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a contraction of Never.

A person who never does, or fares, well; a good for nothing.

Whenever.

; to give recognition to. In all thy ways acknowledge Him. Prov. iii. 6. By my soul, I'll ne'er acknowledge thee. Shak.

o bring to view or notice; to offer or propose; to show; as, to advance an argument. Some ne'er advance a judgment of their own. Pope.

The mark ['] used to denote that a word is contracted (as in ne'er for never, can't for can not), and as sign of the possessive, singular and plural; as, a boy's hat, boys' hats. In the latter use it originally marked the omission of the letter e.

To soil; to stain. [Obs. or Poet.] Beau. & Fl. Ne'er assoil my cobwebbed shield. Wordsworth.

To angle with a bob. See Bob, n., 2 & 3. He ne'er had learned the art to bob For anything but eels. Saxe. To bob at an apple, cherry, etc. to attempt to bite or seize with the mouth an apple, cherry, or other round fruit, while it is swinging from a string or floating in a tug of water.

To move off; to stir; to walk away. I'll not budge an inch, boy. Shak. The mouse ne'er shunned the cat as they did budge From rascals worse than they. Shak.

ly used in contempt or ridicule. "To pamper his own carcass." South. Lovely her face; was ne'er so fair a creature. For earthly carcass had a heavenly feature. Oldham.

The dress; raiment. [Obs.] See Clothes. I'll ne'er distust my God for cloth and bread. Quarles.

oot; -- probably once a piece of white cloth or a nail head. A'must shoot nearer or he'll ne'er hit the clout. Shak.

etness, Dwell ever on his tongue, and smooth his thoughts. Addison. With mean complacence ne'er betray your trust. Pope.

approval; to comply. My poverty, but not my will, consents. Shak. And whispering "I will ne'er consent," -- consented. Byron.

ission of a letter or letters, or by reducing two or more vowels or syllables to one; as, ne'er for never; can't for can not; don't for do not; it's for it is.

of you convinceth me of sin John viii. 46. Seek not to convince me of a crime Which I can ne'er repent, nor you can pardon. Dryden.

Froward; malignant; mischievous; malicious; snarling. [Obs.] Though his mind Be ne'er so curst, his tonque is kind. Crashaw.

; to trick; to mislead by imposing on one's credulity; to gull; as, dupe one by flattery. Ne'er have I duped him with base counterfeits. Coleridge.

in courage, spirit, or energy; timorous; cowardly; dejected; depressed; as, "Faint heart ne'er won fair lady." Old Proverb.

To form a conception of; to portray in the mind; to imagine. He whom I fancy, but can ne'er express. Dryden.