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“neuter”
neuter (adjective) (no comparison)
A description of nouns and adjectives in a language, such as Latin, belonging to a separate gender which is neither masculine nor feminine: In German there are a number of terms which are considered to be neuter, like "das Ei" (the egg) or "das Haus" (the house).
This entry is located in the following units:
neg-, ne-
(page 2)
neutro-, neuter-, neutr-, neut- +
(page 1)
1. A gender that refers primarily, but not exclusively, to inanimate objects that are neither masculine nor feminine: Since Jane's cat was castrated, it is now considered to be a neuter.
The term neuter can also be applied to a rock, sand, a book, or a television!
2. Etymology: a grammatical gender, "neither masculine nor feminine"; from Latin neuter, literally, "neither one nor the other"; from ne-, "not, no" + uter, "either (of two)"; probably a loan-translation of Greek oudeteros, "neither, neuter". In the 16th century, it had the sense of "taking neither side, being neutral."
neuter (verb), neuters; neutered; neutering
1. To take away or withdraw the power or effectiveness of something: The discussion on disarmament between the two countries will neuter the military power on both sides.
2. To remove the testicles or ovaries of an animal: Susan's cat was spayed or neutered so it couldn't have kittens anymore.
2. To remove the testicles or ovaries of an animal: Susan's cat was spayed or neutered so it couldn't have kittens anymore.
The verb "to neuter" is from about 1903, from the adjective, originally in reference to pet cats.
(Greek: ion, "going"; neuter present participle of ienai, "to go"; because an ion moves toward the electrode of an opposite charge)
(Latin: medium is the neuter form of the adjective medius, meaning "middle"; as well as, a neuter noun meaning, "the middle")
(Latin: neither of two; neither one nor the other)
Word Entries at Get Words:
“neuter”
neuter
To castrate or to spay a dog.
This entry is located in the following unit:
Dog or Canine Terms +
(page 8)