Unabridged Dictionary - Letter N
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N
N (?), the fourteenth letter of English alphabet, is a vocal
consonent, and, in allusion to its mode of formation, is called the
dentinasal or linguanasal consonent. Its commoner sound is that heard
in ran, done; but when immediately followed in the same word by the
sound of g hard or k (as in single, sink, conquer), it usually
represents the same sound as the digraph ng in sing, bring, etc. This
is a simple but related sound, and is called the gutturo-nasal
consonent. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 243-246. The letter N came
into English through the Latin and Greek from the Ph\'d2nician, which
probably derived it from the Egyptian as the ultimate origin. It is
etymologically most closely related to M. See M.
N
N, n. (Print.) A measure of space equal to half an M (or em); an en.
Na
Na (?), a. & adv. No, not. See No. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Nab
Nab (?), n. [Cf. Knap, Knop, Knob.]
1. The summit of an eminence. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
2. (Firearms) The cock of a gunlock. Knight.
3. (Locksmithing) The keeper, or box into which the lock is shot.
Knight.
Nab
Nab, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nabbed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Nabbing.] [Dan
nappe, or Sw. nappa.] To catch or seize suddenly or unexpectedly.
[Colloq.] Smollett.
Nabit
Na"bit (?), n. Pulverized sugar candy. Crabb.
Nabk
Nabk (?), n. [Ar. nabiqa,nibqa.] (Bot.) The edible berries of the
Zizyphys Lotus, a tree of Northern Africa, and Southwestern Europe.
[Written also nubk.] See Lotus (b), and Sadr.
Nabob
Na"bob (?), n. [Hind. naw\'beb, from Ar. naw\'beb, pl. of n\'be\'8bb a
vicegerent, governor. Cf Nawab.]
1. A deputy or viceroy in India; a governor of a province of the
ancient Mogul empire.
2. One who returns to Europe from the East with immense riches: hence,
any man of great wealth. " A bilious old nabob." Macaulay.
Nacarat
Nac"a*rat (?), n. [F. nacarat, fr. Sp. or Pg. nacarado, fr. n\'a0car
mother-of-pearl. See Nacre.]
1. A pale red color, with a cast of orange. Ure.
2. Fine linen or crape dyed of this color. Ure.
Nacker
Nack"er (?), n. See Nacre. Johnson.
Nacre
Na"cre (?), n. [F., cf. Sp. n\'a0cara, n\'a0car, It. nacchera,
naccaro, LL. nacara, nacrum; of Oriental origin, cf. Ar. nak\'c6r
hollowed.] (Zo\'94l.) A pearly substance which lines the interior of
many shells, and is most perfect in the mother-of-pearl. [Written also
nacker and naker.] See Pearl, and Mother-of-pearl.
Nacre-ous
Na"cre-ous (?), a. [See Nacre.] (Zo\'94l.) Consisting of, or
resembling, nacre; pearly.
Nad, Nadde
Nad (?), Nad"de (?). [Contr. fr. ne hadde.] Had not. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Nadder
Nad"der (?), n. [AS.n\'91dre. See Adder.] An adder. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Nadir
Na"dir (?), n. [F., Sp., & It. nadir; all fr. Ar. nas\'c6ru's samt
nadir, prop., the point opposite the zenith (as samt), in which
nas\'c6r means alike, corresponding to. Cf. Azimuth, Zenith.]
1. That point of the heavens, or lower hemisphere, directly opposite
the zenith; the inferior pole of the horizon; the point of the
celestial sphere directly under the place where we stand.
2. The lowest point; the time of greatest depression.
The seventh century is the nadir of the human mind in Europe.
Hallam.
Nadir of the sun (Astron.), the axis of the conical shadow projected
by the earth. Crabb.
N\'91nia
N\'91"ni*a (?), n. See Nenia.
N\'91ve
N\'91ve (?), n. [L. naevus.] A n\'91vus. [Obs.] Dryden.
N\'91void
N\'91"void (?), a. [N\'91vus + -oid.] Resembling a n\'91vus or
n\'91vi; as, n\'91void elephantiasis. Dunglison.
N\'91vose
N\'91"vose` (?), a. Spotted; frecled.
Navus
Na"vus (?), n.; pl.N\'91vi (-v\'c6). [L.] (Med.) A spot or mark on the
skin of children when born; a birthmark; -- usually applied to
vascular tumors, i. e., those consisting mainly of blood vessels, as
dilated arteries, veins, or capillaries.
Nag
Nag (?), n. [OE. nagge, D. negge; akin to E. neigh.]
1. A small horse; a pony; hence, any horse.
2. A paramour; -- in contempt. [Obs.] Shak.
Nag
Nag, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Nagged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Nagging
(?).] [Cf. Sw. nagga to nibble, peck, Dan. nage to gnaw, Icel. naga,
gnaga, G. nagen, & E. gnaw.] To tease in a petty way; to scold
habitually; to annoy; to fret pertinaciously. [Colloq.] "She never
nagged." J. Ingelow.
Nagging
Nag"ging (?), a. Fault-finding; teasing; persistently annoying; as, a
nagging toothache. [Colloq.]
Naggy
Nag"gy (?) a. Irritable; touchy. [Colloq.]
Nagor
Na"gor (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) A West African gazelle (Gazella redunca).
Nagyag-ite
Nag"yag-ite (?), n. [So called from Nagyag, in Transylvania.] (Min.) A
mineral of blackish lead-gray color and metallic luster, generally of
a foliated massive structure; foliated tellurium. It is a telluride of
lead and gold.
Naiad
Na"iad (?), n. [L. naias, -adis, na\'8bs, -idis, a water nymph, Gr
na\'8bade. Cf. Naid.]
1. (Myth.) A water nymph; one of the lower female divinities, fabled
to preside over some body of fresh water, as a lake, river, brook, or
fountain.
2. (Zo\'94l.) Any species of a tribe (Naiades) of freshwater bivalves,
including Unio, Anodonta, and numerous allied genera; a river mussel.
3. (Zo\'94l) One of a group of butterflies. See Nymph.
4. (Bot.) Any plant of the order Naiadace\'91, such as eelgrass,
pondweed, etc.
Naiant
Na"iant (?), a. (Her.) See Natant. Crabb.
Naid
Na"id (?), n. [See Naiad.] (Zo\'94l.) Any one of numerous species of
small, fresh-water, ch\'91topod annelids of the tribe Naidina. They
belong to the Oligoch\'91ta.
Na\'8bf
Na"\'8bf` (formerly , a. [F. na\'8bf. See Na\'8bve.]
1. Having a true natural luster without being cut; -- applied by
jewelers to a precious stone.
2. Na\'8bve; as, a na\'8bf remark. London Spectator.
Naik
Na"ik (?), n. [Hind. n\'beyak.] A chief; a leader; a Sepoy corporal.
Balfour (Cyc. of India).
Nail
Nail (?), n. [AS. n\'91gel, akin to D. nagel, OS nagal, G. nagel,
Icel. nagl, nail (in sense 1), nagli nail (in sense 3), Sw. nagel nail
(in senses 1 and 3), Dan. nagle, Goth. ganagljan to nail, Lith. nagas
nail (in sense 1), Russ. nogote, L. unguis, Gr. nakha.
1. (Anat.) the horny scale of plate of epidermis at the end of the
fingers and toes of man and many apes.
His nayles like a briddes claws were. Chaucer.
NOTE: &hand; Th e na ils ar e st rictly ho mologous wi th hoofs and
claws. When compressed, curved, and pointed, they are called talons
or claws, and the animal bearing them is said to be unguiculate;
when they incase the extremities of the digits they are called
hoofs, and the animal is ungulate.
2. (Zo\'94l.) (a) The basal thickened portion of the anterior wings of
certain hemiptera. (b) The terminal horny plate on the beak of ducks,
and other allied birds.
3. A slender, pointed piece of metal, usually with a head, used for
fastening pieces of wood or other material together, by being driven
into or through them.
NOTE: &hand; The different sorts of nails are named either from the
use to which they are applied, from their shape, from their size,
or from some other characteristic, as shingle, floor,
ship-carpenters', and horseshoe nails, roseheads, diamonds,
fourpenny, tenpenny (see Penny), chiselpointed, cut, wrought, or
wire nails, etc.
4. A measure of length, being two inches and a quarter, or the
sixteenth of a yard.
Nail ball (Ordnance), a round projectile with an iron bolt protruding
to prevent it from turning in the gun. -- Nail plate, iron in plates
from which cut nails are made. -- On the nail, in hand; on the spot;
immediately; without delay or time of credit; as, to pay money on the
nail. "You shall have ten thousand pounds on the nail." Beaconsfield.
-- To hit the nail on the head, to hit most effectively; to do or say
a thing in the right way.
Nail
Nail, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nailed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Nailing.] [AS.
n\'91glian. See Nail, n.]
1. To fasten with a nail or nails; to close up or secure by means of
nails; as, to nail boards to the beams.
He is now dead, and nailed in his chest. Chaucer.
2. To stud or boss with nails, or as with nails.
The rivets of your arms were nailed with gold. Dryden.
3. To fasten, as with a nail; to bind or hold, as to a bargain or to
acquiescence in an argument or assertion; hence, to catch; to trap.
When they came to talk of places in town, you saw at once how I
nailed them. Goldsmith.
4. To spike, as a cannon. [Obs.] Crabb.
To nail a lie OR an assertion, etc., to detect and expose it, so as to
put a stop to its currency; -- an expression probably derived from the
former practice of shopkeepers, who were accustomed to nail bad or
counterfeit pieces of money to the counter.
Nailbrush
Nail"brush`, n. A brush for cleaning the nails.
Nailer
Nail"er (?), n.
1. One whose occupation is to make nails; a nail maker.
2. One who fastens with, or drives, nails.
Naileress
Nail"er*ess, n. A women who makes nailes.
Nailery
Nail"er*y (?), n.; pl. Naileries (. A manufactory where nails are
made.
Nail-headed
Nail"-head`ed (?), a. Having a head like that of a nail; formed so as
to resemble the head of a nail. Nail-headed characters, arrowheaded or
cuneiform characters. See under Arrowheaded. -- Nail-headed molding
(Arch.), an ornament consisting of a series of low four-sided pyramids
resembling the heads of large nails; -- called also nail-head molding,
or nail-head. It is the same as the simplest form of dogtooth. See
Dogtooth.
Nailless
Nail"less, a. Without nails; having no nails.
Nainsook
Nain`sook" (?), n. [Nainsukh, a valley in Kaghan.] A thick sort of
jaconet muslin, plain or striped, formerly made in India.
Nais
Na"is (?), n. [L., a naiad.] (Zo\'94l.) See Naiad.
Naissant
Nais`sant" (?), a. [F., p. pr. of na\'8ctre to be born, L. nasci.]
(Her.) Same as Jessant.
Na\'8bve
Na"\'8bve` (?), a. [F. na\'8bf, fem. na\'8bve, fr. L. nativus innate,
natural, native. See Native, and cf. Na\'8bf.] Having native or
unaffected simplicity; ingenuous; artless; frank; as, na\'8bve
manners; a na\'8bve person; na\'8bve and unsophisticated remarks.
Na\'8bvely
Na"\'8bve`ly (?), adv. In a na\'8bve manner.
Na\'8bvet\'82
Na`\'8bve`t\'82" (?), n. [F. See Na\'8bve, and cf. Nativity.] Native
simplicity; unaffected plainness or ingenuousness; artlessness.
A story which pleases me by its na\'8bvet\'82 -- that is, by its
unconscious ingenuousness. De Quincey.
Na\'8bvety
Na"\'8bve`ty (?), n. Na\'8bvet\'82. Carlyle.
Nake
Nake (?),v.t. To make naked. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Come, be ready, nake your swords. Old Play.
Naked
Na"ked (?), a. [AS. nacod; akin to D. naakt, G. nackt, OHG. nacchot,
nahhot, Icel. n\'94kvi, nakinn, Sw. naken, Dan. n\'94gen, Goth. naqa,
Lith. n, Russ. nagii, L. nudus, Skr. nagna. &root;266. Cf. Nude.]
1. Having no clothes on; uncovered; nude; bare; as, a naked body; a
naked limb; a naked sword.
2. Having no means of defense or protection; open; unarmed;
defenseless.
Thy power is full naked. Chaucer.
Behold my bosom naked to your swords. Addison.
3. Unprovided with needful or desirable accessories, means of
sustenance, etc.; destitute; unaided; bare.
Patriots who had exposed themselves for the public, and whom they
say now left naked. Milton.
4. Without addition, exaggeration, or excuses; not concealed or
disguised; open to view; manifest; plain.
The truth appears so naked on my side, That any purblind eye may
find it out. Shak.
All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we
to do. Heb. iv. 13.
5. Mere; simple; plain.
The very naked name of love. Shak.
6. (Bot.) Without pubescence; as, a naked leaf or stem; bare, or not
covered by the customary parts, as a flower without a perianth, a stem
without leaves, seeds without a pericarp, buds without bud scales.
7. (Mus.) Not having the full complement of tones; -- said of a chord
of only two tones, which requires a third tone to be sounded with them
to make the combination pleasing to the ear; as, a naked fourth or
fifth.<-- = open fourth, fifth? -->
Naked bed, a bed the occupant of which is naked, no night linen being
worn in ancient times. Shak. -- Naked eye, the eye alone, unaided by
glasses, or by telescope, microscope, or the like. -- Naked-eyed
medusa. (Zo\'94l.) See Hydromedusa. -- Naked flooring (Carp.), the
timberwork which supports a floor. Gwilt. -- Naked mollusk (Zo\'94l.),
a nudibranch. -- Naked wood (Bot.), a large rhamnaceous tree
(Colibrina reclinata) of Southern Florida and the West Indies, having
a hard and heavy heartwood, which takes a fine polish. C. S. Sargent.
Syn. -- Nude; bare; denuded; uncovered; unclothed; exposed; unarmed;
plain; defenseless.
Nakedly
Na"ked*ly, adv. In a naked manner; without covering or disguise;
manifestly; simply; barely.
Nakedness
Na"ked*ness, n.
1. The condition of being naked.
2. (Script.) The privy parts; the genitals.
Ham ... saw the nakedness of his father. Gen. ix. 22.
Naker
Na"ker (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) Same as Nacre.
Naker
Na"ker, n. [OE. nakere, F. nakaire, LL. nacara, Per. naq\'beret.] A
kind of kettledrum. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Nakoo
Na"koo (?), n. [From the native name.] (Zo\'94l.) The gavial. [Written
also nako.]
Nale
Nale (?), n. [A corrupt form arising from the older "at žen ale" at
the nale.] Ale; also, an alehouse. [Obs.]
Great feasts at the nale. Chaucer.
Nall
Nall (?), n. [Either fr. Icel. n\'bel (see Needle); or fr. awl, like
newt fr. ewt.] An awl. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Tusser.
Nam
Nam (?). [Contr. fr. ne am.] Am not. [Obs.]
Nam
Nam, obs. imp. of Nim. Chaucer.
Namable
Nam"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being named.
Namation
Na*ma"tion (?), n. [LL. namare to take; cf. AS. niman to take.] (O.
Eng. & Scots Law) A distraining or levying of a distress; an
impounding. Burrill.
Namaycush
Nam"ay*cush (?), n. [Indian name.] (Zool.) A large North American lake
trout (Salvelinus namaycush). It is usually spotted with red, and
sometimes weighs over forty pounds. Called also Mackinaw trout, lake
trout, lake salmon, salmon trout, togue, and tuladi.
Namby-pamby
Nam"by-pam`by (?), n. [From Ambrose Phillips, in ridicule of the
extreme simplicity of some of his verses.] Talk or writing which is
weakly sentimental or affectedly pretty. Macaulay.
Namby-pamby
Nam"by-pam`by, a. Affectedly pretty; weakly sentimental; finical;
insipid. Thackeray.
Namby-pamby madrigals of love. W. Gifford.
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Page 962
Name
Name (?), n. [AS. nama; akin to D. naam, OS. & OHG. namo, G. name,
Icel. nafn, for namn, Dan. navn, Sw. namn, Goth. nam&omac;, L. nomen
(perh. influenced by noscere, gnoscere, to learn to know), Gr.
'o`mona, Scr. n\'beman. &root;267. Cf. Anonymous, Ignominy, Misnomer,
Nominal, Noun.]
1. The title by which any person or thing is known or designated; a
distinctive specific appellation, whether of an individual or a class.
Whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name
thereof. Gen. ii. 19.
What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would
smell as sweet. Shak.
2. A descriptive or qualifying appellation given to a person or thing,
on account of a character or acts.
His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The
everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Is. ix. 6.
3. Reputed character; reputation, good or bad; estimation; fame;
especially, illustrious character or fame; honorable estimation;
distinction.
What men of name resort to him? Shak.
Far above ... every name that is named, not only in this world, but
also in that which is to come. Eph. i. 21.
I will get me a name and honor in the kingdom. 1 Macc. iii. 14.
He hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin. Deut. xxii. 19.
The king's army ...had left no good name behind. Clarendon.
4. Those of a certain name; a race; a family.
The ministers of the republic, mortal enemies of his name, came
every day to pay their feigned civilities. Motley.
5. A person, an individual. [Poetic]
They list with women each degenerate name. Dryden.
Christian name. (a) The name a person receives at baptism, as
distinguished from surname; baptismal name. (b) A given name, whether
received at baptism or not. -- Given name. See under Given. -- In
name, in profession, or by title only; not in reality; as, a friend in
name. -- In the name of. (a) In behalf of; by the authority of. " I
charge you in the duke's name to obey me." Shak. (b) In the
represented or assumed character of. " I'll to him again in name of
Brook." Shak. -- Name plate, a plate as of metal, glass, etc., having
a name upon it, as a sign; a doorplate. -- Pen name, a name assumed by
an author; a pseudonym or nom de plume. Bayard Taylor. -- Proper name
(Gram.), a name applied to a particular person, place, or thing. -- To
call names, to apply opprobrious epithets to; to call by reproachful
appellations. -- To take a name in vain, to use a name lightly or
profanely; to use a name in making flippant or dishonest oaths. Ex.
xx. 7. Syn. -- Appellation; title; designation; cognomen;
denomination; epithet. -- Name, Appellation, Title, Denomination. Name
is generic, denoting that combination of sounds or letters by which a
person or thing is known and distinguished. Appellation, although
sometimes put for name simply, denotes, more properly, a descriptive
term, used by way of marking some individual peculiarity or
characteristic; as, Charles the Bold, Philip the Stammerer. A title is
a term employed to point out one's rank, office, etc.; as, the Duke of
Bedford, Paul the Apostle, etc. Denomination is to particular bodies
what appellation is to individuals; thus, the church of Christ is
divided into different denominations, as Congregationalists,
Episcopalians, Presbyterians, etc.
Name
Name (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Named (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Naming.] [AS.
namian. See Name, n.]
1. To give a distinctive name or appellation to; to entitle; to
denominate; to style; to call.
She named the child Ichabod. 1 Sam. iv. 21.
Thus was the building left Ridiculous, and the work Confusion
named. Milton.
2. To mention by name; to utter or publish the name of; to refer to by
distinctive title; to mention.
None named thee but to praise. Halleck.
Old Yew, which graspest at the stones That name the underlying
dead. Tennyson.
3. To designate by name or specifically for any purpose; to nominate;
to specify; to appoint; as, to name a day for the wedding.
Whom late you have named for consul. Shak.
4. (House of Commons) To designate (a member) by name, as the Speaker
does by way of reprimand. Syn. -- To denominate; style; term; call;
mention; specify; designate; nominate.
Nameless
Name"less, a.
1. Without a name; not having been given a name; as, a nameless star.
Waller.
2. Undistinguished; not noted or famous.
A nameless dwelling and an unknown name. Harte.
3. Not known or mentioned by name; anonymous; as, a nameless
writer."Nameless pens." Atterbury.
4. Unnamable; indescribable; inexpressible.
But what it is, that is not yet known; what I can not name;
nameless woe,I wot. Shak.
I have a nameless horror of the man. Hawthorne.
Namelessly
Name"less*ly, adv. In a nameless manner.
Namely
Name"ly, adv.
1. By name; by particular mention; specifically; especially;
expressly. [Obs.] Chaucer.
The solitariness of man ...God hath namely and principally ordered
to prevent by marriage. Milton.
2. That is to say; to wit; videlicet; -- introducing a particular or
specific designation.
For the excellency of the soul, namely, its power of divining
dreams; that several such divinations have been made, none Addison.
Namer
Nam"er (?), n. One who names, or calls by name.
Namesake
Name"sake` (?), n. [For name's sake; i. e., one named for the sake of
another's name.] One that has the same name as another; especially,
one called after, or named out of regard to, another.
Namo
Na*mo" (?), adv. No more. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Nan
Nan (?), inerj. [For anan.] Anan. [Prov. Eng.]
Nandine
Nan"dine (?), n. [Native name.] (Zo\'94l.) An African carnivore
(Nandinia binotata), allied to the civets. It is spotted with black.
Nandou, Nandu
Nan"dou (?), Nan"du (?), n. [Braz. nhandu or yandu.] (Zo\'94l.) Any
one of three species of South American ostriches of the genera Rhea
and Pterocnemia. See Rhea. [Written also nandow.]
Nankeen
Nan*keen" (?), n. [So called from its being originally manufactured at
Nankin, in China.] [Written also nankin.]
1. A species of cloth, of a firm texture, originally brought from
China, made of a species of cotton (Gossypium religiosum) that is
naturally of a brownish yellow color quite indestructible and
permanent.
2. An imitation of this cloth by artificial coloring.
3. pl. Trousers made of nankeen. Ld. Lytton.
Nankeen bird (Zo\'94l.), the Australian night heron (Nycticorax
Caledonicus); -- called also quaker.
Nanny
Nan"ny (?), n. A diminutive of Ann or Anne, the proper name. Nanny
goat, a female goat. [Colloq.]
Nannyberry
Nan"ny*ber`ry (?), n. (Bot.) See Sheepberry.
Nanpie
Nan"pie (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) The magpie.
Naos
Na"os (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. (Arch.) A term used by modern
arch\'91ologists instead of cella. See Cella.
Nap
Nap (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Napped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Napping (?).]
[OE. nappen, AS. hn&ppian to take a nap, to slumber; cf. AS. hnipian
to bend one's self, Icel. hnipna, hn\'c6pa, to droop.]
1. To have a short sleep; to be drowsy; to doze. Chaucer.
2. To be in a careless, secure state. Wyclif.
I took thee napping, unprepared. Hudibras.
Nap
Nap, n. A short sleep; a doze; a siesta. Cowper.
Nap
Nap, n. [OE. noppe, AS. hnoppa; akin to D. nop, Dan. noppe, LG.
nobbe.]
1. Woolly or villous surface of felt, cloth, plants, etc.; an external
covering of down, of short fine hairs or fibers forming part of the
substance of anything, and lying smoothly in one direction; the pile;
-- as, the nap of cotton flannel or of broadcloth.
2. pl. The loops which are cut to make the pile, in velvet. Knight.
Nap
Nap, v. t. To raise, or put, a nap on.
Nape
Nape (?), n. [Perh. akin to knap a knop.] The back part of the neck.
Spenser.
Nape-crest
Nape"-crest` (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) An African bird of the genus
Schizorhis, related to the plantain eaters.
Napery
Na"per*y (?), n.; pl. Naperies (#). [OF. naperie, fr. nape a
tablecloth, F. nappe, LL. napa, fr. L. mappa. See Map, and cf. Apron,
Napkin.] Table linen; also, linen clothing, or linen in general.
[Obs.] Gayton.
Napha water
Na"pha wa`ter (?). [Sp. nafa, from Ar. napha odor.] A perfume
distilled from orange flowers.
Naphew
Na"phew (?), n. (Bot.) See Navew.
Naphtha
Naph"tha (?), n. [L. naphtha, Gr. nafth, nifth.]
1. (Chem.) The complex mixture of volatile, liquid, inflammable
hydrocarbons, occurring naturally, and usually called crude petroleum,
mineral oil, or rock oil. Specifically: That portion of the distillate
obtained in the refinement of petroleum which is intermediate between
the lighter gasoline and the heavier benzine, and has a specific
gravity of about 0.7, -- used as a solvent for varnishes, as a
carburetant, illuminant, etc.
2. (Chem.) One of several volatile inflammable liquids obtained by the
distillation of certain carbonaceous materials and resembling the
naphtha from petroleum; as, Boghead naphtha, from Boghead coal
(obtained at Boghead, Scotland); crude naphtha, or light oil, from
coal tar; wood naphtha, from wood, etc.
NOTE: &hand; Th is term was applied by the earlier chemical writers
to a number of volatile, strong smelling, inflammable liquids,
chiefly belonging to the ethers, as the sulphate, nitrate, or
acetate of ethyl.
Watts. Naphtha vitrioli [NL., naphtha of vitriol] (Old Chem.), common
ethyl ether; -- formerly called sulphuric ether. See Ether.
Naphthalate
Naph"tha*late (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of naphthalic acid; a phthalate.
[Obs.]
Naphthalene
Naph"tha*lene (?), n. (Chem.) A white crystalline aromatic
hydrocarbon, C10H8, analogous to benzene, and obtained by the
distillation of certain bituminous materials, such as the heavy oil of
coal tar. It is the type and basis of a large number of derivatives
among organic compounds. Formerly called also naphthaline. Naphthalene
red (Chem.), a dyestuff obtained from certain diazo derivatives of
naphthylamine, and called also magdala red. -- Naphthalene yellow
(Chem.), a yellow dyestuff obtained from certain nitro derivatives of
naphthol.
Naphthalenic
Naph`tha*len"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to , or derived from,
naphthalene; -- used specifically to designate a yellow crystalline
substance, called naphthalenic acid and also hydroxy quinone, and
obtained from certain derivatives of naphthol.
Naphthalic
Naph*tha"lic (?), a. (Chem.) (a) Pertaining to, derived from, or
related to, naphthalene; -- used specifically to denote any one of a
series of acids derived from naphthalene, and called naphthalene
acids. (b) Formerly, designating an acid probably identical with
phthalic acid.
Naphthalidine
Naph*thal"i*dine (?), n. [Naphthalene + toluidine.] (Chem.) Same as
Naphthylamine.
Naphthalin, Naphthaline
Naph"tha*lin (?), Naph"tha*line (?), n. [F. naphthaline.] (Chem.) See
Naphthalene.
Naphthalize
Naph"tha*lize (?), v. t. (Chem.) To mingle, saturate, or impregnate,
with naphtha.
Naphthazarin
Naph*thaz"a*rin (?), n. [Naphthalene + alizarin.] (Chem.) A dyestuff,
resembling alizarin, obtained from naphthoquinone as a red crystalline
substance with a bright green, metallic luster; -- called also
naphthalizarin.
Naphthene
Naph"thene (?), n. (Chem.) A peculiar hydrocarbon occuring as an
ingredient of Caucasian petroleum.
Naphthide
Naph"thide (?), n. (Chem.) A compound of naphthalene or its radical
with a metallic element; as, mercuric naphthide.
Naphthoic
Naph*tho"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, or related
to, naphthalene; -- used specifically to designate any one of a series
of carboxyl derivatives, called naphthoic acids.
Naphthol
Naph"thol (?), n. [Naphthalene + -ol.] (Chem.) Any one of a series of
hydroxyl derivatives of naphthalene, analogous to phenol. In general
they are crystalline substances with a phenol (carbolic) odor.
Naphthol blue, Naphthol orange, Naphthol yellow (Chem.), brilliant
dyestuffs produced from certain complex nitrogenous derivatives of
naphthol or naphthoquinone.
Naphthoquinone
Naph`tho*qui"none (?), n. [Naphthalene + quinone.] (Chem.) A yellow
crystalline substance, C10H6O2, analogous to quinone, obtained by
oxidizing naphthalene with chromic acid.
Naphthyl
Naph"thyl (?), n. [Naphthalene + -yl.] (Chem.) A hydrocarbon radical
regarded as the essential residue of naphthalene.
Naphthylamine
Naph`thyl*am"ine (?), n. (Chem.) One of two basic amido derivatives of
naphthalene, C10H7.NH2, forming crystalline solids.
Napierian, Naperian
Na*pie"ri*an, Na*pe"ri*an , (?), a. Of, pertaining to, or discovered
by, Napier, or Naper. Naperian logarithms. See under Logarithms.
Napier's bones, Napier's rods
Na"pi*er's bones` (?), Na"pi*er's rods` (?). A set of rods, made of
bone or other material, each divided into nine spaces, and containing
the numbers of a column of the multiplication table; -- a contrivance
of Baron Napier, the inventor of logarithms, for facilitating the
operations of multiplication and division.
Napiform
Na"pi*form (?), a. [L. napus turnip + -form: cf. F. napiforme. Cf.
Navew.] (Bot.) Turnip-shaped; large and round in the upper part, and
very slender below.
Napkin
Nap"kin (?), n. [Dim. of OF. nape a tablecloth, cloth, F. nappe, L.
mappa. See Napery.]
1. A little towel, or small cloth, esp. one for wiping the fingers and
mouth at table.
2. A handkerchief. [Obs.] Shak.
Napkin pattern. See Linen scroll, under Linen. -- Napkin ring, a ring
of metal, ivory, or other material, used to inclose a table napkin.<--
paper napkin, a disposable napkin made of paper. -->
Napless
Nap"less, a. Without nap; threadbare. Shak.
Naples yellow
Na"ples yel"low (?). See under Yellow.
Napoleon
Na*po"le*on (?), n. [From the Emperor Napoleon 1.] A French gold coin
of twenty francs, or about $3.86.
Napoleonic
Na*po`le*on"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to Napoleon I., or his family;
resembling, or having the qualities of, Napoleon I. Lowell.
Napoleonist
Na*po"le*on*ist (?), n. A supporter of the dynasty of the Napoleons.
Nappe
Nappe (?), n. [F. nappe cloth, sheet. See Napery.] (Geom.) Sheet;
surface; all that portion of a surface that is continuous in such a
way that it is possible to pass from any one point of the portion to
any other point of the portion without leaving the surface. Thus, some
hyperboloids have one nappe, and some have two.
Nappiness
Nap"pi*ness (?), n. [From 2d Nappy.] The quality of having a nap;
abundance of nap, as on cloth.
Napping
Nap"ping (?), n.
1. The act or process of raising a nap, as on cloth.
2. (Hat Making) A sheet of partially felted fur before it is united to
the hat body. Knight.
Nappy
Nap"py (?), a. [From 1st Nap.]
1. Inclined to sleep; sleepy; as, to feel nappy.
2. Tending to cause sleepiness; serving to make sleepy; strong; heady;
as, nappy ale. [Obs.] Wyatt.
Nappy
Nap"py, a. [From 3d Nap.] Having a nap or pile; downy; shaggy.
Holland.
Nappy
Nap"py, n.; pl. Nappies (#). [OE. nap, AS. hn\'91p cup, bowl. See
Hanaper.] A round earthen dish, with a flat bottom and sloping sides.
[Written also nappie.]
Nap-taking
Nap"-tak`ing (?), n. A taking by surprise; an unexpected onset or
attack. Carew.
Napu
Na*pu" (?), n. [Native name.] (Zo\'94l.) A very small chevrotain
(Tragulus Javanicus), native of Java. It is about the size of a hare,
and is noted for its agility in leaping. Called also Java musk deer,
pygmy musk deer, and deerlet.
Napus
Na"pus (?), n. [L.] (Bot.) A kind of turnip. See Navew.
Narceine
Nar"ce*ine (?), n. [L. narce numbness, torpor, Gr. narc\'82\'8bne.]
(Chem.) An alkaloid found in small quantities in opium, and extracted
as a white crystalline substance of a bitter astringent taste. It is a
narcotic. Called also narceia.
Narcissine
Nar*cis"sine (?), a. Of or pertaining to Narcissus.
Narcissus
Nar*cis"sus (?), n.; pl. Narcissuses (#). [L. narcissus, and
(personified) Narcissus, Gr. na`rkissos, Na`rkissos, fr. na`rkh
torpor, in allusion to the narcotic properties of the flower. Cf.
Narcotic.]
1. (Bot.) A genus of endogenous bulbous plants with handsome flowers,
having a cup-shaped crown within the six-lobed perianth, and
comprising the daffodils and jonquils of several kinds.
2. (Classical Myth.) A beautiful youth fabled to have been enamored of
his own image as seen in a fountain, and to have been changed into the
flower called Narcissus.
Narcosis
Nar*co"sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. na`rkwsis. See Narcotic.] (Med.)
Privation of sense or consciousness, due to a narcotic.
Narcotic
Nar*cot"ic (?), a. [F. narcotique, Gr. na`rkh numbness, torpor.]
(Med.) Having the properties of a narcotic; operating as a narcotic.
-- Nar*cot"ic*ness, n.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 963
Narcotic
Nar*cot"ic (?), n. (Med.) A drug which, in medicinal doses, generally
allays morbid susceptibility, relieves pain, and produces sleep; but
which, in poisonous doses, produces stupor, coma, or convulsions, and,
when given in sufficient quantity, causes death. The best examples are
opium (with morphine), belladonna (with atropine), and conium.
Nercotykes and opye (opium) of Thebes. Chaucer.
Narcotical
Nar*cot"ic*al (?), a. Narcotic. -- Nar*cot"ic*al*ly, adv.
Narcotine
Nar"co*tine (?), n. [Cf. F. narcotine. Cf. Cotarnine.] (Chem.) An
alkaloid found in opium, and extracted as a white crystalline
substance, tasteless and less poisonous than morphine; -- called also
narcotia.
Narcotinic
Nar`co*tin"ic (?), a. Pertaining to narcotine.
Narcotism
Nar"co*tism (?), n. [Cf. F. narcotisme.] Narcosis; the state of being
narcotized. G. Eliot.
Narcotize
Nar"co*tize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Narcotized (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Narcotizing (?).] To imbue with, or subject to the influence of, a
narcotic; to put into a state of narcosis.
Nard
Nard (?), n. [AS., fr. L. nardus, Gr. n\'88rd, Per. nard, Scr.
nalada.]
1. (Bot.) An East Indian plant (Nardostachys Jatamansi) of the
Valerian family, used from remote ages in Oriental perfumery.
2. An ointment prepared partly from this plant. See Spikenard.
3. (Bot.) A kind of grass (Nardus stricta) of little value, found in
Europe and Asia.
Nardine
Nard"ine (?), a. [L. nardinus, Gr. Of or pertaining to nard; having
the qualities of nard.
Nardoo
Nar*doo" (?), n. (Bot.) An Australian name for Marsilea Drummondii, a
four-leaved cryptogamous plant, sometimes used for food.
Nare
Nare (?), n. [L. naris.] A nostril. [R.] B. Jonson.
Nares
Na"res (?), n. pl. [L., pl. of naris nostril.] (Anat.) The nostrils or
nasal openings, -- the anterior nares being the external or proper
nostrils, and the posterior nares, the openings of the nasal cavities
into the mouth or pharynx.
Nargile, Nargileh
Nar"gile (?), Nar"gi*leh (?), n. [Per. n\'bergh\'c6l, prop., a
cocoanut; prob. so called because first made of a cocoanut.] An
apparatus for smoking tobacco. It has a long flexible tube, and the
smoke is drawn through water.
Narica
Nar"i*ca (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) The brown coati. See Coati.
Nariform
Nar"i*form (?), a. [L. naris nostril + -form. See Nose.] Formed like
the nose.
Narine
Nar"ine (?), a. Of or belonging to the nostrils.
Narrable
Nar"ra*ble (?), a. [L. narrabilis, fr. narrare to narrate.] Capable of
being narrated or told. [Obs.]
Narragansetts
Nar`ra*gan"setts (?), n. pl.; sing. Narragansett (. (Ethnol.) A tribe
of Indians who formerly inhabited the shores of Narragansett Bay.
Narrate
Nar*rate" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Narrated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Narrating.] [L. narratus, p. p. of narrare to narrate, prob. for
gnarigare, fr. gnarus knowing. See Ignore, Know.] To tell, rehearse,
or recite, as a story; to relate the particulars of; to go through
with in detail, as an incident or transaction; to give an account of.
Syn. -- To relate; recount; detail; describe.
Narration
Nar*ra"tion (?), n. [L. narratio: cf. F. narration.]
1. The act of telling or relating the particulars of an event;
rehearsal; recital.
2. That which is related; the relation in words or writing of the
particulars of any transaction or event, or of any series of
transactions or events; story; history.
3. (Rhet.) That part of a discourse which recites the time, manner, or
consequences of an action, or simply states the facts connected with
the subject. Syn. -- Account; recital; rehearsal; relation;
description; explanation; detail; narrative; story; tale; history. See
Account.
Narrative
Nar"ra*tive (?), a. [Cf. F. narratif.]
1. Of or pertaining to narration; relating to the particulars of an
event or transaction.
2. Apt or inclined to relate stories, or to tell particulars of
events; story-telling; garrulous.
But wise through time, and narrative with age. Pope.
Narrative
Nar"ra*tive, n. That which is narrated; the recital of a story; a
continuous account of the particulars of an event or transaction; a
story.
Cyntio was much taken with my narrative. Tatler.
Syn. -- Account; recital; rehearsal; relation; narration; story; tale.
See Account.
Narratively
Nar"ra*tive*ly, adv. In the style of narration.
Narrator
Nar*ra"tor (?), n. [L.] One who narrates; one who relates a series of
events or transactions.
Narratory
Nar"ra*to*ry (?), a. Giving an account of events; narrative; as,
narratory letters. Howell.
Narre
Narre (?), a.Nearer. [Obs.] Spenser.
Narrow
Nar"row (?), a. [Compar. Narrower (?); superl. Narrowest.] [OE. narwe,
naru, AS. nearu; akin to OS. naru, naro.]
1. Of little breadth; not wide or broad; having little distance from
side to side; as, a narrow board; a narrow street; a narrow hem.
Hath passed in safety through the narrow seas. Shak.
2. Of little extent; very limited; circumscribed.
The Jews were but a small nation, and confined to a narrow compass
in the world. Bp. Wilkins.
3. Having but a little margin; having barely sufficient space, time,
or number, etc.; close; near; -- with special reference to some peril
or misfortune; as, a narrow shot; a narrow escape; a narrow majority.
Dryden.
4. Limited as to means; straitened; pinching; as, narrow
circumstances.
5. Contracted; of limited scope; illiberal; bigoted; as, a narrow
mind; narrow views. "A narrow understanding." Macaulay.
6. Parsimonious; niggardly; covetous; selfish.
A very narrow and stinted charity. Smalridge.
7. Scrutinizing in detail; close; accurate; exact.
But first with narrow search I must walk round This garden, and no
corner leave unspied. Milton.
8. (Phon.) Formed (as a vowel) by a close position of some part of the
tongue in relation to the palate; or (according to Bell) by a tense
condition of the pharynx; -- distinguished from wide; as \'c7 (\'c7ve)
and &oomac; (f&oomac;d), etc., from \'cc (\'ccll) and &oocr;
(f&oocr;t), etc. See Guide to Pronunciation, § 13.
NOTE: &hand; Na rrow is no t un frequently pr efixed to wo rds,
especially to participles and adjectives, forming compounds of
obvious signification; as, narrow-bordered, narrow-brimmed,
narrow-breasted, narrow-edged, narrow-faced, narrow-headed,
narrow-leaved, narrow-pointed, narrow-souled, narrow-sphered, etc.
Narrow gauge. (Railroad) See Note under Gauge, n., 6.
Narrow
Nar"row (?), n.; pl. Narrows (. A narrow passage; esp., a contracted
part of a stream, lake, or sea; a strait connecting two bodies of
water; -- usually in the plural; as, The Narrows of New York harbor.
Near the island lay on one side the jaws of a dangerous narrow.
Gladstone.
Narrow
Nar"row, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Narrowed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Narrowing.]
[AS. nearwian.]
1. To lessen the breadth of; to contract; to draw into a smaller
compass; to reduce the width or extent of. Sir W. Temple.
2. To contract the reach or sphere of; to make less liberal or more
selfish; to limit; to confine; to restrict; as, to narrow one's views
or knowledge; to narrow a question in discussion.
Our knowledge is much more narrowed if we confine ourselves to our
own solitary reasonings. I. Watts.
3. (Knitting) To contract the size of, as a stocking, by taking two
stitches into one.
Narrow
Nar"row, v. i.
1. To become less broad; to contract; to become narrower; as, the sea
narrows into a strait.
2. (Man.) Not to step out enough to the one hand or the other; as, a
horse narrows. Farrier's Dict.
3. (Knitting) To contract the size of a stocking or other knit
article, by taking two stitches into one.
Narrower
Nar"row*er (?), n. One who, or that which, narrows or contracts.
Hannah More.
Narrowing
Nar"row*ing, n.
1. The act of contracting, or of making or becoming less in breadth or
extent.
2. The part of a stocking which is narrowed.
Narrowly
Nar"row*ly, adv. [AS. nearulice.]
1. With little breadth; in a narrow manner.
2. Without much extent; contractedly.
3. With minute scrutiny; closely; as, to look or watch narrowly; to
search narrowly.
4. With a little margin or space; by a small distance; hence, closely;
hardly; barely; only just; -- often with reference to an avoided
danger or misfortune; as, he narrowly escaped.
5. Sparingly; parsimoniously. <-- construe narrowly? -->
Narrow-minded
Nar"row-mind`ed (?), a. Of narrow mental scope; illiberal; mean. --
Nar"row-mind`ed*ness, n.
Narrowness
Nar"row*ness, n. [AS. nearunes.] The condition or quality of being
narrow.
Nart
Nart (?). [For ne art.] Art not. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Narthex
Nar"thex (?), n. [L., giant fennel, Gr.
1. (Bot.) A tall umbelliferous plant (Ferula communis). See Giant
fennel, under Fennel.
2. (Arch.) The portico in front of ancient churches; sometimes, the
atrium or outer court surrounded by ambulatories; -- used, generally,
for any vestibule, lobby, or outer porch, leading to the nave of a
church.
Narwal
Nar"wal (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) See Narwhal.
Narwe
Nar"we (?), a. Narrow. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Narwhal
Nar"whal (?), n. [Sw. or Dan. narvhal; akin to Icel. n\'behvalr, and
E. whale. the first syllable is perh. from Icel. n\'ber corpse, dead
body, in allusion to the whitish color its skin. See Whale.] [Written
also narwhale.] (Zo\'94l.) An arctic cetacean (Monodon monocerous),
about twenty feet long. The male usually has one long, twisted,
pointed canine tooth, or tusk projecting forward from the upper jaw
like a horn, whence it is called also sea unicorn, unicorn fish, and
unicorn whale. Sometimes two horns are developed, side by side.
Nas
Nas (?). [For ne was.] Was not. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Nas.
Nas. [Contr. fr. ne has.] Has not. [Obs.] Spenser.
Nasal
Na"sal (?), a. [F., from L. nasus the nose. See Nose.]
1. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the nose.
2. (Phon.) Having a quality imparted by means of the nose; and
specifically, made by lowering the soft palate, in some cases with
closure of the oral passage, the voice thus issuing (wholly or
partially) through the nose, as in the consonants m, n, ng (see Guide
to Pronunciation, §§ 20, 208); characterized by resonance in the nasal
passage; as, a nasal vowel; a nasal utterance.
Nasal bones (Anat.), two bones of the skull, in front of the frontals.
-- Nasal index (Anat.), in the skull, the ratio of the transverse the
base of the aperture to the nasion, which latter distance is taken as
the standard, equal to 100.
Nasal
Na"sal, n.
1. An elementary sound which is uttered through the nose, or through
both the nose and the mouth simultaneously.
2. (Med.) A medicine that operates through the nose; an errhine.
[Archaic]
3. (Anc. Armor) Part of a helmet projecting to protect the nose; a
nose guard.
4. (Anat.) One of the nasal bones.
5. (Zo\'94l.) A plate, or scale, on the nose of a fish, etc.
Nasality
Na*sal"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. nasalit\'82.] The quality or state of
being nasal.
Nasalization
Na`sal*i*za"tion (?), n. The act of nasalizing, or the state of being
nasalized.
Nasalize
Na"sal*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nasalized (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Nasalizing (?).] To render nasal, as sound; to insert a nasal or sound
in.
Nasalize
Na"sal*ize, v. t. To utter words or letters with a nasal sound; to
speak through the nose.
Nasally
Na"sal*ly, adv. In a nasal manner; by the nose.
Nascal
Nas"cal (?), n. [F. nascale.] (Med.) A kind of pessary of medicated
wool or cotton, formerly used.
Nascency
Nas"cen*cy (?), n. [L. nascentia. See Nascent.] State of being
nascent; birth; beginning; origin.
Nascent
Nas"cent (?), a. [L. nascens, -entis, p.pr. nasci to be born. See
Nation, and cf. Naissant.]
1. Commencing, or in process of development; beginning to exist or to
grow; coming into being; as, a nascent germ.
Nascent passions and anxieties. Berkley.
2. (Chem.) Evolving; being evolved or produced.
Nascent state (Chem.), the supposed instantaneous or momentary state
of an uncombined atom or radical just separated from one compound
acid, and not yet united with another, -- a hypothetical condition
implying peculiarly active chemical properties; as, hydrogen in the
nascent state is a strong reducer.
Naseberry
Nase"ber`ry (?), n. [Sp. nispero medlar and naseberry tree, fr. L.
mespilus. See Medlar.] (Bot.) A tropical fruit. See Sapodilla.
[Written also nisberry.]
Nash
Nash (?), a. [Etymol. uncertain.] Firm; stiff; hard; also, chilly.
[Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
Nasicornous
Nas`i*cor"nous (?), a. [L. nasus nose + cornu horn: cf. F. nasicorne.]
(Zo\'94l.) Bearing a horn, or horns, on the nose, as the rhinoceros.
Nasiform
Nas"i*form (?), a. [L. nasus nose + -form. See Nose, and cf.
Nariform.] Having the shape of a nose.
Nasion
Na*si*on (?), n. [Nl., fr. L. nasus nose.] (Anat.) The middle point of
the nasofrontal suture.
Naso-
Na"so- (. [L. nasus nose.] (Anat.) A combining form denoting
pertaining to, or connected with, the nose; as, nasofrontal.
Nasobuccal
Na"so*buc"cal (?), a. [Naso + buccal.] (Anat.) Connected with both the
nose and the mouth; as, the nasobuccal groove in the skate.
Nasofrontal
Na`so*fron"tal (?), a. [Naso- + frontal.] (Anat.) of or pertaining to
the nose and the front of the head; as, the embryonic nasofrontal
process which forms the anterior boundary of the mouth.
Nasolachrymal
Na`so*lach"ry*mal (?), a. [Naso- + lachrymal.] (Anat.) Connected with
the lachrymal apparatus and the nose; as, the nasolachrymal, or
lachrymal duct.
Nasopalatal, Nasopalatine
Na`so*pal"a*tal (?), Na`so*pal"a*tine (?), a. [Naso- + palatal.]
(Anat.) Connected with both the nose and the palate; as, the
nasopalatine or incisor, canal connecting the mouth and the nasal
chamber in some animals; the nasopalatine nerve.
Nasopharyngeal
Na`so*phar`yn*ge"al (? OR , a. [Naso- + pharyngeal.] (Anat.) Of or
pertaining to both throat and nose; as, a nasopharyngeal polypus.
Nasoseptal
Na`so*sep"tal (?), a. [Naso- + septal.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to
the internasal septum.
Nasoturbinal
Na`so*tur"bi*nal (?), a. [Naso- + turbinal.] (Anat.) Connected with,
or near, both the turbinal and the nasal bones; as, the nasalturbinal
bone, made up of the uppermost lammel\'91 of the ethmoturbinal, and
sometimes united with the nasal. -- n. The nasoturbinal bone.
Nassa
Nas"sa (?), n.; pl. E. Nassas (#), L. Nass\'92 (#). [From L. nassa a
kind of basket, in allusion to the reticulation of some species.]
(Zo\'94l.) Any species of marine gastropods, of the genera Nassa,
Tritia, and other allied genera of the family Nassid\'91; a dog whelk.
See Illust. under Gastropoda. -- nas"soid (#), a.
Nastily
Nas"ti*ly (?), adv. In a nasty manner.
Nastiness
Nas"ti*ness, n. The quality or state of being nasty; extreme
filthness; dirtiness; also, indecency; obscenity.
The nastiness of Plautus and Aristophanes. Dryden.
Nasturtion
Nas*tur"tion (?), n. [See Nasturtium.] (Bot.) Same as Nasturtium.
Nasturtium
Nas*tur"tium (?), n. [L. nasturtium, for nasitortium, fr. nasus nose +
torquere, tortum, to twist, torture, in allusion to the causing one to
make a wry face by its pungent taste. See Nose of the face, and
Torture.]
1. (Bot.) A genus of cruciferous plants, having white or yellowish
flowers, including several species of cress. They are found chiefly in
wet or damp grounds, and have a pungent biting taste.
2. (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Trop\'91olum, geraniaceous herbs,
having mostly climbing stems, peltate leaves, and spurred flowers, and
including the common Indian cress (Trop\'91olum majus), the
canary-bird flower (T. peregrinum), and about thirty more species, all
natives of South America. The whole plant has a warm pungent flavor,
and the fleshy fruits are used as a substitute for capers, while the
leaves and flowers are sometimes used in salads.
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Nasty
Nas"ty (?), a. [Compar. Nastier (; superl. Nastiest.] [For older
nasky; cf. dial. Sw. naskug, nasket.]
1. Offensively filthy; very dirty, foul, or defiled; disgusting;
nauseous.
2. Hence, loosely: Offensive; disagreeable; unpropitious; wet;
drizzling; as, a nasty rain, day, sky.
3. Characterized by obcenity; indecent; indelicate; gross; filthy.
Syn. -- Nasty, Filthy, Foul, Dirty. Anything nasty is usually wet or
damp as well as filthy or dirty, and disgusts by its stickness or
odor; but filthy and foul imply that a thing is filled or covered with
offensive matter, while dirty describes it as defiled or sullied with
dirt of any kind; as, filthy clothing, foul vapors, etc.
Nasute
Na"sute (?), a. [L. nasutus, fr. nasus the nose.]
1. Having a nice sense of smell. [Obs.] Evelyn.
2. Critically nice; captious. [Obs.] auden.
Nasutness
Na"sut*ness, n. Quickness of scent; hence, nice discernment;
acuteness. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
Nat
Nat (?), adv. Not. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Nat
Nat [For ne at.] Not at; nor at. [Obs.] haucer.
Natal
Na"tal (?), a. [L. natalis, fr. natus, p.p. of nasci to be born: cf.
F. natal. See Nation, and cf. Noel.]
1. Of or pertaining to one's birth; accompying or dating from one's
birth; native.
Princes' children took names from their natal places. Camden.
Propitious star, whose sacred power Presided o'er the monarch's
natal hour. Prior.
2. (Actrol.) Presiding over nativity; as, natal Jove. Syn. -- Native,
natural. See Native.
Natalitial, Natalitious
Na`ta*li"tial (?), Na`ta*li"tious (?), a. [L. natalitius, from
natalis. See Natal.] Of or pertaining to one's birth or birthday, or
one's nativity. [Obs.] "Natalitial poplar." Evelyn. "Natalitious
fire." W. Cartwright.
Nataloin
Na*tal"o*in (?), n. [From Natal aloes.] (Chem.) A bitter crystalline
substance constituting the essential principle of Natal aloes. Cf.
Aloon.
Natal plum
Na*tal" plum` (?). (Bot.) The drupaceous fruit of two South African
shrubs of the genus Arduina (A. bispinosa and A. grandiflora).
Natals
Na"tals (?), n. pl. One's birth, or the circumstances attending it.
[Obs.] Fitz-Geffry.
Natant
Na"tant (?), a. [L. natans, -antis, from swim, v. intens. fr. nare to
swim: cf. F. natant.]
1. (Bot.) Floating in water, as the leaves of water lilies, or
submersed, as those of many aquatic plants.
2. (Her.) Placed horizontally across the field, as if swimmimg toward
the dexter side; said of all sorts of fishes except the flying fish.
Natantly
Na"tant*ly (?), adv. In a floating manner; swimmingly.
Natation
Na*ta"tion (?), n. [L. natatio, fr. natare to swim: cf. F. natation.
See Natant.] The act of floating on the water; swimming. Sir T.
Browne.
Natatores
Na`ta*to"res (?), n. pl. [L. natator a swimmer.] (Zo\'94l.) The
swimming birds.
NOTE: &hand; They were formerly united into one order, which is now
considered an artifical group.
Natatorial
Na`ta*to"rial (?), a. Inclined or adapted to swim; swimming; as,
natatorial birds.
Natatorious
Na`ta*to"ri*ous (?), a. (Zo\'94l.) Adapted for swimming; -- said of
the legs of certain insects.
Natatorium
Na`ta*to"rium (?), n. [L.] A swimming bath.
Natatory
Na"ta*to*ry (?), a. [L. natatorius.] Adapted for swimming or floating;
as, natatory organs.
Natch
Natch (?), n. [OF. nache fesse, LL. natica, from L. natis the rump,
buttocks. Cf. Aitchbone.] The rump of beef; esp., the lower and back
part of the rump. Natch bone, the edgebone, or aitchbone, in beef.
Natchez
Natch"ez (?), n. pl. (Ethnol.) A tribe of Indians who formerly lived
near the site of the city of Natchez, Mississippi. In 1729 they were
subdued by the French; the survivors joined the Creek Confederacy.
Natchnee
Natch"nee (?), n. (Bot.) An annual grass (Eleusine coracona),
cultivated in India as a food plant.
Nates
Na"tes (?), n. pl. [L., the buttocks.]
1. (Anat.) (a) The buttocks. (b) The two anterior of the four lobes on
the dorsal side of the midbrain of most mammals; the anterior optic
lobes.
2. (Zo\'94l.) The umbones of a bivalve shell.
Nath
Nath (?). [Contr. fr. ne hath,] hath not. [Obs.]
Nathless
Nath"less (?), adv. [OE. natheles, na the les, not the less, AS. n\'be
never. See Na, The, conj., and cf. Nevertheless.] Nevertheless.
[Archaic] Chaucer. Milton. E. Arnold.
Nathmore
Nath"more` (?), adv. [OE. na the more.] Not the more; never the more.
[Obs.] penser.
Natica
Nat"i*ca (?), n.; pl. Naticas (, L. Natic\'92 (. (Zo\'94l.) Any one of
numerous species of marine gastropods belonging to Natica, Lunatia,
Neverita, and other allied genera (family Naticid\'91.) They burrow
beneath the sand, or mud, and drill other shells.
Naticoid
Nat"i*coid (?), a. [Natica + -oid.] (Zo\'94l.) Like or belonging to
Natica, or the family Natic\'91.
Nation
Na"tion (?), n. [F. nation, L. natio nation, race, orig., a being
born, fr. natus, p.p. of nasci, to be born, for gnatus, gnaci, from
the same root as E. kin. \'fb44. See Kin kindred, and cf. Cognate,
Natal, Native.]
1. (Ethnol.) A part, or division, of the people of the earth,
distinguished from the rest by common descent, language, or
institutions; a race; a stock.
All nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues. Rev. vii. 9.
2. The body of inhabitants of a country, united under an independent
government of their own.
A nation is the unity of a people. Coleridge.
Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation. F. S.
Key.
3. Family; lineage. [Obs.] Chaucer.
4. (a) One of the divisions of university students in a classification
according to nativity, formerly common in Europe. (b) (Scotch
Universities) One of the four divisions (named from the parts of
Scotland) in which students were classified according to their
nativity.
5. A great number; a great deal; -- by way of emphasis; as, a nation
of herbs. Sterne.
Five nations. See under Five. -- Law of nations. See International
law, under International, and Law. Syn. -- people; race. See People.
National
Na"tion*al (?; 277), a. [Cf. F. national.]
1. Of or pertaining to a nation; common to a whole people or race;
public; general; as, a national government, language, dress, custom,
calamity, etc.
2. Attached to one's own country or nation.
National anthem, a popular song or hymn which has become by general
acceptance the recognized musical expression of the patriotic
sentiment of a nation; as, "God save the King" is called the national
anthem of England. -- National bank, the official common name of a
class of banking corporations established under the laws of the United
States. -- National flag. See under Flag. -- National guard, a body of
militia, or a local military organization, as in Paris during the
French Revolution, or as certain bodies of militia in other European
countries and in the United States. -- National salute, a salute
consisting of as many guns as there are States in the Union. [U.S.]
Nationalism
Na"tion*al*ism (?), n.
1. The state of being national; national attachment; nationality.
2. An idiom, trait, or character peculiar to any nation.
3. National independence; the principles of the Nationalists.
Nationalist
Na"tion*al*ist, n. One who advocates national unity and independence;
one of a party favoring Irish independence.
Nationality
Na`tion*al"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Nationalities (#). [Cf. F.
nationalit\'82.]
1. The quality of being national, or strongly attached to one's own
nation; patriotism.
2. The sum of the qualities which distinguish a nation; national
character.
3. A race or people, as determined by common language and character,
and not by political bias or divisions; a nation.
the fulfillment of his mission is to be looked for in the condition
of nationalities and the character of peoples. H. W. Beecher.
4. Existence as a distinct or individual nation; national unity and
integrity.
5. The state or quality of belonging to or being connected with a
nation or government by nativity, character, ownership, allegiance,
etc.
Nationalization
Na`tion*al*i*za"tion (?), n. The act of nationalizing, or the state of
being nationalized.
Nationalize
Na"tion*al*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nationalized (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Nationalizing (?).] [Cf. F. nationaliser.] To make national; to
make a nation of; to endow with the character and habits of a nation,
or the peculiar sentiments and attachment of citizens of a nation.
Nationally
Na"tion*al*ly, adv. In a national manner or way; as a nation. "The
jews ... being nationally espoused to God by covenant." South.
Nationalness
Na"tion*al*ness, n. The quality or state of being national;
nationality. Johnson.
Native
Na"tive (?), a. [F. natif, L. nativus, fr. nasci, p.p. natus. See
Nation, and cf. Na\'8bve, Nelf a serf.]
1. Arising by birth; having an origin; born. [Obs.]
Anaximander's opinion is, that the gods are native, rising and
vanishing again in long periods of times. Cudworth.
2. Of or pertaining to one's birth; natal; belonging to the place or
the circumstances in which one is born; -- opposed to foreign; as,
native land, language, color, etc.
3. Born in the region in which one lives; as, a native inhabitant,
race; grown or originating in the region where used or sold; not
foreign or imported; as, native oysters, or strawberries.<-- latter
sense = domestic -->
4. Original; constituting the original substance of anything; as,
native dust. Milton.
5. Conferred by birth; derived from origin; born with one; inherent;
inborn; not acquired; as, native genius, cheerfulness, simplicity,
rights, etc. <-- congenital, hereditary. -->
Courage is native to you. Jowett (Thucyd. ).
