Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R)
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Title: Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R)
Editor: Thomas Davidson
Release date: January 28, 2012 [eBook #38699]
Most recently updated: May 4, 2026
Language: English
Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/38699
Credits: Produced by Colin Bell, Keith Edkins and the Online
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHAMBERS'S TWENTIETH CENTURY DICTIONARY (PART 3 OF 4: N-R) ***
Transcriber's note: A few typographical errors have been corrected: they
are listed at the end of the text.
* * * * *
In this version [=e] signifies "e macron"; [)e] "e breve"; [.e] "e with dot
above"; and so forth.
CHAMBERS'S
TWENTIETH CENTURY DICTIONARY
OF THE
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
PRONOUNCING, EXPLANATORY, ETYMOLOGICAL, WITH COMPOUND PHRASES,
TECHNICAL TERMS IN USE IN THE ARTS AND SCIENCES,
COLLOQUIALISMS, FULL APPENDICES, AND
COPIOUSLY ILLUSTRATED
EDITED BY
REV. THOMAS DAVIDSON
ASSISTANT-EDITOR OF 'CHAMBERS'S ENCYCLOPÆDIA'
EDITOR OF 'CHAMBERS'S ENGLISH DICTIONARY'
LONDON: 47 Paternoster Row
W. & R. CHAMBERS, LIMITED
EDINBURGH: 339 High Street
1908
EXPLANATIONS TO THE STUDENT.
THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE WORDS.--Every word is given in its _alphabetical_
order, except in cases where, to save space, derivatives are given after
and under the words from which they are derived. Each uncompounded verb has
its participles, when irregular, placed after it. Exceptional plurals are
also given. When a word stands after another, with no meaning given, its
meanings can be at once formed from those of the latter, by adding the
signification of the affix: thus the meanings of _Darkness_ are obtained by
prefixing the meaning of _ness_, _state of being_, to those of _Dark_.
Many words from French and other tongues, current in English usage, but not
yet fairly Anglicised, are inserted in the list of Foreign Phrases, &c., at
the end, rather than in the body of the Dictionary.
THE PRONUNCIATION.--The Pronunciation is given immediately after each word,
by the word being spelled anew. In this new spelling, every consonant used
has its ordinary unvarying sound, _no consonant being employed that has
more than one sound_. The same sounds are always represented by the same
letters, no matter how varied their actual spelling in the language. No
consonant used has any mark attached to it, with the one exception of _th_,
which is printed in common letters when sounded as in _thick_, but in
italics when sounded as in _th_en. _Unmarked vowels_ have always their
short sounds, as in _lad_, _led_, _lid_, _lot_, _but_, _book_. The _marked
vowels_ are shown in the following line, which is printed at the top of
each page:--
f[=a]te, fär; m[=e], h[.e]r; m[=i]ne; m[=o]te; m[=u]te; m[=oo]n; _th_en.
The vowel _u_ when marked thus, _ü_, has the sound heard in Scotch _bluid_,
_gude_, the French _du_, almost that of the German _ü_ in _Müller_. Where
more than one pronunciation of a word is given, that which is placed first
is more accepted.
THE SPELLING.--When more than one form of a word is given, that which is
placed first is the spelling in current English use. Unfortunately our
modern spelling does not represent the English we actually speak, but
rather the language of the 16th century, up to which period, generally
speaking, English spelling was mainly phonetic, like the present German.
The fundamental principle of all rational spelling is no doubt the
representation of every sound by an invariable symbol, but in modern
English the usage of pronunciation has drifted far from the conventional
forms established by a traditional orthography, with the result that the
present spelling of our written speech is to a large extent a mere exercise
of memory, full of confusing anomalies and imperfections, and involving an
enormous and unnecessary strain on the faculties of learners. Spelling
reform is indeed an imperative necessity, but it must proceed with a wise
moderation, for, in the words of Mr Sweet, 'nothing can be done without
unanimity, and until the majority of the community are convinced of the
superiority of some one system unanimity is impossible.' The true path of
progress should follow such wisely moderate counsels as those of Dr J. A.
H. Murray:--the dropping of the final or inflexional silent _e_; the
restoration of the historical _-t_ after breath consonants; uniformity in
the employment of double consonants, as in _traveler_, &c.; the discarding
of _ue_ in words like _demagogue_ and _catalogue_; the uniform levelling of
the agent _-our_ into _-or_; the making of _ea = [)e]_ short into _e_ and
the long _ie_ into _ee_; the restoration of _some_, _come_, _tongue_, to
their old English forms, _sum_, _cum_, _tung_; a more extended use of _z_
in the body of words, as _chozen_, _praize_, _raize_; and the correction of
the worst individual monstrosities, as _foreign_, _scent_, _scythe_,
_ache_, _debt_, _people_, _parliament_, _court_, _would_, _sceptic_,
_phthisis_, _queue_, _schedule_, _twopence-halfpenny_, _yeoman_, _sieve_,
_gauge_, _barque_, _buoy_, _yacht_, &c.
Already in America a moderate degree of spelling reform may be said to be
established in good usage, by the adoption of _-or_ for _-our_, as _color_,
_labor_, &c.; of _-er_ for _-re_, as _center_, _meter_, &c.; _-ize_ for
_-ise_, as _civilize_, &c.; the use of a uniform single consonant after an
unaccented vowel, as _traveler_ for _traveller_; the adoption of _e_ for
_oe_ or _æ_ in _hemorrhage_, _diarrhea_, &c.
THE MEANINGS.--The current and most important meaning of a word is usually
given first. But in cases like _Clerk_, _Livery_, _Marshal_, where the
force of the word can be made much clearer by tracing its history, the
original meaning is also given, and the successive variations of its usage
defined.
THE ETYMOLOGY.--The Etymology of each word is given after the meanings,
within brackets. Where further information regarding a word is given
elsewhere, it is so indicated by a reference. It must be noted under the
etymology that whenever a word is printed thus, BAN, BASE, the student is
referred to it; also that here the sign--is always to be read as meaning
'derived from.' Examples are generally given of words that are cognate or
correspond to the English words; but it must be remembered that they are
inserted merely for illustration. Such words are usually separated from the
rest by a semicolon. For instance, when an English word is traced to its
Anglo-Saxon form, and then a German word is given, no one should suppose
that our English word is derived from the German. German and Anglo-Saxon
are alike branches from a common Teutonic stem, and have seldom borrowed
from each other. Under each word the force of the prefix is usually given,
though not the affix. For fuller explanation in such cases the student is
referred to the list of Prefixes and Suffixes in the Appendix.
* * * * *
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS DICTIONARY.
_aor._ aorist.
_abbrev._ abbreviation.
_abl._ ablative.
_acc._ according.
_accus._ accusative.
_adj._ adjective.
_adv._ adverb.
_agri._ agriculture.
_alg._ algebra.
_anat._ anatomy.
_app._ apparently.
_arch._ archaic.
_archit._ architecture.
_arith._ arithmetic.
_astrol._ astrology.
_astron._ astronomy.
_attrib._ attributive.
_augm._ augmentative.
_B._ Bible.
_biol._ biology.
_book-k._ book-keeping.
_bot._ botany.
_c._ (_circa_) about.
_c._, _cent._ century.
_carp._ carpentry.
_cf._ compare.
_chem._ chemistry.
_cog._ cognate.
_coll._, _colloq._ colloquially.
_comp._ comparative.
_conch._ conchology.
_conj._ conjunction.
_conn._ connected.
_contr._ contracted.
_cook._ cookery.
_corr._ corruption.
_crystal._ crystallography.
_dat._ dative.
_demons._ demonstrative.
_der._ derivation.
_dial._ dialect, dialectal.
_Dict._ Dictionary.
_dim._ diminutive.
_dub._ doubtful.
_eccles._ ecclesiastical history.
_e.g._ for example.
_elect._ electricity.
_entom._ entomology.
_esp._ especially.
_ety._ etymology.
_fem._ feminine.
_fig._ figuratively.
_fol._ followed; following.
_fort._ fortification.
_freq._ frequentative.
_fut._ future.
_gen._ genitive.
_gener._ generally.
_geog._ geography.
_geol._ geology.
_geom._ geometry.
_ger._ gerundive.
_gram._ grammar.
_gun._ gunnery.
_her._ heraldry.
_hist._ history.
_hort._ horticulture.
_hum._ humorous.
_i.e._ that is.
_imit._ imitative.
_imper._ imperative.
_impers._ impersonal.
_indic._ indicative.
_infin._ infinitive.
_inten._ intensive.
_interj._ interjection.
_interrog._ interrogative.
_jew._ jewellery.
_lit._ literally.
_mach._ machinery.
_masc._ masculine.
_math._ mathematics.
_mech._ mechanics.
_med._ medicine.
_metaph._ metaphysics.
_mil._ military.
_Milt._ Milton.
_min._ mineralogy.
_mod._ modern.
_Mt._ Mount.
_mus._ music.
_myth._ mythology.
_n._, _ns._ noun, nouns.
_nat. hist._ natural history.
_naut._ nautical.
_neg._ negative.
_neut._ neuter.
_n.pl._ noun plural.
_n.sing._ noun singular.
_N.T._ New Testament.
_obs._ obsolete.
_opp._ opposed.
_opt._ optics.
_orig._ originally.
_ornith._ ornithology.
_O.S._ old style.
_O.T._ Old Testament.
_p._, _part._ participle.
_p.adj._ participial adjective.
_paint._ painting.
_paleog._ paleography.
_paleon._ paleontology.
_palm._ palmistry.
_pa.p._ past participle.
_pass._ passive.
_pa.t._ past tense.
_path._ pathology.
_perf._ perfect.
_perh._ perhaps.
_pers._ person.
_pfx._ prefix.
_phil._, _philos._ philosophy.
_philol._ philology.
_phon._ phonetics.
_phot._ photography.
_phrenol._ phrenology.
_phys._ physics.
_physiol._ physiology.
_pl._ plural.
_poet._ poetical.
_pol. econ._ political economy.
_poss._ possessive.
_Pr.Bk._ Book of Common
Prayer.
_pr.p._ present participle.
_prep._ preposition.
_pres._ present.
_print._ printing.
_priv._ privative.
_prob._ probably.
_Prof._ Professor.
_pron._ pronoun;
pronounced;
pronunciation.
_prop._ properly.
_pros._ prosody.
_prov._ provincial.
_q.v._ which see.
_R.C._ Roman Catholic.
_recip._ reciprocal.
_redup._ reduplication.
_refl._ reflexive.
_rel._ related; relative.
_rhet._ rhetoric.
_sculp._ sculpture.
_Shak._ Shakespeare.
_sig._ signifying.
_sing._ singular.
_spec._ specifically.
_Spens_. Spenser.
_subj._ subjunctive.
_suff._ suffix.
_superl._ superlative.
_surg._ surgery.
_term._ termination.
_teleg._ telegraphy.
_Tenn._ Tennyson.
_Test._ Testament.
_theat._ theatre; theatricals.
_theol._ theology.
_trig._ trigonometry.
_ult._ ultimately.
_v.i._ verb intransitive.
_voc._ vocative.
_v.t._ verb transitive.
_vul._ vulgar.
_zool._ zoology.
* * * * *
Amer. American.
Ar. Arabic.
A.S. Anglo-Saxon.
Austr. Australian.
Bav. Bavarian.
Beng. Bengali.
Bohem. Bohemian.
Braz. Brazilian.
Bret. Breton.
Carib. Caribbean.
Celt. Celtic.
Chal. Chaldean.
Chin. Chinese.
Corn. Cornish.
Dan. Danish.
Dut. Dutch.
Egypt. Egyptian.
Eng. English.
Finn. Finnish.
Flem. Flemish.
Fr. French.
Fris. Frisian.
Gael. Gaelic.
Ger. German.
Goth. Gothic.
Gr. Greek.
Heb. Hebrew.
Hind. Hindustani.
Hung. Hungarian.
Ice. Icelandic.
Ind. Indian.
Ion. Ionic.
Ir. Irish.
It. Italian.
Jap. Japanese.
Jav. Javanese.
L. Latin.
Lith. Lithuanian.
L. L. Low or Late Latin.
M. E. Middle English.
Mex. Mexican.
Norm. Norman.
Norw. Norwegian.
O. Fr. Old French.
Pers. Persian.
Peruv. Peruvian.
Pol. Polish.
Port. Portuguese.
Prov. Provençal.
Rom. Romance.
Russ. Russian
Sans. Sanskrit.
Scand. Scandinavian.
Scot. Scottish.
Singh. Singhalese.
Slav. Slavonic.
Sp. Spanish.
Sw. Swedish.
Teut. Teutonic.
Turk. Turkish.
U.S. United States.
W. Welsh.
* * * * *
CHAMBERS'S
TWENTIETH CENTURY
DICTIONARY.
* * * * *
N the fourteenth letter and eleventh consonant of our alphabet, a
nasal-dental: (_chem._) the symbol for nitrogen: (_math._) an indefinite
constant whole number, esp. the degree of a quantic or an equation: as a
numeral, formerly, N=90, and ([=N])=90,000.
NA, nä, a Scotch form of _no_.
NAB, nab, _v.t._ to seize suddenly:--_pr.p._ nab'bing; _pa.p._ nabbed. [Sw.
_nappa_; Dan. _nappe_, to catch.]
NAB, nab, _n._ a hill-top: the projecting cavity fixed to the jamb of a
door to receive the latch or bolt: (_obs._) a hat. [For _knab_=_knap_.]
NABATÆAN, nab-a-t[=e]'an, _adj._ of or pertaining to a once powerful Arab
people who formerly dwelt on the east and south-east of Palestine,
identified by some with the _Nebaioth_ of Isa. lx. 7, the _Nabathites_ of 1
Maccab. v. 25.--Also NABATH[=E]'AN.
NABK, nabk, _n._ one of the plants in the crown of thorns (_Zizyphus
Spina-Christi_). [Prob. Ar.]
NABOB, n[=a]'bob, _n._ a deputy or governor under the Mogul Empire: a
European who has enriched himself in the East: any man of great wealth.
[Corr. of Hind. _nawwâb_, a deputy, from Ar. _naww[=a]b_, pl. (used as
sing.) of _n[=a]ib_, a deputy.]
NACARAT, nak'a-rat, _n._ a light-red colour, scarlet: a fabric of this
colour. [Fr.]
NACKET, nak'et, _n._ (_Scot._) a small cake, luncheon.
NACRE, n[=a]'kr, _n._ mother-of-pearl.--_adj._ iridescent.--_adj._
N[=A]'CREOUS, consisting of nacre: having a pearly lustre. [Fr.,--Ar.
_nak[=i]r_, hollowed.]
NADIR, n[=a]'dir, _n._ the point of the heavens diametrically opposite to
the zenith: the lowest point of anything. [Fr.,--Ar. _naz[=i]r_, from
_nazara_, to be like.]
NÆVUS, n[=e]'vus, _n._ a birth-mark: a congenital growth strictly on a part
of the skin, whether a _pigmentary nævus_ or mole, or a _vascular naevus_
or overgrowth of capillary blood-vessels--also _Mother-spot_ or
_Birth-mark_--also NÆVE, NEVE:--_pl._ NÆ'V[=I].--_adjs._ NÆ'VOID, NÆ'VOUS,
NÆ'VOSE. [L.]
NAG, nag, _n._ a horse, but particularly a small one--(_Scot._) NAIG:
(_Shak._) a jade. [M. E. _nagge_--Mid. Dut. _negge_, _negghe_ (mod. Dut.
_negge_); cf. _Neigh._]
NAG, nag, _v.t._ to worry or annoy continually: to tease or vex: to find
fault with constantly:--_pr.p._ nag'ging; _pa.p._ nagged.--_n._ NAG'GER.
[Cf. _Gnaw_.]
NAGA, nä'ga, _n._ the name of deified serpents in Hindu mythology.
NAGARI. See DEVA-NAGARI.
NAIAD, n[=a]'yad, _n._ a water-nymph or a goddess, presiding over rivers
and springs:--_pl._ NAI'ADES. [L. and Gr. _naias_, _naiados_, from _naein_,
to flow.]
NAIANT, n[=a]'yant, _adj._ floating: (_her._) swimming, as a fish placed
horizontally across a shield. [L. _nans_, _nantis_, pr.p. of _nat[=a]re_,
to swim.]
NAÏF, nä-[=e]f', NAÏVE, nä-[=e]v', _adj._ with natural or unaffected
simplicity, esp. in thought, manners, or speech: artless:
ingenuous.--_adv._ NAÏVE'LY.--_n._ NAÏVETÉ (nä-[=e]v-t[=a]'), natural
simplicity and unreservedness of thought, manner, or speech. [Fr. _naïf_,
fem, _naïve_--L. _nativus_, native--_nasci_, _natus_, to be born.]
NAIL, n[=a]l, _n._ one of the flattened, elastic, horny plates placed as
protective coverings on the dorsal surface of the terminal phalanges of the
fingers and toes: the claw of a bird or other animal: a thin pointed piece
of metal for fastening wood: a measure of length (2¼ inches):--_v.t._ to
fasten with nails: to make certain: to confirm, pin down, hold fast: to
catch or secure through promptitude; to trip up or expose.--_ns._
NAIL'-BRUSH, a small brush for cleaning the nails; NAIL'ER, one whose trade
is to make nails; NAIL'ERY, a place where nails are made.--_adj._
NAIL'-HEAD'ED, having a head like that of a nail: formed like nail-heads,
said of ornamental marks on cloth and on certain kinds of mouldings
(_dog-tooth_).--_n._ NAIL'-ROD, a strip cut from an iron plate to be made
into nails: a trade name for a strong kind of manufactured tobacco.--NAIL
TO THE COUNTER, to expose publicly as false, from the habit of nailing a
counterfeit coin to a shop counter.--DRIVE A NAIL IN ONE'S COFFIN (see
COFFIN); HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD, to touch the exact point; ON THE NAIL,
on the spot: immediately: without delay. [A.S. _nægel_; Ger. _nagel_.]
NAINSELL, n[=a]n'sel, _n._ own self--_Highland Scotch_.
NAINSOOK, n[=a]n's[=oo]k, _n._ a kind of muslin like jaconet, both plain
and striped. [Hind.]
NAISSANT, n[=a]s'sant, _adj._ (_her._) rising or coming forth, as an animal
newly born or about to be born. [Fr., pr.p. of _naître_--L. _nasci_,
_natus_, to be born.]
NAÏVE. See NAÏF.
NAKED, n[=a]'ked, _adj._ without clothes: uncovered: open to view:
unconcealed: evident: unarmed: defenceless: unprovided: without addition or
ornament: simple: artless: (_bot._) without the usual covering.--_adv._
N[=A]'KEDLY.--_n._ N[=A]'KEDNESS.--NAKED EYE, the eye unassisted by glasses
of any kind; NAKED LADY, the meadow-saffron.--STARK NAKED, entirely naked.
[A.S. _nacod_; Ger. _nackt_.]
NAKER, n[=a]'ker, _n._ a kettledrum. [O. Fr.,--Ar.]
NAM, nam, _n._ an obsolete law term for distraint.--_n._ NAM[=A]'TION.
[A.S. _niman_, pa.t. _nam_, to take.]
NAMBY-PAMBY, nam'bi-pam'bi, _n._ silly talking or writing.--_adj._
sentimental, affectedly pretty.--_v.t._ to coddle. [H. Carey's nickname for
_Ambrose_ Philips (1671-1749), from his childish odes to children.]
NAME, n[=a]m, _n._ that by which a person or a thing is known or called: a
designation: that which is said of a person: reputed character: reputation:
fame: celebrity: remembrance: a race or family: appearance, not reality:
authority: behalf: assumed character of another: (_gram._) a noun.--_v.t._
to give a name to: to designate: to speak of or to call by name: to mention
for a post or office: to nominate: to mention formally by name a person in
the House of Commons as guilty of disorderly conduct.--_adjs._ NAM'ABLE,
NAME'ABLE; NAME'LESS, without a name: undistinguished: indescribable;
NAME'WORTHY, distinguished.--_adv._ NAME'LESSLY.--_n._
NAME'LESSNESS.--_adv._ NAME'LY, by name: that is to say.--_ns._
NAME'-PLATE, a plate of metal having on it the name of a person, usually
affixed to a door or a gate; NAM'ER; NAME'SAKE, one bearing the same name
as another for his sake.--NAME THE DAY, to fix a day, esp. for a
marriage.--CALL NAMES, to nickname; CHRISTIAN NAME (see CHRISTIAN); IN NAME
OF, on behalf of: by the authority of; PROPER NAME, a name given to a
particular person, place, or thing; TAKE A NAME IN VAIN, to use a name
lightly or profanely. [A.S. _nama_; Ger. _name_; L. _nomen_.]
NANCY, nan'si, _n._ an effeminate young man, often a 'Miss Nancy.'--NANCY
PRETTY, a corruption of _none so pretty_, the _Saxifraga umbrosa_.
NANDINE, nan'din, _n._ a small West African paradoxure, with spotted sides.
NANDU, NANDOO, nan'd[=oo], _n._ the South American ostrich.
NANISM, n[=a]'nizm, _n._ dwarfishness.--_n._ NANIS[=A]'TION, the artificial
dwarfing of trees.--_adj._ N[=A]'NOID. [Fr.,--L.,--Gr. _nanos_, a dwarf.]
NANKEEN, nan-k[=e]n', _n._ a buff-coloured cotton cloth first made at
_Nankin_ in China: (_pl._) clothes, esp. breeches, made of nankeen.--Also
NANKIN'.
NANNY, nan'i, _n._ a female goat.--Also NANN'Y-GOAT.
NAP, nap, _n._ a short sleep.--_v.i._ to take a short sleep: to feel drowsy
and secure:--_pr.p._ nap'ping; _pa.p._ napped.--CATCH NAPPING, to come upon
unprepared. [A.S. _hnappian_; cf. Ger. _nicken_, to nod.]
NAP, nap, _n._ the woolly substance on the surface of cloth: the downy
covering of plants.--_v.t._ to raise a nap on.--_ns._ NAP'-M[=E]'TER, a
machine for testing the wearing strength of cloth; NAP'PINESS.--_adj._
NAP'PY. [M. E. _noppe_: the same as _knop_.]
NAP, nap, _n._ a game of cards--_Napoleon_ (q.v.).
NAP, nap, _v.t._ to seize, to take hold of, steal.
NAPE, n[=a]p, _n._ the back upper part of the neck, perhaps so called from
the knob or projecting point of the neck behind. [_Knap_, _knob_.]
NAPERY, n[=a]'per-i, _n._ linen, esp. for the table: table-cloths, napkins,
&c. [O. Fr.,--Low L. _naparia_--_napa, a cloth_--L. _mappa_, a napkin.]
NAPHTHA, naf'tha, or nap'tha, _n._ a clear, inflammable liquid distilled
from petroleum, wood, coal-tar, &c.: rock-oil.--_n._ NAPH'THALENE, a
grayish-white, inflammable substance obtained by the distillation of
coal-tar.--_adj._ NAPHTHAL'IC, pertaining to, or derived from,
naphthalene.--_v.t._ NAPH'THALISE.--_ns._ NAPH'THOL, NAPHTHYL'AMINE.
[L.,--Gr.,--Ar. _naft_.]
NAPIERIAN, n[=a]-p[=e]'ri-an, _adj._ pertaining to John _Napier_ of
Merchiston (1550-1617), the inventor of logarithms.--NAPIER'S BONES, or
RODS, an invention of Napier's for performing mechanically the operations
of multiplication and division, by means of sets of rods.
NAPIFORM, n[=a]p'i-form, _adj._ shaped like a turnip: large and round above
and slender below.--_adj._ NAPIF[=O]'LIOUS, with leaves like the turnip.
[L. _napus_, a turnip.]
NAPKIN, nap'kin, _n._ a cloth for wiping the hands: a handkerchief.--_n._
NAP'KIN-RING, a ring in which a table-napkin is rolled. [Dim. of Fr.
_nappe_.]
NAPLESS, nap'les, _adj._ without nap: threadbare.
NAPLES-YELLOW, n[=a]'plz-yel'l[=o], _n._ a light-yellow pigment consisting
of antimoniate of lead, originally made in Italy by a secret process.
NAPOLEON, na-p[=o]'l[=e]-on, _n._ a French gold coin worth 20 francs, or
about 15s. 10½d.: a French modification of the game of euchre, each player
receiving five cards and playing for himself: a kind of rich iced
cake.--_adj._ NAPOLEON'IC, relating to _Napoleon I_. or _III_., the Great
or the Little.--_ns._ NAP[=O]'LEONISM; NAP[=O]'LEONIST.--GO NAP, to declare
all five tricks--success rewarded by double payment all round.
NAPPY, nap'i, _adj._ heady, strong: tipsy.--_n._ strong ale. [Prob. from
_nap_, a sleep.]
NAPPY, nap'i, _adj._ (_Scot._) brittle. [Cf. _Knap._]
NAPRON, nap'ron, _n._ (_Spens._) an apron.
NARCISSUS, nar-sis'us, _n._ a genus of plants of the Amaryllis family,
comprising the daffodils. [L.,--Gr. _narkissos_--_nark[=e]_, torpor.]
NARCOLEPSY, nar'k[=o]-lep-si, _n._ a nervous disorder marked by frequent
short attacks of irresistible drowsiness.
NARCOTIC, nar-kot'ik, _adj._ having power to produce torpor, sleep, or
deadness.--_n._ a medicine producing sleep or stupor.--_n._ NARC[=O]'SIS,
the stupefying effect of a narcotic.--_adv._ NARCOT'ICALLY.--_n._
NAR'COTINE, one of the organic bases or alkaloids occurring in
opium.--_v.t._ NAR'COTISE.--_n._ NAR'COTISM, the influence of narcotics, or
the effects produced by their use. [Fr.,--Gr. _nark[=e]_, torpor.]
NARD, närd, _n._ an aromatic plant usually called _Spikenard_: an ointment
prepared from it.--_adj._ NARD'INE. [Fr.,--L. _nardus_--Gr. _nardos_--Pers.
_nard_--Sans. _nalada_, from Sans. _nal_, to smell.]
NARDOO, när-d[=oo]', _n._ an Australian cryptogamic plant whose spore-cases
are eaten by the natives.
NARDUS, när'dus, _n._ a genus of grasses, having but one species, _Nardus
stricta_, mat-grass.
NARGHILE, när'gi-le, _n._ an Eastern tobacco-pipe, in which the smoke is
passed through water.--Also NAR'GILE, NAR'GILEH, NAR'GILI. [Pers.]
NARIS, n[=a]'ris, _n._ a nostril:--_pl._ N[=A]'RES.--_adjs._ NAR'IAL,
NAR'INE.--_n._ NAR'ICORN, the horny nasal sheath of the beak of some
birds.--_adj._ NAR'IFORM. [L.]
NARRATE, na-r[=a]t', or nar'-, _v.t._ to tell, to give an account
of.--_adj._ NARR'ABLE, capable of being told.--_n._ NARR[=A]'TION, act of
telling: that which is told: an orderly account of what has
happened.--_adj._ NARR'ATIVE, narrating: giving an account of any
occurrence: inclined to narration: story-telling.--_n._ that which is
narrated: a continued account of any occurrence: story.--_adv._
NARR'ATIVELY.--_n._ NARR[=A]'TOR, one who narrates: one who tells or states
facts, &c.--_adj._ NARR'ATORY, like narrative: consisting of narrative.
[Fr.,--L. _narr[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_--_gn[=a]rus_, knowing.]
NARRE, när, _adj._ (_Spens._) an older form of _near_.
NARROW, nar'[=o], _adj._ of little breadth: of small extent from side to
side: limited: contracted in mind: bigoted: not liberal: selfish: within a
small distance: almost too small: close: accurate: careful.--_n._ (oftener
used in the _pl._) a narrow passage, channel, or strait.--_v.t._ to make
narrow: to contract or confine.--_v.i._ to become narrow: to reduce the
number of stitches in knitting.--_adj._ NARR'OW-GAUGE, denoting a railroad
of less width than 4 ft. 8½ in.--_n._ NARR'OWING, the act of making less in
breadth: the state of being contracted: the part of anything which is made
narrower.--_adv._ NARR'OWLY.--_adj._ NARR'OW-MIND'ED, of a narrow or
illiberal mind.--_ns._ NARR'OW-MIND'EDNESS; NARR'OWNESS.--_adjs._
NARR'OW-PRY'ING (_Shak._), scrutinising closely, inquisitive;
NARR'OW-SOULED, illiberal.--NARROW CLOTH, cloth, esp. woollen, of less than
54 inches in width; NARROW WORK, in mining, the making of passages,
air-shafts, &c. [A.S. _nearu_; not conn. with _near_, but prob. with
_nerve_, _snare_.]
