have-not
UK[ˈhæv nɒt]US[ˈhæv nɑːt]
n
a person or group of people who possess little or no wealth or material possessions.
Morpheme Breakdown
have
not
have
not
Etymology
the compound noun "have-not" is a modern english formation, directly constructed from the common verb "have" and the adverb "not." it follows a transparent and productive pattern in english where a verb phrase is nominalized to describe a person characterized by that action or state. the logic is purely syntactic and semantic within english, contrasting with the noun "have" to denote a person who possesses, thereby creating a term for one who does not. this formation exemplifies the analytic and compounding tendencies of english to generate new social vocabulary from its core grammatical elements, without a deep historical evolution from classical languages.
Analysis
Structure: have + not
have (from old english habban, meaning "to own, possess"; functional role: verb root) + not (from old english nōt, a contraction of ne wāt, meaning "not"; functional role: adverb of negation).
Examples
the growing gap between the haves and the have-nots is a major social concern.
the policy aims to provide more opportunities for the have-nots in society.
in the novel, the protagonist rises from being a have-not to a position of great influence.