Main Entry:

¹now

Pronunciation:

\ˈnau̇\

Function:

adverb

Etymology:

Middle English, from Old English nū; akin to Old High German nū now, Latin nunc, Greek nyn

Date:

before 12th century

1 a: at the present time or moment b: in the time immediately before the present <thought of them just now> c: in the time immediately to follow : forthwith <come in now>2—used with the sense of present time weakened or lost to express command, request, or admonition <now hear this><now you be sure to write>3—used with the sense of present time weakened or lost to introduce an important point or indicate a transition (as of ideas) <now, this may seem reasonable at first>4: sometimes <now one and now another>5: under the present circumstances6: at the time referred to <now the trouble began>7: by this time <has been teaching now for twenty years>