one, some, or several, as specified, no matter how much or many, what kind or quality, etcany cheese in the cupboard is yours; you may take any clothes you like
(as pronoun; functioning as sing or plural)take any you like
(usually used with a negative)
even the smallest amount or even oneI can't stand any noise
(as pronoun; functioning as sing or plural)don't give her any
whatever or whichever; no matter what or whichany dictionary will do; any time of day
an indefinite or unlimited amount or number (esp in the phrases any amount or number)any number of friends
adverb
(usually used with a negative)
(foll by a comparative adjective)to even the smallest extentit isn't any worse now
not standardat allhe doesn't care any
Word Origin for any
Old English ǣnig; related to Old Frisian ēnig, Old High German einag, Old Norse einigr anyone, Latin ūnicus unique; see an1, one
Old English ænig "any, anyone," literally "one-y," from Proto-Germanic *ainagas (cf. Old Saxon enig, Old Norse einigr, Old Frisian enich, Dutch enig, German einig), from PIE *oi-no- "one, unique" (see one). The -y may have diminutive force here.
Emphatic form any old ______ (British variant: any bloody ______) is recorded from 1896. At any rate is recorded from 1847. Among the large family of compounds beginning with any-, anykyn "any kind" (c.1300) did not survive, and Anywhen (1831) is rarely used, but OED calls it "common in Southern [British] dialects."
