Emily Dickinson Lexicon

NOT, adv. [Sax. naht or noht, naught, that is, ne and awiht, not any thing; D. niet; G. nicht; Russ. niete; Scot. nocht. See Naught.]

1. A word that expresses negation, denial or refusal; as, he will not go; will you remain? I will not. In the first member of a sentence, it may be followed by nor or neither; as, not for a price nor reward; I was not in safety, neither had I rest.
2. With the substantive verb in the following phrase, it denies being, or denotes extinction of existence. Thine eyes are open upon me, and I am not. Job vii.