Middle English Dictionary Entry
neighebor n.
Entry Info
| Forms | neighebor n. Also -bour, neiȝebor, -bour, neihebor, -bour, -bur, neihȝebor, neihibur, neiebor, neibor, -bour, -bur, -burwe, -pur & neighbor, -bour, -bur, -borou, -borgh, -burgh, -burght, neiȝbor, -bur, -borou, neigbor, neihbor, -bur, neieȝbor, (errors) neyghborn, neyhborowre & neghebor, -bur, neȝebor, -bur, neȝibor, neȝȝebour, negebur, nehebor, -bour, nehgebur, nechebur & neghbor, -bour, -bur, -boer, -bourgh, neȝbor, -bour, -borwe, -pur, neȝhbor, negbor, nehbur, necbour, neburrou & nighebour, niebor & neughpure & neightbour, neiȝthebour, neithebor, neitebour, neghtebor, -bour, -bur, nethtebur, neghtbor, -bour, -bur, -burgh, neȝtbor, -bour, nextbur, niȝtbur, nitheborgh; pl. neighebores, etc. & (early) neahȝeburæs, neahheburas, (early pl. gen.) nehhebura. |
| Etymology | OE; cp. WS nēah-gebūr, ?LWS nē-gebūr; A nēhgibūr, nēhebūr. Spellings indicate the operation of several analogies: in the 1st element, ME neigh & night; in the 2nd element, ME bǒur & borgh, borwe & burgh, burwe, boru n.(1) & prob. OF proisme, L proximus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One who dwells nearby, a neighbor; a fellow citizen; an inhabitant of a nearby town or country; (b) of a country, part of the body, a bee: a neighbor (to another country, another bodily part, other bees); also fig. of a condition, action: a near relation, the next thing; (c) fellow man, fellow Christian; also fig. dear one [quot.: Ludus C.]; ?also, counterpart, fellow spirit [quot.: a1500(1413)]; (d) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1100 : He wæs swiðe strang & reðe ofer his land & his mænn & wið ealle his neahheburas.
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1117 : Eall þis gear wunode se cyng Henri on Normandig for þes cynges unsehte of France & his oðra nehhebura.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)60/2 : Ða cwædon his neahȝeburæs, 'La! hu næs þæs þe blinde mon þe swa iboren wæs?'
- a1200(?OE) Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)157 : He it ȝifeð swiche men þe he wernen ne mai, for he his neghebore beoð.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)75/32 : Clepe ðu naht ðine friend, ne ðine breðren ðarto, ne ðine kenesmen, ne ðine neihibures.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)11143 : Sir Ion giffard..astorede him wel..to gaderi þuder god of neiȝebores aboute.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)30/16 : Þe uerþe is werre wyþ-oute to his neȝybores and to his nixte þet byeþ alle aboute him.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.111 : Þai..tauȝtten wel her neiȝbours [vr. neȝpurs; F prome].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.3.22 : A womman schall ask of here neyȝbour [L vicina] & of here gest sylueren & golden vessels.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judg.7.13 : A man tolde asweuene to his neghebore [Corp-O: neiȝbore; L proximo].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ruth 4.17 : Þe wymmen neȝeburys..clepedyn his name Obeth.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3108 : I woot wel she wol do me sle som day Som neighebore [vr. neyghburghs].
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.236 : Why is my neighebores wyf so gay?
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)169b/b : Men þat deelen and departen feeldes leuen suche a felde to her neȝhbores to pasture.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)5.73 : I haue a neiȝebour [vrr. neihȝebor, neyȝborow, neyebore, neythebor, nextbur] neiȝ me.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)13.373 : A fote londe or a forwe fecchen I wolde Of my nexte neighbore, nymen of his erthe.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)9.290 : Bere hem none cromes Til alle þyn nedy neihebores haue none ymaked.
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)911 : Leve doghter myne, Me bus wende now bedlem unto At pay þer als our neghboures do.
