Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “nither-” come from?

nither- (Middle English) comes from Old English niþer-, from Old English niþer, from Proto-Germanic niþer, from Proto-Indo-European niter.

Ancestry of “nither-”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishniþer-below, beneath; situated in a lower position,...
2Old Englishniþerdown; downstairs
3Proto-Germanicniþerdown, downwards
4Proto-Indo-Europeanniter—

Words derived from “nither-”

  • netherworld
  • netherwear
  • nethermind
  • netherthought
  • nether cheek
  • netherstock
  • nether-
  • nethergarment
  • nether-shirt
  • netherling
  • netherhair
  • netherregion
  • netherdom
  • nether region
  • netherstocking
  • netherhose
  • netherman
Every word from Proto-Indo-European niter →