neither
UK[ˈnaɪðə(r)]US[ˈniːðər]
conj
used before the first of two or more alternatives that are joined by ‘nor’ to show that they are not true, do not happen, etc.
det
not one nor the other of two people or things; not either.
pron
not one nor the other of two people or things.
adv
used to show that a negative statement is also true about another person or thing.
Etymology
the word 'neither' originates from old english 'nāhwæther', a compound of 'nā' ("no, not") and 'hwæther' ("which of two, whether"). this formation literally meant "not which (of two)." it is cognate with old norse 'ne hvárr', and both descend from a common germanic pattern for expressing a negative choice between two alternatives. over time, through phonetic contraction and simplification, 'nāhwæther' evolved into middle english 'nawther' and eventually into modern english 'neither'. its core function has remained consistent: to negate or exclude both elements in a pair, serving as the negative counterpart to 'either'.
Analysis
this word is a fused compound from old english, derived from the combination of 'nā' (meaning "no, not") and 'hwæther' (meaning "which of two"). it functions as a negative correlative pronoun, determiner, conjunction, and adverb.
Examples
neither answer is correct.
she neither called nor wrote.
"i don't like opera." "neither do i."