6. Naturally related; cognate; connected (with). [R.]
the head is not more native to the heart, ... Than is the throne of
Denmark to thy father. Shak.
7. (Min.) (a) Found in nature uncombined with other elements; as,
native silver. (b) Found in nature; not artificial; as native sodium
chloride.
Native American party. See under American, a. -- Native bear
(Zo\'94l.), the koala. -- Native bread (Bot.), a large underground
fungus, of Australia (Mylitta australis), somewhat resembling a
truffle, but much larger. -- Native devil. (Zo\'94l.) Same as
Tasmanian devil, under Devil. -- Native hen (Zo\'94l.), an Australian
rail (Tribonyx Mortierii). -- Native pheasant. (Zo\'94l.) See Leipoa.
-- Native rabbit (Zo\'94l.), an Australian marsupial (Perameles
lagotis) resembling a rabbit in size and form. -- Native sloth
(Zo\'94l.), the koala. -- Native thrush (Zo\'94l.), an Australian
singing bird (Pachycephala olivacea); -- called also thickhead. --
Native turkey (Zo\'94l.), the Australian bustard (Choriotis
australis); -- called also bebilya. Syn. -- Natural; natal; original;
congential. -- Native, Natural, Natal. natural refers to the nature of
a thing, or that which springs therefrom; native, to one's birth or
origin; as, a native country, language, etc.; natal, to the
circumstances of one's birth; as, a natal day, or star. Native talent
is that which is inborn; natural talent is that which springs from the
structure of the mind. Native eloquence is the result of strong innate
emotion; natural eloquence is opposed to that which is studied or
artifical.
Native
Na"tive (?), n.
1. One who, or that which, is born in a place or country referred to;
a denizen by birth; an animal, a fruit, or vegetable, produced in a
certain region; as, a native of France.
2. (Stock Breeding) Any of the live stock found in a region, as
distinguished from such as belong to pure and distinct imported
breeds. [U.S.]
Natively
Na"tive*ly, adv. By natural or original condition; naturally;
originally.
Nativeness
Na"tive*ness, n. The quality or state of being native.
Nativism
Na"tiv*ism (?), n.
1. The disposition to favor the native inhabitants of a country, in
preference to immigrants from foreign countries.
2. (Philos.) The doctrine of innate ideas, or that the mind possesses
forms of thought independent of sensation.
Nativist
Na"tiv*ist (?), n. An advocate of nativism.
Nativistic
Na`tiv*is"tic (?), a. Relating to nativism.
Nativity
Na*tiv"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Nativies (#). [F. nativit\'82, L. nativitas.
See Native, and cf. Na\'8bvet\'90.]
1. The coming into life or into the world; birth; also, the
circumstances attending birth, as time, place, manner, etc. Chaucer.
I have served him from the hour of my nativity. Shak.
Thou hast left ... the land of thy nativity. Ruth ii. 11.
These in their dark nativity the deep Shall yield us, pregnant with
infernal flame. Milton.
2. (Fine Arts) A picture representing or symbolizing the early infancy
of Christ. The simplest form is the babe in a rude cradle, and the
heads of an ox and an ass to express the stable in which he was born.
3. (Astrol.) A representation of the positions of the heavenly bodies
as the moment of one's birth, supposed to indicate his future
destinies; a horoscope.
The Nativity, the birth or birthday of Christ; Christmas day. -- To
cast, OR calculate, one's nativity (Astrol.), to find out and
represent the position of the heavenly bodies at the time of one's
birth.
Natka
Nat"ka (?), a. (Zo\'94l.) A species of shrike.
Natrium
Na"tri*um (?), n. [NL. See Natron.] (Chem.) The technical name for
sodium.
Natrolite
Na"tro*lite (?; 277), n. [Natron + -lite: cf. F. natrolithe.] (Min.) A
zeolite occuring in groups of glassy acicular crystals, and in masses
which often have a radiated structure. It is a hydrous silicate of
alumina and soda.
Natron
Na"tron (?), n. [F., fr. Sp. natron, Ar. natr\'d4n, nitr\'d4n. Cf.
Niter, Anatron.] (Min.) Native sodium carbonate. [Written also
anatron.]
Natter
Nat"ter (?), v. i. [Cf. Icel. knetta to grumble.] To find fault; to be
peevish. [Prov. Eng. or Scot.]
Natterjack
Nat"ter*jack` (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) A European toad (Bufo calamita),
having a yellow line along its back.
Natty
Nat"ty (?), a. [Cf. Neat clean.] Neat; tidy; spruce. [Colloq.] --
Nat"ti*ly, adv. -- Nat"ti*ness, n.
Natural
Nat"u*ral (?; 135), a. [OE. naturel, F. naturel, fr. L. naturalis, fr.
natura. See Nature.]
1. Fixed or determined by nature; pertaining to the constitution of a
thing; belonging to native character; according to nature; essential;
characteristic; not artifical, foreign, assumed, put on, or acquired;
as, the natural growth of animals or plants; the natural motion of a
gravitating body; natural strength or disposition; the natural heat of
the body; natural color.
With strong natural sense, and rare force of will. Macaulay.
2. Conformed to the order, laws, or actual facts, of nature; consonant
to the methods of nature; according to the stated course of things, or
in accordance with the laws which govern events, feelings, etc.; not
exceptional or violent; legitimate; normal; regular; as, the natural
consequence of crime; a natural death.
What can be more natural than the circumstances in the behavior of
those women who had lost their husbands on this fatal day? Addison.
3. Having to do with existing system to things; dealing with, or
derived from, the creation, or the world of matter and mind, as known
by man; within the scope of human reason or experience; not
supernatural; as, a natural law; natural science; history, theology.
I call that natural religion which men might know ... by the mere
principles of reason, improved by consideration and experience,
without the help of revelation. Bp. Wilkins.
4. Conformed to truth or reality; as: (a) Springing from true
sentiment; not artifical or exaggerated; -- said of action, delivery,
etc.; as, a natural gesture, tone, etc. (b) Resembling the object
imitated; true to nature; according to the life; -- said of anything
copied or imitated; as, a portrait is natural.
5. Having the character or sentiments properly belonging to one's
position; not unnatural in feelings.
To leave his wife, to leave his babes, ... He wants the natural
touch. Shak.
6. Connected by the ties of consanguinity. "Natural friends." J. H.
Newman.
7. Begotten without the sanction of law; born out of wedlock;
illegitimate; bastard; as, a natural child.
8. Of or pertaining to the lower or animal nature, as contrasted with
the higher or moral powers, or that which is spiritual; being in a
state of nature; unregenerate.
The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God. 1
Cor. ii. 14.
9. (Math.) Belonging to, to be taken in, or referred to, some system,
in which the base is 1; -- said or certain functions or numbers; as,
natural numbers, those commencing at 1; natural sines, cosines, etc.,
those taken in arcs whose radii are 1.
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Page 965
10. (Mus.) (a) Produced by natural organs, as those of the human
throat, in distinction from instrumental music. (b) of or pertaining
to a key which has neither a flat nor a sharp for its signature, as
the key of C major. (c) Applied to an air or modulation of harmony
which moves by easy and smooth transitions, digressing but little from
the original key. Moore (Encyc. of Music).
Natural day, the space of twenty-four hours. Chaucer. -- Natural fats,
Natural gas, etc. See under Fat, Gas. etc. -- Natural Harmony (Mus.),
the harmony of the triad or common chord. -- Natural history, in its
broadest sense, a history or description of nature as a whole,
incuding the sciences of botany, zo\'94logy, geology, mineralogy,
paleontology, chemistry, and physics. In recent usage the term is
often restricted to the sciences of botany and zo\'94logy
collectively, and sometimes to the science of zoology alone. --
Natural law, that instinctive sense of justice and of right and wrong,
which is native in mankind, as distinguished from specifically
revealed divine law, and formulated human law. -- Natural modulation
(Mus.), transition from one key to its relative keys. -- Natural
order. (Nat. Hist.) See under order. -- Natural person. (Law) See
under person, n. -- Natural philosophy, originally, the study of
nature in general; in modern usage, that branch of physical science,
commonly called physics, which treats of the phenomena and laws of
matter and considers those effects only which are unaccompanied by any
change of a chemical nature; -- contrasted with mental and moral
philosophy. -- Natural scale (Mus.), a scale which is written without
flats or sharps. Model would be a preferable term, as less likely to
mislead, the so-called artificial scales (scales represented by the
use of flats and sharps) being equally natural with the so-called
natural scale -- Natural science, natural history, in its broadest
sense; -- used especially in contradistinction to mental or moral
science. -- Natural selection (Biol.), a supposed operation of natural
laws analogous, in its operation and results, to designed selection in
breeding plants and animals, and resulting in the survival of the
fittest. The theory of natural selection supposes that this has been
brought about mainly by gradual changes of environment which have led
to corresponding changes of structure, and that those forms which have
become so modified as to be best adapted to the changed environment
have tended to survive and leave similarly adapted descendants, while
those less perfectly adapted have tended to die out though lack of
fitness for the environment, thus resulting in the survival of the
fittest. See Darwinism. -- Natural system (Bot. & Zo\'94l.), a
classification based upon real affinities, as shown in the structure
of all parts of the organisms, and by their embryology.
It should be borne in mind that the natural system of botany is
natural only in the constitution of its genera, tribes, orders,
etc., and in its grand divisions. Gray.
-- Natural theology, OR Natural religion, that part of theological
science which treats of those evidences of the existence and
attributes of the Supreme Being which are exhibited in nature; --
distinguished from revealed religion. See Quotation under Natural, a.,
3. -- Natural vowel, the vowel sound heard in urn, furl, sir, her,
etc.; -- so called as being uttered in the easiest open position of
the mouth organs. See Neutral vowel, under Neutral and Guide to
Pronunciation, § 17. Syn. -- See Native.
Natural
Nat"u*ral (?; 135), n.
1. A native; an aboriginal. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.
2. pl. Natural gifts, impulses, etc. [Obs.] Fuller.
3. One born without the usual powers of reason or understanding; an
idiot. "The minds of naturals." Locke.
4. (Mus.) A character [♮] used to contradict, or to remove the
effect of, a sharp or flat which has preceded it, and to restore the
unaltered note.
Naturalism
Nat"u*ral*ism (?), n. [Cf. F. naturalisme.]
1. A state of nature; conformity to nature.
2. (Metaph.) The doctrine of those who deny a supernatural agency in
the miracles and revelations recorded in the Bible, and in spiritual
influences; also, any system of philosophy which refers the phenomena
of nature to a blind force or forces acting necessarily or according
to fixed laws, excluding origination or direction by one intelligent
will.
Naturalist
Nat"u*ral*ist, n. [Cf. F. naturaliste.]
1. One versed in natural science; a student of natural history, esp.
of the natural history of animals.
2. One who holds or maintains the doctrine of naturalism in religion.
H. Bushnell.
Naturalistic
Nat`u*ral*is"tic (?), a.
1. Belonging to the doctrines of naturalism.
2. Closely resembling nature; realistic. "Naturalistic bit of
pantomime." W. D. Howells.
Naturality
Nat`u*ral"i*ty (?), n. [L. naturalitas: cf. F. naturalit\'82.] Nature;
naturalness. [R.]
Naturalization
Nat`u*ral*i*za"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. naturalisation.] The act or
process of naturalizing, esp. of investing an alien with the rights
and privileges of a native or citizen; also, the state of being
naturalized.
Naturalize
Nat"u*ral*ize (?; 135), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Naturalized (#); p. pr. &
vb. n. Naturalizing (#).] [Cf. F. naturaliser. See Natural.]
1. To make natural; as, custom naturalizes labor or study.
2. To confer the rights and privileges of a native subject or citizen
on; to make as if native; to adopt, as a foreigner into a nation or
state, and place in the condition of a native subject.
3. To receive or adopt as native, natural, or vernacular; to make
one's own; as, to naturalize foreign words.
4. To adapt; to accustom; to habituate; to acclimate; to cause to grow
as under natural conditions.
Its wearer suggested that pears and peaches might yet be
naturalized in the New England climate. Hawthorne.
Naturalize
Nat"u*ral*ize, v. i.
1. To become as if native.
2. To explain phenomena by natural agencies or laws, to the exclusion
of the supernatural.
Infected by this naturalizing tendency. H. Bushnell.
Naturally
Nat"u*ral*ly, adv. In a natural manner or way; according to the usual
course of things; spontaneously.
Naturalness
Nat"u*ral*ness, n. The state or quality of being natural; conformity
to nature.
Nature
Na"ture (?; 135), n. [F., fr. L. natura, fr. natus born, produced,
p.p. of nasci to be born. See Nation.]
1. The existing system of things; the world of matter, or of matter
and mind; the creation; the universe.
But looks through nature up to nature's God. Pope.
Nature has caprices which art can not imitate. Macaulay.
2. The personified sum and order of causes and effects; the powers
which produce existing phenomena, whether in the total or in detail;
the agencies which carry on the processes of creation or of being; --
often conceived of as a single and separate entity, embodying the
total of all finite agencies and forces as disconnected from a
creating or ordering intelligence.
I oft admire How Nature, wise and frugal, could commit Such
disproportions. Milton.
3. The established or regular course of things; usual order of events;
connection of cause and effect.
4. Conformity to that which is natural, as distinguished from that
which is artifical, or forced, or remote from actual experience.
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin. Shak.
5. The sum of qualities and attributes which make a person or thing
what it is, as distinct from others; native character; inherent or
essential qualities or attributes; peculiar constitution or quality of
being.
Thou, therefore, whom thou only canst redeem, Their nature also to
thy nature join, And be thyself man among men on earth. Milton.
6. Hence: Kind, sort; character; quality.
A dispute of this nature caused mischief. Dryden.
7. Physical constitution or existence; the vital powers; the natural
life. "My days of nature." Shak.
Oppressed nature sleeps. Shak.
8. Natural affection or reverence.
Have we not seen The murdering son ascend his parent's bed, Through
violated nature foce his way? Pope.
9. Constitution or quality of mind or character.
A born devil, on whose nature Nurture can never stick. Shak.
That reverence which is due to a superior nature. Addison.
Good nature, Ill nature. see under Good and Ill. -- In a state of
nature. (a) Naked as when born; nude. (b) In a condition of sin;
unregenerate. (c) Untamed; uncvilized. -- Nature printng, a process of
printing from metallic or other plates which have received an
impression, as by heavy pressure, of an object such as a leaf, lace,
or the like. -- Nature worship, the worship of the personified powers
of nature. -- To pay the debt of nature, to die.
Nature
Na"ture, v. t. To endow with natural qualities. [Obs.]
He [God] which natureth every kind. Gower.
Natured
Na"tured (?; 135), a. Having (such) a nature, temper, or disposition;
disposed; -- used in composition; as, good-natured, ill-natured, etc.
Natureless
Na"ture*less (?), a. Not in accordance with nature; unnatural. [Obs.]
Milton.
Naturism
Na"tur*ism (?), n. (Med.) The belief or doctrine that attributes
everything to nature as a sanative agent.
Naturist
Na"tur*ist, n. One who believes in, or conforms to, the theory of
naturism. Boyle.
Naturity
Na*tu"ri*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being produced by nature.
[Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Naturize
Na"tur*ize (?), v. t. To endow with a nature or qualities; to refer to
nature. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
Naufrage
Nau"frage (?; 48), n. [F., fr. L. naufragium; navis + frangere.]
Shipwreck; ruin. [Obs.] acon.
Naufragous
Nau"fra*gous (?), a. [L. naufragus. See Naufrage.] causing shipwreck.
[Obs.] r. Taylor.
Naught
Naught (?), n. [OE. naught, nought, naht, nawiht, AS. n, n, n; ne not
+ wiht thing, whit; hence, not ever a whit. See No, adv. Whit, and cf.
Aught, Not.]
1. Nothing. [Written also nought.]
Doth Job fear God for naught? Job i. 9.
2. The arithmetical character 0; a cipher. See Cipher.
To set at naught, to treat as of no account; to disregard; to despise;
to defy; to treat with ignominy. "Ye have set at naught all my
counsel." Prov. i. 25.
Naught
Naught, adv. In no degree; not at all. Chaucer.
To wealth or sovereign power he naught applied. Fairfax.
Naught
Naught, a.
1. Of no value or account; worthless; bad; useless.
It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer. Prov. xx. 14.
Go, get you to your house; begone, away! All will be naught else.
Shak.
Things naught and things indifferent. Hooker.
2. Hence, vile; base; naughty. [Obs.]
No man can be stark naught at once. Fuller.
Naughtily
Naugh"ti*ly (?), adv. In a naughty manner; wickedly; perversely. Shak.
Naughtiness
Naugh"ti*ness, n. The quality or state of being naughty; perverseness;
badness; wickedness.
I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart. 1 Sam. xvii.
28.
Naughtly
Naught"ly (?), adv. Naughtily; wrongly. [Obs.]
because my parents naughtly brought me up. Mir. for Mag.
Naughty
Naugh"ty (?), a. [Compar. Naughtier (?); superl. Naughtiest.]
1. Having little or nothing. [Obs.]
[Men] that needy be and naughty, help them with thy goods. Piers
Plowman.
2. Worthless; bad; good for nothing. [Obs.]
The other basket had very naughty figs. Jer. xxiv. 2.
3. hence, corrupt; wicked. [Archaic]
So shines a good deed in a naughty world. Shak.
4. Mischievous; perverse; froward; guilty of disobedient or improper
conduct; as, a naughty child.
NOTE: &hand; Th is wo rd is no w se ldom used except in the latter
sense, as applied to children, or in sportive censure.
Naumachy
Nau"ma*chy (?), n. [L. naumachia, Gr.
1. A naval battle; esp., a mock sea fight.
2. (Rom. Antiq.) A show or spectacle representing a sea fight; also, a
place for such exhibitions.
Nauplius
Nau"pli*us (?), n.; pl. Nauplii (#). [L., a kind of shellfish, fr. Gr.
(Zo\'94l.) A crustacean larva having three pairs of locomotive organs
(corresponding to the antennules, antenn\'91, and mandibles), a median
eye, and little or no segmentation of the body.
Nauropometer
Nau`ro*pom"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. -meter.] (Naut.) An instrument for
measuring the amount which a ship heels at sea.
Nauscopy
Naus"co*py (?), n. [Gr. -scopy: cf. F. nauscopie.] (Naut.) The power
or act of discovering ships or land at considerable distances.
Nausea
Nau"se*a (? or , n. [L., fr. Gr. Nave of a church, and cf. Noise.]
Seasickness; hence, any similar sickness of the stomach accompanied
with a propensity to vomit; qualm; squeamishness of the stomach;
loathing.
Nauseant
Nau"se*ant (?), n. [L. nauseans, p.pr. Of nauseare.] (Med.) A
substance which produces nausea. <-- emetic -->
Nauseate
Nau"se*ate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Nauseated (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Nauseating.] [L. nauseare, nauseatum, fr. nausea. See Nausea.] To
become squeamish; to feel nausea; to turn away with disgust.
Nauseate
Nau"se*ate, v. t.
1. To affect with nausea; to sicken; to cause to feel loathing or
disgust.
2. To sicken at; to reject with disgust; to loathe.
The patient nauseates and loathes wholesome foods. Blackmore.
Nauseation
Nau`se*a"tion (?), n. The act of nauseating, or the state of being
nauseated.
Nauseative
Nau"se*a*tive (? OR , a. Causing nausea; nauseous.
Nauseous
Nau"seous (?; 277), a. [L. nauseosus.] Causing, or fitted to cause,
nausea; sickening; loathsome; disgusting; exciting abhorrence; as, a
nauseous drug or medicine. -- Nau"seous*ly, adv. -- Nau"seous*ness, n.
The nauseousness of such company disgusts a reasonable man. Dryden.
Nautch
Nautch (?), n. [Hind. n\'bech, fr. Skr. n dance.] An entertainment
consisting chiefly of dancing by professional dancing (or Nautch)
girls. [India]
Nautic
Nau"tic (?), a. [See Nautical.] Nautical.
Nautical
Nau"tic*al (?), a. [L. nauticus, Gr. nautique. See Nave of a church.]
Of or pertaining to seamen, to the art of navigation, or to ships; as,
nautical skill. Syn. -- Naval; marine; maritime. See Naval. Nautical
almanac. See under Almanac. -- Nautical distance, the length in
nautical miles of the rhumb line joining any two places on the earth's
surface. -- nautical mile. see under Mile.
Nautically
Nau"tic*al*ly, adv. In a nautical manner; with reference to nautical
affais.
Nautiform
Nau"ti*form (?), a. [Gr. -form.] Shaped like the hull of a ship.
Nautilite
Nau"ti*lite (?), n. (paleon.) A fossil nautilus.
Nautiloid
Nau"ti*loid (?), a. [Nautilus + -oid: cf. F. nautilo\'8bde.]
(Zo\'94l.) Like or pertaining to the nautilus; shaped like a nautilus
shell. -- n. A mollusk, or shell, of the genus Nautilus or family
Nautilid\'91.
Nautilus
Nau"ti*lus (?), n.; pl. E. Nautiluses (#), L. Nautili (#). [L., fr.
gr. Nave of a church.]
1. (Zo\'94l.) The only existing genus of tetrabranchiate cephalopods.
About four species are found living in the tropical Pacific, but many
other species are found fossil. The shell is spiral, symmetrical, and
chambered, or divided into several cavities by simple curved
partitions, which are traversed and connected together by a continuous
and nearly central tube or siphuncle. See Tetrabranchiata.
NOTE: &hand; Th e he ad of the animal bears numerous simple tapered
arms, or tentacles, arranged in groups, but not furnished with
suckers. The siphon, unlike, that of ordinary cephalopods, is not a
closed tube, and is not used as a locomotive organ, but merely
serves to conduct water to and from the gill cavity, which contains
two pairs of gills. The animal occupies only the outer chamber of
the shell; the others are filled with gas. It creeps over the
bottom of the sea, not coming to the surface to swim or sail, as
was formerly imagined.
2. The argonaut; -- also called paper nautilus. See Argonauta, and
Paper nautilus, under Paper.
3. A variety of diving bell, the lateral as well as vertical motions
of which are controlled, by the occupants.
Navajoes
Na"va*joes (?), n. pl.; sing. Navajo (. (Ethnol.) A tribe of Indians
inhabiting New Mexico and Arizona, allied to the Apaches. They are now
largely engaged in agriculture.
Naval
Na"val (?), a. [L. navalis, fr. navis ship: cf. F. naval. See Nave of
a church.] Having to do with shipping; of or pertaining to ships or a
navy; consisting of ships; as, naval forces, successes, stores, etc.
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Page 966
Naval brigade, a body of seamen or marines organized for military
service on land. -- Naval officer. (a) An officer in the navy. (b) A
high officer in some United States customhouses. -- Naval tactics, the
science of managing or maneuvering vessels sailing in squadrons or
fleets. Syn. -- Nautical; marine; maritime. -- Naval, Nautical. Naval
is applied to vessels, or a navy, or the things which pertain to them
or in which they participate; nautical, to seamen and the art of
navigation. Hence we speak of a naval, as opposed to a military,
engagement; naval equipments or stores, a naval triumph, a naval
officer, etc., and of nautical pursuits or instruction, nautical
calculations, a nautical almanac, etc.
Navals
Na"vals (?), n.pl. Naval affairs. [Obs.]
Navarch
Na"varch (?), n. [L. navarchus, gr. (Gr. Antiq.) The commander of a
fleet. Mitford.
Navarchy
Na"varch*y (?), n. [Gr. Nautical skill or experience. [Obs.] ir W.
Petty.
Navarrese
Na`var*rese" (? OR , a. Of or pertaining to Navarre. -- n. sing. & pl.
A native or inhabitant of Navarre; the people of Navarre.
Nave
Nave (?), n. [AS. nafu; akin to D. naaf, G. nabe, OHG. naba, Icel.
n\'94f, Dan. nav, Sw. naf, Skr. n\'bebhi nave and navel: cf. L. umbo
boss of a shield. \'fb260. Cf. Navel.]
1. The block in the center of a wheel, from which the spokes radiate,
and through which the axle passes; -- called also hub or hob.
2. The navel. [Obs.] hak.
Nave
Nave, n. [F. nef, fr. L. navis ship, to which the church was often
likened; akin to Gr. naca boat, G. nachen, Icel. n\'94kkvi; cf. L.
nare to swim, float. Cf. Nausea, Nautical, Naval.] (Arch.) The middle
or body of a church, extending from the transepts to the principal
entrances, or, if there are no transepts, from the choir to the
principal entrance, but not including the aisles.
Navel
Na"vel (?), n. [AS. nafela, fr. nafu nave; akin to D. navel, G. nabel,
OHG. nabolo, Icel. nafli, Dan. navle, Sw. nafle, L. umbilicus, Gr. n.
\'fb260. See Nave hub, and cf. Omphalic, Nombril, Umbilical.]
1. (Anat.) A mark or depression in the middle of the abdomen; the
umbilicus. See Umbilicus.<-- called also belly button in humans -->
2. The central part or point of anything; the middle.
Within the navel of this hideous wood, Immured in cypress shades, a
sorcerer dwells. Milton.
3. (Gun.) An eye on the under side of a carronade for securing it to a
carriage.
Navel gall, a bruise on the top of the chine of the back of a horse,
behind the saddle. Johnson. -- Navel point. (Her.) Same as Nombril.
Navel-string
Na"vel-string` (?), n. The umbilical cord.
Navelwort
Na"vel*wort` (?), n. (Bot.) A European perennial succulent herb
(Cotyledon umbilicus), having round, peltate leaves with a central
depression; -- also called pennywort, and kidneywort.
Navew
Na"vew (?), n. [OE. navel, naveau, a dim. fr. L. napus navew. Cf.
Napiform.] (Bot.) A kind of small turnip, a variety of Brassica
campestris. See Brassica. [Writen also naphew.]
Navicular
Na*vic"u*lar (?), a. [L. navicularius, fr. navicula, dim. of navis
ship: cf. F. naviculaire.]
1. Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a boat or ship.
2. Shaped like a boat; cymbiform; scaphoid; as, the navicular glumes
of most grasses; the navicular bone.
Navicular bone. (Anat.) (a) One of the middle bones of the tarsus,
corresponding to the centrale; -- called also scaphoid. (b) A proximal
bone on the radial side of the carpus; the scaphoid. -- Navicular
disease (Far.), a disease affecting the navicular bone, or the
adjacent parts, in a horse's foot.
Navicular
Na*vic"u*lar, n. (Anat.) The navicular bone.
Navigability
Nav`i*ga*bil"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. navigabilit\'82.] The quality or
condition of being navigable; navigableness.
Navigable
Nav"i*ga*ble (?), a. [L. navigabilis: cf. F. navigable. See Navigate.]
Capable of being navigated; deep enough and wide enough to afford
passage to vessels; as, a navigable river.
NOTE: &hand; By th e comon law, a river is considered as navigable
only so far as the tide ebbs and flows in it. This is also the
doctrine in several of the United tates. In other States, the
doctrine of thje civil law prevails, which is, that a navigable
river is a river capable of being navigated, in the common sense of
the term.
Kent. Burrill. -- Nav"i*ga*ble*ness, n. -- Nav"i*ga*bly, adv.
Navigate
Nav"i*gate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Navigated (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Navigating.] [L. navigatus, p.p. of navigare, v.t. & i.; navis ship +
agere to move, direct. See Nave, and Agent.] To joirney by water; to
go in a vessel or ship; to perform the duties of a navigator; to use
the waters as a highway or channel for commerce or communication; to
sail.
The Phenicians navigated to the extremities of the Western Ocean.
Arbuthnot.
Navigate
Nav"i*gate, v. t.
1. To pass over in ships; to sail over or on; as, to navigate the
Atlantic.
2. To steer, direct, or manage in sailing; to conduct (ships) upon the
water by the art or skill of seamen; as, to navigate a ship.
Navigation
Nav`i*ga"tion (?), n. [L. navigatio: cf. F. navigation.]
1. The act of navigating; the act of passing on water in ships or
other vessels; the state of being navigable.
2. (a) the science or art of conducting ships or vessels from one
place to another, including, more especially, the method of
determining a ship's position, course, distance passed over, etc., on
the surface of the globe, by the principles of geometry and astronomy.
(b) The management of sails, rudder, etc.; the mechanics of traveling
by water; seamanship.
3. Ships in general. [Poetic] Shak.
A\'89rial navigation, the act or art of sailing or floating in the
air, as by means of ballons; a\'89ronautic.<-- now aviation --> --
Inland navigation, Internal navigation, navigation on rivers, inland
lakes, etc.
Navigator
Nav"i*ga`tor (?), n. One who navigates or sails; esp., one who direct
the course of a ship, or one who is skillful in the art of navigation;
also, a book which teaches the art of navigation; as, Bowditch's
Navigator.
Navigerous
Na*vig"er*ous (?), a. [L. naviger; navis ship + gerere to bear.]
Bearing ships; capable of floating vessels. [R.] Blount.
Navvy
Nav"vy (?), n.; pl. Navies (#). [Abbreviated fr. navigator.]
Originally, a laborer on canals for internal navigation; hence, a
laborer on other public works, as in building railroads, embankments,
etc. [Eng.]
Navy
Na"vy (?); n.; pl. Navies (#). [ OF. navie, fr. L. navis ship. See
Nave of a church.]
1. A fleet of ships; an assemblage of merchantmen, or so many as sail
in company. "The navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir." 1
kings x. 11.
2. The whole of the war vessels belonging to a nation or ruler,
considered collectively; as, the navy of Italy.
3. The officers and men attached to the war vessels of a nation; as,
he belongs to the navy.
Navy bean. see Bean. -- Navy yard, a place set apart as a shore
station for the use of the navy. It often contains all the mechanical
and other appliences for building and equipping war vessels and
training their crews.
Nawab
Na*wab" (?), n. [See Nabob.] A deputy ruler or viceroy in India; also,
a title given by courtesy to other persons of high rank in the East.
Nawl
Nawl (?), n. [See Nall.] An awl. [Obs.] usser.
Nay
Nay (?), adv. [Icel. nei; akin to E. no. See No, adv.]
1. No; -- a negative answer to a question asked, or a request made,
now superseded by no. See Yes.
And eke when I say "ye," ne say not "nay." Chaucer.
I tell you nay; but except ye repent, ye shall all likewisr perish.
Luke xiii. 3.
And now do they thrust us out privily? nay, verily; but let them
come themselves and fetch us out. Acts xvi. 37.
He that will not when he may, When he would he shall have nay. Old
Prov.
NOTE: &hand; Be fore the time of Henry VIII. nay was used to answer
simple questions, and no was used when the form of the question
involved a negative expression; nay was the simple form, no the
emphatic.
Skeat.
2. Not this merely, but also; not only so, but; -- used to mark the
addition or substitution of a more explicit or more emphatic phrase.
NOTE: &hand; Na y in this sense may be interchanged with yea. "Were
he my brother, nay, my kingdom's heir."
Shak.
Nay
Nay, n.; pl. Nays (.
1. Denial; refusal.
2. a negative vote; one who votes in the negative.
It is no nay, there is no denying it. [Obs.] haucer.
Nay
Nay, v. t. & i. To refuse. [Obs.] Holinshed.
Nayaur
Na*yaur" (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) A specied of wild sheep (Ovis Hodgsonii),
native of Nepaul and Thibet. It has a dorsal mane and a white ruff
beneath the neck.
Nayt
Nayt (?), v. t. [Icel. neita.] To refuse; to deny. [Obs.] "He shall
not nayt ne deny his sin." Chaucer.
Nayward
Nay"ward (?), n. The negative side. [R.]
Howe'er you lean to the nayward. Shak.
Nayword
Nay"word` (?), n. A byword; a proverb; also, a watchword. [Obs.] hak.
Nazarene
Naz`a*rene" (?), n. [L. Nazarenus, Gr.
1. A native or inhabitant of Nazareth; -- a term of contempt applied
to Christ and the early Christians.
2. (Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect of Judaizing Christians in the first
and second centuries, who observed the laws of Moses, and held to
certain heresies.
Nazarite
Naz"a*rite (?), n. A Jew bound by a vow to lave the hair uncut, to
abstain from wine and strong drink, and to practice extraordinary
purity of life and devotion, the obligation being for life, or for a
certain time. The word is also used adjectively.
Nazariteship
Naz"a*rite*ship, n. The state of a Nazarite.
Nazaritic
Naz`a*rit"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to a Nazarite, or to Nazarites.
Nazaritism
Naz"a*ri*tism (?; 277), n. The vow and practice of a Nazarite.
Naze
Naze (?), n. [See Ness.] A promotory or headland.
Nazirite
Naz"i*rite (?), n. A Nazarite.
Ne
Ne (?), adv. [AS. ne. See No.] Not; never. [Obs.]
He never yet no villany ne said. Chaucer.
NOTE: &hand; Ne wa s fo rmerly us ed as th e un iversal adverb of
negation, and survives in certain compounds, as never (= ne ever)
and none (= ne one). Other combinations, now obsolete, will be
found in the Vocabulary, as nad, nam, nil. See Negative, 2.
Ne
Ne, conj. [See Ne, adv.] Nor. [Obs.] Shak.
No niggard ne no fool. Chaucer.
Ne . . . ne, neither . . . nor. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Neaf
Neaf (?), n. See 2d Neif. Shak.
Neal
Neal (?), v. t. To anneal. [R.] Chaucer.
Neal
Neal, v. i. To be tempered by heat. [R.] Bacon.
Neap
Neap (?), n. [Cf. Neb, Nape.] The tongue or pole of a cart or other
vehicle drawn by two animals. [U.S.]
Neap
Neap (?), a. [As. n&emac;pfl&omac;d neap flood; cf. hnipian to bend,
incline.] Low. Neap tides, the lowest tides of the lunar month, which
occur in the second and fourth quarters of the moon; -- opposed to
spring tides.
Neap
Neap, n. A neap tide.
High springs and dead neaps. Harkwill.
Neaped
Neaped (?), a. (Naut.) Left aground on the height of a spring tide, so
that it will not float till the next spring tide; -- called also
beneaped.
Neapolitan
Ne`a*pol"i*tan (?), a. [L. Neapolitanus, fr. Neapolis Naples, Gr. Of
of pertaining to Maples in Italy. -- n. A native or citizen of Naples.
Near
Near (?), adv. [AS. ne\'a0r, compar. of ne\'a0h nigh. See Nigh.]
1. At a little distance, in place, time, manner, or degree; not
remote; nigh.
My wife! my traitress! let her not come near me. Milton.
2. Nearly; almost; well-nigh. "Near twenty years ago." Shak. "Near a
fortnight ago." Addison.
Near about the yearly value of the land. Locke.
3. Closely; intimately. Shak.
Far and near, at a distance and close by; throughout a whole region.
-- To come near to, to want but little of; to approximate to. "Such a
sum he found would go near to ruin him." Addison. -- Near the wind
(Naut.), close to the wind; closehauled.
Near
Near (?), a. [Compar. Nearer (?); superl. Nearest.] [See Near, adv.]
1. Not far distant in time, place, or degree; not remote; close at
hand; adjacent; neighboring; nigh. "As one near death." Shak.
He served great Hector, and was ever near, Not with his trumpet
only, but his spear. Dryden.
2. Closely connected or related.
She is thy father's near kinswoman. Lev. xviii. 12.
3. Close to one's interests, affection, etc.; touching, or affecting
intimately; intimate; dear; as, a near friend.
4. Close to anything followed or imitated; not free, loose, or
rambling; as, a version near to the original.
5. So as barely to avoid or pass injury or loss; close; narrow; as, a
near escape.
6. Next to the driver, when he is on foot; in the Unted States, on the
left of an animal or a team; as, the near ox; the near leg. See Off
side, under Off, a.
7. Immediate; direct; close; short. "The nearest way." Milton.
8. Close-fisted; parsimonious. [Obs. or Low, Eng.]
NOTE: &hand; Ne ar ma y properly be followed by to before the thing
approached'; but more frequently to is omitted, and the adjective
or the adverb is regarded as a preposition. The same is also true
of the word nigh.
Syn. -- Nigh; close; adjacent; proximate; contiguous; present; ready;
intimate; dear.
Near
Near, prep. Adjacent to; close by; not far from; nigh; as, the ship
sailed near the land. See the Note under near, a.
Near
Near, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Neared (?); p. pr. & vb. n Nearing.] [See
Near, adv.] To approach; to come nearer; as, the ship neared the land.
Near
Near, v. i. To draw near; to approach.
A speck, a mist, a shape, I wist! And still it neared, and neared.
Coleridge.
Nearctic
Ne*arc"tic (?), a. [Neo + arctic.] Of or pertaining to a region of the
earth's surface including all of temperate and arctic North America
and Greenland. In the geographical distribution of animals, this
region is marked off as the habitat certain species.
Nearhand
Near"hand` (?), a. & adv. Near; near at hand; closely. [Obs. or Scot.]
Bacon.
Near-legged
Near"-legged` (?), a. Having the feet so near together that they
interfere in traveling. Shak.
Nearly
Near"ly, adv. In a near manner; not remotely; closely; intimately;
almost.
Nearness
Near"ness, n. The state or quality of being near; -- used in the
various senses of the adjective.
Nearsighted, a. Seeing distinctly at short distances only; shortsighted. --
Nearsightedness
Near"sight`ed (?), a. Seeing distinctly at short distances only;
shortsighted. -- Near"sight`ed*ness, n. See Myopic, and Myopia. <--
neither def2 nor wordforms -->
Neat
Neat (?), n. sing. & pl. [AS. ne\'a0t; akin to OHG. n, Icel. naut, Sw.
n\'94t, Dan. n\'94d, and to AS. ne\'a2tan to make use of, G.
geniessen, Goth. niutan to have a share in, have joy of, Lith. nauda
use, profit.] (Zo\'94l.) Cattle of the genus Bos, as distinguished
from horses, sheep, and goats; an animal of the genus Bos; as, a
neat's tongue; a neat's foot. Chaucer.
Wherein the herds[men] were keeping of their neat. Spenser.
The steer, the heifer, and the calf Are all called neat. Shak.
A neat and a sheep of his own. Tusser.
Neat's-foot, an oil obtained by boiling the feet of neat cattle. It is
used to render leather soft and pliable.
Neat
Neat, a. [See neat, n.] Of or pertaining to the genus Bos, or to
cattle of that genus; as, neat cattle.
Neat
Neat, a. [Compar. Neater (?); superl. Neatest.] [OE. nett, F. nett,
fr. L. nitidus, fr. nitere to shine. Cf. Nitid, Net, a., Natty.]
1. Free from that which soils, defiles, or disorders; clean; cleanly;
tidy.
If you were to see her, you would wonder what poor body it was that
was so surprisingly neat and clean. Law.
2. Free from what is unbecoming, inappropriate, or tawdry; simple and
becoming; pleasing with simplicity; tasteful; chaste; as, a neat
style; a neat dress.
3. Free from admixture or adulteration; good of its kind; as, neat
brandy. "Our old wine neat." Chapman.
4. Excellent in character, skill, or performance, etc.; nice;
finished; adroit; as, a neat design; a neat thief.
5. With all deductions or allowances made; net.
NOTE: [In this sense usually written net. See Net, a., 3.]
neat line (Civil Engin.), a line to which work is to be built or
formed. -- Neat work, work built or formed to neat lines. Syn. --
Nice; pure; cleanly; tidy; trim; spruce.
'Neath
'Neath (? OR , prep. & adv. An abbreviation of Beneath. [Poetic]
Neatherd
Neat"herd` (?), n. A person who has the care of neat cattle; a
cowherd. Dryden.
Neathouse
Neat"house` (?), n. A building for the shelter of neat cattle. [Obs.
or Prov. Eng.] Massinger.
Neatify
Neat"i*fy (?), v. t. [Neat, a. + -fy.] To make neat. [Obs.] olland.
Neatly
Neat"ly, adv. In a neat manner; tidily; tastefully.
neatness
neat"ness, n. The state or quality of being neat.
Neatress
Neat"ress (?), n. [From neat cattle.] A woman who takes care of
cattle. [R.] Warner.
Neb
Neb (?), n. [AS. nebb head, face; akin to D. neb, Icel. nef, beak of a
bird, nose, Dan. n\'91b beak, bill, Sw. n\'84bb, n\'84f, and prob.
also to D. sneb, snavel, bill, beak, G. schnabel, Dan. & Sw. snabel,
and E. snap. Cf. Nib, Snap, Snaffle.] The nose; the snout; the mouth;
the beak of a bird; a nib, as of a pen. [Also written nib.] Shak.
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Nebalia
Ne*ba"li*a (?), n. [NL., of uncertain origin.] (Zo\'94l.) A genus of
small marine Crustacea, considered the type of a distinct order
(Nebaloidea, or Phyllocarida.)
Neb-neb
Neb"-neb` (?), n. Same as Bablh.
Nebula
Neb"u*la (?), n.; pl. Nebul\'91 (#). [L., mist, cloud; akin to Gr.
nebel mist, OHG. nebul, D. nevel, Skr. nabhas cloud, mist. Cf.
Nebule.]
1. (Astron.) A faint, cloudlike, self-luminous mass of matter situated
beyond the solar system among the stars. True nebul\'91 are gaseous;
but very distant star clusters often appear like them in the
telescope. <-- also applied now to galaxies -->
2. (Med.) (a) A white spot or a slight opacity of the cornea. (b) A
cloudy appearance in the urine. [Obs.]
Nebular
Neb"u*lar (?), a. Of or pertaining to nebul\'91; of the nature of, or
resembling, a nebula. Nebular hypothesis, an hypothesis to explain the
process of formation of the stars and planets, presented in various
forms by Kant, Herschel, Laplace, and others. As formed by Laplace, it
supposed the matter of the solar system to have existed originally in
the form of a vast, diffused, revolving nebula, which, gradually
cooling and contracting, threw off, in obedience to mechanical and
physical laws, succesive rings of matter, from which subsequently, by
the same laws, were produced the several planets, satellites, and
other bodies of the system. The phrase may indicate any hypothesis
according to which the stars or the bodies of the solar system have
been evolved from a widely diffused nebulous form of matter.
Nebulated
Neb"u*la`ted (?), a. Clouded with indistinct color markings, as an
animal.
nebulation
neb`u*la"tion (?), n. The condition of being nebulated; also, a
clouded, or ill-defined, color mark.
Nebule
Neb"ule (?), n. [Cf. F. n\'82bule. See nebula.] A little cloud; a
cloud. [Obs.]
O light without nebule. Old Ballad.
N\'82bul\'82, Nebuly
N\'82`bu`l\'82" (?), Neb"u*ly (?), a. [F. n\'82bul\'82.] (Her.)
Composed of successive short curves supposed to resemble a cloud; --
said of a heraldic line by which an ordinary or subordinary may be
bounded.
Nebulization
Neb`u*li*za"tion (?), n. (Med.) The act or process of nebulizing;
atomization.
Nebulize
Neb"u*lize (?), v. t. [See Nebula.] To reduce (as a liquid) to a fine
spray or vapor; to atomize.
Nebulizer
Neb"u*li`zer (?), n. An atomizer.
Nebulose
Neb"u*lose` (?), a. Nebulous; cloudy. Derham.
Nebulosity
Neb`u*los"i*ty (?), n. [L. nebulositas: cf. F. n\'82bulosit\'82]
1. The state or quality of being nebulous; cloudiness; hazeness;
mistiness; nebulousness.
The nebulosity ... of the mother idiom. I. Disraeli.
2. (Astron.) (a) The stuff of which a nebula is formed. (b) A nebula.
Nebulous
Neb"u*lous (?), a. [L. nebulosus: cf. F. n\'82buleux. See Nebula.]
1. Cloudy; hazy; misty.
2. (Astron.) Of, pertaining to, or having the appearance of, a nebula;
nebular; cloudlike. -- Neb"u*lous*ly, adv. -- Neb"u*lous*ness, n.
Nebuly
Neb"u*ly, n. (Her. & Arch.) A line or a direction composed of
successive short curves or waves supposed to resembe a cloud. See
N\'90bul\'90
Necessarian
Nec`es*sa"ri*an (?), n. [Cf. F. n\'82cessarien. See Mecessary.] An
advocate of the doctrine of philosophical necessity; a nacessitarian.
Necessarian
Nec`es*sa"ri*an, a. Of or pertaining to necessarianism.
Necessarianism
Nec`es*sa"ri*an*ism (?), n. The doctrine of philosophical necessity;
necessitarianism. Hixley.
Necessarily
Nec"es*sa*ri*ly (?), adv. In a necessary manner; by necessity;
unavoidably; indispensably.
Necessariness
Nec"es*sa*ri*ness, n. The quality of being necessary.
Necessary
Nec"es*sa*ry (?), a. [L. necessarius, from necesse unavoidable,
necessary; of uncertain origin: cf. F. n\'82cessaire.]
1. Such as must be; impossible to be otherwise; not to be avoided;
inevitable.
Death, a necessary end, Will come when it will come. Shak.
2. Impossible to be otherwise, or to be dispensed with, without
preventing the attainment of a desired result; indispensable;
requiste; essential. "'T is necessary he should die." Shak.
A certain kind of temper is necessary to the pleasure and quiet of
our minds. Tillotson.
3. Acting from necessity or compulsion; involuntary; -- opposed to
free; as, whether man is a necessary or a free agent is a question
much discussed.
Necessary
Nec"es*sa*ry, n.; pl. Necessaries (.
1. A thing that is necessary or indispensable to some purpose;
something that one can not do without; a requisite; an essential; --
used chiefly in the plural; as, the necessaries of life.
2. A privy; a water-closet.
3. pl. (Law) Such things, in respect to infants, lunatics, and married
women, as are requisite for support suitable to station.
Necessitarian
Ne*ces`si*ta"ri*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to the doctrine of
philosophical necessity in regard to the origin and existence of
things, especially as applied to the actings or choices of the will;
-- opposed to libertarian.
Necessitarian
Ne*ces`si*ta"ri*an, n. One who holds to the doctrine of
necessitarianism.
Necessitarianism
Ne*ces`si*ta"ri*an*ism (?), n. The doctrine of philosophical
necessity; the doctrine that results follow by invariable sequence
from causes, and esp. that the will is not free, but that human
actions and choices result inevitably from motives; deteminism. M.
Arnold.
Necessitate
Ne*ces"si*tate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Necessitated (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Necessitating (?).] [Cf. L. necessitatus, p.p. of necessitare, and
F. n\'82cessiter. See Necessity.]
1. To make necessary or indispensable; to render unaviolable.
Sickness [might] necessitate his removal from the court. South.
This fact necessitates a second line. J. Peile.
2. To reduce to the necessity of; to force; to compel.
The Marquis of Newcastle, being pressed on both sides, was
necessitated to draw all his army into York. Clarendon.
Necessitattion
Ne*ces`si*tat"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. n\'82cessitation.] The act of
making necessary, or the state of being made necessary; compulsion.
[R.] bp. Bramhall.
Necessitied
Ne*ces"si*tied (?), a. In a state of want; necessitous. [Obs.] Shak.
Necessitous
Ne*ces"si*tous (?), a. [Cf. F. n\'82cessiteux.]
1. Very needy or indigent; pressed with poverty.
Necessitous heirs and penurious parents. Arbuthnot.
2. Narrow; destitute; pinching; pinched; as, necessitous
circumstances. -- Ne*ces"si*tous*ly, adv. -- Ne*ces"si*tous*ness, n.
Necessitude
Ne*ces"si*tude (?), n. [L. necessitudo, fr. necesse. See Necessray.]
1. Necessitousness; want. Sir M. Hale.
2. Necessary connection or relation.
Between kings and their people, parents and their children, there
is so great a necessitude, propriety, and intercourse of nature.
Jer. Taylor.
Necessity
Ne*ces"si*ty (?), n.; pl. Necessities (#). [OE. necessite, F.
n\'82cessit\'82, L. necessitas, fr. necesse. See Necessary.]
1. The quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely
requisite; inevitableness; indispensableness.
2. The condition of being needy or necessitous; pressing need;
indigence; want.
Urge the necessity and state of times. Shak.
The extreme poverty and necessity his majesty was in. Clarendon.
3. That which is necessary; a necessary; a requisite; something
indispensable; -- often in the plural.
These should be hours for necessities, Not for delights. Shak.
What was once to me Mere matter of the fancy, now has grown The
vast necessity of heart and life. Tennyson.
4. That which makes an act or an event unavoidable; irresistible
force; overruling power; compulsion, physical or moral; fate;
fatality.
So spake the fiend, and with necessity, The tyrant's plea, excused
his devilish deeds. Milton.
5. (Metaph.) The negation of freedom in voluntary action; the
subjection of all phenomena, whether material or spiritual, to
inevitable causation; necessitarianism.
Of necessity, by necessary consequence; by compulsion, or irresistible
power; perforce. Syn. -- See Need.
Neck
Neck (?), n. [OE. necke, AS. hnecca; akin to D. nek the nape of the
neck, G. nacken, OHG. nacch, hnacch, Icel. hnakki, Sw. nacke, Dan.
nakke.]
1. The part of an animal which connects the head and the trunk, and
which, in man and many other animals, is more slender than the trunk.
2. Any part of an inanimate object corresponding to or resembling the
neck of an animal; as: (a) The long slender part of a vessel, as a
retort, or of a fruit, as a gourd. (b) A long narrow tract of land
projecting from the main body, or a narrow tract connecting two larger
tracts. (c) (Mus.) That part of a violin, guitar, or similar
instrument, which extends from the head to the body, and on which is
the finger board or fret board.
3. (Mech.) A reduction in size near the end of an object, formed by a
groove around it; as, a neck forming the journal of a shaft.
4. (Bot.) the point where the base of the stem of a plant arises from
the root.
Neck and crop, completely; wholly; altogether; roughly and at once.
[Colloq.] -- Neck and neck (Racing), so nearly equal that one cannot
be said to be before the other; very close; even; side by side. --
Neck of a capital. (Arch.) See Gorgerin. -- Neck of a cascabel (Gun.),
the part joining the knob to the base of the breech. -- Neck of a gun,
the small part of the piece between the chase and the swell of the
muzzle. -- Neck of a tooth (Anat.), the constriction between the root
and the crown. -- Neck or nothing (Fig.), at all risks. -- Neck verse.
(a) The verse formerly read to entitle a party to the benefit of
clergy, said to be the first verse of the fifty-first Psalm, "Miserere
mei," etc. Sir W. Scott. (b) Hence, a verse or saying, the utterance
of which decides one's fate; a shibboleth.
These words, "bread and cheese," were their neck verse or
shibboleth to distinguish them; all pronouncing "broad and cause,"
being presently put to death. Fuller.
-- Neck yoke. (a) A bar by which the end of the tongue of a wagon or
carriage is suspended from the collars of the harnesses. (b) A device
with projecting arms for carrying things (as buckets of water or sap)
suspended from one's shoulders. -- On the neck of, immediately after;
following closely. "Commiting one sin on the neck of another." W.
Perkins. -- Stiff neck, obstinacy in evil or wrong; inflexible
obstinacy; contumacy. "I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck."
Deut. xxxi. 27. -- To break the neck of, to destroy the main force of.
"What they presume to borrow from her sage and virtuous rules...
breaks the neck of their own cause." Milton.<-- = break the back of
--> -- To harden the neck, to grow obstinate; to be more and more
perverse and rebellious. Neh. ix. 17. -- To tread on the neck of, to
oppress; to tyrannize over.
Neck
Neck, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Necked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Necking.]
(Mech.) To reduce the diameter of (an object) near its end, by making
a groove around it; -- used with down; as, to neck down a shaft. <--
2. v. t. & i. To kiss and caress amorously. n. necking -->
Neckar nut
Neck"ar nut` (?). (Bot.) See Nicker nut.
Neckband
Neck"band` (?), n. A band which goes around the neck; often, the part
at the top of a garment.
Neckcloth
Neck"cloth` (?; 115), n. A piece of any fabric worn around the neck.
Necked
Necked (?), a.
1. Having (such) a neck; -- chiefly used in composition; as,
stiff-necked.
2. (Naut.) Cracked; -- said of a treenail.
Neckerchief
Neck"er*chief (?), n. [For neck kerchief.] A kerchief for the neck; --
called also neck handkerchief.
Necking
Neck"ing, n. Same as Neckmold.
Necklace
Neck"lace (?; 48), n.
1. A string of beads, etc., or any continuous band or chain, worn
around the neck as an ornament.
2. (Naut.) A rope or chain fitted around the masthead to hold hanging
blocks for jibs and stays.
necklaced
neck"laced (?), a. Wearing a necklace; marked as with a necklace.
The hooded and the necklaced snake. Sir W. Jones.
neckland
neck"land (?), n. A neck of land. [Obs.]
necklet
neck"let (?), n. A necklace. E. Anold.
Neckmold, Neckmould
Neck"mold`, Neck"mould` (?), n. (Arch.) A small convex molding
surrounding a column at the jinction of the shaft and capital. Weale.
Neckplate
Neck"plate` (?), n. See Gorget, 1 and 2.
Necktie
Neck"tie` (?), n. A scarf, band, or kerchief of silk, etc., passing
around the neck or collar and tied in front; a bow of silk, etc.,
fastened in front of the neck.
Neckwear
Neck"wear` (?), n. A collective term for cravats, collars, etc.
[Colloq. or trade name]
Neckweed
Neck"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) (a) An American annual weed (veronica
peregrina), with small white flowers and a roundish pod. (b) The hemp;
-- so called as furnishing ropes for hanging criminals. Dr. prior.
Necrobiosis
Nec`ro*bi*o"sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. (Biol. & Med.) The death of a
part by molecular disintegration and without loss of continuity, as in
the processes of degeneration and atrophy.<-- a normal dying out of
cells in a tissue, contrast to necrosis --> Virchow.
Necrobiotic
Nec`ro*bi*ot"ic (?), a. (Biol. & Med.) Of or pertaining to
necrobiosis; as, a necrobiotic metamorphosis.
Necrolatry
Ne*crol"a*try (?), n. [Gr. The worship of the dead; manes worship. H.
Spenser.
Necrolite
Nec"ro*lite (?), n. [Gr. -lite.] (Min.) Same as Necronite.
Necrologic, Necrological
Nec`ro*log"ic (?), Nec`ro*log"ic*al (?), a. [Cf. F. n\'82crologique.]
Of or pertaining to necrology; of the nature of necrology; relating
to, or giving, an account of the dead, or of deaths.
Necrologist
Ne*crol"o*gist (?), n. One who gives an account of deaths.
Necrology
Ne*crol"o*gy (?), n.; pl. Necrologies (#). [Gr. -logy: cf. F.
n\'82crologie. See Necromancy.] An account of deaths, or of the dead;
a register of deaths; a collection of obituary notices.
Necromancer
Nec"ro*man`cer (?), n. One who practices necromancy; a sorcerer; a
wizard.
Necromancy
Nec"ro*man`cy (?), n. [OE. nigromaunce, nigromancie, OF. nigromance,
F. n\'82cromance, n\'82cromancie, from L. necromantia, Gr. necare to
kill, Skr. na() to perish, vanish) + mania. See Mania, and cf.
Internecine, Noxious. The old spelling is due to confusion with L.
niger black. Hence the name black art.] The art of revealing future
events by means of a pretended communication with the dead; the black
art; hence, magic in general; conjuration; enchantment. See Black art.
This palace standeth in the air, By necromancy plac\'8ad there.
Drayton.
Necromantic
Nec`ro*man"tic (?), n. Conjuration. [R.]
With all the necromantics of their art. Young.
Necromantic, Necromantical
Nec`ro*man"tic (?), Nec`ro*man"tic*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to
necromancy; performed by necromancy. -- Nec`ro*man"tic*al*ly, adv.
Necronite
Nec"ro*nite (?), n. [Gr. (Min.) Fetid feldspar, a mineral which, when
struck, exhales a fetid odor.
Necrophagan
Ne*croph"a*gan (?), a. [See Necrophagous.] (Zo\'94l.) Eating carrion.
-- n. (Zo\'94l.) Any species of a tribe (Necrophaga) of beetles which,
in the larval state, feed on carrion; a burying beetle.
Necrophagous
Ne*croph"a*gous (?), a. [Gr. n\'82crophage.] (Zo\'94l.) Of or
pertaining to the Necrophaga; eating carrion. See Necrophagan.
Necrophobia
Nec`ro*pho"bi*a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. An exaggerated fear of death or
horror of dead bodies.
Necrophore
Nec"ro*phore (?), n. [Gr. (Zo\'94l.) Any one of numerous species of
beetles of the genus Necrophorus and allied genera; -- called also
burying beetle, carrion beetle, sexton beetle.
Necropolis
Ne*crop"o*lis (?), n.; pl. Necropolises (#). [NL., fr. Gr. A city of
the dead; a name given by the ancients to their cemeteries, and
sometimes applied to modern burial places; a graveyard.
Necropsy
Nec"rop*sy (?), n. [Gr. n\'82cropsie.] (Med.) A post-mortem
examination or inspection; an autopsy. See Autopsy.
Necroscopic, Necroscopical
Nec`ro*scop"ic (?), Nec`ro*scop"ic*al (?), a. [Gr. -scope.] Or or
relating to post-mortem examinations.
Necrose
Ne*crose" (?), v. t. & i. (Med.) To affect with necrosis; to unergo
necrosis. Quain.
Necrosed
Ne*crosed" (?), a. (Med.) Affected by necrosis; dead; as, a necrosed
bone. Dunglison.
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Page 968
Necrosis
Ne*cro"sis (?), n. [NL., fr. gr.
1. (med.) Mortification or gangrene of bone, or the death of a bone or
portion of a bone in mass, as opposed to its death by molecular
disintegration. See Caries.<-- now used differently : modern def =
"pathologic death of part of a tissue due to irreversible damage" i.e.
not just bone. Contrast to necrobiosis, which is a normal death of
cels in a tissue -->
2. (Bot.) A disease of trees, in which the branches gradually dry up
from the bark to the center.
Necrotic
Ne*crot"ic (?), a. (Med.) Affected with necrosis; as, necrotic tissue;
characterized by, or producing, necrosis; as, a necrotic process.
Nectar
Nec"tar (?), n. [L., fr. gr.
1. (Myth. & Poetic) The drink of the gods (as ambrosia was their
food); hence, any delicious or inspiring beverage.
2. (Bot.) A sweetish secretion of blossoms from which bees make honey.
Nectareal
Nec*ta"re*al (?), a.
1. Nectareous.
2. (Bot.) Of or pertaining to a nectary.
Nectarean
Nec*ta"re*an (?), a. [L. nectareus: cf. F. nectar\'82en.] Resembling
nectar; very sweet and pleasant. "nectarean juice." Talfourd.
Nectared
Nec"tared (?), a. Imbued with nectar; mingled with nectar; abounding
with nectar. Milton.
