Middle English Dictionary Entry
nether adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | nether adv. Also nedðer, neother, neouðer, nither, nider; comp. netherere, netherrore. |
| Etymology | OE neoþor, niþer. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Down, downward, low; afellen ~, aleien ~, bringen ~, to defeat (sb. or sth.) humiliatingly, disgrace; ~ stiinge, descent [q.v.].
Associated quotations
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)111 : Quod autem ascendit quid est nisi quia descendet primum in [i]nferiores partes terre. Erest he steg neoðer and siðen on hegh; of neoðerstienge specð dauid on þe salm boc.
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B:Berberich)132.132/1 : Þeos wyrt..hafað smale leaf..niþer wið þa earþan ahyldende.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)108/25 : Heo eft nyðer of ðare dune eoden.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1982 : Þa Englisce ouer-comen þe Brutuns, & brouhten heom þer neoðere [Otho: vnder fote].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)8182 : He..smat hine swide sare þat his neb & his neose niðer ba heolden.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)11818 : Þus Armoriche nome niðer wæs auælled.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)31686 : We him sculleð to luken and neouðer hine aleggen, lond and his leoden.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)111 : Erest he steg neoðer and siðen on hegh..he com neðer to helle.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)5/9 : Modinesse..brohte ðane brihteste angel fram ðare heuene heinesse niþer into helle depnesse.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)57/2,4 : He brohte him seluen swiðe neðer in to helle, and alle his folȝeres..he hafð ineðered niðer in to helle grunde alle ðe modi.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)105/26 : Se strengþe of ðessere hali mihte, hie takð up in to heuene and niþer in to helle.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)145/9 : Ðanne ðu wilt at gode ani þing beseken cnyle ðar niðer to-foren hise fet.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)40/15 : Ne warp þu me nawt neoðer in-to helle.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)500 : Ðat ge ne falle niðer nogt ðat is most in hire ðogt.
- c1300 SLeg.Patr.(LdMisc 108)317 : Wrechche gostus þare-inne seten..some to heore nauele and some neþerrore more.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)370 : Niðful neddre, loð and liðer, Sal gliden on hise brest neðer.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3385 : Quane he leth is hondes niðer, Amalech folc fagt hard and wiðer.
- c1400(a1349) Rolle MPass.(1) (Cmb Ll.1.8)26/227 : I wolde..lay me flat on þe grounde, and neþerere ȝyf I myȝte.