An Attempt To Date
Nepotism
G.D.O'Bradovich III
May 5, 2016
Part the First
In this installment our "Attempt to Date" series, we will examine nepotism. The following information is courtesy of the Oxford English Dictionary. Select commentary will be located in brackets [ ]. Since the entry was updated in September, 2003, we have included all citations.
Forms: 16 nepotisme, 16– nepotism.
Etymology:
A borrowing from Latin, combined with an English element; modelled on an Italian lexical item. Etymons: Latin nepōt- , nepōs , -ism suffix.
< classical Latin nepōt-, nepōs (see nephew n.) + -ism suffix, after Italian †nipotismo (1667 or earlier with reference to popes, 1672 as nepotismo, 1851 in extended use in sense ‘favouritism’).
Compare French népotisme (1653 with reference to popes or other dignitaries, 1800 in extended use).
In quot. 1669 with reference to G. Leti Il Nipotismo di Roma (1667); compare also:
1669 W. Aglionby tr. G. Leti Il Nipotismo di Roma i. ii. 41, I begin the History of the Nipotismo, from the time of Sixtus the fourth, since he was the first that delivered up Rome and the Popedom in prey to his Nephews.
[Sixtus the fourth lived from 1414 to 1484.]
1.a. The showing of special favour or unfair preference to a relative in conferring a position, job, privilege, etc.; spec. such favour or preference shown to an illegitimate son by a pope or other high-ranking ecclesiastic (now hist.).
1669 S. Pepys Diary 27 Apr. (1976) IX. 535 And then home and got my wife to read to me again in The Nepotisme, which is very pleasant.
1670 G. Havers tr. G. Leti Il Cardinalismo di Santa Chiesa ii. i. 116 Ministers that by the favour of the Nepotisme, do revive..a new Neronisme of Tyranny.
1688 Answer Talon's Plea 10 His great aversion from all kind of Pride; the freest from Nepotism of any.
1705 J. Addison Remarks Italy 184 It is to this Humour of Nepotism that Rome owes its present Splendor.
1741 S. Richardson Pamela III. xxxii. 280 His Holiness declar'd against Nepotism.
1836 E. Howard Rattlin xxxviii, The nepotism of the treasurer of the navy.
1876 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest V. xxii. 44 This nepotism of the Bishop who made a maintenance for his kinsfolk out of the estates of the Church.
1930 V. Sackville-West Edwardians i. 22 The system of nepotism reigned. Thus Mrs. Wickenden and Wickenden the head-carpenter were brother and sister.
1973 C. C. Trench George II ii. 24 The country squire was..just as eager as the nobleman to obtain places for his sons, brothers and dependants... Nepotism was considered not a vice, but a family duty.
1999 I. Rankin Dead Souls v. 33 Working-class nepotism, jobs handed down from father to son.
b. In extended use: unfair preferment of or favouritism shown to friends, protégés, or others within a person's sphere of influence. Also (occas.): †the exploitation for one's personal advantage of one's influential status (obs.). Freq. in political nepotism.
1859 U.S. Democratic Rev. Apr. 190 Congress, wearied of the political nepotism..has resolved to cut down three of our missions.
1917 Jrnl. Polit. Econ. 25 440 The debauching of the directorate or of the official or employed staff of the Bank by the introduction of political nepotism..need no more than be referred to here.
1952 A. Bevan In Place of Fear v. 90 Entitlement to advancement on grounds of merit alone, free from any tinge of political nepotism, must be jealously guarded by any self-respecting profession.
1978 Economist 12 Aug. 74/3 A manager..who actually believes in management, not political nepotism upstream or down.
1996 Hispanic Outlook in Higher Educ. (Electronic ed.) 2 Aug. True opportunity is inexorably linked to the social nepotism that sees only the color white when assessing the contributions and potential of its citizenry.
†2. The advantages, or opportunities for advancement, enjoyed by a pope's nephew. Obs. rare.
a1680 J. Bargrave Pope Alexander VII (1867) i. lv. 95 The Pope's only nephew..married her, quitting his Cardinal's cap and nepotism.
†3. A feeling of fondness or affection for one's nephew or nephews. Obs. rare.
1818 Lady Morgan Passages from Autobiogr. (1859) 9, I am sure that nepotism is an organic affection in single and childless women; it is a maternal instinct gone astray.
The earliest recording of "nepotism" if from the year 1669.
Forms: 16 nepotisme, 16– nepotism.
Etymology:
A borrowing from Latin, combined with an English element; modelled on an Italian lexical item. Etymons: Latin nepōt- , nepōs , -ism suffix.
< classical Latin nepōt-, nepōs (see nephew n.) + -ism suffix, after Italian †nipotismo (1667 or earlier with reference to popes, 1672 as nepotismo, 1851 in extended use in sense ‘favouritism’).
Compare French népotisme (1653 with reference to popes or other dignitaries, 1800 in extended use).
In quot. 1669 with reference to G. Leti Il Nipotismo di Roma (1667); compare also:
1669 W. Aglionby tr. G. Leti Il Nipotismo di Roma i. ii. 41, I begin the History of the Nipotismo, from the time of Sixtus the fourth, since he was the first that delivered up Rome and the Popedom in prey to his Nephews.
[Sixtus the fourth lived from 1414 to 1484.]
1.a. The showing of special favour or unfair preference to a relative in conferring a position, job, privilege, etc.; spec. such favour or preference shown to an illegitimate son by a pope or other high-ranking ecclesiastic (now hist.).
1669 S. Pepys Diary 27 Apr. (1976) IX. 535 And then home and got my wife to read to me again in The Nepotisme, which is very pleasant.
1670 G. Havers tr. G. Leti Il Cardinalismo di Santa Chiesa ii. i. 116 Ministers that by the favour of the Nepotisme, do revive..a new Neronisme of Tyranny.
1688 Answer Talon's Plea 10 His great aversion from all kind of Pride; the freest from Nepotism of any.
1705 J. Addison Remarks Italy 184 It is to this Humour of Nepotism that Rome owes its present Splendor.
1741 S. Richardson Pamela III. xxxii. 280 His Holiness declar'd against Nepotism.
1836 E. Howard Rattlin xxxviii, The nepotism of the treasurer of the navy.
1876 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest V. xxii. 44 This nepotism of the Bishop who made a maintenance for his kinsfolk out of the estates of the Church.
1930 V. Sackville-West Edwardians i. 22 The system of nepotism reigned. Thus Mrs. Wickenden and Wickenden the head-carpenter were brother and sister.
1973 C. C. Trench George II ii. 24 The country squire was..just as eager as the nobleman to obtain places for his sons, brothers and dependants... Nepotism was considered not a vice, but a family duty.
1999 I. Rankin Dead Souls v. 33 Working-class nepotism, jobs handed down from father to son.
b. In extended use: unfair preferment of or favouritism shown to friends, protégés, or others within a person's sphere of influence. Also (occas.): †the exploitation for one's personal advantage of one's influential status (obs.). Freq. in political nepotism.
1859 U.S. Democratic Rev. Apr. 190 Congress, wearied of the political nepotism..has resolved to cut down three of our missions.
1917 Jrnl. Polit. Econ. 25 440 The debauching of the directorate or of the official or employed staff of the Bank by the introduction of political nepotism..need no more than be referred to here.
1952 A. Bevan In Place of Fear v. 90 Entitlement to advancement on grounds of merit alone, free from any tinge of political nepotism, must be jealously guarded by any self-respecting profession.
1978 Economist 12 Aug. 74/3 A manager..who actually believes in management, not political nepotism upstream or down.
1996 Hispanic Outlook in Higher Educ. (Electronic ed.) 2 Aug. True opportunity is inexorably linked to the social nepotism that sees only the color white when assessing the contributions and potential of its citizenry.
†2. The advantages, or opportunities for advancement, enjoyed by a pope's nephew. Obs. rare.
a1680 J. Bargrave Pope Alexander VII (1867) i. lv. 95 The Pope's only nephew..married her, quitting his Cardinal's cap and nepotism.