NARTHEX, nar'theks, _n._ a former genus of umbelliferous plants, now
included in _Ferula_: a portico or lobby in an early Christian or Oriental
church or basilica. [L.,--Gr., _narth[=e]x_.]
NARWHAL, när'hwal, NARWAL, när'wal, _n._ the sea-unicorn, a mammal of the
whale family with one large projecting tusk. [Dan. _narhval_--Ice.
_náhvalr_, 'corpse-whale,' from the creature's pallid colour (Ice. _nár_,
corpse).]
NARY, ner'i, a provincial corruption of _ne'er a_, _never a_.
NAS, nas, an obsolete corruption of _ne has_; of _ne was_.
NASAL, n[=a]'zal, _adj._ belonging to the nose: affected by, or sounded
through, the nose.--_n._ a letter or sound uttered through the nose: the
nose-piece in a helmet.--_n._ NASALIS[=A]'TION, the act of uttering with a
nasal sound.--_v.i._ N[=A]'SALISE, to render nasal, as a sound: to insert a
nasal letter into.--_n._ NASAL'ITY.--_adv._ N[=A]'SALLY, by or through the
nose.--_adjs._ N[=A]'SICORN, having a horn on the nose, as a rhinoceros;
N[=A]'SIFORM, nose-shaped.--_n._ N[=A]'SION, the median point of the
naso-frontal suture.--_adjs._ NASOB[=A]'SAL, pertaining to the nose and
base of the skull; NASOC'ULAR, pertaining to the nose and eye, nasorbital;
NASOFRON'TAL, pertaining to the nasal bone and the frontal bone;
NASOL[=A]'BIAL, pertaining to the nose and the upper lip; NASOLAC'RYMAL,
pertaining to the nose and to tears, as the duct which carries tears from
the eyes to the nose; NASOPAL'ATINE, pertaining to the nose and to the
palate or palate-bones. [Fr.,--L. _nasus_, the nose.]
NASARD, naz'ard, _n._ a mutation-stop in organ-building.--Also NAS'ARDE.
NASCENT, nas'ent, _adj._ springing up: arising: beginning to exist or to
grow.--_n._ NAS'CENCY, the beginning of production: birth or origin. [L.
_nascens_, _-entis_, pr.p. of _nasci_, _natus_, to be born.]
NASEBERRY, n[=a]z'ber-i, _n._ an American tropical tree.--Also NEES'BERRY,
NIS'BERRY. [Sp. _níspero_--L. _mespilus_, medlar.]
NASTURTIUM, nas-tur'shi-um, _n._ the water-cress. [L., _nasus_, the nose,
_torqu[=e]re_, _tortum_, to twist.]
NASTY, nas'ti, _adj._ dirty: filthy: obscene: disagreeable to the taste or
smell: difficult to deal with: ill-natured: nauseous.--_adv._
NAS'TILY.--_n._ NAS'TINESS. [Old form _nasky_, soft; cf. prov. Swed.
_snaskig_, nasty, Low Ger. _nask_, nasty.]
NASUTE, n[=a]-s[=u]t', _adj._ having a long snout: keen-scented.
NATAL, n[=a]'tal, _adj._ pertaining to the nates or buttocks.--_n.pl._
N[=A]'TES, the buttocks.--_adj._ NAT'IFORM. [L. _natis_, the rump.]
NATAL, n[=a]'tal, _adj._ pertaining to birth: native: presiding over
birthdays.--_adj._ NATALI'TIAL, pertaining to a birthday.--_n._ NATAL'ITY,
birth-rate. [Fr.,--L. _natalis_--_nasci_, _natus_, to be born.]
NATANT, n[=a]'tant, _adj._ floating on the surface, as leaves of
water-plants: (_her._) in a horizontal position, as if swimming.--_n._
NAT[=A]'TION, swimming.--_n.pl._ NATAT[=O]'RES, the swimming-birds.--_adj._
NATAT[=O]'RIAL, swimming: adapted to swim.--_n._ NATAT[=O]'RIUM, a
swimming-school.--_adj._ N[=A]'TATORY, pertaining to swimming: having the
habit of swimming. [L. _natans_, _-antis_, pr.p. of _nat[=a]re_, inten. of
_n[=a]re_, to swim.]
NATCH, nach, _n._ (_prov._) the rump.
NATCH, nach, _n._ a provincial form of _notch_.
NATHLESS, nath'les, _adj._ not the less: nevertheless.--Also NATHE'LESS.
[A.S. _ná thý læs_, not the less.]
NATHMORE, nath'm[=o]r, _adv._ (_Spens._) not or never the more.--Also
NATH'MOE. [A.S. _ná thý mára_.]
NATION, n[=a]'shun, _n._ a body of people born of the same stock: the
people inhabiting the same country, or under the same government: a race: a
great number: a division of students in a university for voting purposes at
Aberdeen and Glasgow. [Fr.,--L. _nation-em_,--_nasci_, _natus_, to be
born.]
NATIONAL, nash'un-al, _adj._ pertaining to a nation: public: general:
attached to one's own country.--_n._ NATIONALIS[=A]'TION, the act of
nationalising, as of railways, private property, &c.: the state of being
nationalised.--_v.t._ NAT'IONALISE, to make national: to make a nation
of.--_ns._ NAT'IONALISM; NAT'IONALIST, one who strives after national unity
or independence, esp. as in Ireland for more or less separation from Great
Britain: an advocate of nationalism: NATIONAL'ITY, birth or membership in a
particular country: separate existence as a nation: a nation, race of
people: national character.--_adv._ NAT'IONALLY.--_n._
NAT'IONALNESS.--NATIONAL AIR, ANTHEM, the popular song by which a people's
patriotic feelings are expressed; NATIONAL CHURCH, the church established
by law in a country; NATIONAL CONVENTION, the sovereign assembly which sat
from Sept. 21, 1792, to Oct. 26, 1795, after the abolition of monarchy in
France; NATIONAL DEBT, money borrowed by the government of a country and
not yet paid; NATIONAL FLAG, or ENSIGN, the principal flag of a country;
NATIONAL GUARD, a force which took part in the French Revolution, first
formed in 1789.
NATIVE, n[=a]'tiv, _adj._ arising or appearing by birth: produced by
nature: pertaining to the time or place of birth: belonging by birth,
hereditary, natural, original: occurring uncombined with other substances,
as metals.--_n._ one born in any place: an original inhabitant: (_pl._)
oysters raised in artificial beds.--_adv._ N[=A]'TIVELY.--_ns._
N[=A]'TIVENESS; N[=A]'TIVISM, the belief that the mind possesses some ideas
or forms of thought that are inborn, and not derived from sensation: the
disposition to favour the natives of a country in preference to immigrants;
N[=A]'TIVIST.--_adj._ NATIVIS'TIC.--_n._ NATIV'ITY, state or fact of being
born: time, place, and manner of birth: the birth of Christ, hence the
festival of His birth, Christmas--also a picture representing His birth:
state or place of being produced: a horoscope.--NATIVE ROCK, stone not yet
quarried. [Fr.,--L. _nativus_--_nasci_, _natus_, to be born.]
NATRIX, n[=a]'triks, _n._ a genus of colubrine snakes. [L.,--_nat[=a]re_,
to swim.]
NATROLITE, nat'ro-l[=i]t, _n._ one of the most common of the group of
minerals known as Zeolites.
NATRON, n[=a]'trun, _n._ native carbonate of sodium, or mineral alkali, the
nitre of the Bible.--_n._ NATROM'ETER, an instrument for measuring the
quantity of soda in salts of potash and soda. [Fr.,--L. _nitrum_--Gr.
_nitron_.]
NATTER, nat'[.e]r, _v.t._ and _v.i._ (_prov._) to find fault.--_adjs._
NATT'ERED, NATT'ERY, peevish.
NATTERJACK, nat'[.e]r-jak, _n._ a common European toad. [Cf. _Adder_.]
NATTES, nats, _n.pl._ surface decoration or diaper resembling plaited or
interlaced work. [Fr.]
NATTY, nat'i, _adj._ trim, tidy, neat, spruce.--_adv._ NATT'ILY.--_n._
NATT'INESS. [Allied to _neat_.]
NATURAL, nat'[=u]-ral, _adj._ pertaining to, produced by, or according to
nature: inborn: not far-fetched: not acquired: tender: unaffected: in a
state of nature, unregenerate: (_math._) having 1 as the base of the
system, of a function or number: illegitimate: (_mus._) according to the
usual diatonic scale.--_n._ an idiot: (_mus._) a character ([Natural])
which removes the effect of a preceding sharp or flat: a white key in
keyboard musical instruments.--_adj._ NAT'URAL-BORN, native.--_n.pl._
NATUR[=A]'LIA, the sexual organs.--_n._ NATURALIS[=A]'TION.--_v.t._
NAT'URALISE, to make natural or easy: to adapt to a different climate or to
different conditions of life: to grant the privileges of natural-born
subjects to.--_ns._ NAT'URALISM, mere state of nature: a close following of
nature, without idealisation, in painting, sculpture, fiction, &c.: the
belief that natural religion is of itself sufficient; NAT'URALIST, one who
studies nature, more particularly zoology and botany: a believer in
naturalism.--_adj._ NATURALIST'IC, pertaining to, or in accordance with,
nature: belonging to the doctrines of naturalism.--_adv._ NAT'URALLY.--_n._
NAT'URALNESS.--NATURAL HISTORY, originally the description of all that is
in nature, now used of the sciences that deal with the earth and its
productions--botany, zoology, and mineralogy, esp. zoology; NATURAL LAW,
the sense of right and wrong which arises from the constitution of the mind
of man, as distinguished from the results of revelation or legislation;
NATURAL NUMBERS, the numbers 1, 2, 3, and upwards; NATURAL ORDER, in
botany, an order or division belonging to the natural system of
classification, based on a consideration of all the organs of the plant;
NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, the science of nature, of the physical properties of
bodies: physics; NATURAL SCALE, a scale of music written without sharps or
flats; NATURAL SCIENCE, the science of _nature_, as distinguished from that
of _mind_ (mental and moral science), and from _pure_ science
(mathematics); NATURAL SELECTION, a supposed operation of the laws of
nature, the result of which is the 'survival of the fittest,' as if brought
about by intelligent design; NATURAL SYSTEM, a classification of plants and
animals according to real differences in structure; NATURAL THEOLOGY, or
NATURAL RELIGION, the body of theological truths discoverable by reason
without revelation.
NATURE, n[=a]'t[=u]r, _n._ the power which creates and which regulates the
material world: the power of growth: the established order of things, the
universe: the qualities of anything which make it what it is: constitution:
species: conformity to nature, truth, or reality: inborn mind, character,
instinct, or disposition: vital power, as of man or animal: course of life:
nakedness: a primitive undomesticated condition.--_adj._ N[=A]'TURED,
having a certain temper or disposition: used in compounds, as
_good-natured_.--_ns._ N[=A]'TURE-D[=E]'ITY, a deity personifying some
force of physical nature; N[=A]'TURE-MYTH, a myth symbolising natural
phenomena; N[=A]'TURE-PRINT'ING, the process of printing in colours from
plates that have been impressed with some object of nature, as a plant,
leaf, &c.; N[=A]'TURE-WOR'SHIP, N[=A]'TURISM, worship of the powers of
nature.--_n._ N[=A]'TURIST.--_adj._ NATURIST'IC.--DEBT OF NATURE, death;
EASE, or RELIEVE, NATURE, to evacuate the bowels. [Fr.,--L.
_natura_--_nasci_, _natus_, to be born.]
NAUGHT, nawt, _n._ no-whit, nothing.--_adv._ in no degree.--_adj._ of no
value or account: worthless: bad.--BE NAUGHT, an obsolete form of
malediction; COME TO NAUGHT, to come to nothing, to fail; SET AT NAUGHT, to
treat as of no account, to despise. [Another form of _nought_. A.S. _náht_,
_náwiht_--_ná_, not, _wiht_, a whit.]
NAUGHTY, nawt'i, _adj._ bad in conduct or speech: mischievous: perverse:
disagreeable.--_adv._ NAUGHT'ILY.--_n._ NAUGHT'INESS.
NAUMACHY, naw'ma-ki, _n._ a sea-fight: a show representing a
sea-fight.--Also NAUMACH'IA. [Gr. _naus_, a ship, _mach[=e]_, a fight.]
NAUPLIUS, naw'pli-us, _n._ a stage of development of low Crustaceans, as
cirripeds, &c.:--_pl._ NAU'PLII.--_adjs._ NAU'PLIIFORM, NAU'PLIOID. [L., a
kind of shell-fish--Gr. _Nauplios_, a son of Poseidon, _naus_, a ship,
_plein_, to sail.]
NAUROPOMETER, naw-r[=o]-pom'e-t[.e]r, _n._ an instrument for measuring a
ship's heeling or inclination at sea. [Gr. _naus_, a ship, _hrop[=e]_,
inclination, _metron_, measure.]
NAUSCOPY, naw'skop-i, _n._ the art of sighting ships at great distances.
[Gr. _naus_, a ship, _skopein_, to see.]
NAUSEA, naw'she-a, _n._ sea-sickness: any sickness of the stomach, with a
tendency to vomit: loathing.--_adj._ NAU'SEANT, producing nausea.--_n._ a
substance having this quality.--_v.i._ NAU'SE[=A]TE, to feel nausea or
disgust.--_v.t._ to loathe: to strike with disgust.--_n._
NAUSE[=A]'TION.--_adjs._ NAU'SE[=A]TIVE, causing nausea or loathing;
NAU'SEOUS, producing nausea: disgusting: loathsome.--_adv._
NAU'SEOUSLY.--_n._ NAU'SEOUSNESS. [L.,--Gr. _nausia_, sea-sickness--_naus_,
a ship.]
NAUTCH, nawch, _n._ a kind of ballet-dance performed by professional
dancers known as NAUTCH'-GIRLS in India: any form of stage entertainment
with dancing. [Hind. _n[=a]ch_, dance.]
NAUTICAL, naw'tik-al, _adj._ of or pertaining to ships, to sailors, or to
navigation: naval: marine.--_adv._ NAU'TICALLY.--NAUTICAL ALMANAC, an
almanac giving information specially useful to sailors; NAUTICAL MILE,
one-sixtieth of a degree measured at the Equator (=about 2025 yards). [L.
_nauticus_--Gr. _nautikos_--_naus_; cog. with L. _navis_, a ship.]
NAUTILUS, naw'ti-lus, _n._ a Cephalopod found in the southern seas, once
believed to sail by means of the expanded tentacular arms: a kind of
diving-bell sinking or rising by means of condensed air:--_pl._
NAU'TILUSES, or NAU'TILI.--_adjs._ NAU'TILIFORM, NAU'TILOID.--PAPER
NAUTILUS, any species of _Argonauta_. [L.,--Gr. _nautilos_, a sailor.]
NAVAL, n[=a]'val, _adj._ pertaining to ships: consisting of, or possessing,
ships: marine: nautical: belonging to the navy.--NAVAL BRIGADE, a body of
seamen so arranged as to be able to serve on land; NAVAL OFFICER, an
officer on board a man-of-war: a custom-house officer of high rank in the
United States; NAVAL TACTICS, the science and methods of managing and
moving squadrons of ships. [Fr.,--L. _navalis_--_navis_, a ship.]
NAVE, n[=a]v, _n._ the middle or main body of a church, distinct from the
aisles or wings.--_n._ N[=A]'VARCH, a Greek admiral. [Fr. _nef_--L.
_navis_, a ship.]
NAVE, n[=a]v, _n._ the hub or piece of wood, &c., in the centre of a wheel,
through which the axle passes.--_v.t._ to form as a nave. [A.S. _nafu_,
nave; cf. Dut. _naaf_, Ger. _nabe_.]
NAVEL, n[=a]v'l, _n._ the mark or depression in the centre of the lower
part of the abdomen, at first a small projection.--_n._ N[=A]V'EL-STRING,
the umbilical cord. [A.S. _nafela_, dim. of _nafu_, nave.]
NAVEW, n[=a]'v[=u], _n._ the wild turnip.
NAVICULAR, nav-ik'[=u]-lar, _adj._ pertaining to small ships or boats:
(_bot._) boat-shaped: scaphoid.--_n._ a bone in man and animals, so called
from its shape.--_n._ NAVIC'ULA, an incense-boat.--NAVICULAR DISEASE, an
inflammation, often rheumatic, of the small bone--the navicular--in horses,
below which passes the strong flexor tendon of the foot. [L.
_navicularis_--_navicula_, dim. of _navis_, a ship.]
NAVIGATE, nav'i-g[=a]t, _v.t._ to steer or manage a ship in sailing: to
sail upon.--_v.i._ to go in a vessel or ship: to sail.--_ns._
NAVIGABIL'ITY, NAV'IGABLENESS.--_adj._ NAV'IGABLE, that may be passed by
ships or vessels.--_adv._ NAV'IGABLY.--_ns._ NAVIG[=A]'TION, the act,
science, or art of sailing ships: shipping generally: a canal or artificial
waterway; NAV'IGATOR, one who navigates or sails: one who directs the
course of a ship.--NAVIGATION LAWS, the laws passed from time to time to
regulate the management and privileges of ships, and the conditions under
which they may sail or carry on trade.--AERIAL NAVIGATION, the management
of balloons in motion; INLAND NAVIGATION, the passing of boats, &c., along
rivers and canals. [L. _navig[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_--_navis_, a ship,
_ag[)e]re_, to drive.]
NAVVY, nav'i, _n._ a labourer--originally a labourer on a navigation or
canal: a machine for digging out earth, &c.--called also _French
navvy_:--_pl._ NAVV'IES. [A contr. of _navigator_.]
NAVY, n[=a]'vi, _n._ a fleet of ships: the whole of the ships-of-war of a
nation: the officers and men belonging to the warships of a nation.--_ns._
N[=A]'VY-LIST, a list of the officers and ships of a navy, published from
time to time; N[=A]'VY-YARD, a government dockyard. [O. Fr. _navie_--L.
_navis_, a ship.]
NAWAB, na-wab', _n._ a nabob.
NAY, n[=a], _adv._ no: not only so, but: yet more: in point of fact.--_n._
a denial: a vote against.--_n._ NAY'WARD (_Shak._), tendency to denial: the
negative side. [M. E. _nay_, _nai_--Ice. _nei_, Dan. _nei_; cog. with
_no_.]
NAYWORD, n[=a]'wurd, _n._ (_Shak._) a proverbial reproach, a byword, a
watchword.
NAZARENE, naz'ar-[=e]n, _n._ an inhabitant of Nazareth, in Galilee: a
follower of Jesus of Nazareth, originally used of Christians in contempt:
one belonging to the early Christian sect of the Nazarenes, which existed
from the 1st to the 4th cent. A.D.--Also NAZAR[=E]'AN. [From _Nazareth_,
the town.]
NAZARITE, naz'ar-[=i]t, _n._ a Jew who vowed to abstain from strong drink,
&c.--also NAZ'IRITE.--_n._ NAZ'ARITISM, the vow and practice of a Nazarite.
[Heb. _n[=a]zar_, to consecrate.]
NAZE, n[=a]z, _n._ a headland or cape. [Scand., as in Dan. _næs_; a doublet
of _ness_.]
NAZIR, na-z[=e]r', _n._ a native official in an Anglo-Indian court who
serves summonses, &c. [Ar.]
NE, ne, _adv._ not: never. [A.S. _ne_; cf. _Nay_.]
NEAF, n[=e]f, _n._ the fist--(_Scot._) NEIVE. [M. E. _nefe_--Ice. _hnefi_,
_nefi_; cf. Sw. _näfve_, the fist.]
NEAL, n[=e]l, _v.t._ to temper by heat.--_v.i._ to be tempered by heat.
[Cf. _Anneal_.]
NEALOGY, n[=e]-al'o-ji, _n._ the description of the morphological
correlations of the early adolescent stages of an animal.--_adj._
NEALOG'IC. [Gr. _neos_, young, logia--_legein_, to speak.]
NEANDERTHALOID, n[=e]-an'd[.e]r-tal-oid, _adj._ like the low type of skull
found in 1857 in a cave in the _Neanderthal_, a valley between Düsseldorf
and Elberfeld.
NEAP, n[=e]p, _adj._ low, applied to the lowest tides.--_n._ a neap-tide:
the lowest point of the tide.--_adj._ NEAPED, left aground from one high
tide to another. [A.S. _nép_, orig. _hnép_; Dan. _knap_, Ice. _neppr_,
scanty.]
NEAPOLITAN, n[=e]-a-pol'i-tan, _adj._ pertaining to the city of Naples or
its inhabitants.--_n._ a native or inhabitant of Naples.--NEAPOLITAN ICE, a
combination of two different ices. [L. _Neapolitanus_--Gr. _Neapolis_,
Naples--_neos_, new, _polis_, city.]
NEAR, n[=e]r, _adj._ nigh: not far away in place or time: close in kin or
friendship: dear: following or imitating anything closely: close, narrow,
so as barely to escape: short, as a road: greedy, stingy: on the left in
riding or driving.--_adv._ at a little distance: almost: closely,--_prep._
close to.--_v.t._ and _v.i._ to approach: to come nearer.--_adjs._
NEAR'-BY, adjacent; NEAR'-HAND (_Scot._), near--also _adv._ nearly.--_adv._
NEAR'LY, at no great distance: closely: intimately: pressingly: almost:
stingily.--_n._ NEAR'NESS, the state of being near: closeness: intimacy:
close alliance: stinginess.--_adj._ NEAR'-SIGHT'ED, seeing distinctly only
when near, myopic, short-sighted.--_n._ NEAR'-SIGHT'EDNESS.--NEAR POINT,
the nearest point the eye can focus. [A.S. _neár_, comp. of _neáh_, nigh;
Ice. _nær_; Ger. _näher_.]
NEARCTIC, n[=e]-ark'tik, _adj._ of or pertaining to the northern part of
the New World--embracing temperate and arctic North America.
NEAT, n[=e]t, _adj._ belonging to the bovine genus.--_n._ black-cattle: an
ox or cow.--_ns._ NEAT'-HERD, one who herds, or has the care of, neat or
cattle; NEAT'-HOUSE, a building for the shelter of
neat-cattle.--NEAT'S-FOOT OIL, an oil obtained from the feet of oxen;
NEAT'S LEATHER, leather made of the hides of neat-cattle. [A.S. _neát_,
cattle, a beast--_neótan_, _niótan_, to use; cf. Scot. _nowt_,
black-cattle.]
NEAT, n[=e]t, _adj._ trim: tidy: clean: well-shaped: without mixture or
adulteration: finished, adroit, clever, skilful.--_adj._ NEAT'-HAND'ED,
dexterous.--_adv._ NEAT'LY.--_n._ NEAT'NESS. [Fr. _net_--L. _nitidus_,
shining--_nìt[=e]re_, to shine.]
NEB, neb, _n._ the beak of a bird: the nose: the sharp point of
anything.--_adj._ NEBB'Y (_Scot._), saucy. [A.S. _nebb_, the face; cog.
with Dut. _neb_, beak.]
NEBBUK, neb'uk, _n._ a shrub, _Zizyphus Spina-Christi_, one of the thorns
of Christ's crown.
NEBEL, neb'el, _n._ a Hebrew stringed instrument.
NEB-NEB, neb'-neb, _n._ the dried pods of a species of acacia found in
Africa, which are much used in Egypt for tanning--called also _Bablah_.
NEBRIS, neb'ris, _n._ a fawn-skin worn in imitation of Bacchus by his
priests and votaries.
NEBULA, neb'[=u]-la, _n._ a little cloud: a faint, misty appearance in the
heavens produced either by a group of stars too distant to be seen singly,
or by diffused gaseous matter:--_pl._ NEB'ULÆ.--_adjs._ NEB'ULAR,
pertaining to nebulæ: like nebulæ; NEBULÉ (neb-[=u]-l[=a]'), curved in and
out (_her._); NEB'ULOSE, NEB'ULOUS, misty, hazy, vague: relating to, or
having the appearance of, a nebula.--_ns._ NEBULOS'ITY,
NEB'ULOUSNESS.--NEBULAR HYPOTHESIS, the theory of Laplace and Sir W.
Herschel that nebulæ form the earliest stage in the formation of stars and
planets. [L.; Gr. _nephel[=e]_, cloud, mist.]
NECESSARY, nes'es-sar-i, _adj._ that must be: that cannot be otherwise:
unavoidable: indispensable: under compulsion: not free.--_n._ that which
cannot be left out or done without (food, &c.)--used chiefly in _pl._: a
privy.--_ns._ NECESS[=A]'RIAN, one who holds the doctrine of necessity;
NECESS[=A]'RIANISM, the doctrine that the will is not free, but subject to
causes without, which determine its action.--_adv._ NEC'ESSARILY.--_n._
NEC'ESSARINESS, the state or quality of being necessary.--NECESSARY TRUTHS,
such as cannot but be true. [Fr.,--L. _necessarius_.]
NECESSITY, ne-ses'i-ti, _n._ state or quality of being necessary: that
which is necessary or unavoidable: compulsion: great need: poverty.--_ns._
NECESSIT[=A]'RIAN; NECESSIT[=A]'RIANISM, necessarianism.--_v.t._
NECESS'IT[=A]TE, to make necessary: to render unavoidable: to compel.--_n._
NECESSIT[=A]'TION.--_adjs._ NECESS'ITIED (_Shak._), in a state of want;
NECESS'ITOUS, in necessity: very poor: destitute.--_adv._
NECESS'ITOUSLY.--_n._ NECESS'ITOUSNESS.--NATURAL NECESSITY, the condition
of being necessary according to the laws of nature; LOGICAL or
MATHEMATICAL, according to those of human intelligence; MORAL, according to
those of moral law; WORKS OF NECESSITY, work so necessary as to be
allowable on the Sabbath. [L. _necessitas_.]
NECK, nek, _n._ the part of an animal's body between the head and trunk:
anything that resembles the neck: a long narrow part or corner: (_fig._)
life: the flesh of the neck and adjoining parts.--_v.t._ to break the neck
or cut off the head.--_ns._ NECK'ATEE, a neckerchief; NECK'-BAND, the part
of a shirt encircling the neck; NECK'-BEAR'ING, that part of a shaft which
rotates in the bearing proper, a journal; NECK'BEEF, the coarse flesh of
the neck of cattle; NECK'CLOTH, a piece of folded cloth worn round the neck
by men as a band or cravat, the ends hanging down often of lace.--_adj._
NECKED, having a neck of a certain kind.--_ns._ NECK'ERCHIEF, a kerchief
for the neck; NECK'LACE, a lace or string of beads or precious stones worn
on the neck by women; NECK'LET, a simple form of necklace; NECK'-MOULD, a
small moulding surrounding a column at the junction of the shaft and
capital; NECK'-PIECE, the part of a suit of armour that protects the neck:
an ornamental frill round the neck of a gown; NECK'TIE, a tie or cloth for
the neck; NECK'VERSE, the verse (usually Ps. li. 1) in early times placed
before a prisoner claiming _benefit-of-clergy_, in order to test his
ability to read, which, if he could do, he was burned in the hand and set
free (see BENEFIT).--_n._ STIFF'NECK (see STIFF).--NECK AND CROP,
completely; NECK AND NECK, exactly equal: side by side; NECK OR NOTHING,
risking everything.--HARDEN THE NECK, to grow more obstinate; TREAD ON THE
NECK OF, to oppress or tyrannise over. [A.S. _hnecca_; Ger. _nacken_.]
NECROLATRY, nek-rol'a-tri, _n._ worship of the dead.--_ns._
NECROBI[=O]'SIS, degeneration of living tissue; NECROG'RAPHER, one who
writes an obituary notice.--_adjs._ NECROLOG'IC, -AL, pertaining to
necrology.--_ns._ NECROL'OGIST, one who gives an account of deaths;
NECROL'OGY, an account of those who have died, esp. of the members of some
society: a register of deaths; NEC'ROMANCER, one who practises necromancy:
a sorcerer; NEC'ROMANCY, the art of revealing future events by calling up
and questioning the spirits of the dead: enchantment.--_adjs._
NECROMAN'TIC, -AL, pertaining to necromancy: performed by
necromancy.--_adv._ NECROMAN'TICALLY.--_adj._ NECROPH'AGOUS, feeding on
carrion.--_ns._ NECROPH'ILISM, a morbid love for the dead; NECROPH[=O]'BIA,
a morbid horror of corpses.--_adj._ NECROPH'OROUS, carrying away and
burying dead bodies, esp. of beetles of the genus _Necrophorus_.--_n._
NECROP'OLIS, a cemetery.--_adjs._ NECROSCOP'IC, -AL.--_n._ NEC'ROSCOPY, a
post-mortem examination, autopsy--also NEC'ROPSY.--_adjs._ NECROSED',
NECR[=O]'TIC.--_ns._ NECR[=O]'SIS, the mortification of bone: (_bot._) a
disease of plants marked by small black spots; NECROT'OMIST; NECROT'OMY,
dissection of dead bodies. [Gr. _nekros_, dead.]