Nectareous
Nec*ta"re"ous (?), a. Of, pertaining to, containing, or resembling
nectar; delicious; nectarean. Pope. -- Nec*ta"re*ous*ly, adv. --
Nec*ta"re*ous*ness, n.
Nectarial
Nec*ta"ri*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to the nectary of a plant.
Nectaried
Nec"ta*ried (?), a. Having a nectary.
Nectariferous
Nec`tar*if"er*ous (?), a. [L. nectar nectar + -ferous: cf. F.
nectarif\'8are.] (Bot.) Secreting nectar; -- said of blossoms or their
parts.
Nectarine
Nec"tar*ine (?), a. Nectareous. [R.] Milton.
Nectarine
Nec"tar*ine, n. [Cf. F. nectarine. See Nectar.] (Bot.) A
smooth-skinned variety of peach. Spanish nectarine, the plumlike fruit
of the West Indian tree Chrysobalanus Icaco; -- also called cocoa
plum. it is made into a sweet conserve which a largely exported from
Cuba.
Nectarize
Nec"tar*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nectarized (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Nectarizing (?).] To mingle or infuse with nectar; to sweeten. [Obs.]
Cockeram.
Nectarous
Nec"tar*ous (?), a. Nectareous. Milton.
Nectary
Nec"ta*ry (?), n.; pl. Nectaries (#). [From Nectar: cf. F. nectaire.]
(Bot.) That part of a blossom which secretes nectar, usually the base
of the corolla or petals; also, the spur of such flowers as the
larkspur and columbine, whether nectariferous or not. See the
Illustration of Nasturtium.
Nectocalyx
Nec`to*ca"lyx (?), n.; pl. Nectocalyces (#). [NL., fr. gr. (Zo\'94l.)
(a) The swimming bell or umbrella of a jellyfish of medusa. (b) One of
the zooids of certain Siphonophora, having somewhat the form, and the
essential structure, of the bell of a jellyfish, and acting as a
swimming organ.
Nectosac, Nectosack
Nec"to*sac, Nec"to*sack (?), n. [Gr. sac, sack.] (Zo\'94l.) The cavity
of a nectocalyx.
Nectostem
Nec"to*stem (?), n. [Gr. stem.] (Zo\'94l.) That portion of the axis
which bears the nectocalyces in the Siphonophora.
Nedder
Ned"der (?), n. [See Adder.] (Zo\'94l.) An adder. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
Chaucer.
Neddy
Ned"dy (?), n.; pl. Neddies (. (Zo\'94l.) A pet name for a donkey.
Nee
Nee (?), p. p., fem. [F., fr. L. nata, fem. of natus, p.p. of nasci to
be born. See Nation.] Born; -- a term sometimes used in introducing
the name of the family to which a married woman belongs by birth; as,
Madame de Sta\'89l, n\'82e Necker.<-- i.e. maiden name -->
Need
Need (?), n. [OE. need, neod, nede, AS. ne\'a0d, n&ymac;d; akin to D.
nood, G. not, noth, Icel. nau&edh;r, Sw. & Dan. n\'94d, Goth. naups.]
1. A state that requires supply or relief; pressing occasion for
something; necessity; urgent want.
And the city had no need of the sun. Rev. xxi. 23.
I have no need to beg. Shak.
Be governed by your needs, not by your fancy. Jer. Taylor.
2. Want of the means of subsistence; poverty; indigence; destitution.
Chaucer.
Famine is in thy cheeks; Need and oppression starveth in thine
eyes. Shak.
3. That which is needful; anything necessary to be done; (pl.)
necessary things; business. [Obs.] Chaucer.
4. Situation of need; peril; danger. [Obs.] Chaucer. Syn. -- Exigency;
emergency; strait; extremity; necessity; distress; destitution;
poverty; indigence; want; penury. -- Need, Necessity. Necessity is
stronger than need; it places us under positive compulsion. We are
frequently under the necessity of going without that of which we stand
very greatly in need. It is also with the corresponding adjectives;
necessitous circumstances imply the direct pressure of suffering;
needy circumstances, the want of aid or relief.
Need
Need (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Needed; p. pr. & vb. n. Needing.] [See
Need, n. Cf. AS. n to force, Goth. nau.] To be in want of; to have
cause or occasion for; to lack; to require, as supply or relief.
Other creatures all day long Rove idle, unemployed, and less need
rest. Milton.
NOTE: &hand; Wi th an other ve rb, ne ed is used like an auxiliary,
generally in a negative sentence expressing requirement or
obligation, and in this use it undergoes no change of termination
in the third person singular of the present tense. "And the lender
need not fear he shall be injured."
Anacharsis (Trans. ).
Need
Need, v. i. To be wanted; to be necessary. Chaucer.
When we have done it, we have done all that is in our power, and
all that needs. Locke.
Need
Need, adv. Of necessity. See Needs. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Needer
Need"er (?), n. One who needs anything. Shak.
Needful
Need"ful (?), a.
1. Full of need; in need or want; needy; distressing. [Archaic]
Chaucer.
The needful time of trouble. Bk. of Com. Prayer.
2. Necessary for supply or relief; requisite.
All things needful for defense abound. Dryden.
-- Need"ful*ly, adv. -- Need"ful*ness, n.
Needily
Need"i*ly (?), adv. [From Needy.] In a needy condition or manner;
necessarily. Chaucer.
Neediness
Need"i*ness, n. The state or quality of being needy; want; poverty;
indigence.
Needle
Nee"dle (?), n. [OE. nedle, AS. n; akin to D. neald, OS. n\'bedla, G.
nadel, OHG. n\'bedal, n\'bedala, Icel. n\'bel, Sw. n\'86l, Dan. naal,
and also to G. n\'84hen to sew, OHG. n\'bejan, L. nere to spin, Gr.
snare: cf. Gael. & Ir. snathad needle, Gael. snath thread, G. schnur
string, cord.]
1. A small instrument of steel, sharply pointed at one end, with an
eye to receive a thread, -- used in sewing. Chaucer.
NOTE: &hand; In some needles(as for sewing machines) the eye is at
the pointed end, but in ordinary needles it is at the blunt end.
2. See Magnetic needle, under Magnetic.
3. A slender rod or wire used in knitting; a knitting needle; also, a
hooked instrument which carries the thread or twine, and by means of
which knots or loops are formed in the process of netting, knitting,
or crocheting.
4. (Bot.) One of the needle-shaped secondary leaves of pine trees. See
Pinus.
5. Any slender, pointed object, like a needle, as a pointed crystal, a
sharp pinnacle of rock, an obelisk, etc.
Dipping needle. See under Dipping. -- Needle bar, the reciprocating
bar to which the needle of a sewing machine is attached. -- Needle
beam (Arch.), to shoring, the horizontal cross timber which goes
through the wall or a pier, and upon which the weight of the wall
rests, when a building is shored up to allow of alterations in the
lower part. -- Needle furze (Bot.), a prickly leguminous plant of
Western Europe; the petty whin (Genista Anglica). -- Needle gun, a
firearm loaded at the breech with a cartridge carrying its own
fulminate, which is exploded by driving a slender needle, or pin, into
it. -- Needle loom (Weaving), a loom in which the weft thread is
carried through the shed by a long eye-pointed needle instead of by a
shuttle. -- Needle ore (Min.), acicular bismuth; a sulphide of
bismuth, lead, and copper occuring in acicular crystals; -- called
also aikinite. -- Needle shell (Zo\'94l.), a sea urchin. -- Needle
spar (Min.), aragonite. -- Needle telegraph, a telegraph in which the
signals are given by the deflections of a magnetic needle to the right
or to the left of a certain position. -- Sea needle (Zo\'94l.), the
garfish.
Needle
Nee"dle, v. t. To form in the shape of a needle; as, to needle
crystals.
Needle
Nee"dle, v. i. To form needles; to crystallize in the form of needles.
Needlebook
Nee"dle*book` (?), n. A book-shaped needlecase, having leaves of cloth
into which the needles are stuck.
Needlecase
Nee"dle*case` (?), n. A case to keep needles.
Needlefish
Nee"dle*fish` (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) (a) The European great pipefich
(Siphostoma, OR Syngnathus, acus); -- called also earl, and
tanglefish. (b) The garfish.
needleful
nee"dle*ful (?), n.; pl. needlefuls (. As much thread as is used in a
needle at one time.
Needle-pointed
Nee"dle-pointed` (?), a. Pointed as needles.
Needler
Nee"dler (?), n. One who makes or uses needles; also, a dealer in
needles. Piers Plowman.
Needless
Nee"dless (?), a.
1. Having no need. [Obs.]
Weeping into the needless stream. Shak.
2. Not wanted; unnecessary; not requiste; as, needless labor; needless
expenses.
3. Without sufficient cause; groundless; cuseless. "Needless
jealousy." Shak. -- Need"less*ly, adv. -- Need"less*ness, n.
Needlestone
Nee"dle*stone` (?), n. (Min.) Natrolite; -- called also needle
zeolite.
Needlewoman
Nee"dle*wom`an (?), n.; pl. Needlewomen (. A woman who does
needlework; a seamstress.
Needlework
Nee"dle*work` (?), n.
1. Work executed with a needle; sewed work; sewing; embroidery; also,
the business of a seamstress.
2. The combination of timber and plaster making the outside framework
of some houses.
Needly
Nee"dly (?), a. Like a needle or needles; as, a needly horn; a needly
beard. R. D. Blackmore.
Needly
Need"ly (?), adv. [AS. n. See Need.] Necessarily; of necessity. [Obs.]
hak.
Needment
Need"ment (?), n. Something needed or wanted. pl. Outfit; necessary
luggage. [Archaic] Spenser.
Carrying each his needments. Wordsworth.
Needs
Needs (?), adv. [Orig. gen. of need, used as an adverb. Cf. -wards.]
Of necessity; necessarily; indispensably; -- often with must, and
equivalent to of need.
A man must needs love mauger his head. Chaucer.
And he must needs go through Samaria. John iv. 4.
He would needs know the cause of his reulse. Sir J. Davies.
Needscost
Needs"cost` (?), adv. Of necessity. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Needsly
Needs"ly, adv. Of necessity. [Obs.] Drayton.
Needy
Need"y (?), a. [Compar. Needer (?); superl. Neediest.]
1. Distressed by want of the means of living; very por; indigent;
necessitous.
Thou shalt open thy hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to
thy needy in thy land. Deut. xv. 11.
Spare the bluches of needly merit. Dr. T. Dwight.
2. Necessary; requiste. [Obs.]
Corn to make your needy bread. Shak.
Neeld, Neele
Neeld (?), Neele (?), n. [See Needle.] A needle. [Obs.] Shak.
Neelghau
Neel"ghau (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) See Nylghau.
Neem tree
Neem" tree` (?). [Hind. n\'c6m.] (Bot.) An Asiatic name for Melia
Azadirachta, and M. Azedarach. See Margosa.
Neer
Neer (?), adv. & a. Nearer. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Ne'er
Ne'er (? OR ?), adv. a contraction of Never.
Neese
Neese (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Neesed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Neesing.]
[OE. nesen; akin to D. niezen, G. niesen, Icel. hnj&omac;sa.] To
sneeze. [Obs.] [Written also neeze.]
Neesing
Nees"ing (?), n. Sneezing. [Obs.] "By his neesings a light doth
shine." Job xli. 18.
Ne exeat
Ne` ex"e*at (?). [L. ne exeat regno let him not go out of the
kingdom.] (Law) A writ to restrain a person from leaving the country,
or the jurisdiction of the court. The writ was originally applicable
to purposes of state, but is now an ordinary process of courts of
equity, resorted to for the purpose of obtaining bail, or security to
abide a decree. Kent.
Nef
Nef (?; F. , n. [F. See Nave.] The nave of a church. Addison.
Nefand, Nefandous
Ne"fand (?), Ne*fan"dous (?), a. [L. nefandus not to be spoken; ne not
+ fari to speak.] Unfit to speak of; unmentionable; impious;
execrable. [Obs.] "Nefand adominations." Sheldon. "Nefandous high
treason." Cotton Mather.
Nefarious
Ne*fa"ri*ous (?), a. [L. nefarius, fr. nefas crime, wrong; ne not +
fas divine law; akin to fari to speak. See No, adv., and Fate.] Wicked
in the extreme; abominable; iniquitous; atrociously villainous;
execrable; detestably vile. Syn. -- Iniquitous; detestable; horrible;
heinious; atrocious; infamous; impious. See Iniquitous. --
Ne*fa"ri*ous*ly, adv. -- Ne*fa"ri*ous*ness, n.
Nefasch
Ne"fasch (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) Any fish of the genus Distichodus. Several
large species inhabit the Nile.
Nefast
Ne"fast (?), a. [L. nefastus.] Wicked. [R.]
Negation
Ne*ga"tion (?), n. [L. negatio, fr. negare to say no, to deny; ne not
+ the root of aio I say; cf. Gr. ah to say; cf. F. n\'82gation. See
No, adv., and cf. Adage, Deny, Renegade.]
1. The act of denying; assertion of the nonreality or untruthfulness
of anything; declaration that something is not, or has not been, or
will not be; denial; -- the opposite of affirmation.
Our assertions and negations should be yea and nay. Rogers.
2. (Logic) Description or definition by denial, exclusion, or
exception; statement of what a thing is not, or has not, from which
may be inferred what it is or has.
Negative
Neg"a*tive (?), a. [F. n\'82gatif, L. negativus, fr. negare to deny.
See Negation.]
1. Denying; implying, containing, or asserting denial, negation or
refusal; returning the answer no to an inquiry or request; refusing
assent; as, a negative answer; a negative opinion; -- opposed to
affirmative.
If thou wilt confess, Or else be impudently negative. Shak.
Denying me any power of a negative voice. Eikon Basilike.
Something between an affirmative bow and a negative shake. Dickens.
2. Not positive; without affirmative statement or demonstration;
indirect; consisting in the absence of something; privative; as, a
negative argument; a negative morality; negative criticism.
There in another way of denying Christ, ... which is negative, when
we do not acknowledge and confess him. South.
3. (Logic) Asserting absence of connection between a subject and a
predicate; as, a negative proposition.
4. (Photog.) Of or pertaining to a picture upon glass or other
material, in which the lights and shades of the original, and the
relations of right and left, are reversed.
5. (Chem.) Metalloidal; nonmetallic; -- contracted with positive or
basic; as, the nitro group is negative.
NOTE: &hand; Th is wo rd, de rived fr om el ectro-negative, is now
commonly used in a more general sense, when acidiferous is the
intended signification.
Negative crystal. (a) A cavity in a mineral mass, having the form of a
crystal. (b) A crystal which has the power of negative double
refraction. See refraction. -- negative electricity (Elec.), the kind
of electricity which is developed upon resin or ebonite when rubbed,
or which appears at that pole of a voltaic battery which is connected
with the plate most attacked by the exciting liquid; -- formerly
called resinous electricity. Opposed to positive electricity.
Formerly, according to Franklin's theory of a single electric fluid,
negative electricity was supposed to be electricity in a degree below
saturation, or the natural amount for a given body. see Electricity.
-- Negative eyepiece. (Opt.) see under Eyepiece. -- Negative quantity
(Alg.), a quantity preceded by the negative sign, or which stands in
the relation indicated by this sign to some other quantity. See
Negative sign (below). -- Negative rotation, right-handed rotation.
See Right-handed, 3. -- Negative sign, the sign -, or minus (opposed
in signification to +, or plus), indicating that the quantity to which
it is prefixed is to be subtracted from the preceding quantity, or is
to be reckoned from zero or cipher in the opposite direction to that
of quanties having the sign plus either expressed or understood; thus,
in a - b, b is to be substracted from a, or regarded as opposite to it
in value; and -10\'f8 on a thermometer means 10\'f8 below the zero of
the scale.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 969
Negative
Neg"a*tive, n. [Cf. F. n\'82gative.]
1. A proposition by which something is denied or forbidden; a
conception or term formed by prefixing the negative particle to one
which is positive; an opposite or contradictory term or conception.
This is a known rule in divinity, that there is no command that
runs in negatives but couches under it a positive duty. South.
2. A word used in denial or refusal; as, not, no.
NOTE: &hand; In Old England two or more negatives were often joined
together for the sake of emphasis, whereas now such expressions are
considered ungrammatical, being chiefly heard in iliterate speech.
A double negative is now sometimes used as nearly or quite
equivalent to an affirmative.
No wine ne drank she, neither white nor red. Chaucer.
These eyes that never did nor never shall So much as frown on you.
Shak.
3. The refusal or withholding of assents; veto.
If a kind without his kingdom be, in a civil sense, nothing, then
... his negative is as good as nothing. Milton.
4. That side of a question which denies or refuses, or which is taken
by an opposing or denying party; the relation or position of denial or
opposition; as, the question was decided in the negative.
5. (Photog.) A picture upon glass or other material, in which the
light portions of the original are represented in some opaque material
(usually reduced silver), and the dark portions by the uncovered and
transparent or semitransparent ground of the picture.
NOTE: &hand; A ne gative is chiefly used for producing photographs
by means of the sun's light passing through it and acting upon
sensitized paper, thus producing on the paper a positive picture.
<-- now, not sun's light but artificial light is used -->
6. (Elect.) The negative plate of a voltaic or electrolytic cell.
Negative pregnant (Law), a negation which implies an affirmation.
Negative
Neg"a*tive (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Negatived (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Negativing.]
1. To prove unreal or intrue; to disprove.
The omission or infrequency of such recitals does not negative the
existence of miracles. Paley.
2. To reject by vote; to refuse to enact or sanction; as, the Senate
negatived the bill.
3. To neutralize the force of; to counteract.
Negatively
Neg"a*tive*ly, adv.
1. In a negative manner; with or by denial. "He answered negatively."
Boyle.
2. In the form of speech implying the absence of something; -- opposed
to positively.
negatively, by showing wherein it does not consist, and positively,
by showing wherein it does consist. South.
Negatively charged OR electrified (Elec.), having a charge of the kind
of electricity called negative.
Negativeness, Negativity
Neg"a*tive*ness, Neg`a*tiv"i*ty (?), n. The quality or state of being
negative.
Negatory
Neg"a*to*ry (?), a. [L. negatorius: cf. F. n\'82gatorie.] Expressing
denial; belonging to negation; negative. Carlyle.
Neginoth
Neg"i*noth (?), n. pl. [Heb. n&ecr;g\'c6n&omac;th.] (Script.) Stringed
instruments. Dr. W. Smith.
To the chief musician on Neginoth. Ps. iv. 9heading).
Neglect
Neg*lect" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Neglected; p. pr. & vb. n.
Neglecting.] [L. neglectus, p.p. of neglegere (negligere) to
disregard, neglect, the literal sense prob. neing, not to pick up; nec
not, nor (fr. ne not + -que, a particle akin to Goth. -h, -uh, and
prob. to E. who; cf. Goth. nih nor) + L. legere to pick up, gather.
See No, adv., Legend, Who.]
1. Not to attend to with due care or attention; to forbear one's duty
in regard to; to suffer to pass unimproved, unheeded, undone, etc.; to
omit; to disregard; to slight; as, to neglect duty or business; to
neglect to pay debts.
I hope My absence doth neglect no great designs. Shak.
This, my long suffering and my day of grace, Those who neglect and
scorn shall never taste. Milton.
2. To omit to notice; to forbear to treat with attention or respect;
to slight; as, to neglect strangers. Syn. -- To slight; overlook;
disregard; disesteem; contemn. See Slight.
Neglect
Neg*lect", n. [L. neglectus. See Neglect, v.]
1. Omission of proper attention; avoidance or disregard of duty, from
heedlessness, indifference, or willfulness; failure to do, use, or
heed anything; culpable disregard; as, neglect of business, of health,
of economy.
To tell thee sadly, shepherd, without blame, Or our neglect, we
lost her as we came. Milton.
2. Omission if attention or civilities; slight; as, neglect of
strangers.
3. Habitual carelessness; negligence.
Age breeds neglect in all. Denham.
4. The state of being disregarded, slighted, or neglected.
Rescue my poor remains from vile neglect. Prior.
Syn. -- Negligence; inattention; disregard; disesteem; remissness;
indifference. See Negligence. <-- benign neglect. -- A deliberate
policy of minimizing public discussion of a controversial issue [by
the president] on the theory that excessive discussion in itself is
harmful or counterproductive -->
Neglectedness
Neg*lect"ed*ness, n. The state of being neglected.
Neglecter
Neg*lect"er (?), n. One who neglects. South.
Neglectful
Neg*lect"ful (?), a. Full of neglect; heedless; careless; negligent;
inattentive; indifferent. Pope.
A cold and neglectful countenance. Locke.
Though the Romans had no great genius for trade, yet they were not
entirely neglectful of it. Arbuthnot.
-- Neg*lect"ful*ly, adv. -- Neg*lect"ful*ness, n.
Neglectingly
Neg*lect"ing*ly, adv. Carelessly; heedlessly. Shak.
Neglection
Neg*lec"tion (?), n. [L. neglectio.] The state of being negligent;
negligence. [Obs.] Shak.
Neglective
Neg*lect"ive (?), a. Neglectful. [R.] "Neglective of their own
children." Fuller.
Negligee
Neg`li*gee" (?), n. [F. n\'82glig\'82, fr. n\'82gliger to neglect, L.
negligere. See Neglect.] An easy, unceremonious attire; undress; also,
a kind of easy robe or dressing gown worn by women.
Negligence
Neg"li*gence (?), n. [F. n\'82gligence, L. negligentia.] The quality
or state of being negligent; lack of due diligence or care; omission
of duty; habitual neglect; heedlessness.
2. An act or instance of negligence or carelessness.
remarking his beauties, ... I must also point out his negligences
and defects. Blair.
3. (Law) The omission of the care usual under the circumstances, being
convertible with the Roman culpa. A specialist is bound to higher
skill and diligence in his specialty than one who is not a specialist,
and liability for negligence varies acordingly.
Contributory negligence. See under Contributory. Syn. -- Neglect;
inattention; heedlessness; disregard; slight. -- Negligence, Neglect.
These two words are freely interchanged in our older writers; but a
distinction has gradually sprung up between them. As now generally
used, negligence is the habit, and neglect the act, of leaving things
undone or unattended to. We are negligent as a general trait of
character; we are guilty of neglect in particular cases, or in
reference to individuals who had a right to our attentions.
Negligent
Neg"li*gent (?), a. [F. n\'82gligent, L. negligens,p.pr. of negligere.
See Neglect.] Apt to neglect; customarily neglectful; characterized by
negligence; careless; heedless; culpably careless; showing lack of
attention; as, disposed in negligent order. "Be thou negligent of
fame." Swift.
He that thinks he can afford to be negligent is not far from being
poor. Rambler.
Syn. -- Careles; heedless; neglectful; regardless; thoughtless;
indifferent; inattentive; remiss.
Negligently
Neg"li*gent*ly (?), adv. In a negligent manner.
Negligible
Neg"li*gi*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. n\'82gligible, n\'82gligeable.] That may
neglicted, disregarded, or left out of consideration.
Within very negligible limits of error. Sir J. Herschel.
Negoce
Ne*goce" (?), n. [F. n\'82goce. See Negotiate.] Business; occupation.
[Obs.] Bentley.
Negotiability
Ne*go`ti*a*bil"i*ty (? OR ?), n. [Cf. F. n\'82gociabilit\'82.] The
quality of being negotiable or transferable by indorsement.
Negotiable
Ne*go"ti*a*ble (? OR ?), a. [Cf. F. n\'82gotiable. See Negotiate.]
Capable of being negotiated; transferable by assigment or indorsement
to another person; as, a negotiable note or bill of exchange.
Negotiable paper, any commercial paper transferable by sale or
delivery and indorsement, as bills of exchange, drafts, checks, and
promissory notes.
Negotiant
Ne*go"ti*ant (?), n. [L. negotians, prop. p.pr. of negotiari: cf. F.
n\'82gociant.] A negotiator. [R.] Sir W. Raleigh.
Negotiate
Ne*go"ti*ate (?), v. i. [L. negotiatus, p.p. of negotiari, fr.
negotium business; nec not + otium leisure. Cf. Neglect.]
1. To transact business; to carry on trade. [Obs.] Hammond.
2. To treat with another respecting purchase and sale or some business
affair; to bargain or trade; as, to negotiate with a man for the
purchase of goods or a farm.
3. To hold intercourse respecting a treaty, league, or convention; to
treat with, respecting peace or commerce; to conduct communications or
conferences.
He that negotiates between God and man Is God's ambassador. Cowper.
4. To intrigue; to scheme. [Obs.] Bacon.
Negotiate
Ne*go"ti*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Negotiated (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Negotiating (?).]
1. To carry on negotiations concerning; to procure or arrange for by
negotiation; as, to negotiate peace, or an exchange.
Constantinople had negotiated in the isles of the Archipelago ...
the most indispensable supplies. Gibbon.
2. To transfer for a valuable consideration under rules of commercial
law; to sell; to pass.
The notes were not negotiated to them in the usual course of
business or trade. Kent.
Negotiation
Ne*go`ti*a"tion (?), n. [L. negotiatio: cf. F. n\'82gociation.]
1. The act or process of negotiating; a treating with another
respecting sale or purchase. etc.
2. Hence, mercantile business; trading. [Obs.]
Who had lost, with these prizes, forty thousand pounds, after
twenty years' negotiation in the East Indies. Evelyn.
3. The transaction of business between nations; the mutual intercourse
of governments by diplomatic agents, in making treaties, composing
difference, etc.; as, the negotiations at Ghent.
An important negotiation with foreign powers. Macaulay.
Negotiator
Ne*go"ti*a`tor (?), n. [L.: cf. F. n\'82gociateur.] One who
negotiates; a person who treats with others, either as principal or
agent, in respect to purchase and sale, or public compacts.
Negotiatory
Ne*go"ti*a*to*ry (? OR ?), a. Of or pertaining to negotiation.
Negotiatrix
Ne*go`ti*a"trix (?), n. [L.] A woman who negotiates. Miss Edgeworth.
Negotiosity
Ne*go`ti*os"i*ty (?), n. [L. negotiositas.] The state of being busy;
multitude of business. [Obs.]
Negotious
Ne*go"tious (?), a. [L. negotiosus.] Very busy; attentive to business;
active. [R.] D. Rogers.
Negotiousness
Ne*go"tious*ness, n. The state of being busily occupied; activity.
[R.] D. Rogers.
Negress
Ne"gress (?), n.; pl. Negresses (. [Cf. F. n\'82grese, fem. of
n\'82gre a negro. See Negro.] A black woman; a female negro.
Negrita
Ne*gri"ta (?), n. [Sp., blackish, fem. of negrito, dim. of negro
black.] (Zo\'94l.) A blackish fish (Hypoplectrus nigricans), of the
Sea-bass family. It is a native of the West Indies and Florida.
Negritic
Ne*grit"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to negroes; composed of negroes.
Keary.
Negritos
Ne*gri"tos (?), n. pl.; sing Negrito (. [Sp., dim. of negro black.]
(Ethnol.) A degraded Papuan race, inhabiting Luzon and some of the
other east Indian Islands. They resemble negroes, but are smaller in
size. They are mostly nomads.
Negro
Ne"gro (?), n.; pl. Negroes (. [Sp. or Pg. negro, fr. negro black, L.
niger; perh. akin to E. night.] A black man; especially, one of a race
of black or very dark persons who inhabit the greater part of tropical
Africa, and are distinguished by crisped or curly hair, flat noses,
and thick protruding lips; also, any black person of unmixed African
blood, wherever found.<-- 2. A person of dark skin color descended at
least in part from African negroes; an African-American. [U.S. usage,
sometimes considered offensive.] -->
Negro
Ne"gro, a. of or pertaining to negroes; black. Negro bug (Zo\'94l.), a
minute black bug common on the raspberry and blackberry. It produced a
very disagreeable flavor. -- negro corn, the Indian millet or durra;
-- so called in the West Indies. see Durra. McElrath. -- Negro fly
(Zo\'94l.), a black dipterous fly (Psila ros\'91) which, in the larval
state, is injurious to carrots; -- called also carrot fly. -- Negro
head (Com.), Cavendish tobacco. [Cant] McElrath. -- Negro monkey
(Zo\'94l.), the moor monkey.
Negroid
Ne"groid (?), a. [Negro + -oid.]
1. Characteristic of the negro.
2. Resembling the negro or negroes; of or pertaining to those who
resemble the negro.
Negroloid
Ne"gro*loid (?), a. See Negroid.
Negus
Ne"gus (?), n. A beverage made of wine, water, sugar, nutmeg, and
lemon juice; -- so called, it is said, from its first maker, Colonel
Negus.
Nehiloth
Ne"hi*loth (?), n. pl. [Heb.] (Script.) A term supposed to mean,
perforated wind instruments of music, as pipes or flutes. Ps. v.
(heading).
Nehushtan
Ne*hush"tan (?), n. [Heb.] A thing of brass; -- the name under which
the Israelites worshiped the brazen serpent made by Moses. 2 Kings
xviii. 4.
Neif, Neife
Neif, Neife (?), n. [OF. ne\'8bf, na\'8bf, a born serf, fr. L. nativus
born, imparted by birth. See Native.] A woman born in the state of
villeinage; a female serf. Blackstone.
Neif, Neaf
Neif, Neaf (?), n. [Icel. hnefi; akin to Dan. n\'91ve, Sw. n\'84fve.]
The first. [Obs.] "I kiss thy neif." "Give me your neaf." Shak.
Neigh
Neigh (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Neighed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Neighing.]
[OE. neien, AS. hn, prob. of imitative origin; cf. MHG. n, Icel.
hneggja, gneggja, Sw. gn\'84gga. Cf. Nag a horse.]
1. To utter the cry of the horse; to whinny.
2. To scoff or sneer; to jeer. [Obs.]
Neighed at his nakedness. Beau. & Fl.
Neigh
Neigh, n. The cry of a horse; a whinny.
Neighbor
Neigh"bor (?), n. [OE. neighebour, AS. ne\'a0hgeb; ne\'a0h nigh + gebr
a dweller, farmer; akin to D. nabuur, G. nachbar, OHG. n\'behgib. See
Nigh, and Boor.] [Spelt also neighbour.]
1. A person who lives near another; one whose abode is not far off.
Chaucer.
Masters, my good friends, mine honest neighbors. Shak.
2. One who is near in sympathy or confidence.
Buckingham No more shall be the neighbor to my counsel. Shak.
3. One entitled to, or exhibiting, neighborly kindness; hence, one of
the human race; a fellow being.
Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that
fell among the thieves? Luke x. 36.
The gospel allows no such term as "stranger;" makes every man my
neighbor. South.
Neighbor
Neigh"bor, a. Near to another; adjoining; adjacent; next; neighboring.
"The neighbor cities." Jer. l. 40. "The neighbor room." Shak.
neighbor
neigh"bor, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Neighbored (?); p. pr. & vb. n
Neighboring.]
1. To adjoin; to border on; tobe near to.
Leisurely ascending hills that neighbor the shore. Sandys.
2. To associate intimately with. [Obs.] Shak.
Neighbor
Neigh"bor, v. i. To dwell in the vicinity; to be a neighbor, or in the
neighborhood; to be near. [Obs.]
A copse that neighbors by. Shak.
Neighborhood
Neigh"bor*hood (?), n. [Written also neighbourhood.]
1. The quality or condition of being a neighbor; the state of being or
dwelling near; proximity.
Then the prison and the palace were in awful neighborhood. Ld.
Lytton.
2. A place near; vicinity; adjoining district; a region the
inhabitants of which may be counted as neighbors; as, he lives in my
neighborhood.
3. The inhabitants who live in the vicinity of each other; as, the
fire alarmed all the neiborhood.
4. The disposition becoming a neighbor; neighborly kindness or good
will. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor. Syn. -- Vicinity; vicinaty; proximity. --
Neighborhood, Vicinity. Neigborhood is Anglo-Saxon, and vicinity is
Latin. Vicinity does not commonly denote so close a connection as
neighborhood. A neigborhood is a more immediately vicinity. The houses
immediately adjoining a square are in the neighborhood of that square;
those which are somewhat further removed are also in the vicinity of
the square.
Neighboring
Neigh"bor*ing, a. Living or being near; adjacent; as, the neighboring
nations or countries.
Neighborliness
Neigh"bor*li*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being neighborly.
Neighborly
Neigh"bor*ly, a. [Also written neighbourly.] Apropriate to the
relation of neighbors; having frequent or familiar intercourse; kind;
civil; social; friendly. -- adv. In a neigborly manner.
Judge if this be neighborly dealing. Arbuthnot.
Neighborship
Neigh"bor*ship, n. The state of being neighbors. [R.] J. Bailie.
Neishout
Neis"hout (?), n. [From D. niezen to sneeze + hout wood.] (Bot.) The
mahogany-like wood of the South African tree Pteroxylon utile, the
sawdust of which causes violent sneezing (whence the name). Also
called sneezewood.
Neither
Nei"ther (? OR ?; 277), a. [OE. neiter, nother, nouther, AS. n\'bew,
n\'behw\'91; n\'be never, not + hw\'91 whether. The word has followed
the form of either. See No, and Whether, and cf. Neuter, Nor.] Not
either; not the one or the other.
Which of them shall I take? Both? one? or neither? Neither can be
enjoyed, If both remain alive. Shak.
He neither loves, Nor either cares for him. Shak.
Neither
Nei"ther, conj. not either; generally used to introduce the first of
two or more co\'94rdinate clauses of which those that follow begin
with nor.
Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king. 1
Kings xxii. 31.
Hadst thou been firm and fixed in thy dissent, Neither had I
transgressed, nor thou with me. Milton.
When she put it on, she made me vow That I should neither sell, nor
give, nor lose it. Shak.
NOTE: &hand; Ne ither was formerly often used where we now use nor.
"For neither circumcision, neither uncircumcision is anything at
all." Tyndale. "Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it."
Gen. iii. 3. Neither is sometimes used colloquially at the end of a
clause to enforce a foregoing negative (nor, not, no). "He is very
tall, but not too tall neither." Addison. " \'bfI care not for his
thrust' \'bfNo, nor I neither.'" Shak.
Not so neither, by no means. [Obs.] Shak.
Nelumbo
Ne*lum"bo (?), n. [Ceylonese word.] (Bot.) A genus of great water
lilies. The North American species is Nelumbo lutea, the Asiatic is
the sacred lotus, N. speciosa. [Written also Nelumbium.]
_________________________________________________________________
Page 970
Nemaline
Nem"a*line (?), a. [L. nema thread, gr. (Min.) Having the form of
threads; fibrous.
Nemalite
Nem"a*lite (?), n. [Gr. -lite: cf. F. n\'82malite.] (Min.) A fibrous
variety of brucite.
Nematelmia
Nem`a*tel"mi*a (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zo\'94l.) Same as Nemathelminthes.
Nemathecium
Nem`a*the"ci*um (? OR , n.; pl. Nemathecia (#). [NL., fr. gr. (Bot.) A
peculiar kind of fructification on certain red alg\'91, consisting of
an external mass of filaments at length separating into tetraspores.
Nemthelminthes, Nematelminthes
Nem`thel*min"thes (?), Nem`a*tel*min"thes (?), n. pl. [NL. See
Nemato-, and Helminthes.] (Zo\'94l.) An ordr of helminths, including
the Nematoidea and Gordiacea; the roundworms. [Written also
Nematelminthea.]
Nemato-
Nem"a*to- (?). A combining from Gr. nh^ma, nh`matos, a thread.
Nematoblast
Nem"a*to*blast (?), n. [Nemato- + -blast.] (Biol.) A spermatocyte or
spermoblast.
Nematocalyx
Nem`a*to*ca"lyx (?), n.; pl. Nematocalyces (#), E. -calyxes (#). [NL.
See Nemato-, and Calyx.] (Zo\'94l.) One of a peculiar kind of cups, or
calicles, found upon hydroids of the family Plumularid\'91. They
contain nematocysts. See Plumularia.
Nematocera
Nem`a*toc"e*ra (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. (Zo\'94l.) A suborder of
dipterous insects, having long antenn\'91, as the mosquito, gnat, and
crane fly; -- called also Nemocera.
Nematocyst
Nem"a*to*cyst (?), n. [Nemato- + cyst.] (Zo\'94l.) A lasso cell, or
thread cell. See Lasso cell, under Lasso.
Nematode
Nem"a*tode (?), a. & n. (Zo\'94l.) Same as Nematoid.
Nematogene
Nem"a*to*gene (?), n. [Nemato- + root of Gr. (Zo\'94l.) One of the
dimorphic forms of the species of Dicyemata, which produced vermiform
embryos; -- opposed to rhombogene.
Nematognath
Nem`a*tog"nath (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) one of the Nematognathi.
Nematognathi
Nem`a*tog"na*thi (?), n. pl. [NL. See nemato-, and Gnathic.]
(Zo\'94l.) An order of fishes having barbels on the jaws. It includes
the catfishes, or siluroids. See Siluroid.
Nematoid
Nem"a*toid (?), a. [Nemato- + -oid.] (Zo\'94l.) of or pertaining to
the Nematoidea. -- n. One of the Nematoidea. see Illustration in
Appendix.
Nematoidea
Nem`a*toi"de*a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. gr. -oid.] (Zo\'94l.) An order of
worms, having a long, round, and generally smooth body; the
roundworms. they are mostly parasites. Called also Nematodea, and
Nematoda.
NOTE: &hand; Th e trichina, stomach worm, and pinworm of man belong
to this group. See also Vinegar eel, under Vinegar, and Gapeworm.
Nematoidean
Nem`a*toid"e*an (?), a. & n. (Zo\'94l.) Nematoid.
Nematophora
Nem`a*toph"o*ra (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. gr. (Zo\'94l.) Same as
C\'91lenterata.
Nemean
Ne"me*an (?; 277), a. [L. Nemeus, fr. Nemea, Ge. Of or pertaining to
Nemea, in Argolis, where the ancient Greeks celebrated games, and
Hercules killed a lion.
Nemetean
Ne*me"te*an (?), a. (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the Nemertina. --
n. One of the Nemertina.
Nemertes
Ne*mer"tes (?), n. [NL., fr. gr. (Zo\'94l.) A genus of nemertina.
Nemertian
Ne*mer"ti*an (?), a. & n. (Zo\'94l.) Nemertean.
Nemertid
Ne*mer"tid (?), a. & n. (Zo\'94l.) Nemertean.
Nemertida
Ne*mer"ti*da (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zo\'94l.) Nemertina.
Nemertina
Nem`er*ti"na (?), n. pl. [NL. See Nemrtes.] (Zo\'94l.) An order of
helminths usually having a long, slender, smooth, often bright-colored
body, covered with minute vibrating cilia; -- called also Nemertea,
Nemertida, and Rhynchoc\'91la.
NOTE: &hand; Th e mo uth is be neath th e he ad, an d the straight
intestine at the posterior and. They have a very singular long
tubular proboscis, which can be everted from a pore in the front of
the head. Their nervous system and blood vessels are well
developed. Some of the species become over one hundred feet long.
They are mostly marine and seldom parasitic; a few inhabit fresh
water. the two principal divisions are Anopla and Enopla.
Nemesis
Nem"e*sis (?), n. [L., fr. gr. Nomad.] (Class. Myth.) The goddess of
retribution or vengeance; hence, retributive justice personified;
divine vengeance.
This is that ancient doctrine of nemesis who keeps watch in the
universe, and lets no offense go unchastised. Emerson.
Nemophilist
Ne*moph"i*list (?), n. [See Nemophily.] One who is fond of forest or
forest scenery; a haunter of the woods. [R.]
Nemophily
Ne*moph"i*ly (?), n. [Gr. Fondness for forest scenery; love of the
woods. [R.]
Nemoral
Nem"o*ral (?), a. [L. nemoralis, fr. nemus, nemoris, a wood or grove:
cf. F. n\'82moral.] Of or pertaining to a wood or grove. [R.]
Nemorous
Nem"o*rous (?), a. [L. nemorosus.] Woody. [R.]
Paradise itself was but a kind of nemorous temple. Evelyn.
Nempne
Nemp"ne (?), v. t. [AS. nemnan to name or call. See Name, v.] To name
or call. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Nempt
Nempt (?), p. p. of Nempne. Called; named. [Obs.]
Nems
Nems (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) The ichneumon.
Nenia
Ne"ni*a (?), n. [L. nenia, naenia.] A funeral song; an elegy.
Nenuphar
Nen"u*phar (?), n. [F. n\'82nufar: cf. Sp. nen\'a3far, It. nenuf\'a0r;
all fr. Per. n\'c6l.] (Bot.) The great white water lily of Europe; the
Nymph\'91a alba.
Neo-
Ne"o- (. [Gr. New.] A prefix meaning new, recent, late; and in
chemistry designating specifically that variety of metameric
hydrocarbons which, when the name was applied, had been recently
classified, and in which at least one carbon atom in connected
directly with four other carbon atoms; -- contrasted with normal and
iso-; as, neopentane; the neoparaffins. Also used adjectively.
Neocarida
Ne`o*car"i*da (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. gr. (Zo\'94l.) The modern, or
true, Crustacea, as distinguished from the Merostomata.
Neocene
Ne"o*cene (?), a. [Neo- + Gr. (Geol.) More recent than the Eocene,
that is, including both the Miocene and Pliocene divisions of the
Tertiary.
Neo-Christianity
Ne`o-Chris*tian"i*ty (? OR ?), n. [Neo- + Christianity.] Rationalism.
Neocomian
Ne`o*co"mi*an (?), n. [From Neocomium, the Latin name of Neuchatel, in
Switzerland, where these rocks occur.] (Geol.) A term applied to the
lowest deposits of the Cretaceous or chalk formation of Europe, being
the lower greensand.
Neocomian
Ne`o*co"mi*an, a. (Geol.) Of or pertaining to the lower greensand.
Neocosmic
Ne`o*cos"mic (?), a. [Neo- + cosmic.] of or pertaining to the universe
in its present state; specifically, pertaining to the races of men
known to history.
Neocracy
Ne*oc"ra*cy (?), n. [Neo-+ -cracy, as in aristocracy.] Government by
new or inexperienced hands; upstart rule; raw or untried officials.
Neodamode
Ne*od"a*mode (?), n. [Gr. dh`mos, the people + In ancient Sparta, one
of those Helots who were freed by the state in reward for military
service. Milford.
Neodymium
Ne`o*dym"i*um (?), n. [NL. Dee Neo-, and Didymium.] (Chem.) An
elementary substance which forms one of the constituents of didymium.
Symbol Nd. Atomic weight 140.8.
Neog\'91an
Ne`o*g\'91"an (?), a. [Neo- + Gr. (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the
New World, or Western Hemisphere.
Neogamist
Ne*og"a*mist (?), n. [Gr. A person recently married.
Neogen
Ne"o*gen (?), n. [Neo- + -gen.] (Chem.) An alloy resembling silver,
and consisting chiefly of copper, zinc, and nickel, with small
proportions of tin, aluminium, and bismuth. Ure.
Neography
Ne*og"ra*phy (?), n. [Neo- + -graphy.] A new method or system of
writing.
Neo-Latin
Ne`o-Lat"in (?), a. [Neo- + Latin.] Applied to the Romance languages,
as being mostly of Latin origin.
Neolithic
Ne`o*lith"ic (?), a. [Neo- + -lith + -ic.] (Arch\'91ol. & Geol.) Of or
pertaining to, or designating, an era characterized by late remains in
stone.
The Neolithic era includes the latter half of the "Stone age;" the
human relics which belong to it are associated with the remains of
animals not yet extinct. The kitchen middens of Denmark, the lake
dwellings of Switzerland, and the stockaded islands, or "crannogs,"
of the British Isles, belong to this era. Lubbock.
Neologian
Ne`o*lo*gi*an (?), a. Neologic; neological.
Neologian
Ne`o*lo"gi*an, n. A neologist.
Neologianism
Ne`o*lo"gi*an*ism (?), n. Neologism.
Neologic, Neological
Ne`o*log"ic (?), Ne`o*log"ic*al (?), a. [Cf. F. n\'82ologique.] Of or
pertaining to neology; employing new words; of the nature of, or
containing, new words or new doctrines.
A genteel neological dictionary. Chesterfield.
Neologically
Ne`o*log"ic*al*ly, adv. In a neological manner.
Neologism
Ne*ol"o*gism (?), n. [Cf. F. n\'82ologisme.]
1. The introduction of new words, or the use of old words in a new
sense. Mrs. Browning.
2. A new word, phrase, or expression.
3. A new doctrine; specifically, rationalism.
Neologist
Ne*ol"o*gist (?), n. [Cf. F. n\'82ologiste.]
1. One who introduces new word or new senses of old words into a
language.
2. An innovator in any doctrine or system of belif, especially in
theology; one who introduces or holds doctrines subversie of
supernatural or revealed religion; a rationalist, so-called.
Neologistic, Neologistical
Ne*ol`o*gis"tic (?), Ne*ol`o*gis"tic*al (?), a. of or pertaining to
neology; neological.
Neologization
Ne*ol`o*gi*za"tion (?), n. The act or process of neologizing.
Neologize
Ne*ol"o*gize (?), v. i.
1. To introduce or use new words or terms or new uses of old words.
2. To introduce innovations in doctrine, esp. in theological doctrine.
Neology
Ne*ol"o*gy (?), n. [Neo- + -logy: cf. F. n\'82ologie.]
1. The introduction of a new word, or of words or significations, into
a language; as, the present nomenclature of chemistry is a remarkable
instance of neology.
2. A new doctrine; esp. (Theol.), a doctrine at variance with the
received interpretation of revealed truth; a new method of theological
interpretation; rationalism.
Neomenia
Ne`o*me"ni*a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. The time of the new moon; the
beginning of the month in the lunar calendar.
Neomenoidea
Ne`o*me*noi"de*a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Neomenia, a representative
genus (See Neomenia) + -oid.] (Zo\'94l.) A division of vermiform
gastropod mollusks, without a shell, belonging to the Isopleura.
Neomorph
Ne"o*morph (?), n. [Neo- + Gr. (Biol.) A structure, part, or organ
developed independently, that is, not derived from a similar
structure, part, or organ, in a pre existing form.
Neonism
Ne"o*nism (?), n. Neologism.
Neonomian
Ne`o*no"mi*an (?), n. [Neo- + gr. One who advocates adheres to new
laws; esp. one who holds or believes that the gospel is a new law.
Neonomian
Ne`o*no"mi*an, a. Of or pertaining to the Neonomians, or in accordance
with their doctrines.
Neonomianism
Ne`o*no"mi*an*ism (?), n. The doctrines or belief of the neonomians.
Neophyte
Ne"o*phyte (?), n. [L. neophytis, Gr. n\'82ophyte. See New, and Be.]
1. A new convert or proselyte; -- a name given by the early
Christians, and still given by the Roman Catholics, to such as have
recently embraced the Christian faith, and been admitted to baptism,
esp. to converts from heathenism or Judaism.
2. A novice; a tyro; a beginner in anything.
Neoplasia
Ne`o*pla"si*a (?), n. [NL., fr. gr. (Physiol. & Med.) Growth or
development of new material; neoplasty.
Neoplasm
Ne"o*plasm (?), n. [See Neoplasia.] (Physiol. & Med.) A new formation
or tissue, the product of morbid action.
Neoplastic
Ne`o*plas"tic (?), a. (Physiol. & Med.) of or pertaining to neoplasty,
or neoplasia.
Neoplasty
Ne"o*plas`ty (?), n. [See Neoplasia.] (Physiol. & Med.) Restoration of
a part by granulation, adhesive inflammation, or autoplasty.
Neoplatonic
Ne`o*pla"ton"ic (?), a. Of, pertaining to, or resembling, Neoplatonism
or the Neoplatonists.
Neoplatonician
Ne`o*pla`to*ni"cian (?), n. A neoplatonist.
Neoplatonism
Ne`o*pla"to*nism (?), n. [Neo- + Platonism.] A pantheistic eclectic
school of philosophy, of which Plotinus was the chief (A. D. 205-270),
and which sought to reconcile the Platonic and Aristotelian systems
with Oriental theosophy. It tended to mysticism and theurgy, and was
the last product of Greek philosophy.
Neoplatonist
Ne`o*pla"to*nist (?), n. One who held to Neoplatonism; a member of the
Neoplatonic school.
Neorama
Ne`o*ra"ma (? OR ?), n. [Gr. A panorama of the interior of a building,
seen from within.
Neossine
Ne*os"sine (?), n. [Gr. The substance constituting the edible bird's
nest.
Neossology
Ne`os*sol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. -logy.] (Zo\'94l.) The study of young
birds.
Neoteric, Neoterical
Ne`o*ter"ic (?), Ne`o*ter"ic*al (?), a. [L. neotericus, gr. Recent in
origin; modern; new. "Our neoteric verbs." Fitzed. Hall.
Some being ancient, others neoterical. Bacon.
Neoteric
Ne`o*ter"ic, n. One of modern times; a modern.
Neoterically
Neo`ter"ic*al*ly (?), adv. Recently; newly.
Neoterism
Ne*ot"er*ism (?), n. [Gr. An innovation or novelty; a neoteric word or
phrase.
Neoterist
Ne*ot"er*ist, n. One ho introduces new word Fitzed Hall.
Neoterize
Ne*ot"er*ize (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Neoterized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Neoterized.] [Gr. To innovate; to coin or introduce new words.
Freely as we of the nineteenth century neoterize. fized. Hall.
Neotropical
Ne`o*trop"ic*al (?), a. [Neo- + tropical.] (Geog. & Zo\'94l.)
Belonging to, or designating, a region of the earth's surface which
comprises most of South America, the Antilles, and tropical North
America.
Neozoic
Ne`o*zo"ic (?), a. [Neo- + Gr. (Geol.) More recent than the Paleozoic,
-- that is, including the Mesozoic and Cenozoic.
Nep
Nep (?), n. [Abbrev. fr. Nepeta.] (Bot.) Catnip.
Nepa
Ne"pa (?), n. [L. nepa scorpion.] (Zo\'94l.) A genus of aquatic
hemipterus insects. The species feed upon other insects and are noted
for their voracity; -- called also scorpion bug and water scorpion.
Nepaulese
Nep`au*lese" (? OR ?), a. Of or pertaining to Nepaul, a kingdom in
Northern Hindostan. -- n. sing. & pl. A native or natives of
Nepaul.<-- now = Nepalese -->
Nepenthe
Ne*pen"the (?), n. [Fr. Gr. A drug used by the ancients to give relief
from pain and sorrow; -- by some supposed to have been opium or
hasheesh. Hence, anything soothing and comforting.
Lulled with the sweet nepenthe of a court. Pope.
Quaff, O quaff this kind nepenthe. Poe.
Nepenthes
Ne*pen"thes (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. Nepenthe.]
1. Same as Nepenthe. Milton.
2. (Bot.) A genus of climbing plants found in India, Malaya, etc.,
which have the leaves prolonged into a kind of stout tendril
terminating in a pitcherlike appendage, whence the plants are often
called pitcher plants and monkey-cups. There are about thirty species,
of which the best known is Nepenthes distillatoria. See Pitcher plant.
Nepeta
Nep"e*ta (?), n. [L.] (Bot.) A genus of labiate plants, including the
catnip and ground ivy.
Nephalism
Neph"a*lism (?), n. [Gr. n\'82phalisme.] Total abstinence from
spirituous liquor.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 971
Nephalist
Neph"a*list (?), n. [Cf. F. n\'82phaliste.] One who advocates or
practices nephalism.
Nepheline, Nephelite
Neph"e*line (?), Neph"e*lite (?), n. [gr. n\'82ph\'82line. Cf.
Nebula.] (Min.) A mineral occuring at Vesuvius, in glassy agonal
crystals; also elsewhere, in grayish or greenish masses having a
greasy luster, as the variety el\'91olite. It is a silicate of
aluminia, soda, and potash.
Nephelodometer
Neph`e*lo*dom"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. -meter.] (Meteorol.) An instrument
for reckoning the distances or velocities of clouds.
Nephelometer
Neph`e*lom"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. -meter.] An instrument for measuring or
registering the amount of cloudiness.
Nephew
Neph"ew (?; in England , n. [OE. neveu, nevou, nevu, fr. F. neveu, OF.
also, nevou, L. nepos; akin to AS. nefa, D. neef, G. neffe, OHG. nevo,
Icel. nefi a kinsman, gr. nep\'bet grandson, descendant. &root;262.
Cf. Niece, Nepotism.]
1. A grandson or grandchild, or remoter lineal descendant. [Obs.]
But if any widow have children or nephews [Rev. Ver.
grandchildren,]. 1 Tim. v. 4.
If naturalists say true that nephews are often liker to their
grandfathers than to their fathers. Jer. Taylor.
2. A cousin. [Obs.] Shak.
3. The son of a brother or a sister, or of a brother-in-law or
sister-in-law. Chaucer.
Nephilim
Neph"i*lim (?), n. pl. [Heb. n.] Giants. Gen. vi. 4. Num. xiii. 33.
Nephoscope
Neph"o*scope (?), n. [Gr. -scope.] (Meteorol.) An instrument for
observing the clouds and their velocity.
Nephralgia, Nephralgy
Ne*phral"gi*a (?), Ne*phral"gy (?), n. [NL. nephralgia, fr. Gr.
n\'82phralgie.] (Med.) Neuralgia of the kidneys; a disease
characterized by pain in the region of the kidneys without any
structural lesion of the latter. Quain.
Nephridial
Ne*phrid"i*al (?), a. (Zo\'94l. & Anat.) of or pertaining to a
nephridium.
Nephridium
Ne*phrid"i*um (?), n.; pl. Nephridia (#). [NL., fr. gr. kidneys.]
(Zo\'94l. & Anat.) A segmental tubule; one of the tubules of the
primitive urinogenital organs; a segmental organ. See Illust. under
Loeven's larva.
Nephrite
Neph"rite (?; 277), n. [Cf. F. n\'82phrite. See Nephritis.] (Min.) A
hard compact mineral, of a dark green color, formerly worn as a remedy
for diseases of the kidneys, whence its name; kidney stone; a kind of
jade. See Jade.<-- varies in color from white to dark green. It is the
more common and less valuable variety of jade, the other being
jadeite. [MW10] Large deposits are found in Australia. Called also
nephritic stone. -->
Nephritic, Nephritical
Ne*phrit"ic (?), Ne*phrit"ic*al (?), a. [L. nephriticus, gr.
n\'82phr\'82tique. See Nephritis.]
1. Of or pertaining to the kidneys or urinary organs; renal; as, a
nephritic disease.
2. (Med.) (a) Affected with a disease of the kidneys; as, a nephritic
patient. (b) Relieving disorders of the kidneys; affecting the
kidneys; as, a nephritic medicine.
Nephritic stone (Min.), nephrite; jade. See Nephrite.
Nephritic
Ne*phrit"ic, n. (Med.) A medicine adapted to relieve or cure disease
of the kidneys.
Nephritis
Ne*phri"tis (?), n. [L., fr. gr. (Med.) An inflammation of the
kidneys.
nephrolithic
neph`ro*lith"ic (?), a. [Gr. -lith + ic.] (Med.) of or pertaining to
gravel, or renal calculi. Dunglison.
Nephrology
Ne*phrol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. -logy.] A treatise on, or the science which
treats of, the kidneys, and their structure and functions.
Nephrostome
Neph"ro*stome (?), n. [Gr. (Zo\'94l. & Anat.) The funnelshaped opening
of a nephridium into the body cavity.
Nephrotomy
Ne*phrot"o*my (?), n. [Gr. n\'82phrotomie.] (Surg.) Extraction of
stone from the kidney by cutting.
Nepotal
Nep"o*tal (?), a. Of or relating to a nephew.
Nepotic
Ne*pot"ic (?), a. [See nepotism.] Of or pertaining to npotism.
The nepotic ambition of the ruling pontiff. Milman.
Nepotism
Nep"o*tism (?; 277), n. [L. nepus, nepotus, nephew: cf. F.
n\'82potisme. See Nephew.] Undue attachment to relations; favoritism
shown to members of one's family; bestowal of patronage in
consideration of relationship, rather than of merit or of legal claim.
From nepotism Alexander V. was safe; for he was without kindred or
relatives. But there was another perhaps more fatal nepotism, which
turned the tide of popularity against him -- the nepotism of his
order. Milman.
Nepotist
Nep"o*tist (?), n. One who practices nepotism.
Neptune
Nep"tune (?), n. [L. Neptunus.]
1. (Rom. Myth.) The son of Saturn and Ops, the god of the waters,
especially of the sea. He is represented as bearing a trident for a
scepter.
2. (Astron.) The remotest known planet of our system, discovered -- as
a result of the computations of Leverrier, of Paris -- by Galle, of
Berlin, September 23, 1846. Its mean distance from the sun is about
2,775,000,000 miles, and its period of revolution is about 164,78
years. <-- now Pluto is the remotest "planet", but recently (1996) the
question has been raised whether Pluto can be called a "planet", so
this may still be correct! -->
Neptune powder, an explosive containing nitroglycerin, -- used in
blasting. -- Neptune's cup (Zo\'94l.), a very large, cup-shaped,
marine sponge (Thalassema Neptuni).
Neptunian
Nep*tu"ni*an (?), a. [L. Neptunius belonging to Neptune: cf. F.
neptunien.]
1. Of or pertaining to the ocean or sea.
2. (Geol.) Formed by water or aqueous solution; as, Neptunian rocks.
Neptunian races (Ethnol.), the Malay and Polynesian races. --
Neptunian theory (Geol.), the theory of Werner, which referred the
formation of all rocks and strata to the agency of water; -- opposed
to the Plutonic theory.
Neptunian, Neptunist
Nep*tu"ni*an (?), Nep"tu*nist (?), n. [Cf. F. neptinien, neptuniste.]
(Geol.) One who adopts the neptunian theory.
Neptunicentric
Nep*tu`ni*cen"tric (?), a. [Neptune + centric.] (Astron.) As seen from
Neptune, or having Neptune as a center; as, Neptunicentric longitude
or force.
Neptunium
Nep*tu"ni*um (?), n. [NL.] A new metallic element, of doubtful
genuineness and uncertain indentification, said to exist in certain
minerals, as columbite.<-- a radioactive element, produced in reactors
from Pt or U; At. num. = 93, Sym. Np, At. Wt. 237.0482 [MW10] -->
Hermann.
Ner
Ner (?), adv. & a. nearer. [Obs.] See Nerre.
Nere
Nere (?). [Contr. fr. ne were.] Were not. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Nereid
Ne"re*id (?), n.; pl. E. Nereids (#), L. Nereides (#). [L. Nereis,
-idis, gr. n\'bera water, cf. Gr.
1. (Class. Myth.) A sea nymph, one of the daughters of Nereus, who
were attendants upon Neptune, and were represented as riding on sea
horses, sometimes with the human form entire, and sometimes with the
tail of a fish.
