not've

not've

English

Etymology

not +‎ -'ve

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈnɑtəv/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈnɒtəv/

Contraction

not've

1. Contraction of not have.
   • 1998, David Weber, The War God's Own, →ISBN.

     I'd not've fallen in if you'd've told me it was there, Da. And I'd not've sunk if you'd've taught me how to swim.

   • 2005, George Singleton, Novel

     Mac McAdams might not've added all those "ayes," but he spoke in such a melodious dialect that "aye" kind of came out understood.

   • 2018, , "MST3K, Turkey Day, and 30 years of taking over the world before pie is served"

     “To the fan, did it add that much value?” Nelson wondered. “Was it worth that much time? I don’t know. It might not’ve.”

Anagrams

• Vento