not-beingn.adj.
/ˈnɒtˌbiːɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈnɑtˌbiɪŋ/ A. n.† 2. A non-existent thing. Obsolete. rare.
1. Absence of being; non-existence, unbeing. Cf. non-being n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > non-existence > [noun]
noughtOE
unbeing1435
non-beingc1443
nullity?1573
non esse1585
not-beinga1586
unexistence1593
nihilhood1602
non-essence?1605
inexistence1623
never-being1633
nonentity1643
non-existence1646
no-being1651
inexistency1660
nihility1678
cipherhooda1680
vacuitya1711
nothingness1766
nihilism1856
thinglessness1874
not-ness1933
nullness1949
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) iii. x. sig. Oo3 The base and vilest degree of being, and next to a not-being.
1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay Trewnesse Christian Relig. i. 15 Afore the which there went a Notbeeing.
1623 J. Webster Dutchesse of Malfy iv. ii. sig. K3v Did any ceremoniall forme of Law Doombe her to not-Being?
a1680 J. Corbet Humble Endeavour (1683) i. viii. 6 No more is needful to a Not-being, than Gods not Willing and not Effecting.
1725 I. Watts Logick i. ii. 38 As Being is divided into Substance and Mode, so we may consider Not-Being with Regard to both these.
1850 F. D. Maurice Moral & Metaphysical Philos. (ed. 2) I. 185 Being had been confounded with truth, Not-being with falsehood.
1871 E. B. Tylor Primitive Culture II. 97 He may find in utter dissolution and not-being a refuge even from heaven.
1917 D. H. Lawrence Look! We have come Through! 147 It wounds me to death with my own not-being.
1933 C. Dawson Enq. Relig. & Culture iii. ii. 194 The element of nothingness or not-being which is inherent in the world of sensible experience.
1983 C. Ozick Art & Ardor (1984) 121 The concept of death..by being not-being is nothing to be afraid of.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > non-existence > [noun] > that which is non-existent > a thing that does not exist
noughta1425
goat woola1522
goat's wool1550
non-ens1603
nonentity1604
non-existence1646
nothingness1652
non-existent1658
non-being1662
not-being1725
non-existenta1856
1725 I. Watts Logick i. ii. 40 Then they rank them also under the general Head of Not-Beings.
Non-existent. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > existence > non-existence > [adjective]
pretended1489
Oudemian streeta1586
not-being1594
unbeing1607
inexistent1646
non-existent1646
insubsistent1654
unented1657
unexistenta1682
non-existing1743
null1762
unexisting1785
nullibiquitous1820
non-entitous1831
beingless1835
non-entitive1872
non-entitative1889
nil1937
1594 J. Dickenson Arisbas sig. H 2 The extremitie of fortunes malice, which seemed to ease me with a shadow of not-being solace.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.a1586