†3. A feeling of fondness or affection for one's nephew or nephews. Obs. rare.
1818 Lady Morgan Passages from Autobiogr. (1859) 9, I am sure that nepotism is an organic affection in single and childless women; it is a maternal instinct gone astray.
The earliest recording of "nepotism" if from the year 1669.
Part the Second
As nepotism derives from "nephew", we now research that entry which was updated in September, 2003.
Forms:
α. ME nefew, ME nefewe, ME nepueu, ME nepveu, ME nepvew, ME nepview, ME neueu, ME neueue, ME neuyew, ME neveaw, ME neviewe, ME nevoeu, ME nevue, ME nevyw, ME nevywe, ME neweu, ME newew, ME newewe, ME nieueu, ME–15 neuew, ME–15 neuewe, ME–15 neuiew, ME–15 neveu, ME–16 nevew, ME–16 nevewe, ME– nephew, 15 neffewe, 15 nefue, 15 nepevewe, 15 nepheue, 15 nephewe, 15 nephue, 15 nepvewe, 15–16 nepheu, 16 neiphew, 16 newhewe; Sc. pre-17 nefuieu, pre-17 nepheu, pre-17 nepheue, pre-17 nephieu, pre-17 nephue, pre-17 nepueu, pre-17 nepuieu, pre-17 nepvew, pre-17 nepvieu, pre-17 neveu, pre-17 nevew, pre-17 newew, pre-17 newewe, pre-17 17– nephew; N.E.D. (1906) also records a form ME neueue.
β. ME neuoȝ, ME neuou, ME neuow, ME neuowe, ME neuu, ME nevou, ME nevoue, ME nevowe, ME newof, ME–15 nevow; Sc. pre-17 navow, pre-17 nephow, pre-17 nephu, pre-17 neuow, pre-17 nevow, pre-17 nevw, pre-17 newow, pre-17 newowe, pre-17 newu.
[The spelling seems to indicate that a variant pronunciation was similar to "nev-ewe".]
γ. ME–15 nepho; Sc. pre-17 nefo, pre-17 nepheo, pre-17 nepho, pre-17 nepuo, pre-17 nepvo, pre-17 neuo, pre-17 newo, pre-17 17–18 nevo.
δ. ME newoi, 15 nepvoy, 15 newoy; Sc. pre-17 neivoy, pre-17 nephoy, pre-17 nephoye, pre-17 nephwoy, pre-17 nepoy, pre-17 nepuoy, pre-17 nepvoy, pre-17 neuoy, pre-17 newoy, pre-17 17– nevoy, pre-17 18 nevoye.
ε. 15 neuie, 15 neuy, 15 neuye, 15–16 nevie, 16 (18– Eng. regional) nephy, 18 (Eng. regional) nevy, 18 (Eng. regional) nevye; Eng. regional 18 neffi, 18– nephey, 18– nevey, 18– nevvy, 19– neffy, 19– nevvey; Sc. pre-17 nevay, pre-17 18 nevey, pre-17 18– nevy, 18– neffy, 18– nevvy, 19– neffie.
ζ. Sc. 19– neffa.
Etymology: A borrowing from French. Etymons: French nevou, neveu, nies.
< Anglo-Norman nevou, neveu, nevew, nevu, newu and Old French, Middle French neveu (also in Old French as nevou , nevo , nevu , nepveu , etc.; French neveu ),
originally the oblique case of Old French nies, niers (c1100; 2nd half of the 12th cent. in sense ‘grandson’, c1500 as nepveux (plural) in sense ‘descendants’)
< classical Latin nepōt- , nepōs , grandson, descendant, a prodigal (see sense 2c), a secondary shoot (see sense 5), in post-classical Latin also nephew (4th cent.), niece (13th cent.), cognate with neve n.1 Compare also nepote n.
Compare Old Occitan neps nephew, grandson (c1150; Occitan nèp nephew, grandson), Old Occitan, Occitan nebot nephew (c1150; compare also Old Occitan, Occitan bot (c1350)), Catalan nebot nephew (late 13th cent.; also in late 13th cent. in sense ‘grandson’), Italian nipote (a1321 in Dante in senses ‘grandson’, (in plural) ‘descendants’; late 13th cent. as nepote in sense ‘nephew’).
Perhaps attested earlier as a surname, as e.g. Ralph le Neveu (1194), Thomas le Nevou (1225), although these may show the Anglo-Norman rather than the Middle English word.
With ε forms compare also nevvy n.
1.a. A son of a person's brother or sister. Hence also: a son of a brother- or sister-in-law.
α.
c1325 (▸c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 4508 Þo was þe king arþure vol of sorwe & sore..Ac to awreke him of is luþer neueu his herte bar alre best.
a1375 William of Palerne (1867) 5098 Glad he was þat his neweu so nobul was wox.
▸a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 111 He wente into Egipt..forto see his suster and his nevewes.
?1456 Duke of York in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 100 To take possession and saisine, in the name and to þe vse of our ful worshipful nepueu th'Erl of Warrewic.
1490 Caxton's Blanchardyn & Eglantine (1962) xx. 63 Blanchardyn..ranne vpon Corbodas, that neuewe was to kynge Alymodes.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. 599 Use yourselfe to him as good uncles shulde do to their nephewes.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. xviii. sig. Aa4v, Euardes..had three Nephewes, sonnes to a sister of his.
1621 R. Montagu Diatribæ Hist. Tithes 120 As Plinius the elder was wont to say unto his nephew.
1655 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. I. i. 82 He reposed his head in the bosom of his sisters son;..the Court dismist he was found dead in his Nephews bosome.
1722 D. Defoe Relig. Courtship i. iii. 84 What kind of a Lady has my Nephew got?
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones VI. xviii. ix. 247 ‘Mr. Jones your Nephew, sir?’.. ‘He is indeed..my own Sister's Son.’
1828 Scott Fair Maid of Perth xi, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. II. 325 The interview between the uncle and nephew being thus concluded, the Prince retired.
1867 M. E. Herbert Cradle Lands viii. 207 It was here that Abraham encamped with his nephew Lot.
1894 ‘M. Twain’ Pudd'nhead Wilson xx. 266 A crime which had..blighted the happiness of a young nephew who was as dear as a son.
1915 W. S. Maugham Of Human Bondage cviii. 568 He did not mention his nephew's affairs.
1948 V. Nabokov Let. 26 Feb. in Sel. Lett. (1989) 81 Since my arrival in the United States I have..achieved a position which..appears sufficiently secure to warrant bringing my nephew over.
1988 M. Binchy Silver Wedding ii. 38 There was never a harsh word between the two Doyles, uncle and nephew.
β.
c1330 (▸?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 737 He kist tristrem ful skete And for his nevou toke.
c1460 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Oseney Abbey (1913) 64 (MED), Gerarde my nevowe, þe Vicounte of pinkeny.
1508 W. Kennedy Flyting (Chepman & Myllar) in P. Bawcutt Poems W. Dunbar (1998) I. 218 Nero thy nevow, Golyas thy grantsire.
γ.
1487 (▸a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xvi. 44 And specialy the erll Thomass Of Murreff, that his nevo was.
1488 (▸c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) ii. l. 431 Welcum, neuo, Welcum, deir sone, to me.
1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1901) I. iii. xiv. 301 C. Claudius..began to speik to his said nevo, erare in maner of prayer þan ony displesere.
1558 Q. Kennedy Compendius Tractiue in D. Laing Misc. Wodrow Soc. (1844) I. 97 To my derrest and best beluiffit Nepuo, Gilbert, Maister of Cassilis.
1678 A. Keith Let. in J. Kirkton Secret & True Hist. Church Scotl. (1817) 357 (note) , I have written to your nevo the tresorer of Edin[burgh].
1846 W. Cross Disruption i. 4 To tell me..that my nevo is comin' doun the burnside.
δ.
1509 in J. Raine Testamenta Eboracensia (1884) V. 5 My son Hugh Hulley, and Sir Thomas Pilley my newoy.
