Talk:never

Contraction

Isn't this a contraction of "not ever"?

THEN: I would n'ever go there. NOW: I would never go there. — This unsigned comment was added by 67.188.172.165 (talk) at 27 June 2006.

Tea room discussion

Note: the below discussion was moved from the Wiktionary:Tea room.

I can't seem to find N'ere as in never. Where should it be? Similarly Nerdowell. Trafford09 11:10, 31 March 2009 (UTC)

I'm newish to Wiktionary, so not bold enough to add them, for fear of putting them in the wrong place. Also: I'm not sure on their spelling! Trafford09 11:18, 31 March 2009 (UTC)

Do you mean ne’er? † ﴾^(u):Raifʻhār ^(t):Doremítzwr﴿ 13:30, 31 March 2009 (UTC)

Oh - yes, so it's already there, and also ne'er-do-well. Sorted - thanks. Trafford09 20:34, 31 March 2009 (UTC)

You’re welcome. † ﴾^(u):Raifʻhār ^(t):Doremítzwr﴿ 00:21, 1 April 2009 (UTC)

never a one: none

Never a one: none Is it idiomatic enough? What meaning of none? --Backinstadiums (talk) 18:28, 12 November 2020 (UTC)

Oxford concurs [1], [2]. --Droigheann (talk) 20:54, 13 November 2020 (UTC)

@Droigheann: what's its etymology? --Backinstadiums (talk) 22:06, 18 November 2020 (UTC)

@Backinstadiums: The OED doesn't say, it's listed as a subsection 6.b. under the headword 'never' (with subsection 6.a. being "never a: not a single, no —— at all."). They have 10 quotes though, ranging from "1534 W. Turner tr. J. von Watt Of Olde God & Newe To Rdr. sig. Avij: Neuer a one of the pyllers of the chyrche..nede to be a shamed of it." to "1805 W. Scott Lay of Last Minstrel i. xxiv. 24: Letter nor line know I never a one, Wer't my neck-verse at Hairibee." to "1991 R. Harrison Patently Murder (BNC) 37: I have been to every Metropolitan police station... Never a one has had a report of a missing child." --Droigheann (talk) 10:54, 19 November 2020 (UTC)

@Droigheann: https://oed.com/oed2/00157418 and https://oed.com/oed2/00156522 --Backinstadiums (talk) 10:57, 19 November 2020 (UTC)

@Backinstadiums: https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/126487?redirectedFrom=never+a+one#eid34694777 (3rd edition, Settember 2003) --Droigheann (talk) 11:04, 19 November 2020 (UTC)

@Droigheann: Subscriber account? --Backinstadiums (talk) 11:14, 19 November 2020 (UTC)

never so

The adverbial phrase never so prefixed to adjectives or adverbs in concessive or conditional clauses with inversion of subject and verb denoting an unlimited degree or amount is recorded from the 12c. onwards. It is common in the Bible (a showre of heauenly bread sufficient for a whole host, be it neuer so great—Translators’ Preface, para 4), Shakespeare, and in various sources until the late 19c. ( Were the critic never so much in the wrong, the author will have contrived to put him…in the right—Swinburne). It is now archaic, though occasionally used as a stylistic device: There are certain spells that can prevent the life departing from a body, be it never so abused—T. Pratchett, 1983.

--Backinstadiums (talk) 09:48, 16 July 2021 (UTC)

to no extent or degree

He was never the wiser for his experience. --Backinstadiums (talk) 18:26, 29 July 2021 (UTC)