Nor Meaning
/nɔː/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
conjAnd... not (introducing a negative statement, without necessarily following one).
conjA function word introducing each except the first term of a series, indicating none of them is true.
Sentence Examples
A mathematical truth is neither simple nor complicated; it is.
No love is foul nor prison fair.
She seemed neither surprised nor worried.
CEFR Practice Quiz
He neither smiled ____ waved at the large waiting crowd yesterday.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He didn't have the money for a new car, ____ did he have the time to drive one.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English nauther, from nother. Cognate with neither. By surface analysis, not + or.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Water, water, every where, / Nor any drop to drink."
— 1797, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner:
"And, moreover, I had made my vow to preserve my rank unknown till the crusade should be accomplished; nor did I mention it […]"
— 1825, Sir Walter Scott, The Talisman:
"The cheeks drop in; the body bows;
Man dies: nor is there hope in dust: […]"
— 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXXV”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 54:
"I love your majesty / According to my bond, nor more nor less."
— c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
"But neither breath of Morn when she ascends / With charm of earliest birds; nor rising sun / On this delightful land, nor herb, fruit, flower, / Glistering with dew; nor fragrance after showers; / Nor grateful Evening mild; nor silent Night / With this her solemn bird; nor walk by moon, / Or glittering starlight, without thee is sweet."
— 1667, John Milton, “Book IV”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
He neither smiled ____ waved at the large waiting crowd yesterday.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He didn't have the money for a new car, ____ did he have the time to drive one.