- (1424) EEWills59/3 : I wol þe same couenaunt be fulfillid..as sone as myn necbours wul ordeyn.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)27/14 : Ȝif pouerte kepe þin hows þou derst not..haue suspescion to þin neyȝebour þat þei wole breke þi walles & bere a wey þyn huches.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)69a/b : Vicinus: a neȝborwe or nyȝ.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.7.94 : His glorie..is publysschid among his owene neyghebours.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Obed.Prel.(Corp-C 296)35 : Þei..han euydence bi spekynge & open lif of here neieȝboris þat þei ben in good lif & in charite.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)179/14 : It was knowyn to summe of hys neybowrys how he was fallyn downe of þe gresys.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)352 : Neyhborowre [KC: neybour]: Proximus, vicinus, proxima, vicina. Neyhbore, of þe same strete: Convicanius, convicania.
- (1449) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 873 : Item, to on of ys neyborys for the karyng of the tymbyr from schylton hedyr.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)1307 : His nygardie Suffrith hys neghtburgh by hym sterue & dye.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)2143 : He..spake to hurre in hurre owne langage, Ryȝt as a neyȝbure doth to a nother.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)649 : Of thy verray neyghebores [vrr. neybores, neyghbours, neyghborys], That duellen almost at thy dores, Thou herist neyther that ne this.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)12959 : Forenses..was neghbur full negh to þe noble yle.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)11382 : Þis Nabod..soiornd als A neghtbour nere be syd.
- (1452) Doc.in Gilbert Cal.Dublin 1275 : No hagards man..shulde no sell no maner of corne..to no straungeris, but onely to harr neghteboris within the cite.
- (1460) Doc.in Gilbert Cal.Dublin 1307 : They wyll be reformet to yeve and yeld with ther neghtbores, citizenes of the sayd citte.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)466/31 : Thomas and Cecilie..shold have..commune of pasture to ther bestis, as other negbores..were I-wonyd to haue.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)187/10 : The fadir seith to the sonne, and oon neyghbour [CQ(2): neyghtbour] to anothir, 'Freendes, the ceason is right merueilous.'
- a1500(?a1400) KEdw.& S.(Cmb Ff.5.48)70 : Sith þou art neghtbur myne, I wil my nedis do and thyne.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)434 : The riche vserer..goth sornynge [read: scornynge] his pore nyghebours.
- a1525(?1421) Cov.Leet Bk.28 : We commaund that no bocher..ne no nygh neighborgh of contre, ber no billys ne gysarnez.
b
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)188/2 : Þe wombe pot, þe walleð of metes & of drunches, is se neh nehbur [Nero: neihebur] to þet fulitohe lim.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2966 : Confessioun is neighebore to innocence.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)272 a/a : If mete failleþ in þe bee huyues, þanne þay reiseþ and assayeþ here neighebours [L proximas] to bynyme hem hire hony.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)13/17 : Thurghe þe helpe of oure goddis, he schall hafe þe ouerhande of all ȝoure neghtebours.
- a1450 Mandev.(3) (BodeMus 116)33/19 : His lon [L terra] is nytheborgh and marchid with Preter Ionis lond.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)81/144 : Whan bale is greetest, than is bote a nye-bore.
c
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)13 : Þat man eggeð his negebure to done oðer to speken him harm oðer same.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)83 : Hie gon to chirche noht for godes luue, ac for to biregen nehebores speche.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)95 : Mildheorted beð þe man þe reouð his nehgebures unselðe.
- a1300 Þu salt hauen (Cmb Ff.6.15)9 : Þreune [read: yeurne] þu nout þin nethtebure hus.
- ?c1335 Nou ihc for þi (Hrl 913)65 : Loue þi neiȝbore as þine owe bodi.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)535 : Ȝif þi neiheboure misdoþ þe..For-ȝif hit him.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)36/32 : Þe zeuende manere [of usury] is ine þan þet doþ hare poure neȝȝeboures ine hare nyedes and uor þet hi habbeþ ham y-lend a lyte zeluer.