1562 W. Turner Bk. Natures Bathes Ded., in 2nd. Pt. Herball Duke of Summerset, and Protector of his Nepvoy King Edward the Sixt.
a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 107 Dawid Lyndsay..quhois nevoy, sone to Johnne his brother [etc.].
1816 Scott Old Mortality vi, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. II. 132 Haud your peace, Alison, I was speaking to my nevoy.
1839 D. M. Moir Life Mansie Wauch (rev. ed.) xxvii. 359 A leather-cap, edged with rabbit-fur, for her little nevoy.
ε.
1530 in J. Raine Testamenta Eboracensia (1884) V. 285 To John Bradford, my nevy.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde i. ix. f. 40, Aries Pinzonus, his neuie, by his brothers syde.
1607 in Antiquary 32 242 To Symon hallyday, my nevie.
1858–61 E. B. Ramsay Reminisc. Sc. Life (1870) v. 117, I am real glad to find my nevy has made so good a choice.
1908 J. Lumsden Doun i' th' Loudons 254 Our trials begoud wi' twa young neffies—Thrawn deils, I trow.
b. euphem. An illegitimate son, esp. of an ecclesiastic or cleric. Now chiefly hist.
1587 W. Harrison Descr. Eng. (1877) ii. ii. 48 For nephues might say in those daies; ‘Father, shall I call you uncle?’ And vncles also; ‘Son, I must call thee nephue.’
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 104 The chiefe of these banished men was the Nephew (so they call Church-mens bastards) of the Cardinall Caietano.
a1848 G. F. A. Ruxton Life in Far West (1849) vii. 218 They were probably his nieces and nephews—a class of relations often possessed in numbers by priests and monks.
1873 W. H. Dixon Hist. Two Queens I. iii. ii. 125 More papal ‘nephews’ had been stalled and mitred in the English Church.
1911 J. Maxfield in Eng. Rev. Oct. 370 She's trod her pathway to the fire. Old Rivers had his nephew by her.
2.a. A grandson. Now rare (in later use regional).
α.
c1325 (▸c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 7709 (MED), Richard is o neueu brec þere is nekke þer to.
▸a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 91 Scipio Nasica, þe greet Scipio þat heet Affricanus his nevewe.
c1450 (▸c1380) Chaucer House of Fame 617 Thou..Hast served..Hys [sc. Jupiter's] blynde nevew Cupido.
a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1546) sig. Cc.ij, Ye had your nevewes, sonnes of your chyldren, maryed.
1591 Spenser Ruines of Rome in Complaints viii, Vertuous nephewes..Striving in power their grandfathers to passe.
1632 P. Holland tr. Xenophon Cyrupædia v. v. 115 Naturall children and nephewes [margin childrens children, as we say unproperly, Grand-children].
1656 J. Trapp Comm. 2 Tim. i. 5 The grandmothers also..love their nephews better than their own immediate children.
1699 R. Bentley Diss. Epist. Phalaris (new ed.) 43 Among the ancient Greeks the name of the Grandfather was commonly given to the Nephew.
1903 Eng. Dial. Dict. IV. 251/1 All my sons and daughters were at my wife's funeral, and one nephew and niece, my eldest son's children.
[From the year 1632, we learn that grandchildren is improper and the correct wording is "children's children".]
[As late as the year 1903, nephew meant grandson.]
[NB-We are uncertain why there is no beta or gamma in this subsection.]
δ.
a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) iv. iv. 86 The ȝong Ascanyus, Nevo to King Dardane and to Venus.
1579 in D. Masson Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1880) 1st Ser. III. 140 He..as nevoy and air be progres of umquhile Andro Wod.., his guidsire.
1609 J. Skene tr. Regiam Majestatem 34 Gif ane man deceis, haueand ane after-borne sonne, and ane Nephoy of his first-begotten sonne [etc.].
†b. A daughter of a person's brother or sister; a niece. Obs.
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. lxxxxvii. f. xxxviii, The Beaute and great vertue of Clotildis neuewe to Cundebald.
a1600 (▸1535) W. Stewart tr. H. Boece Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 712 To my nevoy Matildis, that hes richt Till all Ingland intill hir faderis sicht, I haif maid homage.
1626 Edinb. Test. LIII. f. 260, in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue at Nepvo, The said Barbara Forsythe my nephew.
1647 Will of Joan Lutley (P.R.O.: PROB. 11/202) f. 250v, I give unto Elizabeth Cornish my nevew halfe a dozen of silver spoones with maiden headed.
1749 Rec. Surry County, Virginia in Amer. Speech (1965) 40 236 To my nephew, Mary Cripps and nephew Ann Fields.
[As late as the year 1749 in the American Colonies, nephew could be referencing a female.]
†c. In extended use: a prodigal. Obs. rare—1.
1532 T. More Confut. Tyndale in Wks. 638/1 Whyther the olde holy doctours and saynctes..be better to be beleued.., or els these yong new naughty nephewes.
†3. A descendant (of a remote or unspecified kinship); a successor. Obs.
▸a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 263 Engistus and Horsus..were Woden his nevewes [L. abnepotes].
1549 Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. II. Rom. xi. f. xxxv, The Iewes..yf they this do not, then are they not his [sc. Abraham's] neuewes.
1597 Bp. J. King Lect. Jonas x. 136 Thy childrens children, & nephewes to come.
1647 J. Trapp Comm. Epist. & Rev. (2 Cor. v. 10) On that day Adam shall see all his nephews together.
1676 J. Glanvill Seasonable Refl. 189 All the ancient Sages, with their Sons, and Nephews to the latest Posterity.
[As late as the year 1647, Adam's descendants are described as "nephews".]
†4. A figure in geomancy. Obs. rare—1.
1591 F. Sparry tr. C. de Cattan Geomancie 9 Nowe resteth it to declare the making of the Nephews [Fr. niepces], with their qualities.
†5. Hort. A secondary shoot. Obs. rare.
1745 tr. L. J. M. Columella Of Husbandry iv. vi, From that place from which you have taken away the nephew or secondary twig [L. nepotem], it presently pours forth another.
† nephew-elect n. Obs. rare the intended son-in-law of a person's brother or sister.
1834 Tait's Edinb. Mag. New Ser. 1 381/2 It was not his fault that I, your nephew-elect, am not a Northamptonshire Squire.
nephew-in-law n. the son-in-law of a person's brother or sister.
1797 T. Rumney Let. 8 Oct. in A. W. Rumney From Old South-Sea House (1914) xiv. 253, I regret Mr. Powell, who is Mrs. Clark's nephew-in-law in Town very soon.
1839 Dickens Nicholas Nickleby xv. 134 The company added their entreaties to those of his nephew-in-law.
1885 T. D. English Boy's Bk. Battle-lyrics 2 Not only were eighty-two killed, including the nephew and nephew-in-law of the Adelantado.., but none of the Spaniards escaped severe wounds.
1998 Independent 14 Nov. (Mag.) 55/2 (caption) Attilio..uses a manual crusher to squeeze the grapes, while his English nephew-in-law..collects the fermented grapes.
[The son-in-law of a person's brother or sister, or nephew-in-law, is first recorded in the year 1797.]
nephewdom n. rare the relationship or position of a nephew.
1924 W. J. Locke Coming of Amos ii. 25 There is nothing inherent in mere nephewdom to rake frantic emotional chords.
Forms:
α. ME nefew, ME nefewe, ME nepueu, ME nepveu, ME nepvew, ME nepview, ME neueu, ME neueue, ME neuyew, ME neveaw, ME neviewe, ME nevoeu, ME nevue, ME nevyw, ME nevywe, ME neweu, ME newew, ME newewe, ME nieueu, ME–15 neuew, ME–15 neuewe, ME–15 neuiew, ME–15 neveu, ME–16 nevew, ME–16 nevewe, ME– nephew, 15 neffewe, 15 nefue, 15 nepevewe, 15 nepheue, 15 nephewe, 15 nephue, 15 nepvewe, 15–16 nepheu, 16 neiphew, 16 newhewe; Sc. pre-17 nefuieu, pre-17 nepheu, pre-17 nepheue, pre-17 nephieu, pre-17 nephue, pre-17 nepueu, pre-17 nepuieu, pre-17 nepvew, pre-17 nepvieu, pre-17 neveu, pre-17 nevew, pre-17 newew, pre-17 newewe, pre-17 17– nephew; N.E.D. (1906) also records a form ME neueue.
