Middle English Dictionary Entry
neither conj.
Entry Info
| Forms | neither conj. Also naither, nether, neider, nethther, (early) næþer, (errors) nærþer, neythey. |
| Etymology | OE nāwþer & ǣgþer; cp. pron. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Neither; -- in correlation with ne, nor, etc., neither..nor; (a) ~ (ne..ne, ne ~..ne, etc.; (b) ~..nor; (c) ~..ner; (d) ~..~; (e) ~..no, ~..nother, ~..or.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)31/18 : Þus byð þat yfel acenned: Ærest þur mycele æteþ and drincas þæt yfel hym on innan wyxt and rixað swa swyþe, þæt hym næþer ne meteþ ne ealaþ ne lyst.
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)31/20 : Do hyne into þan huse, þe beo nærþer ne to hæt ne to ceald.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)9/12 : Ne sweriȝeð, naiðer ne be heuene ne be ierðe, ne bie nan oðer ðing.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)27/33 : Na þing ne mai ðe ȝelimpen ne to-cumen, neiðer ne euel ne god, ne on wele ne on wauȝhe.
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)45/800 : Hit was at Cristesmasse, Neiþer more ne lasse.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)367/10 : He ne seide neiþer on ne oþur.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)898 : Sparede he neyþer tos ne heles.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3774 : Erðe..opnede vnder ere fet, Held up neiðer ston ne gret.
- c1330(c1250) Floris (Auch)265 : Ne mai no seriaunt be þerinne þat in his brech bereþ þe ginne, Neiþer bi dai ne bi niȝt, But he be ase capoun diȝt.
- c1330(?c1300) Reinbrun (Auch)p.650 : Neuer kniȝt y ne fond So wel werchande wiþ dent of brond, Naiþer fer ne ner.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3802 : He so soore fil out of his char..So that he neither myghte go ne ryde.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)2 Kings 14.17 : As þe aungil of þe lord, so is my lord þe kyng, þat neiþer [vr. nether; L nec] by blessyng ne bi cursyng he be moeued.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12811 : Neþer [Göt: Nouþer] am i crist ne yeitt heli, Ne prophet sal naman me claim.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)6.283 : I haue no peny..poletes forto bigge, Ne neyther gees ne grys.
- a1400 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Pep 2498)p.25 : I wot wel þine werkes, for þou art neiþer hot ne colde.
- (1422) Plea & Mem.in Bk.Lond.E.123/48 : We present Norton that he anoyth the feld with dong, that there may neythir hors ne cart pas for his dong.
- (1423) Plea & Mem.in Bk.Lond.E.134/110 : He is a freman & paieth nether lotte ne Scotte.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)1 Cor.11.11 : Neyþer [L neque] þe man with oute þe womman ne þe womman with oute þe man in oure lord.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3196 : But she was neither yong ne hoor.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)404/30 : Neiþir þei ben parfiȝt as þei schulden be, ne þei be myche wickid.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.22/29 : Nethir the hande from the shuldyr ne the hede from the hande myghte be departid.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)446 : She neyther answerde wel ne seyde amys.
- a1450(a1396) Hilton CPerf.(Paris angl.41)26 : Þe soule..schal mowe laste esily..not discouerynge it-silf in siȝt of oþere men, neþer bi lawhynge ne bi sobbynge, ne bi no queint tokene of berynge of þe body.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)8b : Witeþ wel, þe craft of armes is neiþer litel ne liȝt.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)342/3 : He hadde neyþere wille to rede ne to preye ne to do anye gode werke.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)197/1428b : Was knyght neuer, sythyn god was born, Neþer sythyn ne be-forn, That bettir bar him sauncs de-laye.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)17a/a : Þe heed was mad neiþir for þe witt ne for þe Brayn but oonly for þe yȝen.
