nimmer
See also: Nimmer
English
Etymology
From Middle English nimere, equivalent to nim (“to filch, steal”) + -er. Cognate with Dutch nemer (“taker”), German Nehmer (“taker”).
Noun
nimmer (plural nimmers)
- A petty thief.[1]
References
- Garner, Bryan A. (2005) Blacks Law Dictionary, Abridged Eighth edition, Thomson/West, →ISBN, page 880
Anagrams
- mermin
Dutch
Etymology
From Middle Dutch nemmer, from Old Dutch niemer. Equivalent to n- + immer.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈnɪ.mər/
Audio (file) - Hyphenation: nim‧mer
- Rhymes: -ɪmər
Adverb
nimmer
- (formal or dated) never
Usage notes
Nimmer is rarer and nowadays considered much more formal than nooit, excluding some compounds and set expressions.
Synonyms
- nooit
Derived terms
- nooit en te nimmer
- nimmermeer
- nooit ofte nimmer
German
Etymology
Perhaps originally ni- + immer, thus the same construct as English ever and never. According to others a dialectal contraction of nie mehr, later remodelled according to immer.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈnɪmər/
Audio (file)
Adverb
nimmer
- (regional, chiefly Southern German, Austria) no more, no longer
- Liegt der Bauer tot im Zimmer, lebt er nimmer. (joke in the form of a Bauernregel)
- If the farmer lies dead in his room, he's alive no more.
- (regional, chiefly Southern German, Austria) never again
- (archaic or poetic, literary) never, at no time
- 1952, Paul Celan, “Espenbaum [Aspen Tree]”, in Mohn und Gedächtnis, line 2:
- Meiner Mutter Haar ward nimmer weiß.
- Never did my mother's hair become white.
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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
- nimmermehr
- Nimmersatt
Further reading
- “nimmer” in Duden online
- “nimmer” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache