neighbour
UK[ˈneɪbə]US[ˈneɪbər]
n
A person living next door to or very near to the speaker or person referred to.
n
A person or place in relation to others next or near to it.
v
(of a place or object) be situated next to or very near (another).
Morpheme Breakdown
neigh
bour
neigh
near
bour
dweller
Etymology
The word 'neighbour' originates from the Old English compound 'nēahgebūr', literally meaning "near-dweller." Its first element, 'nēah' (which became 'nigh'), comes from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "near." The second element, 'gebūr', referred to a farmer or inhabitant, derived from the verb 'būan', meaning "to dwell" or "to cultivate." Over centuries, the compound condensed in form from 'nēahgebūr' to 'neighbour', while its core semantic logic—a person who dwells nearby—remained perfectly intact, evolving from a specific agricultural community context to its general modern sense.
Analysis
Structure: neigh (near) + bour (dweller)
- neigh: From Old English 'nēah' (near, nigh), of Germanic origin.
- bour: From Old English 'gebūr' (dweller, farmer), from 'būan' (to dwell).
Examples
My next-door neighbour is very friendly and often helps with the gardening.
Britain's nearest continental neighbour is France.
The new factory will neighbour a residential area, raising some concerns.