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mégsem. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
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Hungarian
Alternative forms
Etymology
még + sem
Pronunciation
Conjunction
mégsem
- (in declarative sentences, used with indicative or conditional moods) yet, still, but, however, nevertheless, all the same, notwithstanding, after all (all followed by negation in English; introducing a negative statement in contrast with an affirmative antecedent; the opposite of mégis)
- Synonyms: de, azonban, viszont, csakhogy, ugyanakkor (quasi-synonyms; as opposed to mégsem, these conjunctions need to be followed by a negative particle such as nem to express negation)
- Mégsem tettek semmit. ― Yet they did nothing.
- 1991 (publication of the translation), Frederick Forsyth, András Bánfalvi (translator), The Devil’s Alternative, Chapter Thirteen:
– Végül talán mégsem kell katasztrófára számítanunk – mondta.- “It looks as if we may not face the catastrophe after all,” she said.
- (software) cancel, undo (as an instruction; its literal meaning can be derived from mégsem ezt szeretném “and yet I do not want that”)
- a Mégsem gomb ― the Cancel button
Usage notes
The word mégsem is limited to declarative sentences, just like nem (“not”) (as opposed to ne (“don’t”)). In prohibitive sentences, with the subjunctive mood, mégse can be used instead. (The latter form is also possible in informal style in declarative sentences.)
Related terms
- mégis (introducing a positive statement in contrast with a negative antecedent)
Further reading
- mégsem in Bárczi, Géza and László Országh. A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára (‘The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language’, abbr.: ÉrtSz.). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN