cannot
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
cannot
Both the one-word form cannot and the two-word form can not are acceptable, but cannot is more common (in the Oxford English Corpus, three times as common). The two-word form is generally required in constructions where not is part of a set phrase, such as 'not only... but (also)': Paul can not only sing well, but also paint brilliantly.
An important contrast is that cannot is definitive, whereas can not is open to other options: Jane cannot go to the party. indicates an insurmountable obstacle preventing Jane's attendance at the party, whilst Jane can not go to the party. indicates that Jane is free to choose to attend or be absent.
In spoken English emphasis may be placed on the first syllable of cannot (e.g. /ˈkænɒt/) in the first phrase and on not in the second phrase (e.g. /kən ˈnɒt/) when it is intended to clearly articulate which form is meant.
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cannot (plural cannots)
Related to French cane (“(female) duck”) and canard (“duck; drake”); see there for more. Cognate with French canot (“little boat”).
cannot m (plural cannots)
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