释义 |
neitheradv.conj.pron.adj.Origin: A variant or alteration of another lexical item. Etymon: nauther pron., adv., and adj. Etymology: Alteration of nauther pron., adv., and adj. by analogy with either pron., adj., adv., and conj. Compare also nather adv., pron., and adj., nother adv.1, and nouther pron., adv.1, and adj.The γ. forms may perhaps represent survivals of earlier nather adv., pron., and adj., but are placed here on the grounds that similar forms are frequent as Scots forms of either pron., adj., adv., and conj. For the history of the word's pronunciation, see discussion s.v. either pron., adj., adv., and conj. A. adv. (and conj.) 1. Introducing reference to alternatives or different things, about each of which a negative statement is made. The regular position of neither is immediately before the first of the alternative expressions, but it is frequently placed earlier in the sentence. The ‘unbalanced’ placing of neither is commonly criticized by grammarians from the mid 18th cent. onwards.Almost any parallel sentence elements may express the alternatives, but parallel main clauses are now rare in this construction.α. ?a1200 (?OE) (1896) 31 Þæt yfel hym on innan wyxt and rixað swa swyþe, þæt hym næþer ne meteþ ne ealaþ ne lyst. a1400 (a1325) (Vesp.) 1660 (MED) Sal neþer [a1400 Gött. neyder; a1400 Trin. Cambr. nouþer] liue ne fouul ne best. β. a1225 (c1200) (1888) 9 (MED) Ne sweriȝeð, naiðer ne be heuene ne be ierðe.c1300 (Laud) (1868) 898 (MED) Sparede he neyþer tos ne heles.c1375 G. Chaucer 3802 He so soore fil out of his char..So that he neither myghte go ne ryde.a1400 (a1325) (Gött.) 6941 His hali wandis..greu neyder less ne mare, Bot euer befor as þai ware.c1475 (a1400) J. Wyclif (1880) 343 (MED) To him is þis thanke propur, & neyþur to pope ne confessour.1483 ( tr. G. Deguileville (Caxton) v. xiv. f. cix The sone dependeth of the fader..neither latter ne rather than the fader.1496 Treat. Fysshynge wyth Angle in (rev. ed.) sig. hij Ye shall not put therto neyther coporose ne vertgrees.1526 (de Worde) f. 2v Spared no labours neyther by see ne yet by lande.α. c1384 (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Luke 14:35 Nether in erthe nether in the dunghil it is profitable. a1425 (Cambr.) (1968) 11 (MED) Narwnes of place withstandeþ neþur wit neþur vertu. β. a1470 T. Malory (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) III. 1191 That neyther you, my lorde kyng Arthur, nother you, sir Gawayne, com nat into the fylde.c1475 tr. Henri de Mondeville (Wellcome) f. 151 (MED) Kutte þi þreed neiþir to schorte neiþir to longe.1569 R. Grafton II. 102 We..intend so to proceed in this matter, neither enclynyng on the right hande, neyther yet on the left.1620 T. Venner viii. 176 Neither alwaies, neither to euery one, neither of euery sort.a1650 G. Boate (1652) xvi. 129 This stuff or Oar being neither loose..as earth.., neither firm..as stone, is of a middle substance..composed of shels or scales.1748 S. Richardson IV. xxxii. 187 Neither can an Opposition, neither can a Ministry, be always wrong.δ. a1539 in 47 54 Nither at the christening nother at the confirmacion. c. neither..nor. neither here nor there: see here adv. 12.α. 1535 Josh. viii. D They had no place to flie vnto, nether hither ner thither. 1569 J. Sanford tr. H. C. Agrippa 107 Economie, or housholdinge cannot truely be termed neether Art nor Science. β. c1385 G. Chaucer 946 That lord..wol nat suffren hem by noon assent Neither to been yburyed nor ybrent.1569 R. Grafton II. 42 Dauid king of Scottes..spoyled the Countrie,..not sparing neyther man woman nor chylde.1606 L. Bryskett 32 Not tying himselfe absolutely to follow neither Plato nor Aristotle.1678 R. Cudworth tr. Maximus of Tyre in i. ii. 494 No part neither of Nature, nor of the World, is to Homer Godless.1713 G. Berkeley i. 51 You have no Idea at all, neither relative