Word Study
nether
CIDE DICTIONARY
nether, a. [OE. nethere, neithere, AS. ni, fr. the adv. ni downward; akin to neo below, beneath, D. neder down, G. nieder, Sw. nedre below, nether, a. & adv., and also to Skr. ni down. Beneath.].
Situated down or below; lying beneath, or in the lower part; having a lower position; belonging to the region below; lower; under; -- opposed to upper . [1913 Webster]
"'Twixt upper, nether, and surrounding fires." [1913 Webster]
"This darksome nether world her light
Doth dim with horror and deformity." [1913 Webster]
Doth dim with horror and deformity." [1913 Webster]
"All my nether shape thus grew transformed." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
nether, adj. archaic = LOWER(1).
Idiom
nether regions (or world) hell; the underworld.
Derivative
nethermost adj.
Etymology
OE nithera etc. f. Gmc
ROGET THESAURUS
nether
Lowness
N lowness, debasement, depression, prostration, depression, molehill, lowlands, basement floor, ground floor, rez de chaussee, cellar, hold, bilge, feet, heels, low water, low tide, ebb tide, neap tide, spring tide, low, neap, debased, nether, nether most, flat, level with the ground, lying low, crouched, subjacent, squat, prostrate, under, beneath, underneath, below, downwards, adown, at the foot of, under foot, under ground, down stairs, below stairs, at a low ebb, below par.For further exploring for "nether" in Webster Dictionary Online
