Neuter

Table of contents

1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Adjective 1.2.1 Translations 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Translations 1.4 Verb 1.4.1 Synonyms 1.4.2 Translations

English

Etymology

Latin, from ne not + uter whether; akin to English whether. See No, and whether, and compare neither

Adjective

1. (Archaic): Neither the one thing nor the other; on neither side; impartial; neutral

   Quotations

   • In all our undertakings God will be either our friend or our enemy; for Providence never stands neuter - South

2. (Grammar): Having a form belonging more especially to words which are not appellations of males or females; expressing or designating that which is of neither sex; as, a neuter noun; a neuter termination; the neuter gender
3. (Grammar): Intransitive; as, a neuter verb.
4. (Biology): Having no generative organs, or imperfectly developed ones; sexless

Translations

• Finnish: neutri - (2, 4, in compounds), intransitiivinen (3)
• Greek: ουδέτερος el
• Swedish: neutral (2)

Noun

1. A person who takes no part in a contest; one who is either indifferent to a cause or forbears to interfere; a neutral.

   Quotations

   • The world's no neuter; it will wound or save - Young

2. (Grammar): A noun of the neuter gender; any one of those words which have the terminations usually found in neuter words
3. (Grammar): An intransitive verb.
4. (Biology) An organism, either vegetable or animal, which at its maturity has no generative organs, or but imperfectly developed ones, as a plant without stamens or pistils, as the garden Hydrangea ; especially, one of the imperfectly developed females of certain social insects, as of the ant and the common honeybee, which perform the labors of the community, and are called workers.

Translations

• Finnish: neutraali (1), neutri (2, 4), puolueeton (1), intransitiiviverbi (3),
• Japanese: 中性
• Swedish: neutrum (2)

Verb

to neuter (neuters , neutered , neutering )

1. To castrate or spay, particularly as applied to domestic animals.

Synonyms

• castrate (said of male animals only), desex , doctor, fix (colloquial), spay (said of female animals only)

Translations

• Dutch: onzijdig
• Finnish: kuohita (1, of male animals), kuohia (1, of male animals), kastroida (1, of male animals), leikata (1, of pets), steriloida (1)
• French: neutre
• Greek: Ουδέτερος
• German: neutrum, sächlich