- c1425(a1400) Wycl.Conf.(Dub 245)343 : To him is þis thanke propur, & neyþur to pope ne confessour.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)200 : Þat mayde for wreþþe and hete Nolde neydyr drynke ne ete.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)4070 : A good womman coueiteþ noght, Neiþer in werk ne in þoght.
b
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.946 : That lord..wol nat suffren hem by noon assent Neither to been yburyed nor ybrent.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)5857 : Neyder i knou him þat ȝe say, Nor i ne wil lat þe folk away.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)212 : A þing of Poetes told, Neuere yseyn neither of ȝong nor old.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.661 : Ye neither shullen..Heren noyse of reynes nor of thonder.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)2746 : Þerof getyth he neythyr peny nor pownde.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)3473 : He wolde neuere þe hungry Neyþyr clothe nor fede, Ner drynke gyf to þe þrysty.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)349/3 : Neither the forsaid Richard Harecourte, Edward Langford..nor none of theire heires..be put fro..chalange.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)594/3 : Neither he nor none in his name nor in his wyfes..fro hens-forthe shall not vexe.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)32/114 : He wyll neyther ete nor drynke.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)817 : Ȝelde me nethyr golde nor tresure, but yowr humbyll obeysyance.
- 1485(a1470) Malory Wks.(Caxton:Vinaver)7/18 : So they departed that neyther the kynge nor none of his counceill were ware of their departyng.
c
- (1440) Wars France in RS 22.2589 : Neithere my saide lorde ner his heiris nor executours be not compellid to restore the money.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)141 : Wee sufferede nethere frende nere foo..passe forby us in tyme of werrynge.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)173/138 : Þer xal be neythey kayser nere knyge.
- a1500 Galawnt pride (RwlPoet 34)34 : Ther-in ys neyther peny ner crosse, Butt iij dysse and crystys curse.
d
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 14.35 : Nether in erthe nether in the dunghil it is profitable.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Thes.2.5 : Nethir we weren ony tyme in word of glosyng..nether [L neque..neque] in occasioun of auarice.
- (1415) Will in Bdf.HRS 220 : Y pray..þat on my styngyn carion be neither laid cloith of gold neither of silk.
- (1422) Plea & Mem.in Bk.Lond.E.124/103 : They peyet neither to lone neither to taillage, ne to lotte ne scotte, ne to no wacche.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Gen.19.33 : He feelide not, nethir whanne the douȝtir lay doun, nether [WB(1): nother..ne; L nec..nec] whanne sche roos.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)11/17 : Narwnes of place withstandeþ neþur wit neþur vertu.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)41a/b : Summe haue addiciouns entringe, & summe haue voidnes resseruynge, and summe boþe þe tone and þe toþer, & summe neiþer þe tone neiþer þe toþer [L neutrum].
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)91b/a : His brede schal be..baken neiþir to myche neiþir to litel and neiþir olde neiþir freische but as it were of þre daies olde.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)95a/b : He moste be wele warre þat neiþer wyne neiþer no noþer liquide þing enter into þe wounde.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)296/9,10 : He wil not..mynystre poore folk, neiþir of temperal goodis neiþir spiritual.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)194 : Noon such may be to þee paied neiþer bi þe doer of þe same synne neiþer by eny oþer persoone.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)121 : Neither breche of lay man neither gown neither cloke neither wommannis lynnen or silken couercheef neither clock neither Englisch tunge or langage neither ale neither bere is spokun of there in special.
- a1450(a1396) Hilton CPerf.(Paris angl.41)5 : For no tribulacioun and for no temptacioun, leue neuere praier, neiþer in wirchinge of worldli werk, neþer in bedde neþer out of bedde, in companye neþer solitarie.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)16.561 : Neuere Othir clothing he hadde..Nethir In hosinge nethir I schon.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)53/9-10 : Neither the foresaid Alexandre neithere his heires nor none other in his name..in no parte therof fro hensforth make ony chalenge for euer.
- c1475 *Mondeville (Wel 564)151a/b : Kutte þi þreed neiþir to schorte neiþir to longe.
- a1500(c1370) Chaucer Comp.L.(Benson-Robinson)17 : Neither pitee, mercy, neither grace Can I nat fynde.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)9300 : Þey shullen fele neuer a dele, Neiþer of woo neiþer of wele.
e
- (c1390) Chart.Abbey HG (LdMisc 210)350 : It is skil..þat he neuere haue of þe neiþer pitee no mercy.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.499 : She noght ameued Neither in word or cheere or contenaunce.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)2902 : Mani a man for ouer wele Himself can neþer fonde na fele.