- (1357) Gaytr.LFCatech.(Yk-Borth R.I.11)54/232 : The neynd is that we noght yerne our neghtebur house.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Deut.5.21 : Þou shalt not coueite þe wife of þy neiȝbor [L proximi].
- c1390 11 Pains(3) (Vrn)254/114 : Þulke weore glade of þe mischeef Of heore neihȝebors and of heore greef.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.395 : Despitous is he that hath desdeyn of his neighebore [vr. neyghebouris], that is to seyn, of his euene cristen.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.515 : First is the loue of god principal and louynge of his neighebore as hym self.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.521 : In the name of neighebore is comprehended his enemy; certes man shal loue his enemy.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6479 : Þi neghbur [Frf: neghboer; Göt: neyhburs] wijf ȝerne noght at haue.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)6.51 : And þanne ȝoure neiȝebours [vrr. neiȝborowes, neihebors, neyebores, neytebours, neygbore, neburrow, nextbure] next in none wise apeir, Oþerwise þanne þou woldist men wrouȝte to þiselue.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.6140 : Who þat swereth falsly..For to desseive his trewe neȝbour..is forsworn.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Eph.4.25 : Speke ȝee þe soþnes eche man to his neghebore [L proximo], for we ben eche one oþeris membrys.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)5860 : Yhit sal men yhelde acount..of ilka neghebur, Þat men fals to help and to socur.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.171 : Siþ every man in erþe is neiȝbore to ech oþer, how shewe we..ful love to alle þes neiȝboris?
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)4/18 : No man may sette, or norische, or tilye, or distrie his owne vyneȝerd but he sette, or tilye, or distrie his neiȝboris vyneȝerd.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)8/222 : Ȝif þou loue þi neȝtboure, Þen þou louyst þi Sauyoure.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)114/77 : Þo þat stodyn vp to þe kne Bakbidit here neȝtbore fore enuy.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)1316 : Þese customes..are..grounded all on o charite, Whech is loue of God and neybour.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)16/9 : Saint Austin seith..that ijo thingis be necessarie to serue welle, that is to sey..conscience for feith and good name for his neghbourgh [vrr. neyghborow, neyburwe].
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)94/3 : If þou loued þi-silf bettir þan þy neȝbore [vr. neyghburght], whi empechist þou his deedis & levest þin owne?
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)1758 : Who-so lith with his neyghburs wyfe Is cursyd.
- a1450 SChart.Chr.(Hrl 3775)p.457 : Love thy neyghborn [vrr. neyghbure, newghpure, neybur, nyȝtbur] as I do the.
- c1450 Euery man schulde (Lamb 853)37 : Þou schalt not coueite þi neiȝboris [vr. neypurs] good.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)2/25 : God es not louyde wyth-outen thyne neghtbor.
- a1475 As I stod in (Brog 2.1)p.64 : Say be thi neyȝtheboure..Ryȝt as thou woldyst he sayd be the.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)372/482 : Arys..my nehebour and my swete frende.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)40 : He þat cursiþ ani man, or denounciþ him cursid wan he is not cursid..beriþ fals witnes aȝen his neȝbore.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)1.8.6a : Oure [devils'] wiked neighboures [angels] don vs gret disease, wich be wardeynes of this wrecchid pilgrymes.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Add 9066)417 : The fourte case is accusatif case, and are tho that accusen theyre neghbores.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)434 : False pletours..sellen and a-peire theire neyghbours be-hinde here bakke for couetise and envye.
d
- (1222) Domesday Bk.St.Paul in Camd.6918 : Radulphus Nechebur.
- (1303) Feudal Aids 1103 : Willelmus Neybor.
- (1332) Name in LuSE 35140 : Neghbour.
- (1332) Name in LuSE 35140 : Neghbur.