nimmer

English

Etymology

nim +‎ -er

Noun

nimmer (plural nimmers)

  1. A petty thief.[1]

References

  1. ↑ Garner, Bryan A. (2005) Blacks Law Dictionary, Abridged Eighth edition, Thomson/West, →ISBN, page 880

Anagrams

Dutch

Etymology

From n- +‎ immer.

Pronunciation

  • Audio(file)

Adverb

nimmer

  1. never

Synonyms

German

Etymology

Originally n- +‎ immer, thus the same construct as English ever and never. Later on there has been interference by unrelated dialectal contractions of nicht mehr, as which the word is interpreted by most contemporary speakers.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈnɪmər/
  • Audio(file)

Adverb

nimmer

  1. (regional, chiefly southern Germany, Austria) no more, no longer
  2. (regional, chiefly southern Germany, Austria) never again
  3. (archaic or poetic, literary) never, at no time
    • Espenbaum, Paul Celan:
      Meiner Mutter Haar ward nimmer weiß.

Usage notes

  • In northern Germany and many parts of central Germany, the word is used mainly in some set phrases such as nie und nimmer (“never ever”). Otherwise, it sounds archaic or poetic. It is used more readily in southern Germany and Austria, meaning “no more” or “never again”. The original sense “never, at no time” is now rare.

Synonyms

  • (no more): nicht mehr
  • (never again): nie mehr, nie wieder
  • (never): nie, niemals

Derived terms

Further reading

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