- a1450 Of alle þe ioyus (Cmb Dd.11.89)147 : They sparedon nethther senwe no bon.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)348/9 : There myght neyther kynge nother knyght have no redy cognysshauns of hym.
2.
In correlation with stated or implied preceding negative: nor; ne..~, never..~, no..~, no..non..~, no(n..ne..~, nother..~, nought..ne ~, not (nought)..~.
Associated quotations
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.18.32 : Ne delite þou in cumpanyes neþer [L nec] in smaal þingis.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Dan.3.38 : Ther is not in this tyme prince and duyke and prophete nether brent sacrifice nether sacrifice nether offring nether [L non est..neque..neque] encense, ne place of primissis byfor thee.
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)51 : He prechith not the gospel generali..neither lyueth in mekenesse.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.2154 : No wight myghte it se neither yheere.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)35b/a : Þe ioyntis..beþ noȝt Ilette of here office by hete of meuynge, neiþir by hote blood noþir by drynes þat myȝte falle.
- (1418) Grocer Lond.in Bk.Lond.E.197/66 : The wardeyns schull nought auentour ouer the see neyther leue the comun good.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)695 : Me list not nowe whisper neither rowne.
- (1423) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.181/1288 : These been þe names of þoo persones..þe wheche were nought present atte seide dyner ne neyther deden nought heren þe same acountes.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)9/23 : Neþer Paule hadde his askyng wanne he preiȝede for remocion of siknes.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)139 b/a : Put in no maner no tent in none sucche wounde neiþer in no wounde of sinewes but ȝif it be a litil tent.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)181a/b : Pure remollitiues schal neuer here neiþer ellis where be leide to.
- c1425 *Wycl.Concord.(Roy 17.B.1)71a : Neiþir we han herd if þe hooli goost is.
- c1425 *Wycl.Concord.(Roy 17.B.1)122b : Saducees seien þat no rysynge of deede men is, neþir aungel neþir spiryt.
- c1425 *Wycl.Concord.(Roy 17.B.1)143b : Þe sunne neiþir sterris [WB(1): nether sunne nether sterris] weren seen bi manye daies.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)350 : Mo ententis for which matrimonye schulde be ordeyned is not knowen..bi resoun neiþer bi scripture.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)18 : I..never thinke To besily my wyt to swinke To knowe of hir signifiaunce The gendres, neyther the distaunce Of tymes.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.328 : It is [?read: Nis] a fallace nether opinioun But verrey science suffisaunt and trewe.
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)34/25 : It was, nether is, no nede to fynde any more figures.
- c1450 Mandev.(4) (CovCRO Acc.325/1)2659 : There was neuere man ȝit þat couth make Shippe ne vesselle þat see to take, Nethir man so hardie in cristiante That durst wende into that see.
- (1457) Doc.in Gilbert Cal.Dublin 1298 : They schall non Irysh men ne men with bardys above the mowth neythyr har horsys..ne har horsknavys, to be logyt wythyn the wall of the citte of Dyvelyng.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)6 : Othir myrthis..hold no store Of wisdom ne of holynes..Nethir of vertuouse matere.
- (1462) Doc.in Gilbert Cal.Dublin 1313 : Hyt ys graunt..that no bowcher nathyr bowcher ys man, neethyr no nothyr man by no kyd..to syll agayn.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)404/23 : Hit was happened that day that nother he neythir sir Launcelot myght nat be there.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)593/9 : The seid william Bernevall, neither his heires ne his assignes, no maner of right in the forsaid pasturis may chalange.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)118/23 : Alle þe dedis..ben pure moral ech oon and not cerymonial neiþir iudicial.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)5 : The knyȝt was ny distroyd and lost; Nethir þer was no leche that myȝt helpe him.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)432 : Metallis be only elementatife, Havyng no seed nethir feldyng of lyve.