NECTAR, nek'tar, _n._ the name given by Homer, Hesiod, Pindar, &c. to the
beverage of the gods, giving life and beauty: a delicious beverage: the
honey of the glands of plants.--_adjs._ NECT[=A]'REAL, NECT[=A]'REAN,
pertaining to, or resembling, nectar: delicious; NEC'TARED, imbued with
nectar: mingled or abounding with nectar; NECT[=A]'REOUS, NEC'TAROUS,
pertaining to, containing, or resembling nectar: delicious.--_adv._
NECT[=A]'REOUSLY, in a nectareous manner.--_n._ NECT[=A]'REOUSNESS, the
quality of being nectareous.--_adjs._ NECT[=A]'RIAL; NECTARIF'EROUS,
producing nectar or honey: having a nectary; NEC'TARINE, sweet as
nectar.--_n._ a variety of peach with a smooth fruit.--_n._ NEC'TARY, the
part of a flower which secretes the nectar or honey. [L.,--Gr. _nektar_;
ety. dub.]
NECTOCALYX, nek'to-k[=a]-liks, _n._ the swimming-bell of a medusa:--_pl._
NECTOC[=A]'LYCES.
NEDDY, ned'i, _n._ a donkey. [From _Ned_=Edward.]
NÉE, n[=a], _adj._ born: placed before a married woman's maiden-name, to
show her own family, as Rebecca Crawley, _née_ Sharp. [Fr., fem. of _né_,
pa.p. of _naître_, to be born--L. _nasci_, _natus_, to be born.]
NEED, n[=e]d, _n._ want of something which one cannot do without:
necessity: a state that requires relief: want of the means of
living.--_v.t._ to have occasion for: to want.--_ns._ NEED'-BE, a
necessity; NEED'ER; NEED'FIRE, fire produced by friction, to which a
certain virtue is superstitiously attached: a beacon generally.--_adj._
NEED'FUL, full of need: having need: needy: necessary: requisite.--_adv._
NEED'FULLY.--_n._ NEED'FULNESS.--_adv._ NEED'ILY.--_n._ NEED'INESS.--_adj._
NEED'LESS (_Shak._), having no need: not needed: unnecessary.--_adv._
NEED'LESSLY.--_n._ NEED'LESSNESS.--_adv._ NEED'LY (_Shak._),
necessarily.--_n._ NEED'MENT, something needed.--_adv._ NEEDS, of
necessity: indispensably--often used with _must_, as 'needs must.'--_adj._
NEED'Y, very poor: requisite.--_n._ NEED'YHOOD.--THE NEEDFUL (_slang_),
ready money. [A.S. _néd_, _niéd_, _nýd_; Dut. _nood_, Ger. _noth_.]
NEEDLE, n[=e]d'l, _n._ a small, sharp-pointed steel instrument, with an eye
for a thread--(_Shak._) NEELD, NEELE: any slender, pointed instrument like
a needle, as the magnet or movable bar of a compass, or for knitting,
etching, &c.: anything sharp and pointed, like a pinnacle of rock, &c.: an
aciform crystal: a temporary support used by builders to sustain while
repairing, being a strong beam resting on props: the long, narrow,
needle-like leaf of a pine-tree.--_v.t._ to form into a shape like a
needle, as crystals: to work with a needle.--_v.i._ to become of the shape
of needles, as crystals.--_ns._ NEED'LE-BOOK, a number of pieces of cloth,
leather, &c. arranged like a book, for holding needles; NEED'LE-CASE, a
case for holding needles; NEED'LE-FISH, a pipe-fish: a garfish or belonid;
NEED'LEFUL, as much thread as fills a needle; NEED'LE-GUN, a gun or rifle
loaded at the breech, the cartridge of which is exploded by the impact of a
needle or spike at its base.--_adjs._ NEED'LE-POINT'ED, pointed like a
needle: without a barb, as a fish-hook; NEED'LE-SHAPED, shaped like a
needle: applied to the long, slender, sharp-pointed leaves of pines, firs,
and other trees.--_ns._ NEED'LE-TEL'EGRAPH, a telegraph the receiver of
which gives its messages by the deflections of a magnetic needle;
NEED'LEWOMAN, a woman who makes her living by her needle, a seamstress;
NEED'LEWORK, work done with a needle: the business of a seamstress.--_adj._
NEED'LY, thorny. [A.S. _n['æ]dl_; Ger. _nadel_; cog. with Ger. _nähen_, to
sew, L. _n[=e]re_, to spin.]
NEEP, a Scotch form of _turnip_.
NE'ER, n[=a]r, _adv._ contr. of _never_.--_adj._ and _n._ NE'ER'-DO-WELL,
past all well-doing: one who is good for nothing.
NEESE, n[=e]z, _v.i._ an old form of _sneeze_.--_n._ NEES'ING, sneezing.
NEF, nef, _n._ a cadenas.
NEFANDOUS, n[=e]-fan'dus, _adj._ bad to execration, abominable. [L.,--_ne_,
not, _fandus_, _f[=a]ri_, to speak.]
NEFARIOUS, n[=e]-f[=a]'ri-us, _adj._ impious: extremely wicked:
villainous.--_adv._ NEF[=A]'RIOUSLY.--_n._ NEF[=A]'RIOUSNESS.--_adj._
N[=E]FAST', abominable. [L. _nefarius_, contrary to divine law--_ne_, not,
_fas_, divine law, prob. from _f[=a]ri_, to speak.]
NEGATION, ne-g[=a]'shun, _n._ act of saying no: denial: (_logic_) the
absence of certain qualities in anything. [Fr.,--L.
_negation-em-_--_neg[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_, to say no--_nec_, not, _aio_, I
say yes.]
NEGATIVE, neg'a-tiv, _adj._ that denies or refuses--opp. to _Affirmative_:
implying absence: that stops, hinders, neutralises--opp. to _Positive_: in
photography, exhibiting the reverse, as dark for light, light for dark:
(_logic_) denying the connection between a subject and a predicate:
(_algebra_) noting a quantity to be subtracted.--_n._ a word or statement
by which something is denied: the right or act of saying 'no,' or of
refusing assent: the side of a question or the decision which denies what
is affirmed: in photography, an image on glass or other medium, in which
the lights and shades are the opposite of those in nature, used for
printing positive impressions from on paper, &c.: (_gram._) a word that
denies.--_v.t._ to prove the contrary: to reject by vote.--_adv._
NEG'ATIVELY.--_ns._ NEG'ATIVENESS, NEG'ATIVISM, NEGATIV'ITY.--_adj._
NEG'ATORY, expressing denial.--NEGATIVE BATH, a silver solution in which
photographic negatives are placed to be sensitised; NEGATIVE ELECTRICITY,
electricity with a relatively low potential, electricity such as is
developed by rubbing resinous bodies with flannel, opposite to that
obtained by rubbing glass; NEGATIVE QUANTITY (_math._), a quantity with a
_minus_ sign ( - ) before it, indicating that it is either to be
subtracted, or reckoned in an opposite direction from some other with a
_plus_ sign; NEGATIVE SIGN, the sign ( - or _minus_) of subtraction. [L.
_negativus_--_neg[=a]re_, to deny.]
NEG[=A]TUR, _v._ it is denied. [L., 3d pers. sing. pres. ind. pass. of
_neg[=a]re_, to deny.]
NEGLECT, neg-lekt', _v.t._ to treat carelessly, pass by without notice: to
omit by carelessness.--_n._ disregard: slight: omission.--_adj._
NEGLECT'ABLE, that may be neglected.--_ns._ NEGLECT'EDNESS;
NEGLECT'ER.--_adj._ NEGLECT'FUL, careless: accustomed to omit or neglect
things: slighting.--_adv._ NEGLECT'FULLY.--_n._ NEGLECT'FULNESS.--_adj._
NEGLECT'IBLE.--_adv._ NEGLECT'INGLY, carelessly: heedlessly. [L.
_neglig[)e]re_, _neglectum_--_nec_, not, _leg[)e]re_, to gather.]
NEGLIGÉE, neg-li-zh[=a]', _n._ easy undress: a plain, loose gown: a
necklace, usually of red coral.--_adj._ carelessly or unceremoniously
dressed: careless. [Fr., fem. of _négligé_--_négliger_, to neglect.]
NEGLIGENCE, neg'li-jens, _n._ fact or quality of being negligent: want of
proper care: habitual neglect: a single act of carelessness or neglect, a
slight: carelessness about dress, manner, &c.: omission of duty, esp. such
care for the interests of others as the law may require--(_Shak._)
NEGLEC'TION.--_adj._ NEG'LIGENT, neglecting: careless: inattentive:
disregarding ceremony or fashion.--_adv._ NEG'LIGENTLY.--_adj._
NEG'LIGIBLE.--_adv._ NEG'LIGIBLY. [Fr.,--L. _negligentia_--_negligens_,
_-entis_, pr.p. of _neglig[)e]re_, to neglect.]
NEGOTIABLE, ne-g[=o]'shi-a-bl, _adj._ that may be transacted: that can be
transferred to another with the same rights as belonged to the original
holder, as a bill of exchange.--_n._ NEGOTIABIL'ITY.
NEGOTIATE, ne-g[=o]'shi-[=a]t, _v.i._ to carry on business: to bargain: to
hold intercourse for the purpose of mutual arrangement.--_v.t._ to arrange
for by agreement: to manage: to transfer to another with all the rights of
the original holder: to pass, as a bill: to sell.--_ns._ NEGOTI[=A]'TION,
act of negotiating: the treating with another on business; NEG[=O]'TIATOR;
NEG[=O]'TIATRIX.--_adj._ NEGOTI[=A]'TORY, of or pertaining to negotiation.
[L. _negoti[=a]ri_, _-[=a]tus_--_negotium_, business--_nec_, not, _otium_,
leisure.]
NEGRITO, ne-gr[=e]'to, _n._ the Spanish name for certain tribes of
negro-like diminutive people in the interior of some of the Philippine
Islands--also _Aëtas_ or _Itas_: in a wider sense, the Papuans and all the
Melanesian peoples of Polynesia.
NEGRO, n[=e]'gr[=o], _n._ one of the black-skinned woolly-haired race in
the Soudan and central parts of Africa, also their descendants in
America.--_adj._ of or pertaining to the race of black men:--_fem._
N[=E]'GRESS.--_ns._ N[=E]'GRO-CORN, the name given in the West Indies to
the plant durra or Indian millet; N[=E]'GROHEAD, tobacco soaked in molasses
and pressed into cakes, so called from its blackness.--_adj._
N[=E]'GROID.--_n._ N[=E]'GR[=O]ISM, any peculiarity of speech noticeable
among negroes, esp. in the southern United States. [Sp. _negro_--L.
_niger_, black.]
NEGUS, n[=e]'gus, _n._ a beverage of either port or sherry with hot water,
sweetened and spiced. [Said to be so called from Colonel _Negus_, its first
maker, in the reign of Queen Anne.]
NEGUS, n[=e]'gus, _n._ the title of the kings of Abyssinia.
NEIF, n[=e]f, _n._ (_Shak._) the fist.
NEIGH, n[=a], _v.i._ to utter the cry of a horse:--_pr.p._ neigh'ing;
_pa.t._ and _pa.p_. neighed (n[=a]d).--_n._ the cry of a horse--(_Scot._)
NICH'ER. [A.S. _hn['æ]gan_; Ice. _hneggja_.]
NEIGHBOUR, nä'bur, _n._ a person who dwells, sits, or stands near another:
one who is on friendly terms with another.--_adj._ (_B._)
neighbouring.--_v.i._ to live near each other.--_v.t._ to be near to.--_n._
NEIGH'BOURHOOD, state of being neighbours, kindly feeling: adjoining
district or the people living in it: a district generally, esp. with
reference to its inhabitants.--_adj._ NEIGH'BOURING, being near:
adjoining.--_n._ NEIGH'BOURLINESS.--_adjs._ NEIGH'BOURLY, like or becoming
a neighbour: friendly: social--also _adv._; NEIGH'BOUR-STAINED (_Shak._),
stained with neighbours' blood. [A.S. _neáhbúr_, _neáhgebúr_--A.S. _neáh_,
near, _gebúr_ or _búr_, a farmer.]
NEIST, n[=e]st, a dialectic form of _next_.
NEITHER, n[=e]'_th_[.e]r, or n[=i]'_th_[.e]r, _adj._ and _pron._ not
either.--_conj._ not either: and not: nor yet.--_adv._ not at all: in no
case. [A.S. _ná_th_er, náw_th_er_, abbrev. of _náhwæther_--_ne_, not,
_áhwæther_, _áwther_, either.]
NEIVIE-NICK-NACK, n[=e]'vi-nik'-nak, _n._ a Scotch children's game of
guessing in which hand a thing is held while the holder repeats a rhyme
beginning with these words.
NELUMBO, n[=e]-lum'b[=o], _n._ a genus of water-lilies including the
_Egyptian Bean_ of Pythagoras, and the Hindu _Lotus_.--Also NELUM'BIUM.
[Ceylon name.]
NEMALITE, nem'a-l[=i]t, _n._ a fibrous hydrate of magnesia. [Gr. _n[=e]ma_,
a thread, _lithos_, a stone.]
NEMATHECIUM, nem-a-th[=e]'si-um, _n._ a wart-like elevation on the surface
of the thallus of certain florideous algæ. [Gr. _n[=e]ma_, a thread,
_th[=e]kion_, _th[=e]k[=e]_, case.]
NEMATHELMINTHES, nem-a-thel-min'thez, _n.pl._ a name applied to the
thread-worms or nematodes (as _Ascaris_, _Guinea-worm_, _Trichina_), to the
somewhat distinct _Gordiidæ_ or _hair-eels_, and to the more remotely
allied _Acanthocephala_ or _Echinorhynchus_.--Also
NEMATHELMIN'THA.--_adjs._ NEMATHEL'MINTH, -IC. [Gr. _n[=e]ma_, a thread,
_helmins_, _-minthos_, worm.]
NEMATOCEROUS, nem-a-tos'e-rus, _adj._ having long thready antennæ, as a
dipterous insect. [Gr. _n[=e]ma_, a thread, _keras_, a horn.]
NEMATOCYST, nem'a-t[=o]-sist, _n._ a cnida, one of the offensive organs of
Coelenterates, as jellyfish. [Gr. _n[=e]ma_, a thread, _kystis_, a
bladder.]
NEMATOID, nem'a-toid, _adj._ thread-like--also NEM'ATODE.--_n.pl._
NEMATOI'DEA, a class of Vermes, with mouth, alimentary canal, and separate
sexes, usually parasitic. [Gr. _n[=e]ma_, thread, _eidos_, form.]
NEMEAN, n[=e]'m[=e]-an, _adj._ pertaining to _Nemea_, a valley of Argolis
in the Peloponnesus, famous for its public games held in the second and
fourth of each Olympiad.
NEMERTEA, n[=e]-mer't[=e]-a, _n.pl._ a class of Vermes, mostly marine,
unsegmented, covered with cilia, often brightly coloured, with protrusile
proboscis, and usually distinct sexes.--_adj._ NEMER'TEAN. [Gr.
_N[=e]mert[=e]s_, a nereid's name.]
NEMESIS, nem'e-sis, _n._ (_myth._) the goddess of vengeance: retributive
justice.--_adj._ NEMES'IC. [Gr.,--_nemein_, to distribute.]
NEMO, n[=e]'mo, _n._ nobody: a nobody. [L.]
NEMOCEROUS, n[=e]-mos'e-rus, _adj._ having filamentous antennæ.
NEMORAL, nem'o-ral, _adj._ pertaining to a wood or grove.--_n._
NEMOPH'ILIST.--_adjs._ NEMOPH'ILOUS, fond of woods, inhabiting woods;
NEM'OROSE, growing in woodland; NEM'OROUS, woody. [L. _nemus_, _-[)o]ris_,
a grove.]
NEMPT, nemt (_Spens._), named, called.
NENUPHAR, nen'[=u]-far, _n._ the great white water-lily. [Fr.,--Ar.]
NEO-CATHOLIC, n[=e]-[=o]-kath'o-lik, _adj._ pertaining to the short-lived
school of liberal Catholicism that followed Lamennais, Lacordaire, and
Montalembert about 1830: pertaining to a small party within the Anglican
Church, who think they have outgrown Keble and Pusey and the great Caroline
divines, and are more noisy than intelligent in their avowal of preference
for Roman doctrine, ritual, and discipline.
NEO-CHRISTIAN, n[=e]-[=o]-kris'tyan, _adj._ and _n._ of or pertaining to
so-called _Neo-Christianity_, which merely means old Rationalism.
NEOCOMIAN, n[=e]-[=o]-k[=o]'mi-an, _adj._ and _n._ (_geol._) of or
pertaining to the lower division of the Cretaceous system, including the
Lower Greensand and the Wealden of English geologists. [Græcised from
_Neuchâtel_, near which is its typical region; Gr. _neos_, new,
_k[=o]m[=e]_, a village.]
NEOCOSMIC, n[=e]-[=o]-koz'mik, _adj._ pertaining to the present condition
of the universe, esp. its races of men. [Gr. _neos_, new, _kosmos_, the
universe.]
NEOCRACY, n[=e]-ok'ra-si, _n._ government by upstarts.
NEOGAMIST, n[=e]-og'a-mist, _n._ a person recently married.
NEOGRAMMARIAN, n[=e]-[=o]-gra-m[=a]'ri-an, _n._ one of the more recent
school in the study of Indo-European grammar and philology, who attach vast
importance to phonetic change, and the laws governing it.--_adj._
NEOGRAMMAT'ICAL.
NEOHELLENISM, n[=e]-[=o]-hel'en-izm, _n._ the modern Hellenism inspired by
the ancient: the devotion to ancient Greek ideals in literature and art,
esp. in the Italian Renaissance.
NEO-KANTIAN, n[=e]-[=o]-kan'ti-an, _adj._ pertaining to the philosophy of
_Kant_ as taught by his successors.
NEO-LATIN, n[=e]-[=o]-lat'in, _n._ Latin as written by modern writers: new
Latin, as in the Romance languages sprung from the Latin.
NEOLITE, n[=e]'[=o]-l[=i]t, _n._ a dark-green silicate of aluminium and
magnesium. [Gr. _neos_, new, _lithos_, a stone.]
NEOLITHIC, n[=e]-[=o]-lith'ik, _adj._ applied to the more recent implements
of the stone age--opp. to _Palæolithic_. [Gr. _neos_, new, _lithos_, a
stone.]
NEOLOGY, n[=e]-ol'o-ji, _n._ the introduction of new words, or new senses
of old words, into a language: (_theol._) new doctrines, esp. German
rationalism.--_n._ NEOL[=O]'GIAN.--_adjs._ NEOLOG'IC, -AL, pertaining to
neology: using new words.--_adv._ NEOLOG'ICALLY.--_v.i._ NEOL'OGISE, to
introduce new words or doctrines.--_ns._ NEOL'OGISM, a new word, phrase, or
doctrine: the use of old words in a new sense; NEOL'OGIST, one who
introduces new words or senses: one who introduces new doctrines in
theology.--_adjs._ NEOLOGIS'TIC, -AL. [Gr. _neos_, new, _logos_, word.]
NEONOMIANISM, n[=e]-[=o]-n[=o]'mi-an-izm, _n._ the doctrine that the gospel
is a new law, and that faith has abrogated the old moral obedience.--_n._
NEON[=O]'MIAN. [Gr. _neos_, new, _nomos_, law.]
NEONOMOUS, n[=e]-on'o-mus, _adj._ having a greatly modified biological
structure, specialised according to recent conditions of environment. [Gr.
_neos_, new, _nomos_, law.]
NEONTOLOGY, n[=e]-on-tol'o-ji, _n._ the science and description of extant,
as apart from extinct, animals.--_n._ NEONTOL'OGIST. [Gr. _neos_, new,
_on_, _ontos_, being, _logia_--_legein_, to speak.]
NEO-PAGANISM, n[=e]-[=o]-p[=a]'gan-izm, _n._ a revival of paganism, or its
spirit--a euphemism for mere animalism.--_v.t._ NEO-P[=A]'GAN[=I]SE, to
imbue with this spirit.
NEOPHOBIA, n[=e]-[=o]-f[=o]'bi-a, _n._ dread of novelty. [Gr. _neos_, new,
_phobia_--_phebesthai_, to fear.]
NEOPHRON, n[=e]'[=o]-fron, _n._ a genus of vultures, having horizontal
nostrils. [Gr.,--_neos_, new, _phren_, mind.]
NEOPHYTE, n[=e]'[=o]-f[=i]t, _n._ a new convert, one newly baptised or
admitted to the priesthood, or to a monastery, a novice: a tyro or
beginner.--_adj._ newly admitted or entered on office.--_n._
N[=E]'OPHYTISM. [L. _neophytus_--Gr. _neos_, new, _phytos_,
grown--_phyein_, to produce.]
NEOPLASM, n[=e]'[=o]-plazm, _n._ a morbid new growth or formation of
tissue.--_adj._ NEOPLAS'TIC.
NEOPLATONISM, n[=e]-[=o]-pl[=a]'to-nizm, _n._ a system of philosophy
combining _Platonic_ and Oriental elements, originating with Ammonius
Saccas at Alexandria in the 3d century, developed by Plotinus, Porphyry,
Proclus, &c.--_adj._ NEOPLATON'IC.--_n._ NEOPL[=A]'TONIST.
NEOTERIC, -AL, n[=e]-[=o]-ter'ik, -al, _adj._ of recent origin,
modern.--_v.i._ NEOT'ERISE.--_n._ NEOT'ERISM, the introduction of new
things, esp. new words. [Gr.,--_ne[=o]teros_, comp. of _neos_, new.]
NEOTIC, n[=e]-ot'ik, _adj._ addressed to the understanding.
NEOTROPICAL, n[=e]-[=o]-trop'i-kal, _adj._ applied to the part of the New
World including tropical and South America and the adjacent islands.
NEOZOIC, n[=e]-[=o]-z[=o]'ik, _adj._ denoting all rocks from the Trias down
to the most recent formations, as opposed to _Palæozoic_. [Gr. _neos_, new,
_zo[=e]_, life.]
NEP, nep, _n._ (_prov._) a knot in a fibre of cotton.
NEPENTHES, ne-pen'th[=e]z, _n._ (_med._) a drug that relieves pain--also
NEPEN'THE: a genus of plants having a cup or pitcher attached to the leaf,
often filled with a sweetish liquid, the pitcher-plant. [Gr.,--_n[=e]_,
neg., _penthos_, grief.]
NEPHALISM, nef'a-lizm, _n._ total abstinence from alcoholic drinks.--_n._
NEPH'ALIST, a bigoted teetotaler. [Gr. _n[=e]phalios_, sober; _n[=e]phein_,
to be sober.]
NEPHELINE, nef'e-lin, _n._ a rock-forming mineral, colourless, usually
crystallising in hexagonal prisms, occurring in various volcanic rocks, as
in certain basalts. [Gr. _nephel[=e]_, a cloud.]
NEPHELOID, nef'e-loid, _adj._ cloudy, turbid.--_ns._ NEPHELOM'ETER, a
supposititious instrument for measuring cloudiness; NEPH'ELOSCOPE, an
apparatus for illustrating the formation of cloud; NEPH'ELOSPHERE, an
atmosphere of cloud surrounding a planet, &c. [Gr. _nephel[=e]_, cloud.]
NEPHEW, nev'[=u], or nef'[=u], _n._ the son of a brother or sister:
(_orig._) a grandson (so in New Test.):--_fem._ NIECE. [O. Fr. _neveu_--L.
_nepos_, _nepotis_, grandson, nephew; A.S. _nefa_, Ger. _neffe_, nephew.]
NEPHRALGIA, ne-fral'ji-a, _n._ pain or disease of the kidneys--also
NEPHRAL'GY.--_ns._ NEPH'RITE, a mineral usually called _Jade_, an old charm
against kidney disease; NEPHRIT'IC, a medicine for the cure of diseases of
the kidneys.--_adjs._ NEPHRIT'IC, -AL, pertaining to the kidneys: affected
with a disease of the kidneys: relieving diseases of the kidneys.--_ns._
NEPHR[=I]'TIS, inflammation of the kidneys; NEPH'ROCELE, hernia of the
kidney; NEPHROG'RAPHY, a description of the kidneys.--_adj._ NEPH'ROID,
kidney-shaped.--_ns._ NEPHROL'OGY, scientific knowledge of the kidneys;
NEPHROT'OMY, the operation of excising the kidneys. [Gr. _nephros_, a
kidney, _algos_, pain.]
NEPOTISM, nep'o-tizm, _n._ undue favouritism to one's relations, as in the
bestowal of patronage.--_adjs._ NEPOT'IC, NEP[=O]'TIOUS.--_n._ NEP'OTIST,
one who practises nepotism. [L. _nepos_, _nepotis_, a grandson.]
NEPTUNE, nep't[=u]n, _n._ (_Rom. myth._) the god of the sea, identified
with the Greek Poseidon, represented with a trident in his hand:
(_astron._) the outermost planet of the solar system, discovered in
1846.--_adj._ NEPT[=U]'NIAN, pertaining to the sea: (_geol._) formed by
water: applied to stratified rocks or to those due mainly to the agency of
water, as opposed to _Plutonic_ or _Igneous_.--_n._ NEP'T[=U]NIST, one who
holds the Neptunian theory in geology--also _adj._ [L. _Neptunus_.]
NEREID, n[=e]'r[=e]-id, _n._ (_Gr. myth._) a sea-nymph, one of the
daughters of the sea-god _Nereus_, who attended Neptune riding on
sea-horses: (_zool._) a genus of marine worms like long myriapods.--_ns._
N[=E]'R[=E]IS, a nereid; N[=E]'R[=E]ITE, a fossil annelid related to the
nereids. [L.,--Gr.]
NERINE, n[=e]-r[=i]'n[=e], _n._ a genus of ornamental South African plants
of the Amaryllis family, with scarlet or rose-coloured flowers.--The
Guernsey Lily is the _Nerine Sarniensis_.
NERITE, n[=e]'r[=i]t, _n._ a gasteropod of the genus _Nerita_ or the family
_Neritidæ_.--_adj._ NERIT[=A]'CEAN.
NERIUM, n[=e]'ri-um, _n._ a genus of Mediterranean shrubs, with fragrant
and showy pink, white, or yellowish flowers, the oleander.
NERO, n[=e]'ro, _n._ the last emperor of the family of the Cæsars, at Rome
(54-68 A.D.): any cruel and wicked tyrant.--_adj._ NER[=O]'NIAN.
NERO-ANTICO, n[=a]-r[=o]-an-t[=e]'ko, _n._ a deep-black marble found in
Roman ruins. [It.]
NERVE, n[.e]rv, _n._ bodily strength, firmness, courage: (_anat._) one of
the fibres which convey sensation from all parts of the body to the brain:
(_bot._) one of the fibres or ribs in the leaves of plants: a trade term
for a non-porous quality of cork, slightly charred: (_pl._) hysterical
nervousness.--_v.t._ to give strength or vigour to: to arm with
force.--_adj._ NERV'AL.--_ns._ NERV[=A]'TION, the arrangement or
distribution of nerves, esp. those of leaves; NERVE'-CELL, any cell forming
part of the nervous system, esp. one of those by means of which
nerve-fibres are connected with each other; NERVE'-CEN'TRE, a collection of
nerve-cells from which nerves branch out.--_adj._ NERVED, furnished with
nerves, or with nerves of a special character, as 'strong-nerved.'--_n._
NERVE'-F[=I]'BRE, one of the essential thread-like units of which a nerve
is composed.--_adj._ NERVE'LESS, without strength.--_n._
NERVE'LESSNESS.--_adj._ NERV'INE, acting on the nerves: quieting nervous
excitement.--_n._ a medicine that soothes nervous excitement.--_adjs._
NERV'OUS, having nerve: sinewy: strong, vigorous, showing strength and
vigour: pertaining to the nerves: having the nerves easily excited or weak;
NERV'OUS, NERVOSE', NERVED (_bot._) having parallel fibres or
veins.--_adv._ NERV'OUSLY.--_n._ NERV'OUSNESS.--_adj._ NERV'[=U]LAR.--_ns._
NERV'[=U]LE, a small nerve, a small vein of an insect's wing--also
_Nervulet_, _Veinlet_, _Venule_; NERV'URE, one of the nerves or veins of
leaves: one of the horny tubes or divisions which expand the wings of
insects: one of the ribs in a groined vault: a projecting moulding.--_adj._
NERV'Y, strong, vigorous.--NERVOUS SYSTEM (_anat._), the brain, spinal
cord, and nerves collectively: the whole of the nerves and nerve-centres of
the body considered as related to each other, and fitted to act together.
