Middle English Dictionary Entry
neither pron.
Entry Info
| Forms | neither pron. Also nether, nethur, neider. |
| Etymology | OE nāhwæþer, nāwþer, with the vowel of ǣghwæþer, ǣgþer, analogically introduced. The form probably originated in LOE, but the earliest evidence (cp. conj.) is of the 12th century. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Neither of two; ~..other; here ~, neither of them; (b) as adj.: neither of two, not one; ~ nouther, neither one nor the other; (c) gram. neuter.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300(c1250) Floris (Cmb Gg.4.27)737 : Neiþer ne miȝte þere þole Þat oþer deide bifore.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)394 : On sundri ðhenken he to ben And neiðere on oðer sen.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1276 : Ðor ben he boðen feren pligt, Ðat here neiðer sal don oðer un-rigt.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1135 : Ech of vs..Til that the deeth departe shal vs tweyne Neither of vs in loue to hyndre oother.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.940 : Neither of hem hath power of his owene body.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1660 : Sal neþer [Göt: neyder; Trin-C: nouþer] liue ne fouul ne best.
- c1400 PPl.B (Trin-C B.15.17)4.33 : Conscience..bad Reson ryde faste and recche of hir neiþer [Ld: noither].
- (1423) Let.Bk.in Bk.Lond.E.(Gldh LetBk I & K)111/111 : Nether of þe two Maistres of þe Crafte of Cirurgy do þe same with-out hym.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.371 : Specheles thus ben thise ilke tweye, That neither myghte o word for sorwe seye.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.1130 : Neyther of hem other myghte grete.
- a1425(a1400) Titus & V.(Pep 2014)1924 : Neiþer was wiþ oþer wroþe.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)31/20 : While wele & woo pleyen at þe balle, neþur of hem kan holde þe balle stille.
- (c1438) MKempe B (Add 61823)226/12 : A strawnge man was come for hir, & her neiþyr was but lityl knowyn.
- a1450(a1396) Hilton CPerf.(Paris angl.41)31 : Neiþir of hem wole aȝeinseie oþere, for displesynge of eþer oþer in ony þing þat neþer of hem wole do.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.10.6b : He þat neuere felid neiþer, ore elles but þet on, mai liȝtli be disceiued.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)345 : Neithir of hem in prowes may atteyne For to be set or put in remembraunce A-geyn the Lamb.
b
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)143/15 : Þei moun not wagge to neiþir [vr. neythere] side aboute þe sowynge.
- (1402) Topias (Dgb 41)p.95 : Lok ȝour lyvyng, ȝour prechyng..as I wene the Holigost appreveth nether nouther.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)27/10 : He is no þing suptuouȝs..confecciones & swete wynes, he knoweþ neþur noþur.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.Lear (Göt Hist 740)365 : Nethyr duc wold hold hym trewth.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.m.3.52 : Who so that sekith sothnesse, he nis in neyther nother habit, for he not nat al, ne he ne hath nat al foryeten.
c
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)352 : Neythyr [Win: neydyr]: Neuter.