nil: [19] Latin nil was a contracted form of nihil ‘nothing’ (source of English nihilism [19]). This in turn was a shortening of an earlier nihilum, a compound formed from the negative particle nī and hīlum ‘small or trivial thing’, and thus denoted etymologically ‘not a jot’. => nihilism
nil (n.)
"nothing," 1833, from Latin nil, contraction of nihil, nihilum "nothing, not at all; in vain," from ne- "not" (see un-) + hilum "small thing, trifle," of unknown origin.
双语例句
1. Profits zoomed from nil in 1981 to about 16 million last year.
利润从1981年的零收益飙升至去年的1,600万。
来自柯林斯例句
2. They gave an insipid opening performance in a nil-nil draw with Peru.
他们与秘鲁队的揭幕战打得波澜不惊,最终以0:0战平。
来自柯林斯例句
3. Austria beat Hungary 3-nil in a friendly match at Salzburg on Wednesday.