β. ME neuoȝ, ME neuou, ME neuow, ME neuowe, ME neuu, ME nevou, ME nevoue, ME nevowe, ME newof, ME–15 nevow; Sc. pre-17 navow, pre-17 nephow, pre-17 nephu, pre-17 neuow, pre-17 nevow, pre-17 nevw, pre-17 newow, pre-17 newowe, pre-17 newu.
[The spelling seems to indicate that a variant pronunciation was similar to "nev-ewe".]
γ. ME–15 nepho; Sc. pre-17 nefo, pre-17 nepheo, pre-17 nepho, pre-17 nepuo, pre-17 nepvo, pre-17 neuo, pre-17 newo, pre-17 17–18 nevo.
δ. ME newoi, 15 nepvoy, 15 newoy; Sc. pre-17 neivoy, pre-17 nephoy, pre-17 nephoye, pre-17 nephwoy, pre-17 nepoy, pre-17 nepuoy, pre-17 nepvoy, pre-17 neuoy, pre-17 newoy, pre-17 17– nevoy, pre-17 18 nevoye.
ε. 15 neuie, 15 neuy, 15 neuye, 15–16 nevie, 16 (18– Eng. regional) nephy, 18 (Eng. regional) nevy, 18 (Eng. regional) nevye; Eng. regional 18 neffi, 18– nephey, 18– nevey, 18– nevvy, 19– neffy, 19– nevvey; Sc. pre-17 nevay, pre-17 18 nevey, pre-17 18– nevy, 18– neffy, 18– nevvy, 19– neffie.
ζ. Sc. 19– neffa.
Etymology: A borrowing from French. Etymons: French nevou, neveu, nies.
< Anglo-Norman nevou, neveu, nevew, nevu, newu and Old French, Middle French neveu (also in Old French as nevou , nevo , nevu , nepveu , etc.; French neveu ),
originally the oblique case of Old French nies, niers (c1100; 2nd half of the 12th cent. in sense ‘grandson’, c1500 as nepveux (plural) in sense ‘descendants’)
< classical Latin nepōt- , nepōs , grandson, descendant, a prodigal (see sense 2c), a secondary shoot (see sense 5), in post-classical Latin also nephew (4th cent.), niece (13th cent.), cognate with neve n.1 Compare also nepote n.
Compare Old Occitan neps nephew, grandson (c1150; Occitan nèp nephew, grandson), Old Occitan, Occitan nebot nephew (c1150; compare also Old Occitan, Occitan bot (c1350)), Catalan nebot nephew (late 13th cent.; also in late 13th cent. in sense ‘grandson’), Italian nipote (a1321 in Dante in senses ‘grandson’, (in plural) ‘descendants’; late 13th cent. as nepote in sense ‘nephew’).
Perhaps attested earlier as a surname, as e.g. Ralph le Neveu (1194), Thomas le Nevou (1225), although these may show the Anglo-Norman rather than the Middle English word.
With ε forms compare also nevvy n.
1.a. A son of a person's brother or sister. Hence also: a son of a brother- or sister-in-law.
α.
c1325 (▸c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 4508 Þo was þe king arþure vol of sorwe & sore..Ac to awreke him of is luþer neueu his herte bar alre best.
a1375 William of Palerne (1867) 5098 Glad he was þat his neweu so nobul was wox.
▸a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 111 He wente into Egipt..forto see his suster and his nevewes.
?1456 Duke of York in Paston Lett. & Papers (2004) II. 100 To take possession and saisine, in the name and to þe vse of our ful worshipful nepueu th'Erl of Warrewic.
1490 Caxton's Blanchardyn & Eglantine (1962) xx. 63 Blanchardyn..ranne vpon Corbodas, that neuewe was to kynge Alymodes.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. 599 Use yourselfe to him as good uncles shulde do to their nephewes.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. xviii. sig. Aa4v, Euardes..had three Nephewes, sonnes to a sister of his.
1621 R. Montagu Diatribæ Hist. Tithes 120 As Plinius the elder was wont to say unto his nephew.
1655 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. I. i. 82 He reposed his head in the bosom of his sisters son;..the Court dismist he was found dead in his Nephews bosome.
1722 D. Defoe Relig. Courtship i. iii. 84 What kind of a Lady has my Nephew got?
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones VI. xviii. ix. 247 ‘Mr. Jones your Nephew, sir?’.. ‘He is indeed..my own Sister's Son.’
1828 Scott Fair Maid of Perth xi, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. II. 325 The interview between the uncle and nephew being thus concluded, the Prince retired.
1867 M. E. Herbert Cradle Lands viii. 207 It was here that Abraham encamped with his nephew Lot.
1894 ‘M. Twain’ Pudd'nhead Wilson xx. 266 A crime which had..blighted the happiness of a young nephew who was as dear as a son.
1915 W. S. Maugham Of Human Bondage cviii. 568 He did not mention his nephew's affairs.
1948 V. Nabokov Let. 26 Feb. in Sel. Lett. (1989) 81 Since my arrival in the United States I have..achieved a position which..appears sufficiently secure to warrant bringing my nephew over.
1988 M. Binchy Silver Wedding ii. 38 There was never a harsh word between the two Doyles, uncle and nephew.
β.
c1330 (▸?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 737 He kist tristrem ful skete And for his nevou toke.
c1460 in A. Clark Eng. Reg. Oseney Abbey (1913) 64 (MED), Gerarde my nevowe, þe Vicounte of pinkeny.
1508 W. Kennedy Flyting (Chepman & Myllar) in P. Bawcutt Poems W. Dunbar (1998) I. 218 Nero thy nevow, Golyas thy grantsire.
γ.
1487 (▸a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xvi. 44 And specialy the erll Thomass Of Murreff, that his nevo was.
1488 (▸c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) ii. l. 431 Welcum, neuo, Welcum, deir sone, to me.
1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1901) I. iii. xiv. 301 C. Claudius..began to speik to his said nevo, erare in maner of prayer þan ony displesere.
1558 Q. Kennedy Compendius Tractiue in D. Laing Misc. Wodrow Soc. (1844) I. 97 To my derrest and best beluiffit Nepuo, Gilbert, Maister of Cassilis.
1678 A. Keith Let. in J. Kirkton Secret & True Hist. Church Scotl. (1817) 357 (note) , I have written to your nevo the tresorer of Edin[burgh].
1846 W. Cross Disruption i. 4 To tell me..that my nevo is comin' doun the burnside.
δ.
1509 in J. Raine Testamenta Eboracensia (1884) V. 5 My son Hugh Hulley, and Sir Thomas Pilley my newoy.
1562 W. Turner Bk. Natures Bathes Ded., in 2nd. Pt. Herball Duke of Summerset, and Protector of his Nepvoy King Edward the Sixt.
a1578 R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 107 Dawid Lyndsay..quhois nevoy, sone to Johnne his brother [etc.].
1816 Scott Old Mortality vi, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. II. 132 Haud your peace, Alison, I was speaking to my nevoy.
1839 D. M. Moir Life Mansie Wauch (rev. ed.) xxvii. 359 A leather-cap, edged with rabbit-fur, for her little nevoy.
ε.
1530 in J. Raine Testamenta Eboracensia (1884) V. 285 To John Bradford, my nevy.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde i. ix. f. 40, Aries Pinzonus, his neuie, by his brothers syde.
1607 in Antiquary 32 242 To Symon hallyday, my nevie.
1858–61 E. B. Ramsay Reminisc. Sc. Life (1870) v. 117, I am real glad to find my nevy has made so good a choice.
1908 J. Lumsden Doun i' th' Loudons 254 Our trials begoud wi' twa young neffies—Thrawn deils, I trow.
b. euphem. An illegitimate son, esp. of an ecclesiastic or cleric. Now chiefly hist.