[Fr.,--L. _nervus_; Gr. _neuron_, a sinew.]
NESCIENCE, nesh'ens, _n._ want of knowledge.--_adj._ NESC'IENT. [L.
_nescientia_--_nesc[=i]re_, to be ignorant--_ne_, not, _sc[=i]re_, to
know.]
NESH, nesh, _adj._ (_prov._) soft, crumbly: tender.--_v.t._ NESH'EN, to
make tender.
NESHAMAH, nesh'a-mä, _n._ the highest degree of the soul in the cabbalistic
system.
NESIOTE, n[=e]'si-[=o]t, _adj._ insular. [Gr. _n[=e]sos_, an island.]
NESKI, nes'ki, _n._ the cursive hand generally used in Arabic.--Also
NESH'KI. [Ar.]
NESOGÆAN, n[=e]-s[=o]-j[=e]'an, _adj._ pertaining to Nesogæa--Polynesia or
Oceania, New Zealand excepted, with regard to the distribution of its
animals. [Gr. _n[=e]sos_, an island, _gaia_, the earth.]
NESS, nes, _n._ a promontory or headland. [A.S. _næss_; a doublet of
_naze_, prob. conn. with _nose_.]
NEST, nest, _n._ the bed formed by a bird for hatching her young: the place
in which the eggs of any animal are laid and hatched: a comfortable
residence: a number of persons haunting one place for a bad purpose: the
place itself: a number of baskets or boxes each fitting inside the next
larger.--_v.t._ to form a nest for.--_v.i._ to build and occupy a
nest.--_n._ NEST'-EGG, an egg left in the nest to keep the hen from
forsaking it: something laid up as the beginning of an
accumulation.--FEATHER ONE'S NEST, to provide for one's self, esp. from
other people's property of which one has had charge. [A.S. _nest_; Ger.
_nest_, L. _n[=i]dus_.]
NESTLE, nes'l, _v.i._ to lie close or snug as in a nest: to settle
comfortably.--_v.t._ to cherish, as a bird does her young.--_adj._
NEST'LING, being in the nest, newly hatched.--_n._ act of making a nest: a
young bird in the nest--also NEST'LER. [A.S. _nestlian_--_nest_.]
NESTOR, nes'tor, _n._ a Greek hero at Troy, remarkable for eloquence and
wisdom gained through long life and varied experience: any one who
possesses those qualities, a counsellor, adviser.--_adj._ NEST[=O]'RIAN.
NESTORIAN, nes-t[=o]'ri-an, _adj._ pertaining to the Christological
doctrine of _Nestorius_, patriarch of Constantinople from 428 to his
condemnation and deposition at the general council of Ephesus in 431; he
held the true divinity and humanity of Christ, but denied their union in a
single self-conscious personality, that union being merely moral or
sympathetic--thus the personality was broken up into a duality.--_n._ a
follower of Nestorius.--_n._ NEST[=O]'RIANISM.
NET, net, _n._ an open fabric of twine, &c., knotted into meshes for
catching birds, fishes, &c.: anything like a net for keeping out insects,
&c.: a meshed bag for holding a woman's hair: machine-made lace of various
kinds: a snare: a difficulty.--_adj._ made of netting or resembling it,
reticulate: caught in a net.--_v.t._ to form into network: to take with a
net: to protect with a net, to veil.--_v.i._ to form network:--_pr.p._
net'ting; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ net'ted.--_ns._ NET'-FISH, any fish, like the
herring, caught in nets--opp. to _Trawl-fish_ and _Line-fish_;
NET'-FISH'ERY, a place for net-fishing, the business of such fishing;
NET'-FISH'ING, the method or the industry of fishing with nets.--_p.adj._
NET'TED, made into a net, reticulated: caught in a net.--_ns._ NET'TING,
act or process of forming network: a piece of network: any network of ropes
or wire, esp. for use on shipboard; NET'TING-NEED'LE, a kind of shuttle
used in netting.--_adjs._ NET'TY, like a net; NET'-VEINED, in entomology,
having a great number of veins or nervures like a network on the surface,
as in the wings of many Orthoptera; NET'-WINGED, having net-veined
wings.--_n._ NET'WORK, any work showing cross lines or open spaces like the
meshes of a net. [A.S. _net_, _nett_; Dut. _net_, Ger. _netz_.]
NET, NETT, net, _adj._ clear of all charges or deductions--opp. to _Gross_:
lowest, subject to no further deductions.--_v.t._ to produce as clear
profit:--_pr.p._ net'ting; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ net'ted. [_Neat._]
NETHELESSE, neth'les, _adv._=NATHLESS.
NETHER, ne_th_'[.e]r, _adj._ beneath another, lower: infernal.--_n._
NETH'ERLANDER, an inhabitant of Holland.--_adj._ NETH'ERLANDISH,
Dutch.--_n.pl._ NETH'ERLINGS, stockings.--_adjs._ NETH'ERMORE, lower;
NETH'ERMOST, lowest.--_n.pl._ NETH'ERSTOCKS (_Shak._), short stockings or
half-hose for the leg, as distinguished from trunk hose for the
thigh.--_advs._ NETH'ERWARD, -S, downward. [A.S. _neothera_, a comp. adj.
due to adv. _nither_, downward; Ger. _nieder_, low.]
NETHINIM, neth'in-im, _n.pl._ (_B._) servants of the old Jewish temple, set
apart to assist the Levites. [Heb.]
NETSUKE, net'su-k[=a], _n._ a small toggle or button, carved or inlaid, on
Japanese pipe-cases, pouches, &c.
NETTLE, net'l, _n._ a common plant covered with hairs which sting
sharply.--_v.t._ to fret, as a nettle does the skin: to irritate.--_ns._
NETT'LE-CLOTH, thick japanned cotton cloth used for leather; NETT'LE-FISH,
a jelly-fish, sea-nettle; NETT'LERASH, a kind of fever characterised by a
rash or eruption on the skin; NETT'LE-TREE, a genus of trees, with simple
and generally serrated leaves, the fruit a fleshy, globose, one-celled
drupe; NETT'LE-WORT, any plant of the nettle family. [A.S. _netele_; Ger.
_nessel_.]
NETTLING, net'ling, _n._ the joining of two ropes, end to end, without
seam: the tying in pairs of yarns in a ropewalk to prevent tangling.
[_Knittle._]
NEUME, n[=u]m, _n._ a succession of notes to be sung to one syllable, a
sequence: an old sign for a tone or a phrase. [O. Fr.,--Gr. _pneuma_,
breath.]
NEURAL, n[=u]'ral, _adj._ pertaining to the nerves--also NEUR'IC.--_ns._
NEURIC'ITY, nerve-force; NEURIL'ITY, the function of the nervous
system--that of conducting stimuli.--NEURAL ARCH, the arch of a vertebra
protecting the spinal cord. [Gr. _neuron_, a nerve.]
NEURALGIA, n[=u]-ral'ji-a, _n._ pain of a purely nervous character,
occurring in paroxysms, usually unaccompanied by inflammation, fever, or
any appreciable change of structure in the affected part--(_obs._)
NEURAL'GY.--_adjs._ NEURAL'GIC, NEURAL'GIFORM. [Gr. _neuron_, nerve,
_algos_, pain.]
NEURASTHENIA, n[=u]-ras-the-n[=i]'a, _n._ nervous debility.--_adj._
NEURASTHEN'IC--also _n._ one suffering from this. [Gr. _neuron_, a nerve,
_astheneia_, weakness.]
NEURATION, n[=u]-r[=a]'shun, _n._ Same as NERVATION.
NEURILEMMA, n[=u]-ri-lem'a, _n._ the external sheath of a nerve-fibre.
NEURITIS, n[=u]-r[=i]'tis, _n._ inflammation of a nerve.
NEUROHYPNOLOGY, n[=u]-r[=o]-hip-nol'o-ji, _n._ the study of hypnotism: the
means employed for inducing the hypnotic state.--_ns._ NEUROHYPNOL'OGIST;
NEUROHYP'NOTISM, hypnotism. [Gr. _neuron_, nerve, _hypnos_, sleep, _logia_,
discourse.]
NEUROLOGY, n[=u]-rol'o-ji, _n._ the science of the nerves.--_adj._
NEUROLOG'ICAL.--_n._ NEUROL'OGIST, a writer on neurology. [Gr. _neuron_,
nerve, _logia_, science.]
NEURON, n[=u]'ron, _n._ the cerebro-spinal axis in its entirety: a nervure
of an insect's wing.
NEUROPATH, n[=u]'ro-path, _n._ one who takes nervous conditions solely or
mostly into account in his pathology.--_adjs._ NEUROPATH'IC, -AL.--_adv._
NEUROPATH'ICALLY.--_ns._ NEUROPATHOL'OGY, the sum of knowledge of the
diseases of the nervous system; NEUROP'ATHY, nervous disease generally.
[Gr. _neuron_, nerve, _pathos_, suffering.]
NEUROPTERA, n[=u]-rop't[.e]r-a, _n.pl._ an order of insects which have
generally four wings marked with a network of many nerves:--_sing._
NEUROP'TERON; also NEUROP'TER, NEUROP'TERAN.--_adjs._ NEUROP'TERAL,
NEUROP'TEROUS, nerve-winged. [Gr. _neuron_, nerve, _ptera_, pl. of
_pteron_, a wing.]
NEUROSE, n[=u]'r[=o]s, _adj._ nerved: having many nervures or veins, of an
insect's wing, &c.
NEUROTIC, n[=u]-rot'ik, _adj._ relating to, or seated in, the nerves.--_n._
a disease of the nerves: a medicine useful for diseases of the
nerves.--_adj._ NEUR[=O]'SAL.--_n._ NEUR[=O]'SIS, a nervous disease, esp.
without lesion of parts, as epilepsy, &c.
NEUROTOMY, n[=u]-rot'om-i, _n._ the cutting or dissection of a
nerve.--_adj._ NEUROTOM'ICAL. [Gr. _neuron_, a nerve, _tom[=e]_, cutting.]
NEUROTONIC, n[=u]-ro-ton'ik, _n._ a medicine intended to strengthen the
nervous system.
NEUTER, n[=u]'t[.e]r, _adj._ neither: taking no part with either side:
(_gram._) neither masculine nor feminine: neither active nor passive:
(_bot._) without stamens or pistils: (_zool._) without sex.--_n._ one
taking no part in a contest: (_bot._) a plant having neither stamens nor
pistils: (_zool._) a sexless animal, esp. the working bee. [L.,
'neither'--_ne_, not, _uter_, either.]
NEUTRAL, n[=u]'tral, _adj._ being neuter, indifferent: taking no part on
either side: unbiassed: neither very good nor very bad, of no decided
character: having no decided colour, bluish or grayish: (_chem._) neither
acid nor alkaline.--_n._ a person or nation that takes no part in a
contest.--_n._ NEUTRALIS[=A]'TION.--_v.t._ NEU'TRALISE, to declare by
convention any nation permanently neutral or neutral during certain
hostilities: to make inert: to render of no effect.--_ns._ NEU'TRALISER;
NEUTRAL'ITY, state of taking no part on either of two sides: those who are
neutral.--_adv._ NEU'TRALLY.--NEUTRAL TINT, a dull grayish colour; NEUTRAL
VOWEL, the vowel-sound heard in _but_, _firm_, _her_, &c., and commonly in
unaccented syllables.--ARMED NEUTRALITY, the condition of a neutral power
ready to repel aggression from either belligerent. [L.
_neutralis_--_neuter_, neither.]
NÉVÉ, n[=a]-v[=a]', _n._ the same as _firn_ or _glacier snow_. [Fr.,--L.
_nix_, _nivis_, snow.]
NEVEL, nev'el, _v.t._ (_Scot._) to beat with the fists.
NEVER, nev'[.e]r, _adv._ not ever: at no time: in no degree: not.--_adv._
NEV'ERMORE, at no future time.--_conj._ NEVERTHELESS', notwithstanding: in
spite of that (earlier _Natheless_).--_adv._ NEVERTHEMORE' (_Spens._), none
the more. [A.S. _n['æ]fre_--_ne_, not, _['æ]fre_, ever.]
NEW, n[=u], _adj._ lately made: having happened lately: recent, modern: not
before seen or known: strange, different: recently commenced: changed for
the better: not of an ancient family: as at first: unaccustomed: fresh from
anything: uncultivated or only recently cultivated.--_adjs._ NEW'BORN
(_Shak._), recently born; NEW'COME, recently arrived.--_n._ NEW'-COM'ER,
one who has lately come.--_v.t._ NEW'-CREATE' (_Shak._), to create for the
first time.--_adjs._ NEW'-FASH'IONED, made in a new way or fashion: lately
come into fashion; NEW'-FLEDGED, having just got feathers; NEW'ISH,
somewhat new: nearly new.--_adv._ NEW'LY.--_adj._ NEW'-MADE (_Shak._),
recently made.--_v.t._ NEW'-MOD'EL, to model or form anew.--_n._ the
Parliamentary army as remodelled by Cromwell after the second battle of
Newbury, which gained a conclusive victory at Naseby (1645).--_n._
NEW'NESS.--_adj._ NEW'-SAD (_Shak._), recently made sad.--NEW BIRTH (see
REGENERATION); NEW CHUM, a new arrival from the old country in Australia;
NEW CHURCH, NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH, the Swedenborgian Church; NEW COVENANT
(see COVENANT); NEW DEPARTURE (see DEPARTURE); NEW ENGLANDER, a native or
resident in any of the New England states; NEW JERUSALEM, the heavenly
city; NEW LEARNING (see RENAISSANCE); NEW LIGHT, a member of a relatively
more advanced religious school--applied esp. to the party within the
18th-century Scottish Secession Church which adopted Voluntary views of the
relations of Church and State, also sometimes to the Socinianising party in
the Church of Scotland in the 18th century, &c.; NEW RED SANDSTONE
(_geol._), the name formerly given to the great series of red sandstones
which occur between the Carboniferous and Jurassic systems; NEW STYLE (see
STYLE); NEW WOMAN, a name humorously applied to such modern women as rebel
against the conventional restrictions of their sex, and ape men in their
freedom, education, pursuits, amusements, clothing, manners, and sometimes
morals; NEW WORLD, North and South America; NEW-YEAR'S DAY, the first day
of the new year. [A.S. _níwe_, _neówe_; Ger. _neu_, Ir. _nuadh_, L.
_novus_, Gr. _neos_.]
NEWEL, n[=u]'el, _n._ (_archit._) the upright column about which the steps
of a circular staircase wind. [O. Fr. _nual_ (Fr. _noyau_), stone of
fruit--Low L. _nucalis_, like a nut--L. _nux_, _nucis_, a nut.]
NEWEL, n[=u]'el, _n._ (_Spens._) a new thing: a novelty.
NEWFANGLED, n[=u]-fang'gld, _adj._ fond of new things: newly devised,
novel.--_adv._ NEWFANG'LEDLY.--_ns._ NEWFANG'LEDNESS, NEWFANG'LENESS.
[Corr. from M. E. _newefangel_--_newe_ (A.S. _níwe_), new, _fangel_ (A.S.
_fangen_--_fón_), ready to catch.]
NEWFOUNDLAND, n[=u]-fownd'land, _n._ a large dog of great intelligence, a
strong swimmer, black without any white markings, first brought from
_Newfoundland_.
NEWGATE, n[=u]'g[=a]t, _n._ a famous prison in London.--NEWGATE CALENDAR, a
list of Newgate prisoners, with their crimes; NEWGATE FRILL, or FRINGE, a
beard under the chin and jaw.
NEWMARKET, n[=u]'mar-ket, _n._ a card-game for any number of persons, on a
table on which duplicates of certain cards have been placed face up: a
close-fitting coat, originally a riding-coat, a long close-fitting coat for
women.
NEWS, n[=u]z, _n.sing._ something heard of that is new: recent account:
first information of something that has just happened or of something not
formerly known: intelligence.--_v.t._ to report.--_ns._ NEWS'AGENT, one who
deals in newspapers; NEWS'BOY, NEWS'MAN, a boy or man who delivers or sells
newspapers; NEWS'-HOUSE, a printing-office for newspapers only;
NEWS'LETTER, an occasional letter or printed sheet containing news, the
predecessor of the regular newspaper; NEWS'MONGER, one who deals in news:
one who spends much time in hearing and telling news; NEWS'PAPER, a paper
published periodically for circulating news, &c.--the first English
newspaper was published in 1622; NEWS'PAPERDOM; NEWS'PAPERISM.--_adj._
NEWS'PAPERY, superficial.--_ns._ NEWS'ROOM, a room where newspapers,
magazines, &c. lie to be read; NEWS'VENDER, a seller of newspapers;
NEWS'-WRIT'ER, a reporter or writer of news.--_adj._ NEWS'Y, gossipy. [Late
M. E., an imit. of Fr. _nouvelles_.]
NEWT, n[=u]t, _n._ a genus of amphibious animals like small lizards.
[Formed with initial _n_, borrowed from the article _an_, from _ewt_--A.S.
_efeta_.]
NEWTONIAN, n[=u]-t[=o]'ni-an, _adj._ relating to, formed, or discovered by
Sir Isaac _Newton_, the celebrated philosopher (1642-1727)--also
NEWTON'IC.--NEWTONIAN TELESCOPE, a form of reflecting telescope.
NEXT, nekst, _adj._ (_superl._ of NIGH) nearest in place, time, &c.--_adv._
nearest or immediately after.--_prep._ nearest to.--_n._ NEXT'NESS.--NEXT
DOOR TO (see DOOR); NEXT TO NOTHING, almost nothing at all. [A.S. _néhst_,
superl. of _néh_, _neáh_, near; Ger. _nächst_.]
NEXUS, nek'sus, _n._ a tie, connecting principle, bond: (_Rom. law_) a
person who had contracted a _nexum_ or obligation of such a kind that, if
he failed to pay, his creditor could compel him to serve until the debt was
paid. [L.--_nect[)e]re_, to bind.]
NIB, nib, _n._ something small and pointed: a point, esp. of a pen: the
bill of a bird: the handle of a scythe-snath.--_v.t._ to furnish with a
nib: to point.--_adj._ NIBBED, having a nib. [NEB.]
NIBBLE, nib'l, _v.t._ to bite by small bits: to eat by little at a
time.--_v.i._ to bite gently: to find fault.--_n._ act of nibbling: a
little bit.--_ns._ NIBB'LER; NIBB'LING.--_adv._ NIBB'LINGLY. [Freq. of
_nip_.]
NIBELUNGEN, n[=e]'bel-[=oo]ng-en, _n.pl._ a supernatural race in German
mythology guarding a treasure wrested from them by Siegfried, the hero of
the _Nibelungenlied_, an epic of _c._ 1190-1210.
NIBLICK, nib'lik, _n._ a golf-club with cup-shaped head.
NICE, n[=i]s, _adj._ foolishly simple: over-particular: hard to please:
fastidious: marking or taking notice of very small differences: done with
great care and exactness, accurate: easily injured: delicate: dainty:
agreeable: delightful.--_adv._ NICE'LY.--_ns._ NICE'NESS, quality of being
nice: exactness: scrupulousness: pleasantness; NIC'ETY, quality of being
nice: delicate management: exactness of treatment: fineness of perception:
fastidiousness: that which is delicate to the taste: a delicacy.--TO A
NICETY, with great exactness. [O. Fr. _nice_, foolish, simple--L.
_nescius_, ignorant--_ne_, not, _sc[=i]re_, to know.]
NICENE, n[=i]'s[=e]n, _adj._ pertaining to the town of _Nice_ or _Nicæa_,
in Bithynia, Asia Minor, where an ecumenical council was held in 325 for
the purpose of defining the questions raised in the Arian controversy--it
promulgated the _Nicene Creed_. A second council, the seventh general
council, held here in 787, condemned the Iconoclasts.
[Illustration]
NICHE, nich, _n._ a recess in a wall for a statue, vase, &c.: a person's
proper place or condition in life or public estimation, one's appointed or
appropriate place.--_v.t._ to place in a niche.--_adj._ NICHED, placed in a
niche. [Fr.,--It. _nicchia_, a niche, _nicchio_, a shell--L. _mytilus_,
_mitulus_, a sea-mussel.]
NICK, nik, _n._ a notch cut into something: a score for keeping an account:
the precise moment of time: a lucky throw at hazard.--_v.t._ to cut in
notches: to hit the precise time: to strike as if making a nick: to cheat:
catch in the act: to cut short: (_Scot._) to cut with a single snip, as of
shears: to make a cut with the pick in the face of coal to facilitate
blasting or wedging.--_adj._ NICK'-EARED, crop-eared.--_n._ NICK'ER, one
who, or that which, nicks: a woodpecker: a street-ruffian in the early part
of the 18th century.--NICK A HORSE'S TAIL, to make a cut at the root of the
tail, making the horse carry it higher. [Another spelling of _nock_, old
form of _notch_.]
NICK, nik, _n._ the devil, esp. OLD NICK. [Prob. a corr. of St _Nicholas_,
or from A.S. _nicor_, a water-spirit; Ice. _nykr_, Ger. _nix_, _nixe_.]
NICKEL, nik'el, _n._ a grayish-white metal related to cobalt, very
malleable and ductile.--_v.t._ to plate with nickel.--_ns._ NICK'ELAGE,
NICK'ELURE, the art of nickel-plating.--_adjs._ NICK'ELIC, NICK'ELOUS;
NICKELIF'EROUS, containing nickel.--_ns._ NICK'ELINE, NIC'COLITE, native
nickel arsenide.--_v.t._ NICK'ELISE, to plate with nickel.--_ns._
NICK'EL-PLAT'ING, the plating of metals with nickel; NICK'EL-SIL'VER,
German silver (see GERMAN). [Sw. _koppar-nickel_ (Ger. _kupfernickel_),
_koppar_, copper, _nickel_, a word corresponding to Ger. _nickel_, the
devil (cf. _Cobalt_ and _Kobold_), or to Ice. _hnikill_, a lump.]
NICKER, nik'[.e]r, _v.i._ to neigh: to snigger.--_n._ a neigh: a loud
laugh--(_obs._) NICH'ER.
NICKNACK, nik'nak, _n._ a trifle--dim. NICK'NACKET.--_n._ NICK'NACKERY.
[Same as _Knick-knack_.]
NICKNAME, nik'n[=a]m, _n._ a name given in contempt or sportive
familiarity.--_v.t._ to give a nickname to. [M. E. _neke-name_, with
intrusive initial _n_ from _eke-name_, surname; from _eke_ and _name_.]
NICOTINE, nik'o-tin, _n._ a poisonous, volatile, alkaloid base, obtained
from tobacco.--_adj._ NIC[=O]'TIAN, pertaining to tobacco, from Jean
_Nicot_ (1530-1600), the benefactor who introduced it into France in
1560.--_n._ a smoker of tobacco.--_n.pl._ NICOTI[=A]'NA, the literature of
tobacco.--_n._ NIC'OTINISM, a morbid state induced by excessive misuse of
tobacco.
NICTATE, nik't[=a]t, _v.i._ to wink--also NIC'TITATE.--_ns._ NIC'T[=A]TION,
NICTIT[=A]'TION.--NICTITATING MEMBRANE, a thin movable membrane covering
the eyes of birds. [L. _nict[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_.]
NIDDER, nid'[.e]r, _v.t._ (_Scot._) to keep under: to pinch with cold or
hunger: to molest.
NIDDLE-NODDLE, nid'l-nod'l, _adj._ vacillating.--_v.i._ to wag the head.
NIDERLING, nid'[.e]r-ling, _n._ a wicked fellow--also NID'ERING,
NITH'ING.--_n._ NIDD'ERING, a noodle.
NIDGE, nij, _v.t._ to dress the face of (a stone) with a sharp-pointed
hammer.
NIDGING, nij'ing, _adj._ trifling.--_n._ NIDG'ET, a fool.
NIDIFICATION, nid-i-fi-k[=a]'shun, _n._ the act or art of building a nest,
and the hatching and rearing of the young.--_adj._ NIDAMENT'AL, pertaining
to nests or what protects eggs.--_n._ NIDAMENT'UM, an egg-case.--_vs.i._
NID'IFICATE, NID'IFY.--_adjs._ NID'ULANT, NID'ULATE, lying free in a
cup-shaped body, or in pulp.--_n._ NIDUL[=A]'TION, nest-building. [L.
_nidus_, a nest, _fac[)e]re_, to make.]
NIDOR, n[=i]'dor, _n._ odour, esp. of cooked food.--_adjs._ N[=I]'DOROSE,
N[=I]'DOROUS, N[=I]'DOSE. [L.]
NIDUS, n[=i]'dus, _n._ a place, esp. in an animal body, in which a germ
lodges and begins to develop. [L.]
NIECE, n[=e]s, _n._ (_fem._ of NEPHEW) the daughter of a brother or sister:
(_orig._) a granddaughter. [O. Fr.,--Low L. _nepta_--L. _neptis_, a
granddaughter, niece.]
NIELLO, ni-el'lo, _n._ a method of ornamenting silver or gold plates by
engraving the surface, and filling up the lines with a black composition,
to give clearness and effect to the incised design: a work produced by this
method: an impression taken from the engraved surface before the incised
lines have been filled up: the compound used in niello-work.--_v.t._ to
decorate with niello.--_n._ NIELL'URE, the process, also the work done.
[It. _niello_--Low L. _nigellum_, a black enamel--L. _nigellus_, dim. of
_niger_, black.]
NIERSTEINER, n[=e]r'st[=i]-ner, _n._ a variety of Rhine wine, named from
_Nierstein_, near Mainz.
NIFFER, nif'[.e]r, _v.t._ (_Scot._) to barter.--_n._ an exchange.
NIFFLE, nif'l, _v.t._ (_prov._) to pilfer.--_n._ NIFF'NAFF, a
trifle.--_adj._ NIFF'NAFFY, fastidious.
NIFLHEIM, nifl'h[=i]m, _n._ (_Scand. myth._) a region of mist, ruled over
by Hel.
NIFTY, nif'ti, _adj._ (_slang_) stylish.
NIGELLA, n[=i]-jel'a, _n._ a genus of ranunculaceous plants, with finely
dissected leaves, and whitish, blue, or yellow flowers, often almost
concealed by their leafy involucres--_Nigella damascena_, called
Love-in-a-mist, Devil-in-a-bush, and Ragged Lady.
NIGGARD, nig'ard, _n._ a person who is unwilling to spend or give away: a
miser.--_adjs._ NIGG'ARD, NIGG'ARDLY, having the qualities of a niggard:
miserly; NIGG'ARDISH, rather niggardly.--_n._ NIGG'ARDLINESS, meanness in
giving or spending--(_Spens._) NIGG'ARDISE.--_adv._ NIGG'ARDLY. [Ice.
_hnöggr_, stingy; Ger. _genau_, close.]
NIGGER, nig'[.e]r, _n._ a black man, a negro: a native of the East Indies
or one of the Australian aborigines: a black caterpillar: a Cornish
holothurian.--_v.t._ to exhaust soil by cropping it year by year without
manure.--_n._ NIGG'ERDOM, niggers collectively.--_adjs._ NIGG'ERISH,
NIGG'ERY.--_ns._ NIGG'ER-KILL'ER, a scorpion; NIGG'ERLING, a little nigger.
NIGGLE, nig'l, _v.i._ to trifle, busy one's self with petty matters: to
cramp.--_v.t._ to fill with excessive detail: to befool.--_n._ small
cramped handwriting.--_ns._ NIGG'LER, one who trifles; NIGG'LING,
fussiness, finicking work.--_adj._ mean: fussy. [Freq. of _nig_, which may
be a variant of _nick_.]
