NEVER
ADJECTIVES
1567 ► AT LATTER LAMMAS never → humorous usage
1885 ► NEXT NEVER’S-TIDE never → Eng. dial.
ADVERBS
1430 ► NAY never → obs.
1556 ► VENGEANCE never, not at all → obs.
1894 ► NEVER IN THIS WORLD never → Sc.
1905 ► UN-EVER never, at no time → Sc. obs. (Bk.)
INTERJECTIONS & PHRASES
– a fictitious or nonexistent fair; hence, used to mean ‘never’ GALA BRIG FAIR c1840 obs.
– never IN A PIG’S EYE! Bk1995 US sl.
– never IN THE REIGN OF QUEEN DICK Bk1905 Eng. dial.
– never ON THE 30TH OF FEBRUARY Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– never ON THE GREEK CALENDS a1649
– never ON TIB’S EVE 1785 sl.
– never WHEN CHICKENS HAVE TEETH 1950 Amer. dial.
– never WHEN PIGS FLY! …Bk1995 US sl.
– never WHEN THE COWS GIVE BEER Bk1942 Amer. sl.
– never! absolutely not! AIKONA! 1950s S. Afr.
– never in one’s life NEVER IN ONE’S PUFF c1880 tailors’ usage
– never! no! CHALE! 1950 US
– never! not! ABER NIT! 1896 Amer. sl.
– never! not at all! NOT ON YOUR AMBROTYPE! 1895 Amer. sl.
– never! not at all! NOT ON YOUR AMBROTYPE! 1895 US sl.
– never or sometime APREE LA GARE; APPRAY LA GUERRE 1916 military catchphrase
– never surrender or give up, ‘never say die’ NEVER SAY MIFF Bk1905 Eng. dial.
– never, under no circumstances NOT DO FOR QUIDS Bk1999 Aust. sl.
NOUNS
1760 ► THE WEEK OF THE FOUR FRIDAYS an imaginary date that will never arrive → obs.
1891 ► SAINT-TIBB’S EVE → ST. TIBB’S EVE → ST. TIB’S EVE never, a day which never comes → Eng. dial.
1968 ► MEXICAN HAPPENING something that never comes about → Amer. dial., derogatory
1994 ► A COLD DAY IN HELL never → sl. (Bk.)
Lexicophilia 