1587 W. Harrison Descr. Eng. (1877) ii. ii. 48 For nephues might say in those daies; ‘Father, shall I call you uncle?’ And vncles also; ‘Son, I must call thee nephue.’
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 104 The chiefe of these banished men was the Nephew (so they call Church-mens bastards) of the Cardinall Caietano.
a1848 G. F. A. Ruxton Life in Far West (1849) vii. 218 They were probably his nieces and nephews—a class of relations often possessed in numbers by priests and monks.
1873 W. H. Dixon Hist. Two Queens I. iii. ii. 125 More papal ‘nephews’ had been stalled and mitred in the English Church.
1911 J. Maxfield in Eng. Rev. Oct. 370 She's trod her pathway to the fire. Old Rivers had his nephew by her.
2.a. A grandson. Now rare (in later use regional).
α.
c1325 (▸c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 7709 (MED), Richard is o neueu brec þere is nekke þer to.
▸a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 91 Scipio Nasica, þe greet Scipio þat heet Affricanus his nevewe.
c1450 (▸c1380) Chaucer House of Fame 617 Thou..Hast served..Hys [sc. Jupiter's] blynde nevew Cupido.
a1533 Ld. Berners tr. A. de Guevara Golden Bk. M. Aurelius (1546) sig. Cc.ij, Ye had your nevewes, sonnes of your chyldren, maryed.
1591 Spenser Ruines of Rome in Complaints viii, Vertuous nephewes..Striving in power their grandfathers to passe.
1632 P. Holland tr. Xenophon Cyrupædia v. v. 115 Naturall children and nephewes [margin childrens children, as we say unproperly, Grand-children].
1656 J. Trapp Comm. 2 Tim. i. 5 The grandmothers also..love their nephews better than their own immediate children.
1699 R. Bentley Diss. Epist. Phalaris (new ed.) 43 Among the ancient Greeks the name of the Grandfather was commonly given to the Nephew.
1903 Eng. Dial. Dict. IV. 251/1 All my sons and daughters were at my wife's funeral, and one nephew and niece, my eldest son's children.
[From the year 1632, we learn that grandchildren is improper and the correct wording is "children's children".]
[As late as the year 1903, nephew meant grandson.]
[NB-We are uncertain why there is no beta or gamma in this subsection.]
δ.
a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) iv. iv. 86 The ȝong Ascanyus, Nevo to King Dardane and to Venus.
1579 in D. Masson Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1880) 1st Ser. III. 140 He..as nevoy and air be progres of umquhile Andro Wod.., his guidsire.
1609 J. Skene tr. Regiam Majestatem 34 Gif ane man deceis, haueand ane after-borne sonne, and ane Nephoy of his first-begotten sonne [etc.].
†b. A daughter of a person's brother or sister; a niece. Obs.
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. lxxxxvii. f. xxxviii, The Beaute and great vertue of Clotildis neuewe to Cundebald.
a1600 (▸1535) W. Stewart tr. H. Boece Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 712 To my nevoy Matildis, that hes richt Till all Ingland intill hir faderis sicht, I haif maid homage.
1626 Edinb. Test. LIII. f. 260, in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue at Nepvo, The said Barbara Forsythe my nephew.
1647 Will of Joan Lutley (P.R.O.: PROB. 11/202) f. 250v, I give unto Elizabeth Cornish my nevew halfe a dozen of silver spoones with maiden headed.
1749 Rec. Surry County, Virginia in Amer. Speech (1965) 40 236 To my nephew, Mary Cripps and nephew Ann Fields.
[As late as the year 1749 in the American Colonies, nephew could be referencing a female.]
†c. In extended use: a prodigal. Obs. rare—1.
1532 T. More Confut. Tyndale in Wks. 638/1 Whyther the olde holy doctours and saynctes..be better to be beleued.., or els these yong new naughty nephewes.
†3. A descendant (of a remote or unspecified kinship); a successor. Obs.
▸a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 263 Engistus and Horsus..were Woden his nevewes [L. abnepotes].
1549 Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. II. Rom. xi. f. xxxv, The Iewes..yf they this do not, then are they not his [sc. Abraham's] neuewes.
1597 Bp. J. King Lect. Jonas x. 136 Thy childrens children, & nephewes to come.
1647 J. Trapp Comm. Epist. & Rev. (2 Cor. v. 10) On that day Adam shall see all his nephews together.
1676 J. Glanvill Seasonable Refl. 189 All the ancient Sages, with their Sons, and Nephews to the latest Posterity.
[As late as the year 1647, Adam's descendants are described as "nephews".]
†4. A figure in geomancy. Obs. rare—1.
1591 F. Sparry tr. C. de Cattan Geomancie 9 Nowe resteth it to declare the making of the Nephews [Fr. niepces], with their qualities.
†5. Hort. A secondary shoot. Obs. rare.
1745 tr. L. J. M. Columella Of Husbandry iv. vi, From that place from which you have taken away the nephew or secondary twig [L. nepotem], it presently pours forth another.
† nephew-elect n. Obs. rare the intended son-in-law of a person's brother or sister.
1834 Tait's Edinb. Mag. New Ser. 1 381/2 It was not his fault that I, your nephew-elect, am not a Northamptonshire Squire.
nephew-in-law n. the son-in-law of a person's brother or sister.
1797 T. Rumney Let. 8 Oct. in A. W. Rumney From Old South-Sea House (1914) xiv. 253, I regret Mr. Powell, who is Mrs. Clark's nephew-in-law in Town very soon.
1839 Dickens Nicholas Nickleby xv. 134 The company added their entreaties to those of his nephew-in-law.
1885 T. D. English Boy's Bk. Battle-lyrics 2 Not only were eighty-two killed, including the nephew and nephew-in-law of the Adelantado.., but none of the Spaniards escaped severe wounds.
1998 Independent 14 Nov. (Mag.) 55/2 (caption) Attilio..uses a manual crusher to squeeze the grapes, while his English nephew-in-law..collects the fermented grapes.
[The son-in-law of a person's brother or sister, or nephew-in-law, is first recorded in the year 1797.]
nephewdom n. rare the relationship or position of a nephew.
1924 W. J. Locke Coming of Amos ii. 25 There is nothing inherent in mere nephewdom to rake frantic emotional chords.
Part the Third
The citations in chronological order with references to nepotism in bold and edited for space.
1325c (▸c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 4508 ...Ac to awreke him of is luþer neueu his herte bar alre best.
1325c (▸c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 7709 (MED), Richard is o neueu brec þere is nekke þer to.
1330c (▸?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 737 He kist tristrem ful skete And for his nevou toke.
1375a William of Palerne (1867) 5098 Glad he was þat his neweu so nobul was wox.
1387▸a J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 111 He wente into Egipt..forto see his suster and his nevewes.
1387▸a J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 91 ... þe greet Scipio þat heet Affricanus his nevewe.
1387▸a J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 263 ...were Woden his nevewes [L. abnepotes].
1450c (▸c1380) Chaucer House of Fame 617 Thou..Hast served..Hys [sc. Jupiter's] blynde nevew Cupido.
1456? (2004) II. 100 ... in the name and to þe vse of our ful worshipful nepueu th'Erl of Warrewic.
1460c (1913) 64 (MED), Gerarde my nevowe, þe Vicounte of pinkeny.
1487 (▸a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xvi. 44 And specialy the erll Thomass Of Murreff, that his nevo was.
1488 (▸c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) ii. l. 431 Welcum, neuo, Welcum, deir sone, to me.
1490 Caxton's Blanchardyn & Eglantine (1962) xx. 63 Blanchardyn..ranne vpon Corbodas, that neuewe was to kynge Alymodes.
1508 (1998) I. 218 Nero thy nevow, Golyas thy grantsire.
1509 in J. Raine Testamenta Eboracensia (1884) V. 5 My son Hugh Hulley, and Sir Thomas Pilley my newoy.