NIGH, n[=i], _adj._ near: not distant in place or time: not far off in
degree, kindred, &c.: close.--_adv._ nearly: almost.--_prep._ near to: not
distant from.--_adv._ NIGH'LY, nearly: within a little.--_n._ NIGH'NESS,
the state or quality of being nigh: nearness. [A.S. _néah_, _néh_; Dut.
_na_, Ger. _nahe_.]
NIGHT, n[=i]t, _n._ the end of the day: the time from sunset to sunrise:
darkness: ignorance, affliction, or sorrow: death.--_ns._ NIGHT'-BELL, a
bell for use at night--of a physician, &c.; NIGHT'-BIRD, a bird that flies
only at night, esp. the owl: the nightingale, as singing at night;
NIGHT'-BLIND'NESS, inability to see in a dim light, nyctalopia;
NIGHT'-BRAWL'ER, one who raises disturbances in the night; NIGHT'CAP, a cap
worn at night in bed (so NIGHT'DRESS, -SHIRT, &c.): a dram taken before
going to bed: a cap drawn over the face before hanging; NIGHT'-CART, a cart
used to remove the contents of privies before daylight; NIGHT'-CHAIR, a
night-stool; NIGHT'-CHURR, or -JAR, the British species of goat-sucker, so
called from the sound of its cry.--_n.pl._ NIGHT'-CLOTHES, garments worn in
bed.--_ns._ NIGHT'-CROW, a bird that cries in the night; NIGHT'-DOG
(_Shak._), a dog that hunts in the night.--_adj._ NIGHT'ED, benighted:
(_Shak._) darkened, clouded.--_ns._ NIGHT'FALL, the fall or beginning of
the night: the close of the day: evening; NIGHT'FARING, travelling by
night; NIGHT'FIRE, a fire burning in the night: a will-o'-the-wisp;
NIGHT'-FISH'ERY, a mode of fishing by night, or a place where this is done;
NIGHT'-FLY, a moth that flies at night; NIGHT'-FOE, one who makes his
attack by night; NIGHT'-FOSS'ICKER, one who robs a digging by
night.--_adj._ NIGHT'-FOUN'DERED, lost in the night.--_ns._ NIGHT'-FOWL, a
night-bird; NIGHT'-GLASS, a spy-glass with concentrating lenses for use at
night; NIGHT'-GOWN, a long loose robe for sleeping in, for men or women; a
loose gown for wearing in the house; NIGHT'-HAG, a witch supposed to be
abroad at night; NIGHT'-HAWK, a species of migratory goat-sucker, common in
America; NIGHT'-HER'ON, a heron of nocturnal habit; NIGHT'-HOUSE, a tavern
allowed to be open during the night; NIGHT'-HUNT'ER, a degraded woman who
prowls about the streets at night for her prey; NIGHT'-LAMP, or -LIGHT, a
light left burning all night.--_adj._ NIGHT'LESS, having no night.--_n._
NIGHT'-LINE, a fishing-line set overnight.--_adj._ and _adv._ NIGHT'LONG,
lasting all night.--_adj._ NIGHT'LY, done by night: done every
night.--_adv._ by night: every night.--_ns._ NIGHT'-MAN, a night-watchman
or scavenger; NIGHT'-OWL, an owl of exclusively nocturnal habits: one who
sits up very late; NIGHT'-PAL'SY, a numbness of the lower limbs, incidental
to women; NIGHT'PIECE, a picture or literary description of a night-scene:
a painting to be seen best by artificial light; NIGHT'-POR'TER, a porter in
attendance during the night at hotels, railway stations, &c.; NIGHT'-RAIL,
a night-gown: a 17th-century form of head-dress; NIGHT'-RAV'EN (_Shak._), a
bird that cries at night, supposed to be of ill-omen; NIGHT'-REST, the
repose of the night; NIGHT'-RULE (_Shak._), a frolic at night.--_adv._
NIGHTS (_obs._), by night.--_ns._ NIGHT'-SCHOOL, a school held at night,
esp. for those at work during the day; NIGHT'-SEA'SON, the time of night;
NIGHT'SHADE, a name of several plants of the genus _Solanum_, having
narcotic properties, often found in damp shady woods; NIGHT'-SHRIEK, a cry
in the night; NIGHT'-SIDE, the dark, mysterious, or gloomy side of
anything; NIGHT'-SING'ER, any bird like the nightingale, esp. the Irish
sedge-warbler; NIGHT'-SOIL, the contents of privies, cesspools, &c.,
generally carried away at night; NIGHT'-SPELL, a charm against accidents by
night; NIGHT'-STEED, one of the horses in the chariot of NIGHT;
NIGHT'-STOOL, a close-stool for use in a bedroom; NIGHT'-T[=A]'PER, a
night-light burning slowly.--_n.pl._ NIGHT'-TERR'ORS, the sudden starting
from sleep of children in a state of fright.--_p.adj._ NIGHT'-TRIP'PING
(_Shak._), tripping about in the night.--_ns._ NIGHT'-WAK'ING, watching in
the night; NIGHT'-WALK, a walk in the night; NIGHT'-WALK'ER, one who walks
in his sleep at night, a somnambulist: one who walks about at night for bad
purposes, esp. a prostitute; NIGHT'-WALK'ING, walking in one's sleep,
somnambulism: roving about at night with evil designs; NIGHT'-WAN'DERER,
one who wanders by night.--_adjs._ NIGHT'-WAR'BLING, singing in the night;
NIGHT'WARD, toward night.--_ns._ NIGHT'-WATCH, a watch or guard at night:
time of watch in the night; NIGHT'-WATCH'MAN, one who acts as a watch
during the night; NIGHT'-WORK, work done at night. [A.S. _niht_; Ger.
_nacht_, L. _nox_.]
NIGHTINGALE, n[=i]t'in-g[=a]l, _n._ a small sylviine bird, of the Passerine
family, widely distributed in the Old World, celebrated for the rich
love-song of the male heard chiefly at night. [A.S. _nihtegale_--_niht_,
night, _galan_, to sing; Ger. _nachtigall_.]
NIGHTINGALE, n[=i]t'in-g[=a]l, _n._ a kind of flannel scarf with sleeves,
worn by invalids when sitting up in bed. [From the famous Crimean hospital
nurse, Florence _Nightingale_, born 1820.]
NIGHTMARE, n[=i]t'm[=a]r, _n._ a dreadful dream accompanied with pressure
on the breast, and a feeling of powerlessness to move or speak--personified
as an incubus or evil-spirit.--_adj._ NIGHT'MARISH. [A.S. _niht_, night,
_mara_, a nightmare; cf. Old High Ger. _mara_, incubus, Ice. _mara_,
nightmare.]
NIGRESCENT, n[=i]-gres'ent, _adj._ growing black or dark: approaching to
blackness.--_n._ NIGRESC'ENCE. [L., _nigresc[)e]re_, to grow
black--_niger_, black.]
NIGRITE, nig'r[=i]t, _n._ an insulating composition consisting of the
impure residuum obtained in the distillation of paraffin. [L. _niger_,
black.]
NIGRITIAN, ni-grish'an, _adj._ pertaining to _Nigritia_, Upper Guinea,
Senegambia, and the Soudan region generally, the home of the true
negroes.--_n._ a native of this region, a negro.
NIGRITUDE, nig'ri-t[=u]d, _n._ blackness. [L. _nigritudo_--_niger_, black.]
NIGROSINE, nig'r[=o]-sin, _n._ a coal-tar colour prepared from the
hydrochloride of violaniline. [L. _niger_, black.]
NIHIL, n[=i]'hil, _n._ nothing.--_ns._ N[=I]'HILISM, belief in nothing,
extreme scepticism: in Russia, a revolutionary socialistic movement aiming
at the overturn of all the existing institutions of society in order to
build it up anew on different principles; N[=I]'HILIST, one who professes
Nihilism.--_adj._ NIHILIST'IC.--_ns._ NIHIL'ITY, nothingness; NIL, nothing.
[L.]
NIKE, n[=i]'k[=e], _n._ the goddess of victory. [Gr.]
NILGAU. See NYL-GHAU.
NILL, nil, _v.t._ (_Spens._) to refuse, to reject.--_v.i._ to be unwilling.
[A.S. _nillan_--_ne_, not, _willan_, to will.]
NILOMETER, n[=i]-lom'e-t[.e]r, _n._ a gauge for measuring the height of
water in the river _Nile_: any river-gauge--also N[=I]'LOSCOPE.--_adj._
NILOT'IC.
NIM, nim, _v.t._ to steal, pilfer. [A.S. _niman_, to take.]
NIMBLE, nim'bl, _adj._ light and quick in motion: active: swift.--_adjs._
NIM'BLE-FING'ERED, skilful with the fingers, thievish; NIM'BLE-FOOT'ED,
swift of foot.--_ns._ NIM'BLENESS, NIM'BLESS (_Spens._), quickness of
motion either in body or mind.--_adj._ NIM'BLE-WIT'TED,
quick-witted.--_adv._ NIM'BLY. [M. E. _nimel_--A.S. _niman_, to catch; cf.
Ger. _nehmen_.]
NIMBUS, nim'bus, _n._ the raincloud: (_paint._) the disc or halo, generally
circular or semicircular, which encircles the head of the sacred person
represented.--_adj._ NIMBIF'EROUS, bringing clouds. [L.]
NIMIETY, ni-m[=i]'e-ti, _n._ (rare) state of being too much. [L.
_nimietas_--_nimis_, too much.]
NIMINY-PIMINY, nim'i-ni-pim'i-ni, _adj._ affectedly fine or delicate.--_n._
affected delicacy. [Imit.]
NIMROD, nim'rod, _n._ the founder of Babel (see Gen. x. 8-10): any great
hunter.
NINCOMPOOP, nin'kom-poop, _n._ a simpleton. [Corr. of L. _non compos_
(_mentis_), not of sound mind.]
NINE, n[=i]n, _adj._ and _n._ eight and one.--_n._ NINE'-EYES, a popular
name for the young lampreys found in rivers.--_adj._ NINE'FOLD, nine times
folded or repeated.--_ns._ NINE'HOLES, a game in which a ball is to be
bowled into nine holes in the ground or a board; NINE'PINS, a game at
bowls, a form of skittles, so called from nine pins being set up to be
knocked down by a ball.--_adj._ NINE'-SCORE, nine times twenty.--_n._ the
number of nine times twenty.--_adj._ and _n._ NINE'TEEN, nine and
ten.--_adj._ NINE'TEENTH, the ninth after the tenth: being one of nineteen
equal parts.--_n._ a nineteenth part.--_adj._ NINE'TIETH, the last of
ninety: next after the eighty-ninth.--_n._ a ninetieth part.--_adj._ and
_n._ NINE'TY, nine tens.--_adj._ NINTH, the last of nine: next after the
eighth.--_n._ one of nine equal parts.--_adv._ NINTH'LY, in the ninth
place.--NINE DAYS' WONDER (see WONDER); NINE MEN'S MORRIS (see MORRIS);
NINE WORTHIES, Hector, Alexander the Great, Julius Cæsar, Joshua, David,
Judas Maccabæus, Arthur, Charlemagne, Godfrey of Bouillon; THE NINE, the
nine muses (see MUSE); TO THE NINES, to perfection, fully, elaborately.
[A.S. _nigon_; Dut. _negen_, L. _novem_, Gr. _ennea_, Sans. _navan_.]
NINNY, nin'i, _n._ a simpleton.--Also NINN'Y-HAMM'ER. [It. _ninno_, child;
Sp. _niño_, infant.]
NIOBE, n[=i]'o-b[=e], _n._ daughter of Tantalus, and wife of Amphion, king
of Thebes. Proud of her many children, she gloried over Latona, who had but
two, Artemis and Apollo. But these killed them all, on which the weeping
mother was turned into stone by Zeus.--_adj._ NIOB[=E]'AN.
NIOBIUM, n[=i]-[=o]'bi-um, _n._ a rare metal, steel-gray in colour,
discovered in the mineral Tantalite--sometimes called _Columbium_.
NIP, nip, _n._ a sip, esp. of spirits--also NIP'PER (_U.S._).--_v.i._ to
take a dram.--_n._ NIP'PERKIN, a small measure of liquor. [Dut. _nippen_,
to sip.]
NIP, nip, _v.t._ to pinch: to press between two surfaces: to cut off the
edge: to check the growth or vigour of: to destroy: to bite, sting,
satirise:--_pr.p._ nip'ping; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ nipped.--_n._ a pinch: a
seizing or closing in upon: a cutting off the end: a blast: destruction by
frost: (_min._) a more or less gradual thinning out of a stratum: (_naut._)
a short turn in a rope, the part of a rope at the place bound by the
seizing or caught by jambing.--_ns._ NIP'-CHEESE, a stingy fellow:
(_naut._) the purser's steward; NIP'PER, he who, or that which, nips: one
of various tools or implements like pincers: one of a pair of automatically
locking handcuffs: a chela or great claw, as of a crab: the young bluefish:
a boy who attends on navvies: (_obs._) a thief: one of the four fore-teeth
of a horse: (_pl._) small pincers.--_v.t._ to seize (two ropes)
together.--_adv._ NIP'PINGLY.--NIP IN THE BUD, to cut off in the earliest
stage. [From root of _knife_; Dut. _knijpen_, Ger. _kneipen_, to pinch.]
NIPPERTY-TIPPERTY, nip'[.e]r-ti-tip'[.e]r-ti, _adj._ (_Scot._) silly,
frivolous.
NIPPLE, nip'l, _n._ the pap by which milk is drawn from the breasts of
females: a teat: a small projection with an orifice, as the nipple of a
gun.--_v.t._ to furnish with a nipple.--_ns._ NIPP'LE-SHIELD, a defence for
the nipple worn by nursing women; NIPP'LE-WORT, a small, yellow-flowered
plant of remedial use. [A dim. of _neb_ or _nib_.]
NIPPY, nip'i, _adj._ (_Scot._) sharp in taste: curt: parsimonious.
NIPTER, nip't[.e]r, _n._ the ecclesiastical ceremony of washing the
feet--the same as maundy. [Gr. _nipt[=e]r_, a basin--_niptein_, to wash.]
NIRLES, NIRLS, nirlz, _n._ herpes.
NIRVANA, nir-vä'na, _n._ the cessation of individual existence--the state
to which a Buddhist aspires as the best attainable. [Sans., 'a blowing
out.']
NIS, nis (_Spens._), is not. [A contr. of _ne is_.]
NIS, nis, _n._ a hobgoblin. [Same as _Nix_.]
NISAN, n[=i]'san, _n._ the name given after the Captivity to the Jewish
month Abib. [Heb.]
NISI, n[=i]'s[=i], _conj._ unless, placed after the words 'decree' or
'rule,' to indicate that the decree or rule will be made absolute unless,
after a time, some condition referred to be fulfilled.--NISI PRIUS, the
name usually given in England to the sittings of juries in civil
cases--from the first two words of the old Latin writ summoning the juries
to appear at Westminster _unless_, _before_ the day appointed, the judges
shall have come to the county.
NISUS, n[=i]'sus, _n._ effort, attempt.--NISUS FORMATIVUS (_biol._),
formative effort. [L.]
NIT, nit, _n._ the egg of a louse or other small insect.--_adj._ NIT'TY,
full of nits. [A.S. _hnitu_; Ger. _niss_.]
NITHING, n[=i]'_th_ing, _adj._ wicked, mean.--_n._ a wicked man. [A.S.
_níthing_; Ger. _neiding_.]
NITHSDALE, niths'd[=a]l, _n._ a hood which can be drawn over the face.
[From the Jacobite Earl of _Nithsdale_ who escaped from the Tower in
women's clothes brought in by his wife, in 1716.]
NITID, nit'id, _adj._ shining: gay.--_n._ N[=I]'TENCY, brightness. [L.
_nitidus_--_nit[=e]re_, to shine.]
NITRE, n[=i]'t[.e]r, _n._ the nitrate of potash--also called
_Saltpetre_.--_n._ N[=I]'TR[=A]TE, a salt of nitric acid.--_adjs._
N[=I]'TR[=A]TED, combined with nitric acid; N[=I]'TRIC, pertaining to,
formed from, or containing or resembling nitre.--_n._ N[=I]'TRIC AC'ID, an
acid got by distilling a mixture of sulphuric acid and nitrate of
sodium--it acts powerfully on metals, and is known by the name of
_Aqua-fortis_.--_adj._ NITRIF'EROUS, nitre-bearing.--_n._
NITRIFIC[=A]'TION.--_v.t._ N[=I]'TRIFY, to convert into nitre.--_v.i._ to
become nitre:--_pr.p._ n[=i]'trifying; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._
n[=i]'trified.--_ns._ N[=I]'TRITE, a salt of nitrous acid;
N[=I]'TRO-BEN'ZOL, a yellow oily fluid, obtained by treating benzol with
warm fuming nitric acid--used in perfumery and known as _Essence of
mirbane_; N[=I]'TRO-GLYC'ERINE, a powerfully explosive compound produced by
the action of nitric and sulphuric acids on glycerine--sometimes used in
minute doses as a medicine.--_adjs._ NITROSE', N[=I]'TROUS, resembling, or
containing, nitre.--_n._ N[=I]'TROUS OX'IDE, a combination of oxygen and
nitrogen, called also _Laughing gas_, which causes, when breathed,
insensibility to pain.--_adj._ N[=I]'TRY, of or producing nitre.--CUBIC
NITRE, nitrate of soda, so called because it crystallises in cubes.
[Fr.,--L. _nitrum_--Gr. _nitron_, natron, potash, soda--Ar. _nitrún_,
_natrún_.]
NITROGEN, n[=i]'tro-jen, _n._ a gas forming nearly four-fifths of common
air, a necessary constituent of every organised body, so called from its
being an essential constituent of nitre.--_adjs._ NITROGEN'IC,
NITROG'ENOUS.--_v.t._ NITROG'ENISE, to impregnate with nitrogen.--_n._
NITROM'ETER, an apparatus for estimating nitrogen in some of its
combinations. [Gr. _nitron_, and _gennaein_, to generate.]
NITTER, nit'[.e]r, _n._ a bot-fly, the horse-bot.
NITTINGS, nit'ingz, _n.pl._ small particles of coal or refuse of any ore.
NIVAL, n[=i]'val, _adj._ snowy, growing among snow.--_adj._ NIV'EOUS,
snowy, white.--_n._ NIVÔSE (n[=e]-v[=o]z'), the 4th month of the French
revolutionary calendar, Dec. 21-Jan. 19. [L. _niveus_--_nix_, _nivis_,
snow.]
NIX, niks, _n._ (_Teut. myth._) a water-spirit, mostly malignant.--Also
NIX'IE, NIX'Y. [Ger. _nix_; cf. _Nicker_.]
NIX, niks, _n._ nothing: (_U.S._) in the postal service, anything
unmailable because addressed to places which are not post-offices or to
post-offices not existing in the States, &c., indicated in the
address--usually in _pl._ [Ger. _nichts_, nothing.]
NIX, niks, _interj._ a roughs' street-cry of warning at the policeman, &c.
NIZAM, ni-zam', _n._ the title of the sovereign of Hyderabad in India,
first used in 1713: _sing._ and _pl._ the Turkish regulars, or one of them.
[Hind., contr. of _Nizam-ul-Mulk_=Regulator of the state.]
NO, n[=o], _adv._ the word of refusal or denial: not at all: never: not so:
not.--_n._ a denial: a vote against or in the negative:--_pl._ NOES
(n[=o]z).--_adj._ not any: not one: none.--_advs._ N[=O]'WAY, in no way,
manner, or degree--also N[=O]'WAYS; N[=O]'WISE, in no way, manner, or
degree.--NO ACCOUNT, worthless; NO DOUBT, surely; NO GO (see GO); NO JOKE,
not a trifling matter. [A.S. _ná_, compounded of _ne_, not, and _á_ ever;
_nay_, the neg. of _aye_, is Scand.]
NOACHIAN, n[=o]-[=a]'ki-an, _adj._ pertaining to the patriarch _Noah_, or
to his time--also NOACH'IC.--NOAH'S ARK, a child's toy in imitation of the
ark of Noah and its inhabitants.
NOB, nob, _n._ the head: a knobstick.--ONE FOR HIS NOB, a blow on the head
in boxing: a point at cribbage by holding the knave of trumps. [_Knob._]
NOB, nob, _n._ a superior sort of person.--_adv._ NOB'BILY.--_adj._ NOB'BY,
smart, fashionable: good, capital. [A contr. of _nobleman._]
NOBBLE, nob'l, _v.t._ (_slang_) to get hold of dishonestly, to steal: to
baffle or circumvent dexterously: to injure, destroy the chances of, as a
racer.--_n._ NOBB'LER, a finishing-stroke: a thimble-rigger's confederate:
a dram of spirits.
NOBILITY, no-bil'i-ti, _n._ the quality of being noble: high rank: dignity:
excellence: greatness of mind or character: antiquity of family: descent
from noble ancestors: the persons holding the rank of nobles.--_adj._
NOBIL'IARY, pertaining to the nobility.--_v.t._ NOBIL'ITATE, to
ennoble.--_n._ NOBILIT[=A]'TION.
NOBLE, n[=o]'bl, _adj._ illustrious: high in rank or character: of high
birth: magnificent: generous: excellent.--_n._ a person of exalted rank: a
peer: an obsolete gold coin=6s. 8d. sterling.--_n._ N[=O]'BLEMAN, a man who
is noble or of rank: a peer: one above a commoner.--_adj._
N[=O]'BLE-MIND'ED, having a noble mind.--_ns._ N[=O]BLE-MIND'EDNESS;
N[=O]'BLENESS, the quality of being noble: excellence in quality: dignity:
greatness by birth or character: ingenuousness: worth; NOBLESS', NOBLESSE'
(_Spens._), nobility: greatness: the nobility collectively; N[=O]'BLEWOMAN,
the fem. of NOBLEMAN.--_adv._ N[=O]'BLY.--NOBLE ART, boxing; NOBLE METALS
(see METAL).--MOST NOBLE, the style of a duke. [Fr.,--L. _nobilis_, obs.
_gnobilis_--_nosc[)e]re_ (_gnosc[)e]re_), to know.]
NOBODY, n[=o]'bod-i, _n._ no body or person: no one: a person of no
account, one not in fashionable society.
NOCAKE, n[=o]'k[=a]k, _n._ meal made of parched corn, once much used by
North American Indians on the march. [Amer. Ind. _nookik_, meal.]
NOCENT, n[=o]'sent, _adj._ (_obs._) hurtful: guilty.--_n._ one who is
hurtful or guilty.--_adv._ N[=O]'CENTLY. [L. _noc[=e]re_, to hurt.]
NOCK, nok, _n._ the forward upper end of a sail that sets with a boom: a
notch, esp. that on the butt-end of an arrow for the string. [Cf. _Notch._]
NOCTAMBULATION, nok-tam-b[=u]-l[=a]'shun, _n._ walking in sleep.--_ns._
NOCTAM'BULISM, sleep-walking; NOCTAM'BULIST, one who walks in his sleep.
[L. _nox_, _noctis_, night, _ambul[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_, to walk.]
NOCTILIO, nok-til'i-[=o], _n._ a genus of American bats.
NOCTILUCA, nok-ti-l[=u]'ka, _n._ a phosphorescent marine Infusorian,
abundant around the British coasts, one of the chief causes of the
phosphorescence of the waves.--_adjs._ NOCTIL[=U]'CENT, NOCTIL[=U]'CID,
NOCTIL[=U]'COUS, shining in the dark. [L. _nox_, _noctis_, night,
_luc[=e]re_, to shine.]
NOCTIVAGANT, nok-tiv'a-gant, _adj._ wandering in the night.--_n._
NOCTIVAG[=A]'TION.--_adj._ NOCTIV'AGOUS. [L. _nox_, _noctis_, night,
_vag[=a]ri_, to wander.]
NOCTOGRAPH, nok'to-graf, _n._ a writing-frame for the blind: an instrument
for recording the presence of a night-watchman on his beat.--_n._
NOCTURN'OGRAPH, an instrument for recording work done in factories, &c.,
during the night. [L. _nox_, Gr. _graphein_, to write.]
NOCTUA, nok't[=u]-a, _n._ a generic name variously used--giving name to the
NOCT[=U]'IDÆ, a large family of nocturnal lepidopterous insects,
strong-bodied moths.--_n._ NOC'TUID.--_adjs._ NOCT[=U]'IDOUS; NOC'TUIFORM;
NOC'TUOID.
NOCTUARY, nok't[=u]-[=a]-ri, _n._ an account kept of the events or thoughts
of night.
NOCTULE, nok't[=u]l, _n._ a vespertilionine bat. [Fr.,--L. _nox_, _noctis_,
night.]
NOCTURN, nok'turn, _n._ in the early church, a service of psalms and
prayers at midnight or at daybreak: a portion of the psalter used at
nocturns. [Fr. _nocturne_--L. _nocturnus_--_nox_, _noctis_, night.]
NOCTURNAL, nok-tur'nal, _adj._ pertaining to night: happening by night:
nightly.--_n._ an instrument for observations in the night.--_adv._
NOCTUR'NALLY.
NOCTURNE, nok'turn, _n._ a painting showing a scene by night: a piece of
music of a dreamy character suitable to evening or night thoughts: a
serenade: a reverie. [Fr.; cf. _Nocturn_.]
NOCUOUS, nok'[=u]-us, _adj._ hurtful.--_adv._ NOC'UOUSLY. [L.
_nocuus_--_noc[=e]re_, to hurt.]
NOD, nod, _v.i._ to give a quick forward motion of the head: to bend the
head in assent: to salute by a quick motion of the head: to let the head
drop in weariness.--_v.t._ to incline: to signify by a nod:--_pr.p._
nod'ding; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ nod'ded.--_n._ a bending forward of the head
quickly: a slight bow: a command.--_ns._ NOD'DER; NOD'DING.--_adj._
inclining the head quickly: indicating by a nod: acknowledged by a nod
merely, as a nodding acquaintance: (_bot._) having the flower looking
downwards.--LAND OF NOD, the state of sleep. [M. E. _nodden_, not in A.S.;
but cf. Old High Ger. _hn[=o]ton_, to shake, prov. Ger. _notteln_, to wag.]
NODDLE, nod'l, _n._ properly, the projecting part at the back of the head:
the head.--_v.i._ to nod repeatedly. [A variant of _knot_; cf. Old Dut.
_knodde_, a knob, Ger. _knoten_, a knot.]
NODDY, nod'i, _n._ one whose head nods from weakness: a stupid fellow: a
sea-fowl--easily taken: a four-wheeled carriage with a door at the back: an
upright flat spring with a weight on the top, forming an inverted pendulum,
indicating the vibration of any body to which it is attached. [_Nod._]
NODE, n[=o]d, _n._ a knot: a knob: a knot or entanglement: (_astron._) one
of the two points in which the orbit of a planet intersects the plane of
the ecliptic: (_bot._) the joint of a stem: the plot of a piece in poetry:
(_math._) a point at which a curve cuts itself, and through which more than
one tangent to the curve can be drawn: a similar point on a surface, where
there is more than one tangent-plane.--_adjs._ NOD'AL, pertaining to nodes;
NOD[=A]T'ED, knotted.--_ns._ NOD[=A]'TION, the act of making knots: the
state of being knotted; NODE'-COUP'LE, a pair of points on a surface at
which one plane is tangent; NODE'-CUSP, a peculiar kind of curve formed by
the union of a node, a cusp, an inflection, and a bitangent.--_adjs._
NOD'ICAL, pertaining to the nodes: from a node round to the same node
again; NODIF'EROUS (_bot._), bearing nodes; N[=O]'DIFORM; NOD'OSE, full of
knots: having knots or swelling joints: knotty.--_n._ NODOS'ITY.--_adjs._
NOD'ULAR, of or like a nodule; NOD'UL[=A]TED, having nodules.--_ns._
NOD'ULE, NOD'ULUS, a little knot: a small lump.--_adjs._ NOD'ULED, having
nodules or little knots or lumps; NODULIF'EROUS; NOD'ULIFORM; NOD'ULOSE,
NOD'ULOUS (_bot._), having nodules or small knots: knotty.--_ns._
NOD'ULUS:--_pl._ NOD'UL[=I]; N[=O]'DUS:--_pl._ N[=O]'D[=I]. [L. _nodus_
(for _gnodus_), allied to _Knot_.]
