niþer

See also: nither and niþer-

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *niþer from the comparative of Proto-Indo-European *ni- (“down, below”). Cognate with Old High German nidar, Old Norse niðr.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈni.θer/, [ˈni.ðer]

Adverb

niþer

1. down, downwards, downward
   • "Gospel of Saint Luke", chapter 4, verse 29

     And hiġ ārīson and scūfon hine of ðǣre ceastre. And lǣddon hine ofer ðæs muntes cnæpp. Ofer þone hyra buruh ġetimbrud wæs. þ hī hyne nyðer bescūfon.

     And they arose and shoved him from the city. And led him over the mount's top. Over that their city was built. That they thrusted him downward.

   • late 9th century, King Alfred's translation of Boethius' Metres of Boethius, lines 85-89

     Mid þȳ is ġetācnod þæt his trēowa sceal, and his mōdġeþonc, mā up þonne niþer habban tō heofonum.

     By that is betokened, that his trust shall, and his mind, more upwards than downwards aspire to the heavens.

   • late 10th century, Ælfric, "THE PASSION OF THE APOSTLES PETER AND PAUL"

     He astah of heofonum for middangeardes alysednysse, and wæron forði his fet niðer awende.

     He descended from heaven for the redemption of the world, and therefore were his feet turned downwards.

Usage notes

This word is used to describe where something is going: wit gāþ þæder niðer (“we're going down there”). To describe where something is located, the word niþre is used instead: wit sind hēr niðre (“we're down here”).

Antonyms

• upp

Derived terms

• niþera

Descendants

• Middle English: nithere, nethere, nether
  • English: nether
  • Scots: nether, nedder