noun

neve

neev

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Neve (noun) means an old, now largely obsolete word for a nephew, grandson, or male cousin. Example: “In the will, the estate passed to his neve rather than his own children.”

noun

An old, now largely obsolete word for a nephew, grandson, or male cousin.

"In the will, the estate passed to his neve rather than his own children."

How to use neve

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn archaic term meaning roughly what "nephew" means today, though it originally covered grandsons and cousins too.

Common mistake

Don't confuse this obsolete kinship word with the unrelated glacier-science term "névé" (compacted granular snow) — they're spelled almost the same but come from completely different origins.

Easily confused with

nephew →

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: neves

Test yourself on “neve” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

In the will, the estate passed to his _____ rather than his own children.

Etymology

From Old English nefa ("nephew, grandson"), the same root that eventually gave English "nephew" — "neve" simply fell out of everyday use as "nephew" took over.

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for neve

eve nieve breve sieve reeve Steve Maeve cleve sleeve grieve achieve believe

See all rhymes for neve →

Frequently asked questions

What does “neve” mean?

The word “neve” means an old, now largely obsolete word for a nephew, grandson, or male cousin. In plain terms, an archaic term meaning roughly what "nephew" means today, though it originally covered grandsons and cousins too.

How do you pronounce “neve”?

“Neve” is pronounced neev (/niːv/ in IPA).

How do you use “neve” in a sentence?

Here is “neve” used in a sentence: “In the will, the estate passed to his neve rather than his own children.”

What part of speech is “neve”?

“Neve” is a noun.

Where does the word “neve” come from?

The word “neve” comes from Old English. From Old English nefa ("nephew, grandson"), the same root that eventually gave English "nephew" — "neve" simply fell out of everyday use as "nephew" took over.