NOËL, n[=o]'el, _n._ Christmas.--Same as NOWEL (q.v.).
NOEMATIC, -AL, n[=o]-[=e]-mat'ik, -al, _adj._ intellectual--also NOET'IC,
-AL.--_adv._ NOEMAT'ICALLY.--_n.pl._ NOEM'ICS, intellectual science. [Gr.
_no[=e]ma_--_noein_, to perceive.]
NOETIAN, n[=o]-[=e]'shi-an, _adj._ pertaining to NOË'TUS or NOË'TIANISM, a
form of Patripassianism taught by _Noëtus_ of Smyrna about 200 A.D.
NOG, nog, _n._ a mug, small pot: a kind of strong ale.
NOG, nog, _n._ a tree nail driven through the heels of the shores, to
secure them: one of the pins in the lever of a clutch-coupling: a piece of
wood in an inner wall: a cog in mining.
NOGGIN, nog'in, _n._ a small mug or wooden cup, or its contents, a dram
suitable for one person. [Ir. _noigin_, Gael. _noigean_.]
NOGGING, nog'ging, _n._ a partition of wooden posts with the spaces between
filled up with bricks: brick-building filling up the spaces between the
wooden posts of a partition.
NOHOW, n[=o]'how, _adv._ not in any way, not at all: (_coll._) out of one's
ordinary way, out of sorts.
NOIANCE, noi'ans, _n._ (_Shak._). Same as ANNOYANCE.
NOILS, noilz, _n.pl._ short pieces of wool separated from the longer fibres
by combing.
NOINT, noint, _v.t._ (_Shak._). Same as ANOINT.
NOISE, noiz, _n._ sound of any kind: any over-loud or excessive sound, din:
frequent or public talk: (_Shak._) report: a musical band.--_v.t._ to
spread by rumour.--_v.i._ to sound loud.--_adjs._ NOISE'FUL, noisy;
NOISE'LESS, without noise: silent.--_adv._ NOISE'LESSLY.--_n._
NOISE'LESSNESS.--MAKE A NOISE IN THE WORLD, to attract great notoriety.
[Fr. _noise_, quarrel; prob. from L. _nausea_, disgust; but possibly from
L. _noxa_, hurt--_noc[=e]re_, to hurt.]
NOISETTE, nwo-zet', _n._ a variety of rose. [Fr.]
NOISOME, noi'sum, _adj._ injurious to health: disgusting to sight or
smell.--_adv._ NOI'SOMELY.--_n._ NOI'SOMENESS. [M. E. _noy_, annoyance. Cf.
_Annoy_.]
NOISY, noiz'i, _adj._ making a loud noise or sound: attended with noise:
clamorous: turbulent.--_adv._ NOIS'ILY.--_n._ NOIS'INESS.
NOKES, n[=o]ks, _n._ a simpleton.
NOLENS VOLENS, n[=o]lens vol'ens, unwilling (or) willing:
willy-nilly.--_n._ NOLI-ME-TANGERE (n[=o]'l[=i]-m[=e]-tan'je-r[=e]), the
wild cucumber: lupus of the nose: a picture showing Jesus appearing to Mary
Magdalene, as in John XX.--NOLLE PROSEQUI (nol'e pros'e-kw[=i]), a term
used in English law to indicate that the plaintiff does not intend to go on
with his action. [L. _nolle_, to be unwilling, _velle_, to be willing,
_tang[)e]re_, to touch, _prosequi_, to prosecute.]
NOLL, nol, _n._ the head.
NOM, nong, _n._ name.--NOM DE PLUME, 'pen-name:' the signature assumed by
an author instead of his own name--not a Fr. phrase, but one of Eng.
manufacture from Fr. _nom_, a name, _de_, of, _plume_, a pen.
NOMAD, NOMADE, nom'ad, _n._ one of a tribe that wanders about in quest of
game, or of pasture for their flocks.--_adj._ NOMAD'IC, of or for the
feeding of cattle: pastoral: pertaining to the life of nomads: wandering:
unsettled: rude.--_adv._ NOMAD'ICALLY.--_v.i._ NOM'ADISE, to lead a nomadic
or vagabond life.--_n._ NOM'ADISM, the state of being nomadic: habits of
nomads. [Gr. _nomas_, _nomados_--_nomos_, pasture--_nemein_, to drive to
pasture.]
NOMANCY, n[=o]'man-si, _n._ divination from the letters in a name.
NO-MAN'S-LAND, n[=o]'-manz-land, _n._ a region to which no one possesses a
recognised claim.
NOMARCH, nom'ärk, _n._ the ruler of a NOME, or division of a province, as
in modern Greece.--_n._ NOM'ARCHY, the district governed by a nomarch. [Gr.
_nomos_, district, _arch[=e]_, rule.]
NOMBRIL, nom'bril, _n._ (_her._) the navel-point.
NOME, n[=o]m, _n._ See NOMARCH.
NOMEN, n[=o]'men, _n._ a name, esp. of the _gens_ or clan, as Caius
_Julius_ Cæsar. [L.]
NOMENCLATOR, n[=o]'men-kl[=a]-tor, _n._ one who gives names to
things:--_fem._ N[=O]'MENCLATRESS.--_adjs._ NOMENCLAT[=O]'RIAL,
N[=O]'MENCL[=A]TORY, N[=O]'MENCL[=A]T[=U]RAL.--_n._ N[=O]'MENCL[=A]TURE, a
system of naming: a list of names: a calling by name: the peculiar terms of
a science. [L.,--_nomen_, a name, _cal[=a]re_, to call.]
NOMIAL, n[=o]'mi-al, _n._ (_alg._) a single name or term.
NOMIC, nom'ik, _adj._ customary, applied to the common mode of
spelling--opp. to _Glossic_ and _Phonetic_. [Gr. _nomos_, custom.]
NOMINAL, nom'in-al, _adj._ pertaining to a name: existing only in name:
having a name.--_ns._ NOM'INALISM, the doctrine that general terms have no
corresponding reality either in or out of the mind, being mere words;
NOM'INALIST, one of a sect of philosophers who held the doctrine of
nominalism.--_adj._ NOMINALIST'IC, pertaining to nominalism.--_adv._
NOM'INALLY. [L. _nominalis_--_nomen_, _-[)i]nis_, a name.]
NOMINATE, nom'in-[=a]t, _v.t._ to name: to mention by name: to appoint: to
propose by name, as for an office or for an appointment.--_adv._
NOM'IN[=A]TELY, by name.--_ns._ NOM'IN[=A]TION, the act or power of
nominating: state of being nominated; NOM'IN[=A]TION-GAME, in billiards, a
game in which the player has to name beforehand what stroke he is
leading.--_adjs._ NOMIN[=A]T[=I]'VAL; NOM'IN[=A]TIVE, naming: (_gram._)
applied to the case of the subject.--_n._ the naming case, the case in
which the subject is expressed.--_adv._ NOM'IN[=A]TIVELY.--_n._
NOM'IN[=A]TOR, one who nominates.--NOMINATIVE ABSOLUTE, a grammatical
construction in which we have a subject (noun or pronoun) combined with a
participle, but not connected with a finite verb or governed by any other
words, as 'All being well, I will come.' [L. _nomin[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_, to
name--_nomen_.]
NOMINEE, nom-in-[=e]', _n._ one who is nominated by another: one on whose
life an annuity or lease depends: one to whom the holder of a copyhold
estate surrenders his interest.
NOMISTIC, n[=o]-mis'tik, _adj._ pertaining to laws founded on a sacred
book. [Gr. _nomos_, a law.]
NOMOCRACY, n[=o]-mok'ra-si, _n._ a government according to a code of laws.
[Gr. _nomos_, law, _kratia_--_kratein_, to rule.]
NOMOGENY, n[=o]-moj'e-ni, _n._ the origination of life according to natural
law, not miracle--opp. to _Thaumatogeny_. [Gr. _nomos_, law,
_geneia_--_gen[=e]s_, producing.]
NOMOGRAPHY, n[=o]-mog'ra-fi, _n._ the art of drawing up laws in proper
form.--_n._ NOMOG'RAPHER, one versed in this art. [Gr. _nomos_, law,
_graphein_, to write.]
NOMOLOGY, no-mol'[=o]-ji, _n._ the science of the laws of the mind.--_adj._
NOMOLOG'ICAL.--_n._ NOMOL'OGIST. [Gr. _nomos_, law, _logia_,
discourse--_legein_, to speak.]
NOMOS, nom'os, _n._ in modern Greece, a nome.
NOMOTHETIC, nom-[=o]-thet'ik, _adj._ legislative: founded on a system of
laws, or by a lawgiver. [Gr. _nomothet[=e]s_, a lawgiver, one of a body of
heliasts or jurors in ancient Athens, charged with the decision as to any
proposed change in legislation.]
NON, non, _adv._ not, a Latin word used as a prefix, as in _ns._
NON-ABIL'ITY, want of ability; NON-ACCEPT'ANCE, want of acceptance: refusal
to accept; NON-AC'CESS (_law_), absence of opportunity for marital
commerce; NON-ACQUAINT'ANCE, want of acquaintance; NON-ACQUIESC'ENCE,
refusal of acquiescence; NON-ADMISS'ION, refusal of admission: failure to
be admitted; NON-ALIEN[=A]'TION, state of not being alienated: failure to
alienate; NON-APPEAR'ANCE, failure or neglect to appear, esp. in a court of
law; NON-ARR[=I]'VAL, failure to arrive; NON-ATTEND'ANCE, a failure to
attend: absence; NON-ATTEN'TION, inattention; NON'-CLAIM, a failure to make
claim within the time limited by law; NON-COM'BATANT, any one connected
with an army who is there for some other purpose than that of fighting, as
a surgeon, &c.: a civilian in time of war.--_adjs._ NON-COMMISS'IONED, not
having a commission, as an officer in the army below the rank of
commissioned officer--abbrev. NON-COM'.; NON-COMMIT'TAL, unwilling to
commit one's self to any particular opinion or course of conduct, free from
any declared preference or pledge.--_ns._ NON-COMM[=U]'NICANT, one who
abstains from joining in holy communion, or who has not yet communicated;
NON-COMM[=U]N'ION; NON-COMPL[=I]'ANCE, neglect or failure of
compliance.--_adj._ NON-COMPLY'ING.--_n._ NON-CONCUR'RENCE, refusal to
concur.--_adj._ NON-CONDUCT'ING, not conducting or transmitting: not
allowing a fluid or a force to pass along, as glass does not conduct
electricity.--_n._ NON-CONDUCT'OR, a substance which does not conduct or
transmit certain properties or conditions, as heat or electricity.--_adj._
NONCONFORM'ING, not conforming, esp. to an established church.--_n._ and
_adj._ NONCONFORM'IST, one who does not conform: esp. one who refused to
conform or subscribe to the Act of Uniformity in 1662--abbrev.
NON-CON'.--_n._ NONCONFORM'ITY, want of conformity, esp. to the established
church.--_adj._ NON-CONT[=A]'GIOUS, not infectious.--_ns._ NON'-CONTENT,
one not content: in House of Lords, one giving a negative vote;
NON-DELIV'ERY, failure or neglect to deliver.--_adj._ NON-EFFECT'IVE, not
efficient or serviceable: unfitted for service.--_n._ a member of a force
who is not able, for some reason, to take part in active service.--_adj._
NON-EFFIC'IENT, not up to the mark required for service.--_n._ a soldier
who has not yet undergone the full number of drills.--_n._ NON-[=E]'GO, in
metaphysics, the not-I, the object as opposed to the subject, whatever is
not the conscious self.--_adjs._ NON-EGOIS'TICAL; NON-ELAS'TIC, not
elastic; NON-[=E]LECT', not elect.--_n._ one not predestined to
salvation.--_n._ NON-[=E]LEC'TION, state of not being elected.--_adjs._
NON-ELEC'TRIC, -AL, not conducting the electric fluid; NON-EMPHAT'IC;
NON-EMPIR'ICAL, not empirical, not presented in experience;
NON-EPIS'COPAL.--_n._ NON-EPISCOP[=A]'LIAN.--_adj._ NON-ESSEN'TIAL, not
essential: not absolutely required.--_n._ something that may be done
without.--_n._ NON-EXIST'ENCE, negation of existence: a thing that has no
existence.--_adj._ NON-EXIST'ENT.--_n._ NON-EXPORT[=A]'TION.--_adj._
NON-FOR'FEITING, of a life insurance policy not forfeited by reason of
non-payment.--_ns._ NON-FULFIL'MENT; NON-IMPORT[=A]'TION.--_adj._
NON-IMPORT'ING.--_ns._ NON-INTERVEN'TION, a policy of systematic
non-interference by one country with the affairs of other nations;
NON-INTRU'SION, in Scottish Church history, the principle that a patron
should not force an unacceptable clergyman on an unwilling congregation;
NON-INTRU'SIONIST.--_adj._ NON-ISS'UABLE, not capable of being issued: not
admitting of issue being taken on it.--_n._ NON-JOIN'DER (_law_), the
omitting to join all the parties to the action or suit.--_adj._ NONJUR'ING,
not swearing allegiance.--_n._ NONJUR'OR, one of the clergy in England and
Scotland who would not swear allegiance to William and Mary in 1689,
holding themselves still bound by the oath they had taken to the deposed
king, James II.--_adjs._ NON-L[=U]'MINOUS; NON-MANUFACT'URING;
NON-MARR'YING, not readily disposed to marry; NON-METAL'LIC, not consisting
of metal: not like the metals; NON-MOR'AL, involving no moral
considerations; NON-NAT'URAL, not natural: forced or strained.--_n._ in
ancient medicine, anything not considered of the essence of man, but
necessary to his well-being, as air, food, sleep, rest, &c.--_ns._
NON-OB[=E]'DIENCE; NON-OBSERV'ANCE, neglect or failure to observe;
NON-PAY'MENT, neglect or failure to pay; NON-PERFORM'ANCE, neglect or
failure to perform.--_adjs._ NON-PLACENT'AL; NON-PON'DEROUS.--_n._
NON-PRODUC'TION.--_adj._ NON-PROFESS'IONAL, not done by a professional man,
amateur: not proper to be done by a professional man, as unbecoming conduct
in a physician, &c.--_ns._ NON-PROFIC'IENT, one who has made no progress in
the art or study in which he is engaged; NON-REGARD'ANCE, want of due
regard; NON-RES'IDENCE, failure to reside, or the fact of not residing at a
certain place, where one's official or social duties require one to
reside.--_adj._ NON-RES'IDENT, not residing within the range of one's
responsibilities.--_n._ one who does not do so, as a landlord, clergyman,
&c.--_n._ NON-RESIST'ANCE, the principle of not offering opposition:
passive or ready obedience.--_adjs._ NON-RESIST'ANT, NON-RESIST'ING;
NON-SEX'UAL, sexless, asexual; NON-SOC[=I]'ETY, not belonging to a society,
esp. of a workman not attached to a trades-union, or of a place in which
such men are employed.--_n._ NON-SOL[=U]'TION.--_adjs._ NON-SOL'VENT;
NON-SUBMIS'SIVE.--_n._ NON'SUIT, a legal term in England, which means that
where a plaintiff in a jury trial finds he will lose his case, owing to
some defect or accident, he is allowed to be nonsuited, instead of allowing
a verdict and judgment to go for the defendant.--_v.t._ to record that a
plaintiff drops his suit.--_n._ NON'-TERM, a vacation between two terms of
a law-court.--_adj._ NON-UN'ION (see NON-SOCIETY).--_ns._ NON-[=U]'SAGER
(see USAGE); NON-[=U]'SER (_law_), neglect of official duty: omission to
take advantage of an easement, &c.--_adj._ NON-V[=I]'ABLE, not viable, of a
foetus too young for independent life.
NONAGE, non'[=a]j, _n._ legal infancy, minority: time of immaturity
generally.--_adj._ NON'AGED. [L. _non_, not, and _age_.]
NONAGENARIAN, non-a-je-n[=a]'ri-an, _n._ one who is ninety years
old.--_adj._ relating to ninety.--_adj._ NONAGES'IMAL, belonging to the
number ninety.--_n._ that point of the ecliptic 90 degrees from its
intersection by the horizon. [L. _nonagenarius_, containing
ninety--_nonaginta_, ninety.]
NONAGON, non'a-gon, _n._ (_math._) a plane figure having nine sides and
nine angles. [L. _novem_, nine, _nonus_, ninth, _g[=o]nia_, angle.]
NONCE, nons, _n._ (only in phrase 'for the nonce') the present time,
occasion.--NONCE-WORD, a word specially coined, like Carlyle's _gigmanity_.
[The substantive has arisen by mistake from 'for the nones,' originally
_for then ones_, meaning simply 'for the once.']
NONCHALANCE, non'shal-ans, _n._ unconcern: coolness: indifference.--_adj._
NONCHALANT (non'sha-lant).--_adv._ NON'CHALANTLY. [Fr., _non_, not,
_chaloir_, to care for--L. _cal[=e]re_, to be warm.]
NONDESCRIPT, non'de-skript, _adj._ novel: odd.--_n._ anything not yet
described or classed: a person or thing not easily described or classed.
[L. _non_, not, _descriptus_, _describ[)e]re_, to describe.]
NONE, nun, _adj._ and _pron._ not one: not any: not the smallest
part.--_adv._ in no respect: to no extent or degree.--_n._
NONE'-SO-PRETT'Y, or London Pride, _Saxifraga umbrosa_, a common English
garden-plant.--_adj._ NONE'-SPAR'ING (_Shak._), all-destroying. [M. E.
_noon_, _non_--A.S. _nán_--_ne_, not, _án_, one.]
NONENTITY, non-en'ti-ti, _n._ want of entity or being: a thing not
existing: a person of no importance.
NONES, n[=o]nz, _n.pl._ in the Roman calendar, the ninth day before the
Ides (both days included)--the 5th of Jan., Feb., April, June, Aug., Sept.,
Nov., Dec., and the 7th of the other months: the Divine office for the
ninth hour, or three o'clock. [L. _nonæ_--_nonus_ for _novenus_,
ninth--_novem_, nine.]
NON EST, non est, _adj._ for absent, being a familiar shortening of the
legal phrase _non est inventus_=he has not been found (_coll_).
NONESUCH, nun'such, _n._ a thing like which there is none such: an
extraordinary thing.
NONET, n[=o]-net', _n._ (_mus._) a composition for nine voices or
instruments.
NON-FEASANCE, non-f[=e]'zans, _n._ omission of something which ought to be
done, distinguished from _Misfeasance_, which means the wrongful use of
power or authority. [Pfx. _non_, not, O. Fr. _faisance_, doing--_faire_--L.
_fac[)e]re_, to do.]
NONILLION, n[=o]-nil'yun, _n._ the number produced by raising a million to
the ninth power.
NONINO. See NONNY.
NONNY, non'i, _n._ a meaningless refrain in Old English ballads, &c.,
usually 'hey, nonny'--often repeated _nonny-nonny_, _nonino_, as a cover
for obscenity.
NONPAREIL, non-pa-rel', _n._ a person or thing without equal or unique: a
fine apple: a printing-type forming about twelve lines to the inch, between
emerald (larger) and ruby (smaller).--_adj._ without an equal: matchless.
[Fr.,--_non_, not, _pareil_, equal--Low L. _pariculus_, dim. of _par_,
equal.]
NONPLUS, non'plus, _n._ a state in which no more can be done or said: great
difficulty.--_v.t._ to perplex completely, to puzzle:--_pr.p._
non'plussing; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ non'plussed. [L. _non_, not, _plus_,
more.]
NON POSSUMUS, non pos'[=u]-mus, we are not able: we cannot, a plea of
inability. [L., 1st pl. pres. ind. of _posse_, to be able.]
NONSENSE, non'sens, _n._ that which has no sense: language without meaning:
absurdity: trifles.--_adj._ NONSENS'ICAL, without sense: absurd.--_ns._
NONSENSICAL'ITY, NONSENS'ICALNESS.--_adv._ NONSENS'ICALLY.--NONSENSE NAME,
an arbitrarily coined name, for mnemonic purposes, &c.; NONSENSE VERSES,
verses perfect in form but without any connected sense, being merely
exercises in metre, &c.: verses intentionally absurd, like that of the
Jabberwock in _Through the Looking-glass_.
NON SEQUITUR, non sek'wi-tur, it does not follow: a wrong conclusion: one
that does not follow from the premises. [L. _non_, not, and 3d sing. pres.
ind. of _sequi_, to follow.]
NOODLE, n[=oo]d'l, _n._ a simpleton: a blockhead.--_n._ NOOD'LEDOM.
[_Noddy._]
NOODLE, n[=oo]d'l, _n._ dried dough of wheat-flour and eggs, used in soup
or as a baked dish.
NOOK, n[=oo]k, _n._ a corner: a narrow place formed by an angle: a recess:
a secluded retreat.--_adjs._ NOOK'-SHOT'TEN, full of nooks and corners;
NOOK'Y. [Gael. and Ir. _niuc_; Scot. _neuk_.]
NOOLOGY, no-ol'o-ji, _n._ the science of the phenomena of the mind, or of
the facts of intellect. [Gr. _noos_, the mind, _logia_, discourse.]
NOON, n[=oo]n, _n._ the ninth hour of the day in Roman and ecclesiastical
reckoning, three o'clock P.M.: afterwards (when the church service for the
ninth hour, called _Nones_, was shifted to midday) midday: twelve o'clock:
middle: height.--_adj._ belonging to midday: meridional.--_v.i._ to rest at
noon.--_n._ NOON'DAY, midday: the time of greatest prosperity.--_adj._
pertaining to midday: meridional.--_ns._ NOON'ING, a rest about noon: a
repast at noon; NOON'TIDE, the tide or time of noon: midday.--_adj._
pertaining to noon: meridional. [A.S. _nón-tíd_ (noontide)--L. _nona_
(_hora_), the ninth (hour).]
NOOSE, n[=oo]s, or n[=oo]z, _n._ a running knot which ties the firmer the
closer it is drawn: a snare or knot generally.--_v.t._ to tie or catch in a
noose. [Prob. O. Fr. _nous_, pl. of _nou_ (Fr. _noeud_)--L. _nodus_, knot.]
NOR, nor, _conj._ and not, a particle introducing the second part of a
negative proposition--correlative to _neither_. [Contr. of
_nother_=_neither_.]
NORIA, n[=o]'ri-a, _n._ a water-raising apparatus in Spain, Syria, and
elsewhere, by means of a large paddle-wheel having fixed to its rim a
series of buckets, a flush-wheel. [Sp.,--Ar.]
NORIMON, nor'i-mon, _n._ a kind of sedan-chair used in Japan. [Jap. _nori_,
ride, _mono_, thing.]
NORLAND, nor'land, _n._ the same as NORTHLAND.
NORM, norm, _n._ a rule: a pattern: an authoritative standard: a type or
typical unit.--_n._ NOR'MA, a rule, model: a square for measuring right
angles.--_adj._ NOR'MAL, according to rule: regular: exact:
perpendicular.--_n._ a perpendicular.--_ns._ NORMALIS[=A]'TION,
NORMAL'ITY.--_v.t._ NOR'MALISE.--_adv._ NOR'MALLY.--_adj._ NOR'MATIVE,
establishing a standard.--NORMAL SCHOOL, a training-college for teachers in
the practice of their profession. [L. _norma_, a rule.]
NORMAN, nor'man, _n._ a native or inhabitant of Normandy: one of that
Scandinavian race which settled in northern France about the beginning of
the 10th century, founded the Duchy of Normandy, and conquered England in
1066--the _Norman Conquest_.--_adj._ pertaining to the Normans or to
Normandy.--_v.t._ NOR'MANISE, to give a Norman character to.--NORMAN
ARCHITECTURE, a round-arched style, a variety of Romanesque, prevalent in
England from the Norman Conquest (1066) till the end of the 12th century,
of massive simplicity, the churches cruciform with semicircular apse and a
great tower rising from the intersection of nave and transept, deeply
recessed doorways, windows small, round-headed, high in wall; NORMAN
FRENCH, a form of French spoken by the Normans, which came into England at
the Norman Conquest, modified the spelling, accent, and pronunciation of
Anglo-Saxon, and enriched it with a large infusion of new words relating to
the arts of life, &c. [_Northmen._]
NORMAN, nor'man, _n._ (_naut._) a bar inserted in a windlass, on which to
fasten or veer a rope or cable.
NORN, norn, _n._ (_Scand. myth._) one of the three fates--Urd, Verdande,
and Skuld.--Also NORN'A.
NORROY, nor'roi, _n._ (_her._) the third of the three English
kings-at-arms, or provincial heralds, whose jurisdiction lies north of the
Trent. [Fr. _nord_, north, _roy_, _roi_, king.]
NORSE, nors, _adj._ pertaining to ancient Scandinavia.--_n._ the language
of ancient Scandinavia--also OLD NORSE.--_n._ NORSE'MAN, a Scandinavian or
Northman. [Ice. _Norskr_; Norw. _Norsk_.]
NORTH, north, _n._ the point opposite the sun at noon: one of the four
cardinal points of the horizon: the side of a church to the left of one
facing the principal altar: that portion of the United States north of the
former slave-holding states--i.e. north of Maryland, the Ohio, and
Missouri.--_adv._ to or in the north.--_ns._ NORTH'-COCK, the snow bunting;
NORTH'-EAST, the point between the north and east, equidistant from
each.--_adj._ belonging to or from the north-east.--_n._ NORTH'-EAST'ER, a
wind from the north-east.--_adjs._ NORTH'-EAST'ERLY, toward or coming from
the north-east; NORTH'-EAST'ERN, belonging to the north-east: being in the
north-east, or in that direction.--_adv._ NORTH'-EAST'WARD, toward the
north-east.--_ns._ NORTH'ER (_th_), a wind or gale from the north, esp.
applied to a cold wind that blows in winter over Texas and the Gulf of
Mexico; NORTH'ERLINESS (_th_), state of being toward the north.--_adj._
NORTH'ERLY (_th_), being toward the north: coming from the north.--_adv._
toward or from the north.--_adj._ NORTH'ERN (_th_), pertaining to the
north: being in the north or in the direction toward it: proceeding from
the north.--_n._ an inhabitant of the north.--_n._ NORTH'ERNER (_th_), a
native of, or resident in, the north, esp. of the northern United
States.--_adjs._ NORTH'ERNMOST (_th_), NORTH'MOST, situate at the point
farthest north.--_ns._ NORTH'ING, motion, distance, or tendency northward:
distance of a heavenly body from the equator northward: difference of
latitude made by a ship in sailing northward: deviation towards the north;
NORTH'MAN, one of the ancient Scandinavians; NORTH'-POLE, the point in the
heavens, or beneath it on the earth's surface, ninety degrees north of the
equator; NORTH'-STAR, the north polar star; NORTHUM'BRIAN, a native of the
modern _Northumberland_, or of the ancient kingdom of _Northumbria_,
stretching from the Humber to the Forth: that variety of English spoken in
Northumbria before the Conquest--also _adj._--_adjs._ NORTH'WARD,
NORTH'WARDLY, being toward the north.--_adv._ toward the north--also
NORTH'WARDS.--_n._ NORTH'-WEST, the point between the north and west,
equidistant from each.--_adj._ pertaining to or from the
north-west.--_adjs._ NORTH'-WEST'ERLY, toward or coming from the
north-west; NORTH'-WEST'ERN, belonging to the north-west: pertaining to, or
being in, the north-west or in that direction.--NORTH WATER, the space of
open sea left by the winter pack of ice moving southward.--NORTH-EAST
PASSAGE, a passage for ships along the north coasts of Europe and Asia to
the Pacific, first made by Nordenskiöld in 1878-79; NORTHERN LIGHTS, the
aurora borealis (q.v.); NORTH-WEST PASSAGE, a sea-way for ships from the
Atlantic into the Pacific along the northern coast of America, first made
by Sir Robert McClure, 1850-54. [A.S. _north_; cf. Ger. _nord_.]
NORWEGIAN, nor-w[=e]'ji-an, _adj._ pertaining to _Norway_--(_Shak._)
NORW[=E]'YAN.--_n._ a native of _Norway_: a kind of fishing-boat on the
Great Lakes.