nor positive of Matter.1776 W. Marshall 19 May (1778) What, then, must be the fate of those who do not keep a minute account, neither of the yield nor of the vent?1827 R. Southey II. 131 There was now no respite neither by day nor night for this devoted city.a1849 H. Coleridge (1851) II. 277 Christianity abrogated no duty..neither for Jew nor Gentile.1953 A. Hosain 183 The woman had no status, neither as a wife nor a mother of sons, and could be her handmaiden.1994 H. Bloom ii. iv. 107 No writer, neither Ovid nor ‘the English Ovid’, Christopher Marlowe, influenced Shakespeare as crucially as Chaucer did.α. a1425 (Cambr.) (1968) 11 (MED) Þe nobilite of a cete stondeþ neþer in hiȝe toures nor in grete richesses but in famouse storye of þe induellande. c1475 (1969) 817 Ȝelde me nethyr golde nor tresure, but yowr humbyll obeysyance. a1513 W. Dunbar (1998) I. 128 Left is nether corce nor cunȝie. 1535 Tobit v. 2 Nether doth he knowe me, ner I him. 1549 N. Ridley Let. in R. Potts (1855) 245 I am assuredly persuaded that it is neder the Kinge's Majesties nor your Graces pleasor. 1673 W. Scroggs in E. M. Thompson (1878) I. 112 I choose the rather to write when I have nether business nor newes. 1687 W. Molyneux Let. 12 Feb. in J. Flamsteed (1997) II. 334 The greatest Inequalitys are neather on those pointes nor the Suzigia nor Quadratures. β. a1400 (a1325) (Gött.) 5857 (MED) Neyder i knou him þat ȝe say, Nor i ne wil lat þe folk away.a1450 (1969) l. 2746 Þerof getyth he neythyr peny nor pownde.?a1500 in F. J. Furnivall (1903) 164 Thowe canst me neydur thank nor pleasse.?c1500 (Digby) 198 Of me thu shalt neyther haue ffee nor aduauntage.1548 f. ccxliiv That gain once gotten.., neither othe holdeth, nor frendship continueth.1594 O. B. L 2 b Neither God nor nature giues this value vnto all.1630 W. Bedell Let. in R. Parr (1686) Coll. clxviii. 454 This Protestation having neither Latin, nor Law, nor Common Sence.1690 J. Locke ii. ix. 132 Adam..being neither Monarch, nor his imaginary Monarchy, hereditable.1728 A. Ramsay ii She neither has lawtith nor shame.1746 J. Hervey (1818) 259 Neither care disturbs their sleep, nor passion inflames their breast.1785 W. Cowper v. 90 Neither grub nor root nor earth-nut now Repays their labour more.1849 T. B. Macaulay I. v. 555 Quarter was to be neither taken nor given.1879 M. Arnold Irish Catholicism in 120 There are neither fairies nor gnomes.1923 A. Bennett i. ii. 5 He had the air neither of a bookman nor of a member of the upper-middle class.1994 22 Sept. (OnLine section) 4/2 A firewall is neither an off-the-shelf product nor a complete methodology: it's simply a metaphor.γ. 1568 A. Scott (1896) 23 Tho' naþir hairt nor mynd consentis.1572 in J. Cranstoun (1891) I. xxxv. 52 Yit wer thay nather sauld nor slaine.1599 A. Hume sig. G2v O Iah our God: be thou our guide, In battails be thou on our side, And we sall nather fall nor flee.a1657 W. Mure Misc. Poems in (1898) I. 11 Nather prayers could prevaile nor wisses.1798 H. Brand Adelinda ii. v, in 289 Whather she's right or wrong is nather, hare nor thare, I order it, and that's enough.1965 in at Naither Nader.c1513 T. More (1557) f. 60/2 Neither king Edward himself, nor the Duke of Clarence, were lawfully begotten. 1563 in J. Strype (1709) I. xxxiv. 381 Neither the certificate..nor the indictment..are to be credenced. 1611 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero (new ed.) 76 Neither the Subiect nor the Serf are bound to go to the warres, but only the vassall. 1656 S. Hunton 74 Neither Moses nor Joshua were Usurpers, though not vocally chosen by the people. 1759 S. Johnson 17 Feb. 49 Neither search nor labour are necessary. 1777 W. Cowper (1837) XV. 37 Neither the Duke of Bedford nor Lord Sussex have cut yet. 1826 R. Southey 478 Neither the Law nor the Gospel were introduced with such appalling miracles. 1874 J. Ruskin IV. xliii. 