Naughty

Form:

Naughty = naught (pronoun) + suffix –y

Origin:

Naught:

OE nawuht

OE–eME nawiht

2 versions:

1. na, variant of NO (not, by no means)+ wight (OE:wiht; a living being, a creature)

2. ne (not)+ aught (OE:áwiht; anything)

-> naught = not anything, nothing

-> pronoun -> noun -> adjective

Development of the meaning:

NAUGHT AS AN ADJECTIVE:

- usually in predicative use, today archaic

- meaning: WORTHLESS, MORALLY BAD, HARMFUL

NAUGHTY:

-15th century - having or possessing nothing.

-15th – 18th century: morally bad, wicked

-16th century –now: immoral, promiscuous, sexually provocative.

-17th century – now: mischievous, disobedient.

-19th century - now: naughty corner