NOSE, n[=o]z, _n._ the organ of smell: the power of smelling: sagacity: the
projecting part of anything resembling a nose, as the spout of a kettle,
&c.: a drip, a downward projection from a cornice: (_slang_) an
informer.--_v.t._ to smell: to oppose rudely face to face: to sound through
the nose.--_ns._ NOSE'BAG, a bag for a horse's nose, containing oats, &c.;
NOSE'-BAND, the part of the bridle coming over the nose, attached to the
cheek-straps.--_adjs._ NOSED, having a nose--used in composition, as
bottle-_nosed_, long-_nosed_, &c.; NOSE'-LED, led by the nose, ruled and
befooled completely; NOSE'LESS, without a nose.--_ns._ NOSE'-LEAF, a
membranous appendage on the snouts of phyllostomine and rhinolophine bats,
forming a highly sensitive tactile organ; NOSE'-OF-WAX, an over-pliable
person or thing; NOSE'-PIECE, the outer end or point of a pipe, bellows,
&c.: the extremity of the tube of a microscope to which the objective is
attached: a nose-band: the nasal in armour; NOSE'-RING, an ornament worn in
the septum of the nose or in either of its wings; NOS'ING, the projecting
rounded edge of the step of a stair or of a moulding.--AQUILINE NOSE, a
prominent nose, convex in profile; BOTTLE NOSE, a name given to certain
species of cetaceans: an eruption on the nose such as is produced by
intemperate drinking; PUG NOSE, a short turned-up nose; ROMAN NOSE, an
aquiline nose.--HOLD, KEEP, or PUT ONE'S NOSE TO THE GRINDSTONE (see
GRINDSTONE); LEAD BY THE NOSE, to cause to follow blindly; PUT ONE'S NOSE
OUT OF JOINT, to bring down one's pride or sense of importance: to push out
of favour; THRUST ONE'S NOSE INTO, to meddle officiously with anything;
TURN UP ONE'S NOSE (_at_), to express contempt for a person or thing. [A.S.
_nosu_; Ger. _nase_, L. _nasus_.]
NOSEGAY, n[=o]z'g[=a], _n._ a bunch of fragrant flowers: a posy or bouquet.
[From _nose_ and _gay_ (adj.).]
NOSOCOMIAL, nos-[=o]-k[=o]'mi-al, _adj._ relating to a hospital. [Gr.
_nosos_, sickness, _komein_, to take care of.]
NOSOGRAPHY, n[=o]-sog'ra-fi, _n._ the description of diseases.--_adj._
NOSOGRAPH'IC. [Gr. _nosos_, disease, _graphein_, to write.]
NOSOLOGY, nos-ol'o-ji, _n._ the science of diseases: the branch of medicine
which treats of the classification of diseases.--_adj._ NOSOLOG'ICAL.--_n._
NOSOL'OGIST. [Gr. _nosos_, disease, _logia_, discourse.]
NOSONOMY, n[=o]-son'o-mi, _n._ the classification of diseases. [Gr.
_nosos_, a disease, _onoma_, a name.]
NOSOPHOBIA, nos-o-f[=o]'bi-a, _n._ morbid dread of disease. [Gr. _nosos_, a
disease, _phobia_, fear.]
NOSTALGIA, nos-tal'ji-a, _n._ home-sickness, esp. when morbid.--_adj._
NOSTAL'GIC. [Gr. _nostos_, a return, algos, pain.]
NOSTOC, nos'tok, _n._ a genus of Algæ, found in moist places.--Also
_Witches' butter_, _Spittle of the stars_, _Star-jelly_, &c. [Ger.
_nostoch_.]
NOSTOLOGY, nos-tol'o-ji, _n._ the science of the phenomena of extreme old
age or senility in which there is ever seen a return to the characteristics
of the youthful stage.--_adj._ NOSTOLOG'IC. [Gr. _nostos_, return,
_logia_--_legein_, to speak.]
NOSTRADAMUS, nos-tra-d[=a]'mus, _n._ any quack doctor or charlatan--from
the French astrologer (1503-66).
NOSTRIL, nos'tril, _n._ one of the openings of the nose. [M. E.
_nosethirl_--A.S. _nosthyrl_--_nosu_, nose, _thyrel_, opening. Cf. _Drill_,
to pierce, and _Thrill_.]
NOSTRUM, nos'trum, _n._ any secret, quack, or patent medicine: any
favourite remedy or scheme. [L., 'our own,' from _nos_, we.]
NOT, not, _adv._ a word expressing denial, negation, or refusal.--NOT IN IT
(_coll._), having no part in some confidence or advantage. [Same as
_Naught_, from A.S. _ná_, _wiht_, a whit.]
NOTABLE, n[=o]'ta-bl, _adj._ worthy of being known or noted: remarkable:
memorable: distinguished: notorious: capable, clever, industrious.--_n._ a
person or thing worthy of note, esp. in _pl._ for persons of distinction
and political importance in France in pre-Revolution times.--_n.pl._
NOTABIL'IA, things worthy of notice: noteworthy sayings.--_ns._
NOTABIL'ITY, the being notable: a notable person or thing;
N[=O]'TABLENESS.--_adv._ N[=O]'TABLY.
NOTÆUM, n[=o]-t[=e]'um, _n._ the upper surface of a bird's trunk--opp. to
_Gastræum_: a dorsal buckler in some gasteropods. [Gr. _n[=o]tos_, the
back.]
NOTALGIA, n[=o]-tal'ji-a, _n._ pain in the back.--_adj._ NOTAL'GIC. [Gr.
_n[=o]tos_, the back, _algos_, pain.]
NOTANDA, n[=o]-tan'da, _n.pl._ something to be specially noted or
observed:--_sing._ NOTAN'DUM. [L. pl. ger. of _not[=a]re_, to note.]
NOTARY, n[=o]'ta-ri, _n._ an officer authorised to certify deeds,
contracts, copies of documents, affidavits, &c.--generally called a NOTARY
PUBLIC--anciently one who took notes or memoranda of others' acts.--_adj._
NOT[=A]'RIAL.--_adv._ NOT[=A]'RIALLY.--APOSTOLICAL NOTARY, the official who
despatches the orders of the Pope; ECCLESIASTICAL NOTARY, in the early
church, a secretary who recorded the proceedings of councils, &c. [L.
_notarius_.]
NOTATION, n[=o]-t[=a]'shun, _n._ the act or practice of recording by marks
or symbols: a system of signs or symbols.--_adj._ N[=O]'TATE (_bot._),
marked with coloured spots or lines.--CHEMICAL NOTATION (see CHEMISTRY).
[L.,--_not[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_, to mark.]
NOTCH, noch, _n._ a nick cut in anything: an indentation, incision,
incisure: a narrow pass in a rock, or between two mountains.--_v.t._ to cut
a hollow into.--_n._ NOTCH'-BOARD, the board which receives the ends of the
steps of a staircase--also _Bridge-board_.--_adjs._ NOTCH'-EARED, having
emarginate ears, as the notch-eared bat; NOTCHED, nicked.--_n._ NOTCH'ING,
a method of joining framing-timbers, by halving, scarfing, or caulking.
[From a Teut. root, as in Old Dut. _nock_. Cf. _Nick_, a notch.]
NOTCHEL, NOCHEL, noch'el, _v.t._ (_prov._) to repudiate.
NOTE, n[=o]t, _n._ that by which a person or thing is known: a mark or sign
calling attention: a brief explanation: a short remark: a brief report, a
catalogue, a bill: a memorandum: a short letter: a diplomatic paper: a
small size of paper used for writing: (_mus._) a mark representing a sound,
also the sound itself, air, tune, tone, also a digital or key of the
keyboard: a paper acknowledging a debt and promising payment, as a
bank-note, a note of hand: notice, heed, observation: reputation:
fame.--_v.t._ to make a note of: to notice: to attend to: to record in
writing: to furnish with notes.--_n._ NOTE'-BOOK, a book in which notes or
memoranda are written: a bill-book.--_adj._ NOT'ED, marked: well known:
celebrated: eminent: notorious.--_adv._ NOT'EDLY.--_n._ NOT'EDNESS.--_adj._
NOTE'LESS, not attracting notice.--_ns._ NOTE'-P[=A]'PER, folded
writing-paper for letters (_commercial_, 5 × 8 in.; _octavo_, 4½ × 7;
_billet_, 4 × 6; _queen_, 3½ × 5-3/8; _packet_, 5½ × 9; _Bath_, 7 × 8);
NOT'ER, one who notes or observes: one who makes notes, an annotator;
NOTE'-SHAV'ER (_U.S._), a money-lender.--_adj._ NOTE'WORTHY, worthy of note
or of notice.--NOTE A BILL, to record on the back of it a refusal of
acceptance, as a ground of protest. [Fr.,--L. _nota_, _nosc[)e]re_,
_notum_, to know.]
NOTE, n[=o]t (_Spens._), wot or knew not (a contr. of _ne wot_): could not
(a contr. of _ne mote_).
NOTHING, nuth'ing, _n._ no thing: non-existence: absence of being: a low
condition: no value or use: not anything of importance, a trifle: utter
insignificance, no difficulty or trouble: no magnitude: a cipher.--_adv._
in no degree: not at all.--_adj._ and _n._ NOTHING[=A]'RIAN, believing
nothing.--_ns._ NOTHING[=A]'RIANISM; NOTH'ING-GIFT (_Shak._), a gift of no
value; NOTH'INGISM, nihility; NOTH'INGNESS, state of being nothing or of no
value: a thing of no value.--NOTHING BUT, no more than: only; NOTHING LESS
THAN, equal to: as much as.--COME TO NOTHING, to have no result: to turn
out a failure; MAKE NOTHING OF, to consider as of no difficulty or
importance; NECK OR NOTHING (see NECK); NEXT TO NOTHING, almost nothing.
[_No_ and _thing_.]
NOTICE, n[=o]t'is, _n._ act of noting or observing: attention: observation:
information: warning: a writing containing information: public intimation:
civility or respectful treatment: remark.--_v.t._ to mark or see: to regard
or attend to: to mention: to make observations upon: to treat with
civility.--_adj._ NOT'ICEABLE, that can be noticed: worthy of notice:
likely to be noticed.--_adv._ NOT'ICEABLY.--_n._ NOT'ICE-BOARD, a board on
which a notice is fixed.--GIVE NOTICE, to warn beforehand: to inform.
[Fr.,--L. _notitia_--_nosc[)e]re_, _notum_, to know.]
NOTIFY, n[=o]'ti-f[=i], _v.t._ to make known: to declare: to give notice or
information of:--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ n[=o]'tified.--_adj._ N[=O]'TIFIABLE,
that must be made known.--_n._ NOTIFIC[=A]'TION, the act of notifying: the
notice given: the paper containing the notice. [Fr.,--L. _notific[=a]re_,
_-[=a]tum_--_notus_, known, _fac[)e]re_, to make.]
NOTION, n[=o]'shun, _n._ the art of forming a conception in the mind of the
various marks or qualities of an object: the result of this act, a
conception: opinion: belief: judgment: a caprice or whim: any small article
ingeniously devised or invented, usually in _pl._--_adj._ N[=O]'TIONAL, of
the nature of a notion: ideal: fanciful.--_adv._ N[=O]'TIONALLY, in notion
or mental apprehension: in idea, not in reality.--_n._ N[=O]'TIONIST, one
who holds ungrounded opinions. [Fr.,--L. _notion-em_--_nosc[)e]re_,
_notum_, to know.]
NOTITIA, n[=o]-tish'i-a, _n._ a roll, list, register: a catalogue of public
functionaries, with their districts: a list of episcopal sees. [L.; cf.
_Notice_.]
NOTOBRANCHIATE, n[=o]-t[=o]-brang'ki-[=a]t, _adj._ and _n._ having dorsal
gills, belonging to NOTOBRANCHI[=A]'TA, an order of worms having such. [Gr.
_n[=o]tos_, the back, _brangchia_, gills.]
NOTOCHORD, n[=o]'t[=o]-kord, _n._ a simple cellular rod, the basis of the
future spinal column, persisting throughout life in many lower vertebrates,
as the amphioxus, &c.--_adj._ N[=O]'TOCHORDAL. [Gr. _n[=o]tos_, the back,
_chord[=e]_, a string.]
NOTODONTIFORM, n[=o]-t[=o]-don'ti-form, _adj._ resembling a tooth-back or
moth of the family _Notodontidæ_. [Gr. _n[=o]tos_, back, _odous_, tooth, L.
_forma_, form.]
NOTONECTAL, n[=o]-t[=o]-nek'tal, _adj._ swimming on the back, as certain
insects: related to the _Notonectidæ_, a family of aquatic bugs, the
boat-flies or water-boatmen. [Gr. _n[=o]tos_, the back, _n[=e]kt[=e]s_, a
swimmer.]
NOTOPODAL, n[=o]-top'[=o]-dal, _adj._ pertaining to the NOTOP'ODA, a
division of decapods, including the dromioid crabs, &c.--Also NOTOP'ODOUS.
[Gr. _n[=o]tos_, the back, _pous_, _podos_, the foot.]
NOTOPODIUM, n[=o]-t[=o]-p[=o]'di-um, _n._ the dorsal or upper part of the
parapodium of an annelid, a dorsal oar.--_adj._ NOTOP[=O]'DIAL. [Gr.
_n[=o]tos_, the back, _pous_, _podos_, the foot.]
NOTORIOUS, no-t[=o]'ri-us, _adj._ publicly known (now used in a bad sense):
infamous.--_n._ NOTOR[=I]'ETY, state of being notorious: publicity: public
exposure.--_adv._ NOT[=O]'RIOUSLY.--_n._ NOT[=O]'RIOUSNESS. [Low L.
_notorius_--_not[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_, to mark--_nosc[)e]re_.]
NOTORNIS, n[=o]-tor'nis, _n._ a genus of gigantic ralline birds, with wings
so much reduced as to be incapable of flight, which have within historical
times become extinct in New Zealand, &c. [Gr. _n[=o]tos_, the south,
_ornis_, a bird.]
NOTOTHERIUM, n[=o]-t[=o]-th[=e]'ri-um, _n._ a genus of gigantic fossil
kangaroo-like marsupials, found in Australia. [Gr. _n[=o]tos_, the south,
_th[=e]rion_, a wild beast.]
NOTOTREMA, n[=o]-t[=o]-tr[=e]'ma, _n._ the pouch-toads, a genus of
_Hylidæ_.--_adj._ NOTOTREM'ATOUS. [Gr. _n[=o]tos_, the back, _tr[=e]ma_, a
hole.]
NOTOUR, no-t[=oo]r', _adj._ (_Scot._) well known, notorious.
NOTT-HEADED, not'-hed'ed, _adj._ (_Shak._) having the hair cut
bare.--NOTT'-PAT'ED. [A.S. _hnot_, shorn.]
NOTUM, n[=o]'tum, _n._ the dorsal aspect of the thorax in insects. [Gr.
_n[=o]tos_, the back.]
NOTUS, n[=o]'tus, _n._ the south or south-west wind. [L.]
NOTWITHSTANDING, not-with-stand'ing, _prep._ in spite of.--_conj._ in spite
of the fact that, although.--_adv._ nevertheless, however, yet. [Orig. a
participial phrase in nominative absolute=L. _non obstante_.]
NOUGAT, n[=oo]-gä', _n._ a confection made of a sweet paste filled with
chopped almonds or pistachio-nuts. [Fr. (cf. Sp. _nogado_, an
almond-cake)--L. _nux_, _nucis_, a nut.]
NOUGHT, nawt, _n._ not anything: nothing.--_adv._ in no degree.--SET AT
NOUGHT, to despise. [Same as _Naught_.]
NOUL, n[=o]l, _n._ (_Spens._) the top of the head. [A.S. _hnoll_, top or
summit.]
NOULD, n[=oo]ld (_Spens._), would not. [A contr. of _ne would_.]
NOUMENON, n[=oo]'me-non, _n._ an unknown and unknowable substance or thing
as it is in itself--opp. to _Phenomenon_, or the form through which it
becomes known to the senses or the understanding:--_pl._ NOU'MENA.--_adj._
NOU'MENAL. [Gr. _noumenon_, pa.p. of _noein_, to perceive--_nous_, the
mind.]
NOUN, nown, _n._ (_gram._) the name of any person or thing.--_adj._
NOUN'AL. [O. Fr. _non_ (Fr. _nom_)--L. _nomen_, name.]
NOURICE, nur'is, _n._ (_Spens._) a nurse. [_Nurse._]
NOURISH, nur'ish, _v.t._ to suckle: to feed or bring up: to support: to
help forward growth in any way: to encourage: to cherish: to
educate.--_adjs._ NOUR'ISHABLE, able to be nourished.--_n._
NOUR'ISHER.--_adj._ NOUR'ISHING, giving nourishment.--_n._ NOUR'ISHMENT,
the act of nourishing or the state of being nourished: that which
nourishes: nutriment. [O. Fr. _norir_ (Fr. _nourrir_)--L. _nutr[=i]re_, to
feed.]
NOURSLE, nurs'l, _v.t._ to nurse: to bring up.--Also NOUS'LE. [_Nuzzle._]
NOUS, nows, _n._ intellect: talent: common-sense. [Gr.]
NOVACULITE, n[=o]-vak'[=u]-l[=i]t, _n._ a hone-stone.
NOVALIA, n[=o]-v[=a]'li-a, _n.pl._ (_Scots law_) waste lands newly
reclaimed.
NOVATIAN, n[=o]-v[=a]'shi-an, _adj._ of or pertaining to _Novatianus_, who
had himself ordained Bishop of Rome in opposition to Cornelius (251), and
headed the party of severity against the lapsed in the controversy about
their treatment that arose after the Decian persecution.--_ns._
NOV[=A]'TIANISM; NOV[=A]'TIANIST.
NOVATION, n[=o]-v[=a]'shun, _n._ the substitution of a new obligation for
the one existing: innovation.
NOVEL, nov'el, _adj._ new: unusual: strange.--_n._ that which is new: a new
or supplemental constitution or decree, issued by certain Roman emperors,
as Justinian, after their authentic publications of law (also NOVELL'A): a
fictitious prose narrative or tale presenting a picture of real life, esp.
of the emotional crises in the life-history of the men and women
portrayed.--_n._ NOVELETTE', a small novel.--_v.t._ NOV'ELISE, to change by
introducing novelties: to put into the form of novels.--_v.i._ to make
innovations.--_n._ NOV'ELIST, a novel-writer: an innovator.--_adj._
NOVELIST'IC.--_n._ NOV'ELTY, newness: unusual appearance: anything new,
strange, or different from anything before:--_pl._ NOV'ELTIES. [O. Fr.
_novel_ (Fr. _nouveau_)--L. _novellus_--_novus_.]
NOVEMBER, n[=o]-vem'b[.e]r, _n._ the eleventh month of our year. [The
_ninth_ month of the Roman year; L., from _novem_, nine.]
NOVENA, n[=o]-v[=e]'na, _n._ a devotion lasting nine days, to obtain a
particular request, through the intercession of the Virgin or some saint.
[L. _novenus_, nine each, _novem_, nine.]
NOVENARY, nov'en-a-ri, _adj._ pertaining to the number nine.--_adj._
NOVENE', going by nines. [L. _novenarius_--_novem_, nine.]
NOVENNIAL, n[=o]-ven'yal, _adj._ done every ninth year. [L.
_novennis_--_novem_, nine, _annus_, a year.]
NOVERCAL, n[=o]-v[.e]r'kal, _adj_. pertaining to or befitting a stepmother.
[L. _novercalis_--_noverca_, a stepmother.]
NOVERINT, nov'e-rint, _n._ a writ--beginning with the words _noverint
universi_--let all men know. [3d pers. pl. perf. subj. of _nosc[)e]re_, to
know.]
NOVICE, nov'is, _n._ one new in anything: a beginner: one newly received
into the church: an inmate of a convent or nunnery who has not yet taken
the vow.--_ns._ NOV'ICESHIP; NOVI'CIATE, NOVI'TIATE, the state of being a
novice: the period of being a novice: a novice. [Fr.,--L.
_novitius_--_novus_, new.]
NOVUM, n[=o]'vum, _n._ (_Shak._) a certain game at dice, in which the chief
throws were nine and five.
NOVUS HOMO, nov'us hom'o, _n._ a new man: one who has risen from a low
position to a high dignity.
NOW, now, _adv._ at the present time: at this time or a little
before.--_conj._ but: after this: things being so.--_n._ the present
time.--_advs._ NOW'ADAYS, in days now present.--NOW--NOW, at one time--at
another time. [A.S. _nú_; Ger. _nun_, L. _nunc_, Gr. _nun_.]
NOWEL, NOËL, n[=o]'el, _n._ Christmas: a joyous shout or song at Christmas:
a Christmas carol. [O. Fr. _nowel_, _noel_ (mod. Fr. _noël_; cf. Sp.
_natal_, It. _natale_)--L. _natalis_, belonging to one's birthday.]
NOWHERE, n[=o]'hw[=a]r, _adv._ in no where or place: at no time.--_adv._
N[=O]'WHITHER, not any whither: to no place: in no direction: nowhere.
NOWL, nowl, _n._ (_Shak._). Same as NOUL.
NOWT, nowt, _n._ (_Scot._) cattle.--Also NOUT. [_Neat._]
NOWY, now'i, _adj._ (_her._) having a convex curvature near the
middle.--Also NOWED. [O. Fr. _noue_--L. _nudatus_, knotted.]
NOXIOUS, nok'shus, _adj._ hurtful: unwholesome: injurious: destructive:
poisonous.--_adj._ NOX'AL, relating to wrongful injury.--_adv._
NOX'IOUSLY.--_n._ NOX'IOUSNESS. [L. _noxius_--_noxa_, hurt--_noc[=e]re_, to
hurt.]
NOY, noi, _v.t._ (_Spens._). Same as ANNOY.
NOYADE, nwa-yad', _n._ an infamous mode of drowning by means of a boat with
movable bottom, practised by Carrier at Nantes, 1793-94. [Fr.,--_noyer_, to
drown.]
NOYANCE, noi'ans, _n._ Same as ANNOYANCE.
NOYAU, nwo-y[=o]', _n._ a liqueur flavoured with kernels of bitter almonds
or of peach-stones. [Fr., the stone of a fruit--L. _nucalis_, like a
nut--_nux_, _nucis_, a nut.]
NOYOUS, noi'us, _adj._ (_Spens._) serving to annoy: troublesome: hurtful.
[_Annoy._]
NOYSOME, noi'sum, _adj._ (_Spens._) noisome (q.v.).
NOZZLE, noz'l, _n._ a little nose: the snout: the extremity of anything:
the open end of a pipe or tube, as of a bellows, &c. [Dim. of _nose_.]
NUANCE, n[=u]-ans', _n._ a delicate degree or shade of difference perceived
by any of the senses, or by the intellect. [Fr.,--L. _nubes_, a cloud.]
NUB, nub, _v.t._ (_prov._) to push: beckon: hang.
NUB, nub, _n._ a knob, knot: point, gist.--_adjs._ NUB'BLY, full of knots;
NUB'BY, lumpy, dirty.
NUBBLE, nub'l, _v.t._ to beat with the fist.
NUBECULA, n[=u]-bek'[=u]-la, _n._ a light film on the eye: a cloudy
appearance in urine:--_pl._ NUBEC'ULÆ.
NUBIFEROUS, n[=u]-bif'e-rus, _adj._ bringing clouds.--_adjs._
N[=U]BIG'ENOUS, produced by clouds; N[=U]'BILOUS, cloudy,
overcast--(_obs._) N[=U]'BILOSE.
NUBILE, n[=u]'bil, _adj._ marriageable.--_n._ NUBIL'ITY. [L.
_nubilis_--_nub[)e]re_, to veil one's self, hence to marry.]
NUCELLUS, n[=u]-sel'us, _n._ the nucleus of the ovule.
NUCHAL, n[=u]'kal, _adj._ pertaining to the N[=U]'CHA or nape.
NUCIFORM, n[=u]s'i-form, _adj._ nut-shaped.--_adj._ NUCIF'EROUS,
nut-bearing. [L. _nux_, _nucis_, nut, _forma_, form.]
NUCIFRAGA, n[=u]-sif'ra-ga, _n._ a genus of corvine birds, between crows
and jays, the nutcrackers.
NUCLEUS, n[=u]'kl[=e]-us, _n._ the central mass round which matter gathers:
(_astron._) the head of a comet:--_pl._ NUCLEI
(n[=u]'kl[=e]-[=i]).--_adjs._ N[=U]'CL[=E]AL, N[=U]'CL[=E]AR, pertaining to
a nucleus.--_v.t._ N[=U]'CL[=E][=A]TE, to gather into or around a
nucleus.--_adjs._ N[=U]'CL[=E]ATE, -D, having a nucleus;
N[=U]'CL[=E]IFORM.--_ns._ N[=U]'CL[=E]IN, a colourless amorphous proteid, a
constituent of cell-nuclei; N[=U]'CLEOBRANCH, one of an order of molluscs
which have the gills packed in the shell along with the heart:--_pl._
NUCLEOBRANCHI[)A]'TA; N[=U]'CL[=E][=O]LE, a little nucleus: a nucleus
within a nucleus--also NUCL[=E]'OLUS:--_pl._ NUCL[=E]'OLI. [L.,--_nux_,
_nucis_, a nut.]
NUCULE, n[=u]k'[=u]l, _n._ a little nut: in _Characeæ_ the female sexual
organ. [L. _nucula_, dim. of _nux_, _nucis_, a nut.]
NUDE, n[=u]d, _adj._ naked: bare: without drapery, as a statue: void, as a
contract.--_n._ N[=U]D[=A]'TION, act of making bare.--_adv._
N[=U]DE'LY.--_ns._ N[=U]DE'NESS, N[=U]'DITY, nakedness: want of covering:
anything laid bare.--_adjs._ NUDIFL[=O]'ROUS, having the flowers destitute
of hairs, glands, &c.; N[=U]DIF[=O]'LIOUS, having bare or smooth leaves;
N[=U]DIROS'TRATE, having the rostrum naked.--_n.pl._ N[=U]'DITIES, naked
parts: figures divested of drapery.--THE NUDE, the undraped human figure as
a branch of art. [L. _nudus_, naked.]
NUDGE, nuj, _n._ a gentle push.--_v.t._ to push gently. [Cf. _Knock_,
_Knuckle_; Dan. _knuge_.]
NUDIBRANCH, n[=u]'di-brangk, _n._ one of an order of gasteropods having no
shell, and with the gills exposed on the surface of the body:--_pl._
NUDIBRANCHI[=A]'TA. [L. _nudus_, naked, _branchiæ_, gills.]
NUGATORY, n[=u]'ga-tor-i, _adj._ trifling: vain: insignificant: of no
power: ineffectual. [L. _nugatorius_,--_nugæ_, jokes, trifles.]
NUGGET, nug'et, _n._ a lump or mass, as of a metal. [Prob. _ingot_, with
the _n_ of the article.]
NUISANCE, n[=u]'sans, _n._ that which annoys or hurts: that which troubles:
that which is offensive.--_n._ N[=U]'ISANCER. [Fr.,--L. _noc[=e]re_, to
hurt.]
NULL, nul, _adj._ of no legal force: void: invalid: of no importance.--_n._
something of no value or meaning, a cipher: a bead-like raised
work.--_v.t._ to annul, nullify.--_v.i._ to kink: to form nulls, or into
nulls, as in a lathe.--NULLED WORK, woodwork turned by means of a lathe so
as to form a series of connected knobs--for rounds of chairs, &c. [L.
_nullus_, not any, from _ne_, not, _ullus_, any.]
NULLAH, nul'a, _n._ a dry water-course.
NULLA-NULLA, nul'a-nul'a, _n._ an Australian's hard-wood club.
NULLIFIDIAN, nul-i-fid'i-an, _adj._ having no faith.--_n._ a person in such
a condition. [L. _nullus_, none, _fides_, faith.]
NULLIFY, nul'i-f[=i], _v.t._ to make null: to annul: to render void or of
no force:--_pr.p._ null'ifying; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ null'ified.--_ns._
NULLIFIC[=A]'TION, a rendering void or of none effect, esp. (_U.S._) of a
contract by one of the parties, or of a law by one legislature which has
been passed by another; NULL'IFIER; NULL'ITY, the state of being null or
void: nothingness: want of existence, force, or efficacy.
NULLIPARA, nul-lip'a-ra, _n._ a woman who has never given birth to a child,
esp. if not a virgin.--_adj._ NULLIP'AROUS.
NULLIPENNATE, nul-i-pen'[=a]t, _adj._ having no flight-feathers, as a
penguin.
NULLIPORE, nul'i-p[=o]r, _n._ a small coral-like seaweed.--_adj._
NULL'IPOROUS.
