nihil

About This Root

From Latin nihil (nothing), itself from ne- (not) + hilum (a small thing, trifle). Produces nihilism (the philosophy of nothingness), nil (zero), annihilate (reduce to nothing), and annul (make void). The root captures absolute negation — not merely 'less' but complete nonexistence. The an- prefix in annihilate intensifies the destruction to totality.

Associated Words