139 Neither painting nor fighting feed men. 1903 25 June 4/5 Neither Captain Percy Scott nor his dotter were on view. 1997 6 Aug. 4/8 Mr Hume was at a religious retreat in Scotland yesterday, and neither he nor a spokesman for the SDLP were available for comment. c1395 G. Chaucer 499 She noght ameued Neither in word or cheere or contenaunce. 1524 T. Wolsey in (1849) VI. 249 To procede towardes Paris, in whiche waye is neither strong holde or river to empeche or let them. 1531 W. Tyndale f. xxxix The outward place nether helpeth or hindred. ?1566 W. P. tr. C. S. Curio 111 That..we neyther tourne asyde to the right or left hande. 1621 M. Wroth 416 A..woman, neither walking, running, or staying. 1671 J. Milton i. 268 Yet neither thus disheartn'd or dismay'd, The time prefixt I waited. View more context for this quotation 1719 D. Defoe 209 I can neither, tell how many we kill'd, or how many we wounded. 1786 A. M. Bennett I. 70 Engaging to spare neither trouble or expence. 1830 W. Taylor III. 26 These modern antiques neither supply the interest of classical or of German poetry. 1874 G. W. Dasent 204 Wasn't it true that he neither knew anything or could do anything? 1916 1 Jan. 13/1 It is conceivable that this small body of men might have neither sending or receiving radio-apparatus. 1997 23 Apr. (Suppl.) 2/2 Some brave transsexuals..have rejected the medicalised script that has been written out for them, insisting that they are neither one thing or the other. a1500 tr. A. Chartier (Sion Coll. London) (1989) 19 I knowe wele þat auaryce ys a sercher of secrete wynnyng and a moste desyrous swolow neyther happy to the very fruyte of hauynge but feruently sette vppon the cursyd appetyte of getyng. 1567 J. Maplet (1930) ii. 77 The Fig tree, is of no high growth, neither nice in bodie, but grossely set and thick. 1598 R. Grenewey tr. Tacitus iv. xvi. 115 They neither gaue courage to the fearfull, but carried away themselues with like feare, ran all away for company. 1673 A. Marvell ii. 200 He that chuses a just weight does neither find himself the weaker.., and reaches the length he aim'd at. 1678 J. Bunyan (ed. 2) 178 That neither thou, but especially I, am not made my self this example. 2. Negating a second or further alternative (usually following a previous negation): and not —— either, nor yet, nor moreover, and not, also not. a1382 (Bodl. 959) (1965) Ecclus. xviii. 32 Ne delite þou in cumpanyes neþer [L. nec] in smaal þingis. c1443 R. Pecock (1927) 350 (MED) Mo ententis for which matrimonye schulde be ordeyned is not knowen..bi resoun neiþer bi scripture. 1462 in J. T. Gilbert (1889) I. 313 No bowcher nathyr bowcher ys man, neethyr no nothyr man. 1513–14 c. 17 §2 That no persone that is taxed for landes..be sett or taxed for his godes..neither econtrarye. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane f. xxvv He said it was a matter newly inuented, neyther vsed in former time. 1937 P. M. Avery Interview 19 Mar. in C. L. Perdue et al. (1976) 16 I couldn' walk, neither set down. 1956 in (1967) 319/1 Mi duon iit di puok, niida di biif. 1996 R. Allsopp 403/1 She don't talk to me, neither the children. 1531 W. Tyndale f. lxxxixv For to punish a man that hath forsaken synne of his awne accorde, is not to purge him, but to satisfie ye lust of a tirant. Nether ought it to be called purgatory, but a Iayle of tormentynge and a satisfactory. 1615 W. Bedwell Arabian Trudgman in tr. sig. N3 Sarraceni..are those people which otherwise..were called..Arabians. Neither were they so named of Sara, Abrahams wife. 1662 E. Stillingfleet iii. ii. §7 Wee cannot then, neither ought we to determine any thing concerning the particular waies of Gods bounty. 1719 D. Defoe 139 But that there was no help for; neither was my time so much Loss to me. 1785 W. Cowper iii. 217 Such powers I boast not—neither can I rest A silent witness of the headlong rage. 1828 G. S. Faber III. vi. ix. 469 Neither can there be any literal or personal co-reign of the martyrs resuscitated. 