2. (Zo\'94l.) Any species of Nereis. The word is sometimes used for
similar annelids of other families.
Nereidian
Ne`re*id"i*an (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) Any annelid resembling Nereis, or of
the family Lycorid\'91 or allied families.
Nereis
Ne"re*is (? OR ?), n.; pl. Nereides (#). [L.]
1. (Class. Myth.) A Nereid. See Nereid.
2. (Zo\'94l.) A genus, including numerous species, of marine
ch\'91topod annelids, having a well-formed head, with two pairs of
eyes, antenn\'91, four pairs of tentacles, and a protrusile pharynx,
armed with a pair of hooked jaws. <-- Illustr. of Nereis (Nereis
Pelagica) -->
Nereites
Ne"re*ites (?), n. pl. (Paleon.) Fossil tracks of annelids.
Nereocystis
Ne`re*o*cys"tis (?), n. [NL. See Nereid, and Cyst.] (Bot.) A genus of
gigantic seaweeds.
NOTE: &hand; Nereocystis Lutkeana, of the North Pacific, has a stem
many fathoms long, terminating in a great vesicle, which is crowned
with a tuft of long leaves. The stem is used by the Alaskans for
fishing lines.
Nerfling
Nerf"ling (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) The id.
Nerita
Ne*ri"ta (?), n. [L., a sort of sea mussel, gr. (Zo\'94l.) A genus of
marine gastropods, mostly natives of warm climates.
Nerite
Ner"ite (? OR ?; 277), n. (Zo\'94l.) Any mollusk of the genus Nerita.
Neritina
Ner`i*ti"na (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) A genus including numerous species of
shells resembling Nerita in form. They mostly inhabit brackish water,
and are often delicately tinted.
Nero
Ne"ro (?), n. A Roman emperor notorius for debauchery and barbarous
cruelty; hence, any profligate and cruel ruler or merciless tyrant. --
Ne*ro"ni*an (#), a.
Neroli
Ner"o*li (?), n. [F. n\'82roli, said to be from the name of an Italian
princess.] (Chem.) An essential oil obtained by distillation from the
flowers of the orange. It has a strong odor, and is used in perfumery,
etc. Neroli camphor (Chem.), a white crystalline waxy substance,
tasteless and odorless, obtained from beroli oil; -- called also
auradin.
Nerre
Ner"re (?), adv. & a. [See Near.] Nearer. [Obs.] [Written also neer,
ner.] Chaucer. Never the neer, never the nearer; no nearer. [Obs.]
Nervate
Nerv"ate (?), a. (Bot.) Nerved.
Nervation
Ner*va"tion (?), n. The arrangement of nerves and veins, especially
those of leaves; neuration.
The outlines of the fronds of ferns, and their nervation, are frail
characters if employed alone for the determination of existing
genera. J. D. Hooker.
Nerve
Nerve (?), n. [OE. nerfe, F. nerf, L. nervus, akin to Gr. needle. Cf.
Neuralgia.]
1. (Anat.) One of the whitish and elastic bundles of fibers, with the
accompanying tissues, which transmit nervous impulses between nerve
centers and various parts of the animal body.
NOTE: &hand; An or dinary ne rve is made up of several bundles of
nerve fibers, each bundle inclosed in a special sheath (the
perineurium) and all bound together in a connective tissue sheath
and framework (the epineurium) containing blood vessels and
lymphatics.
2. A sinew or a tendon. Pope.
3. Physical force or steadiness; muscular power and control;
constitutional vigor.
he led me on to mightiest deeds, Above the nerve of mortal arm.
Milton.
4. Steadiness and firmness of mind; self-command in personal danger,
or under suffering; unshaken courage and endurance; coolness; pluck;
resolution.
5. Audacity; assurance. [Slang]
6. (Bot.) One of the principal fibrovascular bundles or ribs of a
leaf, especially when these extend straight from the base or the
midrib of the leaf.
7. (Zo\'94l.) One of the nervures, or veins, in the wings of insects.
Nerve cell (Anat.), one of the nucleated cells with which nerve fibers
are connected; a ganglion cell.<-- = neuron, a word listed only in a
different sens in W1913 --> -- Nerve fiber (Anat.), one of the fibers
of which nerves are made up. These fibers are either medullated or
nonmedullated. in both kinds the essential part is the translucent
threadlike axis cylinder which is continuous the whole length of the
fiber. -- Nerve stretching (Med.), the operation of stretching a nerve
in order to remedy diseases such as tetanus, which are supposed to be
influenced by the condition of the nerve or its connections.<-- #!?
-->
Nerve
Nerve (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nerved (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Nerving.]
To give strength or vigor to; to supply with force; as, fear nerved
his arm.
Nerved
Nerved (?), a.
1. Having nerves of a special character; as, weak-nerved.
2. (Bot.) Having nerves, or simple and parallel ribs or veins. Gray.
Nerveless
Nerve"less (?), a.
1. Destitute of nerves.
2. Destitute of strength or of courage; wanting vigor; weak;
powerless.
A kingless people for a nerveless state. Byron.
Awaking, all nerveless, from an ugly dream. Hawthorne.
Nervelessness
Nerve"less*ness, n. The state of being nerveless.
Nerve-shaken
Nerve"-shak`en (?), a. Affected by a tremor, or by a nervous disease;
weakened; overcome by some violent influence or sensation; shoked.
Nervimotion
Ner`vi*mo"tion (?), n. [Nerve + motion.] (Physiol.) The movement
caused in the sensory organs by external agents and transmitted to the
muscles by the nerves. Dunglison.
Nervimotor
Ner`vi*mo"tor (?), n. [Nerve + motor.] (Physiol.) Any agent capable of
causing nervimotion. Dunglison.
Nervine
Nerv"ine (?; 277) a. [L. nervinus made of sinews: cf.F. nervin. See
Nerve.] (Med.) Having the quality of acting upon or affecting the
nerves; quieting nervous excitement. -- n. A nervine agent.
Nervomuscular
Ner`vo*mus"cu*lar (?), a. [Nerve + muscular.] (Physiol.) Of or
pertaining to both nerves and muscles; of the nature of nerves and
muscles; as, nervomuscular energy.
Nervose
Ner*vose" (?), a. [See Nervous.] (Bot.) Same as Nerved.
Nervosity
Ner*vos"i*ty (?), n. [L. nervositas strength.] Nervousness. [R.]
Nervous
Nerv"ous (?), a. [L. nervosus sinewy, vigorous: cf. F. nerveux. See
Nerve.]
1. possessing nerve; sinewy; strong; vigorous. "Nervous arms." Pope.
2. Possessing or manifesting vigor of mind; characterized by strength
in sentiment or style; forcible; spirited; as, a nervous writer.
3. Of or pertaining to the nerves; seated in the nerves; as, nervous
excitement; a nervous fever.
4. Having the nerves weak, diseased, or easily excited; subject to, or
suffering from, undue excitement of the nerves; easily agitated or
annoyed.
Poor, weak, nervous creatures. Cheyne.
5. Sensitive; excitable; timid. <-- This corresponds to two senses in
MW10: easily excited = jumpy; timid, apprehensive -->
Our aristocratic class does not firmly protest against the unfair
treatment of Irish Catholics, because it is nervous about the land.
M. Arnold.
Nervous fever (Med.), a low form of fever characterized by great
disturbance of the nervous system, as evinced by delirium, or stupor,
disordered sensibility, etc. -- Nervous system (Anat.), the
specialized co\'94rdinating apparatus which endows animals with
sensation and volition. In vertebrates it is often divided into three
systems: the central, brain and spinal cord; the peripheral, cranial
and spinal nerves; and the sympathetic. See Brain, Nerve, Spinal cord,
under Spinal, and Sympathetic system, under Sympathetic, and Illust.
in Appendix. -- Nervous temperament, a condition of body characterized
by a general predominance of mental manifestations. Mayne.
Nervously
Nerv"ous*ly, adv. In a nervous manner.
Nervousness
Nerv"ous*ness, n. State or quality of being nervous.
Nervure
Nerv"ure (?), n. [F. See Nerve.]
1. (Bot.) One of the nerves of leaves.
2. (Zo\'94l.) One of the chitinous supports, or veins, in the wings of
incests.
Nervy
Nerv"y (?), a. [Compar. Nervier (?); superl. - iest.] Strong; sinewy.
"His nervy knees." Keats.
Nescience
Nes"cience (?), n. [L. nescientia, fr. nesciens, p.pr. of nescire not
to know; ne not + scire to know.] Want of knowledge; ignorance;
agnosticism.
God fetched it about for me, in that absence and nescience of mine.
Bp. Hall.
Nese
Nese (?), n. Nose. [Obs.] Piers plowman.
Nesh
Nesh (?), a. [AS. hnesc, hn\'91sc, akin to Goth. hnasqus.] Soft;
tender; delicate. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
Ness
Ness (?), n. [AS. n\'91s, ns; akin to Icel. nes, Sw. n\'84s, Dan.
n\'91s, and E. nose. &root; 261. See Nose.] A promontory; a cape; a
headland. Hakluyt.
NOTE: &hand; Ne ss is fr equently used as a suffix in the names of
places and promontories; as, Sheerness.
-ness
-ness (. [AS. -ness, -nyss, -nys; akin to OS. -nissi, nussi, D. -nis,
OHG. -nissa, -nass\'c6, -nuss\'c6, G. -nis, -niss, Goth. -inasus.] A
suffix used to form abstract nouns expressive of quality or state; as,
goodness, greatness.
Nesslerize
Ness"ler*ize (?), v. t. [From Nessler, the chemist.] (Chem.) To treat
or test, as a liquid, with a solution of mercuric iodide in potassium
iodide and potassium hydroxide, which is called Nessler's solution or
Nessler's test, and is used to detect the presence of ammonia.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 972
Nest
Nest (?), n. [AS. nest; akin to D. & G. nest, Sw. n\'84ste, L. nidus,
for nisdus, Skr. n\'c6 resting place, nest; cf. Lith. lizdas, Arm.
neiz, Gael. & Ir. nead. Prob. from the particle ni down, Skr. ni + the
root of E. sit, and thus orig., a place to sit down in. &root; 264.
See Nether, and Sit, and cf. Eyas, Nidification, Nye.]
1. The bed or receptacle prepared by a fowl for holding her eggs and
for hatching and rearing her young.
The birds of the air have nests. Matt. viii. 20.
2. Hence: the place in which the eggs of other animals, as insects,
turtles, etc., are laid and hatched; a snug place in which young
animals are reared. Bentley.
3. A snug, comfortable, or cozy residence or situation; a retreat, or
place of habitual resort; hence, those who occupy a nest, frequent a
haunt, or are associated in the same pursuit; as, a nest of traitors;
a nest of bugs.
A little cottage, like some poor man's nest. Spenser.
4. (Geol.) An aggregated mass of any ore or mineral, in an isolated
state, within a rock.
5. A collection of boxes, cases, or the like, of graduated size, each
put within the one next larger.
6. (Mech.) A compact group of pulleys, gears, springs, etc., working
together or collectively.
Nest egg, an egg left in the nest to prevent the hen from forsaking
it, and to induce her to lay more in the same place; hence,
figuratively, something laid up as the beginning of a fund or
collection. Hudibras.
Nest
Nest (?), v. i. To build and occupy a nest.
The king of birds nested within his leaves. Howell.
Nest
Nest, v. t. To put into a nest; to form a nest for.
From him who nested himself into the chief power. South.
Nestful
Nest"ful (?), n.; pl. Nestfuls (. As much or many as will fill a nest.
Nestle
Nes"tle (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Nestled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Nestling
(?).] [AS. nestlian.]
1. To make and occupy a nest; to nest. [Obs.]
The kingfisher ... nestles in hollow banks. L'Estrange.
2. To lie close and snug, as a bird in her nest; to cuddle up; to
settle, as in a nest; to harbor; to take shelter.
Their purpose was to fortify in some strong place of the wild
country, and there nestle till succors came. Bacon.
3. To move about in one's place, like a bird when shaping the interior
of her nest or a young bird getting close to the parent; as, a child
nestles.
Nestle
Nes"tle, v. t. To house, as in a nest.
2. To cherish, as a bird her young.
Nestling
Nes"tling (?). n.
1. A young bird which has not abandoned the nest. Piers Plowman.
2. A nest; a receptacle. [Obs.] Bacon.
Nestling
Nes"tling, a. Newly hatched; being yet in the nest.
Nestor
Nes"tor (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) A genus of parrots with gray heads. of New
Zeland and papua, allied to the cockatoos. See Kaka.
Nestorian
Nes*to"ri*an (?), n. (Eccl. Hist.) An adherent of Nestorius, patriarch
of Constantinople to the fifth century, who has condemned as a heretic
for maintaining that the divine and the human natures were not merged
into one nature in Christ (who was God in man), and, hence, that it
was improper to call Mary the mother of Christ; also, one of the sect
established by the followers of Nestorius in Persia, india, and other
Oriental countries, and still in existence. opposed to Eutychian.
Nestorian
Nes*to"ri*an, a.
1. Of or relating to the Nestorians.
2. relating to, or resembling, Nestor, the aged warior and counselor
mentioned by Homer; hence, wise; experienced; aged; as, Nestorian
caution.
Nestorianism
Nes*to"ri*an*ism (?), n. The doctrines of the nestorian Christians, or
of Nestorius.
Ney
Ney (?), n. [AS. net; akin to D. net, OS. net, netti, OHG. nezzi, G.
netz, Icel. & Dan. net, Sw. n\'84t, Goth. nati; of uncertain origin.]
1. A fabric of twine, thread, or the like, wrought or woven into
meshes, and used for catching fish, birds, butterflies, etc.
2. Anything designed or fitted to entrap or catch; a snare; any device
for catching and holding.
A man that flattereth his neighbor spreadeth a net for his feet.
Prov. xxix. 5.
In the church's net there are fishes good or bad. Jer. Taylor.
3. Anything wrought or woven in meshes; as, a net for the hair; a
mosquito net; a tennis net.
4. (Geom.) A figure made up of a large number of straight lines or
curves, which are connected at certain points and related to each
other by some specified law.
Net
Net, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Netted (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Netting.]
1. To make into a net; to make n the style of network; as, to net
silk.
2. To take in a net; to capture by stratagem or wile.
And now I am here, netted and in the toils. Sir W. Scott.
3. To inclose or cover with a net; as, to net a tree.
Net
Net, v. i. To form network or netting; to knit.
Net
Net, a. [F. See Neat clean.]
1. Without spot; pure; shining. [Obs.]
Her breast all naked as net ivory. Spenser.
2. Free from extraneous substances; pure; unadulterated; neat; as, net
wine, etc. [R.]
3. Not including superfluous, incidental, or foreign matter, as boxes,
coverings, wraps, etc.; free from charges, deductions, etc; as, net
profit; net income; net weight, etc. [Less properly written nett.]
Net tonnage (Naut.), the tonnage of a vessel after a deduction from
the gross tonnage has been made, to allow space for crew, machinery,
etc.
Net
Net, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Netted; p. pr. & vb. n. Netting.] To produce
or gain as clear profit; as, he netted a thousand dollars by the
operation.
Netfish
Net"fish` (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) An astrophyton.
Nether
Neth"er (?), a. [OE. nethere, neithere, AS. ni, fr. the adv. ni
downward; akin to neo below, beneath, D. neder down, G. nieder, Sw.
nedre below, nether, a. & adv., and also to Skr. ni down. &root;201.
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.
Neithermore
Neith"er*more` (?), a. Lower, nether. [Obs.] Holland.
Nethermost
Neth"er*most` (?), a. [AS. ni(Nether, and cf. Aftermost.] Lowest; as,
the nethermost abyss. Milton.
Nethinim
Neth"i*nim (?), n. pl. [Heb., pl. of n\'beth\'c6n given, granted, a
slave of the temple, fr. n\'bethan to give.] (jewish Antiq.) Servants
of the priests and Levites in the menial services about the tabernacle
and temple.
Netify
Net"i*fy (?), v. t. [Net, a. + -fy.] To render neat; to clean; to put
in order. [R.] Chapman.
Netting
Net"ting (?), n. [From Net, n.]
1. The act or process of making nets or network, or of forming meshes,
as for fancywork, fishing nets, etc.
2. A piece of network; any fabric, made of cords, threads, wires, or
the like, crossing one another with open spaces between.
3. (Naut.) A network of ropes used for various purposes, as for
holding the hammocks when not in use, also for stowing sails, and for
hoisting from the gunwale to the rigging to hinder an enemy from
boarding. Totten.
Netting needle, a kind of slender shuttle used in netting. See Needle,
n., 3.
Netting
Net"ting, n. Urine. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
Nettle
Net"tle (?), n. [AS. netele; akin to D. netel, G. nessel, OHG.
nezz\'8bla, nazza, Dan. nelde, n\'84lde, Sw. n\'84ssla; cf, Lith.
notere.] (Bot.) A plant of the genus Urtica, covered with minute sharp
hairs containing a poison that produces a stinging sensation. Urtica
gracitis is common in the Northern, and U. cham\'91dryoides in the
Southern, United States. the common European species, U. urens and U.
dioica, are also found in the Eastern united States. U. pilulifera is
the Roman nettle of England.
NOTE: &hand; Th e term nettle has been given to many plants related
to, or to some way resembling, the true nettle; as:
Australian nettle, a stinging tree or shrub of the genus Laportea (as
L. gigas and L. moroides); -- also called nettle tree. -- Bee nettle,
Hemp nettle, a species of Galeopsis. See under Hemp. -- Blind nettle,
Dead nettle, a harmless species of Lamium. -- False nettle
(B\'91hmeria cylindrica), a plant common in the United States, and
related to the true nettles. -- Hedge nettle, a species of Stachys.
See under Hedge. -- Horse nettle (Solanum Carolinense). See under
Horse. -- nettle tree. (a) Same as Hackberry. (b) See Australian
nettle (above). -- Spurge nettle, a stinging American herb of the
Spurge family (Jatropha urens). -- Wood nettle, a plant (Laportea
Canadensis) which stings severely, and is related to the true nettles.
Nettle cloth, a kind of thick cotton stuff, japanned, and used as a
substitute for leather for various purposes. -- Nettle rash (Med.), an
eruptive disease resembling the effects of whipping with nettles. --
Sea nettle (Zo\'94l.), a medusa.
Nettle
Net"tle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nettled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Nettling
(?).] To fret or sting; to irritate or vex; to cause to experience
sensations of displeasure or uneasiness not amounting to violent
anger.
The princes were so nettled at the scandal of this affront, that
every man took it to himself. L'Estrange.
Nettlebird
Net"tle*bird` (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) the European whitethroat. [Prov.
Eng.]
Nettler
Net"tler (?), n. One who nettles. [R.] Milton.
Nettles
Net"tles (?), n. pl. [See Knittle.] (Naut.) (a) The halves of yarns in
the unlaid end of a rope twisted for pointing or grafting. (b) Small
lines used to sling hammocks under the deck beams. (c) Reef points.
Nettling
Net"tling (?), n. (Rope Making) (a) A process (resembling splicing) by
which two ropes are jointed end so as to form one rope. (b) The
process of tying together the ends of yarns in pairs, to prevent
tangling.
Nettling
Net"tling, p. pr. & a. Stinging; irritating. Nettling cell (Zo\'94l.),
a lasso cell. See under Lasso.
Netty
Net"ty (?), a. Like a net, or network; netted. [R.]
Net-veined
Net"-veined` (?), a. Having veins, or nerves, reticulated or netted;
as, a net-veined wing or leaf.
Network
Net"work` (?), n.
1. A fabric of threads, cords, or wires crossing each other at certain
intervals, and knotted or secured at the crossings, thus leaving
spaces or meshes between them.
2. Any system of lines or channels interlacing or crossing like the
fabric of a net; as, a network of veins; a network of railroads.
Neurad
Neu"rad (?), adv. [Gr. ad to.] (Anat.) Toward the neural side; --
opposed to h\'91mad.
Neural
Neu"ral (?), a. [Gr. (Anat. & Zo\'94l.) relating to the nerves or
nervous system; taining to, situated in the region of, or on the side
with, the neural, or cerebro-spinal, axis; -- opposed to hemal. As
applied to vertebrates, neural is the same as dorsal; as applied to
invertebrates it is usually the same as ventral. Cf. Hemal. Neural
arch (Anat.), the cartilaginous or bony arch on the dorsal side of the
centrum of the vertebra in a segment of the spinal skeleton, usually
inclosing a segment of the spinal cord.
Neuralgia
Neu*ral"gi*a (?), n. [NL., from gr. nerve.] (Med.) A disease, the
chief symptom of which is a very acute pain, exacerbating or
intermitting, which follows the course of a nervous branch, extends to
its ramifications, and seems therefore to be seated in the nerve. It
seems to be independent of any structural lesion. Dunglison.
Neuralgic
Neu*ral"gic (?), a. of or pertaining to, or having the character of,
neuralgia; as, a neuralgic headache.
Neuralgy
Neu*ral"gy (?), n. Neuralgia.
Neurapophysial
Neu*rap`o*phys"i*al (?), a. (Anat.) of or pertaining to a
neurapophysis.
Neurapophysis
Neu`ra*poph"y*sis (?), n.; pl. Neurapophyses (#). [NL. See Neuro-, and
Apophysis.] (Anat.) (a) One of the two lateral processes or elements
which form the neural arch. (b) The dorsal process of the neural arch;
neural spine; spinous process.
Neurasthenia
Neu*ras`the*ni"a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.) A condition of nervous
debility supposed to be dependent upon impairment in the functions of
the spinal cord.
Neuration
Neu*ra"tion (?), n. (Biol.) The arrangement or distribution of nerves,
as in the leaves of a plant or the wings of an insect; nervation.
Neuraxis
Neu*rax"is (?), n. [Neuro- + axis.] (Anat.) See Axis cylinder, under
Axis.
Neurenteric
Neu`ren*ter"ic (?), a. [Neuro- + enteric.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to
both the neuron and the enteron; as, the neurenteric canal, which, in
embroys of many vertebrates, connects the medullary tube and the
primitive intestine. See Illust. of Ectoderm.
Neuridin
Neu"ri*din (?), n. [From Neurine.] (Physiol. Chem.) a nontoxic base,
C5H14N2, found in the putrescent matters of flesh, fish, decaying
cheese, etc.
Neurilemma
Neu`ri*lem"ma (?), n. [NL., from gr. (Anat.) (a) The delicate outer
sheath of a nerve fiber; the primitive sheath. (b) The perineurium.
Neurility
Neu*ril"i*ty (?), n. [Gr. (Physiol.) The special properties and
functions of the nerves; that capacity for transmitting a stimulus
which belongs to nerves. G. H. Lewes.
Neurine
Neu"rine (? OR ?), n. [Gr. (Physiol. Chem.) A poisonous organic base
(a ptomaine) formed in the decomposition of protagon with boiling
baryta water, and in the putrefraction of proteid matter. It was for a
long time considered identical with choline, a crystalline body
originally obtained from bile. Chemically, however, choline is
oxyethyl-trimethyl-ammonium hydroxide, while neurine is
vinyl-trimethyl-ammonium hydroxide. [Written also neurin.]
Neurism
Neu"rism (?), n. [Gr. (Biol.) Nerve force. See Vital force, under
Vital.
Neuritis
Neu*ri"tis (?), n. [NL., fr. gr. -itis.] (Med.) Inflammation of a
nerve.
Neuro-
Neu"ro- (. [Gr. (Anat.) A combining denoting a nerve, of OR pertaining
to a nerve OR the nervous system.
Neuro-central
Neu`ro-cen"tral (?), a. [Neuro- + central.] (Anat.) Between the neural
arch and the centrum of a vertebra; as, the neurocentral suture.
Huxley.
Neurochord, n., Neurochordal
Neu"ro*chord (?), n., Neu`ro*chor"dal (, a. (Zo\'94l.) See Neurocord.
Neurocity
Neu*roc"i*ty (?), n. (Physiol.) Nerve force.
Neuroc\'91le
Neu"ro*c\'91le (?), n. [Neuro- + Ge. (Anat.) The central canal and
ventricles of the spinal cord and brain; the myelencephalic cavity.
Neurocord
Neu"ro*cord (?), n. [Neuro- + cord.] (Zo\'94l.) A cordlike organ
composed of elastic fibers situated above the ventral nervous cord of
annelids, like the earthworm. -- Neu`ro*cor"dal (#), a.
Neuro-epidermal
Neu`ro-ep`i*der"mal (?), a. [Neuro- + epidermal.] (Anat.) Pertaining
to, or giving rise to, the central nervous system and epiderms; as,
the neuroepidermal, or epiblastic, layer of the blastoderm.
Neuroglia
Neu*rog"li*a (?), n. [NL., fr. gr. (Anat.) The delicate connective
tissue framework which supports the nervous matter and blood vessels
of the brain and spinal cord.
Neurography
Neu*rog"ra*phy (?), n. [Neuro- + -graphy.] (Anat.) A description of
the nerves. Dunglison.
Neurokeratin
Neu`ro*ker"a*tin (?), n. [Neuro- + keratin.] (Physiol. Chem.) A
substance, resembling keratin, present in nerve tissue, as in the
sheath of the axis cylinder of medullated nerve fibers. Like keratin
it resists the action of most chemical agents, and by decomposition
with sulphuric acid yields leucin and tyrosin.
Neurological
Neu`ro*log"ic*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to neurolgy.
Neurologist
Neu*rol"o*gist (?), n. One who is versed in neurology; also, one
skilled in the treatment of nervous diseases.
Neurology
Neu*rol"o*gy (?), n. [Neuro- + -logy.] The branch of science which
treats of the nervous system.
Neuroma
Neu*ro"ma (?), n. [NL. See Neuro-, and -oma.] (Med.) A tumor developed
on, or connected with, a nerve, esp. one consisting of new-formed
nerve fibers.
Neuromere
Neu"ro*mere (?), n. [Neuro- + -mere.] (Anat.) A metameric segment of
the cerebro-spinal nervous system.
Neuromuscular
Neu`ro*mus"cu*lar (?), a. [Neuro- + muscular.] (Physiol.)
Nervomuscular.
Neuron
Neu"ron (?), n.; pl. Neura (#). [NL., from Gr. ney^ron nerve.] (Anat.)
The brain and spinal cord; the cerebro-spinal axis; myelencephalon.<--
Now = a nerve cell (older def not included in MW10 --> B. G. Wilder.
Neuropathic
Neu`ro*path"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to neuropathy; of the nature
of, or suffering from, nervous disease.
Neuropathy
Neu*rop"a*thy (?), n. [Neuro- + Gr. (Med.) An affection of the nervous
system or of a nerve.
Neuropod
Neu"ro*pod (?), n. [Neuro- + -pod.] (Zo\'94l.) A neuropodous animal.
G. Rolleston.
Neuropodium
Neu`ro*po"di*um (?), n. [NL., from Gr. (Zo\'94l.) The ventral lobe or
branch of a parapodium.
Neuropodous
Neu*rop"o*dous (?), a. [Neuro- + -pod + -ous.] (Zo\'94l.) Having the
limbs on, or directed toward, the neural side, as in most
invertebrates; -- opposed to h\'91mapodous. G. Rolleston.
Neuropore
Neu"ro*pore (?), n. [Neuro- + pore.] (Anat.) An opening at either end
of the embryonic neural canal.
Neuropter
Neu*rop"ter (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) One of the Neuroptera.
Neuroptera
Neu*rop"te*ra (?), n. pl. [Nl., fr. gr. (Zo\'94l.) An order of hexapod
insects having two pairs of large, membranous, net-veined wings. The
mouth organs are adapted for chewing. They feed upon other insects,
and undergo a complete metamorphosis. The ant-lion, hellgamite, and
lacewing fly are examples. Formerly, the name was given to a much more
extensive group, including the true Neuroptera and the
Pseudoneuroptera.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 973
Neropteral
Nerop"ter*al (?), a. (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the Neuroptera.
Neuropteran
Neu*rop"ter*an (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) A neuropter.
Neuropteris
Neu*rop"te*ris (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.) An extensive genus of
fossil ferns, of which species have been found from the Devonian to
the Triassic formation.
Neuropterous
Neu*rop"ter*ous (?), a. (Zo\'94l.) Neuropteral.
Neurosensiferous
Neu`ro*sen*sif"er*ous (?), a. [neuro- + sensiferous.] (Zo\'94l.)
Pertaining to, or forming, both nerves and sense organs.
Neurosis
Neu*ro"sis (?), n.; pl. Neuroses (#). [NL., fr. gr. (Med.) A
functional nervous affection or disease, that is, a disease of the
nerves without any appreciable change of nerve structure.<--
(psychiatry) a mental or emotional disorder that affects only part of
the personality, and involves less distorted perceptions of reality
than a psychosis. It includes certain anxieties and phobias. [MW10]
-->
Neuroskeletal
Neu`ro*skel"e*tal (?), a. Of or pertaining to the neuroskeleton. [R.]
Owen.
Neuroskeleton
Neu`ro*skel"e*ton (?), n. [Neuro- + skeleton.] (Anat.) The deep-seated
parts of the vertebrate skeleton which are relation with the nervous
axis and locomation. Owen.
Neurospast
Neu"ro*spast (?), n. [L. neurospaston, Gr. A puppet. [R.] Dr. H. More.
Neurotic
Neu*rot"ic (?), a. [Gr.
1. Of or pertaining to the nerves; seated in the nerves; nervous; as,
a neurotic disease.
2. Uself in disorders of, or affecting, the nerves.
Neurotic
Neu*rot"ic, n.
1. A disease seated in the nerves.
2. (Med.) Any toxic agent whose action is mainly directed to the great
nerve centers.
NOTE: &hand; Ne urotic as a class include all those poisons whose
mains action is upon the brain and spinal cord. They may be divided
three orders: (a) Cerebral neurotics, or those which affect the
brain only. (b) Spinal neurotics, or tetanics, those which affect
the spinal cord. (c) Cerebro-spinal neurotics, or those which
affect both brain and spinal cord.
Neurotome
Neu"ro*tome (?), n. [See Neurotomy.]
1. An instrument for cutting or dissecting nerves.
2. (Anat.) A neuromere.
Neurotomical
Neu`ro*tom"ic*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to neurotomy.
Neurotomist
Neu*rot"o*mist (?), n. One who skilled in or practices neurotomy.
Neurotomy
Neu*rot"o*my (?), n. [Neuro- + Gr.
1. The dissection, or anatomy, of the nervous system.
2. (Med.) The division of a nerve, for the relief of neuralgia, or for
other purposes. Dunglison.
Neurula
Neu"ru*la (?), n. [NL., dim. of Gr. (Zo\'94l.) An embryo or certain
invertebrates in the stage when the primitive band is first developed.
Neuter
Neu"ter (?), a. [L., fr. ne not + uter whether; akin to E. whether.
See No, and Whether, and cf. Neither.]
1. Neither the one thing nor the other; on neither side; impartial;
neutral. [Archaic]
In all our undertakings God will be either our friend or our enemy;
for Providence never stands neuter. South.
2. (Gram.) (a) 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. (b) Intransitive; as, a neuter verb.
3. (Biol.) Having no generative organs, or imperfectly developed ones;
sexless. See Neuter, n., 3.
Neuter
Neu"ter, n.
1. A person who takes no part in a contest; one who is either
indifferent to a cause or forbears to interfere; a neutral.
The world's no neuter; it will wound or save. Young.
2. (Gram.) (a) A noun of the neuter gender; any one of those words
which have the terminations usually found in neuter words. (b) An
intransitive verb.
3. (Biol.) 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; esp.,
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.
Neutral
Neu"tral (?), a. [L. neutralis, fr. neuter. See Neuter.]
1. Not engaged on either side; not taking part with or assisting
either of two or more contending parties; neuter; indifferent.
The heart can not possibly remain neutral, but constantly takes
part one way or the other. Shaftesbury.
2. Neither good nor bad; of medium quality; middling; not decided or
pronounced.
Some things good, and some things ill, do seem, And neutral some,
in her fantastic eye. Sir J. Davies.
3. (Biol.) Neuter. See Neuter, a., 3.
4. (Chem.) Having neither acid nor basic properties; unable to turn
red litmus blue or blue litmus red; -- said of certain salts or other
compounds. Contrasted with acid, and alkaline.
Neutral axis, Neutral surface (Mech.), that line or plane, in a beam
under transverse pressure, at which the fibers are neither stretched
nor compressed, or where the longitudinal stress is zero. See Axis. --
Neutral equilibrium (Mech.), the kind of equilibrium of a body so
placed that when moved slighty it neither tends to return to its
former position not depart more widely from it, as a perfect sphere or
cylinder on a horizontal plane. -- Neutral salt (Chem.), a salt formed
by the complete replacement of the hydrogen in an acid or base; in the
former case by a positive or basic, in the latter by a negative or
acid, element or radical. -- Neutral tint, a bluish gray pigment, used
in water colors, made by mixing indigo or other blue some warm color.
the shades vary greatly. -- Neutral vowel, the vowel element having an
obscure and indefinite quality, such as is commonly taken by the vowel
in many unaccented syllables. It is regarded by some as identical with
the &ucr; in up, and is called also the natural vowel, as unformed by
art and effort. See Guide to Pronunciation, § 17.<-- also called the
indefinite vowel, and also represented in phonetic transcriptions by
the schwa &schwa; -->
Neutral
Neu"tral (?), n. A person or a nation that takes no part in a contest
between others; one who is neutral.
The neutral, as far as commerce extends, becomes a party in the
war. R. G. Harper.
Neutralist
Neu"tral*ist, n. A neutral; one who professes or practices neutrality.
Milman.
Neutrality
Neu*tral"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. neutralit\'82.]
1. The state or quality of being neutral; the condition of being
unengaged in contests between others; state of taking no part on
either side; indifference.
Men who possess a state of neutrality in times of public danger,
desert the interest of their fellow subjects. Addison.
2. Indifference in quality; a state neither very good nor bad. [Obs.]
Donne.
3. (Chem.) The quality or state of being neutral. See Neutral, a., 4.
4. (International Law) The condition of a nation or government which
refrains from taking part, directly or indirectly, in a war between
other powers.
5. Those who are neutral; a combination of neutral powers or states.
Armed neutrality, the condition of a neutral power, in time of war,
which holds itself ready to resist by force any aggression of either
belligerent.
Neutralization
Neu`tral*i*za"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. neutralisation.]
1. The act or process of neutralizing, or the state of being
neutralized.
2. (Chem.) The act or process by which an acid and a base are combined
in such proportions that the resulting compound is neutral. See
Neutral, a., 4.
Neutralize
Neu"tral*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Neutralized (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Neutralizing (?).] [Cf. F. neutraliser.]
1. To render neutral; to reduce to a state of neutrality.
So here I am neutralized again. Sir W. Scott.
2. (Chem.) To render inert or imperceptible the peculiar affinities
of, as a chemical substance; to destroy the effect of; as, to
neutralize an acid with a base.
3. To destroy the peculiar or opposite dispositions of; to reduce to a
state of indifference inefficience; to counteract; as, to neutralize
parties in government; to neutralize efforts, opposition, etc.
Counter citations that neutralize each other. E. Everett.
Neutralizer
Neu"tral*i`zer (?), n. One who, or that which, neutralizes; that which
destroys, disguises, or renders inert the peculiar properties of a
body.
Neutrally
Neu"tral*ly, adv. In a neutral manner; without taking part with either
side; indifferently.
Neuvaines
Neu`vaines" (?), n. pl. [F. neuvaine, fr. LL. novena, fr. L. novem.
See Noon.] (R.C.Ch.) Prayers offered up for nine successive days.
Nevadite
Ne*va"dite (?), n. (Min.) A grantitoid variety of rhyolite, common in
Nevada.
N\'82v\'82
N\'82`v\'82" (?), n. [F., fr. nix, nivis, snow.] (Geol.) The upper
part of a glacier, above the limit or perpetual snow. See Galcier.
Neven
Nev"en (?), v. t. [Icel. nefna. To name; to mention; to utter. [Obs.]
As oft I heard my lord them neven. Chaucer.
Never
Nev"er (?), adv. [AS. n; ne not, no + ever.]
1. Not ever; not at any time; at no time, whether past, present, or
future. Shak.
Death still draws nearer, never seeming near. Pope.
2. In no degree; not in the least; not.
Whosoever has a friend to guide him, may carry his eyes in another
man's head, and yet see never the worse. South.
And he answered him to never a word. Matt. xxvii. 14.
NOTE: &hand; Ne ver is mu ch us ed in co mposition wi th pr esent
participles to form adjectives, as in never-ceasing, never-dying,
never-ending, never-fading, never-failing, etc., retaining its
usual signification.
Never a deal, not a bit. [Obs.] Chaucer. -- Never so, as never before;
more than at any other time, or in any other circumstances;
especially; particularly; -- now often expressed or replaced by ever
so.
Ask me never so much dower and gift. Gen. xxxiv. 12.
A fear of battery, ... though never so well grounded, is no duress.
Blackstone.
Nevermore
Nev"er*more` (?), adv. Never again; at no time hereafter. Testament of
Love. Tyndale.
Where springtime of the Hesperides Begins, but endeth nevermore.
Longfellow.
Neverthelater
Nev`er*the*lat"er (?), adv. OR conj. Nevertheless. [Obs.]
Nevertheless
Nev`er*the*less" (?), adv. OR conj. [Never + the (see The by that) +
less.] Not the less; notwithstanding; in spite of that; yet.
No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous;
nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of
righteousness. Heb. xii. 11.
Syn. -- However; at least; yet; still. See However.
Nevew
Nev"ew (?), n. Nephew. [Obs.] haucer.
New
New (?), a. [Compar. Newer (?); superl. Newest.] [OE. OE. newe, AS.
niwe, neowe; akin to D. nieuw, OS. niwi, OHG. niuwi, G. neu, Icel. n,
Dan. & Sw. ny, Goth. niujis, Lith. naujas, Russ. novuii, Ir. nua,
nuadh, Gael. nuadh, W. newydd, Armor. nevez, L. novus, gr. nava, and
prob. to E. now. Now, and cf. Announce, Innovate, Neophyte, Novel.]
1. Having existed, or having been made, but a short time; having
originated or occured lately; having recently come into existence, or
into one's possession; not early or long in being; of late origin;
recent; fresh; modern; -- opposed to old, as, a new coat; a new house;
a new book; a new fashion. "Your new wife." Chaucer.
2. Not before seen or known, although existing before; lately
manifested; recently discovered; as, a new metal; a new planet; new
scenes.
3. Newly beginning or recurring; starting anew; now commencing;
different from has been; as, a new year; a new course or direction.
4. As if lately begun or made; having the state or quality of original
freshness; also, changed for the better; renovated; unworn; untried;
unspent; as, rest and travel made him a new man.
Steadfasty purposing to lead a new life. Bk. of Com. Prayer.
Men after long emaciating diets, fat, and almost new. Bacon.
5. Not of ancient extraction, or of a family of ancient descent; not
previously kniwn or famous. Addison.
6. Not habituated; not familiar; unaccustomed.
New to the plow, unpracticed in the trace. Pope.
7. Fresh from anything; newly come.
New from her sickness to that northern air. Dryden.
New birth. See under Birth. -- New Church, OR New Jerusalem Church,
the church holding the doctrines taught by Emanuel Swedenborg. See
Swedenborgian. -- New heart (Theol.), a heart or character changed by
the power of God, so as to be governed by new and holy motives. -- New
land, land ckeared and cultivated for the first time. -- New light.
(Zo\'94l.) See Crappie. -- New moon. (a) The moon in its first
quarter, or when it first appears after being invisible. (b) The day
when the new moon is first seen; the first day of the lunar month,
which was a holy day among the Jews. 2 Kings iv. 23. -- New Red
Sandstone (Geol.), an old name for the formation immediately above the
coal measures or strata, now divided into the Permian and Trias. See
Sandstone. -- New style. See Style. -- New testament. See under
Testament. -- New world, the land of the Western Hemisphere; -- so
called because not known to the inhabitants of the Eastern Hemisphere
until recent times. Syn. -- Novel; recent; fresh; modern. See Novel.
New
New (?), adv. Newly; recently. Chaucer.
NOTE: &hand; Ne w is much used in composition, adverbially, in the
sense of newly, recently, to quality other words, as in new-born,
new-formed, new-found, new-mown.
Of new, anew. [Obs.] Chaucer.
New
New, v. t. & i. To make new; to renew. [Obs.]
Newborn
New"born` (?), a. Recently born. Shak.
Newcome
New"come` (?), a. Recently come.
Newcomer
New"com`er (?), n. One who has lately come.
Newel
New"el (?), n. [From New. Cf. Novel.] A novelty; a new thing. [Obs.]
Spenser.
Newel
New"el (?), n. [OF. nual, F. noyau sone, of fruit, noyau d'escaler
newel, fr. L. nucalis like a nut, fr. nux, nucis, nut. Cf Nowel the
inner wall of a mold, Nucleus..] (Arch.) The upright post about which
the steps of a circular staircase wind; hence, in stairs having
straight flights, the principal post at the foot of a staircase, or
the secondary ones at the landings. See Hollow newel, under Hollow.
Newfangle
New"fan`gle (?), a. [New + fangle.] Eager for novelties; desirous of
changing. [Obs.]
So newfangel be they of their meat. Chaucer.
Newfangle
New"fan`gle, v. t. To change by introducing novelties. [Obs.]
Newfangled
New"fan`gled (?), a.
1. Newmade; formed with the affectation of novelty. "A newfangled
nomenclature." Sir W. Hamilton.
2. Disposed to change; inclined to novelties; given to new theories or
fashions. "Newfangled teachers." 1 Tim. vi. (heading). "Newfangled
men." Latimer.
Newfangledness
New"fan`gled*ness, n. Affectation of, or fondness for, novelty; vain
or affected fashion or form.
Newfangleness
New"fan`gle*ness (?), n. [OE. newefanglenes. See Fangle.]
Newfangledness. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Proud newfangleness in their apparel. Robynson (More's Utopia).
Newfanglist
New"fan`glist (?), n. One who is eager for novelties or desirous of
change. [Obs.] Tooker.
Newfangly
New"fan`gly (?), adv. In a newfangled manner; with eagerness for
novelty. [Obs.] Sir T. More.
Newfashioned
New`fash"ioned (?), a. Made in a new form, or lately come into
fashion.
Newfoundland
New"found*land` (?, often , n.
1. An island on the coast of British North America, famed for the
fishing grounds in its vicinity.
2. A Newfoundland dog. Tennyson.
Newfoundland dog (Zo\'94l.), a breed of large dogs, with shaggy hair,
which originated in Newfoundland, noted for intelligence, docility,
and swimming powers.
Newing
New"ing (?), n. [From New, v. t.] Yeast; barm. [prov. Eng.]
Newish
New"ish, a. Somewhat new; nearly new. Bacon.
Newly
New"ly, adv.
1. Lately; recently.
He rubbed it o'er with newly gathered mint. Dryden.
2. Anew; afresh; freshly.
And the refined mind doth newly fashion Into a fairer form.
Spenser.
Newmarket
New"mar`ket (?), n. [From Newmarket, England.] A long, closely fitting
cloak.
New-model
New`-mod"el (?), v. t. To remodel.
Newness
New"ness (?), n. The quality or state of being new; as, the newness of
a system; the newness of a scene; newness of life.
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Page 974
News
News (?), n [From New; cf. F. nounelles. News
1. A report of recent occurences; information of something that has
lately taken place, or of something before unknown; fresh tindings;
recent intelligence.
Evil news rides post, while good news baits. Milton.
2. Something strange or newly happened.
It is no news for the weak and poor to be a prey to the strong and
rich. L'Estrange.
3. A bearer of news; a courier; a newspaper. [Obs.]
There cometh a news thither with his horse. Pepys.
News-book
News"-book` (?), n. A newspaper. [Obs.]
newsboy
news"boy` (?), n. A boy who distributes or sells newspaper.
News-letter
News"-let`ter (?), n. A circular letter, written or printed for the
purpose of disseminating news. This was the name given to the earliest
English newspapers.
Newsman
News"man (?), n.; pl. Newsmen (.
1. One who brings news. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. A man who distributes or sells newspapers.
Newsmonger
News"mon`ger (?), n. One who deals in news; one who is active in
hearing and telling news.
Newspaper
News"pa`per (?), n. A sheet of paper printed and distributed, at
stated intervals, for conveying intelligence of passing events,
advocating opinions, etc.; a public print that circulates news,
advertisements, proceedings of legislative bodies, public
announcements, etc.
Newsroom
News"room` (?), n. A room where news is collected and disseminated, or
periodicals sold; a reading room supplied with newspapers, magazines,
etc.
News-vnder
News"-vnd`er (?), n. A seller of newspapers.
News-writer
News"-writ`er (?), n. One who gathered news for, and wrote,
news-letters. Macaulay.
Newsy
News"y (?), a. Full of news; abounding in information as to current
events. [Colloq.]
Newt
Newt (?), n. [OE. ewt, evete, AS. efete, with n prefixed, an ewt being
understood as a newt. Cf. Eft.] (Zo\'94l.) Any one of several species
of small aquatic salamanders. The common British species are the
crested newt (Triton cristatus) and the smooth newt (Lophinus
punctatus). In America, Diemictylus viridescens is one of the most
abundant species.
Newtonian
New*to"ni*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to Sir Isaac Newton, or his
discoveries. Newtonian philosophy, the philosophy of Sir Isaac Newton;
-- applied to the doctrine of the universe as expounded in Newton's
"Principia," to the modern or experimental philosophy (as opposed to
the theories of Descartes and others), and, most frequently, to the
mathematical theory of universal gravitation. -- Newtonian telescope
(Astron.), a reflecting telescope, in which rays from the large
speculum are received by a plane mirror placed diagonally in the axis,
and near the open end of the tube, and thrown at right angles toward
one side of the tube, where the image is formed and viewed through the
eyeplace. -- Newtonian theory of light. See Note under Light.
Newtonian
New*to"ni*an, n. A follower of Newton.
New-year
New"-year` (?), a. Of or pertaining to, or suitable for, the
commencement of the year; as, New-year gifts or odes.
New Year's Day
New" Year's` Day" (?). the first day of a calendar year; the first day
of January. Often colloquially abbreviated to New year's or new year.
New Zealand
New` Zea"land (?). A group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean. New
Zealand flax. (a) (Bot.) A tall, liliaceous herb (Phormium tenax),
having very long, sword-shaped, distichous leaves which furnish a
fine, strong fiber very valuable for cordage and the like. (b) The
fiber itself. -- New Zealand tea (Bot.), a myrtaceous shrub
(Leptospermum scoparium) of New Zealand and Australia, the leaves of
which are used as a substitute for tea.
Nexible
Nex"i*ble (?), a. [L. nexibilis, from nectere, nexum, to bind.] That
may be knit together. [R.]
Next
Next (?), a., superl. of Nigh. [AS. n, ni\'82hst, n, superl. of
ne\'a0h nigh. See Nigh.]
1. Nearest in place; having no similar object intervening. Chaucer.
Her princely guest Was next her side; in order sat the rest.
Dryden.
Fear followed me so hard, that I fled the next way. Bunyan.
2. Nearest in time; as, the next day or hour.
3. Adjoining in a series; immediately preceding or following in order.
None could tell whose turn should be the next. Gay.
4. Nearest in degree, quality, rank, right, or relation; as, the next
heir was an infant.
The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen. Ruth ii.
20.
NOTE: &hand; Ne xt is usually followed by to before an object, but
to is sometimes omitted. In such cases next in considered by many
grammarians as a preposition.
Next friend (Law), one who represents an infant, a married woman, or
any person who can not appear sui juris, in a suit at law.
Next
Next, adv. In the time, place, or order nearest or immediately
suceeding; as, this man follows next.
Nexus
Nex"us (?), n. [L.] Connection; tie.
Man is doubtless one by some subtile nexus ... extending from the
new-born infant to the superannuated dotard. De Quincey.
Nez Perc\'82s
Nez" Per`c\'82s" (?), pl.; sing. Nez Perc\'90 (. [F., pierced noses.]
(Ethnol.) A tribe of Indians, mostly inhabiting Idaho. <-- involved
under Chief Joseph, in the last major battle of the Indian wars,
attempting to resist being moved to a reservation. -->
Ngina
Ngi"na (?), n. [Native name.] The gorilla.
Niagara period
Ni*ag"a*ra pe"ri*od (?). (Geol.) A subdivision or the American Upper
Silurian system, embracing the Medina, Clinton, and Niagara epoch. The
rocks of the Niagara epoch, mostly limestones, are extensively
distributed, and at Niagara Falls consist of about eighty feet of
shale supporting a greater thickness of limestone, which is gradually
undermined by the removal of the shale. See Chart of Geology.
Nias
Ni"as (?), n. [F. niais. See Eyas.] A young hawk; an eyas; hence, an
unsophisticated person. [Obs.]
Nib
Nib (?), n. [A variabt of neb.]
1. A small and pointed thing or part; a point; a prong. "The little
nib or fructifying principle." Sir T. Browne.
2. (Zo\'94l.) The bill or beak of a bird; the neb.
3. The points of a pen; also, the pointed part of a pen; a short pen
adapted for insertion in a holder.
4. One of the handles which project from a scythe snath; also, [Prov.
Eng.], the shaft of a wagon.
Nib
Nib, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nebbed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Nibbing.] To
furnish with a nib; to point; to mend the point of; as, to nib a pen.
Nibbed
Nibbed (?), a. Having a nib or point.
Nibble
Nib"ble (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nibbled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Nibbling
(?).] [Cf. Nip.] To bite by little at a time; to seize gently with the
mouth; to eat slowly or in small bits.
Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep. Shak.
Nibble
Nib"ble, v. t. To bite upon something gently or cautiously; to eat a
little of a thing, as by taking small bits cautiously; as, fishes
nibble at the bait.
Instead of returning a full answer to my book, he manifestly falls
a-nibbling at one single passage. Tillotson.
Nibble
Nib"ble, n. A small or cautious bite.<-- 2. a tentative expression of
interest [MW10]. -->
Nibbler
Nib"bler (?), n. One who, or that which, nibbles.
Nibblingly
Nib"bling*ly (?), adv. In a nibbling manner; cautiously.
Niblick
Nib"lick (?), n. A kind of golf stick used to lift the ball out of
holes, ruts, etc.
Nicagua
Ni*ca"gua (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) The laughing falcon. See under laughing.
Nicaragua wood
Nic`a*ra"gua wood` (?). Brazil wood.
Niccolite
Nic"co*lite (?), n. [from NL. niccolum nickel.] (Min.) A mineral of a
copper-red color and metallic luster; an arsenide of nickel; -- called
also coppernickel, kupfernickel.
Nice
Nice (?), a. [Compar. Nicer (?); superl. Nicest.] [OE., foolish, fr.
OF. nice ignorant, fool, fr. L. nescius ignorant; ne not + scius
knowing, scire to know. perhaps influenced by E. nesh delicate, soft.
See No, and Science.]
1. Foolish; silly; simple; ignorant; also, weak; effeminate. [Obs.]
Gower.
But say that we ben wise and nothing nice. Chaucer.
2. Of trifling moment; nimportant; trivial. [Obs.]
The letter was not nice, but full of charge Of dear import. Shak.
3. Overscrupulous or exacting; hard to please or satisfy; fastidious
in small matters.
Curious not knowing, not exact but nice. Pope.
And to taste Think not I shall be nice. Milton.
4. Delicate; refined; dainty; pure.
Dear love, continue nice and chaste. Donne.
A nice and subtile happiness. Milton.
5. Apprehending slight diffferences or delicate distinctions;
distinguishing accurately or minutely; carefully discriminating; as, a
nice taste or judgment. "Our author happy in a judge so nice." Pope.
"Nice verbal criticism." Coleridge.
6. Done or made with careful labor; suited to excite admiration on
account of exactness; evidencing great skill; exact; fine; finished;
as, nice proportions, nice workmanship, a nice application; exactly or
fastidiously discriminated; requiring close discrimination; as, a nice
point of law, a nice distinction in philosophy.
The difference is too nice Where ends the virtue, or begins the
vice. Pope.
7. Pleasing; agreeable; gratifying; delightful; good; as, a nice
party; a nice excursion; a nice person; a nice day; a nice sauce, etc.
[Loosely & Colloquially]
To make nice of, to be scrupulous about. [Obs.] Shak. Syn. -- Dainty;
delicate; exquisite; fine; accurate; exact; correct; precise;
particular; scrupulous; punctilious; fastidious; squeamish; finical;
effeminate; silly.
Nicely
Nice"ly adv. In a nice manner.
Nicene
Ni"cene (?), a. [L. Nicaenus, fr. Nicaea Nice, Gr. Of or pertaining to
Nice, a town of Asia Minor, or to the ecumenial council held there A.
D. 325. Nicene Creed (, a summary of Christian faith, composed and
adopted by the Council of Nice, against Arianism, A. D. 325, altered
and confirmed by the Council of Constantinople, A. D. 381, and by
subsequent councils.
Niceness
Nice"ness (?), n. Quality or state of being nice.
Nicery
Ni"cer*y (?), n. Nicety. [Colloq.] Chapman.
Nicety
Ni"ce*ty (?), n.; pl. Niceties (#). [OE. nicet\'82 foolishness.]
1. The quality or state of being nice (in any of the senses of that
word.).
The miller smiled of her nicety. Chaucer.
2. Delicacy or exactness of perception; minuteness of observation or
of discrimination; precision.
3. A delicate expression, act, mode of treatment, distinction, or the
like; a minute distinction.
The fineness and niceties of words. Locke.
To a nicety, with great exactness or accuracy.
Niche
Niche (?), n. [F., fr. It. nicchia, prop., a shell-like recess in a
wall, fr. nicchio a shellfish, mussel, fr. L. mytilus.] A cavity,
hollow, or recess, generally within the thickness of a wall, for a
statue, bust, or other erect ornament. hence, any similar position,
literal or figurative.
Images defended from the injuries of the weather by niches of stone
wherein they are placed. Evelun.
Niched
Niched. (, a. Placed in a niche. "Those niched shapes of noble mold."
Tennyson.
Nick
Nick (, n. [AS. nicor a marine monster; akin to D. nikker a water
spite, Icel. nykr, ONG. nihhus a crocodile, G. nix a water sprite; cf.
Gr. nij. Cf. Nix.] (Northern Myth.) An evil spirit of the waters. Old
Nick, the evil one; the devil. [Colloq.]
Nick
Nick, n. [Akin to Nock.]
1. A notch cut into something; as: (a) A score for keeping an account;
a reckoning. [Obs.] (b) (Print.) A notch cut crosswise in the shank of
a type, to assist a compositor in placing it properly in the stick,
and in distribution. W. Savage. (c) A broken or indented place in any
edge or surface; nicks in china.
2. A particular point or place considered as marked by a nick; the
exact point or critical moment.
To cut it off in the very nick. Howell.
This nick of time is the critical occasion for the gainger of a
point. L'Estrange.
Nick
Nick, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nicked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Nicking.]
1. To make a nick or nicks in; to notch; to keep count of or upon by
nicks; as, to nick a stick, tally, etc.
2. To mar; to deface; to make ragged, as by cutting nicks or notches
in.
And thence proceed to nicking sashes. Prior.
The itch of his affection should not then Have nicked his
captainship. Shak.
3. To suit or fit into, as by a correspondence of nicks; to tally
with.
Words nicking and resembling one another are applicable to
different significations. Camden.
4. To hit at, or in, the nick; to touch rightly; to strike at the
precise point or time.
The just season of doing things must be nicked, and all accidents
improved. L'Estrange.
5. To make a cross cut or cuts on the under side of (the tail of a
horse, in order to make him carry ir higher).
Nick
Nick, v. t. To nickname; to style. [Obs.]
For Warbeck, as you nick him, came to me. Ford.
Nickar nut, Nickar tree
Nick"ar nut` (?), Nick"ar tree` (?). (Bot.) Same as Nicker nut, Nicker
tree.
Nickel
Nick"el (?), n. [G., fr. Sw. nickel, abbrev. from Sw. kopparnickel
copper-nickel, a name given in derision, as it was thought to be a
base ore of copper. The origin of the second part of the word is
uncertain. Cf. Kupfer-nickel, Copper-nickel.]
1. (Chem.) A bright silver-white metallic element. It is of the iron
group, and is hard, malleable, and ductile. It occurs combined with
sulphur in millerite, with arsenic in the mineral niccolite, and with
arsenic and sulphur in nickel glance. Symbol Ni. Atomic weight 58.6.
NOTE: &hand; On ac count of its permanence in air and inertness to
oxidation, it is used in the smaller coins, for plating iron,
brass, etc., for chemical apparatus, and in certain alloys, as
german silver. It is magnetic, and is very frequently accompanied
by cobalt, both being found in meteoric iron.
2. A small coin made of or containing nickel; esp., a five-cent piece.
[Colloq. U.S.]
Nickel silver, an alloy of nickel, copper, and zinc; -- usually called
german silver; called also argentan.
Nickelic
Nick*el"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or containing, nickel;
specifically, designating compounds in which, as contrasted with the
nickelous compounds, the metal has a higher valence; as nickelic
oxide.
Nickeliferous
Nick`el*if"er*ous (?), a. [Nickel + -ferous.] Containing nickel; as,
nickelferous iron.
Nickeline
Nick"el*ine (? OR ?), n.
1. (Chem.) An alloy of nickel, a variety of German silver.
2. (Min.) Niccolite.
Nickelous
Nick"el*ous (?), a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, those
compounds of nickel in which, as contrasted with the nickelic
compounds, the metal has a lower valence; as, nickelous oxide.
Frankland.
Nicker
Nick"er (?), n. [From Nick, v.t.]
1. One of the night brawlers of London formerly noted for breaking
windows with half-pence. [Cant] Arbuthnot.
2. The cutting lip which projects downward at the edge of a boring bit
and cuts a circular groove in the wood to limit the size of the hole
that is bored.
Nicker nut
Nick"er nut` (?). A rounded seed, rather smaller than a nutmeg, having
a hard smooth shell, and a yellowish or bluish color. The seeds grow
in the prickly pods of tropical, woody climbers of the genus
C\'91salpinia. C. Bonduc has yellowish seeds; C.Bonducella, bluish
gray. [Spelt also neckar nut, nickar nut.]
Nicker tree
Nick"er tree` (?). (Bot.) The plant producing nicker nuts. [Written
also neckar tree and nickar tree.]
Nicking
Nick"ing, n. [From Nick, v. t.] (Coal Mining) (a) The cutting made by
the hewer at the side of the face. (b) pl. Small coal produced in
making the nicking.
Nickle
Nic"kle (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) The European woodpecker, or yaffle; --
called also nicker pecker.
Nicknack
Nick"nack` (?), n. See Knickknack.
Nicknackery
Nick"nack`er*y (?), n. See Knickknackery.
Nickname
Nick"name` (?), n. [OE. ekename surname, hence, a nickname, an ekename
being understood as a nekename, influenced also by E. nick, v. See
Eke, and Name.] A name given in contempt, derision, or sportive
familiarity; a familiar or an opprobrious appellation.
Nickname
Nick"name`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nicknamed (#); p. pr. & vb. n.
Nicknaming.] To give a nickname to; to call by a nickname.
You nickname virtue; vice you should have spoke. Shak.
I altogether disclaim what has been nicknamed the doctrine of
finality. Macaulay.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 975
Nicolaitan
Ni`co*la"i*tan (?), n. [So called from Nicolas of Antioch, mentioned
in Acts vi. 5.] (Eccl. Hist.) One of certain corrupt persons in the
early church at Ephesus, who are censured in rev. ii. 6, 15.
Nicotian
Ni*co"tian (?), n. [F. nicotiane; -- so called from Nicot, who
introduced it into France, a.d. 15 Tobacco. [R.] B. Jonson.
Nicotian
Ni*co"tian, a. Pertaining to, or derived from, tobacco. [R.] Bp. Hall.
Nicotian
Ni*co"ti*an (?), n. [NL. See Nicotian.] (Bot.) A genus of American and
Asiatic solanaceous herbs, with viscid foliage and funnel-shaped
blossoms. Several species yield tobacco. See Tobacco.
Nicotianine
Ni*co"ti*a*nine (? OR ?), n. [F. nicotianine. See Nicotian.] (Chem.) A
white waxy substance having a hot, bitter taste, extracted from
tobacco leaves and called also tobacco camphor.
Nicotic
Ni*cot"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Nicotinic.
Nicotidine
Ni*cot"i*dine (? OR ?), n. [Nicotine + pyridine.] (Chem.) A complex,
oily, nitrogenous base, isomeric with nicotine, and obtained by the
reduction of certain derivatives of the pyridine group.
Nicotine
Nic"o*tine (? OR ?), n. [F. nicotine. See Nicotian.] (Chem.) An
alkaloid which is the active principle of tobacco. It is a colorless,
transparent, oily liquid, having an acrid odor, and an acrid burning
taste. It is intensely poisonous. Ure.
Nicotinic
Nic`o*tin"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, nicotine;
nicotic; -- used specifically to designate an acid related to
pyridine, obtained by the oxidation of nicotine, and called nicotinic
acid.
Nictate
Nic"tate (?), v. i. [L. nictare, nictatum, from nicere to beckon.] To
wink; to nictitate.
Nictation
Nic*ta"tion (?), n. [L. nictatio nictation.] the act of winking;
nictitation.
Nictitate
Nic"ti*tate (?), v. i. [See Nictate.] To wink; to nictate. Nictitating
membrance (Anat.), a thin membrance, found in many animals at the
inner angle, or beneath the lower lid, of the eye, and capable of
being drawn across the eyeball; the third eyelid; the haw.
Nictitation
Nic`ti*ta"tion (?), n. The act of winking.
Nidamental
Nid`a*men"tal (?), a. [L. nidamentum materials for a nest, fr. nidus
nest. See Nest.] (Zo\'94l.) of, pertaining to, or baring, eggs or egg
capsules; as, the nidament capsules of certain gastropods; nidamental
glands. See Illust. of Dibranchiata.
Nidary
Ni"da*ry (?), n. [L. nidus a nest.] A collection of nests. [R.] velyn.
Nide
Nide (?), n. [L. nidus a nest: cf. F. nid.] A nestful; a brood; as, a
nide of pheasants. [Obs.]
Nidering
Ni"der*ing (?), a. [See Niding.] Infamous; dastardly. [Obs.] Sir W.
Scott.
Nidgery
Nidg"er*y (?), n. [See Nidget.] A trifle; a piece of foolery. [Obs.]
Skinner.
Nidget
Nidg"et (?), n. [Written also nigget, nigeot.] [Cf. F. nigaud a boody,
fool, OF. niger to play the fool.] A fool; an idiot, a coward. [Obs.]
Camden.
Nidificate
Nid"i*fi*cate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Nidificated (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Nidificating.] [L. nidificare, nidificatum; nidus nest + -ficare
(in comp.) to make. See -fy, and cf. nest.] To make a nest.
Where are the fishes which nidificated in trees? Lowell.
Nidification
Nid`i*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. nidification.] The act or process of
building a nest.
Niding
Ni"ding (n&imac;"d&icr;ng), n. [Written also nithing.] [AS.
n&imac;&edh;ing, fr. n&imac;&edh; wickness, malice, hatred.] A coward;
a dastard; -- a term of utmost opprobrium. [Obs.]
He is worthy to be called a niding. Howell.
Nidor
Ni"dor (?), n. [L.] Scent or savor of meat or food, cooked or cooking.
[Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
Nidorose
Ni"dor*ose` (?), a. Nidorous. [R.] Arbuthnot.
Nidorous
Ni"dor*ous (?), a. [L. nidorosus steaming, reeking: cf. F. nidoreux.
See Nidor.] Resembling the smell or taste of roast meat, or of corrupt
animal matter. [R.]
Nidulant
Nid"u*lant (?), a. [L. nidulans, p.pr.: cf. F. Nidulant.]
1. Nestling, as a bird in itss nest.
2. (Bot.) Lying loose in pulp or cotton within a berry or pericarp, as
in a nest.
Nidulate
Nid"u*late (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Nidulated (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Nidulating.] [L. nidulari, fr. nidulus, dim. of nidus a nest.] To make
a nest, as a bird. [R.] Cockeram.
Nidulation
Nid`u*la"tion (?), n. The time of remaining in the nest. [R.] Sir T.
Browne.
Nidulite
Nid"u*lite (?), n. [L. nidulus a little nest.] (Paleon.) A Silurian
fossil, formerly supposed to consist of eggs.
Nidus
Ni"dus (?), n.; pl. nidi (#). [L. See Nidi, Nest.] A nest: a
repository for the eggs of birds, insects, etc.; a breeding place;
esp., the place or substance where parasites or the germs of a disease
effect lodgment or are developed.
Niece
Niece (?), n. [OE. nece, F. ni\'8ace, LL. neptia, for L. neptis a
granddaughter, niece, akin to nepos. See Nephew.]
1. A relative, in general; especially, a descendant, whether male or
female; a granddaughter or a grandson. [Obs.] B. Jonson. Wyclif. Shak.
2. A daughter of one's brother or sister, or of one's brother-in-law
or sister-in-law.<-- primary usage -->
Nief
Nief (?), n. See Neif, the fist.
Niellist
Ni*el"list (?), n. One who practices the style of ornamentation called
niello.
Niello
Ni*el"lo (?), n. [It. niello, LL. nigellum a black of blackish enamel,
fr. L. nigellus, dim. of niger black. See Negro, and cf. Anneal.]
1. A metallic alloy of a deep black color.
2. The art, process, or method of decorating metal with incised
designs filled with the black alloy.
3. A piece of metal, or any other object, so decorated.
4. An impression on paper taken from an ancient incised decoration or
metal plate.
Nifle
Ni"fle (?), n. [OF.] A trifle. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Niggard
Nig"gard (?), n. [Icel. hn\'94ggr niggardly, stingy + -ard; cf. Sw.
njugg, AS. hne\'a0w.] A person meanly close and covetous; one who
spends grudgingly; a stingy, parsimonous fellow; a miser. Chaucer.
A penurious niggard of his wealth. Milton.
Be niggards of advice on no pretense. Pope.
Niggard
Nig"gard, a. Like a niggard; meanly covetous or parsimonious;
niggardly; miserly; stingy.
Niggard
Nig"gard, v. t. & i. To act the niggard toward; to be niggardly. [R.]
Shak.
Niggardise
Nig"gard*ise (?), n. Niggardliness. [Obs.] Spenser.
Niggardish
Nig"gard*ish, a. Somewhat niggard.
Niggardliness
Nig"gard*li*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being niggard;
meanness in giving or spending; parsimony; stinginess.
Niggardliness is not good husbandry. Addison.
Niggardly
Nig"gard*ly, a. Meanly covetous or avarcious in dealing with others;
stingy; niggard.
Where the owner of the house will be bountiful, it is not for the
steward to be niggardly. Bp. Hall.
Syn. -- Avarcious; covetous; parsimonious; sparing; miserly; penurios;
sordid; stingy. See Avaricious.
Niggardly
Nig"gard*ly, adv. In a niggard manner.
Niggardness
Nig"gard*ness, n. Niggardliness. Sir P. Sidney.
Niggardous
Nig"gard*ous (?), a. Niggardly. [Obs.]
Covetous gathering and niggardous keeping. Sir T. More.
Naggardship
Nag"gard*ship, n. Niggardliness. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.
Niggardy
Nig"gard*y (?), n. Niggardliness. [Obs.] Chaucer.
nigged
nigged (?), n. [Prov. E. nig to clip money.] (Masonry) Hammer-dressed;
-- said of building stone.
Nigger
Nig"ger (?), n. A negro; -- in vulgar derision or depreciation.
Niggish
Nig"gish (?), a. [See Niggard.] Niggardly. [Obs.]
Niggle
Nig"gle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Niggled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Niggling
(?).] [Dim. of Prov. E. nig to clip money; cf. also Prov. E. nig a
small piece.] To trifle with; to deceive; to mock. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
Niggle
Nig"gle, v. t.
1. To trifle or play.
Take heed, daughter, You niggle not with your conscience and
religion. Massinger.
2. To act or walk mincingly. [Prov. Eng.]
3. To fret and snarl about trifles. [Prov. Eng.]
Niggler
Nig"gler (?), n. One who niggles.
Nigh
Nigh (?), a. [Compar. Nigher (?); superl. Nighest, or Next (.] [OE.
nigh, neigh, neih, AS. ne\'a0h, n; akin to D. na, adv., OS. n\'beh,
a., OHG. n\'beh, G. nah, a., nach to, after, Icel. n\'be (in comp.)
nigh, Goth. n, n, adv., nigh. Cf. Near, Neighbor, Next.]
1. Not distant or remote in place or time; near.
The loud tumult shows the battle nigh. Prior.
2. Not remote in degree, kindred, circumstances, etc.; closely allied;
intimate. "Nigh kinsmen." Knolles.
Ye ... are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Eph. ii. 13.
Syn. -- Near; close; adjacent; contiguous; present; neighboring.
Nigh
Nigh, adv. [AS. ne\'a0h, n. See Nigh, a.]
1. In a situation near in place or time, or in the course of events;
near.
He was sick, nigh unto death. Phil. ii. 27.
He drew not nigh unheard; the angel bright, Ere he drew nigh, his
radiant visage turned. Milton.
2. Almost; nearly; as, he was nigh dead.
Nigh
Nigh, v. t. & i. To draw nigh (to); to approach; to come near. [Obs.]
Wyclif (Matt. iii. 2).
Nigh
Nigh, prep. Near to; not remote or distant from. "was not this nigh
shore?" Shak.
Nighly
Nigh"ly, adv. In a near relation in place, time, degree, etc.; within
a little; almost. [Obs.]
A cube and a sphere ... nighly of the same bigness. Locke.
Nighness
Nigh"ness, n. The quality or state of being nigh. [R.] "Nighness of
blood." Holished.
Night
Night (?), n. [OE. night, niht, AS. neaht, niht; akin to D. nacht, OS.
& OHG. naht, G. nacht, Icel. n, Sw. natt, Dan. nat, Goth. nachts,
Lith. naktis, Russ. noche, W. nos, Ir. nochd, L. nox, noctis, gr.
nakta, nakti. &root; 265. Cf. Equinox, Nocturnal.]
1. That part of the natural day when the sun is beneath the horizon,
or the time from sunset to sunrise; esp., the time between dusk and
dawn, when there is no light of the sun, but only moonlight,
starlight, or artificial light.
And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night.
Gen. i. 5.
2. Hence: (a) Darkness; obscurity; concealment.
Nature and nature's laws lay hid in night. Pope.
(b) Intellectual and moral darkness; ignorance. (c) A state of
affliction; adversity; as, a dreary night of sorrow. (d) The period
after the close of life; death.
She closed her eyes in everlasting night. Dryden.
(e) A lifeless or unenlivened period, as when nature seems to sleep.
"Sad winter's night". Spenser.
NOTE: &hand; Night is sometimes used, esp. with participles, in the
formation of self-explaining compounds; as, night-blooming,
night-born, night-warbling, etc.
Night by night, Night after night, nightly; many nights.
So help me God, as I have watched the night, Ay, night by night, in
studying good for England. Shak.
-- Night bird. (Zo\'94l.) (a) The moor hen (Gallinula chloropus). (b)
The Manx shearwater (Puffinus Anglorum). -- Night blindness. (Med.)
See Hemeralopia. -- Night cart, a cart used to remove the contents of
privies by night. -- Night churr, (Zo\'94l.), the nightjar. -- Night
crow, a bird that cries in the night. -- Night dog, a dog that hunts
in the night, -- used by poachers. -- Night fire. (a) Fire burning in
the night. (b) Ignis fatuus; Will-o'-the-wisp; Jask-with-a-lantern. --
Night flyer (Zo\'94l.), any creature that flies in the night, as some
birds and insects. -- night glass, a spyglass constructed to
concentrate a large amount of light, so as see objects distinctly at
night. Totten. -- Night green, iodine green. -- Night hag, a witch
supposed to wander in the night. -- Night hawk (Zo\'94l.), an American
bird (Chordeiles Virginianus), allied to the goatsucker. It hunts the
insects on which it feeds toward evening, on the wing, and often,
diving down perpendicularly, produces a loud whirring sound, like that
of a spinning wheel. Also sometimes applied to the European
goatsuckers. It is called also bull bat. -- Night heron (Zo\'94l.),
any one of several species of herons of the genus Nycticorax, found in
various parts of the world. The best known species is Nycticorax
griseus, or N. nycticorax, of Europe, and the American variety (var.
n\'91vius). The yellow-crowned night heron (Nycticorax violaceus)
inhabits the Southern States. Called also qua-bird, and squawk. --
Night house, a public house, or inn, which is open at night. -- Night
key, a key for unfastening a night latch. -- Night latch, a kind of
latch for a door, which is operated from the outside by a key. --
Night monkey (Zo\'94l.), an owl monkey. -- night moth (Zo\'94l.), any
one of the noctuids. -- Night parrot (Zo\'94l.), the kakapo. -- Night
piece, a painting representing some night scene, as a moonlight
effect, or the like. -- Night rail, a loose robe, or garment, worn
either as a nightgown, or over the dress at night, or in sickness.
[Obs.] -- Night raven (Zo\'94l.), a bird of ill omen that cries in the
night; esp., the bittern. -- Night rule. (a) A tumult, or frolic, in
the night; -- as if a corruption, of night revel. [Obs.] (b) Such
conduct as generally rules, or prevails, at night.
What night rule now about this haunted grove? Shak.
-- Night sight. (Med.) See Nyctolopia. -- Night snap, a night thief.
[Cant] Beau. & Fl. -- Night soil, human excrement; -- so called
because in cities it is collected by night and carried away for
manure. -- Night spell, a charm against accidents at night. -- Night
swallow (Zo\'94l.), the nightjar. -- Night walk, a walk in the evening
or night. -- Night walker. (a) One who walks in his sleep; a
somnambulist; a noctambulist. (b) One who roves about in the night for
evil purposes; specifically, a prostitute who walks the streets. --
Night walking. (a) Walking in one's sleep; somnambulism; noctambulism.
(b) Walking the streets at night with evil designs. -- Night warbler
(Zo\'94l.), the sedge warbler (Acrocephalus phragmitis); -- called
also night singer. [prov. Eng.] -- Night watch. (a) A period in the
night, as distinguished by the change of watch. (b) A watch, or guard,
to aford protection in the night. -- Night watcher, one who watches in
the night; especially, one who watches with evil designs. -- Night
witch. Same as Night hag, above.
Night-blooming
Night"-bloom`ing (?), a. Blooming in the night. Night-blooming cereus.
(Bot.) See Note under Cereus.
Nightcap
Night"cap` (?), n.
1. A cap worn in bed to protect the head, or in undress.
2. A potion of spirit drank at bedtime. [Cant] Wright.
Nightdress
Night"dress` (?), n. A nightgown.
Nighted
Night"ed, a.
1. Darkness; clouded. [R.] Shak.
2. Overtaken by night; belated. Beau. & Fl.
Nightertale
Night"er*tale (?), n. [Cf. Icel. n\'bettarpel.] period of night;
nighttime. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Night-eyed
Night"-eyed` (?), a. Capable of seeing at night; sharp-eyed. "Your
night-eyed Tiberius." B. Jonson.
Nightfall
Night"fall` (?), n. The close of the day. Swift.
Night-faring
Night"-far`ing (?), a. Going or traveling in the night. Gay.
Nightgown
Night"gown` (?), n. A loose gown used for undress; also, a gown used
for a sleeping garnment.
Nightingale
Night"in*gale (?), n. [OE. nihtegale,nightingale, AS. nihtegale; niht
night + galan to sing, akin to E. yell; cf. D. nachtegaal, OS.
nahtigala, OHG. nahtigala, G. nachtigall, Sw. n\'84ktergal, Dan.
nattergal. See Night, and Yell.]
1. (Zo\'94l.) A small, plain, brown and gray European song bird
(Luscinia luscinia). It sings at night, and is celebrated for the
sweetness of its song.
2. (Zo\'94l.) A larger species (Lucinia philomela), of Eastern Europe,
having similar habits; the thrush nightingale. The name is also
applied to other allied species.
Mock nightingale. (Zo\'94l.) See Blackcap, n., 1 (a).
Nightish
Night"ish, a. Of or pertaining to night.
Nightjar
Night"jar` (?), n. A goatsucker, esp. the European species. See
Illust. of Goatsucker.
Nightless
Night"less, a. Having no night.
Nightlong
Night"long` (?; 115), a. Lasting all night.
Nightly
Night"ly, a. Of or pertaining to the night, or to every night;
happening or done by night, or every night; as, nightly shades; he
kept nightly vigils.
Nightly
Night"ly, adv. At night; every night.
Nightman
Night"man (?), n.; pl. Nightmen (. One whose business is emptying
privies by night.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 976
Nightmare
Night"mare` (?), n. [Night + mare incubus. See Mare incubus.]
1. A fiend or incubus formerly supposed to cause trouble in sleep.
2. A condition in sleep usually caused by improper eating or by
digestive or nervous troubles, and characterized by a sense of extreme
uneasiness or discomfort (as of weight on the chest or stomach,
impossibility of motion or speech, etc.), or by frightful or
oppressive dreams, from which one wakes after extreme anxiety, in a
troubled state of mind; incubus. Dunglison.
3. Hence, any overwhelming, oppressive, or stupefying influence.
Nightshade
Night"shade` (?), n. [AS. nichtscadu.] (Bot.) A common name of many
species of the genus Solanum, given esp. to the Solanum nigrum, or
black nightshade, a low, branching weed with small white flowers and
black berries reputed to be poisonous. Deadly nightshade. Same as
Belladonna (a). -- Enchanter's nightshade. See under Enchanter. --
Stinking nightshade. See Henbane. -- Three-leaved nightshade. See
Trillium.
Nightshirt
Night"shirt` (?), n. A kind of nightgown for men.
Nighttime
Night"time` (?), n. The time from dusk to dawn; -- opposed to daytime.
Nightward
Night"ward (?), a. Approaching toward night.
Nigraniline
Ni*gran"i*line (? OR ?), n. [L. niger black + E. aniline.] (Chem.) The
complex, nitrogenous, organic base and dyestuff called also aniline
black.
Nigrescent
Ni*gres"cent (?), a. [L. nigrescens, p.pr. of nigrescere to grow
black, fr. niger black. See Negro.] Growing black; changing to a black
color; approaching to blackness. Johnson.
Nigrification
Nig`ri*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [L. nigrificare to blacken; niger black +
-ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy.] The act or process of making
black. [R.] Johnson.
Nigrine
Ni"grine (?), n. [L. niger black: cf. F. nigrine.] (Min.) A
ferruginous variety of rutile.
Nigritude
Nig"ri*tude (?), n. [L. nigritudo, fr. niger black.] Blackness; the
state of being black. Lamb.
Nigromancie
Nig"ro*man`cie (?), n. Necromancy. [Obs.]
Nigromancien
Nig"ro*man`cien (?), n. A necromancer. [Obs.]
These false enchanters or nigromanciens. Chaucer.
Nigrosine
Ni"gro*sine (? OR ?), n. [From L. niger black.] (Chem.) A dark blue
dyestuff, of the induline group; -- called also azodiphenyl blue.
Nigua
Ni"gua (?), n. [Sp.] (Zo\'94l.) The chigoe.
Nihil
Ni"hil (?), n. [L.] Nothing. Nihil album [L., white nothing] (Chem.),
oxide of zinc. See under Zinc. -- Nihil debet [L., he owes nothing]
(Law), the general issue in certain actions of debt. -- Nihil dicit
[L., he says nothing] (Law), a declinature by the defendant to plead
or answer. Tomlins.
Nihilism
Ni"hil*ism (?), n. [L. nihil nothing: cf. F. nihilisme. See
Annihilate.]
1. Nothingness; nihility.
2. The doctrine that nothing can be known; scepticism as to all
knowledge and all reality.
3. (Politics) The theories and practices of the Nihilists.
Nihilist
Ni"hil*ist, n. [Cf. F. nihiliste. See Nihilism.]
1. One who advocates the doctrine of nihilism; one who believes or
teaches that nothing can be known, or asserted to exist.
2. (Politics) A member of a secret association (esp. in Russia), which
is devoted to the destruction of the present political, religious, and
social institutions.
Nihilistic
Ni`hil*is"tic (?), a. Of, pertaining to, or characterized by,
nihilism.
Nihility
Ni*hil"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. nihilit\'82. See Nihilism.] Nothingness; a
state of being nothing.
Nil
Nil (?). [See Nill, v. t.] Will not. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Nil
Nil, n. & a. [L., a contr. of nihil.] Nothing; of no account;
worthless; -- a term often used for canceling, in accounts or
bookkeeping. A. J. Ellis. <-- (computers) A special value used in
certain computer languages to mean "no value", to be distinguished
from the value zero. -->
Nile
Nile (?), n. [L. Nilus, gr. The great river of Egypt. Nile bird.
(Zo\'94l.) (a) The wryneck. [Prov. Eng.] (b) The crocodile bird. --
Nile goose (Zo\'94l.), the Egyptian goose. See Note under Goose, 2.
Nilgau
Nil"gau (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) see Nylghau.
Nill
Nill (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nilled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Nilling.]
[AS. nilan, nyllan; ne not + willan to will. See No, and Will.] Not to
will; to refuse; to reject. [Obs.]
Certes, said he, I nill thine offered grace. Spenser.
Nill
Nill, v. i. To be unwilling; to refuse to act.
The actions of the will are "velle" and "nolle," to will and nill.
Burton.
Will he, nill he, whether he wills it or not.<-- contracted to
willy-nilly -->
Nill
Nill, n. [Cf. Ir. & Gael. neul star, light. Cf. Nebula.]
1. Shining sparks thrown off from melted brass.
2. Scales of hot iron from the forge. Knight.
Nilometer
Ni*lom"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. nilom\'8atre.] An instrument for measuring
the rise of water in the Nile during its periodical flood.
Niloscope
Ni"lo*scope (?), n. [Gr. A Nilometer.
Nilotic
Ni*lot"ic (?), a. [L. Niloticus, fr. Nilus th Nile, Gr. nilotique.] Of
or pertaining to the river Nile; as, the Nilotic crocodile.
Nilt
Nilt (?). [Contr. fr. ne wilt.] Wilt not. [Obs.]
Nim
Nim (?), v. t. [imp. Nam (?) or Nimmed (; p. p. Nomen (?) or Nome (.]
[AS. niman. &root; 7. Cf. Nimble.] To take; to steal; to filch. [Obs.]
This canon it in his hand nam. Chaucer.
Nimbiferous
Nim*bif"er*ous (?), a. [L. nimbifer; nimbus a cloud + ferre to bear.]
Serving to bring clouds or stormy weather.
Nimble
Nim"ble (?), a. [Compar. Nimbler (?); superl. Nimblest (?).] [OE.
nimel, prob. orig., quick at seizing, fr. nimen to take, AS. niman;
akin to D. nemen, G. nehmen, OHG. neman, Icel. nema, Goth. nima, and
prob. to Gr. Nomand, Numb.] Light and quick in motion; moving with
ease and celerity; lively; swift.
Through the mid seas the nimble pinnace sails. Pope.
NOTE: &hand; Ni mble is so metimes us ed in th e fo rmation of
self-explaining compounds; as, nimble-footed, nimble-pinioned,
nimble-winged, etc.
Nimble Will (Bot.), a slender, branching, American grass (Muhlenbergia
diffusa), of some repute for grazing purposes in the Mississippi
valley. Syn. -- Agile; quick; active; brisk; lively; prompt.
Nimbleness
Nim"ble*ness, n. The quality of being nimble; lightness and quickness
in motion; agility; swiftness.
Nimbless
Nim"bless (?), n. Nimbleness. [Obs.] Spenser.
Nimbly
Nim"bly, adv. In a nimble manner; with agility; with light, quick
motion.
Nimbose
Nim*bose" (?), a. [L. nimbosus, fr. nimbus cloud.] Cloudy; stormy;
tempestuous.
Nimbus
Nim"bus (?), n.; pl. L. Nimbi (#), E. Nimbuses (#). [L., a rain storm,
a rain cloud, the cloudshaped which enveloped the gods when they
appeared on earth.]
1. (Fine Arts) A circle, or disk, or any indication of radiant light
around the heads of divinities, saints, and sovereigns, upon medals,
pictures, etc.; a halo. See Aureola, and Glory, n., 5.
NOTE: &hand; "T he ni mbus is of pagan origin." "As an atribute of
power, the nimbus is often seen attached to the heads of evil
spirits." Fairholl.
2. (Meteor.) A rain cloud; one of the four principal varieties of
clouds. See Cloud.
Nimiety
Ni*mi"e*ty (?), n. [L. nimietas, fr. nimius, a., nimis, adv., too
much.] State of being in excess. [R.]
There is a nimiety, a too-muchess, in all Germans. Coleridge.
Nimious
Nim"i*ous (?), a. [L. nimius.] Excessive; extravagant; inordinate.
[Obs.]
Nimmer
Nim"mer (?), n. [From Nim.] A thief. [Obs.]
Nin
Nin (?). [Fr. ne in.] Not in. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Nincompoop
Nin"com*poop (?), n. [A corruption of non compos.] A fool; a silly or
stupid person. [Law]
An old ninnyhammer, a dotard, a nincompoop, is the best language
she can afford me. Addison.
Nine
Nine (?), a. [OE. nine, nihen, AS. nigon, nigan; akin to D. & LG.
negen, OS. & OFries. nigun, OHG. niun, G. neun, Icel. n\'c6u, sw. nio,
Dan. ni, Goth. niun, Ir. & Gael. naoi, W. naw, L. novem, gr. navan; of
unknown origin. Novembeer.] Eight and one more; one less than ten; as,
nine miles. Nine men's morris. See Morris. -- Nine points circle
(Geom.), a circle so related to any given triangle as to pass through
the three points in which the perpendiculars from the angles of the
triangle upon the opposite sides (or the sides produced) meet the
sides. It also passes through the three middle points of the sides of
the triangle and through the three middle points of those parts of the
perpendiculars that are between their common point of meeting and the
angles of the triangle. The circle is hence called the nine points OR
six points circle.
Nine
Nine, n.
1. The number greater than eight by a unit; nine units or objects.
2. A symbol representing nine units, as 9 or ix.
The Nine, the nine Muses.
Nine-bark
Nine"-bark` (?), n. (Bot.) A white-flowered rosaceous shrub (Neillia,
OR Spir\'91a, opulifolia), common in the Northern United States. The
bark separates into many thin layers, whence the name.
Nine-eyes
Nine"-eyes` (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) The lamprey.
Ninefold
Nine"fold` (?), a. Nine times repeated.
Nineholes
Nine"holes` (?), n. pl. A game in which nine holes are made in the
ground, into which a ball is bowled.
Nine-killer
Nine"-kill`er (?), n. [So called because it is believed to kill and
impale on thorns nine birds, etc., in succession.] (Zo\'94l.) The
northern butcher bird.
Ninepence
Nine"pence (?), n.; pl. Ninepences (.
1. An old English silver coin, worth nine pence.
2. A New England name for the Spanish real, a coin formerly current in
the United States, as valued at twelve and a half cents.
Ninepins
Nine"pins (?), n. pl. A game played with nine pins, or pieces of wood,
set on end, at which a wooden ball is bowled to knock them down;
bowling.
NOTE: &hand; In the United States, ten pins are used for this game,
which is therefore often called tenpins.
Ninescore
Nine"score` (?), a. Nine times twenty, or one hundred and eighty. --
n. The product of nine times twenty; ninescore units or objects.
Nineteen
Nine"teen` (?), a. [AS. nigont, nigont. See Nine, and Ten.] Nine and
ten; eighteen and one more; one less than twenty; as, nineteen months.
Nineteen
Nine"teen`, n.
1. The number greater than eighteen by a unit; the sum of ten and
nine; nineteen units or objects.
2. A symbol for nineteen units, as 19 or xix.
Nineteenth
Nine"teenth` (?), a. [Cf. AS. nigonte\'a2.]
1. Following the eighteenth and preceding the twentieth; coming after
eighteen others.
2. Constituting or being one of nineteen equal parts into which
anything is divided.
Nineteenth
Nine"teenth`, n.
1. The quotient of a unit divided by nineteen; one of nineteen equal
parts of anything.
2. The next in order after the eighteenth.
3. (Mus.) An interval of two octaves and a fifth.
Ninetieth
Nine"ti*eth (?), a.
1. Next in order after the eighty-ninth.
2. Constituting or being one of ninety equal parts.
Ninetieth
Nine"ti*eth, n.
1. The quotient of a unit divided by ninety; one of ninety equal parts
of anything.
2. The next in order after the eighty-ninth.
Ninety
Nine"ty (?), a. [See Nine, and cf. Forty.] Nine times ten; eighty-nine
and one more; as, ninety men.
Ninety
Nine"ty, n.; pl. Nineties (.
1. The sum of nine times ten; the number greater by a unit than
eighty-nine; ninety units or objects.
2. A symbol representing ninety units, as 90 or xc.
Ninny
Nin"ny (?), n.; pl. Ninnies (#). [Cf. It. ninno, ninna, a baby, Sp.
ni\'a4o, ni\'a4a, child, infant, It. ninna, ninna nanna, lullably,
prob. fr. ni, na, as used in singing a child to sleep.] A fool; a
simpleton. Shak.
Ninnyhammer
Nin"ny*ham`mer (?), n. A simpleton; a silly person. [Colloq.] Addison.
Ninth
Ninth (?), a. [From Nine; cf. AS. nigo&edh;a.]
1. Following the eight and preceding the tenth; coming after eight
others.
2. Constituting or being one of nine equal parts into which anything
is divided.
Ninth
Ninth, n.
1. The quotient of one divided by nine; one of nine equal parts of a
thing; the next after the eighth.
2. (Mus.) (a) An interval containing an octave and a second. (b) A
chord of the dominant seventh with the ninth added.
Ninthly
Ninth"ly, adv. In the ninth place.
Ninut
Nin"ut (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) The magpie. [Prov. Eng.]
Niobate
Ni"o*bate (?), n. [See Niobium.] (Chem.) Same as Columbate.
Niobe
Ni"o*be (?), n. [L. Nioba, Niobe, gr. (Class, Myth.) The daughter of
Tantalus, and wife of Amphion, king of Thebes. Her pride in her
children provoked Apollo and Diana, who slew them all. Niobe herself
was changed by the gods into stone.
Niobic
Ni*ob"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Same as Columbic.
Niobite
Ni"o*bite (?), n. (Min.) Same as Columbite.
Niobium
Ni*o"bi*um (?), n. [NL., fr. L. & E. Niobe.] (Chem.) A later name of
columbium. See Columbium.
Niopo
Ni*o"po (?), n. A kind of snuff prepared by the natives of Venezuela
from the roasted seeds of a leguminous tree (Piptadenia peregrina),
thence called niopo tree.
Nip
Nip (?), n. [LG. & D. nippen to sip; akin to Dan. nippe, G. nippen.] A
sip or small draught; esp., a draught of intoxicating liquor; a dram.
Nip
Nip, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nipped (?), less properly Nipt; p. pr. & vb.
n. Nipping (?).] [OE. nipen; cf. D. niipen to pinch, also knippen to
nip, clip, pinch, snap, knijpen to pinch, LG. knipen, G. kneipen,
kneifen, to pinch, cut off, nip, Lith. knebti.]
1. To catch and inclose or compress tightly between two surfaces, or
points which are brought together or closed; to pinch; to close in
upon.
May this hard earth cleave to the Nadir hell, Down, down, and close
again, and nip me flat, If I be such a traitress. Tennyson.
2. To remove by pinching, biting, or cutting with two meeting edges of
anything; to clip.
The small shoots ... must be nipped off. Mortimer.
3. Hence: To blast, as by frost; to check the growth or vigor of; to
destroy.
4. To vex or pain, as by nipping; hence, to taunt.
And sharp remorse his heart did prick and nip. Spenser.
To nip in the bud, to cut off at the verycommencement of growth; to
kill in the incipient stage.
Nip
Nip, n.
1. A seizing or closing in upon; a pinching; as, in the northern seas,
the nip of masses of ice.
2. A pinch with the nails or teeth.
3. A small cut, or a cutting off the end.
4. A blast; a killing of the ends of plants by frost.
5. A biting sarcasm; a taunt. Latimer.
6. (Naut.) A short turn in a rope.
Nip and tuck, a phrase signifying equality in a contest. [Low, U.S.]
Nipper
Nip"per (?), n.
1. One who, or that which, nips.
2. A fore tooth of a horse. The nippers are four in number.
3. A satirist. [Obs.] Ascham.
4. A pickpocket; a young or petty thief. [Old Cant]
5. (Zo\'94l.) (a) The cunner. (b) A European crab (Polybius
Henslowii).
Nipperkin
Nip"per*kin, n. [See 1st Nip.] A small cup. [Obs.]
Nippers
Nip"pers (?), n. pl. [From 2d Nip.]
1. Small pinchers for holding, breaking, or cutting.
2. (Mach.) A device with fingers or jaws for seizing an object and
holding or conveying it; as, in a printing press, a clasp for catching
a sheet and conveying it to the form.
3. (Naut.) A number of rope-yarns wound together, used to secure a
cable to the messenger.
Nipping
Nip"ping (?), a. Biting; pinching; painful; destructive; as, a nipping
frost; a nipping wind.
Nippingly
Nip"ping*ly, adv. In a nipping manner.
Nippitate
Nip"pi*tate (?), a. [Cf. 1st Nip.] Peculiary strong and good; -- said
of ale or liquor. [Old Cant]
'T will make a cup of wine taste nippitate. Chapman.
Nippitato
Nip`pi*ta"to (?), n. Strong liquor. [Old Cant] Beau. & Fl.
Nipple
Nip"ple (?), n. [Formerly neble, a dim. of neb. See Neb, Nib.]
1. (Anat.) The protuberance through which milk is drawn from the
breast or mamma; the mammilla; a teat; a pap.
2. The orifice at which any animal liquid, as the oil from an oil bag,
is discharged. [R.] Derham.
3. Any small projection or article in which there is an orifice for
discharging a fluid, or for other purposes; as, the nipple of a
nursing bottle; the nipple of a percussion lock, or that part on which
the cap is put and through which the fire passes to the charge.
4. (Mech.) A pipe fitting, consisting of a short piece of pipe,
usually provided with a screw thread at each end, for connecting two
other fittings.
Solder nipple, a short pipe, usually of brass, one end of which is
tapered and adapted for attachment to the end of a lead pipe by
soldering.
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Page 977
Nipplewort
Nip"ple*wort` (?), n. (Bot.) A yellow-flowered composite herb
(Lampsana communis), formerly used as an external application to the
nipples of women; -- called also dock-cress.
Nirvana
Nir*va"na (?), n. [Skr. nirv\'be&nsdot;a.] In the Buddhist system of
religion, the final emancipation of the soul from transmigration, and
consequently a beatific enfrachisement from the evils of wordly
existence, as by annihilation or absorption into the divine. See
Buddhism.
Nis
Nis (?). [From ne is.] Is not. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Nisan
Ni"san (?), n. [Heb. n\'c6s\'ben.] The first month of the jewish
ecclesiastical year, formerly answering nearly to the month of April,
now to March, of the Christian calendar. See Abib.
Nisey
Ni"sey (?), n.; pl. Nyseys. A simpleton. [Obs.]
Nisi
Ni"si (?), conj. [L.] Unless; if not.<-- Law -->
NOTE: &hand; In le gal pr oceedings, this word is used to indicate
that any order, etc., shall take effect at a given time, unless
before that time the order, etc., in modified, or something else is
done to prevent its taking effect. Continuance nisi is a
conditional continuance of the case till the next term of the
court, unless otherwise disposed of in the mean time.
Nisi prius (Law), unless before; -- a phrase applied to terms of
court, held generally by a single judge, with a jury, for the trial of
civil causes. The term originated in a legal fiction. An issue of fact
being made up, it is, according to the English practice, appointed by
the entry on the record, or written proceedings, to be tried by a jury
from the county of which the proceedings are dated, at Westminster,
unless before the day appointed (nisi prius) the judges shall have
come to the county in question (which they always do) and there try
the cause. See In banc, under Banc.
Niste
Nis"te (?). [Contr. from ne wiste.] Wist not; knew not. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Nisus
Ni"sus (?), n. [L., fr. niti, p.p. nisus, to strive.] A striving; an
effort; a conatus.
A nisus or energizing towards a presented object. Hickok.
Nit
Nit (?), n. [AS. hnitu; akin to D. neet, G. niss, OHG. niz; cf. gr.
gnit, Sw. gnet, Dan. gnid, Russ. & Pol. gnida, Bohem. hnida, W. nedd.]
(Zo\'94l.) The egg of a louse or other small insect. Nit grass (Bot.),
a pretty annual European grass (Gastridium lendigerum), with small
spikelets somewhat resembling a nit. It is also found in California
and Chili.
Nitency
Ni"ten*cy (?), n. [L. nitens, p.pr. of nitere to shine.] Brightness;
luster. [R.]
Nitency
Ni"ten*cy, n. [From :. nitens, p.pr. pf niti to strive.] Endeavor;
rffort; tendency. [R.] Boyle.
Niter, Nitre
Ni"ter, Ni"tre (?), n. [F. nitre, L. nitrum native soda, natron, Gr.
nit, natr natron. Cf. Natron.]
1. (Chem.) A white crystalline semitransparent salt; potassium
nitrate; saltpeter. See Saltpeter.
2. (Chem.) Native sodium carbonate; natron. [Obs.]
For though thou wash thee with niter, and take thee much soap, yet
thine iniquity is marked before me. Jer. ii. 22.
Cubic niter, a deliquescent salt, sodium nitrate, found as a native
incrustation, like niter, in Peru and Chili, whence it is known also
as Chili saltpeter. -- Niter bush (Bot.), a genus (Nitraria) of thorny
shrubs bearing edible berries, and growing in the saline plains of
Asia and Northern Africa.
Nithing
Nith"ing (?), n. [Obs.] See Niding.
Nitid
Nit"id (?), a. [L. nitidus, fr. nitere. See 3d Neat.]
1. Bright; lustrous; shining. [R.] Boyle.
2. Gay; spruce; fine; -- said of persons. [R.] T. Reeve.
Nitranilic
Ni`tra*nil"ic (?), a. [Nitro- + chloranil + -ic.] (Chem.) Of,
pertaining to, or designating, a complex organic acid produced as a
white crystalline substance by the action of nitrous acid on
hydroquinone.
Nitraniline
Ni*tran"i*line (? OR ?), n. [Nitro- + aniline.] (Chem.) Any one of a
series of nitro derivatives of aniline. In general they are yellow
crystalline substances.
Nitrate
Ni"trate (?), n. [Cf. F. nitrate.] (Chem.) A salt of nitric acid.
Nitrate of silver, a white crystalline salt (AgNO3), used in
photography and as a cauterizing agent; -- called also lunar
caustic.<-- usu. called silver nitrate -->
Nitrated
Ni"tra*ted (?), a.
1. (Chem.) Combined, or impregnated, with nitric acid, or some of its
compounds.
2. (Photog.) Prepared with nitrate of silver.
Nitratine
Ni"tra*tine (?), n. (Min.) A mineral occurring in transparent
crystals, usually of a white, sometimes of a reddish gray, or
lemon-yellow, color; native sodium nitrate. It is used in making
nitric acid and for manure. Called also soda niter.
Nitre
Ni"tre (?), n. (Chem.) See Niter.
Nitriary
Ni"tri*a*ry (?), n. [See Niter.] An artificial bed of animal matter
for the manufacture of niter by nitrification. See Nitrification, 2.
Nitric
Ni"tric (?), a. [Cf. F. nitrique. See Niter.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining
to, or containing, nitrogen; specifically, designating any one of
those compounds in which, as contrasted with nitrous compounds, the
element has a higher valence; as, nitric oxide; nitric acid. Nitric
acid, a colorless or yellowish liquid obtained by distilling a nitrate
with sulphuric acid. It is powerfully corrosive, being a strong acid,
and in decomposition a strong oxidizer. -- Nitric anhydride, a white
crystalline oxide of nitrogen (N2O5), called nitric pentoxide, and
regarded as the anhydride of nitric acid. -- Nitric oxide, a colorless
poisous gas (NO) obtained by treating nitric acid with copper. On
contact with the air or with oxygen, it becomes reddish brown from the
formation of nitric dioxide or peroxide.<-- nitric dioxide (nitrogen
dioxide) is not defined! = NO2-->
Nitride
Ni"tride (? OR ?), n. [fromNitrogen.] (Chem.) A binary compound of
nitrogen with a more metallic element or radical; as, boric nitride.
Nitriferous
Ni*trif"er*ous (?), a. [Niter + -ferous.] Bearing niter; yielding, or
containing, niter.
Nitrification
Ni`tri*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. nitrification. see Nitrify.]
1. (Chem.) (a) The act, process, or result of combining with nitrogen
or some of its compounds. (b) The act or process of oxidizing nitrogen
or its compounds so as to form nitrous or nitric acid.
2. A process of oxidation, in which nitrogenous vegetable and animal
matter in the presence of air, moisture, and some basic substances, as
lime or alkali carbonate, is converted into nitrates.
NOTE: &hand; Th e pr ocess is going on at all times in porous soils
and in water contaminated with nitrogenous matter, and is supposed
to be due to the presence of an organized ferment or ferments,
called nitrification ferments. In former times the process was
extensively made use of in the production of saltpeter.
Nitrifier
Ni"tri*fi`er (?), n. (Chem.) An agent employed in nitrification.
Nitrify
Ni"tri*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nitrified (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Nitrifying (?).] [Niter + -fy: cf. F. nitrifer. See Niter.] (Chem.) To
combine or impregnate with nitrogen; to convert, by oxidation, into
nitrous or nitric acid; to subject to, or produce by, nitrification.
Nitrile
Ni"trile (? OR ?), n. [See Nitro-.] (Chem.) Any one of a series of
cyanogen compounds; particularly, one of those cyanides of alcohol
radicals which, by boiling with acids or alkalies, produce a carboxyl
acid, with the elimination of the nitrogen as ammonia.
NOTE: &hand; Th e ni triles ar e na med with reference to the acids
produced by their decomposition, thus, hydrocyanic acid is formic
nitrile, and methyl cyanide is acetic nitrile.
<-- usu. acetonitrile -->
Nitrite
Ni"trite (?), n. [Cf. F. nitrite. See Niter.] (Chem.) A salt of
nitrous acid. Amyl nitrite, a yellow oily volatile liquid, used in
medicine as a depressant and a vaso-dilator. Its inhalation produces
an instantaneous flushing of the face.
Nitro-
Ni"tro- (.
1. A combining form or an adjective denoting the presence of niter.
2. (Chem.) A combining form (used also adjectively) designating
certain compounds of nitrogen or of its acids, as nitrohydrochloric,
nitrocalcite; also, designating the group or radical NO2, or its
compounds, as nitrobenzene.
Nitro group, the radical NO2; -- called also nitroxyl.
Nitrobenzene
Ni`tro*ben"zene (? OR ?), n. [Nitro- + benzene.] (Chem.) A yellow
aromatic liquid (C6H5.NO2), produced by the action of nitric acid on
benzene, and called from its odor imitation oil of bitter almonds, or
essence of mirbane. It is used in perfumery, and is manufactured in
large quantities in the preparation of aniline. Fornerly called also
nitrobenzol.
Nitrobenzol, Nitrobenzole
Ni`tro*ben"zol, Ni`tro*ben"zole, (, n. See Nitrobenzene.
Nitrocalcite
Ni`tro*cal"cite (?), n. [Nitro- + calcite.] (Min.) Nitrate of calcium,
a substance having a grayish white color, occuring in efforescences on
old walls, and in limestone caves, especially where there exists
decaying animal matter.
Nitrocarbol
Ni`tro*car"bol (?), n. [Nitro- + carbon + L. oleum oil.] (Chem.) See
Nitromethane.
Nitrocellulose
Ni`tro*cel"lu*lose` (?), n. [Nitro- + cellulose.] (Chem.) See Gun
cotton, under Gun.
Nitro-chloroform
Ni`tro-chlo"ro*form (?), n. [Nitro- + chloroform.] (Chem.) Same as
Chlorpicrin.
Nitroform
Ni"tro*form (?), n. [Nitro- + formyl.] (Chem.) A nitro derivative of
methane, analogous to chloroform, obtained as a colorless oily or
crystalline substance, CH.(NO2)3, quite explosive, and having
well-defined acid properties.
Nitrogelatin
Ni`tro*gel"a*tin (?), n. [Nitro- + gelatin.] An explosive consisting
of gun cotton and camphor dissolved in nitroglycerin. [Written also
nitrogelatine.]
Nitrogen
Ni`tro*gen (?), n. [L. nitrum natron + -gen: cf. F. nitrog\'8ane. See
Niter.] (Chem.) A colorless nonmetallic element, tasteless and
odorless, comprising four fifths of the atmosphere by volume. It is
chemically very inert in the free state, and as such is incapable of
supporting life (hence the name azote still used by French chemists);
but it forms many important compounds, as ammonia, nitric acid, the
cyanides, etc, and is a constituent of all organized living tissues,
animal or vegetable. Symbol N. Atomic weight 14. It was formerly
regarded as a permanent noncondensible gas, but was liquefied in 1877
by Cailletet of Paris, and Pictet of Geneva.
Nitrogenize
Ni"tro*gen*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nitrogenized (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Nitrogenizing.] (Chem.) To combine, or impregnate, with nitrogen or
its compounds.
Nitrogenous
Ni*trog"e*nous (?), a. (Chem.) of, pertaining to, or resembling,
nitrogen; as, a nitrogenous principle; nitrogenous compounds.
Nitrogenous foods. See 2d Note under Food, n., 1.
Nitroglycerin
Ni`tro*glyc"er*in (?), n. [Nitro- + glycerinn.] (Chem.) A liquid
appearing like a heavy oil, colorless or yellowish, and consisting of
a mixture of several glycerin salts of nitric acid, and hence more
properly called glycerin nitrate. It is made by the action of nitric
acid on glycerin in the presence of sulphuric acid. It is extremely
unstable and terribly explosive. A very dilute solution is used in
medicine as a neurotic under the name of glonion. [Written also
nitroglycerine.]
NOTE: &hand; A gr eat nu mber of ex plosive co mpounds ha ve been
produced by mixing nitroglycerin with different substances; as,
dynamite, or giant powder, nitroglycerin mixed with siliceous
earth; lithofracteur, nitroglycerin with gunpowder, or with sawdust
and nitrate of sodium or barium; Colonia powder, gunpowder with
nitroglycerin; dualin, nitroglycerin with sawdust, or with sawdust
and nitrate of potassium and some other substances; lignose, wood
fiber and nitroglycerin.
Nitrohydrochloric
Ni`tro*hy`dro*chlo"ric (?), a. [Nitro- + hydrochloric.] (Chem.) Of,
pertaining to, or containing, nitric and hydrochloric acids.
Nitrohydrochloric acid, a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids,
usually in the proportion of one part of the former to three of the
latter, and remarkable for its solvent action on gold and platinum; --
called also nitromuriatic acid, and aqua regia.
Nitrol
Ni"trol (?), n. (Chem.) Any one of a series of hydrocarbons containing
the nitro and the nitroso or isonitroso group united to the same
carbon atom.
Nitroleum
Ni*tro"le*um (?), n. [NL., fr. L. nitrum natron + oleum oil.] (Chem.)
Nitroglycerin.
Nitrolic
Ni*trol"ic (?), a. (Chem.) of, derived from, or designating, a nitrol;
as, a nitrolic acid.
Nitromagnesite
Ni`tro*mag"ne*site (?), n. [Nitro- + magnesite.] (Chem.) Nitrate of
magnesium, a saline efflorescence closely resembling nitrate of
calcium.
Nitrometer
Ni*trom"e*ter (?), n. [Nitro- + -meter: cf. F. nitrom\'8atre.] (Chem.)
An apparatus for determining the amount of nitrogen or some of its
compounds in any substance subjected to analysis; an azotometer.
Nitromethane
Ni`tro*meth"ane (?), n. [Nitro- + methane.] (Chem.) A nitro derivative
of methane obtained as a mobile liquid; -- called also nitrocarbol.
Nitromuriatic
Ni`tro*mu`ri*at"ic (?), a. [Cf. F. nitromuriatique. See Nitro-, and
Muriatic.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or composed of, nitric acid and
muriatic acid; nitrohydrochloric. See Nitrohydrochloric.
Nitrophnol
Ni`tro*ph"nol (?), n. [Nitro- + phenol.] (Chem.) Any one of a series
of nitro derivatives of phenol. They are yellow oily or crystalline
substances and have well-defined acid properties, as picric acid.
Nitroprussic
Ni`tro*prus"sic (? OR , a. [Nitro- + prussic.] (Chem.) Pertaining to,
derived from, or designating, a complex acid called nitroprussic acid,
obtained indirectly by the action of nitric acid on potassium
ferrocyanide (yellow prussiate), as a red crystalline unstable
substance. It forms salts called nitroprussides, which give a rich
purple color with alkaline subphides.
Nitroprusside
Ni`tro*prus"side (?), n. See Nitroprussic.
Nitroquinol
Ni`tro*qui"nol (?), n. [Nitro- + quine + -ol.] (Chem.) A hypothetical
nitro derivative of quinol or hydroquinone, not known in the free
state, but forming a well defined series of derivatives.
Niteosaccharin
Ni`teo*sac"cha*rin (?), n. [Nitro- + saccharin.] (Chem.) An explosive
nitro derivative of certain sugars, analogous to nitroglycerin, gun
cotton, etc.
Nitrosalicylic
Ni`tro*sal`i*cyl"ic (?), a. [Nitro- + salicylic.] (Chem.) Of,
pertaining to, or designating, a nitro derivative of salicylic acid,
called also anilic acid.
Nitrose
Ni*trose" (?), a. (Chem.) See Nitrous.
Nitroso-
Ni*tro"so- (. (Chem.) A prefix (also used adjectively) designating the
group or radical NO, called the nitroso group, or its compounds.
Nitrosyl
Ni*tro"syl (?), n. [Nitroso- + -yl.] (Chem.) the radical NO, called
also the nitroso group. The term is sometimes loosely used to
designate certain nitro compounds; as, nitrosyl sulphuric acid. Used
also adjectively.
Nitrosylic
Ni`tro*syl"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or containing,
nitrosyl; as, nitrosylic acid.
Nitrous
Ni"trous (?), a. [L. nitrosus full of natron: cf. F. nitreux. See
Niter.]
1. Of, pertaining to, or containing, niter; of the quality of niter,
or resembling it.
2. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, any one of those
compounds in which nitrogen has a relatively lower valence as
contrasted with nitric compounds.
Nitrous acid (Chem.), a hypothetical acid of nitrogen HNO2, not known
in the free state, but forming a well known series of salts, viz., the
nitrites. -- Nitrous oxide. See Laughing gas.
Nitroxyl
Ni*trox"yl (?), n. [Nitro- + oxygen + -yl.] (Chem.) The group NO2,
usually called the nitro group.
Nitrum
Ni"trum (?), n. [L., natron. See Niter.] (Old Chem.) Niter. Nitrum
flammans [L., flaming niter] (Old Chem.), ammonium nitrate; --
probably so called because it deflagerates when suddenly heated.
Nitry
Ni"try (?), a. (Chem.) Nitrous. [Obs.]
Nitryl
Ni"tryl (?), n. [Nitro- + -yl.] (Chem.) A name sometimes given to the
nitro group or radical.
Nitter
Nit"ter (?), n. [From Nit.] (Zo\'94l.) The horselouse; an insect that
deposits nits on horses.
Nittily
Nit"ti*ly (?), adv. Lousily. [Obs.] Haywar
Nittings
Nit"tings (?), n. pl. [Prob. from Nit.] (Mining) The refuse of good
ore. Raymond.
Nitty
Nit"ty (?), a. Full of nits. B. Jonson.
Nitty
Nit"ty, a. [L. nitidus. See Nitid.] Shining; elegant; spruce. [Obs.]
"O sweet, nitty youth." Marston.
Nival
Ni"val (?), a. [L. nivalis, fr. nix, nivis, snow.] Abounding with
snow; snowy. [Obs.] Johnson.
Niveous
Niv"e*ous (?), a. [L. niveus, fr. nix, nivis, snow.] Snowy; resembling
snow; partaking of the qualities of snow. Sir T. Browne.
Nivose
Ni`vose" (?), n. [F., fr. L. nix. nivis, snow.] The fourth month of
the French republican calendar [1792-1806]. It commenced December 21,
and ended January 19. See Vend\'90miaire.
Nix
Nix (?), n.; fem. Nixe (. [G. Cf. 1st Nick.] (Teut. Myth.) One of a
class of water spirits, commonly described as of a mischievous
disposition.
The treacherous nixes who entice men to a watery death. Tylor.
Nixie
Nix"ie (?), n. See Nix.
Nizam
Ni*zam" (?), n. [Hind. & Ar. niz\'bem order, a ruler, fr. Ar. nazama
arrange, govern.] The title of the native sovereigns of Hyderabad, in
India, since 1719.
No
No (?), a. [OE. no, non, the same word as E. none; cf. E. a, an. See
None.] Not any; not one; none.
Let there be no strife ... between me and thee. Gen. xiii. 8.
That goodness is no name, and happiness no dream. Byron.
NOTE: &hand; In Old England before a vowel the form non or noon was
used. "No man." "Noon apothercary."
Chaucer.
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Page 978
No
No, adv. [OE. no, na, AS. n\'be; ne not + \'be ever. AS. ne is akin to
OHG. ni, Goth. ni, Russ. ne, Ir., Gael. & W. ni, L. ne, gr. nh (in
comp.), Skr. na, and also to E. prefix un-. &root; 193. See Aye, and
cf. Nay, Not, Nice, Nefarious.] Nay; not; not at all; not in any
respect or degree; -- a word expressing negation, denial, or refusal.
Before or after another negative, no is emphatic.
We do no otherwise than we are willed. Shak.
I am perplx'd and doubtful whether or no I dare accept this your
congratulation. Coleridge.
There is none righteous, no, not one. Rom. iii. 10.
No! Nay, Heaven forbid. Coleridge.
No
No (?), n.; pl. Noes (.
1. A refusal by use of the wordd no; a denial.
2. A negative vote; one who votes in the negative; as, to call for the
ayes and noes; the noes have it.
Noachian
No*a"chi*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to the patriarch Noah, or to his
time.
Noah
No"ah (?), n. [Heb. N&omac;akh rest.] A patriarch of Biblical history,
in the time of the Deluge. Noah's ark. (a) (Zo\'94l.) A marine bivalve
shell (Arca No\'91), which somewhat resembles an ark, or ship, in
form. (b) A child's toy, consisting of an ark-shaped box containing
many different wooden animals.
Nob
Nob (?), n. [Cf. Knob.] The head. [Low]
Nob
Nob, n. [Abbrev. fr. noble.] A person in a superior position in life;
a nobleman. [Slang]
Nobbily
Nob"bi*ly (?), adv. In a nobby manner. [Slang]
Nobbler
Nob"bler (?), n. A dram of spirits. [Australia]
Nobby
Nob"by (?), a. [From 2d Nob.] Stylish; modish; elegant; showy;
aristocratic; fashionable. [Slang]
Nobiliary
No*bil"ia*ry (?), a. [F. nobiliare. See Noble.] Of or pertaining to
the nobility. Fitzed. Hall.
Nobiliary
No*bil"ia*ry, n. A history of noble families.
Nobilify
No*bil"i*fy (?), v. t. [L. nobilis noble + -fy.] To make noble; to
nobiliate. [Obs.]
Nobilitate
No*bil"i*tate (?), v. t. [L. nobilitatus, p.p. of nobilitare.] To make
noble; to ennoble; to exalt. [Obs.]
Nobilitation
No*bil`i*ta"tion (?), n. [Cf. OF. nobilitation.] The act of making
noble. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
Nobility
No*bil"i*ty (?), n. [L. nobilitas: cf. OF. nobilit\'82. See Noble.]
1. The quality or state of being noble; superiority of mind or of
character; commanding excellence; eminence.
Though she hated Amphialus, yet the nobility of her courage
prevailed over it. Sir P. Sidney.
They thought it great their sovereign to control, And named their
pride nobility of soul. Dryden.
2. The state of being of high rank or noble birth; patrician dignity;
antiquity of family; distinction by rank, station, or title, whether
inherited or conferred.
I fell on the same argument of preferring virtue to nobility of
blood and titles, in the story of Sigismunda. Dryden.
3. Those who are noble; the collictive body of nobles or titled
persons in a stste; the aristocratic and patrician class; the peerage;
as, the English nobility.
Noble
No"ble (?), a. [Compar. Nobler (?); superl. Noblest (?).] [F. noble,
fr. L. nobilis that can be or is known, well known, famous, highborn,
noble, fr.noscere to know. See know.]
1. Possessing eminence, elevation, dignity, etc.; above whatever is
low, mean, degrading, or dishonorable; magnanimous; as, a noble nature
or action; a noble heart.
Statues, with winding ivy crowned, belong To nobler poets for a
nobler song. Dryden.
2. Grand; stately; magnificent; splendid; as, a noble edifice.
3. Of exalted rank; of or pertaining to the nobility; distinguished
from the masses by birth, station, or title; highborn; as, noble
blood; a noble personage.
NOTE: &hand; No ble is us ed in th e formation of self-explaining
compounds; as, noble-born, noble-hearted, noble-minded.
