Definition of now

What does the word now mean?

• part of speech: adverb

  At the present time; by this time; under the present circumstances (I cannot n. ever believe you again; n. that I know you, it is different); immediately (must go n.); in the immediate past (just n., & archaic even, but, n.); (in narrative) then, next, by that time, (Caesar now marched east; it was n. clear); (every) n. & then or again, from time to time, intermittently; n. -n., n. -then, n. - & again, at one moment- at another; n. or never!, this is the nick of time; (without temporal force, giving various tones, soothing, reproving, explanatory, threatening, &c., to sentence) pray, I beg, I insist, I warn you, & yet, you must know, it must be admitted, surely, (N. what do you mean by it?. Oh, come n.!. No nonsense n.!. You have revealed the secret; n. you were paid to keep it. Now Barabbas was a robber. N. this was bad enough, but-. N. then, what mischief are you at?. You don\'t mean it, n.). (Conj.; orig., as often still, now adv. followed by that) consequently upon or simultaneously with the fact that (N. I am a man I think otherwise. N. you mention it, I do remember). (N.) this time, the present, (chiefly after prepp.; is there by, ere, till, n., from n. till, &c.; read the future in the n.). [old English]