Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
NONENTITY, n. Obs. Sc. usages:
1. A sinecure, a figment, a nothing.Ayr. 1822 Galt Provost xi.:
I could take all the necessary part of the trouble off your lordship's hands, and so render the provostry in your lordship's name a perfect nonentity.
2. In phr. to be at a nonentity, to be in a vague or indeterminate state, in a vacuum, at a standstill or nonplus.Sc. 1712 R. Wodrow Corresp. (1843) I. 307:
We are yet at a nonentity as to our Assembly. We have no account of our Commissioner.
