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 circumstances
6 : at the time referred to <now the trouble began>
7 : by this time <has been teaching now for twenty years>