Noble metals (Chem.), silver, gold, and platinum; -- so called from
their freedom from oxidation and permanence in air. Copper, mercury,
aluminium, palladium, rhodium, iridium, and osmium are sometimes
included. Syn. -- Honorable; worthy; dignified; elevated; exalted;
superior; sublime; great; eminent; illustrious; renowned; stately;
splendid; magnificent; grand; magnanimous; generous; liberal; free.
Noble
No"ble, n.
1. A person of rank above a commoner; a nobleman; a peer.
2. An English money of account, and, formerly, a gold coin, of the
value of 6 s. 8 d. sterling, or about $1.61.
3. (Zo\'94l.) A European fish; the lyrie.
Noble
No"ble, v. t. To make noble; to ennoble. [Obs.]
Thou nobledest so far forth our nature. Chaucer.
Nobleman
No"ble*man (?), n.; pl. Noblemen (. One of the nobility; a noble; a
peer; one who enjoys rank above a commoner, either by virtue of birth,
by office, or by patent.
Noble-minded
No"ble-mind`ed (?), a. Having a noble mind; honorable; magnanimous. --
No"ble-mind`ed*ness, n.
Nobleness
No"ble*ness, n. The quality or state of being noble; greatness;
dignity; magnanimity; elevation of mind, character, or station;
nobility; grandeur; stateliness.
His purposes are full honesty, nobleness, and integrity. Jer.
Taylor.
Nobless, Noblesse
No*bless", No*blesse" (?; 277), n. [F. noblesse. See Noble.]
1. Dignity; greatness; noble birth or condition. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Spenser. B. Jonson.
2. The nobility; persons of noble rank collectively, including males
and females. Dryden.
Noblewoman
No"ble*wom`an (?), n.; pl. Noblewomen (. A female of noble rank; a
peeress.
Nobley
No"bley (?), n. [OF. nobleie.]
1. The body of nobles; the nobility. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. Noble birth; nobility; dignity. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Nobly
No"bly (?), adv.
1. Of noble extraction; as, nobly born or descended.
2. In a noble manner; with greatness of soul; heroically; with
magnanimity; as, a deed nobly done.
3. Splendidly; magnificently. Syn. -- Illustriously; honorably;
magnanimously; heroically; worthly; eminently; grandly.
Nobody
No"bod*y (?), n.; pl. Nobodies (#). [No, a. + body.]
1. No person; no one; not anybody.
2. Hence: A person of no influence or importance; an insignificant or
contemptible person. [Colloq.]
Nocake
No"cake (?), n. [Corrupted fr. Indian nookhik meal. Palfrey.] Indian
corn parched, and beaten to powder, -- used for food by the Northern
American Indians.
Nocent
No"cent (?), a. [L. nocens, p.pr. of nocere to hurt. See Nuisance,
Noxious.]
1. Doing hurt, or having a tendency to hurt; hurtful; mischievous;
noxious; as, nocent qualities. I. Watts.
2. Guilty; -- the opposite of innocent. [Obs.] Foxe.
Nocent
No"cent, n. A criminal. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Nocently
No"cent*ly, adv. Hurtfully; injuriosly. [R.]
Nocive
No"cive (?), a. [L. nocivus, fr. nocere to hurt.] Hurtful; injurious.
[R.] Hooker.
Nock
Nock (?), n. [See Notch.]
1. A notch.
He took his arrow by the nock. Chapman.
2. (Naut.) The upper fore corner of a boom sail or of a trysail.
Nock
Nock, v. t. To notch; to fit to the string, as an arrow; to string, as
a bow. Chapman.
Noctambulation
Noc*tam`bu*la"tion (?), n. [L. nox, noctis, night + ambulare to walk:
cf. F. noctambulation.] Somnambulism; walking in sleep. Quain.
Noctambulism
Noc*tam"bu*lism (?), n. Somnambulism.
Noctambulist
Noc*tam"bu*list (?), n. A somnambulist.
Noctambulo
Noc*tam"bu*lo (?), n. A noctambulist. [Obs.]
Noctidial
Noc*tid"i*al (?), a. [L. nox, noctos, night + dies day.] Comprising a
night and a day; a noctidial day. [R.] Holder.
Noctiferous
Noc*tif"er*ous (?), a. [L. noctifer; nox, noctis + ferre to bring.]
Bringing night. [Obs.] Johnson.
Noctilionid
Noc*til"i*o*nid (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zo\'94l.) A South
American bat of the genus Noctilio, having cheek pouches and large
incisor teeth.
Noctiluca
Noc`ti*lu"ca (?), n.; pl. Noctiluc\'92 (#). [L. noctiluca something
that shines by night, fr. nox, noctis, night + lucere to shine, lux
light.]
1. (Old Chem.) That which shines at night; -- a fanciful name for
phosphorus.
2. (Zo\'94l.) A genus of marine flagellate Infusoria, remarkable for
their unusually large size and complex structure, as well as for their
phosphorescence. The brilliant diffuse phosphorescence of the sea is
often due to myriads of Noctiluc\'91.
Noctilucin
Noc*ti*lu"cin (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) A fatlike substance in certain marine
animals, to which they owe their phosphorescent properties.
Noctilucine
Noc`ti*lu"cine (?), a. (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to Noctiluca.
Noctilucous
Noc`ti*lu"cous (?), a. Shining in the night.
Noctivagant
Noc*tiv"a*gant (?), a. [L. nox, noctis, night + vagans, p.pr. of
vagari to wander about.] (Zo\'94l.) Going about in the night;
night-wandering.
Noctivagation
Noc*tiv`a*ga"tion (?), n. A roving or going about in the night.
Gayton.
Noctivagous
Noc*tiv"a*gous (?), a. [L. noctivagus; nox, noctis + vagus wandering.]
Noctivagant.
Noctograph
Noc"to*graph (?), n. [L. nox, noctis, night + -graph.]
1. A kind of writing frame for the blind.
2. An instrument or register which records the presence of watchmen on
their beats. Knight.
Noctuary
Noc"tu*a*ry (?; 135), n. [L. noctu by night.] A record of what passes
in the night; a nightly journal; -- distinguished from diary. [R.]
Addison.
Noctuid
Noc"tu*id (?), n. [From L. nox, noctis, night.] (Zo\'94l.) Any one of
numerous moths of the family Noctuid\'91, or Noctu\'91lit\'91, as the
cutworm moths, and armyworm moths; -- so called because they fly at
night. -- a. Of or pertaining to the noctuids, or family Noctuid\'91.
Noctule
Noc"tule (?; 135), n. [F., fr. L. noctua a night owl, fr. nox, noctis,
night.] (Zo\'94l.) A large European bat (Vespertilio, OR Noctulina,
altivolans).
Nocturn
Noc"turn (?), n. [F. nocturne, fr. L. nocturnus. See Nocturnal, and
cf. Nocturne.]
1. An office of devotion, or act of religious service, by night.
2. One of the portions into which the Psalter was divided, each
consisting of nine psalms, designed to be used at a night service.
Hook.
Nocturnal
Noc*tur"nal (?), a. [L. nocturnalis, nocturnus, fr. nox, noctis,
night. See Night, and cf. Nocturn.]
1. Of, pertaining to, done or occuring in, the night; as, nocturnal
darkness, cries, expedition, etc.; -- opposed to diurnal. Dryden.
2. Having a habit of seeking food or moving about at night; as,
nocturnal birds and insects.
Nocturnal
Noc*tur"nal, n. An instrument formerly used for taking the altitude of
the stars, etc., at sea. I. Watts.
Nocturnally
Noc*tur"nal*ly, adv. By night; nightly.
Nocturne
Noc*turne" (?), n. [F. See Nocturn.] (Mus.) A night piece, or
serenade. The name is now used for a certain graceful and expressive
form of instrumental composition, as the nocturne for orchestra in
Mendelsohn's "Midsummer-Night's Dream" music.
Nocument
Noc"u*ment (?), n. [LL. nocumentum, fr. L. nocere to hurt.] Harm;
injury; detriment. [Obs.]
Nocuous
Noc"u*ous (?), a. [L. nocuus, fr. nocere to hurt.] Hurtful; noxious.
[R.] -- Noc"u*ous*ly, adv. [R.]
Nod
Nod (?), v. i. [OE. nodden; cf. OHG. kn, genuot, to shake, and E.
nudge.]
1. To bend or incline the upper part, with a quick motion; as, nodding
plumes.
2. To incline the head with a quick motion; to make a slight bow; to
make a motion of assent, of salutation, or of drowsiness, with the
head; as, to nod at one.
3. To be drowsy or dull; to be careless.
Nor is it Homer nods, but we that dream. Pope.
Nod
Nod, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nodded (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Nodding.]
1. To incline or bend, as the head or top; to make a motion of assent,
of salutation, or of drowsiness with; as, to nod the head.
2. To signify by a nod; as, to nod approbation.
3. To cause to bend. [Poetic]
By every wind that nods the mountain pine. Keats.
Nod
Nod (?), n.
1. A dropping or bending forward of the upper oart or top of anything.
Like a drunken sailor on a mast, Ready with every nod to tumble
down. Shak.
2. A quick or slight downward or forward motion of the head, in
assent, in familiar salutation, in drowsiness, or in giving a signal,
or a command.
A look or a nod only ought to correct them [the children] when they
do amiss. Locke.
Nations obey my word and wait my nod. Prior.
The land of Nod, sleep.
Nodal
Nod"al (?), a. Of the nature of, or relating to, a node; as, a nodal
point. Nodal line, Nodal point, in a vibrating plate or cord, that
line or point which remains at rest while the other parts of the body
are in a state of vibration.
Nodated
No"da*ted (?), a. [L. nodatus, p.p. of nodare to make knotty, fr.
nodus knot. See Node.] Knotted. Nodated hyperbola (Geom.), a certain
curve of the third order having two branches which cross each other,
forming a node.
Nodation
No*da"tion (?), n. [L. nodatio knottiness.] Act of making a knot, or
state of being knotted. [R.]
Nodder
Nod"der (?), n. One who nods; a drowsy person.
Nodding
Nod"ding (?), a. Curved so that the apex hangs down; having the top
bent downward.
Noddle
Nod"dle (?), n. [OE. nodil, nodle; perh. fr. nod, because the head is
the nodding part of the body, or perh. akin to E. knot; cf. Prov. E.
nod the nape of the neck.]
1. The head; -- used jocosely or contemptuously.<-- now usu. noodle
(not in W1913) or noggin -->
Come, master, I have a project in my noddle. L'Estrange.
2. The back part of the head or neck. [Obs.]
For occasion ... turneth a bald noddle, after she hath presented
her locks in front, and no hold taken. Bacon.
Noddy
Nod"dy (?), n.; pl. Noddies (#). [Prob. fr. nod to incline the head,
either as in assent, or from drowsiness.]
1. A simpleton; a fool. L'Estrange.
2. (Zo\'94l.) (a) Any tern of the genus Anous, as A. stolidus. (b) The
arctic fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis). Sometimes also applied to other
sea birds.
3. An old game at cards. Halliwell.
4. A small two-wheeled one-horse vehicle.
5. An inverted pendulum consisting of a short vertical flat spring
which supports a rod having a bob at the top; -- used for detecting
and measuring slight horizontal vibrations of a body to which it is
attached.
Node
Node (?), n. [L. nodus; perh. akin to E. knot. Cf. Noose, Nowed.]
1. A knot, a knob; a protuberance; a swelling.
2. Specifically: (a) (Astron.) One of the two points where the orbit
of a planet, or comet, intersects the ecliptic, or the orbit of a
satellite intersects the plane of the orbit of its primary. (b) (Bot.)
The joint of a stem, or the part where a leaf or several leaves are
inserted. (c) (Dialing) A hole in the gnomon of a dial, through which
passes the ray of light which marks the hour of the day, the parallels
of the sun's declination, his place in the ecliptic, etc. (d) (Geom.)
The point at which a curve crosses itself, being a double point of the
curve. See Crunode, and Acnode. (e) (Mech.) The point at which the
lines of a funicular machine meet from different angular directions;
-- called also knot. W. R. Johnson. (f) (poet.) The knot, intrigue, or
plot of a piece. (g) (Med.) A hard concretion or incrustation which
forms upon bones attacked with rheumatism, gout, or syphilis;
sometimes also, a swelling in the neighborhood of a joint. Dunglison.
(h) (Mus) One of the fixed points of a sonorous string, when it
vibrates by aliquot parts, and produces the harmonic tones; nodal line
or point. (i) (Zo\'94l.) A swelling.
Ascending node (Astron.), the node at which the body is passing
northerly, marked with the symbol &astascending;, called the Dragon's
head. Called also northern node. -- Descending node, the node at which
the body is moving southwardly, marked thus &astdescending;, called
Dragon's tail. -- Line of nodes, a straight line joining the two nodes
of an orbit.
Nodical
Nod"ic*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to the nodes; from a node to the
same node again; as, the nodical revolutions of the moon. Nodical
month. See Lunar month, under Month.
Nodosarine
No`do*sa"rine (?), a. (Zo\'94l.) Resembling in form or structure a
foraminiferous shell of the genus Nodosaria. -- n. (Zo\'94l.) A
foraminifer of the genus Nodosaria or of an allied genus.
Nodose
No*dose" (?), a. [L. nodosus, fr. nodus knot.]
1. Knotty; having numerous or conspicuous nodes.
2. (Zo\'94l.) Having nodes or prominences; having the alternate joints
enlarged, as the antenn\'91 of certain insects.
Nodosity
No*dos"i*ty (, n. [L. nodositas.]
1. The quality of being knotty or nodose; resemblance to a node or
swelling; knottiness. Holland.
2. A knot; a node.
Nodosous, Nodous
No*do"sous (?), No"dous (?), a. Nodose; knotty; knotted. [Obs.]
Nodular
Nod"u*lar (?; 135), a. [Cf. F. nodulaire.] Of, pertaining to, or in
the form of, a nodule or knot.
Nodule
Nod"ule (?), n. [L. nodulus, dim. of nodus knot: cf. F. nodule.] A
rounded mass or irregular shape; a little knot or lump.
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Noduled
Nod"uled (?), a. Having little knots or lumps.
Nodulose, Nodulous
Nod"u*lose` (?), Nod"u*lous (?), a. (Biol.) Having small nodes or
knots; diminutively nodose.
Noel
No"el (?), n. [F. no\'89l, L. natalis birthday, fr. natalis natal. See
Natal.] Same as Nowel.
Noematachograph
No*e`ma*tach"o*graph (?), n. [Gr. -graph.] An instrument for
determining and registering the duration of more or less complex
operations of the mind. Dunglison.
Noematic, Noematical
No`e*mat"ic (?), No`e*mat"ic*al (?), a. [Gr. Noetic.] Of or pertaining
to the understanding. [Obs.] Cudworth.
Noemics
No*e"mics (?), n. [Gr. Noetic.] The science of the understanding;
intellectual science.
Noetian
No*e"tian (?), n. (Eccl. Hist.) One of the followers of Noetus, who
lived in the third century. He denied the distinct personality of the
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Noetic, Noetical
No*et"ic (?), No*et"ic*al (?), a. [Gr. Of or pertaining to the
intellect; intellectual.
I would employ the word noetic to express all those cognitions
which originate in the mind itself. Sir W. Hamilton.
Nof
Nof (?). [Contr. fr. ne of.] Not of; nor of. [Obs.]
Nog
Nog (?), n. [Abbrev. fr. noggin.]
1. A noggin.
2. A kind of strong ale. Halliwell.
Nog
Nog, n. [Etymol. uncertain.]
1. A wooden block, of the size of a brick, built into a wall, as a
hold for the nails of woodwork.
2. One of the square logs of wood used in a pile to support the roof
of a mine.
3. (Shipbuilding) A treenail to fasten the shores.
Nog
Nog, v. t. [From 2d Nog.]
1. To fill in, as between scantling, with brickwork.
2. (Shipbuilding) To fasten, as shores, with treenails.
Noggen
Nog"gen (?), a. [Prop., made of hemp, fr. Prov. E. nogs hemp.] Made of
hemp; hence, hard; rough; harsh. [Obs.] Johnson.
Noggin
Nog"gin (?), n. [Ir. noigin, or Gael. noigean. Cf. lst Nog.]
1. A small mug or cup.
2. A measure equivalent to a gill. [Prov. Eng.]
Nogging
Nog"ging (?), n. [From Nog, v. t.] Rough brick masonry used to fill in
the interstices of a wooden frame, in building.
Noght
Noght (?), adv. Not. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Noiance
Noi"ance (?), n. [Abbrev. fr. OE. anoiance.] [Written also noyance.]
Annoyance. [Obs.] Tusser.
Noie
Noie (?), v. t. To annoy. See Noy. [Obs.]
Noier
Noi"er (?), n. An annoyer. [Obs.] Tusser.
Noils
Noils (?), n. pl. [Etymol. uncertain.] Waste and knots of wool removed
by the comb; combings.
Noint
Noint (?), v. t. To anoint. [Obs.] Sir T. North.
Noious
Noi"ous (?), a. Annoying; troublesome. [Obs.]
Noise
Noise (?), n. [F. noise noisy strife, quarrel, brawl, fr. L. nausea
seasickness, sickness, disgust. See Nausea.]
1. Sound of any kind.
The heavens turn about in a most rapid motion without noise to us
perceived. Bacon.
NOTE: &hand; No ise is either a sound of too short a duration to be
determined, like the report of a cannon; or else it is a confused
mixture of many discordant sounds, like the rolling of thunder or
the noise of the waves. Nevertheless, the difference between sound
and noise is by no means precise.
Ganot.
2. Especially, loud, confused, or senseless sound; clamor; din.
3. Loud or continuous talk; general talk or discussion; rumor; report.
"The noise goes." Shak.
What noise have we had about transplantation of diseases and
transfusion of blood! T. Baker.
Soerates lived in Athens during the great plague which has made so
much noise in all ages. Spectator.
4. Music, in general; a concert; also, a company of musicians; a band.
[Obs.] Milton.
The king has his noise of gypsies. B. Jonson.
Syn. -- Cry; outcry; clamor; din; clatter; uproar.
Noise
Noise, v. i. To sound; to make a noise. Milton.
Noise
Noise, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Noised (?); p pr. & vb. n. Noising.]
1. To spread by rumor or report.
All these sayings were noised abroad. Luke i. 65.
2. To disturb with noise. [Obs.] Dryden.
Noiseful
Noise"ful (?), a. Loud; clamorous. [Obs.] Dryden.
Noiseless
Noise"less, a. Making, or causing, no noise or bustle; without noise;
silent; as, the noiseless foot of time.
So noiseless would I live. Dryden.
-- Noise"less*ly, adv. -- Noise"less*ness, n.
Noisette
Noi*sette" (?), n. (Bot.) A hybrid rose produced in 1817, by a French
gardener, Noisette, of Charleston, South Carolina, from the China rose
and the musk rose. It has given rise to many fine varieties, as the
Lamarque, the Marechal (or Marshal) Niel, and the Cloth of gold. Most
roses of this class have clustered flowers and are of vigorous growth.
P. Henderson.
Noisily
Nois"i*ly (?), adv. In a noisy manner.
Noisiness
Nois"i*ness, n. The state or quality of being noisy.
Noisome
Noi"some (?), a. [For noysome, fr. noy for annoy. See Annoy.]
1. Noxious to health; hurtful; mischievous; unwholesome; insalubrious;
destructive; as, noisome effluvia. "Noisome pestilence." Ps. xci. 3.
2. Offensive to the smell or other senses; disgusting; fetid. "Foul
breath is noisome." Shak. -- Noi"some*ly, adv. -- Noi"some*ness, n.
Syn. -- Noxious; unwholesome; insalubrious; mischievous; destructive.
-- Noisome, Noxious. These words have to a great extent been
interchanged; but there is a tendency to make a distinction between
them, applying noxious to things that inflict evil directly; as, a
noxious plant, noxious practices, etc., and noisome to things that
operate with a remoter influence; as, noisome vapors, a noisome
pestilence, etc. Noisome has the additional sense of disqusting. A
garden may be free from noxious weeds or animals; but, if recently
covered with manure, it may be filled with a noisome smell.
Noisy
Nois"y (?), a. [Compar. Noisier (?); superl. Noisiest.] [From Noise.]
1. Making a noise, esp. a loud sound; clamorous; vociferous;
turbulent; boisterous; as, the noisy crowd.
2. Full of noise. "The noisy town." Dryden.
Nolde
Nol"de (?). [Contr. fr. ne wolde.] Would not. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Nole
Nole (?), n. [See Noll.] The head. [Obs.] Shak.
Noli-me-tangere
No"li-me-tan"ge*re (?), n. [L., touch me not.]
1. (Bot.) (a) Any plant of a genus of herbs (Impatiens) having
capsules which, if touched when ripe, discharge their seeds. -- See
Impatiens. (b) The squirting cucumber. See under Cucumber.
2. (Med.) A name formerly applied to several varieties of ulcerous
cutaneous diseases, but now restricted to Lupus exedens, an ulcerative
affection of the nose.
Nolition
No*li"tion (?), n. [L. nolle not to will, to be unwilling; ne + velle
to will, to be willing.] Adverse action of will; unwillingness; --
opposed to volition.
A nolition and a direct enmity against the lust. Jer. Taylor.
Noll
Noll (?), n. [OE. nol, AS. hnoll top; akin to OHG. hnol top, head.]
The head; the noddle. [Obs.]
Nolleity
Nol*le"i*ty (?), n. [L. nolle to be unwilling.] The state of being
unwilling; nolition. [R.]
Nolle prosequi
Nol"le pros"e*qui (?). [L., to be unwilling to prosecute.] (Law) Will
not prosecute; -- an entry on the record, denoting that a plaintiff
discontinues his suit, or the attorney for the public a prosecution;
either wholly, or as to some count, or as to some of several
defendants.
Nolo contendere
No"lo con*ten"de*re (?). [L., I do not wish to contend.] (Law) A plea,
by the defendant, in a criminal prosecution, which, without admitting
guilt, subjects him to all the consequences of a plea of quilty.
Nol. pros.
Nol. pros. An abbrev. of Nolle prosequi.
Nol-pros
Nol`-pros" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. -prossed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
-prossing.] To discontinue by entering a nolle prosequi; to decline to
prosecute.
Nolt
Nolt (?), n. sing. & pl. Neat cattle. [Prov. Eng.]
Nom
Nom (?), n. [F. See Noun.] Name. Nom de guerre (, literally, war name;
hence, a fictitious name, or one assumed for a time. -- Nom de plume
(, literally, pen name; hence, a name assumed by an author as his or
her signature.
Noma
No"ma (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. Name.] (Med.) See Canker, n., 1.
Nomad
Nom"ad (?), n. [L. nomas, -adis, Gr. niman to take, and E. nimble: cf.
F. nomade. Cf. Astronomy, Economy, Nimble, Nemesis, Numb, Number.] One
of a race or tribe that has no fixed location, but wanders from place
to place in search of pasture or game.
Nomad
Nom"ad, a. Roving; nomadic.
Nomade
Nom"ade (?), n. [F.] See Nomad, n.
Nomadian
No*ma"di*an (?), n. A nomad. [R.]
Nomadic
No*mad"ic (?), a. [Gr. Nomad.] Of or pertaining to nomads, or their
way of life; wandering; moving from place to place for subsistence;
as, a nomadic tribe. -- No*mad"ic*al*ly (#), adv.
Nomadism
Nom"ad*ism (?), n. The state of being a nomad.
Nomadize
Nom"ad*ize (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Nomadized (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Nomadizing (?).] To lead the life of a nomad; to wander with flocks
and herds for the sake of finding pasturage.
The Vogules nomadize chiefly about the Rivers Irtish, Obi, Kama,
and Volga. W. Tooke.
Nomancy
No"man*cy (?), n. [Cf. F. nomancie, nomance, abbrev. fr. onomancie.
See Onomancy.] The art or practice of divining the destiny of persons
by the letters which form their names.
No-man's land
No"-man's` land` (?).
1. (Naut.) A space amidships used to keep blocks, ropes, etc.; a space
on a ship belonging to no one in particular to care for.
2. Fig.: An unclaimed space or time.
That no-man's land of twilight. W. Black.
Nomarch
Nom"arch (?), n. [Gr. -arch.] The chief magistrate of a nome or
nomarchy.
Nomarchy
Nom"arch*y (?), n.; pl. Nomarchies (. A province or territorial
division of a kingdom, under the rule of a nomarch, as in modern
Greece; a nome.
Nombles
Nom"bles (?), n. pl. [F. nombles, fr. L. lumbulus, dim. of lumbus a
loin. Cf. Numbles, Umbles, Humbles.] The entrails of a deer; the
umbles. [Written also numbles.] Johnson.
Nombril
Nom"bril (?), n. [F. nombril, for OF. lombril, i. e., ombril, with the
article, a dim. fr. L. umbilicus the navel. See Navel.] (Her.) A point
halfway between the fess point and the middle base point of an
escutcheon; -- called also navel point. See Escutcheon.
Nome
Nome (?), n. [Gr.
1. A province or political division, as of modern Greece or ancient
Egypt; a nomarchy.
2. Any melody determined by inviolable rules. [Obs.]
Nome
Nome, n. [Cf. Binomial.] (Alg.) [Obs.] See Term.
Nome, Nomen
Nome, No"men (?), obs. p. p. of Nim. Chaucer.
Nomenclator
No"men*cla`tor (?), n. [L., fr. nomen name + calare to call. See Name,
and Calendar.]
1. One who calls persons or things by their names.
NOTE: &hand; In Rome, candidates for office were attended each by a
nomenclator, who informed the candidate of the names of the persons
whom they met and whose votes it was desirable to solicit.
2. One who gives names to things, or who settles and adjusts the
nomenclature of any art or science; also, a list or vocabulary of
technical names.
Nomenclatress
No"men*cla`tress (?), n. A female nomenclator.
Nomenclatural
No`men*cla"tur*al (?), a. Pertaining or according to a nomenclature.
Nomenclature
No"men*cla`ture (?), n. [L. nomenclatura: cf. F. nomenclature. See
Nomenclator.]
1. A name. [Obs.] Bacon.
2. A vocabulary, dictionary, or glossary. [R.]
3. The technical names used in any particular branch of science or
art, or by any school or individual; as, the nomenclature of botany or
of chemistry; the nomenclature of Lavoisier and his associates.
Nomial
No"mi*al (?), n. [Cf. Binomial.] (Alg.) A name or term.
Nomic
Nom"ic (?), a. [Gr. Customary; ordinary; -- applied to the usual
English spelling, in distinction from strictly phonetic methods. H
Sweet. -- n. Nomic spelling. A. J. Ellis.
Nominal
Nom"i*nal (?), a. [L. nominalis, fr. nomen, nominis, name. See Name.]
1. Of or pertaining to a name or names; having to do with the literal
meaning of a word; verbal; as, a nominal definition. Bp. Pearson.
2. Existing in name only; not real; as, a nominal difference. "Nominal
attendance on lectures." Macaulay.
Nominal
Nom"i*nal, n.
1. A nominalist. [Obs.] Camden.
2. (Gram.) A verb formed from a noun.
3. A name; an appellation.
A is the nominal of the sixth note in the natural diatonic scale.
Moore (Encyc. of Music. )
Nominalism
Nom"i*nal*ism (?), n. The principles or philosophy of the Nominalists.
Nominalist
Nom"i*nal*ist, n. (Metaph.) One of a sect of philosophers in the
Middle Ages, who adopted the opinion of Roscelin, that general
conceptions, or universals, exist in name only. Reid.
Nominalistic
Nom`i*nal*is"tic (?), a. Of or pertaining to the Nominalists.
Nominalize
Nom"i*nal*ize (?), v. t. To convert into a noun. [Obs.]
Nominally
Nom"i*nal*ly, adv. In a nominal manner; by name; in name only; not in
reality. Burke.
Nominate
Nom"i*nate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nominated (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Nominating (?).] [L. nominatus, p. p. of nominare to nominate, fr.
nomen name. See Name.]
1. To mention by name; to name. [Obs.]
To nominate them all, it is impossible. Shak.
2. To call; to entitle; to denominate. [Obs.] Spenser.
3. To set down in express terms; to state. [Obs.]
Is it so noiminated in the bond? Shak.
4. To name, or designate by name, for an office or place; to appoint;
esp., to name as a candidate for an election, choice, or appointment;
to propose by name, or offer the name of, as a candidate for an office
or place.
Nominately
Nom"i*nate*ly (?), adv. By name; particularly; namely. [Obs.] Spelman.
Nomination
Nom`i*na"tion (?), n. [L. nominatio: cf. F. nomination.]
1. The act of naming or nominating; designation of a person as a
candidate for office; the power of nominating; the state of being
nominated.
The nomination of persons to places being . . . a flower of his
crown, he would reserve to himself. Clarendon.
2. The denomination, or name. [Obs.] Bp. Pearson.
Nominatival
Nom`i*na*ti"val (?), a. (Gram.) Of or pertaining to the nominative
case.
Nominative
Nom"i*na*tive (?), a. [L. nominativus belonging to a name,
nominative.] (Gram.) Giving a name; naming; designating; -- said of
that case or form of a noun which stands as the subject of a finite
verb. -- n. The nominative case.
Nominatively
Nom"i*na*tive*ly, adv. In the manner of a nominative; as a nominative.
Nominator
Nom"i*na`tor (?), n. [L.] One who nominates.
Nominee
Nom`i*nee" (?), n. [See Nominate, and -ee.] A person named, or
designated, by another, to any office, duty, or position; one
nominated, or proposed, by others for office or for election to
office.
Nominor
Nom"i*nor` (?), n. [See Nominate, and -or.] A nominator. [Obs.]
Bentham.
Nomocracy
No*moc"ra*cy (?), n. [Gr. -cracy, as in democracy.] Government in
accordance with a system of law. Milman.
Nomography
No*mog"ra*phy (?), n. [Gr. A treatise on laws; an exposition of the
form proper for laws.
Nomology
No*mol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. -logy.]
1. The science of law; legislation.
2. The science of the laws of the mind; rational psychology. Sir W.
Hamilton.
Nomopelmous
Nom`o*pel"mous (?), a. [Gr. (Zo\'94l.) Having a separate and simple
tendon to flex the first toe, or hallux, as do passerine birds.
Nomothete
Nom"o*thete (?), n. [Gr. nomoth\'8ate.] A lawgiver. [R.]
Nomothetic, Nomothetical
Nom`o*thet"ic (?), Nom`o*thet"ic*al (?), a. [Gr. Legislative; enacting
laws; as, a nomothetical power. [R.] Bp. Barlow.
Non
Non (?), a. No; not. See No, a. Chaucer.
Non-
Non- (?). [L. non, OL. noenu, noenum, fr. neoenum, lit., not one. See
None.] A prefix used in the sense of not; un-; in-; as in
nonattention, or non-attention, nonconformity, nonmetallic, nonsuit.
NOTE: &hand; Th e pr efix non- may be joined to the leading word by
means of a hyphen, or, in most cases, the hyphen may be dispensed
with. The list of words having the prefix non- could easily be
lengthened.
Nonability
Non`a*bil"i*ty (?), n.
1. Want of ability.
2. (Law) An exception taken against a plaintiff in a cause, when he is
unable legally to commence a suit.
Nonacceptance
Non`ac*cept"ance (?), n. A neglect or refusal to accept.
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Nonacid
Non*ac"id (?), a. (Chem.) Destitute of acid properties; hence, basic;
metallic; positive; -- said of certain atoms and radicals.
Nonacquaintance
Non`ac*quaint"ance (?), n. Want of acquaintance; the state of being
unacquainted.
Nonacquiescence
Non*ac`qui*es"cence (?), n. Refusal of acquiescence; failure to yield
or comply.
Nonadmission
Non`ad*mis"sion (?), n. Failure to be admitted.
Nonadult
Non`a*dult" (?), a. Not adult; immature.
Nona\'89robiotic
Non*a`\'89r*o*bi*ot"ic (?), a. (Biol.) Capable of living without
atmospheric oxygen; ana\'89robiotic.
Nonage
Non"age (?), n. [LL. nonagium, from L. nonus ninth, novem nine.]
(Eccl.) The ninth part of movable goods, formerly payable to the
clergy on the death of persons in their parishes. Mozley & W.
Nonage
Non"age, n. [Pref. non- + age.] Time of life before a person becomes
of age; legal immaturity; minority.
The human mind . . . was still in its nonage. Coleridge.
Nonaged
Non"aged (?), a. Having the quality of nonage; being a minor;
immature. W. Browne.
Nonagenarian
Non`a*ge*na"ri*an (?), n. [L. nonagenarius containing, or consisting
of, ninety, fr. nonageni ninety each; akin to novem nine.] A person
ninety years old.
Nonagesimal
Non`a*ges"i*mal (?), a. [L. nonagesimus the ninetieth. See
Nonagenarian.] (Astron.) Of or pertaining to the ninetieth degree or
to a nonagesimal.
Nonagesimal
Non`a*ges"i*mal, n. (Astron.) The middle or highest point of the part
of the ecliptic which is at any given moment above the horizon. It is
the ninetieth degree of the ecliptic, reckoned from the points in
which it is intersected by the horizon.
Nonagon
Non"a*gon (?), n. [L. nonus ninth + Gr. (Math.) A figure or polygon
having nine sides and nine angles.
Nonagrian
Non*a"gri*an (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zo\'94l.) Any moth of the
genus Nonagria and allied genera, as the spindleworm and stalk borer.
Nonalienation
Non*al`ien*a"tion (?), n. Failure to alienate; also, the state of not
being alienated.
Nonane
Non"ane (?), n. [L. nonus ninth.] (Chem.) One of a group of metameric
hydrocarbons C9H20 of the paraffin series; -- so called because of the
nine carbon atoms in the molecule. Normal nonane is a colorless
volatile liquid, an ingredient of ordinary kerosene.
Nonappearance
Non`ap*pear"ance (?), n. Default of apperance, as in court, to
prosecute or defend; failure to appear.
Nonappointment
Non`ap*point"ment (?), n. Neglect of making appointment; failure to
receive an appointment.
Nonarrival
Non`ar*riv"al (?), n. Failure to arrive.
Non assumpsit
Non` as*sump"sit (?). [L., he did not undertake.] (Law) The general
plea or denial in an action of assumpsit.
Nonattendance
Non`at*tend"ance (?), n. A failure to attend; omission of attendance;
nonappearance.
Nonattention
Non`at*ten"tion (?), n. Inattention.
Nonbituminous
Non`bi*tu"mi*nous (?), a. Containing no bitumen; not bituminous.
Nonce
Nonce (?), n. [For the nonce, OE. for the nones, a corruption of for
then ones, where n. in then is a relic of AS. m in , dat. of the
article and demonstrative pronoun, E. the. See For, Once, and The.]
The one or single occasion; the present call or purpose; -- chiefly
used in the phrase for the nonce.
The miller was a stout carl for the nones. Chaucer.
And that he calls for drink, I 'll have prepared him A chalice for
the nonce. Shak.
Nonce word, "a word apparently employed only for the nonce". Murray
(New English Dict. ).
Nonchalance
Non`cha`lance" (?), n. [F. See Nonchalant.] Indifference;
carelessness; coolness.
Nonchalant
Non`cha`lant" (?), a. [F., fr. non not (L. non) + chaloir to concern
one's self for, fr. L. calere to be warm, to be inflamed with desire,
to be troubled. See Non-, and Caldron.] Indifferent; careless; cool.
Nonchalantly
Non"cha*lant`ly (?), adv. In a nonchalant, indifferent, or careless
manner; coolly.
Nonclaim
Non"claim` (?), n. A failure to make claim within the time limited by
law; omission of claim.
Noncohesion
Non`co*he"sion (?), n. Want of cohesion.
Noncoincidence
Non`co*in"ci*dence, n. Lack of coincidence.
Noncoincident
Non`co*in"ci*dent (?), a. Not coincident.
Noncombatant
Non*com"bat*ant (?), n. (Mil.) Any person connected with an army, or
within the lines of an army, who does not make it his business to
fight, as any one of the medical officers and their assistants,
chaplains, and others; also, any of the citizens of a place occupied
by an army; also, any one holding a similar position with respect to
the navy.
Noncommissioned
Non`com*mis"sioned (?), a. Not having a commission. Noncommissioned
officer (Mil.), a subordinate officer not appointed by a commission
from the chief executive or supreme authority of the State; but by the
Secretary of War or by the commanding officer of the regiment.
Noncommittal
Non`com*mit"tal (?), n. A state of not being committed or pledged;
forbearance or refusal to commit one's self. Also used adjectively.
Noncommunion
Non`com*mun"ion (?), n. Neglect or failure of communion.
Noncompletion
Non`com*ple"tion (?), n. Lack of completion; failure to complete.
Noncompliance
Non`com*pli"ance (?), n. Neglect of compliance; failure to comply.
Noncomplying
Non`com*ply"ing (?), a. Neglecting or refusing to comply.
Non compos. Non compos mentis
Non com"pos (?). Non com"pos men"tis (?).[L.] Not of sound mind; not
having the regular use of reason; hence, also, as a noun, an idiot; a
lunati
Noncon.
Non"con. (, n. See Noncontent.
Nonconcluding
Non`con*clud"ing (?), a. Not concluding.
Nonconcur
Non`con*cur" (?), v. i. To dissent or refuse to concur.
Nonconcurrence
Non`con*cur"rence (?), n. Refusal to concur.
Noncondensible
Non`con*den"si*ble (?), a. Not condensible; incapable of being
liquefied; -- said of gases.
Noncondensing
Non`con*dens"ing, a. (Steam Engine) Not condensing; discharging the
steam from the cylinder at a pressure nearly equal to or above that of
the atmosphere and not into a condenser.
Nonconducting
Non`con*duct"ing (?), a. Not conducting; not transmitting a fluid or
force; thus, in electricity, wax is a nonconducting substance.<-- =
nonconductive -->
Nonconduction
Non`con*duc"tion (?), n. The quality of not being able to conduct or
transmit; failure to conduct.
Nonconductor
Non`con*duct"or (?), n. (Physics) A substance which does not conduct,
that is, convey or transmit, heat, electricity, sound, vibration, or
the like, or which transmits them with difficulty; an insulator; as,
wool is a nonconductor of heat; glass and dry wood are nonconductors
of electricity.
Nonconforming
Non`con*form"ing (?), a. Not conforming; declining conformity;
especially, not conforming to the established church of a country.
Nonconformist
Non`con*form"ist, n. One who does not conform to an established
church; especially, one who does not conform to the established church
of England; a dissenter.
Nonconformity
Non*con*form"i*ty (?), n. Neglect or failure of conformity;
especially, in England, the neglect or refusal to unite with the
established church in its rites and modes of worship.
Nonconstat
Non`con"stat (?), n. [Law L.] It does not appear; it is not plain or
clear; it does not follow.
Noncontagious
Non`con*ta"gious (?), a. Not contagious; not catching; not
communicable by contact. -- Non`con*ta"gious*ness, n.
Noncontent
Non`con*tent" (?), n. (British House of Lords) One who gives a
negative vote; -- sometimes abridged into noncon. or non con.
Noncontributing, Noncontributory
Non`con*trib"u*ting (?), Non`con*trib"u*to*ry (?), a. Not
contributing.
Nonda
Non"da (?), n. (Bot.) The edible plumlike fruit of the Australian
tree, Parinarium Nonda.
Nondecane
Non*dec"ane (?), n. [L. nonus ninth + decem ten.] (Chem.) A
hydrocarbon of the paraffin series, a white waxy substance, C19H40; --
so called from the number of carbon atoms in the molecule.
Nondeciduate
Non`de*cid"u*ate (?), a. (Anat.) Characterized by the absence of a
decidua; indeciduate.
Nondelivery
Non`de*liv"er*y (?), n. A neglect or failure of delivery; omission of
delivery.
Nondeposition
Non*dep`o*si"tion (?), n. A failure to deposit or throw down.
Nondescript
Non"de*script (?), a. [Pref. non- + L. descriptus described.] Not
hitherto described; novel; hence, odd; abnormal; unclassifiable.
Nondescript
Non"de*script, n. A thing not yet described; that of which no account
or explanation has been given; something abnormal, or hardly
classifiable.
Nondevelopment
Non`de*vel"op*ment (?), n. Failure or lack of development.
Nondiscovery
Non`dis*cov"er*y (?), n. Want or failure of discovery.
Nondo
Non"do (?), n. (Bot.) A coarse umbelliferous plant (Ligusticum
act\'91ifolium) with a large aromatic root. It is found chiefly in the
Alleghany region. Also called Angelico.
None
None (?), a. & pron. [OE. none, non, nan, no, na, AS. n\'ben, fr. ne
not + \'ben one. No, a. & adv., One, and cf. Non-, Null, a.]
1. No one; not one; not anything; -- frequently used also partitively,
or as a plural, not any.
There is none that doeth good; no, not one. Ps. xiv. 3.
Six days ye shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is the
Sabbath, in it there shall be none. Ex. xvi. 26.
Terms of peace yet none Vouchsafed or sought. Milton.
None of their productions are extant. Blair.
2. No; not any; -- used adjectively before a vowel, in old style; as,
thou shalt have none assurance of thy life.
None of, not at all; not; nothing of; -- used emphatically. "They knew
that I was none of the register that entered their admissions in the
universities." Fuller. -- None-so-pretty (Bot.), the Saxifraga
umbrosa. See London pride (a), under London.
None
None, n. [F.] Same as Nones, 2.
Noneffective
Non`ef*fect"ive (?), a.
1. Not effective.
2. (Mil.) Not fit or available for duty.
Non-ego
Non-e"go (?), n. [L., not I.] (Metaph.) The union of being and
relation as distinguished from, and contrasted with, the ego. See Ego.
Nonelastic
Non`e*las"tic (?), a. Not having elasticity.
Nonelect
Non`e*lect" (?), n. sing. & pl. (Theol.) A person or persons not
elected, or chosen, to salvation.
Nonelection
Non`e*lec"tion (?), n. Failure of election.
Nonelectric, Nonelectrical
Non`e*lec"tric (?), Non`e*lec"tric*al (?), a. Not electric; conducting
electricity.
Nonelectric
Non`e*lec"tric, n. (Physics) A substance that is not an electric; that
which transmits electricity, as a metal.
Nonemphatic, Nonemphatical
Non`em*phat"ic (?), Non`em*phat"ic*al (?), a. Having no emphasis;
unemphatic.
Nonentity
Non*en"ti*ty (?), n.; pl. Nonentities (.
1. Nonexistence; the negation of being.
2. A thing not existing. South.
3. A person or thing of little or no account. [Colloq.]
Non-Episcopal
Non`-E*pis"co*pal (?), a. Not Episcopal; not pertaining to the
Episcopal church or system.
Nones
Nones (?), n. pl. [L. nonae, so called because it was the ninth day
before the ides, fr. nonus ninth, from novem nine. See Nine, Nones, 2,
Noon .]
1. (Roman Cal.) The fifth day of the months January, February, April,
June, August, September, November, and December, and the seventh day
of March, May, July, and October. The nones were nine days before the
ides, reckoning inclusively, according to the Roman method.
2. [F. none, fr. L. See Noon.] The canonical office, being a part of
the Breviary, recited at noon (formerly at the ninth hour, 3 P. M.) in
the Roman Catholic Church.
3. The hour of dinner; the noonday meal. [Obs.]
At my supper and sometimes at nones. P. Plowman.
Nonessential
Non`es*sen"tial (?), a. Not essential.
Nonessential
Non`es*sen"tial, n. A thing not essential.
Non est factum
Non` est` fac"tum (?). [Law L. it is not (his) deed.] (Law) The plea
of the general issue in an action of debt on bond.
Non est inventus
Non` est` in*ven"tus (?). [L., he is not found.] (Law) The return of a
sheriff on a writ, when the defendant is not found in his county.
Bouvier.
Nonesuch
None"such` (?), n. A person or thing of a sort that there is no other
such; something extraordinary; a thing that has not its equal. It is
given as a name to various objects, as to a choice variety of apple, a
species of medic (Medicago lupulina), a variety of pottery clay, etc.
Nonet, Nonetto
No*net" (?), No*net"to (?), n. [From L. nonus ninth, like E. duet, fr.
L. duo.] (Mus.) A composition for nine instruments, rarely for nine
voices.
Nonett
Non"ett (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) The titmouse. [Obs.]
Nonexecution
Non*ex`e*cu"tion (?), n. Neglect or failure of execution;
nonperformance.
Nonexistence
Non`ex*ist"ence (?), n.
1. Absence of existence; the negation of being; nonentity. A. Baxter.
2. A thing that has no existence. Sir T. Browne.
Nonexistent
Non`ex*ist"ent (?), a. Not having existence.
Nonexportation
Non*ex`por*ta"tion (?), n. A failure of exportation; a not exporting
of commodities.
Nonextensile
Non`ex*ten"sile (?), a. Not extensile; incapable of being stretched.
Non-feasance
Non-fea"sance (?), n. [Pref. non- + OF. faisance a doing, fr. faire to
do.] (Law) An omission or neglect to do something, esp. that which
ought to have been done. Cf. Malfeasance.
Nonfulfillment
Non`ful*fill"ment, n. Neglect or failure to fulfill.
Nonillion
No*nil"lion (?), n. [L. nonus ninth + -illion, as in E. million.]
According to the French and American notation, a thousand octillions,
or a unit with thirty ciphers annexed; according to the English
notation, a million octillions, or a unit with fifty-four ciphers
annexed. See the Note under Numeration.
Nonimportation
Non*im`por*ta"tion (?), n. Want or failure of importation; a not
importing of commodities.
Nonimporting
Non`im*port"ing (?), a. Not importing; not bringing from foreign
countries.
Noninflectional
Non`in*flec"tion*al (?), a. Not admitting of, or characterized by,
inflection.
Noninhabitant
Non`in*hab"it*ant (?), n. One who is not an inhabitant; a stranger; a
foreigner; a nonresident.
Nonintervention
Non*in`ter*ven"tion (?), n. The state or habit of not intervening or
interfering; as, the nonintervention of one state in the affairs of
another.
Nonius
No"ni*us (?), n. [Latinized form of Nunez, the name of a Portuguese
mathematician.] A vernier.
Nonjoinder
Non*join"der (?), n. (Law) The omission of some person who ought to
have been made a plaintiff or defendant in a suit, or of some cause of
action which ought to be joined.
Nonjurant
Non*ju"rant (?), a. Nonjuring.
Nonjuring
Non*ju"ring (?), a. [F. jurer to swear, or L. jurare, jurari, to
swear, fr. L. jus, juris, right, law, justice. See Jury.] Not swearing
allegiance; -- applied to the party in Great Britain that would not
swear allegiance to William and Mary, or their successors.
Nonjuror
Non*ju"ror (?), n. (Eng. Hist.) One of those adherents of James II.
who refused to take the oath of allegiance to William and Mary, or to
their successors, after the revolution of 1688; a Jacobite.
Nonjurorism
Non*ju"ror*ism (?), n. (Eng. Hist.) The doctrines, or action, of the
Nonjurors.
Nonlimitation
Non*lim`i*ta"tion (?), n. Want of limitation; failure to limit.
Non liquet
Non` li"quet (?). [L.] It is not clear; -- a verdict given by a jury
when a matter is to be deferred to another day of trial.
Nonmalignant
Non`ma*lig"nant (?), a. Not malignant, as a disease.
Nonmanufacturing
Non*man`u*fac"tur*ing (?), a. Not carrying on manufactures.
Nonmedullated
Non*med"ul*la`ted (?), a. Not medullated; (Anat.) without a medulla or
marrow, or without a medullary sheath; as, a nonmedullated nerve
fiber.
Nonmember
Non*mem"ber, n. One who is not a member.
Nonmembership
Non*mem"ber*ship, n. State of not being a member.
Nonmetal
Non"met`al (?), n. (Chem.) Any one of the set of elements which, as
contrasted with the metals, possess, produce, or receive, acid rather
than basic properties; a metalloid; as, oxygen, sulphur, and chlorine
are nonmetals.
Nonmetallic
Non`me*tal"lic (?), a.
1. Not metallic.
2. (Chem.) Resembling, or possessing the properties of, a nonmetal or
metalloid; as, sulphur is a nonmetallic element.
Nonnatural
Non*nat"u*ral, a. Not natural; unnatural.
Nonne
Nonne (?), n. A nun. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Nonnecessity
Non`ne*ces"si*ty (?), n. Absence of necessity; the quality or state of
being unnecessary.
Nonnitrognous
Non`ni*trog"nous (?), a. Devoid of nitrogen; as, a nonnitrogenous
principle; a nonnitrogenous food. See the Note under Food, n., 1.
Nonnucleated
Non*nu"cle*a`ted (?), a. Without a nucleus.<-- = anucleate -->
Nonny
Non"ny (?), n. A silly fellow; a ninny.
Nonobedience
Non`o*be"di*ence (?), n. Neglect of obedience; failure to obey.
Nonobservance
Non`ob*serv"ance (?), n. Neglect or failure to observe or fulfill.
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Page 981
Non obstante
Non` ob*stan"te (?). [L.]
1. Notwithstanding; in opposition to, or in spite of, what has been
stated, or is to be stated or admitted.
2. (Law) A clause in old English statutes and letters patent,
importing a license from the crown to do a thing notwithstanding any
statute to the contrary. This dispensing power was abolished by the
Bill of Rights.
In this very reign [Henry III.] the practice of dispensing with
statutes by a non obstante was introduced. Hallam.
Non obstante veredicto [LL.] (Law), a judgment sometimes entered by
order of the court, for the plaintiff, notwithstanding a verdict for
the defendant. Stephen.
Nonoic
No*no"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, or resembling,
nonane; as, nonoic acid, which is also called pelargonic acid. Cf.
Pelargonic.
Nonone
Non"one (?), n. [Nonane + -one, suffix denoting the third degree of
unsaturation.] (Chem.) Any one of several metameric unsaturated
hydrocarbons (C9H14) of the valylene series.
Nonoxygenous
Non`ox*yg"e*nous (?), a. (Chem.) Without oxygen; characterized by the
absence of oxygen; as, a nonoxygenous alkaloid.
Nonpareil
Non`pa*reil" (?), n. [See Nonpareil, a. ]
1. Something of unequaled excellence; a peerless thing or person; a
nonesuch; -- often used as a name.
2. [F. nonpareille.] (Print.) A size of type next smaller than minion
and next larger than agate (or ruby).
NOTE: &hand; This line is printed in the type called nonpareil.
3. (Zo\'94l.) (a) A beautifully colored finch (Passerina ciris),
native of the Southern United States. The male has the head and neck
deep blue, rump and under parts bright red, back and wings golden
green, and the tail bluish purple. Called also painted finch. (b) Any
other similar bird of the same genus.
Nonpareil
Non`pa*reil", a. [F., from non not + pareil equal, fr. LL. pariculus,
dim. of L. par equal. See Non, and Pair, Peer.] Having no equal;
peerless.
Nonpayment
Non*pay"ment, n. Neglect or failure to pay.
Nonperformance
Non`per*form"ance, n. Neglect or failure to perform.
Nonphotobiotic
Non*pho`to*bi*ot"ic (?), a. (Biol.) Capable of living without light;
as, nonphotobiotic plant cells, or cells which habitually live in
darkness.
Nonplane
Non`plane" (?), a. (Math.) Not lying in one plane; -- said of certain
curves.
Nonplus
Non"plus (?), n. [L. non not + plus more, further. See Plural.] A
state or condition which daffles reason or confounds judgment;
insuperable difficalty; inability to proceed or decide; puzzle;
quandary.
Both of them are a perfect nonplus and baffle to all human
understanding. South.
Nonplus
Non"plus` (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nonplused (?) or Nonplussed; p. pr.
& vb. n. Nonplusing or Nonplussing.] To puzzle; to confound; to
perplex; to cause to stop by embarrassment.
He has been nonplused by Mr. Dry's desiring him to tell what it was
that he endeavored to prove. Spectator.
Nonpreparation
Non*prep`a*ra"tion (?), n. Neglect or failure to prepare; want of
preparation.
Nonpresentation
Non*pres`en*ta"tion (?), n. Neglect or failure to present; state of
not being presented.
Nonproduction
Non`pro*duc"tion, n. A failure to produce or exhibit.
Nonprofessional
Non`pro*fes"sion*al (?), a. Not belonging to a profession; not done
by, or proceeding from, professional men; contrary to professional
usage.
Nonproficiency
Non`pro*fi"cien*cy (?), n. Want of proficiency; failure to make
progress.
Nonproficient
Non`pro*fi"cient (?), n. One who has failed to become proficient.
Non pros.
Non" pros.` (. An abbreviation of Non prosequitur.
Non-pros
Non`-pros" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nonprossed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Non-prossing (?).] To decline or fail to prosecute; to allow to be
dropped (said of a suit); to enter judgment against (a plaintiff who
fails to prosecute); as, the plaintiff was non-prossed.
Non prosequitur
Non" pro*seq"ui*tur (?). [L. he does not prosecute.] (Law) A judgment
entered against the plaintiff in a suit where he does not appear to
prosecute. See Nolle prosequi.
Nonrecurrent
Non`re*cur"rent (?), a. Not recurring.
Nonrecurring
Non`re*cur"ring (?), a. Nonrecurrent.
Nonregardance
Non`re*gard"ance (?), n. Want of due regard; disregard; slight. [Obs.]
Shak.
Nonregent
Non`re"gent (?), n. (Eng. Universities) A master of arts whose regency
has ceased. See Regent.
Nonrendition
Non`ren*di"tion (?), n. Neglect of rendition; the not rendering what
is due.
The nonrendition of a service which is due. S. E. Dwight.
Nonresemblance
Non`re*sem"blance (?), n. Want of resemblance; unlikeness;
dissimilarity.
Nonresidence
Non*res"i*dence (?), n. The state or condition of being nonresident,
Swift.
Nonresident
Non*res"i*dent (?), a. Not residing in a particular place, on one's
own estate, or in one's proper place; as, a nonresident clergyman or
proprietor of lands.
Nonresident
Non*res"i*dent, n. A nonresident person; one who does not reside in
the State or jurisdiction.
Nonresistance
Non`re*sist"ance (?), n. The principles or practice of a nonresistant;
passive obedience; submission to authority, power, oppression, or
violence without opposition.
Nonresistant
Non`re*sist"ant (?), a. Making no resistance.
Nonresistant
Non`re*sist"ant, n. One who maintains that no resistance should be
made to constituted authority, even when unjustly or oppressively
exercised; one who advocates or practices absolute submission; also,
one who holds that violence should never be resisted by force.
Nonresisting
Non`re*sist"ing, a. Not making resistance.
Nonruminant
Non*ru"mi*nant (?), a. Not ruminating; as, a nonruminant animal.
Nonsane
Non`sane" (?), a. Unsound; not perfect; as, a person of nonsane
memory. Blackstone.
Nonsense
Non"sense (?), n. [Pref. non- + sense: cf. F. nonsens.]
1. That which is not sense, or has no sense; words, or language, which
have no meaning, or which convey no intelligible ideas; absurdity.
2. Trifles; things of no importance.
Nonsense verses, lines made by taking any words which occur, but
especially certain words which it is desired to recollect, and
arranging them without reference to anything but the measure, so that
the rhythm of the lines may aid in recalling the remembrance of the
words. Syn. -- Folly; silliness; absurdity; trash; balderdash.
Nonsensical
Non*sen"si*cal (?), a. Without sense; unmeaning; absurb; foolish;
irrational; preposterous. -- Non*sen"si*cal*ly, adv. --
Non*sen"si*cal*ness, n.
Nonsensitive
Non*sen"si*tive (?), a. Not sensitive; wanting sense or perception;
not easily affected.
Non sequitur
Non seq"ui*tur (?). [L., it does not follow.] (Logic) An inference
which does not follow from the premises.
Nonsexual
Non*sex"u*al (?), a. Having no distinction of sex; sexless; neuter.
Nonslaveholding
Non*slave"hold`ing (?), a. Not possessing or holding slaves; as, a
nonslaveholding State.
Nonsolution
Non`so*lu"tion (?), n. Failure of solution or explanation.
Nonsolvency
Non*sol"ven*cy (?), n. Inability to pay debts; insolvency.
Nonsolvent
Non*sol"vent (?), a. Not solvent; insolvent.
Nonsolvent
Non*sol"vent, n. An insolvent.
Nonsonant
Non*so"nant (?), a. Not sonant. -- n. A nonsonant or nonvocal
consonant.
Nonsparing
Non*spar"ing (?), a. Sparing none.
Nonstriated
Non*stri"a*ted (?), a. (Nat. Hist.) Without striations; unstriped; as,
nonstriated muscle fibers.
Nonsubmission
Non`sub*mis"sion (?), n. Want of submission; failure or refusal to
submit.
Nonsubmissive
Non`sub*mis"sive (?), a. Not submissive.
Nonsuch
Non"such (?), n. See Nonesuch.
Nonsuit
Non"suit` (?), n. (Law) A neglect or failure by the plaintiff to
follow up his suit; a stopping of the suit; a renunciation or
withdrawal of the cause by the plaintiff, either because he is
satisfied that he can not support it, or upon the judge's expressing
his opinion. A compulsory nonsuit is a nonsuit ordered by the court on
the ground that the plaintiff on his own showing has not made out his
case.
Nonsuit
Non"suit`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nonsuited; p. pr. & vb. n. Nonsuiting.]
(Law) To determine, adjudge, or record (a plaintiff) as having dropped
his suit, upon his withdrawal or failure to follow it up. "When two
are joined in a writ, and one is nonsuited." Z. Swift.
Nonsuit
Non"suit`, a. Nonsuited. D. A. Tyng.
Nonsurety
Non*sure"ty (?), n. Insecurity. [Obs.]
Nontenure
Non*ten"ure (?), n. (Law) A plea of a defendant that he did not hold
the land, as affirmed.
Nonterm
Non"term` (?), n. (Law) A vacation between two terms of a court.
Nontoxic
Non*tox"ic (?), a. Not toxic.
Nontronite
Non"tro*nite (?), n. [So called because found in the arrondissement of
Notron, France.] (Min.) A greenish yellow or green mineral, consisting
chiefly of the hydrous silicate of iron.
Nonuniformist
Non*u"ni*form`ist (?), n. One who believes that past changes in the
structure of the earth have proceeded from cataclysms or causes more
violent than are now operating; -- called also nonuniformitarian.
Nonunionist
Non*un"ion*ist (?), n. One who does not belong, or refuses to belong,
to a trades union.
Nonusance
Non*us"ance (?), n. Neglect of using; failure to use. [R.] Sir T.
Browne.
Nonuser
Non*us"er (?),
1. A not using; failure to use.
An office may be forfeited by misuser or nonuser. Blackstone.
2. (Law) Neglect or omission to use an easement or franchise or to
assert a right. Kent.
