neverとは

意味・読み方・使い方

発音

• (英国発音) IPA^(key): /ˈnɛv.ə(ɹ)/
• (米国発音) IPA^(key): /ˈnɛ.vɚ/, [ˈnɛvɚ̹]
• 韻: -ɛvə(ɹ)
• ハイフネーション: nev‧er

語源

From Middle English nevere, navere, nævere, from 古期英語 nǣfre (“never”), equivalent to ne +‎ ever.

副詞

never (not comparable)

1. At no time; on no occasion; in no circumstance.
   • 1634, John Fletcher, The Two Noble Kinsmen, Act 2, Scene 4,

     Why should I love this Gentleman? Tis odds / He never will affect me;

   • 1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 1, in The Celebrity:

     In the old days, to my commonplace and unobserving mind, he gave no evidences of genius whatsoever. He never read me any of his manuscripts, […], and therefore my lack of detection of his promise may in some degree be pardoned.

   • 1908, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables, Chapter XXI: A New Departure in Flavorings,

     "I never thought you were so fond of Mr. Phillips that you'd require two handkerchiefs to dry your tears just because he was going away," said Marilla.

   • 1919, B. G. Jefferis, J. L. Nichols, Searchlights on Health: Sensible Rules for the Nurse,

     Never speak of the symptoms of your patient in his presence, unless questioned by the doctor, whose orders you are always to obey implicitly.

   I finally finished, and I never want to do that again.

   I repeated the test a hundred times, and never saw a positive result.

   I will never tell.

2. Not at any other time; not on any other occasion; not previously.
   • 1601 November 30, Elizabeth I of England, Elizabeth I's Farewell Speech,

     There is no jewel, be it of never so rich a price, which I set before this jewel: I mean your love.

   • 1813, Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 4,

     "He is just what a young man ought to be," said she, "sensible, good-humoured, lively; and I never saw such happy manners!--so much ease, with such perfect good breeding!"

   • 1908, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables, Chapter XIII: The Delights of Anticipation,

     I never saw such an infatuated man.

3. (colloquial) Negative particle (used to negate verbs in the 過去形 tense; also used absolutely).

   The police say I stole the car, but I never did it.

   You said you were going to mow the lawn today. – I never!

反意語

• all the time
• always
• consistently
• constantly
• continually
• continuously
• ever

派生語

アナグラム

• Verne, erven, nerve