nor English · revision 2942

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1250}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /nɔː/, US /nɔːr/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a contraction of the unstressed form of [[neither]], [[inh|enm|nauther]] or nother,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) influenced in form by [[or]].^(Etymonline) Some derive it instead from Middle English [[m|enm|ne|t=not]] and the conjunction or.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “And not”, continuing a preceding negative: about 1250 in Barnhart^(Barnhart 1988) and the mid-13th century in Etymonline;^(Etymonline) the OED's examples begin in the 13th century.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is generally paired with ''neither'' or another negative.^(Etymonline) Introducing both alternatives, ''nor … nor'' for ''neither … nor'', is from 1576 and chiefly poetic.^(OED 1989) Use without a preceding negative is from before 1548.^(OED 1989) A separate ''nor'' meaning “than”, perhaps the same word, is from about 1400^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) and survives in Scottish, Irish, English and American dialect.^(Wright 1898)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1250 – “and not”.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1400 – “than”.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1548 – without another negative.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1576 – ''nor … nor''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Conjunction===

+ # And not; or not; not either, used after ''neither'' or another [[negative]]: ''neither here nor there''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # And also not: ''I don't like it, nor does she''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(chiefly dialect)'' [[than|alt=Than]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[neither]]

+ * [[or]]

+ * [[nought]]

+ * [[not]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Usage guides say ''nor'', not ''or'', follows ''neither'', and is needed when a negative carries over to a second clause; after a negative such as ''not'' or ''no'', ''or'' is often acceptable.^(AHD) In electronics ''NOR'' (from ''not or'') is a [[logic gate]], recorded from 1957.^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}