Nonvascular
Non*vas"cu*lar (?), a. (Anat.) Destitute of vessels; extravascular.
Nonvernacular
Non`ver*nac"u*lar (?), a. Not vernacular.
A nonvernacular expression. Sir W. Hamilton.
Nonvocal
Non*vo"cal (?), a. Not vocal; destitute of tone. -- n. A nonvocal
consonant.
Nonyl
Non"yl (?), n. [Nonane + -yl.] (Chem.) The hydrocarbon radical, C9H19,
derived from nonane and forming many compounds. Used also adjectively;
as, nonyl alcohol.
Nonylene
Non"y*lene (?), n. [Nonane + ethylene.] (Chem.) Any one of a series of
metameric, unsaturated hydrocarbons C9H18 of the ethylene series.
Nonylenic
Non`y*len"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, related to, or
designating, nonylene or its compounds; as, nonylenic acid.
Nonylic
No*nyl"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, nonyl or
its compounds; as, nonylic acid.
Noodle
Noo"dle (?), n. [Cf. Noddle, Noddy.] A simpleton; a blockhead; a
stupid person; a ninny. [Low]
The chuckling grin of noodles. Sydney Smith.
Noodle
Noo"dle, n. [G. nudel vermicelli.] A thin strip of dough, made with
eggs, rolled up, cut into small pieces, and used in soup.
Nook
Nook (?), n. [OE. nok; cf. Gael. & Ir. niuc.] A narrow place formed by
an angle in bodies or between bodies; a corner; a recess; a secluded
retreat.
How couldst thou find this dark, sequestered nook? Milton.
Nook-shotten
Nook"-shot`ten (?), a. Full of nooks, angles, or corners. [Obs. or
Prov. Eng.]
That nook-shotten isle of Albion. Shak.
No\'94logical
No`\'94*log"ic*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to no\'94logy.
No\'94logist
No*\'94l"o*gist (?), n. One versed in no\'94logy.
No\'94logy
No*\'94l"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. -logy.] The science of intellectual
phenomena.
Noon
Noon (?), a. No. See the Note under No. [Obs.]
Noon
Noon (?), n. [AS. n, orig., the ninth hour, fr. L.nona (sc. hora) the
ninth hour, then applied to the church services (called nones) at that
hour, the time of which was afterwards changed to noon. See Nine, and
cf. Nones, Nunchion.]
1. The middle of the day; midday; the time when the sun is in the
meridian; twelve o'clock in the daytime.
2. Hence, the highest point; culmination.
In the very noon of that brilliant life which was destined to be so
soon, and so fatally, overshadowed. Motley.
High noon, the exact meridian; midday. -- Noon of night, midnight.
[Poetic] Dryden.
Noon
Noon (?), a. Belonging to midday; occurring at midday; meridional.
Young.
Noon
Noon, v. i. To take rest and refreshment at noon.
Noonday
Noon"day` (?), n. Midday; twelve o'clock in the day; noon.
Noonday
Noon"day` (?), a. Of or pertaining to midday; meridional; as, the
noonday heat. "Noonday walks." Addison.
Noon-flower
Noon"-flow`er (?), n. (Bot.) The goat's beard, whose flowers close at
midday.
Nooning
Noon"ing, n. A rest at noon; a repast at noon.
Noonshun
Noon"shun (?), n. [Obs.] See Nunchion. Nares.
Noonstead
Noon"stead (?), n. The position of the sun at noon. [Obs.] Drayton.
Noontide
Noon"tide` (?), n. [From noon + tide time; cf. AS. n the ninth hour.]
The time of noon; midday.
Noose
Noose (?), n. [Prob. fr. OF. nous, nom. sing. or acc. pl. of nou knot,
F. n, L. nodus. Cf. Node.] A running knot, or loop, which binds the
closer the more it is drawn.
Noose
Noose (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Noosed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Noosing.]
To tie in a noose; to catch in a noose; to entrap; to insnare.
Noot
Noot (?). See lst Not. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Nopal
No"pal (?), n. [Mexican nopalli.] (Bot.) A cactaceous plant (Nopalea
cochinellifera), originally Mexican, on which the cochineal insect
feeds, and from which it is collected. The name is sometimes given to
other species of Cactace\'91.
Nopalry
No"pal*ry (?), n.; pl. Nopalries (. A plantation of the nopal for
raising the cochineal insect.
Nope
Nope (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) A bullfinch. [Prov. Eng.]
Nor
Nor (?), conj. [OE. nor, contr. from nother. See Neither.] A negative
connective or particle, introducing the second member or clause of a
negative proposition, following neither, or not, in the first member
or clause (as or in affirmative propositions follows either). Nor is
also used sometimes in the first member for neither, and sometimes the
neither is omitted and implied by the use of nor.
Provide neither gold nor silver, nor brass, in your purses, nor
scrip for your journey. Matt. x. 9, 10.
Where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt. Matt. vi. 20.
I love him not, nor fear him. Shak.
Where neither party is nor true, nor kind. Shak.
Simois nor Xanthus shall be wanting there. Dryden.
Norbertine
Nor"bert*ine (?), n. See Premonstrant. <-- nori. (Jap.) a dried
seaweed used as a seasoning or as a wrapper for sushi -->
Noria
No"ri*a (?), n. [Sp., from Ar. n\'be'.] A large water wheel, turned by
the action of a stream against its floats, and carrying at its
circumference buckets, by which water is raised and discharged into a
trough; used in Arabia, China, and elsewhere for irrigating land; a
Persian wheel.
Norian
No"ri*an (?), a. [From norite.] (Geol.) Pertaining to the upper
portion of the Laurentian rocks. T. S. Hunt.
Norice
Nor"ice (?), n. Nurse. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Norie
No"rie (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zo\'94l.) The cormorant. [Prov.
Eng.]
Norimon
Nor"i*mon (?), n.; pl. Norimons (. A Japanese covered litter, carried
by men. B. Taylor.
Norite
No"rite (?), n. [F., fr. Norv\'8age Norway .] (Min.) A granular
crystalline rock consisting essentially of a triclinic feldspar (as
labradorite) and hypersthene.
Norium
No"ri*um (?), n. [NL.] (Chem.) A supposed metal alleged to have been
discovered in zircon.
Norm
Norm (?), n. [L. norma a rule. See Normal, a.]
1. A rule or authoritative standard; a model; a type.
2. (Biol.) A typical, structural unit; a type. Agassiz.
Norma
Nor"ma (?), n. [L.]
1. A norm; a principle or rule; a model; a standard. J. S. Mill.
2. A mason's or a carpenter's square or rule.
3. A templet or gauge.
Normal
Nor"mal (?), a. [L. normalis, fr. norma rule, pattern, carpenter's
square; prob. akin to noscere to know; cf. Gr. normal. See Known, and
cf. Abnormal, Enormous.]
1. According to an established norm, rule, or principle; conformed to
a type, standard, or regular form; performing the proper functions;
not abnormal; regular; natural; analogical.
Deviations from the normal type. Hallam.
2. (Geom.) According to a square or rule; perpendicular; forming a
right angle. Specifically: Of or pertaining to a normal.
3. (Chem.) Standard; original; exact; typical. Specifically: (a)
(Quantitative Analysis) Denoting a solution of such strength that
every cubic centimeter contains the same number of milligrams of the
element in question as the number of its molecular weight. (b) (Chem.)
Denoting certain hypothetical compounds, as acids from which the real
acids are obtained by dehydration; thus, normal sulphuric acid and
normal nitric acid are respectively S(OH)6, and N(OH)5. (c) (Organ.
Chem.) Denoting that series of hydrocarbons in which no carbon atom is
united with more than two other carbon atoms; as, normal pentane,
hexane, etc. Cf. Iso-.
Normal equations (Method of Least Squares), a set of equations of the
first degree equal in number to the number of unknown quantities, and
derived from the observations by a specified process. The solution of
the normal equations gives the most probable values of the unknown
quantities. -- Normal group (Geol.), a group of rocks taken as a
standard. Lyell. -- Normal place (of a planet or comet) (Astron.), the
apparent place in the heavens of a planet or comet at a specified
time, the place having been determined by a considerable number of
observations, extending perhaps over many days, and so combined that
the accidental errors of observation have largely balanced each other.
-- Normal school, a school whose methods of instruction are to serve
as a model for imitation; an institution for the training of teachers.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 982
Syn. -- Normal, Regular, Ordinary. Regular and ordinary are popular
terms of well-known signification; normal has now a more specific
sense, arising out of its use in science. A thing is normal, or in its
normal state, when strictly conformed to those principles of its
constitution which mark its species or to the standard of a healthy
and natural condition. It is abnormal when it departs from those
principles.
Normal
Nor"mal (?), n. [Cf. F. normale, ligne normale. See Normal, a.]
1. (Geom.) Any perpendicular.
2. (Geom.) A straight line or plane drawn from any point of a curve or
surface so as to be perpendicular to the curve or surface at that
point.
NOTE: &hand; Th e te rm no rmal is also used to denote the distance
along the normal line from the curve to the axis of abscissas or to
the center of curvature.
Normalcy
Nor"mal*cy (?), n. The quality, state, or fact of being normal; as,
the point of normalcy. [R.]
Normalization
Nor`mal*i*za"tion (?), n. Reduction to a standard or normal state.
Normally
Nor"mal*ly, adv. In a normal manner. Darwin.
Norman
Nor"man (?), n. [F. normand.] (Naut.) A wooden bar, or iron pin. W. C.
Russell.
Norman
Nor"man, a. [F. normand, of Scand. origin. See Northman, and cf.
Norse.] Of or pertaining to Normandy or to the Normans; as, the Norman
language; the Norman conquest. Norman style (Arch.), a style of
architecture which arose in the tenth century, characterized by great
massiveness, simplicity, and strength, with the use of the
semicircular arch, heavy round columns, and a great variety of
ornaments, among which the zigzag and spiral or cable-formed ornaments
were prominent.
Norman
Nor"man, n. A native or inhabitant of Normandy; originally, one of the
Northmen or Scandinavians who conquered Normandy in the 10th century;
afterwards, one of the mixed (Norman-French) race which conquered
England, under William the Conqueror.
Normanism
Nor"man*ism (?), n. A Norman idiom; a custom or expression peculiar to
the Normans. M. Arnold.
Norn, Norna
Norn (?), Nor"na (?), n. [Icel. norn, pl. nornir.]
1. (Scandinavian Myth.) One of the three Fates, Past, Present, and
Future. Their names were Urd, Verdandi, and Skuld.
2. A tutelary deity; a genius.
Noropianic
No*ro`pi*an"ic (?), a. [Etymology uncertain.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining
to, or designating, an acid of the aromatic series obtained from
opianic acid.
Norroy
Nor"roy (?), n. [Lit., north king, fr. F. nord north + roi king.]
(Her.) The most northern of the English Kings-at-arms. See
King-at-arms, under King.
Norse
Norse (?), a. [Dan. Norsk, fr. nord north. See North.] Of or
pertaining to ancient Scandinavia, or to the language spoken by its
inhabitants.
Norse
Norse, n. The Norse language.
Norseman
Norse"man (?), n.; pl. Norsemen (. One of the ancient Scandinavians; a
Northman.
Nortelry
Nor"tel*ry (?), n. [Cf. Nurture.] Nurture; education; culture;
bringing up. [Obs.]
Nortelry . . . learned at the nunnery. Chaucer.
North
North (?), n. [AS. nor&edh;; akin to D. noord, G., Sw., & Dan. nord,
Icel. nor&edh;r. Cf. Norman, Norse.]
1. That one of the four cardinal points of the compass, at any place,
which lies in the direction of the true meridian, and to the left hand
of a person facing the east; the direction opposite to the south.
2. Any country or region situated farther to the north than another;
the northern section of a country.
3. Specifically: That part of the United States lying north of Mason
and Dixon's line. See under Line.
North
North, a. Lying toward the north; situated at the north, or in a
northern direction from the point of observation or reckoning;
proceeding toward the north, or coming from the north. North
following. See Following, a., 2. -- North pole, that point in the
heavens, or on the earth, ninety degrees from the equator toward the
north. -- North preceding. See Following, a., 2. -- North star, the
star toward which the north pole of the earth very nearly points, and
which accordingly seems fixed and immovable in the sky. The star a
(alpha) of the Little Bear, is our present north star, being distant
from the pole about 1° 25\'b7, and from year to year approaching
slowly nearer to it. It is called also Cynosura, polestar, and by
astronomers, Polaris.
North
North, v. i. To turn or move toward the north; to veer from the east
or west toward the north.
North
North, adv. Northward.
Northeast
North`east" (?), n. The point between the north and east, at an equal
distance from each; the northeast part or region.
Northeast
North`east", a. Of or pertaining to the northeast; proceeding toward
the northeast, or coming from that point; as, a northeast course; a
northeast wind. Northeast passage, a passage or communication by sea
between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans along the north coast of Asia.
Northeast
North`east", adv. Toward the northeast.
Northeaster
North`east"er (?), n. A storm, strong wind, or gale, coming from the
northeast.
Northeasterly
North`east"er*ly, a. Pertaining to the northeast; toward the
northeast, or coming from the northeast.
Northeasterly
North`east"er*ly, adv. Toward the northeast.
Northeastern
North`east"ern (?), a. Of or pertaining to the northeast;
northeasterly.
Northeastward, Northeastwardly
North`east"ward (?), North`east"ward*ly (?), adv. Toward the
northeast.
Norther
North"er (?), n. A wind from the north; esp., a strong and cold north
wind in Texas and the vicinity of the Gulf of Mexico.
Northerliness
North"er*li*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being northerly;
direction toward the north.
Northerly
North"er*ly, a. Of or pertaining to the north; toward the north, or
from the north; northern.
Northerly
North"er*ly, adv. Toward the north.
Northern
North"ern (?), a. [AS. nor&edh;erne.]
1. Of or pertaining to the north; being in the north, or nearer to
that point than to the east or west.
2. In a direction toward the north; as, to steer a northern course;
coming from the north; as, a northern wind.
Northern diver. (Zo\'94l.) See Loon. -- Northern lights. See Aurora
borealis, under Aurora. -- Northern spy (Bot.), an excellent American
apple, of a yellowish color, marked with red.
Northerner
North"ern*er (?), n.
1. One born or living in the north.
2. A native or inhabitant of the Northern States; --
contradistinguished from Southerner. [U. S.]
Northernly
North"ern*ly, adv. Northerly. [Obs.] Hakewill.
Northernmost
North"ern*most` (?), a. [Cf. Northmost.] Farthest north.
Northing
North"ing, n.
1. (Surv. & Navigation) Distance northward from any point of departure
or of reckoning, measured on a meridian; -- opposed to southing.
2. (Astron.) The distance of any heavenly body from the equator
northward; north declination.
Northman
North"man (?), n.; pl. Northmen (#). [AS. nor&edh;man. See North, and
Man, and cf. Norman.] One of the inhabitants of the north of Europe;
esp., one of the ancient Scandinavians; a Norseman.
Northmost
North"most` (?), a. [AS. nor. Cf.Aftermost.] Lying farthest north;
northernmost.
Northmost part of the coast of Mozambique. De Foe.
Northness
North"ness, n. A tendency in the end of a magnetic needle to point to
the north. Faraday.
Northumbrian
North*um"bri*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to Northumberland in England.
-- n. A native or inhabitant of Northumberland.
Northward
North"ward (?), a. [AS. nor&edh;weard.] Toward the north; nearer to
the north than to the east or west point.
Northward, Northwards
North"ward (?), North"wards (?), adv. Toward the north, or toward a
point nearer to the north than to the east or west point.
Northwardly
North"ward*ly, a. Having a northern direction.
Northwardly
North"ward*ly, adv. In a northern direction.
Northwest
North`west" (?), n. [AS. nor&edh;west.] The point in the horizon
between the north and west, and equally distant from each; the
northwest part or region.
Northwest
North`west", a.
1. Pertaining to, or in the direction of, the point between the north
and west; being in the northwest; toward the northwest, or coming from
the northwest; as, the northwest coast.
2. Coming from the northwest; as, a northwest wind.
Northwest passage, a passage or communication by sea between the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans along the north coast of America, long
sought for by navigators.
Northwest
North`west", adv. Toward the northwest.
Northwester
North`west"er (?), n. A storm or gale from the northwest; a strong
northwest wind.
Northwesterly
North`west"er*ly, a. Toward the northwest, or from the northwest.
Northwestern
North`west"ern (?), a. Of, pertaining to, or being in, the northwest;
in a direction toward the northwest; coming from the northwest;
northwesterly; as, a northwestern course.
Northwestward, Northwestwardly
North`west"ward (?), North`west"ward*ly (?), adv. Toward the
northwest.
Norwegian
Nor*we"gi*an (?), a. [Cf. Icel. Noregr, Norvegr, Norway. See North,
and Way.] Of or pertaining to Norway, its inhabitants, or its
language.
Norwegian
Nor*we"gi*an, n.
1. A native of Norway.
2. That branch of the Scandinavian language spoken in Norway.
Norwegium
Nor*we"gi*um (?), n. [NL. See Norwegian.] (Chem.) A rare metallic
element, of doubtful identification, said to occur in the
copper-nickel of Norway.
Norweyan
Nor*we"yan (?), a. Norwegian. [Obs.] Shak.
Nose
Nose (?), n. [AS. nosu; akin to D. neus, G. nase, OHG. nasa, Icel.
n\'94s, Sw. n\'84sa, Dan. n\'84se, Lith. nosis, Russ. nos', L. nasus,
nares, Skr. n\'bes\'be, n\'bes. Nasal, Nasturtium, Naze, Nostril,
Nozzle.]
1. (Anat.) The prominent part of the face or anterior extremity of the
head containing the nostrils and olfactory cavities; the olfactory
organ. See Nostril, and Olfactory organ under Olfactory.
2. The power of smelling; hence, scent.
We are not offended with a dog for a better nose than his master.
Collier.
3. A projecting end or beak at the front of an object; a snout; a
nozzle; a spout; as, the nose of a bellows; the nose of a teakettle.
Nose bit (Carp.), a bit similar to a gouge bit, but having a cutting
edge on one side of its boring end. -- Nose hammer (Mach.), a frontal
hammer. -- Nose hole (Glass Making), a small opening in a furnace,
before which a globe of crown glass is held and kept soft at the
beginning of the flattening process. -- Nose key (Carp.), a fox wedge.
-- Nose leaf (Zo\'94l.), a thin, broad, membranous fold of skin on the
nose of many species of bats. It varies greatly in size and form. --
Nose of wax, fig., a person who is pliant and easily influenced. "A
nose of wax to be turned every way." Massinger -- Nose piece, the
nozzle of a pipe, hose, bellows, etc.; the end piece of a microscope
body, to which an objective is attached. -- To hold, put, OR bring
one's nose to the grindstone. See under Grindstone. -- To lead by the
nose, to lead at pleasure, or to cause to follow submissively; to lead
blindly, as a person leads a beast. Shak. -- To put one's nose out of
joint, to humiliate one's pride, esp. by supplanting one in the
affections of another. [Slang] -- To thrust one's nose into, to meddle
officiously in. -- To wipe one's nose of, to deprive of; to rob.
[Slang]<-- on the nose, (a) exactly, accurately; (b) (racing) to win,
opposed to "to place" or "to show" -->
Nose
Nose, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nosed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Nosing.]
1. To smell; to scent; hence, to track, or trace out.
2. To touch with the nose; to push the nose into or against; hence, to
interfere with; to treat insolently.
Lambs . . . nosing the mother's udder. Tennyson.
A sort of national convention, dubious in its nature . . . nosed
Parliament in the very seat of its authority. Burke.
3. To utter in a nasal manner; to pronounce with a nasal twang; as, to
nose a prayer. [R.] Cowley. <-- nose around, to look around, search
-->
Nose
Nose (n&omac;z), v. i.
1. To smell; to sniff; to scent. Audubon.
2. To pry officiously into what does not concern one.
Nosebag
Nose"bag` (?), n. A bag in which feed for a horse, ox, or the like,
may be fastened under the nose by a string passing over the head.
Noseband
Nose"band` (?), n. That part of the headstall of a bridle which passes
over a horse's nose.
Nosebleed
Nose"bleed` (?), n.
1. A bleeding at the nose.
2. (Bot.) The yarrow. See Yarrow.
Nosed
Nosed (?), a. Having a nose, or such a nose; -- chieflay used in
composition; as, pug-nosed.
Nosegay
Nose"gay` (?), n. [Nose + gay in the sense of a gay or showy thing.] A
bunch of odorous and showy flowers; a bouquet; a posy. Pope.
Nosel
Nos"el (?), v. t. [See Noursle.] To nurse; to lead or teach; to
foster; to nuzzle. [Obs.]
If any man use the Scripture . . . to nosel thee in anything save
in Christ, he is a false prophet. Tyndale.
Noseless
Nose"less (?), a. Destitute of a nose.
Nosesmart
Nose"smart` (?), n. (Bot.) A kind of cress, a pungent cruciferous
plant, including several species of the genus Nasturtium.
Nosethirl, Nosethril
Nose"thirl (?), Nose"thril (?), n. Nostril. [Obs.] [Written also
nosethurl, nosthrill.] Chaucer.
Nosing
Nos"ing (?), n. (Arch.) That part of the treadboard of a stair which
projects over the riser; hence, any like projection, as the projecting
edge of a molding.
Nosle
No"sle (?), n. [See Nozzle, Nose.] Nozzle. [Obs.]
Nosocomial
Nos`o*co"mi*al (?), a. [L. nosocomium a hospital, Gr. Of or pertaining
to a hospital; as, nosocomial atmosphere. Dunglison.
Nosography
No*sog"ra*phy (?), n. [Gr. -graphy: cf. F. nosographie.] A description
or classification of diseases.
Nosological
Nos`o*log"ic*al (?), a. [Cf. F. nosologique.] Of or pertaining to
nosology.
Nosologist
No*sol"o*gist (?), n. [Cf. F. nosologiste.] One versed in nosology.
Nosology
No*sol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. -logy: cf. F. nosologie.]
1. A systematic arrangement, or classification, of diseases.
2. That branch of medical science which treats of diseases, or of the
classification of diseases.
Nosopoetic
Nos`o*po*et"ic (?), a. [Gr. Producing diseases. [R.] Arbuthnot.
Nost
Nost (?). [Contr. from ne wost.] Wottest not; knowest not. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Nostalgia
Nos*tal"gi*a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.) Homesickness; esp., a severe
and sometimes fatal form of melancholia, due to homesickness.
Nostalgic
Nos*tal"gic (?), a. [Cf. F. nostalgique.] Of or pertaining to
nostalgia; affected with nostalgia.
Nostalgy
Nos*tal"gy (?), n. Same as Nostalgia.
Nostoc
Nos"toc (?), n. [F.] (Bot.) A genus of alg\'91. The plants are
composed of moniliform cells imbedded in a gelatinous substance.
NOTE: &hand; No stoc co mmune is fo und on th e gr ound, an d is
ordinarily not seen; but after a rain it swells up into a
conspicuous jellylike mass, whish was formerly supposed to have
fallen from the sky, whence the popular names, fallen star and star
jelly. Also called witches' butter.
Nostril
Nos"tril (?), n. [OE. nosethril, nosethirl, AS. nospyrl; nos for nosu
nose + pyrel opening, hole, from pyrel pierced, for pyrhel, fr. purh
through. Nose, and Through, and cf. Thrill.]
1. (Anat.) One of the external openings of the nose, which give
passage to the air breathed and to secretions from the nose and eyes;
one of the anterior nares.
NOTE: &hand; In sperm whales, porpoises, and allied animals, there
is only one nostril, which is situated on the top of the head and
called a spiracle.
2. Perception; insight; acuteness. [Obs.]
Methinks a man Of your sagacity and clear nostril should Have made
another choice. B. Jonson.
Nostrum
Nos"trum (?) n.; pl. Nostrums (#). [Neut. sing. of L. noster ours, fr.
nos we. See Us.]
1. A medicine, the ingredients of which are kept secret for the
purpose of restricting the profits of sale to the inventor or
proprietor; a quack medicine.
2. Any scheme or device proposed by a quack.
The incentives of agitators, the arts of impostors and the nostrums
of quacks. Brougham.
<-- 3. any scheme asserted to solve a problem, but with no objective
basis for belief in its effectiveness; esp., in politics, a scheme
likely to prove popular with voters. -->
Not
Not (?). [Contr. from ne wot. See 2d Note.] Wot not; know not; knows
not. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Not
Not, a. Shorn; shaven. [Obs.] See Nott.
Not
Not, adv. [OE. not, noht, nought, naught, the same word as E. naught.
See Naught.] A word used to express negation, prohibition, denial, or
refusal.
Not one word spake he more than was need. Chaucer.
Thou shalt not steal. Ex. xx. 15.
Thine eyes are upon me, and I am not. Job vii. 8.
The question is, may I do it, or may I not do it? Bp. Sanderson.
Not . . . but, OR Not but, only. [Obs. or Colloq.] Chaucer.
Notabilia
No`ta*bil"i*a (?), n. pl. [Neut. pl. of L. notabilis notable.] Things
worthy of notice.
Notability
Not`a*bil"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Notabilities (#). [Cf. F. notabilit\'82 .]
1. Quality of being notable.
2. A notable, or remarkable, person or thing; a person of note.
"Parisian notabilities" Carlyle.
3. A notable saying. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Notable
Not"a*ble (?), a. [F. notable, L. notabilis, fr. notare to mark, nota
mark, note. See 5th Note.]
1. Capable of being noted; noticeable; plan; evident.
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2. Worthy of notice; remarkable; memorable; noted or distinguished;
as, a notable event, person.
NOTE: &hand; No table in th e se nse of ca reful, th rifty,
characterized by thrift and capacity (as, a notable housekeeper) is
pronounced by many good ortho\'89pists, n&ocr;t"&adot;*b'l, the
derivatives notableness, and notably, being also similarly
pronounced with short o in the first syllable.
3. Well-known; notorious. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Notable
Not"a*ble (?), n.
1. A person, or thing, of distinction.
2. (French Hist.) One of a number of persons, before the revolution of
1789, chiefly of the higher orders, appointed by the king to
constitute a representative body.
Notableness
Not"a*ble*ness, n. The quality of being notable.
Notably
Not"a*bly, adv. In a notable manner.
Not\'91um
No*t\'91"um (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. (Zo\'94l.) The back or upper
surface, as of a bird.
Notal
No"tal (?), a. [Gr. Of or pertaining to the back; dorsal.
Notandum
No*tan"dum (?), n.; pl. Notanda (#). [L., fr. notare to observe.] A
thing to be noted or observed; a notable fact; -- chiefly used in the
plural.
Notarial
No*ta"ri*al (?), a. [Cf. F. notarial.] Of or pertaining to a notary;
done or taken by a notary; as, a notarial seal; notarial evidence or
attestation.
Notarially
No*ta"ri*al*ly, adv. In a notarial manner.
Notary
No"ta*ry (?), n.; pl. Notaries (#). [F. notaire, L. notarius notary
(in sense 1), fr. nota mark. See 5th Note.]
1. One who records in shorthand what is said or done; as, the notary
of an ecclesiastical body.
2. (Eng. & Am. Law) A public officer who attests or certifies deeds
and other writings, or copies of them, usually under his official
seal, to make them authentic, especially in foreign countries. His
duties chiefly relate to instruments used in commercial transactions,
such as protests of negotiable paper, ship's papers in cases of loss,
damage, etc. He is generally called a notary public.
Notate
No"tate (?), a. [L. notatus marked, p. p. of notare to mark. See 5th
Note.] (Bot.) Marked with spots or lines, which are often colored.
Henslow.
Notation
No*ta"tion (?), n. [L. notatio a marking, observing, etymology, fr.
notare to mark, nota a mark: cf. F. notation. See 5th Note.]
1. The act or practice of recording anything by marks, figures, or
characters.
2. Any particular system of characters, symbols, or abbreviated
expressions used in art or science, to express briefly technical
facts, quantities, etc. Esp., the system of figures, letters, and
signs used in arithmetic and algebra to express number, quantity, or
operations.
3. Literal or etymological signification. [Obs.]
"Conscience" is a Latin word, and, according to the very notation
of it, imports a double or joint knowledge. South.
Notch
Notch (?), n. [Akin to nock; cf. OD. nock, OSw. nocka. Cf. Nick a
notch.]
1. A hollow cut in anything; a nick; an indentation.
And on the stick ten equal notches makes. Swift.
2. A narrow passage between two elevation; a deep, close pass; a
defile; as, the notch of a mountain.
Notch
Notch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Notched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Notching.]
1. To cut or make notches in ; to indent; also, to score by notches;
as, to notch a stick.
2. To fit the notch of (an arrow) to the string.
God is all sufferance; here he doth show No arrow notched, only a
stringless bow. Herrick.
Notchboard
Notch"board` (?), n. (Carp.) The board which receives the ends of the
steps in a staircase.
Notching
Notch"ing, n.
1. The act of making notches; the act of cutting into small hollows.
2. The small hollow, or hollows, cut; a notch or notches.
3. (Carp.) A method of joining timbers, scantling, etc., by notching
them, as at the ends, and overlapping or interlocking the notched
portions.
4. (Engin.) A method of excavating, as in a bank, by a series of
cuttings side by side. See also Gulleting.
Notchweed
Notch"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) A foul-smelling weed, the stinking
goosefoot (Chenopodium Vulvaria).
Note
Note (?), v. t. [AS. hn\'c6tan to strike against, imp. hn\'bet.] To
butt; to push with the horns. [Prov. Eng.]
Note
Note (?). [AS. n\'bet; ne not + w\'bet wot. See Not, and Wot.] Know
not; knows not. [Obs.]
Note
Note, n. Nut. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Note
Note, n. [AS. notu use, profit.] Need; needful business. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Note
Note, n. [F. note, L. nota; akin to noscere, notum, to know. See
Know.]
1. A mark or token by which a thing may be known; a visible sign; a
character; a distinctive mark or feature; a characteristic quality.
Whosoever appertain to the visible body of the church, they have
also the notes of external profession. Hooker.
She [the Anglican church] has the note of possession, the note of
freedom from party titles,the note of life -- a tough life and a
vigorous. J. H. Newman.
What a note of youth, of imagination, of impulsive eagerness, there
was through it all ! Mrs. Humphry Ward.
2. A mark, or sign, made to call attention, to point out something to
notice, or the like; a sign, or token, proving or giving evidence.
3. A brief remark; a marginal comment or explanation; hence, an
annotation on a text or author; a comment; a critical, explanatory, or
illustrative observation.
The best writers have been perplexed with notes, and obscured with
illustrations. Felton.
4. A brief writing intended to assist the memory; a memorandum; a
minute.
5. pl. Hence, a writing intended to be used in speaking; memoranda to
assist a speaker, being either a synopsis, or the full text of what is
to be said; as, to preach from notes; also, a reporter's memoranda;
the original report of a speech or of proceedings.
6. A short informal letter; a billet.
7. A diplomatic missive or written communication.
8. A written or printed paper acknowledging a debt, and promising
payment; as, a promissory note; a note of hand; a negotiable note.
9. A list of items or of charges; an account. [Obs.]
Here is now the smith's note for shoeing. Shak.
10. (Mus.) (a) A character, variously formed, to indicate the length
of a tone, and variously placed upon the staff to indicate its pitch.
Hence: (b) A musical sound; a tone; an utterance; a tune. (c) A key of
the piano or organ.
The wakeful bird . . . tunes her nocturnal note. Milton.
That note of revolt against the eighteenth century, which we detect
in Goethe, was struck by Winckelmann. W. Pater.
11. Observation; notice; heed.
Give orders to my servants that they take No note at all of our
being absent hence. Shak.
12. Notification; information; intelligence. [Obs.]
The king . . . shall have note of this. Shak.
13. State of being under observation. [Obs.]
Small matters . . . continually in use and in note. Bacon.
14. Reputation; distinction; as, a poet of note.
There was scarce a family of note which had not poured out its
blood on the field or the scaffold. Prescott.
15. Stigma; brand; reproach. [Obs.] Shak.
Note of hand, a promissory note.
Note
Note (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Noted; p. pr. & vb. n. Noting.] [F.
noter, L. notare, fr. nota. See Note, n.]
1. To notice with care; to observe; to remark; to heed; to attend to.
Pope.
No more of that; I have noted it well. Shak.
2. To record in writing; to make a memorandum of.
Every unguarded word . . . was noted down. Maccaulay.
3. To charge, as with crime (with of or for before the thing charged);
to brand. [Obs.]
They were both noted of incontinency. Dryden.
4. To denote; to designate. Johnson.
5. To annotate. [R.] W. H. Dixon.
6. To set down in musical characters.
To note a bill OR draft, to record on the back of it a refusal of
acceptance, as the ground of a protest, which is done officially by a
notary.
Notebook
Note"book` (?), n.
1. A book in which notes or memorandums are written.
2. A book in which notes of hand are registered.
Noted
Not"ed (?), a. Well known by reputation or report; eminent;
celebrated; as, a noted author, or traveler. -- Not"ed*ly, adv. --
Not"ed*ness, n.
Noteful
Note"ful (?), a. Useful. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Noteless
Note"less, a. Not attracting notice; not conspicuous.
Noteless as the race from which he sprung. Sir W. Scott.
Notelessness
Note"less*ness, n. A state of being noteless.
Notelet
Note"let (?), n. A little or short note; a billet.
Note paper
Note" pa`per (?). Writing paper, not exceeding in size, when folded
once, five by eight inches.
Noter
Not"er (?), n.
1. One who takes notice.
2. An annotator. [Obs.]
Noteworthy
Note"wor`thy (?), a. Worthy of observation or notice; remarkable.
Nother
Noth"er (?), conj. Neither; nor. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Nothing
Noth"ing (?), n. [From no, a. + thing.]
1. Not anything; no thing (in the widest sense of the word thing); --
opposed to anything and something.
Yet had his aspect nothing of severe. Dryden.
2. Nonexistence; nonentity; absence of being; nihility; nothingness.
Shak.
3. A thing of no account, value, or note; something irrelevant and
impertinent; something of comparative unimportance; utter
insignificance; a trifle.
Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought. Is. xli. 24.
'T is nothing, says the fool; but, says the friend, This nothing,
sir, will bring you to your end. Dryden.
4. (Arith.) A cipher; naught.
Nothing but, only; no more than. Chaucer. -- To make nothing of. (a)
To make no difficulty of; to consider as trifling or important. "We
are industrious to preserve our bodies from slavery, but we make
nothing of suffering our souls to be slaves to our lusts." Ray. (b)
Not to understand; as, I could make nothing of what he said.
Nothing
Noth"ing, adv. In no degree; not at all; in no wise.
Adam, with such counsel nothing swayed. Milton.
The influence of reason in producing our passions is nothing near
so extensive as is commonly believed. Burke.
Nothing off (Naut.), an order to the steersman to keep the vessel
close to the wind.
Nothingarian
Noth`ing*a"ri*an (?), n. One of no certain belief; one belonging to no
particular sect.
Nothingism
Noth"ing*ism (?), n. Nihility; nothingness. [R.]
Nothingness
Noth"ing*ness, n.
1. Nihility; nonexistence.
2. The state of being of no value; a thing of no value.
Notice
No"tice (?), n. [F., fr. L. notitia a being known, knowledge, fr.
noscere, notum, to know. See Know.]
1. The act of noting, remarking, or observing; observation by the
senses or intellect; cognizance; note.
How ready is envy to mingle with the notices we take of other
persons ! I. Watts.
2. Intelligence, by whatever means communicated; knowledge given or
received; means of knowledge; express notification; announcement;
warning.
I . . . have given him notice that the Duke of Cornwall and Regan
his duchess will be here. Shak.
3. An announcement, often accompanied by comments or remarks; as, book
notices; theatrical notices.
4. A writing communicating information or warning.
5. Attention; respectful treatment; civility.
To take notice of, to perceive especially; to observe or treat with
particular attention. Syn. -- Attention; regard; remark; note; heed;
consideration; respect; civility; intelligence; advice; news.
Notice
No"tice, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Noticed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Noticing
(?).]
1. To observe; to see to mark; to take note of; to heed; to pay
attention to.
2. To show that one has observed; to take public note of; remark upon;
to make comments on; to refer to; as, to notice a book.
This plant deserves to be noticed in this place. Tooke.
Another circumstance was noticed in connection with the suggestion
last discussed. Sir W. Hamilton.
3. To treat with attention and civility; as, to notice strangers. Syn.
-- To remark; observe; perceive; see; mark; note; mind; regard; heed;
mention. See Remark.
Noticeable
No"tice*a*ble (?), a. Capable of being observed; worthy of notice;
likely to attract observation; conspicous.
A noticeable man, with large gray eyes. Wordsworth.
Noticeably
No"tice*a*bly, adv. In a noticeable manner.
Noticer
No"ti*cer (?), n. One who notices.
Notidanian
No`ti*da"ni*an (?), n. [Gr. (Zo\'94l.) Any one of several species of
sharks of the family Notidanid\'91, or Hexanchid\'91. Called also cow
sharks. See Shark.
Notification
No`ti*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. notification. See Notify.]
1. The act of notifying, or giving notice; the act of making known;
especially, the act of giving official notice or information to the
public or to individuals, corporations, companies, or societies, by
words, by writing, or by other means.
2. Notice given in words or writing, or by signs.
3. The writing which communicates information; an advertisement, or
citation, etc.
Notify
No"ti*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Notified (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Notifying (?).] [F. notifier, L. notificare; notus known (p. p. of
noscere to known) + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See Know, and -fy.]
1. To make known; to declare; to publish; as, to notify a fact to a
person.
No law can bind till it be notified or promulged. Sowth.
2. To give notice to; to inform by notice; to apprise; as, the
constable has notified the citizens to meet at the city hall; the bell
notifies us of the time of meeting.
The President of the United States has notified the House of
Representatives that he has approved and signed the act. Journal of
the Senate, U. S.
NOTE: &hand; Th is application of notify has been condemned; but it
is in constant good use in the United States, and in perfect
accordance with the use of certify.
Notion
No"tion (?), [L. notio, fr. noscere to know: cf. F. notion. See Know.]
1. Mental apprehension of whatever may be known or imagined; an idea;
a conception; more properly, a general or universal conception, as
distinguishable or definable by marks or not\'91.
What hath been generally agreed on, I content myself to assume
under the notion of principles. Sir I. Newton.
Few agree in their notions about these words. Cheyne.
That notion of hunger, cold, sound, color, thought, wish, or fear
which is in the mind, is called the "idea" of hunger, cold, etc. I.
Watts.
Notion, again, signifies either the act of apprehending,
signalizing, that is, the remarking or taking note of, the various
notes, marks, or characters of an object which its qualities
afford, or the result of that act. Sir W. Hamilton.
2. A sentiment; an opinion.
The extravagant notion they entertain of themselves. Addison.
A perverse will easily collects together a system of notions to
justify itself in its obliquity. J. H. Newman.
3. Sense; mind. [Obs.] Shak.
4. An invention; an ingenious device; a knickknack; as, Yankee
notions. [Colloq.]
5. Inclination; intention; disposition; as, I have a notion to do it.
[Colloq.]
Notional
No"tion*al (?), a.
1. Consisting of, or conveying, notions or ideas; expressing abstract
conceptions.
2. Existing in idea only; visionary; whimsical.
Discourses of speculative and notional things. Evelyn.
3. Given to foolish or visionary expectations; whimsical; fanciful;
as, a notional man.
Notionality
No`tion*al"i*ty (?), n. A notional or groundless opinion. [R.]
Glanvill.
Notionally
No"tion*al*ly (?), adv. In mental apprehension; in conception; not in
reality.
Two faculties . . . notionally or really distinct. Norris.
Notionate
No"tion*ate (?), a. Notional. [R.]
Notionist
No"tion*ist, n. One whose opinions are ungrounded notions. [R.] Bp.
Hopkins.
Notist
No"tist (?), n. An annotator. [Obs.]
Notobranchiata
No`to*bran`chi*a*ta (?), n. pl. [NL. See Notum, and Branchia.]
(Zo\'94l.) (a) A division of nudibranchiate mollusks having gills upon
the back. (b) The Dorsibranchiata.
Notobranchiate
No`to*bran"chi*ate (?), a. (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the
Notobranchiata.
Notochord
No"to*chord (?), n. [Gr. chord.] (Anat.) An elastic cartilagelike rod
which is developed beneath the medullary groove in the vertebrate
embryo, and constitutes the primitive axial skeleton around which the
centra of the vertebr\'91 and the posterior part of the base of the
skull are developed; the chorda dorsalis. See Illust. of Ectoderm.
Notochordal
No`to*chor"dal (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the notochord;
having a notochord.
Notodontian
No`to*don"tian (?), n. [Gr. (Zo\'94l.) Any one of several species of
bombycid moths belonging to Notodonta, Nerice, and allied genera. The
caterpillar of these moths has a hump, or spine, on its back.
Notopodium
No`to*po"di*um (?), n.; pl. L. Notopodia (#), E. Notopodiums (#).
[NL., fr. Gr. (Zo\'94l.) The dorsal lobe or branch of a parapodium.
See Parapodium.
Notorhizal
No`to*rhi"zal (?), a. [Gr. (Bot.) Having the radicle of the embryo
lying against the back of one of the cotyledons; incumbent.
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Notoriety
No`to*ri"e*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. notori\'82t\'82. See Notorious.] The
quality or condition of being notorious; the state of being generally
or publicly known; -- commonly used in an unfavorable sense; as, the
notoriety of a crime.
They were not subjects in their own nature so exposed to public
notoriety. Addison.
Notorious
No*to"ri*ous (?), a. [L. notorius pointing out, making known, fr.
noscere, notum, to known: cf. F. notoire. See Know.] Generally known
and talked of by the public; universally believed to be true; manifest
to the world; evident; -- usually in an unfavorable sense; as, a
notorious thief; a notorious crime or vice.
Your goodness, Since you provoke me, shall be most notorious. Shak.
Syn. -- Distinguished; remarkable; conspicuous; celebrated; noted;
famous; renowned.<-- infamous is an extreme sense --> --
No*to"ri*ous*ly, adv. -- No*to"ri*ous*ness, n.
Notornis
No*tor"nis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. (Zo\'94l.) A genus of birds allied to
the gallinules, but having rudimentary wings and incapable of flight.
Notornis Mantelli was first known as a fossil bird of New Zealand, but
subsequently a few individuals were found living on the southern
island. It is supposed to be now nearly or quite extinct.
Nototherium
No`to*the"ri*um (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. (Zo\'94l.) An extinct genus of
gigantic herbivorous marsupials, found in the Pliocene formation of
Australia.
Nototrema
No`to*tre"ma (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. (Zo\'94l.) The pouched, or
marsupial, frog of South America.
Not-pated, Nott-pated
Not"-pat`ed (?), Nott"-pat`ed, a. Same as Nott-headed. [Obs.] Shak.
Notself
Not"self` (?), n. (Metaph.) The negative of self. "A cognizance of
notself." Sir. W. Hamilton.
Nott
Nott (?), a. [AS. hnot shorn.] Shorn. [Obs.]
Nott
Nott, v. t. To shear. [Obs.] Stow.
Nott-headed
Nott"-head`ed (?), a. Having the hair cut close. [Obs.] Chapman.
Notturno
Not*tur"no (?), n. [It.] (Mus.) Same as Nocturne.
Notum
No"tum (?), n.; pl. Nota (#). [NL., fr. Gr. (Zo\'94l.) The back.
Notus
No"tus (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. The south wind.
Notwheat
Not"wheat` (?), n. [Nott + wheat.] Wheat not bearded. Carew.
Notwithstanding
Not`with*stand"ing (?), prep. Without prevention, or obstruction from
or by; in spite of.
We gentil women bee Loth to displease any wight, Notwithstanding
our great right. Chaucer's Dream.
Those on whom Christ bestowed miraculous cures were so transported
that their gratitude made them, notwithstanding his prohibition,
proclaim the wonders he had done. Dr. H. More.
NOTE: &hand; Notwithstanding was, by Johnson and Webster, viewed as
a participle absolute, an English equivalent of the Latin non
obstante. Its several meanings, either as preposition, adverb, or
conjunction, are capable of being explained in this view. Later
grammarians, while admitting that the word was originally a
participle, and can be treated as such, prefer to class it as a
preposition or disjunctive conjunction.
Syn. -- In spite of; despite. -- Notwithstanding, In spite of,
Despite. These words and phrases are often interchanged, but there is
a difference between them, chiefly in strength. Notwithstanding is the
weaker term, and simply points to some obstacle that may exist; as, I
shall go, notwithstanding the rain. In spite or despite of has
reference primarily to active opposition to be encountered from
others; as, "I'll be, in man's despite, a monarch; " "I'll keep mine
own, despite of all the world." Shak. Hence, these words, when applied
to things, suppose greater opposition than notwithstanding. We should
say. "He was thrust rudely out of doors in spite of his entreaties,"
rather than "notwithstanding". On the other hand, it would be more
civil to say, "Notwithstanding all you have said, I must still differ
with you."<-- only notwithstanding can be used postpositively -->
Notwithstanding
Not`with*stand"ing, adv. OR conj. [Originally the participle of
withstand, with not prefixed.] Nevertheless; however; although; as, I
shall go, notwithstanding it rains.
I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy
servant. Notwithstanding, in thy days I will not do it. 1 Kings xi.
11, 12.
They which honor the law as an image of the wisdom of God himself,
are, notwithstanding, to know that the same had an end in Christ.
Hooker.
You did wisely and honestly too, notwithstanding She is the
greatest beauty in the parish. Fielding.
Notwithstanding that, notwithstanding; although.
These days were ages to him, notwithstanding that he was basking in
the smiles of the pretty Mary. W. Irving.
Nouch
Nouch (?), n. [See Ouch.] An ouch; a jewel. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Nougat
Nou`gat" (?), n. [F.] A cake, sweetmeat, or confecti\'a2n made with
almonds or other nuts.
Nought
Nought (?), n. & adv. See Naught. Chaucer.
Nould
Nould (?). [Contr. fr. ne would.] Would not. [Obs.] "By those who
nould repent." Fairfax.
Noule
Noule (?), n. [See Noll.] The top of the head; the head or noll.
[Obs.] Spenser.
Noumenal
Nou"me*nal (?), a. (Metaph.) Of or pertaining to the noumenon; real;
-- opposed to phenomenal. G. H. Lewes.
Noumenon
Nou"me*non (?), n. [NL. fr. Gr. (Metaph.) The of itself unknown and
unknowable rational object, or thing in itself, which is distinguished
from the phenomenon through which it is apprehended by the senses, and
by which it is interpreted and understood; -- so used in the
philosophy of Kant and his followers.
Noun
Noun (?), n. [OF. noun, nun, num, non, nom, F. nom, fr. L. nomen name.
See Name.] (Gram.) A word used as the designation or appellation of a
creature or thing, existing in fact or in thought; a substantive.
NOTE: &hand; By so me gr ammarians th e term noun is so used as to
include adjectives, as being descriptive; but in general it is
limited to substantives.
Nounal
Noun"al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a noun.
Verbs which in whole or in part have shed their old nounal coat.
Earle.
Nounize
Noun"ize (?), v. t. To change (an adjective, verb, etc.) into a noun.
Earle.<-- = nominalize -->
Nourice
Nour"ice (?), n. A nurse. [Obs.] Spenser.
Nourish
Nour"ish (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nourished (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Nourishing.] [OE. norisen, norischen, OF. nurir, nurrir, norir, F.
norrir, fr. L. nutrire. Cf. Nurse, Nutriment, and see -ish.]
1. To feed and cause to grow; to supply with matter which increases
bulk or supplies waste, and promotes health; to furnish with
nutriment.
He planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it. Is. xliv. 14.
2. To support; to maintain.
Whiles I in Ireland nourish a mighty band. Shak.
3. To supply the means of support and increase to; to encourage; to
foster; as, to nourish rebellion; to nourish the virtues. "Nourish
their contentions." Hooker.
4. To cherish; to comfort.
Ye have nourished your hearts. James v. 5.
5. To educate; to instruct; to bring up; to nurture; to promote the
growth of in attainments. Chaucer.
Nourished up in the words of faith. 1 Tim. iv. 6.
Syn. -- To cherish; feed; supply. See Nurture.
Nourish
Nour"ish, v. i.
1. To promote growth; to furnish nutriment.
Grains and roots nourish more than their leaves. Bacon.
2. To gain nourishment. [R.] Bacon.
Nourish
Nour"ish, n. A nurse. [Obs.] Hoolland.
Nourishable
Nour"ish*a*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. nourrissable.]
1. Capable of being nourished; as, the nourishable parts of the body.
Grew.
2. Capable of giving nourishment. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
Nourisher
Nour"ish*er (?), n. One who, or that which, nourishes. Milton.
Nourishing
Nour"ish*ing, a. Promoting growth; nutritious,
Nourishingly
Nour"ish*ing*ly, adv. Nutritively; cherishingly.
Nourishment
Nour"ish*ment (?), n. [Cf. OF. norrissement.]
1. The act of nourishing, or the state of being nourished; nutrition.
2. That which serves to nourish; nutriment; food.
Learn to seek the nourishment of their souls. Hooker.
Nouriture
Nour"i*ture (?), n. Nurture. [Obs.] Spenser.
Noursle
Nour"sle (?), v. t. [Freq., fr. OE. nourse. See Nurse.] To nurse; to
rear; to bring up. [Obs.] [Written also nosel, nousel, nousle, nowsle,
nusle, nuzzle, etc.]
She noursled him till years he raught. Spenser.
Nous
Nous (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. Intellect; understanding; talent; -- used
humorously.
Nousel, Nousle
Nous"el, Nou"sle (?), v. t. [See Noose.] To insnare; to entrap. [Obs.]
Johnson.
Nouthe, Nowthe
Nou"the, Now"the (?), adv. [Now + the.] Just now; at present. [Obs.]
But thereof needeth not to speak as nouthe. Chaucer.
Novaculite
No*vac"u*lite (?), n. [L. novacula a sharp knife, razor: cf. F.
novaculite.] (Min.) A variety of siliceous slate, of which hones are
made; razor stone; Turkey stone; hone stone; whet slate.
Novatian
No*va"tian (?), n. (Eccl. Hist.) One of the sect of Novatius, or
Novatianus, who held that the lapsed might not be received again into
communion with the church, and that second marriages are unlawful.
Novatianism
No*va"tian*ism (?), n. The doctrines or principles of the Novatians.
Milner.
Novation
No*va"tion (?), n. [L. novatio; novus new: cf. F. novation.]
1. Innovation. [Obs.]
I shall easily grant that novations in religion are a main cause of
distempers in commonwealths. Laud.
2. (Law) A substitution of a new debt for an old one; also, the
remodeling of an old obligation.
Novator
No*va"tor (?), n. An innovator. [Obs.]
Novel
Nov"el (?), a. [OF. novel, nuvel, F. nouvel, nouveau, L. novellus,
dim. of novus new. See New.] Of recent origin or introduction; not
ancient; new; hence, out of the ordinary course; unusual; strange;
surprising.
NOTE: &hand; In civil law, the novel or new constitutions are those
which are supplemental to the code, and posterior in time to the
other books. These contained new decrees of successive emperors.
Novel assignment (Law), a new assignment or specification of a suit.
Syn. -- New; recent; modern; fresh; strange; uncommon; rare; unusual.
-- Novel, New . Everything at its first occurrence is new; that is
novel which is so much out of the ordinary course as to strike us with
surprise. That is a new sight which is beheld for the first time; that
is a novel sight which either was never seen before or is seen but
seldom. We have daily new inventions, but a novel one supposes some
very peculiar means of attaining its end. Novel theories are regarded
with distrust, as likely to prove more ingenious than sound.
Novel
Nov"el, n. [F. nouvelle. See Novel, a.]
1. That which is new or unusual; a novelty.
2. pl. News; fresh tidings. [Obs.]
Some came of curiosity to hear some novels. Latimer.
3. A fictitious tale or narrative, professing to be conformed to real
life; esp., one intended to exhibit the operation of the passions, and
particularly of love. Dryden.
4. [L. novellae (sc. constitutiones): cf. F. novelles.] (Law) A new or
supplemental constitution. See the Note under Novel, a.
Novelette
Nov`el*ette" (?), n. [Dim. of novel, n. See Novel.] A short novel.
Novelism
Nov"el*ism (?), n. Innovation. [Obs.]
Novelist
Nov"el*ist, n.
1. An innovator; an asserter of novelty. [Obs.] Cudworth.
2. [Cf. F. nouvelliste, It. novellista.] A writer of news. [Obs.]
Tatler (178).
3. [Cf. F. nouvelliste.] A writer of a novel or novels.
Novelize
Nov"el*ize (?), v. i. To innovate. [Obs.]
Novelize
Nov"el*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Novelized (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Novelizing (?).]
1. To innovate. [Obs.]
2. To put into the form of novels; to represent by fiction. "To
novelize history." Sir J. Herschel.
Novelry
Nov"el*ry (?), n. [OF. novelerie.] Novelty; new things. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Novelty
Nov"el*ty (?), n.; pl. Novelties (#). [OF. novelt\'82, F.
nouveaut\'82, L. novellitas.]
1. The quality or state of being novel; newness; freshness; recentness
of origin or introduction.
Novelty is the great parent of pleasure. South.
2. Something novel; a new or strange thing.
November
No*vem"ber (?), n. [L. November, or Novembris (sc. mensis), the ninth
month of the old Roman year, which began with March, fr. novem nine:
cf. F. Novembre. See Nine.] The eleventh month of the year, containing
thirty days.
Novenary
Nov"e*na*ry (?), a. [L. novenarius, from novem nine.] Of or pertaining
to the number nine.
Novenary
Nov"e*na*ry, n. The number of nine units; nine, collectively.
Novene
No"vene (?), a. [L. novenus nine each, in LL., ninth, fr. L. novem
nine.] Relating to, or dependent on, the number nine; novenary. [R.]
The triple and novene division ran throughout. Milman.
Novennial
No*ven"ni*al (?), a. [L. novennis of nine years; novem nine + annus
year.] Done or recurring every ninth year.
Novercal
No*ver"cal (?), a. [L. novennis of nine years; novem nine + annus
year.] Done or recurring every ninth year.
Novercal
No*ver"cal (?), a. [L. novercalis, from noverca a stepmother.] Of or
pertaining to a stepmother; suitable to, or in the manner of, a
stepmother. Derham.
Novice
Nov"ice (?), n. [F., from L. novicius, novitius, new, from novus new.
See New, and cf. Novitious.]
1. One who is new in any business, profession, or calling; one
unacquainted or unskilled; one yet in the rudiments; a beginner; a
tyro.
I am young; a novice in the trade. Dryden.
2. One newly received into the church, or one newly converted to the
Christian faith. 1 Tim. iii. 6.
3. (Eccl.) One who enters a religious house, whether of monks or nuns,
as a probationist. Shipley.
No poore cloisterer, nor no novys. Chaucer.
Novice
Nov"ice, a. Like a novice; becoming a novice. [Obs.]
Noviceship
Nov"ice*ship (?), n. The state of being a novice; novitiate.
Novilunar
No`vi*lu"nar (?), a. [L. novus new + luna the moon.] Of or pertaining
to the new moon. [R.]
Novitiate
No*vi"ti*ate (?), n. [LL. novitiatus: cf. F. noviciat.]
1. The state of being a novice; time of initiation or instruction in
rudiments.
2. Hence: Time of probation in a religious house before taking the
vows.
3. One who is going through a novitiate, or period of probation; a
novice. Addison.
4. The place where novices live or are trained. [R.]
Novitious
No*vi"tious (?), a. [L. novitius, novicius.] Newly invented; recent;
new. [Obs.] Bp. Pearson.
Novity
Nov"i*ty (?), n. [L. novitas, fr. novus new.] Newness; novelty. [Obs.]
Sir T. Browne.
Novum
No"vum (?), n. A game at dice, properly called novem quinque (L., nine
five), the two principal throws being nine and five. [Obs.] Shak.
Now
Now (?), adv. [OE. nou, nu, AS. n\'d4, nu; akin to D., OS., & OHG. nu,
G. nu, nun, Icel., n\'d4, Dan., Sw., & Goth. nu, L. nunc, Gr. nu,
n\'d4. \'fb193. Cf. New.]
1. At the present time; at this moment; at the time of speaking;
instantly; as, I will write now.
I have a patient now living, at an advanced age, who discharged
blood from his lungs thirty years ago. Arbuthnot.
2. Very lately; not long ago.
They that but now, for honor and for plate, Made the sea blush with
blood, resign their hate. Waller.
3. At a time contemporaneous with something spoken of or contemplated;
at a particular time referred to.
The ship was now in the midst of the sea. Matt. xiv. 24.
4. In present circumstances; things being as they are; -- hence, used
as a connective particle, to introduce an inference or an explanation.
How shall any man distinguish now betwixt a parasite and a man of
honor ? L'Estrange.
Why should he live, now nature bankrupt is ? Shak.
Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now,
Barabbas was a robber. John xviii. 40.
The other great and undoing mischief which befalls men is, by their
being misrepresented. Now, by calling evil good, a man is
misrepresented to others in the way of slander. South.
Now and again, now and then; occasionally. -- Now and now, again and
again; repeatedly. [Obs.] Chaucer. -- Now and then, at one time and
another; indefinitely; occasionally; not often; at intervals. "A mead
here, there a heath, and now and then a wood." Drayton. -- Now now, at
this very instant; precisely now. [Obs.] "Why, even now now, at
holding up of this finger, and before the turning down of this." J.
Webster (1607). -- Now . . . now, alternately; at one time . . . at
another time. "Now high, now low, now master up, now miss." Pope.
Now
Now, a. Existing at the present time; present. [R.] "Our now
happiness." Glanvill.
Now
Now, n. The present time or moment; the present.
Nothing is there to come, and nothing past; But an eternal now does
ever last. Cowley.
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Nowadays
Now"a*days` (?), adv. [For now on (OE. an) days. See A-, 1.] In these
days; at the present time.
What men of spirit, nowadays, Come to give sober judgment of new
plays ? Garrick.
Noway, Noways
No"way` (?), No"ways` (?), adv. [No, a. + way. Cf. -wards.] In no
manner or degree; not at all; nowise.
But Ireland will noways allow that name unto it. Fuller.
Nowch
Nowch (?), n. See Nouch. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Nowd
Nowd (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) The European gray gurnard (Trigla gurnardus).
[Written also knoud.]
Nowed
Now"ed (?), a. [F. nou\'82, p. p. of nouer to knot, fr. L. nodare. See
Nodated.] (Her.) Knotted; tied in a knot, as a serpent.
Nowel
Now"el (?), n. [See Noel.] [Written also no\'89l.]
1. Christmas; also, a shout of joy at Christmas for the birth of the
Savior. [Obs.]