1875 B. Jowett tr. Plato (ed. 2) I. 300 If there are no teachers, neither are there disciples? 1928 21 Aug. 13/1 If you cannot indict a nation, neither can you fully describe a nation, environmentally or spiritually. 1997 (Nexis) 20 Apr. b6 I'm not a stay-at-home mom. Neither am I a ‘dragon-lady career woman’. 3. Reinforcing a preceding negative: either. the mind > language > statement > negation > [adverb] > used to strengthen preceding negative 1551 T. Wilson sig. Tiijv It is euen so, and yet not true neyther, that [etc.]. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) ii. iii. 16 Nay, that cannot bee so neyther . View more context for this quotation 1632 R. Brome v. ii Pray put vp your Pipes sir. I like not your Musicke: troth nor his countenance nather. 1638 R. Baker tr. J. L. G. de Balzac II. 103 I have no purpose to make merchandise of it; yet desire I not nither to tire my hands with writing continually to no profit. 1668 G. Etherege iii. i. 36 Now I have thought better on 't, that is not Absolutely necessary neither. 1712 R. Steele No. 423. ¶2 Expressions of Rapture and Adoration will not move her neither. 1753 S. Richardson I. xxxvii. 264 Perhaps I may not make it in form neither. 1790 E. Burke 355 I would not exclude alteration neither . View more context for this quotation 1844 B. Disraeli II. iv. ix. 101 There were no books neither. 1871 G. Meredith III. xiii. 225 Lady Edbury would never see Roy-Richmond after that, nor the old lord neither. 1879 H. J. Byron ii. i Mary. I can't stay in the room, the atmosphere is simply stifling. Cassidy. And it's not so warrum nather. P'raps it's your feelings that overpower you. 1896 G. Ade xiii. 117 Guess what they train on... Cocoanut pie. That ain't no fairy tale, neither. 1932 P. G. Wodehouse vi. 114 Here's this Gedge bird shoutin' about the plumbing of this Chatty-o and not saying it with flowers, neither. 1992 I. Pattison 14 Bliddy right we don't. And it's not a very fair one neither! I mean d'yi see that? a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) v. i. 95 Ad. Then let your seruants bring my husband forth. Ab. Neither: he tooke this place for sanctuary. View more context for this quotation 1630 tr. G. Botero (rev. ed.) 596 The Inhabitants cannot travell but with a licence, and with that neither, but for a prefixed season. 1741 S. Richardson III. xxxii. 272 I can more freely speak my Mind upon the Occasion, though I am but a poor Casuist neither. the mind > language > statement > negation > [adverb] > used to strengthen preceding negative 1882 6 Feb. ‘When I get out I'm not going to tamper with any more proverbs,’ remarked No. 2. ‘Me neither,’ responded No. 1. 1926 J. Black xiii. 165 ‘I wouldn't plead guilty to anything if I were you,’ I advised him. ‘Me, neither,’ said his partner. 1973 R. Busby iv. 61 ‘Can you place either of them?’ The young detective shook his head. ‘Me neither.’ 1999 S. Stewart xii. 198 ‘I don't know what to do,’ I said finally... ‘Me neither,’ said Lucinda. 1819 W. Scott Legend of Montrose ii. in 3rd Ser. III. 179 ‘I begin rather to wonder, sir,..that you should have continued so long in the Swedish service, than that you should have ultimately withdrawn from it.’ ‘Neither I should,..but that great leader..made his service irresistibly delectable.’ 1909 L. M. Montgomery x. 98 ‘Davy declares he never saw her since I left.’ ‘Neither I did,’ avowed Davy. 1934 ‘L. G. Gibbon’ ii. 134 And Jimmy said ‘Neither we have; that's suspicious.’ 1989 L. Lochhead ii. v. 55 Mummer 2: We couldnae hae it, Tam! Mummer 1: Neither we could, Wullie. 1995 J. Collins 75 ‘Aha, ahaaaaah. I caaan't fi-i-i-nd it.’ Neither I could. The thruppenny bit seemed to have melted into the mess. B. pron. 1. Not the one nor the other (of two). a. Standing alone or with of. Also formerly never neither (quot. c1449 at sense B. 1a(a)); neither other (quot. 1529 at sense B. 1a(a)); neither nother (see nother pron.1 and adj.1), or following another negative.the world > existence and causation > existence > non-existence > [noun] > none or not any one of > neither c1300 (c1250) (Cambr.) (1966) l. 737 Neiþer ne miȝte þere þole Þat oþer deide bifore. a1325 (c1250) (1968) l. 1276 Ðor ben he boðen feren pligt, Ðat here neiðer sal don oðer un-rigt. c1385 G. Chaucer 1135 Ech of vs..Til that the deeth departe shal vs tweyne Neither of vs in loue to hyndre oother. c1449 R. Pecock (1860) 14 (MED) To neuerneither thei han sufficient euydence. 1483 ( iv. xxxii. 81 Neither of them shalle be the lift hand to mayntenaunce of wrong. 1529 T. More Dialogue Heresyes i, in 163/2 What if neyther other..were likely to be trewe, but semed bothe twayne impossible. 1567 J. Sanford tr. Epictetus 27 We haue not any thing written of neither of them. 1573 R. Sempill sig. Aiv Yaxlie and Erintoun, nather of thame wes slak. 1609 I. Deut. xxiv. Comm. For no cause neither of them can marie againe, so long as the other liveth. 1667 J. Milton ix. 1188 Thus they in mutual accusation spent The fruitless hours, but neither self-condemning. View more context for this quotation 1725 I. Watts iv. i Neither of these two Methods should be too scrupulously and superstitiously pursued. 1759 S. Johnson II. xxviii*. 23 Neither can forbear to wish for the absence of the other. 1823 H. J. Brooke 21 A mixed decrement is one in which unequal numbers of molecules are omitted in height and in breadth, neither of the numbers being a multiple of the other, such as three in height and two in breadth. 1843 ‘R. Carlton’ I. ii. 10 You thought it was me and I thought it was you, and faith its nather of us. 1874 Feb. 836/3 Ye ken wroite there in that buke that nather av 'em 'ull lay their phists on me again. 1923 May 563/2 He..expected that he had been arrested in mistake for me. Unfortunately neither of us was justified in our hopes of misprision. 1970 G. F. Newman iii. 111 Both the detectives' names and ranks were correct; neither was upped to DCS. 2001 N. Jones ii. 399 There are several suitable drugs to eradicate the worms, such as tiabendazole..and albendazole.., neither of which should be taken in pregnancy. c1550 (1830) 250 Nather of thair heartis beine at reste. 1570 J. Foxe (rev. ed.) II. 1640/1 Neither were ignoraunt of the purpose of the aduersaries, and how ye cause was preiudicate before. a1616 W. Shakespeare (1623) iv. ii. 254 Thersites body is as good as Aiax, When neyther are aliue. View more context for this quotation 1648 C. Walker ii. 142 Neither of which are able to read any one Record in those Offices. 1690 in E. B. O'Callaghan (1849) II. 298 Not knowing the contents of their loading, nather have observed that any part of the sd loading hath been unloaden. 1700 J. Dryden Pref. sig. *B Both writ with wonderful Facility and Clearness; neither were great Inventors. 1741 Countess of Hartford in Countess of Hartford & Countess of Pomfret (1805) II. 245 Neither of your letters mention these disagreeable circumstances. 1781 G. Wakefield in (1804) I. 461 Neither of us are the proper judges. 1859 F. W. Newman 184 Neither of them declare themselves eyewitnesses of Christ's resurrection. 1875 J. Ruskin V. li. 62 What at present I believe neither of us know. 1886 R. C. Moberly (1904) x. 314 They are co-ordinate,..they neither override the other. 1902 11 140 At this stage of development it is nonsense to talk about the self or the non-self, egoism or altruism, the individual or the external world, for neither exist as far as the child is concerned. 