I. ˈnē-thər also ˈnī- conjunction
Etymology: Middle English, alteration (influenced by either ) of nauther, nother, from Old English nāhwæther, nōther, from nā, nō not + hwæther which of two, whether
Date: 12th century
1. : not either
neither black nor white
2. : also not
neither did I
Usage:
Although use with or is neither archaic nor wrong, neither is usually followed by nor. A few commentators think that neither must be limited in reference to two, but reference to more than two has been quite common since the 17th century
rigid enforcement of antique decorum will help neither language, literature, nor literati — James Sledd
II. pronoun
Date: 13th century
: not the one or the other of two or more
Usage:
Some commentators insist that neither must be used with a singular verb. It generally is, but especially when a prepositional phrase intervenes between it and the verb, a plural verb is quite common
neither of those ideal solutions are in sight — C. P. Snow
III. adjective
Date: 14th century
: not either
neither hand
IV. adverb
Date: 1551
1. chiefly dialect : either
are not to be understood neither — Earl of Chesterfield
2. : similarly not : also not
just as the serf was not permitted to leave the land, so neither was his offspring — G. G. Coulton