1513a R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) The Beaute and great vertue of Clotildis neuewe to Cundebald.
1522a G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) iv. iv. 86 The ȝong Ascanyus, Nevo to King Dardane and to Venus.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. 599 Use yourselfe to him as good uncles shulde do to their nephewes.
1530 in J. Raine Testamenta Eboracensia (1884) V. 285 To John Bradford, my nevy.
1532 T. More Confut. Tyndale in Wks. 638/1 .. or els these yong new naughty nephewes.
1533 (1901) Claudius..began to speik to his said nevo, erare in maner of prayer þan ony displesere.
1533a (1546) sig. Cc.ij, Ye had your nevewes, sonnes of your chyldren, maryed.
1549 tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. II. The Iewes..yf they this do not, then are they not his [sc. Abraham's] neuewes.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde i. ix. f. 40, Aries Pinzonus, his neuie, by his brothers syde.
1558 Q. Kennedy Compendius Tractiue (1844) I. 97 To my derrest and best beluiffit Nepuo, Gilbert, Maister of Cassilis.
1562 ., in 2nd. Pt. Herball Duke of Summerset, and Protector of his Nepvoy King Edward the Sixt.
1578a R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 107 Dawid Lyndsay..quhois nevoy, sone to Johnne his brother [etc.].
1579 in D. Masson Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1880) 1st Ser. III. 140 He..as nevoy and air be progres of umquhile Andro Wod...
1586a Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. xviii. sig. Aa4v, Euardes..had three Nephewes, sonnes to a sister of his.
1587 (1877) For nephues might say in those daies; ‘Father, shall I call you uncle?’ And vncles also; ‘Son, I must call thee nephue.’
1591 F. Sparry tr. C. de Cattan Geomancie 9 Nowe resteth it to declare the making of the Nephews [Fr. niepces], with their qualities.
1591 Spenser Ruines of Rome in Complaints viii, Vertuous nephewes..Striving in power their grandfathers to passe.
1597 Bp. J. King Lect. Jonas x. 136 Thy childrens children, & nephewes to come.
1600a (▸1535). (1858) II. 712 To my nevoy Matildis, that hes richt Till all Ingland intill hir faderis sicht, I haif maid homage.
1607 in Antiquary 32 242 To Symon hallyday, my nevie.
1609 J. Skene tr. Regiam Majestatem 34 Gif ane man deceis, haueand ane after-borne sonne, and ane Nephoy of his first-begotten...
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary The chiefe ... was the Nephew (so they call Church-mens bastards) of the Cardinall Caietano.
1621 R. Montagu Diatribæ Hist. Tithes 120 As Plinius the elder was wont to say unto his nephew.
1626 Edinb. Test. LIII. f. 260, in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue at Nepvo, The said Barbara Forsythe my nephew.
1632 P. Holland Naturall children and nephewes [margin childrens children, as we say unproperly, Grand-children].
1647 J. Trapp Comm. Epist. & Rev. (2 Cor. v. 10) On that day Adam shall see all his nephews together.
1647 Will of Joan Lutley I give unto Elizabeth Cornish my nevew halfe a dozen of silver spoones with maiden headed.
1655 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. I. i. 82 ...the Court dismist he was found dead in his Nephews bosome.
1656 J. Trapp Comm. 2 Tim. i. 5 The grandmothers also..love their nephews better than their own immediate children.
1669 S. Pepys Diary 27 Apr. (1976) And then home and got my wife to read to me again in The Nepotisme, which is very pleasant.
1669 W. Aglionby I begin the History of the Nipotismo, from the time of Sixtus the fourth... to his Nephews.
1670 G. Havers Ministers that by the favour of the Nepotisme, do revive..a new Neronisme of Tyranny.
1676 J. Glanvill Seasonable Refl. 189 All the ancient Sages, with their Sons, and Nephews to the latest Posterity.
1678 A. Keith Let. (1817) 357 (note) , I have written to your nevo the tresorer of Edin[burgh].
1680a J. Bargrave Pope Alexander VII (1867) i. lv. 95 The Pope's only nephew..married her, quitting ... nepotism.
1688 Answer Talon's Plea 10 His great aversion from all kind of Pride; the freest from Nepotism of any.
1699 (new ed.) 43 Among ... Greeks the name of the Grandfather was commonly given to the Nephew.
1705 J. Addison Remarks Italy 184 It is to this Humour of Nepotism that Rome owes its present Splendor.
1722 D. Defoe Relig. Courtship i. iii. 84 What kind of a Lady has my Nephew got?
1741 S. Richardson Pamela III. xxxii. 280 His Holiness declar'd against Nepotism.
1745 tr. L. J. M. Columella Of Husbandry iv. vi, ... you have taken away the nephew or secondary twig [L. nepotem]...
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones VI. xviii. ix. 247 ‘Mr. Jones your Nephew, sir?’.. ‘He is indeed..my own Sister's Son.’
1749 Rec. Surry County, Virginia in Amer. Speech (1965) 40 236 To my nephew, Mary Cripps and nephew Ann Fields.
1797 T. Rumney Let. (1914) xiv. 253, I regret Mr. Powell, who is Mrs. Clark's nephew-in-law in Town very soon.
1816 Scott Old Mortality vi, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. II. 132 Haud your peace, Alison, I was speaking to my nevoy.
1818 Lady Morgan Passages from Autobiogr. (1859) 9, I am sure that nepotism is an organic affection in... childless women...
1828 Scott Fair Maid of Perth xi The interview between the uncle and nephew being thus concluded, the Prince retired.
1834 Tait's Edinb. Mag. New Ser. 1 381/2 It was not his fault that I, your nephew-elect, am not a Northamptonshire Squire.
1836 E. Howard Rattlin xxxviii, The nepotism of the treasurer of the navy.
1839 D. M. Moir Life Mansie Wauch (rev. ed.) xxvii. 359 A leather-cap, edged with rabbit-fur, for her little nevoy.
1839 Dickens Nicholas Nickleby xv. 134 The company added their entreaties to those of his nephew-in-law.
1846 W. Cross Disruption i. 4 To tell me..that my nevo is comin' doun the burnside.
1848a G. F. A. Ruxton Life in Far West (1849) vii. 218 They were probably his ... nephews... often possessed in numbers by priests ...
1858–61 E. B. Ramsay Reminisc. Sc. Life (1870) v. 117, I am real glad to find my nevy has made so good a choice.
1859 U.S. Democratic Rev. Apr. 190 Congress, wearied of the political nepotism..has resolved to cut down three of our missions.
1867 M. E. Herbert Cradle Lands viii. 207 It was here that Abraham encamped with his nephew Lot.
1873 W. H. Dixon Hist. Two Queens I. iii. ii. 125 More papal ‘nephews’ had been stalled and mitred in the English Church.
1876 E. A. Freeman This nepotism of the Bishop who made a maintenance for his kinsfolk out of the estates of the Church.
1885 T. D. English Boy's Bk. Battle-lyrics 2 ... the nephew and nephew-in-law of the Adelantado...
1894 ‘M. Twain’ Pudd'nhead Wilson A crime which had..blighted the happiness of a young nephew who was as dear as a son.
1903 Eng. Dial. Dict. IV. 251/1 All ...were at my ...funeral, and one nephew and niece, my eldest son's children.
1908 J. Lumsden Doun i' th' Loudons 254 Our trials begoud wi' twa young neffies—Thrawn deils, I trow.
1911 J. Maxfield in Eng. Rev. Oct. 370 She's trod her pathway to the fire. Old Rivers had his nephew by her.
1915 W. S. Maugham Of Human Bondage cviii. 568 He did not mention his nephew's affairs.
1917 Jrnl. Polit. Econ. 25 440 The debauching of the directorate ... of the Bank by the introduction of political nepotism...
