nil: [19] Latin nil was a contracted form of nihil ‘nothing’ (source of English nihilism [19]). This in turn was a shortening of an earlier nihilum, a compound formed from the negative particle nī and hīlum ‘small or trivial thing’, and thus denoted etymologically ‘not a jot’. => nihilism
nil (n.)
"nothing," 1833, from Latin nil, contraction of nihil, nihilum "nothing, not at all; in vain," from ne- "not" (see un-) + hilum "small thing, trifle," of unknown origin.
实用例句
1. Profits zoomed from nil in 1981 to about 16 million last year.
利润从1981年的零收益飙升至去年的1,600万。来自柯林斯例句
2. They gave an insipid opening performance in a nil-nil draw with Peru.
他们与秘鲁队的揭幕战打得波澜不惊，最终以0：0战平。来自柯林斯例句
3. Austria beat Hungary 3-nil in a friendly match at Salzburg on Wednesday.
