nanny Broome was recovering from her initial panic and seemed anxious to make up for any kudos she might have lost, by exerting her personality to the utmost. She took the policeman's helmet and placed it on a chair, and unfolded his tunic to shake it and fold it up again for him.
  2. No matter what kind.
    choose any items you want;  any person may apply‎
    • 1915, Emerson Hough, The Purchase Price, chapterI:
      This new-comer was a man who in any company would have seemed striking. In complexion fair, and with blue or gray eyes, he was tall as any Viking, as broad in the shoulder.
    • 2013 July 20, “Welcome to the plastisphere”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8845:
      Plastics are energy-rich substances, which is why many of them burn so readily. Any organism that could unlock and use that energy would do well in the Anthropocene. Terrestrial bacteria and fungi which can manage this trick are already familiar to experts in the field.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Pronoun

any

  1. Any thing(s) or person(s).
    Any may apply.

Translations

Statistics

Most common English words before 1923: into · up · your · #58: any · what · do · has

Anagrams

Catalan

Etymology

From Old Provençal, from Latin annus, from Proto-Italic *atnos, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂et-no-, probably from *h₂et- ‎(“to go”).

Pronunciation

  • (Balearic) IPA(key): /ˈaɲ/
  • (Central) IPA(key): /ˈaɲ/
  • (Valencian) IPA(key): /ˈaɲ/
  • Rhymes: -aɲ

Noun

any m ‎(plural anys)

  1. year
    un home de 26 anys
    a 26-year-old man
    quants anys tens?
    How old are you?

Etymology

From Middle English eny, from Old English æniġ, from Proto-Germanic *ainagaz, from Proto-Germanic *ainaz ‎(“one”), equivalent to one +‎ -y. Cognate to Dutch enig ‎(“any, some”), German einig ‎(“some”).

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈæni/, /ˈɛni/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈɛni/
  • Rhymes: -ɛni
  • (US) Homophone: innie (pin-pen)
  • (Ireland) IPA(key): /ˈæni/
  • Rhymes: -æni

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