1924 W. J. Locke Coming of Amos ii. 25 There is nothing inherent in mere nephewdom to rake frantic emotional chords.
1930 V. Sackville-West Edwardians i. 22 The system of nepotism reigned. Thus Mrs. Wickenden and Wickenden ...
1948 V. Nabokov Let. 26 Feb. in Sel. Lett. (1989) 81 I have..achieved a position which.... my nephew over.
1952 A. Bevan In Place of Fear v. 90 ...free from any tinge of political nepotism, must be jealously guarded ...
1973 C. C. Trench George II ii. 24 ... Nepotism was considered not a vice, but a family duty.
1978 Economist 12 Aug. 74/3 A manager..who actually believes in management, not political nepotism upstream or down.
1988 M. Binchy Silver Wedding ii. 38 There was never a harsh word between the two Doyles, uncle and nephew.
1996 Hispanic Outlook in Higher Educ. (Electronic ed.) 2 Aug. True opportunity is inexorably linked to the social nepotism ...
1998 Independent 14 Nov. (Mag.) 55/2 (caption) ... his English nephew-in-law..collects the fermented grapes.
1999 I. Rankin Dead Souls v. 33 Working-class nepotism, jobs handed down from father to son.
1325c (▸c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 4508 ...Ac to awreke him of is luþer neueu his herte bar alre best.
1325c (▸c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 7709 (MED), Richard is o neueu brec þere is nekke þer to.
1330c (▸?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 737 He kist tristrem ful skete And for his nevou toke.
1375a William of Palerne (1867) 5098 Glad he was þat his neweu so nobul was wox.
1387▸a J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 111 He wente into Egipt..forto see his suster and his nevewes.
1387▸a J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 91 ... þe greet Scipio þat heet Affricanus his nevewe.
1387▸a J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 263 ...were Woden his nevewes [L. abnepotes].
1450c (▸c1380) Chaucer House of Fame 617 Thou..Hast served..Hys [sc. Jupiter's] blynde nevew Cupido.
1456? (2004) II. 100 ... in the name and to þe vse of our ful worshipful nepueu th'Erl of Warrewic.
1460c (1913) 64 (MED), Gerarde my nevowe, þe Vicounte of pinkeny.
1487 (▸a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xvi. 44 And specialy the erll Thomass Of Murreff, that his nevo was.
1488 (▸c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) ii. l. 431 Welcum, neuo, Welcum, deir sone, to me.
1490 Caxton's Blanchardyn & Eglantine (1962) xx. 63 Blanchardyn..ranne vpon Corbodas, that neuewe was to kynge Alymodes.
1508 (1998) I. 218 Nero thy nevow, Golyas thy grantsire.
1509 in J. Raine Testamenta Eboracensia (1884) V. 5 My son Hugh Hulley, and Sir Thomas Pilley my newoy.
1513a R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) The Beaute and great vertue of Clotildis neuewe to Cundebald.
1522a G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) iv. iv. 86 The ȝong Ascanyus, Nevo to King Dardane and to Venus.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. 599 Use yourselfe to him as good uncles shulde do to their nephewes.
1530 in J. Raine Testamenta Eboracensia (1884) V. 285 To John Bradford, my nevy.
1532 T. More Confut. Tyndale in Wks. 638/1 .. or els these yong new naughty nephewes.
1533 (1901) Claudius..began to speik to his said nevo, erare in maner of prayer þan ony displesere.
1533a (1546) sig. Cc.ij, Ye had your nevewes, sonnes of your chyldren, maryed.
1549 tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. II. The Iewes..yf they this do not, then are they not his [sc. Abraham's] neuewes.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde i. ix. f. 40, Aries Pinzonus, his neuie, by his brothers syde.
1558 Q. Kennedy Compendius Tractiue (1844) I. 97 To my derrest and best beluiffit Nepuo, Gilbert, Maister of Cassilis.
1562 ., in 2nd. Pt. Herball Duke of Summerset, and Protector of his Nepvoy King Edward the Sixt.
1578a R. Lindsay Hist. & Cron. Scotl. (1899) I. 107 Dawid Lyndsay..quhois nevoy, sone to Johnne his brother [etc.].
1579 in D. Masson Reg. Privy Council Scotl. (1880) 1st Ser. III. 140 He..as nevoy and air be progres of umquhile Andro Wod...
1586a Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. xviii. sig. Aa4v, Euardes..had three Nephewes, sonnes to a sister of his.
1587 (1877) For nephues might say in those daies; ‘Father, shall I call you uncle?’ And vncles also; ‘Son, I must call thee nephue.’
1591 F. Sparry tr. C. de Cattan Geomancie 9 Nowe resteth it to declare the making of the Nephews [Fr. niepces], with their qualities.
1591 Spenser Ruines of Rome in Complaints viii, Vertuous nephewes..Striving in power their grandfathers to passe.
1597 Bp. J. King Lect. Jonas x. 136 Thy childrens children, & nephewes to come.
1600a (▸1535). (1858) II. 712 To my nevoy Matildis, that hes richt Till all Ingland intill hir faderis sicht, I haif maid homage.
1607 in Antiquary 32 242 To Symon hallyday, my nevie.
1609 J. Skene tr. Regiam Majestatem 34 Gif ane man deceis, haueand ane after-borne sonne, and ane Nephoy of his first-begotten...
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary The chiefe ... was the Nephew (so they call Church-mens bastards) of the Cardinall Caietano.
1621 R. Montagu Diatribæ Hist. Tithes 120 As Plinius the elder was wont to say unto his nephew.
1626 Edinb. Test. LIII. f. 260, in Dict. Older Sc. Tongue at Nepvo, The said Barbara Forsythe my nephew.
1632 P. Holland Naturall children and nephewes [margin childrens children, as we say unproperly, Grand-children].
1647 J. Trapp Comm. Epist. & Rev. (2 Cor. v. 10) On that day Adam shall see all his nephews together.
1647 Will of Joan Lutley I give unto Elizabeth Cornish my nevew halfe a dozen of silver spoones with maiden headed.
1655 T. Stanley Hist. Philos. I. i. 82 ...the Court dismist he was found dead in his Nephews bosome.
1656 J. Trapp Comm. 2 Tim. i. 5 The grandmothers also..love their nephews better than their own immediate children.
1669 S. Pepys Diary 27 Apr. (1976) And then home and got my wife to read to me again in The Nepotisme, which is very pleasant.
1669 W. Aglionby I begin the History of the Nipotismo, from the time of Sixtus the fourth... to his Nephews.
1670 G. Havers Ministers that by the favour of the Nepotisme, do revive..a new Neronisme of Tyranny.
1676 J. Glanvill Seasonable Refl. 189 All the ancient Sages, with their Sons, and Nephews to the latest Posterity.
1678 A. Keith Let. (1817) 357 (note) , I have written to your nevo the tresorer of Edin[burgh].
1680a J. Bargrave Pope Alexander VII (1867) i. lv. 95 The Pope's only nephew..married her, quitting ... nepotism.
1688 Answer Talon's Plea 10 His great aversion from all kind of Pride; the freest from Nepotism of any.
1699 (new ed.) 43 Among ... Greeks the name of the Grandfather was commonly given to the Nephew.
1705 J. Addison Remarks Italy 184 It is to this Humour of Nepotism that Rome owes its present Splendor.
1722 D. Defoe Relig. Courtship i. iii. 84 What kind of a Lady has my Nephew got?
1741 S. Richardson Pamela III. xxxii. 280 His Holiness declar'd against Nepotism.
1745 tr. L. J. M. Columella Of Husbandry iv. vi, ... you have taken away the nephew or secondary twig [L. nepotem]...
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones VI. xviii. ix. 247 ‘Mr. Jones your Nephew, sir?’.. ‘He is indeed..my own Sister's Son.’
1749 Rec. Surry County, Virginia in Amer. Speech (1965) 40 236 To my nephew, Mary Cripps and nephew Ann Fields.
1797 T. Rumney Let. (1914) xiv. 253, I regret Mr. Powell, who is Mrs. Clark's nephew-in-law in Town very soon.
1816 Scott Old Mortality vi, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. II. 132 Haud your peace, Alison, I was speaking to my nevoy.
1818 Lady Morgan Passages from Autobiogr. (1859) 9, I am sure that nepotism is an organic affection in... childless women...
