Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Neither?

\Nei"ther\ (? or ?; 277), a. [OE. neiter, nother, nouther, AS. n[=a]w?er, n[=a]hw[ae]?er; n[=a] never, not + hw[ae]?er whether. The word has followed the form of either. See {No}, and {Whether}, and cf. {Neuter}, {Nor}.] Not either; not the one or the other. Which of them shall I take? Both? one? or neither? Neither can be enjoyed, If both remain alive. --Shak. He neither loves, Nor either cares for him. --Shak.
\Nei"ther\, conj. not either; generally used to introduce the first of two or more co["o]rdinate clauses of which those that follow begin with nor. Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king. --1 Kings xxii. 31. Hadst thou been firm and fixed in thy dissent, Neither had I transgressed, nor thou with me. --Milton. When she put it on, she made me vow That I should neither sell, nor give, nor lose it. --Shak. Note: Neither was formerly often used where we now use nor. ``For neither circumcision, neither uncircumcision is anything at all.'' --Tyndale. ``Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it.'' --Gen. iii. 3. Neither is sometimes used colloquially at the end of a clause to enforce a foregoing negative (nor, not, no). ``He is very tall, but not too tall neither.'' --Addison. '' `I care not for his thrust' `No, nor I neither.''' --Shak. {Not so neither}, by no means. [Obs.] --Shak.