Nether \Neth"er\, a. [OE. nethere, neithere, AS. ni?era, fr. the adv. ni?er downward; akin to neo?an below, beneath, D. neder down, G. nieder, Sw. nedre below, nether, a. & adv., and also

1. Cf. Beneath.]

Situated down or below; lying beneath, or in the lower part; having a lower position; belonging to the region below; lower; under; -- opposed to upper.

'Twixt upper, nether, and surrounding fires. --Milton.

This darksome nether world her light Doth dim with horror and deformity. --Spenser.

All my nether shape thus grew transformed. --Milton.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)