1828 Scott Fair Maid of Perth xi The interview between the uncle and nephew being thus concluded, the Prince retired.
1834 Tait's Edinb. Mag. New Ser. 1 381/2 It was not his fault that I, your nephew-elect, am not a Northamptonshire Squire.
1836 E. Howard Rattlin xxxviii, The nepotism of the treasurer of the navy.
1839 D. M. Moir Life Mansie Wauch (rev. ed.) xxvii. 359 A leather-cap, edged with rabbit-fur, for her little nevoy.
1839 Dickens Nicholas Nickleby xv. 134 The company added their entreaties to those of his nephew-in-law.
1846 W. Cross Disruption i. 4 To tell me..that my nevo is comin' doun the burnside.
1848a G. F. A. Ruxton Life in Far West (1849) vii. 218 They were probably his ... nephews... often possessed in numbers by priests ...
1858–61 E. B. Ramsay Reminisc. Sc. Life (1870) v. 117, I am real glad to find my nevy has made so good a choice.
1859 U.S. Democratic Rev. Apr. 190 Congress, wearied of the political nepotism..has resolved to cut down three of our missions.
1867 M. E. Herbert Cradle Lands viii. 207 It was here that Abraham encamped with his nephew Lot.
1873 W. H. Dixon Hist. Two Queens I. iii. ii. 125 More papal ‘nephews’ had been stalled and mitred in the English Church.
1876 E. A. Freeman This nepotism of the Bishop who made a maintenance for his kinsfolk out of the estates of the Church.
1885 T. D. English Boy's Bk. Battle-lyrics 2 ... the nephew and nephew-in-law of the Adelantado...
1894 ‘M. Twain’ Pudd'nhead Wilson A crime which had..blighted the happiness of a young nephew who was as dear as a son.
1903 Eng. Dial. Dict. IV. 251/1 All ...were at my ...funeral, and one nephew and niece, my eldest son's children.
1908 J. Lumsden Doun i' th' Loudons 254 Our trials begoud wi' twa young neffies—Thrawn deils, I trow.
1911 J. Maxfield in Eng. Rev. Oct. 370 She's trod her pathway to the fire. Old Rivers had his nephew by her.
1915 W. S. Maugham Of Human Bondage cviii. 568 He did not mention his nephew's affairs.
1917 Jrnl. Polit. Econ. 25 440 The debauching of the directorate ... of the Bank by the introduction of political nepotism...
1924 W. J. Locke Coming of Amos ii. 25 There is nothing inherent in mere nephewdom to rake frantic emotional chords.
1930 V. Sackville-West Edwardians i. 22 The system of nepotism reigned. Thus Mrs. Wickenden and Wickenden ...
1948 V. Nabokov Let. 26 Feb. in Sel. Lett. (1989) 81 I have..achieved a position which.... my nephew over.
1952 A. Bevan In Place of Fear v. 90 ...free from any tinge of political nepotism, must be jealously guarded ...
1973 C. C. Trench George II ii. 24 ... Nepotism was considered not a vice, but a family duty.
1978 Economist 12 Aug. 74/3 A manager..who actually believes in management, not political nepotism upstream or down.
1988 M. Binchy Silver Wedding ii. 38 There was never a harsh word between the two Doyles, uncle and nephew.
1996 Hispanic Outlook in Higher Educ. (Electronic ed.) 2 Aug. True opportunity is inexorably linked to the social nepotism ...
1998 Independent 14 Nov. (Mag.) 55/2 (caption) ... his English nephew-in-law..collects the fermented grapes.
1999 I. Rankin Dead Souls v. 33 Working-class nepotism, jobs handed down from father to son.
Conclusion
Although we are satisfied that "nepotism" dates from the year 1669, our idle hands drove us to discover the nature of "nephew". We feel satisfaction in knowing that "nepotism" has an unambiguous meaning relating to favoritism or to preferential treatment and this certainty is due entirely to the word being introduced for a specific purpose. We feel fortunate to know the specific year of the first recording of "nepotism".
Because "nephew" has been in the English language for so long ["so long" is used here to mean an unspecified length of time], it has, over many years, been subjected to different interpretations. These differing interpretations suggest that the word was introduced when the literacy rate was low and it was "a shot in the dark" as to what the meaning of "nephew" was or was not. It is obvious that "nephew" has a relationship to family, but that is all that we can be certain when we encounter references to "nephew" in the past.
From the previous citations, it is clear from at least the year 1325 that nephew means grandson, and it seems reasonable to have a name for a male child ("son") and to have a name for a son's son ("nephew"). An example from the year 1903 demonstrates that in at least one dialect, nephew was still understood to be a grandson.
Nephew can be a female [1749], it can be one's grandson [1325], it can be a descendant of a remote or unspecified kinship [1549], or it can be one's posterity [1647]. Clearly, there is a great deal of confusion regarding ambiguous nephews. When one encounters "nephew", it is important to know the time and the place, as one may mistake the intent, and often the context, or circumstance, does not assist in an accurate determination.
One of the shortcomings of many amateurs is that they "know" the meaning of a word in the twenty first century, and they transfer their "knowledge" to the distant past with no regard for the well documented changes in the meaning of words, English or otherwise. “When I use a word,” speakers of living languages say, “it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.” The Gentle Reader may reflect that the byword of philologists, occultists and philosophers is caution. We offer the following charts to document that universal literacy is a Modern invention:
Because "nephew" has been in the English language for so long ["so long" is used here to mean an unspecified length of time], it has, over many years, been subjected to different interpretations. These differing interpretations suggest that the word was introduced when the literacy rate was low and it was "a shot in the dark" as to what the meaning of "nephew" was or was not. It is obvious that "nephew" has a relationship to family, but that is all that we can be certain when we encounter references to "nephew" in the past.
From the previous citations, it is clear from at least the year 1325 that nephew means grandson, and it seems reasonable to have a name for a male child ("son") and to have a name for a son's son ("nephew"). An example from the year 1903 demonstrates that in at least one dialect, nephew was still understood to be a grandson.
Nephew can be a female [1749], it can be one's grandson [1325], it can be a descendant of a remote or unspecified kinship [1549], or it can be one's posterity [1647]. Clearly, there is a great deal of confusion regarding ambiguous nephews. When one encounters "nephew", it is important to know the time and the place, as one may mistake the intent, and often the context, or circumstance, does not assist in an accurate determination.
One of the shortcomings of many amateurs is that they "know" the meaning of a word in the twenty first century, and they transfer their "knowledge" to the distant past with no regard for the well documented changes in the meaning of words, English or otherwise. “When I use a word,” speakers of living languages say, “it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.” The Gentle Reader may reflect that the byword of philologists, occultists and philosophers is caution. We offer the following charts to document that universal literacy is a Modern invention:
Standardized spelling cannot be agreed upon and implemented before the introduction of mass printing. A consensus of proper spelling can only be achieved by literate persons, who do not necessarily need to be majority of the population. The preceding two sentences create an opportunity for our friends in computer science, as only "fuzzy logic" can provide insights towards resolving the issues of literacy, proper spelling and mass publications over time.
It seems that our efforts to understand "nephew" have left us in a quandary: Unlike those individuals who know with complete certainty and confidence what "nephew" exactly and unambiguously means, our research offers no undisputed evidence: neither of the spelling of nevewe, nor the pronunciation of nev'ewe nor the definite meaning of nephew.
As always, the Gentle Reader will reach his own informed conclusions.
We offer potential Apprentice Brock's research on the topic of a well know explorer [Vide] and a guilt free pleasure [Vide].
It seems that our efforts to understand "nephew" have left us in a quandary: Unlike those individuals who know with complete certainty and confidence what "nephew" exactly and unambiguously means, our research offers no undisputed evidence: neither of the spelling of nevewe, nor the pronunciation of nev'ewe nor the definite meaning of nephew.
As always, the Gentle Reader will reach his own informed conclusions.
We offer potential Apprentice Brock's research on the topic of a well know explorer [Vide] and a guilt free pleasure [Vide].