2. (Mus.) A kind of hymn, or canticle, of medi\'91val origin, sung in
honor of the Nativity of our Lord; a Christmas carol. Grove.
Nowel
Now"el, n. [F. noyau, prop., a kernel. See Noyau, Newel a post.]
(Founding) (a) The core, or the inner part, of a mold for casting a
large hollow object. (b) The bottom part of a mold or of a flask, in
distinction from the cope; the drag.
Nowes
Nowes (?), n. pl. [From OF. nous. See Noose, Node.] The marriage knot.
[Obs.] Crashaw.
Nowhere
No"where` (?), adv. [AS. n\'behw\'d6r. See No, and Where.] Not
anywhere; not in any place or state; as, the book is nowhere to be
found.
Nowhither
No"whith`er (?), adv. [No + whither.] Not anywhither; in no direction;
nowhere. [Archaic] "Thy servant went nowhither." 2 Kings v. 25.
Nowise
No"wise` (?), adv. [For in no wise. See Wise, n.] Not in any manner or
degree; in no way; noways.
Others whose case is nowise different. Earle.
Nowt
Nowt (?), n. pl. (Zo\'94l.) Neat cattle.
Nowthe
Now"the (?). See Nouthe. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Noxious
Nox"ious (?), a. [L. noxius, fr. noxa harm; akin to nocere to harm,
hurt. Cf. Nuisance, Necromancy.]
1. Hurtful; harmful; baneful; pernicious; injurious; destructive;
unwholesome; insalubrious; as, noxious air, food, or climate;
pernicious; corrupting to morals; as, noxious practices or examples.
Too frequent an appearance in places of public resort is noxious to
spiritual promotions. Swift.
2. Guilty; criminal. [R.]
Those who are noxious in the eye of the law. Abp. Bramhall.
Syn. -- Noisome; hurtful; harmful; injurious; destructive; pernicious;
mischievous; corrupting; baneful; unwholesome; insalubrious. See
Noisome. -- Nox"ious*ly, adv. -- Nox"ious*ness, n.
Noy
Noy (?), v. t. [See Annoy.] To annoy; to vex. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
Piers Plowman.
All that noyed his heavy spright. Spenser.
Noy
Noy, n. That which annoys. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
Noyance
Noy"ance (?), Annoyance. [Obs.] Spenser.
Noyau
Noy`au" (?), n. [F., prop., the stone or nut of a fruit, fr. L.
nucalis like a nut. See Newel a post.] A cordial of brandy, etc.,
flavored with the kernel of the bitter almond, or of the peach stone,
etc.
Noyer
Noy"er (?), n. An annoyer. [Obs.] Tusser.
Noyful
Noy"ful (?), a. Full of annoyance. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Noyls
Noyls (?), n. pl. See Noils.
Noyous
Noy"ous (?), a. Annoying; disagreeable. [Obs.]
Watch the noyous night, and wait for Spenser.
Nozle
No"zle (?), n. Nozzle. [Obs.]
Nozzle
Noz"zle (?), n. [A dim. of nose. &root;261] [Written also nosle.]
1. The nose; the snout; hence, the projecting vent of anything; as,
the nozzle of a bellows.
2. Specifically: (a) A short tube, usually tapering, forming the vent
of a hose or pipe. (b) A short outlet, or inlet, pipe projecting from
the end or side of a hollow vessel, as a steam-engine cylinder or a
steam boiler.
Nuance
Nu`ance" (?), n. [F.] A shade of difference; a delicate gradation.
Nub
Nub (?), v. t. [Cf. Knob.] To push; to nudge; also, to beckon. [Prov.
Eng.]
Nub
Nub, n. A jag, or snag; a knob; a protuberance; also, the point or
gist, as of a story. [Colloq.]
Nubbin
Nub"bin (?), n. A small or imperfect ear of maize. [Colloq. U. S.]
Nubble
Nub"ble (?), v. t. [Cf. LG. nubben to knock, cuff.] To beat or bruise
with the fist. [Obs.] Ainsworth.
Nubecula
Nu*bec"u*la (?), n.; pl. Nubecul\'91 (-l&emac;). [L., dim. of nubes
cloud.]
1. (Astron.) (a) A nebula. (b) pl. Specifically, the Magellanic
clouds.
2. (Med.) (a) A slight spot on the cornea. (b) A cloudy object or
appearance in urine. Dunglison.
Nubia
Nu"bi*a (?), n. [From L. nubes cloud.] A light fabric of wool, worn on
the head by women; a cloud.
Nubian
Nu"bi*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to Nubia in Eastern Africa. -- n. A
native of Nubia.
Nubiferous
Nu*bif"er*ous (?), a. [L. nubifer; nubes cloud + ferre to bear: cf. F.
nubif\'8are.] Bringing, or producing, clouds.
Nubigenous
Nu*big"e*nous (?), a. [L. nubes cloud + -genous.] Born of, or produced
from, clouds. [R.]
Nubilate
Nu"bi*late (?), v. t. [L. nubilatus, p. p. of nubilare to cloud, fr.
nubes cloud.] To cloud. [Obs.]
Nubile
Nu"bile (?), a. [L. nubilis, fr. nubere to marry: cf. F. nubile. See
Nuptial.] Of an age suitable for marriage; marriageable. Prior. <-- 2.
[of a young woman] Sexually attractive, sometimes used as a genteel
euphemism for "having well-developed breasts". -->
Nubility
Nu*bil"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. nubilit\'82 .] The state of being
marriageable. [R.]
Nubilose, Nubilous
Nu"bi*lose` (?), Nu"bi*lous (?), a. [L. nubilosus, nubilus, fr. nubes
cloud.] Cloudy. [R.]
Nucament
Nu"ca*ment (?), n. [L. nucamenta fir cones, fr. nux, nucis, a nut.]
(Bot.) A catkin or ament; the flower cluster of the hazel, pine,
willow, and the like.
Nucamentaceous
Nu`ca*men*ta"ceous (?), a. [See Nucament.] (Bot.) Like a nut either in
structure or in being indehiscent; bearing one-seeded nutlike fruits.
[Written also nucumentaceous.]
Nucellus
Nu*cel"lus (?), n.; pl. Nucelli (#). [NL., dim. of nux, nucis, a nut.]
(Bot.) See Nucleus, 3 (a).
Nucha
Nu"cha (?), n.; pl. Nuch (#). [LL.] (Zo\'94l.) The back or upper part
of the neck; the nape.
Nuchal
Nu"chal (?), a. [Cf. F. nucal.] (Anat.) Of, pertaining to, or in the
region of, the back, or nape, of the neck; -- applied especially to
the anterior median plate in the carapace of turtles.
Nuciferous
Nu*cif"er*ous (?), a. [L. nux, nucis, nut + -ferous.] Bearing, or
producing, nuts.
Nuciform
Nu"ci*form (?), a. [L. nux, nucis, nut + -form.] (Bot.) Shaped like a
nut; nut-shaped.
Nucin
Nu"cin (?), n. [L. nux, nucis, a nut.] (Chem.) See Juglone.
Nucleal, Nuclear
Nu"cle*al (?), Nu"cle*ar (?), a. Of or pertaining to a nucleus; as,
the nuclear spindle (see Illust. of Karyokinesis) or the nuclear
fibrils of a cell; the nuclear part of a comet, etc.
Nucleate
Nu"cle*ate (?), a. [L. nucleatus having a kernel.] Having a nucleus;
nucleated.
Nucleate
Nu"cle*ate (?), v. t. [Cf. L. nucleare to become kernelly.] To gather,
as about a nucleus or center.
Nucleated
Nu"cle*a`ted (?), a. Having a nucleus; nucleate; as, nucleated cells.
Nucleiform
Nu*cle"i*form (?), a. [L. nucleus kernel + -form.] Formed like a
nucleus or kernel.
Nuclein
Nu"cle*in (?), n. (Physiol. Chem.) A constituent of the nuclei of all
cells. It is a colorless amorphous substance, readily soluble in
alkaline fluids and especially characterized by its comparatively
large content of phosphorus. It also contains nitrogen and
sulphur.\'3c--containing protein and nucleic acid--\'3e
Nucleobranch
Nu"cle*o*branch (?), a. (Zo\'94l.) Belonging to the Nucleobranchiata.
-- n. One of the Nucleobranchiata.
Nucleobranchiata
Nu`cle*o*bran`chi*a"ta (?), n. pl. [NL. See Nucleus, and Branchia]
(Zo\'94l.) See Heteropoda.
Nucleoidioplasma
Nu`cle*o*id`i*o*plas"ma (?), n. [NL. See Nucleus, and Idioplasma.]
(Biol.) Hyaline plasma contained in the nucleus of vegetable cells.
Nucleolar
Nu*cle"o*lar (?), a. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to the nucleolus of a
cell.
Nucleolated
Nu"cle*o*la`ted (?), a. Having a nucleole, or second inner nucleus.
Nucleole
Nu"cle*ole (?), n. [See Nucleolus.] The nucleus within a nucleus;
nucleolus.
Nucleolus
Nu*cle"o*lus (?), n.; pl. Nucleoli (#). [L., a little nut, dim. of
nucleus.]
1. A little nucleus.
2. (Biol.) A small rounded body contained in the nucleus of a cell or
a protozoan.
NOTE: &hand; It wa s te rmed by Ag assiz th e en toblast. In the
protozoa, where it may be situated on one side of the nucleus, it
is sometimes called the endoplastule, and is supposed to be
concerned in the male part of the reproductive process. See
Nucleus.
Nucleoplasm
Nu"cle*o*plasm (?), n. [Nucleus + -plasm.] (Biol.) The matter
composing the nucleus of a cell; the protoplasm of the nucleus;
karyoplasma.
Nucleoplasmic
Nu`cle*o*plas"mic (?), a. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to nucleoplasm; --
esp. applied to a body formed in the developing ovum from the plasma
of the nucleus of the germinal vesicle.
Nucleus
Nu"cle*us (?), n.; pl. E. Nucleuses (#), L. Nuclei (#). [L., a kernel,
dim. fr. nux, nucis, nut. Cf. Newel post.]
1. A kernel; hence, a central mass or point about which matter is
gathered, or to which accretion is made; the central or material
portion; -- used both literally and figuratively.
It must contain within itself a nucleus of truth. I. Taylor.
2. (Astron.) The body or the head of a comet.
3. (Bot.) (a) An incipient ovule of soft cellular tissue. (b) A whole
seed, as contained within the seed coats.
4. (Biol.) A body, usually spheroidal, in a cell or a protozoan,
distinguished from the surrounding protoplasm by a difference in
refrangibility and in behavior towards chemical reagents. It is more
or less protoplasmic, and consists of a clear fluid (achromatin)
through which extends a network of fibers (chromatin) in which may be
suspended a second rounded body, the nucleolus (see Nucleoplasm). See
Cell division, under Division. <-- it contains the genetic material,
DNA -->
NOTE: &hand; Th e nu cleus is so metimes te rmed th e endoplast or
endoblast, and in the protozoa is supposed to be concerned in the
female part of the reproductive process. See Karyokinesis.
5. (Zo\'94l.) (a) The tip, or earliest part, of a univalve or bivalve
shell. (b) The central part around which additional growths are added,
as of an operculum. (c) A visceral mass, containing the stomach and
other organs, in Tunicata and some mollusks.
Nucula
Nu"cu*la (?), n. [L., little nut, dim. of nux, nucis, a nut.]
(Zo\'94l.) A genus of small marine bivalve shells, having a pearly
interior.
Nucle
Nu"cle (?), n. [L. nucula a small nut.] (Bot.) Same as Nutlet.
Nucumentaceous
Nu`cu*men*ta"ceous (?), a. (Bot.) See Nucamentaceous.
Nudation
Nu*da"tion (?), n. [L. nudatio, fr. nudare to make naked, fr. nudus
naked. See Nude.] The act of stripping, or making bare or naked.
Nuddle
Nud"dle (?), v. i. To walk quickly with the head bent forward; --
often with along. [Prov. Eng.]
Nude
Nude (?), a. [L. nudus. See Naked.]
1. Bare; naked; unclothed; undraped; as, a nude statue.
2. (Law) Naked; without consideration; void; as, a nude contract. See
Nudum pactum. Blackstone.
The nude, the undraped human figure in art. -- Nude"ly, adv.-
Nude"ness, n.
Nudge
Nudge (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nudge (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Nudging.]
[Cf. Prov. G. kn\'81tschen to squeeze, pinch, E. Knock.] To touch
gently, as with the elbow, in order to call attention or convey
intimation.
Nudge
Nudge (?), n. A gentle push, or jog, as with the elbow.
Nudibrachiate
Nu`di*brach"i*ate (?), a. [L. nudus naked + brachium an arm.]
(Zo\'94l.) Having tentacles without vibratile cilia. Carpenter.
Nudibranch
Nu"di*branch (?), a. (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the
Nudibranchiata. -- n. One of the Nudibranchiata.
Nudibranchiata
Nu`di*bran`chi*a"ta (?), n. pl. [NL. See Nude, and Branchia.]
(Zo\'94l.) A division of opisthobranchiate mollusks, having no shell
except while very young. The gills are naked and situated upon the
back or sides. See Ceratobranchia.
Nudibranchiate
Nu`di*bran"chi*ate (?), a. & n. (Zo\'94l.) Same as Nudibranch.
Nudicaul
Nu"di*caul (?), a. [L. nudus naked + caulis stem.] (Bot.) Having the
stems leafless.
Nudification
Nu`di*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [L. nudus naked + -ficare (in comp.) to make.
See -fy.] The act of making nude.
Nudity
Nu"di*ty (?), n.; pl. Nudities (#). [Cf. F. nudit\'82 .]
1. The quality or state of being nude; nakedness.
2. That which is nude or naked; naked part; undraped or unclothed
portion; esp. (Fine Arts), the human figure represented unclothed; any
representation of nakedness; -- chiefly used in the plural and in a
bad sense.
There are no such licenses permitted in poetry any more than in
painting, to design and color obscene nudities. Dryden.
Nudum pactum
Nu"dum pac"tum (?). [L., a nude pact.] (Law) A bare, naked contract,
without any consideration. Tomlins.<-- = naked promise? -->
Nugacity
Nu*gac"i*ty (?), n. [L. nugacitas, fr. nugax, -acis, trifling.]
Futility; trifling talk or behavior; drollery. [R.] Dr. H. More.
Nug\'91
Nu"g\'91 (?), n. pl. [L.] Trifles; jests.
Nugation
Nu*ga"tion (?), n. [Cf. OF. nugation.] The act or practice of
trifling. [R.] Bacon.
Nugatory
Nu"ga*to*ry (?), a. [L. nugatorius, fr. nugari to trifle, nugae jests,
trifles.]
1. Trifling; vain; futile; insignificant.
2. Of no force; inoperative; ineffectual.
If all are pardoned, and pardoned as a mere act of clemency, the
very substance of government is made nugatory. I. Taylor.
Nugget
Nug"get (?), n. [Earlier niggot, prob. for nigot, an ingot. See
Ingot.] A lump; a mass, esp. a native lump of a precious metal; as, a
nugget of gold.
Nugify
Nu"gi*fy (?), v. t. [L. nuggae trifles + -fy.] To render trifling or
futile; to make silly. [R.] Coleridge.
Nuisance
Nui"sance (?), n. [OE. noisance, OF. noisance, nuisance, fr. L.
nocentia guilt, fr. nocere to hurt, harm; akin to necare to kill. Cf
Necromancy, Nocent, Noxious, Pernicious.] That which annoys or gives
trouble and vexation; that which is offensive or noxious.
NOTE: &hand; Nu isances ar e pu blic wh en th ey an noy citizens in
general; private, when they affect individuals only.
Nuisancer
Nui"san*cer (?), n. (Law) One who makes or causes a nuisance.
Nul
Nul (?), a. [F. See Null, a.] (Law) No; not any; as, nul disseizin;
nul tort.
Null
Null (?), a. [L. nullus not any, none; ne not + ullus any, a dim. of
unus one; cf. F. nul. See No, and One, and cf. None.] Of no legal or
binding force or validity; of no efficacy; invalid; void; nugatory;
useless.
Faultily faultless, icily regular, splendidly null, Dead
perfection; no more. Tennyson.
Null
Null, n.
1. Something that has no force or meaning.
2. That which has no value; a cipher; zero. Bacon.
Null method (Physics.), a zero method. See under Zero.
Null
Null, v. t. [From null, a., or perh. abbrev. from annul.] To annul.
[Obs.] Milton.
Null
Null, n. [Etymol. uncertain.] One of the beads in nulled work.
Nulled
Nulled (?), a. Turned so as to resemble nulls. Nulled work
(Cabinetwork), ornamental turned work resembling nulls or beads strung
on a rod.
Nullibiety
Nul`li*bi"e*ty (?), n. [L. nullibi nowhere.] The state or condition of
being nowhere. [Obs.]
Nullification
Nul`li*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [L. nullificatio contempt. See Nullify.] The
act of nullifying; a rendering void and of no effect, or of no legal
effect. Right of nullification (U. S. Hist.), the right claimed in
behalf of a State to nullify or make void, by its sovereign act or
decree, an enactment of the general government which it deems
unconstitutional.
Nullifidian
Nul`li*fid"i*an (?), a. [L. nullus none + fide faith.] Of no faith;
also, not trusting to faith for salvation; -- opposed to solifidian.
Feltham.
Nullifidian
Nul`li*fid"i*an, n. An unbeliever. B. Jonson.
Nullifier
Nul"li*fi`er (?), n. One who nullifies or makes void; one who
maintains the right to nullify a contract by one of the parties.
Nullify
Nul"li*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nullified (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Nullifying (?).] [L. nullificare; nullus none + -ficare (in comp.) to
make. See Null, a., and -fy.] To make void; to render invalid; to
deprive of legal force or efficacy.
Such correspondence would at once nullify the conditions of the
probationary system. I. Taylor.
Syn. -- To abrogate; revoke; annul; repeal; invalidate; cancel. See
Abolish.
Nullipore
Nul"li*pore (?), n. [L. nullus none + porus pope.] (Bot.) A name for
certain crustaceous marine alg\'91 which secrete carbonate of lime on
their surface, and were formerly thought to be of animal nature. They
are now considered corallines of the genera Melobesia and
Lithothamnion.
_________________________________________________________________
Page 986
Nullity
Nul"li*ty (?), n.; pl. Nullities. [LL. nullitias, fr. L. nullus none:
cf. F. nullit\'82 . See Null.]
1. The quality or state of being null; nothingness; want of efficacy
or force.
2. (Law) Nonexistence; as, a decree of nullity of marriage is a decree
that no legal marriage exists.
3. That which is null.
Was it not absurd to say that the convention was supreme in the
state, and yet a nullity ? Macaulay.
Numb
Numb (?), a. [OE. nume, nome, prop., seized, taken, p. p. of nimen to
take, AS. niman, p. p. numen. \'fb7. See Nimble, Nomad, and cf.
Benumb.]
1. Enfeebled in, or destitute of, the power of sensation and motion;
rendered torpid; benumbed; insensible; as, the fingers or limbs are
numb with cold. "A stony image, cold and numb." Shak.
2. Producing numbness; benumbing; as, the numb, cold night. [Obs.]
Shak.
Numb
Numb, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Numbed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Numbing (?).] To
make numb; to deprive of the power of sensation or motion; to render
senseless or inert; to deaden; to benumb; to stupefy.
For lazy winter numbs the laboring hand. Dryden.
Like dull narcotics, numbing pain. Tennyson.
Numbedness
Numb"ed*ness (?), n. Numbness. [Obs.] Wiseman.
Number
Num"ber (?), n. [OE. nombre, F. nombre, L. numerus; akin to Gr. Numb,
Nomad, and cf. Numerate, Numero, Numerous.]
1. That which admits of being counted or reckoned; a unit, or an
aggregate of units; a numerable aggregate or collection of
individuals; an assemblage made up of distinct things expressible by
figures.
2. A collection of many individuals; a numerous assemblage; a
multitude; many.
Ladies are always of great use to the party they espouse, and never
fail to win over numbers. Addison.
3. A numeral; a word or character denoting a number; as, to put a
number on a door.
4. Numerousness; multitude.
Number itself importeth not much in armies where the people are of
weak courage. Bacon.
5. The state or quality of being numerable or countable.
Of whom came nations, tribes, people, and kindreds out of number. 2
Esdras iii. 7.
6. Quantity, regarded as made up of an aggregate of separate things.
7. That which is regulated by count; poetic measure, as divisions of
time or number of syllables; hence, poetry, verse; -- chiefly used in
the plural.
I lisped in numbers, for the numbers came. Pope.
8. (Gram.) The distinction of objects, as one, or more than one (in
some languages, as one, or two, or more than two), expressed (usually)
by a difference in the form of a word; thus, the singular number and
the plural number are the names of the forms of a word indicating the
objects denoted or referred to by the word as one, or as more than
one.
9. (Math.) The measure of the relation between quantities or things of
the same kind; that abstract species of quantity which is capable of
being expressed by figures; numerical value.
Abstract number, Abundant number, Cardinal number, etc. See under
Abstract, Abundant, etc. -- In numbers, in numbered parts; as, a book
published in numbers.
Number
Num"ber, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Numbered (?); p. pr & vb. n. Numbering.]
[OE. nombren, noumbren, F. nombrer, fr. L. numerare, numeratum. See
Number, n.]
1. To count; to reckon; to ascertain the units of; to enumerate.
If a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also
be numbered. Gen. xiii. 16.
2. To reckon as one of a collection or multitude.
He was numbered with the transgressors. Is. liii. 12.
3. To give or apply a number or numbers to; to assign the place of in
a series by order of number; to designate the place of by a number or
numeral; as, to number the houses in a street, or the apartments in a
building.
4. To amount; to equal in number; to contain; to consist of; as, the
army numbers fifty thousand.
Thy tears can not number the dead. Campbell.
Numbering machine, a machine for printing consecutive numbers, as on
railway tickets, bank bills, etc. Syn. -- To count; enumerate;
calculate; tell.
Numberer
Num"ber*er (?), n. One who numbers.
Numberful
Num"ber*ful (?), a. Numerous. [Obs.]
Numberless
Num"ber*less, a. Innumerable; countless.
Numberous
Num"ber*ous (?), a. Numerous. [Obs.] Drant.
Numbers
Num"bers (?), n. pl. of Number. The fourth book of the Pentateuch,
containing the census of the Hebrews.
Numbfish
Numb"fish` (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) The torpedo, which numbs by the electric
shocks which it gives.
Numbless
Num"bless (?), n. pl. See Nombles.
Numbness
Numb"ness (?), n. The condition of being numb; that state of a living
body in which it loses, wholly or in part, the power of feeling or
motion.
Numerable
Nu"mer*a*ble (?), a. [L. numerabilis. See Number, v. t.] Capable of
being numbered or counted.
Numeral
Nu"mer*al (?), a. [L. numeralis, fr. numerus number: cf. F.
num\'82ral. See Number, n.]
1. Of or pertaining to number; consisting of number or numerals.
A long train of numeral progressions. Locke.
2. Expressing number; representing number; as, numeral letters or
characters, as X or 10 for ten.
Numeral
Nu"mer*al, n.
1. A figure or character used to express a number; as, the Arabic
numerals, 1, 2, 3, etc.; the Roman numerals, I, V, X, L, etc.
2. A word expressing a number.
Numerally
Nu"mer*al*ly, adv. According to number; in number; numerically.
Numerary
Nu"mer*a*ry (?), a. [LL. numerarius: cf. F. num\'82raire.] Belonging
to a certain number; counting as one of a collection or body.
A supernumerary canon, when he obtains a prebend, becomes a
numerary canon. Ayliffe.
Numerate
Nu"mer*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Numerated (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Numerating (?).] [L. numeratus, p. p. of numerare to count. See
Number, v.] (Arith.) To divide off and read according to the rules of
numeration; as, to numerate a row of figures.
Numeration
Nu`mer*a"tion (?), n. [L. numeratio a counting out: cf. F.
num\'82ration.]
1. The act or art of numbering.
Numeration is but still the adding of one unit more, and giving to
the whole a new name or sign. Locke.
2. The act or art of reading numbers when expressed by means of
numerals. The term is almost exclusively applied to the art of reading
numbers written in the scale of tens, by the Arabic method. Davies &
Peck.
NOTE: &hand; Fo r co nvenience in re ading, nu mbers ar e us ually
separated by commas into periods of three figures each, as
1,155,465. According to what is called the "English" system, the
billion is a million of millions, a trillion a million of billions,
and each higher denomination is a million times the one preceding.
According to the system of the French and other Continental nations
and also that of the United States, the billion is a thousand
millions, and each higher denomination is a thousand times the
preceding.
Numerative
Nu"mer*a*tive (?), a. Of or pertaining to numeration; as, a numerative
system. Eng. Cyc.
Numerator
Nu"mer*a"tor (?), n. [L. numerator: cf. F. num\'82rateur.]
1. One who numbers.
2. (Math.) The term in a fraction which indicates the number of
fractional units that are taken.
NOTE: &hand; In a vulgar fraction the numerator is written above a
line; thus, in the fraction 5/9 (five ninths) 5 is the numerator;
in a decimal fraction it is the number which follows the decimal
point. See Fraction.
Numeric, Numerical
Nu*mer"ic (?), Nu*mer"ic*al (?), a. [Cf. F. num\'82rique. See Number,
n.]
1. Belonging to number; denoting number; consisting in numbers;
expressed by numbers, and not letters; as, numerical characters; a
numerical equation; a numerical statement.
NOTE: &hand; Nu merical, as op posed to al gebraical, is used to
denote a value irrespective of its sign; thus, -5 is numerically
greater than -3, though algebraically less.
2.
2. The same in number; hence, identically the same; identical; as, the
same numerical body. [Obs.] South.
Would to God that all my fellow brethren, which with me bemoan the
loss of their books, . . . might rejoice for the recovery thereof,
though not the same numerical volumes. Fuller.
Numerical equation (Alg.), an equation which has all the quantities
except the unknown expressed in numbers; -- distinguished from literal
equation. -- Numerical value of an equation or expression, that
deduced by substituting numbers for the letters, and reducing.
Numeric
Nu*mer"ic, n. (Math.) Any number, proper or improper fraction, or
incommensurable ratio. The term also includes any imaginary expression
like m + n&root;-1, where m and n are real numerics.
Numerically
Nu*mer"ic*al*ly, adv. In a numerical manner; in numbers; with respect
to number, or sameness in number; as, a thing is numerically the same,
or numerically different.
Numerist
Nu"mer*ist (?), n. One who deals in numbers. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Numero
Nu"me*ro (?), n. [It., or F. num\'82ro ; both fr. L. numerus number.]
Number; -- often abbrev. No.
Numerosity
Nu`mer*os"i*ty (?), n. [L. numerositas.]
1. The state of being numerous; numerousness. [Obs.]
2. Rhythm; harmony; flow. [Obs.]
The numerosity of the sentence pleased the ear. S. Parr.
Numerous
Nu"mer*ous (?), a. [L. numerosus. See Number.]
1. Consisting of a great number of units or individual objects; being
many; as, a numerous army.
Such and so numerous was their chivalry. Milton.
2. Consisting of poetic numbers; rhythmical; measured and counted;
melodious; musical. [Obs.]
Such prompt eloquence Flowed from their lips, in prose or numerous
verse. Milton.
-- Nu"mer*ous*ly, adv. -- Nu"mer*ous*ness, n.
Numidian
Nu*mid"i*an (?), a. Of or pertaining to ancient Numidia in Northern
Africa. Numidian crane. (Zo\'94l.) See Demoiselle, 2.
Numismatic, Numismatical
Nu`mis*mat"ic (?), Nu`mis*mat"ic*al (?), a. [L. numisma, nomisma, a
piece of money, coin, fr. Gr. numismatique. See Nomad.] Of or
pertaining to coins; relating to the science of coins or medals.
Numismatics
Nu`mis*mat"ics (?), n. [Cf. F. numismatique.] The science of coins and
medals.
Numismatist
Nu*mis"ma*tist (?), n. One skilled in numismatics; a numismatologist.
Numismatography
Nu*mis`ma*tog"ra*phy (?), n. [L. numisma, -atis (Gr. -graphy.] A
treatise on, or description of, coins and medals.
Numismatologist
Nu*mis`ma*tol"o*gist (?), n. One versed in numismatology. <-- now usu.
numismatist -->
Numismatology
Nu*mis`ma*tol"o*gy (?), n. [L. numisma, -atis + -logy.] The science
which treats of coins and medals, in their relation to history;
numismatics.
Nummary
Num"ma*ry (?), a. [L. nummarius, from nummus a coin.] Of or relating
to coins or money.
Nummular, Nummulary
Num"mu*lar (?), Num"mu*la*ry (?), a. [L. nummularius, fr. nummulus,
dim. of nummus a coin: cf. F. nummulaire.]
1. Of or pertaining to coin or money; pecuniary; as, the nummulary
talent.
2. (Pathol.) Having the appearance or form of a coin. "Nummular
sputa." Sir T. Watson.
Nummulation
Num`mu*la"tion (?), n. (Physiol.) The arrangement of the red blood
corpuscles in rouleaux, like piles of coins, as when a drop of human
blood is examined under the microscope.
Nummulite
Num"mu*lite (?), n. [L. nummus a coin + -lite: cf. F. nummulite.]
(Paleon.) A fossil of the genus Nummulites and allied genera.
Nummulites
Num`mu*li"tes (?), n. [NL. See Nummulite.] (Paleon.) A genus of
extinct Tertiary Foraminifera, having a thin, flat, round shell,
containing a large number of small chambers arranged spirally.
Nummulitic
Num`mu*lit"ic (?), a. Of, like, composed of, containing, nummulites;
as, nummulitic beds.
Numps
Numps (?), n. [Cf. Numb.] A dolt; a blockhead. [Obs.] Bp. Parker.
Numskull
Num"skull` (?), n. [Numb + skull.] A dunce; a dolt; a stupid fellow.
[Colloq.]
They have talked like numskulls. Arbuthnot.
Numskulled
Num"skulled` (?), a. Stupid; doltish. [Colloq.]
Nun
Nun (?), n. [OE. nunne, AS. nunne, fr. L. nonna nun, nonnus monk; cf.
Gr. Nunnery.]
1. A woman devoted to a religious life, who lives in a convent, under
the three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
They holy time is quiet as a nun Breathless with adoration.
Wordsworth.
2. (Zo\'94l.) (a) A white variety of domestic pigeons having a veil of
feathers covering the head. (b) The smew. (c) The European blue
titmouse.
Gray nuns (R. C. Ch.), the members of a religious order established in
Montreal in 1745, whence branches were introduced into the United
States in 1853; -- so called from the color or their robe, and known
in religion as Sisters of Charity of Montreal. -- Nun buoy. See under
Buoy.
Nunchion
Nun"chion (?), n. [OE. nonechenche, for noneschenche, prop., a noon
drink; none noon + schenchen, schenken, skinken, to pour, AS. scencan.
See Noon, and Skink, v. i.] A portion of food taken at or after noon,
usually between full meals; a luncheon. [Written also noonshun.]
Hudibras.
Nunciate
Nun"ci*ate (?), n. One who announces; a messenger; a nuncio. [Obs.]
Hoole.
Nunciature
Nun"ci*a*ture (?), n. [L. nunciare, nuntiare, to announce, report, fr.
nuncius, nuntius, messenger: cf. F. nonciature, It. nunziatura. See
Nuncio.] The office of a nuncio. Clarendon.
Nuncio
Nun"ci*o (?), n.; pl. Nuncios (#). [It. nunzio, nuncio, fr. L.
nuncius, nuntius, messenger; perh. akin to novus new, E. new, and
thus, one who brings news. Cf. Announce.]
1. A messenger. [Obs.] Shak.
2. The permanent official representative of the pope at a foreign
court or seat of government. Distinguished from a legate a latere,
whose mission is temporary in its nature, or for some special purpose.
Nuncios are of higher rank than internuncios.
Nuncius
Nun"ci*us (?), n.; pl. Nuncii (#). [L.] (Roman & Old Eng. Law) (a) A
messenger. (b) The information communicated.
Nuncupate
Nun"cu*pate (?), v. t. [L. nuncupatus, p. p. of nuncupare to
nuncupate, prob. fr. nomen name + capere to take.]
1. To declare publicly or solemnly; to proclaim formally. [Obs.]
In whose presence did St. Peter nuncupate it ? Barrow.
2. To dedicate by declaration; to inscribe; as, to nuncupate a book.
[Obs.] Evelyn.
Nuncupation
Nun`cu*pa"tion (?), n. [L. nuncupatio.] The act of nuncupating. [Obs.]
Nuncupative
Nun*cu"pa*tive (?), a. [L. nuncupativus nominal: cf. F. nuncupatif.]
1. Publicly or solemnly declaratory. [Obs.]
2. Nominal; existing only in name. [Obs.]
3. Oral; not written.
Nuncupative will OR testament, a will or testament made by word of
mouth only, before witnesses, as by a soldier or seaman, and depending
on oral testimony for proof. Blackstone.
Nuncupatory
Nun*cu"pa*to*ry (?), a. Nuncupative; oral.
Nundinal
Nun"di*nal (?), n. A nundinal letter.
Nundinal, Nundinary
Nun"di*nal (?), Nun"di*na*ry (?), a. [L. nundinalis, nundinarius, fr.
nundinae the market day, the weekly market, prop., the ninth day, fr.
nundinus belonging to nine days; novem nine + dies day: cf. F.
nundinal.] Of or pertaining to a fair, or to a market day. Nundinal
letter, among the Romans, one of the first eight letters of the
alphabet, which were repeated successively from the first to the last
day of the year. One of these always expressed the market day, which
returned every nine days (every eight days by our reckoning).
Nundinate
Nun"di*nate (?), v. i. [L. nundinatus, p. p. of nundinary to attend
fairs, to traffic. See Nundinal, a.] To buy and sell at fairs or
markets. [Obs.]
Nundination
Nun`di*na"tion (?), n. [L. nundinatio.] Traffic at fairs; marketing;
buying and selling. [Obs.]
Common nundination of pardons. Abp. Bramhall.
Nunnation
Nun*na"tion (?), n. [From nun, the Arabic name of the letter n: cf.
NL. nunnatio, F. nunnation.] (Arabic Gram.) The pronunciation of n at
the end of words.
Nunnery
Nun"ner*y (?), n.; pl. Nunneries (#). [OE. nonnerie, OF. nonerie, F.
nonnerie, fr. nonne nun, L. nonna. See Nun.] A house in which nuns
reside; a cloister or convent in which women reside for life, under
religious vows. See Cloister, and Convent.
Nunnish
Nun"nish (?), a. Of, pertaining to, or resembling a nun;
characteristic of a nun. -- Nun"nish*ness, n.
Nup
Nup (?), n. Same as Nupson. [Obs.]
Nuphar
Nu"phar (?), n. [Per. n.] (Bot.) A genus of plants found in the
fresh-water ponds or lakes of Europe, Asia, and North America; the
yellow water lily. Cf. Nymphaea.
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Nupson
Nup"son (?), n. [Of doubtful origin.] A simpleton; a fool. [Obs.] B.
Jonson.
Nuptial
Nup"tial (?), a. [L. nuptialis, fr. nuptiae marriage, wedding, fr.
nubere, nuptum, prop., to cover, to veil, hence, to marry, as the head
of the bride was covered with a veil; cf. Gr. nuptial.] Of or
pertaining to marriage; done or used at a wedding; as, nuptial rites
and ceremonies.
Then, all in heat, They light the nuptial torch. Milton.
Nuptial
Nup"tial, n.; pl. Nuptials (. Marriage; wedding; nuptial ceremony; --
now only in the plural.
Celebration of that nuptial, which We two have sworn shall come.
Shak.
Preparations . . . for the approaching nuptials. Prescott.
Nur
Nur (?), n. [Cf. Knur.] A hard knot in wood; also, a hard knob of wood
used by boys in playing hockey.
I think I'm as hard as a nur, and as tough as whitleather. W.
Howitt.
Nurl
Nurl (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nurled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Nurling.]
[Cf. Knurl.] To cut with reeding or fluting on the edge of, as coins,
the heads of screws, etc.; to knurl.
Nurse
Nurse (?), n. [OE. nourse, nurice, norice, OF. nurrice, norrice,
nourrice, F. nourrice, fr. L. nutricia nurse, prop., fem. of nutricius
that nourishes; akin to nutrix, -icis, nurse, fr. nutrire to nourish.
See Nourish, and cf. Nutritious.]
1. One who nourishes; a person who supplies food, tends, or brings up;
as: (a) A woman who has the care of young children; especially, one
who suckles an infant not her own. (b) A person, especially a woman,
who has the care of the sick or infirm.
2. One who, or that which, brings up, rears, causes to grow, trains,
fosters, or the like.
The nurse of manly sentiment and heroic enterprise. Burke.
3. (Naut.) A lieutenant or first officer, who is the real commander
when the captain is unfit for his place.
4. (Zo\'94l.) (a) A peculiar larva of certain trematodes which
produces cercari\'91 by asexual reproduction. See Cercaria, and Redia.
(b) Either one of the nurse sharks.
Nurse shark. (Zo\'94l.) (a) A large arctic shark (Somniosus
microcephalus), having small teeth and feeble jaws; -- called also
sleeper shark, and ground shark. (b) A large shark (Ginglymostoma
cirratum), native of the West Indies and Gulf of Mexico, having the
dorsal fins situated behind the ventral fins. -- To put to nurse, OR
To put out to nurse, to send away to be nursed; to place in the care
of a nurse. -- Wet nurse, Dry nurse. See Wet nurse, and Dry nurse, in
the Vocabulary.
Nurse
Nurse, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nursed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Nursing.]
1. To nourish; to cherish; to foster; as: (a) To nourish at the
breast; to suckle; to feed and tend, as an infant. (b) To take care of
or tend, as a sick person or an invalid; to attend upon.
Sons wont to nurse their parents in old age. Milton.
Him in Egerian groves Aricia bore, And nursed his youth along the
marshy shore. Dryden.
2. To bring up; to raise, by care, from a weak or invalid condition;
to foster; to cherish; -- applied to plants, animals, and to any
object that needs, or thrives by, attention. "To nurse the saplings
tall." Milton.
By what hands [has vice] been nursed into so uncontrolled a
dominion? Locke.
3. To manage with care and economy, with a view to increase; as, to
nurse our national resources.
4. To caress; to fondle, as a nurse does. A. Trollope.
To nurse billiard balls, to strike them gently and so as to keep them
in good position during a series of caroms.
Nursehound
Nurse"hound` (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) See Houndfish.
Nursemaid
Nurse"maid` (?), n. A girl employed to attend children.
Nursepond
Nurse"pond`, n. A pond where fish are fed. Walton.
Nurser
Nurs"er (?), n. One who nurses; a nurse; one who cherishes or
encourages growth.
Nursery
Nurs"er*y (?), n.; pl. Nurseries (#). [Cf. F. nourricerie.]
1. The act of nursing. [Obs.] "Her kind nursery." Shak.
2. The place where nursing is carried on; as: (a) The place, or
apartment, in a house, appropriated to the care of children. (b) A
place where young trees, shrubs, vines, etc., are propagated for the
purpose of transplanting; a plantation of young trees. (c) The place
where anything is fostered and growth promoted. "Fair Padua, nursery
of arts." Shak.
Christian families are the nurseries of the church on earth, as she
is the nursery of the church in heaven. J. M. Mason.
(d) That which forms and educates; as, commerce is the nursery of
seamen.
3. That which is nursed. [R.] Milton.
Nurseryman
Nurs"er*y*man (?), n.; pl. Nurserymen (. One who cultivates or keeps a
nursery, or place for rearing trees, etc.
Nursing
Nurs"ing, a. Supplying or taking nourishment from, or as from, the
breast; as, a nursing mother; a nursing infant.
Nursling
Nurs"ling (?), n. [Nurse + -ling.] One who, or that which, is nursed;
an infant; a fondling.
I was his nursling once, and choice delight. Milton.
Nurstle
Nurs"tle (?), v. t. To nurse. See Noursle. [Obs.]
Nurture
Nur"ture (?), n. [OE. norture, noriture, OF. norriture, norreture, F.
nourriture, fr. L. nutritura a nursing, suckling. See Nourish.]
1. The act of nourishing or nursing; thender care; education;
training.
A man neither by nature nor by nurture wise. Milton.
2. That which nourishes; food; diet. Spenser.
Nurture
Nur"ture (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nurtured (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Nurturing.]
1. To feed; to nourish.
2. To educate; to bring or train up.
He was nurtured where he had been born. Sir H. Wotton.
Syn. -- To nourish; nurse; cherish; bring up; educate; tend. -- To
Nurture, Nourish, Cherish. Nourish denotes to supply with food, or
cause to grow; as, to nourish a plant, to nourish rebellion. To
nurture is to train up with a fostering care, like that of a mother;
as, to nurture into strength; to nurture in sound principles. To
cherish is to hold and treat as dear; as, to cherish hopes or
affections.
Nustle
Nus"tle (?), v. t. [Cf. Nuzzle.] To fondle; to cherish. [Obs.]
Nut
Nut (?), n. [OE. nute, note, AS. hnutu; akin to D. noot, G. nuss, OHG.
nuz, Icel. hnot, Sw. n\'94t, Dan. n\'94d.]
1. (Bot.) The fruit of certain trees and shrubs (as of the almond,
walnut, hickory, beech, filbert, etc.), consisting of a hard and
indehiscent shell inclosing a kernel.
2. A perforated block (usually a small piece of metal), provided with
an internal or female screw thread, used on a bolt, or screw, for
tightening or holding something, or for transmitting motion. See
Illust. of lst Bolt.
3. The tumbler of a gunlock. Knight.
4. (Naut.) A projection on each side of the shank of an anchor, to
secure the stock in place.
Check nut, Jam nut, Lock nut, a nut which is screwed up tightly
against another nut on the same bolt or screw, in order to prevent
accidental unscrewing of the first nut. -- Nut buoy. See under Buoy.
-- Nut coal, screened coal of a size smaller than stove coal and
larger than pea coal; -- called also chestnut coal. -- Nut crab
(Zo\'94l.), any leucosoid crab of the genus Ebalia as, Ebalia tuberosa
of Europe. -- Nut grass (Bot.), a plant of the Sedge family (Cyperus
rotundus, var. Hydra), which has slender rootstocks bearing small,
nutlike tubers, by which the plant multiplies exceedingly, especially
in cotton fields. -- Nut lock, a device, as a metal plate bent up at
the corners, to prevent a nut from becoming unscrewed, as by
jarring.<-- = lock nut --> -- Nut pine. (Bot.) See under Pine. -- Nut
rush (Bot.), a genus of cyperaceous plants (Scleria) having a hard
bony achene. Several species are found in the United States and many
more in tropical regions. -- Nut tree, a tree that bears nuts. -- Nut
weevil (Zo\'94l.), any species of weevils of the genus Balaninus and
other allied genera, which in the larval state live in nuts.
Nut
Nut, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Nutted (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Nutting.] To
gather nuts.
Nutant
Nu"tant (?), a. [L. nutans, p. pr. of nutare to nod, v. intens. fr.
nuere (in comp.) to nod; cf. Gr. Nodding; having the top bent
downward.
Nutation
Nu*ta"tion (?), n. [L. nutatio a nodding, fr. nutare to nod: cf. F.
nutation.]
1. The act of nodding.
So from the midmost the nutation spreads, Round and more round,
o'er all the sea of heads. Pope.
2. (Astron.) A very small libratory motion of the earth's axis, by
which its inclination to the plane of the ecliptic is constantly
varying by a small amount.
3. (Bot.) (a) The motion of a flower in following the apparent
movement of the sun, from the east in the morning to the west in the
evening. (b) Circumnutation.
Nutbreaker
Nut"break`er (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) (a) The European nuthatch. (b) The
nutcracker.
Nut-brown
Nut"-brown` (?), a. Brown as a nut long kept and dried. "The spicy
nutbrown ale." Milton.
Nutcracker
Nut"crack`er (?), n.
1. An instrument for cracking nuts.
2. (Zo\'94l.) (a) A European bird (Nucifraga caryocatactes), allied to
the magpie and crow. Its color is dark brown, spotted with white. It
feeds on nuts, seeds, and insects. (b) The American, or Clarke's,
nutcracker (Picicorvus Columbianus) of Western North America.
Nutgall
Nut"gall` (?), n. A more or less round gall resembling a nut, esp. one
of those produced on the oak and used in the arts. See Gall, Gallnut.
Nuthatch
Nut"hatch` (?), n. [OE. nuthake. See 2d Hack.] (Zo\'94l.) Any one of
several species of birds of the genus Sitta, as the European species
(Sitta Europ\'91a). The white-breasted nuthatch (S. Carolinensis), the
red-breasted nuthatch (S. Canadensis), the pygmy nuthatch (S.
pygm\'91a), and others, are American.
Nuthook
Nut"hook` (?), n.
1. A hook at the end of a pole to pull down boughs for gathering the
nuts.
2. A thief who steals by means of a hook; also, a bailiff who hooks or
seizes malefactors. Shak.
Nutjobber
Nut"job`ber (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) The nuthatch. [Prov. Eng.]
Nutlet
Nut"let (?), n. (Bot.) A small nut; also, the stone of a drupe.
Nutmeg
Nut"meg (?), n. [OE. notemuge; note nut + OF. muge musk, of the same
origin as E. musk; cf. OF. noix muguette nutmeg, F. noix muscade. See
Nut, and Musk.] (Bot.) The kernel of the fruit of the nutmeg tree
(Myristica fragrans), a native of the Molucca Islands, but cultivated
elsewhere in the tropics.
NOTE: &hand; This fruit is a nearly spherical drupe, of the size of
a pear, of a yellowish color without and almost white within. This
opens into two nearly equal longitudinal valves, inclosing the nut
surrounded by its aril, which is mace The nutmeg is an aromatic,
very grateful to the taste and smell, and much used in cookery.
Other species of Myristica yield nutmegs of inferior quality.
American, Calabash, OR Jamaica, nutmeg, the fruit of a tropical shrub
(Monodora Myristica). It is about the size of an orange, and contains
many aromatic seeds imbedded in pulp. -- Brazilian nutmeg, the fruit
of a lauraceous tree, Cryptocarya moschata. -- California nutmeg, tree
of the Yew family (Torreya Californica), growing in the Western United
States, and having a seed which resembles a nutmeg in appearance, but
is strongly impregnated with turpentine. -- Clove nutmeg, the
Ravensara aromatica, a laura ceous tree of Madagascar. The foliage is
used as a spice, but the seed is acrid and caustic. -- Jamaica nutmeg.
See American nutmeg (above). -- Nutmeg bird (Zo\'94l.), an Indian
finch (Munia punctularia). -- Nutmeg butter, a solid oil extracted
from the nutmeg by expression. -- Nutmeg flower (Bot.), a
ranunculaceous herb (Nigella sativa) with small black aromatic seeds,
which are used medicinally and for excluding moths from furs and
clothing. -- Nutmeg liver (Med.), a name applied to the liver, when,
as the result of heart or lung disease, it undergoes congestion and
pigmentation about the central veins of its lobules, giving it an
appearance resembling that of a nutmeg. -- Nutmeg melon (Bot.), a
small variety of muskmelon of a rich flavor. -- Nutmeg pigeon
(Zo\'94l.), any one of several species of pigeons of the genus
Myristicivora, native of the East Indies and Australia. The color is
usually white, or cream-white, with black on the wings and tail. --
Nutmeg wood (Bot.), the wood of the Palmyra palm. -- Peruvian nutmeg,
the aromatic seed of a South American tree (Laurelia sempervirens). --
Plume nutmeg (Bot.), a spicy tree of Australia (Atherosperma
moschata).
Nutmegged
Nut"megged (?), a. Seasoned with nutmeg.
Nutpecker
Nut"peck`er (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) The nuthatch.
Nutria
Nu"tri*a (?), n. [Sp. nutria an otter, fr. L. lutra, lytra.] The fur
of the coypu. See Coypu.
Nutrication
Nu`tri*ca"tion (?), n. [L. nutricatio, fr. nutricare, nutricari, to
suckle, nourish, fr. nutrix a nurse.] The act or manner of feeding.
[Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Nutrient
Nu"tri*ent (?), a. [L. nutriens, p. pr. of nutrire. See Nourish.]
Nutritious; nourishing; promoting growth. -- n. Any substance which
has nutritious qualities, i. e., which nourishes or promotes growth.
Nutriment
Nu"tri*ment (?), n. [L. nutrimentum, fr. nutrire to nourish. See
Nourish.]
1. That which nourishes; anything which promotes growth and repairs
the natural waste of animal or vegetable life; food; aliment.
The stomach returns what it has received, in strength and nutriment
diffused into all parts of the body. South.
2. That which promotes development or growth.
Is not virtue in mankind The nutriment that feeds the mind ? Swift.
Nutrimental
Nu`tri*men"tal (?), a. Nutritious.
Nutritial
Nu*tri"tial (?), a. Pertaining to, or connected with, nutrition;
nutritious. [Obs.] Chapman.
Nutrition
Nu*tri"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. nutrition. See Nutritious.]
1. (Physiol.) In the broadest sense, a process or series of processes
by which the living organism as a whole (or its component parts or
organs) is maintained in its normal condition of life and growth.
NOTE: &hand; In th is wi de se nse it co mprehends di gestion,
absorption, circulation, assimilation, etc., in fact all of the
steps by which the nutritive matter of the food is fitted for
incorporation with the different tissues, and the changes which it
undergoes after its assimilation, prior to its excretion. See
Metabolism.
2. (Physiol.) In a more limited sense, the process by which the living
tissues take up, from the blood, matters necessary either for their
repair or for the performance of their healthy functions.
3. That which nourishes; nutriment.
Fixed like a plant, on his peculiar spot, To draw nutrition,
propagate, and rot. Pope.
Nutritional
Nu*tri"tion*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to nutrition; as, nutritional
changes.
Nutritious
Nu*tri"tious (?), a. [L. nutricius, nutritius, from nutrix, -icis, a
nurse, nutrire to nourish. See Nurse, Nourish.] Nourishing; promoting
growth, or preventing decay; alimental. -- Nu*tri"tious*ly, adv. --
Nu*tri"tious*ness, n.
Nutritive
Nu"tri*tive (?), a. [Cf. F. nutritif.] Of or pertaining to nutrition;
as, the nutritive functions; having the quality of nourishing;
nutritious; nutrimental; alimental; as, nutritive food or berries.
Nutritive plasma. (Biol.) See Idioplasma. -- Nutritive polyp
(Zo\'94l.), any one of the zooids of a compound hydroid, or coral,
which has a mouth and digestive cavity. -- Nu"tri*tive*ly, adv. --
Nu"tri*tive*ness, n.
Nutriture
Nu"tri*ture (?), n. [L. nutritura, fr. nutrir to nourish.] Nutrition;
nourishment. [Obs.] Harvey.
Nutshell
Nut"shell` (?), n.
1. The shell or hard external covering in which the kernel of a nut is
inclosed.
2. Hence, a thing of little compass, or of little value.
3. (Zo\'94l.) A shell of the genus Nucula.
To be, OR lie, in a nutshell, to be within a small compass; to admit
of very brief or simple determination or statement. "The remedy lay in
a nutshell." Macaulay.
Nutter
Nut"ter (?), n. A gatherer of nuts.
Nutting
Nut"ting (?), n. The act of gathering nuts.
Nutty
Nut"ty (?), a.
1. Abounding in nuts.
2. Having a flavor like that of nuts; as, nutty wine.
Nux vomica
Nux` vom"i*ca (?). [NL., fr. L. nux vomere to vomit.] The seed of
Strychnos Nuxvomica, a tree which abounds on the Malabar and
Coromandel coasts of the East Indies. From this seed the deadly
poisons known as strychnine and brucine are obtained. The seeds are
sometimes called Quaker buttons.
Nuzzle
Nuz"zle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nuzzied (?);p. pr. & vb. n. Nuzzling
(?).] [See Noursle.]
1. To noursle or nurse; to foster; to bring up. [Obs.]
The people had been nuzzled in idolatry. Milton.
2. [Perh. a corruption of nestle. Cf. Nustle.] To nestle; to house, as
in a nest.
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Page 988
Nuzzle
Nuz"zle (?), v. i. [Dim. fr. nose. See Nozzle.]
1. To work with the nose, like a swine in the mud.
And nuzzling in his flank, the loving swine Sheathed, unaware, the
tusk in his soft groin. Shak.
He charged through an army of lawyers, sometimes . . . nuzzling
like an eel in the mud. Arbuthnot.
2. To go with head poised like a swine, with nose down.
Sir Roger shook his ears, and nuzzled along. Arbuthnot.
3. [Cf. Nuzzle, v. t., 2.] To hide the head, as a child in the
mother's bosom; to nestle.
4. To loiter; to idle. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
Ny
Ny (?). [Contr. fr. ne I.] Not I; nor I. [Obs.]
Ny, Nye
Ny, Nye (?), a. & adv. Nigh. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Nyas
Ny"as (?), n. See Nias.
Nyctalopia
Nyc`ta*lo"pi*a (?), n. [L. nyctalopia, fr. nyctalops a nyctalops, Gr.
(Med.) (a) A disease of the eye, in consequence of which the patient
can see well in a faint light or at twilight, but is unable to see
during the day or in a strong light; day blindness. (b) See Moonblink.
NOTE: &hand; So me wr iters (as Quain) use the word in the opposite
sense, night blindness. See Hemeralopia.
Nyctalops
Nyc"ta*lops (?), n. [L., from Gr. One afflicted with nyctalopia.
Nyctalopy
Nyc"ta*lo`py (?), n. Same as Nyctalopia.
Nycthemeron
Nyc*the"me*ron (?), n. [Gr. The natural day and night, or space of
twenty-four hours.
Nyctibune
Nyc"ti*bune (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) A South American bird of the genus
Nyctibius, allied to the goatsuckers.
Nyctitropic
Nyc`ti*trop"ic (?), a. [From Gr. (Bot.) Turning or bending at night
into special positions.
NOTE: &hand; Ny ctitropic mo vements of plants usually consist in a
folding or drooping of the leaves, the advantage being in lessening
the radiation of heat.
Nyctophile
Nyc"to*phile (?), n. [Gr. (Zo\'94l.) Any Australian bat of the genus
Nyctophilus, having a very simple nasal appendage.
Nye
Nye (?), n. [Prob. fr. F. nid nest, brood, L. nidus nest. See Nest,
and cf. Eye brood, Nide.] A brood or flock of pheasants.
Nyentek
Ny*en"tek (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) A carnivorous mannual (Helictis moscatus,
or H. orientalis), native of Eastern Asia and the Indies. It has a
dorsal white stripe, and another one across the shoulders. It has a
strong musky odor.
Nylghau, Nylgau
Nyl"ghau, Nyl"gau (?), n. [Hind. & Per. n\'c6lg\'bew, prop., a blue
cow; Per. n\'c6l blue + g\'bew cow. See Lilac, and Cow the animal.]
(Zo\'94l.) A large Asiatic antelope (Boselaphus, OR Portax,
tragocamelus), found in Northern India. It has short horns, a black
mane, and a bunch of long hair on the throat. The general color is
grayish brown. [Written also neelghau, nilgau, and nylghaie.]
Nymph
Nymph (?), n. [L. nympha nymph, bride, young woman, Gr. nymphe. Cf.
Nuptial.]
1. (Class. Myth.) A goddess of the mountains, forests, meadows, or
waters.
Where were ye, nymphs, when the remorseless deep Closed o'er the
head of your loved Lycidas ? Milton.
2. Hence: A lovely young girl; a maiden; a damsel.
Nymph, in thy orisons Be all my sins remembered. Shak.
3. (Zo\'94l.) The pupa of an insect; a chrysalis.
4. (Zo\'94l.) Any one of a subfamily (Najades) of butterflies
including the purples, the fritillaries, the peacock butterfly, etc.;
-- called also naiad.
Nympha
Nym"pha (?), n.; pl. Nymph (#). [L. See Nymph a goddess.]
1. (Zo\'94l.) Same as Nymph, 3.
2. pl. (Anat.) Two folds of mucous membrane, within the labia, at the
opening of the vulva.
Nymph\'91a
Nym*ph\'91"a (?), n. [L., the water lily, Gr. (Bot.) A genus of
aquatic plants having showy flowers (white, blue, pink, or yellow,
often fragrant), including the white water lily and the Egyptia lotus.
NOTE: &hand; Recent critics have endeavored to show that this genus
should be called Castalia, and the name Nymph\'91a transferred to
what is now known as Nuphar.
Nymphal
Nymph"al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a nymph or nymphs; nymphean.
Nymphales
Nym*pha"les (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zo\'94l.) An extensive family of
butterflies including the nymphs, the satyrs, the monarchs, the
heliconias, and others; -- called also brush-footed butterflies.
Nymphean
Nym*phe"an (?), a. [Gr. Nymph.] Of, pertaining to, or appropriate to,
nymphs; inhabited by nymphs; as, a nymphean cave.
Nymphet
Nymph"et (?), n. A little or young nymph. [Poetic] "The nymphets
sporting there." Drayton.
Nymphic, Nymphical
Nymph"ic (?), Nymph"ic*al (?), a. [Gr. Of or pertaining to nymphs.
Nymphiparous
Nym*phip"a*rous (?), a. [Nymph + L. parere to produce.] (Zo\'94l.)
Producing pupas or nymphs.
Nymphish
Nymph"ish (?), a. Relating to nymphs; ladylike. "Nymphish war."
Drayton.
Nymphlike, Nymphly
Nymph"like` (?), Nymph"ly (?), a. Resembling, or characteristic of, a
nymph.
Nympholepsy
Nym"pho*lep`sy (?), n. [Gr. A species of demoniac enthusiasm or
possession coming upon one who had accidentally looked upon a nymph;
ecstasy. [R.] De Quincey.
The nympholepsy of some fond despair. Byron.
Nympholeptic
Nym`pho*lep"tic (?), a. Under the influence of nympholepsy; ecstatic;
frenzied. [Poetic]
Nymphomania
Nym`pho*ma"ni*a (?), n. [Gr. (Med.) Morbid and uncontrollable sexual
desire in women, constituting a true disease.
Nymphomany
Nym"pho*ma`ny (?), n. [Cf. F. nymphomanie.] (Med.) Same as
Nymphomania.
Nymphotomy
Nym*phot"o*my (?), n. [Nympha + Gr. (Med.) Excision of the nymph\'91.
Nys
Nys (?). Is not. See Nis. Chaucer. Spenser.
Nystagmus
Nys*tag"mus (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.) A rapid involuntary
oscillation of the eyeballs.
Nyula
Ny*u"la (?), n. (Zo\'94l.) A species of ichneumon (Herpestes nyula).
Its fur is beautifully variegated by closely set zigzag markings. O.