1991 5 Jan. 30/7 In the girls' singles, neither of the top two seeds were seriously challenged. the world > existence and causation > existence > non-existence > [phrase] > neither 1535 in J. Strype (1721) I. App. lxiv. 158 That neither of both parties shal give any help..against the other, directly or undirectly, secretly or openly, to the invasor. 1537 in H. Ellis (1846) 3rd Ser. III. 148 Prosperity and..adversite, for nedyr off both doth tary, but brevely overpasse. 1598 W. Shakespeare v. ii. 459 Quee. Will you haue me, or your Pearle againe? Berow. Neither of either: I remit both twaine. View more context for this quotation 1600 P. Holland tr. Livy x. xxxvi. 377 But neither of both had any stomacke to fight. 1633 iv. sig. G2 Troth, neither of either, so let him understand. 1656 R. Sanderson viii. 167* Neither of both..were willing enough to look into the other end of the wallet, and to examine throughly their own spirits. 1644 H. Parker 14 Our adversaries boast of three Conquests in this Island, and yet neither of them all was just or totall. 1678 R. Cudworth i. iii. 164 Matter, Form and Accidents; neither of which can be the Aristotelick Nature. 1796 R. Southey Let. 19 Feb. in C. C. Southey (1849) I. 263 He at last fixed upon a leg of mutton, soles and oyster sauce, and toasted cheese—to the no small amusement of those who knew he could get neither. 1846 W. R. Grove 8 Heat, Light, Electricity, Magnetism..are all Correlatives..neither, taken abstractedly, can be said to be the essential..cause of the others. 1907 28 May 11/2 It is known also as Wake-Robin, Cuckoo Pint, and Lords-and-Ladies, but neither of these names describes the plant so well as the quaint Priest-in-the-Pulpit. 1983 in (1996) (at cited word) ‘Neither of those twenty never [did something]’ said to be in popular use. C. adj. ( determiner). the world > existence and causation > existence > non-existence > [adjective] > no, none, or not any > neither a1400 tr. Lanfranc (Ashm.) (1894) 143 (MED) Þei moun not wagge to neiþir side aboute þe sowynge. ?a1425 (?a1350) T. Castleford (1940) 365 (MED) Nethyr duc wold hold hym trewth. 1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane f. ccxxxviv I should haue but small thanke of neyther partie. 1604 W. Shakespeare v. ii. 254 Nothing neither way. View more context for this quotation 1615 P. Gordon i. xvi Nather side wold shrink or lose their ground. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil 97 But neither Shoar his Conquest shall confine. View more context for this quotation 1720 D. Defoe 226 It was a kind of a Hedge Fight, for neither Army was drawn out in the Field. 1785 J. Madison II. 174 For neither branch [of the Legislature] does it seem necessary or proper to prohibit an indefinite re-eligibility. 1849 W. M. Thackeray (1850) I. xviii. 162 Neither one of us was particularly eager about rushing into that near smoking Babylon. 1884 22 Aug. 2/2 The proofs actually issued in neither case totalled 1,000. 1959 11 Nov. 524/1 On the confined test ground it seemed easier to ‘throw about’ than the big B.M.W., but neither car could show its paces in the space available. 1991 3 June 63/2 Neither chemical came with a warning of dangerous interaction, but the impact of diazinon..was apparently magnified by the Tagamet. 1902 3 But I tell you, b'y, that there's neither maid in Green Bay..I'd trade that old craft for. 1940 A. R. Scammell 26 As yet there's neither law agin' the killin of a hen! 1957 F. A. Collymore (ed. 2) 59 I ain't got either wife. (I haven't a wife) might be rendered by either I got neither wife, or, more emphatically, I ain't got neither wife. 1968 in (1996) (at cited word) ‘There used to be a lot of crabs here, but now there's neither one.’ ‘You can't catch neither crab here.’ 1979 22 Nov. 3/3 On bad days he [sc. the Northern Neck native] is heard to complain that he hasn't caught ‘either’ or ‘neither’ oyster. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < adv.conj.pron.adj.?a1200 |