Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “never” come from?

Never derives from Middle English nevere, from Old English næfre, a compound of Old English ne and Old English ne, ultimately from Proto-Germanic ne and Proto-Indo-European ne, both meaning "not."

never (English): At no time; on no occasion; in no circumstance;...

Definitions

  1. At no time; on no occasion; in no circumstance;...

Ancestry of “never”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishneverenever
2Old Englishnǣfrenever

Words derived from “never”

  • neverending
  • nevermind
  • neverland
  • neverness
  • neverendingly
  • neverwet
  • neverthelater
  • never mind
  • never-wozzer
  • never-nude
  • never-waser
  • never-sweat
  • never-dying
  • neverfade
  • never mind
Every word from Old English nǣfre →