Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Never
Nev′er
(nĕv′ẽr)
, adv.
[AS.
nǣfre
; ne
not, no + ǣfre
ever.] 1.
Not ever; not at any time; at no time, whether past, present, or future.
Shak.
Death still draws nearer,
never
seeming near. Pope.
2.
In no degree; not in the least; not.
Whosoever has a friend to guide him, may carry his eyes in another man’s head, and yet see
never
the worse. South.
And he answered him to
never
a word. Matt. xxvii. 14.
☞ Never is much used in composition with present participles to form adjectives, as in never-ceasing, never-dying, never-ending, never-fading, never-failing, etc., retaining its usual signification.
Never a deal
, not a bit.
[Obs.]
Chaucer.
– Never so
, as never before; more than at any other time, or in any other circumstances; especially; particularly; – now often expressed or replaced by
ever so
.Ask me
never so
much dower and gift. Gen. xxxiv. 12.
A fear of battery, . . . though
never so
well grounded, is no duress. Blackstone.
Webster 1828 Edition
Never
NEVER
, adv.1.
Not ever; not at any time; at no time. It refers to the past or the future. This man was never at Calcutta; he will never be there.2.
It has a particular use in the following sentences.Ask me never so much dower and gift. Genesis 34.
Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely. Psalm 58.
A fear of battery-though never so well grounded, is no duress.
This is a genuine English use of never, found in our Saxon authors, and it ought to be retained. Ask me so much dower as never was done; that is, dower to any extent. The practice of using ever in such phrases, is corrupt. It not only destroys the force but the propriety of the phrase.
3.
In no degree; not.Whoever has a friend to guide him, may carry his eyes in another mans head and yet see never the worse.
4.
It is used for not. He answered him never a word; that is, not ever. This use is not common.5.
It is much used in composition; as in never-ending, never-failing, never-dying, never-ceasing, never-fading; but in all such compounds, never retains its true meaning.