mustn't
|must/n't|
A2
/ˈmʌsənt/
(must)
prohibition
Etymology
Etymology Information
'mustn't' originates from the contraction of 'must not', where 'must' is derived from Old English 'moste', meaning 'had to'.
Historical Evolution
'must not' contracted into 'mustn't' in modern English usage.
Meaning Changes
Initially, 'must' indicated necessity, but in the negative form 'mustn't', it evolved to indicate prohibition.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Last updated: 2025/01/17 03:09