NUMB, num, _adj._ deprived of sensation or motion: powerless to feel or
act: stupefied: motionless: (_Shak._) causing numbness.--_v.t._ to make
numb: to deaden: to render motionless:--_pr.p._ numbing (num'ing); _pa.p._
numbed (numd).--_adj._ NUMB'-COLD (_Shak._), numbed with cold: causing
numbness.--_n._ NUMB'NESS, state of being numb: condition of living body in
which it has lost the power of feeling: torpor. [A.S. _numen_, pa.p. of
_niman_, to take; so Ice. _numinn_, bereft.]
NUMBER, num'b[.e]r, _n._ that by which things are counted or computed: a
collection of things: more than one: a unit in counting: a numerical
figure: the measure of multiplicity: sounds distributed into harmonies:
metre, verse, esp. in _pl._: (_gram._) the difference in words to express
singular or plural: (_pl._) the fourth book of the Old Testament.--_v.t._
to count: to reckon as one of a multitude: to mark with a number: to amount
to.--_n._ NUM'BERER.--_adj._ NUM'BERLESS, without number: more than can be
counted.--_ns._ NUMERABIL'ITY, N[=U]'MERABLENESS.--_adj._ N[=U]'MERABLE,
that may be numbered or counted.--_adv._ N[=U]'MERABLY.--_adj._
N[=U]'MERAL, pertaining to, consisting of, or expressing number.--_n._ a
figure or mark used to express a number, as 1, 2, 3, &c.: (_gram._) a word
used to denote a number.--_adv._ N[=U]'MERALLY, according to
number.--_adj._ N[=U]'MERARY, belonging to a certain number: contained
within or counting as one of a body or a number--opp. to
_Supernumerary_.--_v.t._ N[=U]'MER[=A]TE, to point off and read as figures:
(_orig._) to enumerate, to number.--_ns._ N[=U]MER[=A]'TION, act of
numbering: the art of reading numbers, and expressing their values;
N[=U]'MER[=A]TOR, one who numbers: the upper number of a vulgar fraction,
which expresses the number of fractional parts taken.--_adjs._ N[=U]MER'IC,
-AL, belonging to, or consisting in, number: the same both in number and
kind.--_adv._ N[=U]MER'ICALLY.--_n._ N[=U]MEROS'ITY, numerousness:
harmonious flow.--_adj._ N[=U]'MEROUS, great in number: being many.--_adv._
N[=U]'MEROUSLY.--_n._ N[=U]'MEROUSNESS. [Fr. _nombre_--L. _numerus_,
number.]
NUMBLES, num'bls, _n.pl._ the entrails of a deer. See UMBLES.
NUMEROTAGE, n[=u]-me-r[=o]-täzh', _n._ the numbering of yarns so as to
denote their fineness. [Fr.]
NUMISMATIC, n[=u]-mis-mat'ik, _adj._ pertaining to money, coins, or
medals.--_n.sing._ N[=U]MISMAT'ICS, the science of coins and medals.--_ns._
N[=U]MIS'MATIST, one having a knowledge of coins and medals;
N[=U]MISMATOG'RAPHY, description of coins; NUMISMATOL'OGIST, one versed in
numismatology; N[=U]MISMATOL'OGY, the science of coins and medals in
relation to history. [L. _numisma_--Gr. _nomisma_, current
coin--_nomizein_, to use commonly--_nomos_, custom.]
NUMMARY, num'a-ri, _adj._ relating to coins or money.--_adjs._ NUMM'IFORM,
shaped like a coin; NUMM'[=U]LAR, NUMM'[=U]LARY, NUMM'[=U]L[=A]TED,
NUMM'[=U]LINE, pertaining to coins: like a coin in shape;
NUMM'[=U]LIFORM.--_n._ NUMM'[=U]LITE, a fossil shell resembling a
coin.--_adj._ NUMMULIT'IC. [L. _nummus_, a coin.]
NUMSKULL, num'skul, _n._ a stupid fellow: a blockhead.--_adj._ NUM'SKULLED.
[From _numb_ and _skull_.]
NUN, nun, _n._ a female who, under a vow, secludes herself in a religious
house, to give her time to devotion: (_zool._) a kind of pigeon with the
feathers on its head like the hood of a nun.--_ns._ NUN'-BUOY, a buoy
somewhat in the form of a double cone; NUN'NERY, a house for nuns.--_adj._
NUN'NISH.--_ns._ NUN'NISHNESS; NUN'S'-VEIL'ING, a woollen cloth, soft and
thin, used by women for veils and dresses. [A.S. _nunne_--Low L. _nunna_,
_nonna_, a nun, an old maiden lady, the orig. sig. being 'mother;' cf. Gr.
_nann[=e]_, aunt, Sans. _nan[=a]_, a child's word for 'mother.']
NUNC DIMITTIS, nungk di-mit'tis, _n._ 'now lettest thou depart:' the name
given to the song of Simeon (Luke, ii. 29-32) in the R.C. Breviary and the
Anglican evening service--from the opening words.
NUNCHEON, nun'shun, _n._ a luncheon. [Prob. a corr. of _luncheon_, with
some reference to _noon_.]
NUNCIO, nun'shi-o, _n._ a messenger: one who brings tidings: an ambassador
from the Pope to an emperor or a king.--_n._ NUN'CI[=A]T[=U]RE, the office
of a nuncio. [It.,--L. _nuncius_, a messenger, one who brings news--prob. a
contr. of _noventius_; cf. _novus_, new.]
NUNCLE, nung'kl, _n._ (_Shak._) a contr. of _mine uncle_.
NUNCUPATIVE, nung'k[=u]-p[=a]-tiv, _adj._ declaring publicly or solemnly:
(_law_) verbal, not written, as a will--also NUN'C[=U]P[=A]TORY.--_v.t._
and _v.i._ NUN'CUPATE, to declare solemnly: to declare orally.--_n._
NUNC[=U]P[=A]'TION. [Fr.,--Low L. _nuncupativus_, nominal--L.
_nuncup[=a]re_, to call by name--prob. from _nomen_, name, _cap[)e]re_, to
take.]
NUNDINAL, nun'di-nal, _adj._ pertaining to a fair or market.--Also
NUN'DINARY. [L. _nundinæ_, the market-day, properly the ninth day--i.e.
from the preceding market-day, both days inclusive--_novem_, nine, _dies_,
a day.]
NUPHAR, n[=u]'fär, _n._ a genus of yellow water-lilies, the _Nymphæa_.
NUPTIAL, nup'shal, _adj._ pertaining to marriage: constituting
marriage.--_n.pl._ NUP'TIALS, marriage: wedding ceremony. [Fr.,--L.
_nuptialis_--_nuptiæ_, marriage--_nub[)e]re_, _nuptum_, to marry.]
NUR, nur, _n._ a knot or knob in wood. See KNURR.
NURL, nurl, _v.t._ to mill or indent on the edge.--_ns._ NURL'ING, the
milling of a coin: the series of indentations on the edge of some
screw-heads: zigzag ornamental engraving; NURL'ING-TOOL.
NURSE, nurs, _n._ a woman who nourishes an infant: a mother while her
infant is at the breast: one who has the care of infants or of the sick:
(_hort._) a shrub or tree which protects a young plant.--_v.t._ to tend, as
an infant or a sick person: to bring up: to cherish: to manage with care
and economy: to play skilfully, as billiard-balls, in order to get them
into the position one wants.--_adj._ NURSE'LIKE (_Shak._), like or becoming
a nurse.--_ns._ NURSE'MAID, a girl who takes care of children; NURS'ER, one
who nurses: one who promotes growth; NURS'ERY, place for nursing: an
apartment for young children: a place where the growth of anything is
promoted: (_hort._) a piece of ground where plants are reared;
NURS'ERY-GOV'ERNESS; NURS'ERYMAID, a nurse-maid; NURS'ERYMAN, a man who
owns or works a nursery: one who is employed in cultivating plants, &c.,
for sale; NURS'ING-FA'THER (_B._), a foster-father; NURS'LING, that which
is nursed: an infant. [O. Fr. _norrice_ (Fr. _nourrice_)--L.
_nutrix_--_nutr[=i]re_, to nourish.]
NURTURE, nurt'[=u]r, _n._ act of nursing or nourishing: nourishment:
education: instruction.--_v.t._ to nourish: to bring up: to educate.--_n._
NURT'URER. [O. Fr. _noriture_ (Fr. _nourriture_)--Low L. _nutritura_--L.
_nutr[=i]re_, to nourish.]
NUT, nut, _n._ the name popularly given to all those fruits which have the
seed enclosed in a bony, woody, or leathery pericarp, not opening when
ripe: (_bot._) a one-celled fruit, with a hardened pericarp, containing,
when mature, only one seed: often the hazel-nut, sometimes the walnut: a
small block of metal for screwing on the end of a bolt.--_v.i._ to gather
nuts:--_pr.p._ nut'ting; _pa.p._ nut'ted.--_adj._ NUT'-BROWN, brown, like a
ripe old nut.--_ns._ NUT'CRACKER, an instrument for cracking nuts: a genus
of birds of the family _Corvidæ_; NUT'-GALL, an excrescence, chiefly of the
oak; NUT'HATCH, a genus of birds of the family _Sittidæ_, agile
creepers--also NUT'JOBBER, NUT'PECKER; NUT'-HOOK, a stick with a hook at
the end for pulling down boughs that the nuts may be gathered: a bailiff, a
thief who uses a hook; NUT'MEAL, meal made from the kernels of nuts;
NUT'-OIL, an oil obtained from walnuts; NUT'-PINE, one of several pines
with large edible seeds; NUT'SHELL, the hard substance that encloses the
kernel of a nut: anything of little value; NUT'TER, one who gathers nuts;
NUT'TINESS; NUT'TING, the gathering of nuts; NUT'-TREE, any tree bearing
nuts, esp. the hazel.--_adj._ NUT'TY, abounding in nuts: having the flavour
of nuts.--_n._ NUT'-WRENCH, an instrument for fixing on nuts or removing
them from screws.--A NUT TO CRACK, a difficult problem to solve; BE NUTS ON
(_slang_), to be very fond of; IN A NUTSHELL, in small compass. [A.S.
_hnutu_; Ice. _hnot_, Dut. _noot_, Ger. _nuss_.]
NUTANT, n[=u]'tant, _adj._ nodding: (_bot._) having the top of the stem of
the flower-cluster bent downward.--_n._ N[=U]T[=A]'TION, a nodding:
(_astron._) a periodical and constant change of the angle made by the
earth's axis, with the ecliptic, caused by the attraction of the moon on
the greater mass of matter round the equator: (_bot._) the turning of
flowers towards the sun. [L. _nut[=a]re_, to nod.]
NUTMEG, nut'meg, _n._ the aromatic kernel of an East Indian tree, much used
as a seasoning in cookery.--_adj._ NUT'MEGGED; NUT'MEGGY. [M. E.
_notemuge_, a hybrid word formed from _nut_, and O. Fr. _muge_, musk--L.
_muscus_, musk.]
NUTRIA, n[=u]'tri-a, _n._ the fur of the coypou, a South American beaver.
[Sp.,--L. _lutra_, an otter.]
NUTRIMENT, n[=u]'tri-ment, _n._ that which nourishes: that which helps
forward growth or development: food.--_adj._ N[=U]'TRIENT,
nourishing.--_n._ anything nourishing.--_adj._ N[=U]'TRIMENTAL, having the
quality of nutriment or food: nutritious.--_n._ N[=U]TRI'TION, act of
nourishing: process of promoting the growth of bodies: that which
nourishes: nutriment.--_adjs._ N[=U]TRI'TIONAL; N[=U]TRI'TIOUS, nourishing:
promoting growth.--_adv._ N[=U]TRI'TIOUSLY.--_n._
N[=U]TRI'TIOUSNESS.--_adjs._ N[=U]'TRITIVE, N[=U]'TRITORY, nourishing:
concerned in nutrition.--_adv._ N[=U]'TRITIVELY.--_ns._ N[=U]'TRITIVENESS;
N[=U]TRIT[=O]'RIUM, the nutritive apparatus. [L.
_nutrimentum_--_nutr[=i]re_, to nourish.]
NUX VOMICA, nuks vom'ik-a, _n._ the seed of an East Indian tree, from which
the powerful poison known as strychnine is obtained. [L. _nux_, a nut,
_vomicus_, from _vom[)e]re_, to vomit.]
NUZZER, nuz'[.e]r, _n._ a present made to a superior. [Ind.]
NUZZLE, nuz'l, _v.i._ to rub the nose against: to fondle closely, to
cuddle: to nurse or rear.--_v.t._ to touch with the nose: to go with the
nose toward the ground.--Also NOUS'LE. [A freq. verb from _nose_.]
NYANZA, ni-an'za, _n._ a sheet of water, marsh, the river feeding a lake.
[Afr.]
NYAS. See EYAS.
NYCTALA, nik'ta-la, _n._ a genus of owls of family _Strigidæ_.
NYCTALOPIA, nik-ta-l[=o]'pi-a, _n._ the defective vision of persons who can
see in a faint light but not in bright daylight: sometimes applied to the
opposite defect, inability to see save in a strong daylight--also
NYC'TALOPY.--_n._ NYC'TALOPS, one affected with nyctalopia. [Gr.
_nyktal[=o]ps_, seeing by night only--_nyx_, _nyktos_, night, _[=o]ps_,
vision.]
NYCTITROPISM, nik'ti-tr[=o]-pizm, _n._ the so-called sleep of plants, the
habit of taking at night certain positions unlike those during the
day.--_adj._ NYCTITROP'IC. [Gr. _nyx_, night, _tropos_, a turn.]
NYLGHAU, nil'gaw, _n._ a large species of antelope, in North Hindustan, the
males of which are of a bluish colour. [Pers. _níl gáw_--_níl_, blue,
_gáw_, ox, cow.]
NYMPH, nimf, _n._ a young and beautiful maiden: (_myth._) one of the
beautiful goddesses who inhabited mountains, rivers, trees, &c.--_adjs._
NYMPH'AL, relating to nymphs; NYMPH[=E]'AN, pertaining to nymphs: inhabited
by nymphs; NYMPH'IC, -AL, pertaining to nymphs; NYMPH'ISH, NYMPH'LY,
nymph-like; NYMPH'-LIKE.--_ns._ NYMPH'OLEPSY, a species of ecstasy or
frenzy said to have seized those who had seen a nymph; NYMPH'OLEPT, a
person in frenzy.--_adj._ NYMPHOLEPT'IC.--_ns._ NYMPHOM[=A]'NIA, morbid and
uncontrollable sexual desire in women; NYMPHOM[=A]'NIAC, a woman affected
with the foregoing.--_adjs._ NYMPHOM[=A]'NIAC, -AL. [Fr.,--L. _nympha_--Gr.
_nymph[=e]_, a bride.]
NYMPH, nimf, NYMPHA, nimf'a, _n._ the pupa or chrysalis of an
insect.--_n.pl._ NYMPHÆ (nimf'[=e]), the labia minora.--_adj._
NYMPHIP'AROUS, producing pupæ.--_ns._ NYMPH[=I]'TIS, inflammation of the
nymphæ; NYMPHOT'OMY, the excision of the nymphæ.
NYMPHÆA, nim-f[=e]'a, _n._ a genus of water-plants, with beautiful fragrant
flowers, including the water-lily, Egyptian lotus, &c. [L. _nympha_, a
nymph.]
NYS, nis (_Spens._), none is. [_Ne_, not, and _is_.]
NYSTAGMUS, nis-tag'mus, _n._ a spasmodic, lateral, oscillatory movement of
the eyes, found in miners, &c. [Gr., _nystazein_, to nap.]
NYULA, ni-[=u]'la, _n._ an ichneumon.
* * * * *
O the fifteenth letter and fourth vowel of our alphabet, its sound
intermediate between _a_ and _u_--with three values in English, the
name-sound heard in _note_, the shorter sound heard in _not_, and the
neutral vowel heard in _son_: as a numeral, 'nothing,' or 'zero' (formerly
O=11, and ([=O])=11,000): (_chem._) the symbol of oxygen: anything round or
nearly so (_pl._ O'S, OES, pron. [=o]z).
O, OH, [=o], _interj._ an exclamation of wonder, pain, desire, fear, &c.
The form _oh_ is the more usual in prose.--O HONE! OCH HONE! an Irish
exclamation of lamentation. [A.S. _eá_.]
O, usually written o', an abbrev. for _of_ and _on_.
OAF, [=o]f, _n._ a foolish or deformed child left by the fairies in place
of another: a dolt, an idiot.--_adj._ OAF'ISH, idiotic, doltish. [_Elf._]
OAK, [=o]k, _n._ a tree of about 300 species, the most famous the British
oak, valued for its timber in shipbuilding, &c.--_ns._ OAK'-APP'LE, a
spongy substance on the leaves of the oak, caused by insects--also
OAK'LEAF-GALL; OAK'-BARK, the bark of some species of oak used in
tanning.--_adjs._ OAK'-CLEAV'ING (_Shak._), cleaving oaks; OAK'EN,
consisting or made of oak.--_ns._ OAK'-GALL, a gall produced on the oak;
OAK'-LEATH'ER, a fungus mycelium in the fissures of old oaks; OAK'LING, a
young oak; OAK'-P[=A]'PER, paper for wall-hangings veined like oak.--_adj._
OAK'Y, like oak, firm.--OAK-APPLE DAY, the 29th of May, the anniversary of
the Restoration in 1660, when country boys used to wear oak-apples in
commemoration of Charles II. skulking in the branches of an oak (the ROYAL
OAK) from Cromwell's troopers after Worcester.--SPORT ONE'S OAK, in English
university slang, to signify that one does not wish visitors by closing the
outer door of one's rooms; THE OAKS, one of the three great English
races--for mares--the others being the Derby and St Leger. [A.S. _ác_; Ice.
_eik_, Ger. _eiche_.]
OAKER, [=o]k'[.e]r, _n._ (_Spens._) ochre.
OAKUM, [=o]k'um, _n._ old ropes untwisted and teased into loose hemp for
caulking the seams of ships. [A.S. _ácumba_, _['æ]cemba_--_cemban_, to
comb.]
OAR, [=o]r, _n._ a light pole with a flat feather or spoon-shaped end (the
_blade_) for propelling a boat: an oar-like appendage for swimming, as the
antennæ of an insect or crustacean, &c.: an oarsman.--_v.t._ to impel by
rowing.--_v.i._ to row.--_n._ OAR'AGE, oars collectively.--_adj._ OARED,
furnished with oars.--_ns._ OAR'LAP, a rabbit with its ears standing out at
right-angles to the head; OAR'-LOCK, a rowlock; OARS'MAN, one who rows with
an oar; OARS'MANSHIP, skill in rowing.--_adj._ OAR'Y, having the form or
use of oars.--BOAT OARS, to bring the oars inboard; FEATHER OARS, to turn
the blades parallel to the water when reaching back for another stroke; LIE
ON THE OARS, to cease rowing without shipping the oars: to rest, take
things easily: to cease from work; PUT IN ONE'S OAR, to give advice when
not wanted; SHIP, or UNSHIP, OARS, to place the oars in the rowlocks, or to
take them out. [A.S. _ár_.]
OARIUM, [=o]-[=a]'ri-um, _n._ an ovary or ovarium.
OASIS, [=o]-[=a]'sis, _n._ a fertile spot in a sandy desert: any place of
rest or pleasure in the midst of toil and gloom:--_pl._ OASES
([=o]-[=a]'s[=e]z). [L.,--Gr. _oasis_, an Egyptian word; cf. Coptic
_ouahe_.]
OAST, [=o]st, _n._ a kiln to dry hops or malt.--_n._ OAST'-HOUSE. [A.S.
_ást_.]
OAT, [=o]t (oftener in _pl._ OATS, [=o]ts), _n._ a well-known grassy plant,
the seeds of which are much used as food: its seeds: a musical pipe of
oat-straw: a shepherd's pipe, pastoral song generally.--_n._ OAT'CAKE, a
thin broad cake made of oatmeal.--_adj._ OAT'EN, consisting of an oat stem
or straw: made of oatmeal.--_ns._ OAT'-GRASS, two species of oat, useful
more as fodder than for the seed; OAT'MEAL, meal made of oats.--SOW ONE'S
WILD OATS, to indulge in the usual youthful dissipations. [A.S. _áta_, pl.
_átan_.]
OATH, [=o]th, _n._ a solemn statement with an appeal to God as witness, and
a calling for punishment from Him in case of falsehood or of failure, also
the form of words in which such is made--_oath of abjuration_,
_allegiance_, &c.: an irreverent use of God's name in conversation or in
any way: any merely exclamatory imprecation, &c.:--_pl._ OATHS
([=o]_th_z).--_adj._ OATH'ABLE (_Shak._), capable of having an oath
administered to.--_n._ OATH'-BREAK'ING (_Shak._), the violation of an oath,
perjury.--UPON ONE'S OATH, sworn to speak the truth. [A.S. _áth_; Ger.
_eid_, Ice. _eithr_.]
OB., for _objection_, just as _sol._ for _solution_, on the margins of old
books of controversial divinity.--_n._ OB'-AND-SOL'ER, a disputant,
polemic.
OBANG, [=o]-bang', _n._ an old Japanese oblong gold coin.
OBBLIGATO, ob-li-gä'to, _adj._ that cannot be done without.--_n._ a musical
accompaniment, itself of independent importance, esp. that of a single
instrument to a vocal piece.--Also OBLIGA'TO. [It.]
OBCONIC, -AL, ob-kon'ik, -al, _adj._ inversely conical.
OBCORDATE, ob-kor'd[=a]t, _adj._ (_bot._) inversely heart-shaped, as a
leaf.
OBDURATE, ob'd[=u]-r[=a]t, _adj._ hardened in heart or in feelings:
difficult to influence, esp. in a moral sense: stubborn: harsh.--_n._
OB'D[=U]RACY, state of being obdurate: invincible hardness of
heart.--_adv._ OB'D[=U]RATELY.--_ns._ OB'D[=U]RATENESS,
OBD[=U]R[=A]'TION.--_adj._ OBD[=U]RED', hardened. [L. _obdur[=a]re_,
_-[=a]tum_--_ob_, against, _dur[=a]re_, to harden--_durus_, hard.]
OBEAH. See OBI.
OBEDIENCE, [=o]-b[=e]'di-ens, _n._ state of being obedient: willingness to
obey commands: dutifulness: the collective body of persons subject to any
particular authority: a written instruction from the superior of an order
to those under him: any official position under an abbot's
jurisdiction.--_adjs._ OB[=E]'DIENT, willing to obey; OB[=E]DIEN'TIAL,
submissive: obligatory.--_adv._ OB[=E]'DIENTLY.--CANONICAL OBEDIENCE, the
obedience, as regulated by the canons, of an ecclesiastic to another of
higher rank; PASSIVE OBEDIENCE, unresisting and unquestioning obedience to
authority, like that taught by some Anglican divines as due even to
faithless and worthless kings like Charles II. and James II.
OBEISANCE, [=o]-b[=a]'sans, or [=o]-b[=e]'sans, _n._ obedience: a bow or
act of reverence: an expression of respect.--_adj._ OB[=E]'ISANT.
[Fr.,--_obéir_--L. _obed[=i]re_, to obey.]
OBELION, [=o]-b[=e]'li-on, _n._ a point in the sagittal suture of the
skull, between the two parietal foramina. [Gr. _obelos_, a spit.]
OBELISK, ob'e-lisk, _n._ a tall, four-sided, tapering pillar, usually of
one stone, finished at the top like a flat pyramid: (_print._) a dagger
( + ).--_adj._ OB'ELISCAL.--_v.t._ OB'ELISE, to mark with an obelisk, to
condemn as spurious, indelicate, &c.--_n._ OB'ELUS, a mark ( -- or ÷ ) used
in ancient MSS. to mark suspected passages, esp. in the Septuagint to
indicate passages not in the Hebrew:--_pl._ OB'ELI. [Through Fr. and L.,
from Gr. _obeliskos_, dim. of _obelos_, a spit.]
OBERHAUS, [=o]'ber-hows, _n._ the upper house in those German legislative
bodies that have two chambers. [Ger. _ober_, upper, _haus_, house.]
OBERLAND, [=o]'ber-lant, _n._ highlands, as the Bernese Oberland in
Switzerland.
OBERON, [=o]'ber-on, king of the fairies, husband of Titania.
OBESE, [=o]-b[=e]s', _adj._ fat: fleshy.--_ns._ OBESE'NESS, OBES'ITY,
fatness: abnormal fatness. [L. _obesus_--_ob_, up, _ed[)e]re_, _esum_, to
eat.]
OBEX, [=o]'beks, _n._ a barrier: a thickening at the calamus scriptorius of
the medulla oblongata. [L., _objic[)e]re_, to throw before.]
OBEY, [=o]-b[=a]', _v.t._ to do as told by: to be ruled by: to yield to: to
carry out or perform.--_v.i._ to submit to power, &c.: (_B._) to yield
obedience (followed by _to_).--_n._ OBEY'ER.--_adv._ OBEY'INGLY,
obediently. [Fr. _obéir_--L. _obed[=i]re_--_ob_, near, _aud[=i]re_, to
hear.]
OBFUSCATE, ob-fus'k[=a]t, _v.t._ to darken: to confuse.--_n._
OBFUSC[=A]'TION. [L. _obfusc[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_--_ob_, inten., _fuscus_,
dark.]
OBI, [=o]'bi, _n._ a kind of sorcery practised by _obeah-men_ and
_obeah-women_ among the negroes of the West Indies and United States, a
survival of African magic: a fetish or charm--also O'BEA, O'BEAH,
O'BY.--_n._ O'BIISM. [Prob. Afr.]
OBI, [=o]'bi, _n._ a broad, gaily embroidered sash worn by Japanese women.
[Jap.]
OBIT, [=o]'bit, or ob'it, _n._ death: the fact or the date of death:
funeral ceremonies: the anniversary of a person's death, or a service at
such time.--_adj._ OBIT'UAL, pertaining to obits.--_adv._
OBIT'UARILY.--_n._ OBIT'UARIST, a writer of obituaries.--_adj._ OBIT'UARY,
relating to the death of a person or persons.--_n._ a register of deaths
(_orig._) in a monastery: an account of a deceased person, or a notice of
his death. [Fr.,--L. _obitus_--_ob[=i]re_--_ob_, to, _[=i]re_, to go.]
OBJECT, ob-jekt', _v.t._ to place before the view: to throw in the way of:
to offer in opposition: to oppose.--_v.i._ to oppose: to give a reason
against.--_n._ OBJECTIFIC[=A]'TION.--_v.t._ OBJECT'IFY, to make
objective.--_n._ OBJEC'TION, act of objecting: anything said or done in
opposition: argument against.--_adj._ OBJEC'TIONABLE, that may be objected
to: requiring to be disapproved of.--_adv._ OBJEC'TIONABLY, in an
objectionable manner or degree.--_adj._ OBJECT'IVE, relating to an object:
being exterior to the mind: substantive, self-existent: setting forth what
is external, actual, practical, apart from the sensations or emotions of
the speaker: as opposed to _Subjective_, pertaining to that which is real
or exists in nature, in contrast with what is ideal or exists merely in
thought: (_gram._) belonging to the case of the object.--_n._ (_gram._) the
case of the object: in microscopes, &c., the lens which brings the rays to
a focus: the point to which the operations of an army are directed.--_adv._
OBJECT'IVELY.--_ns._ OBJECT'IVENESS; OBJECT'IVISM.--_adj._
OBJECTIVIST'IC.--_ns._ OBJECTIV'ITY, state of being objective; OBJECT'OR.
[Fr.,--L. _object[=a]re_, a freq. of _objic[)e]re_, _-jectum_--_ob_, in the
way of, _jac[)e]re_, to throw.]
OBJECT, ob'jekt, _n._ anything perceived or set before the mind: that which
is sought after, or that toward which an action is directed: end: motive:
(_gram._) that toward which the action of a transitive verb is
directed.--_ns._ OB'JECT-FIND'ER, a device in microscopes for locating an
object in the field before examination by a higher power; OB'JECT-GLASS,
the glass at the end of a telescope or microscope next the object;
OB'JECTIST, one versed in the objective philosophy.--_adj._ OB'JECTLESS,
having no object: purposeless.--_ns._ OB'JECT-LESS'ON, a lesson in which
the object to be described, or a representation of it, is shown;
OB'JECT-SOUL, a vital principle attributed by the primitive mind to
inanimate objects.
OBJURE, ob-j[=oo]r', _v.i._ to swear.--_n._ OBJUR[=A]'TION, act of binding
by oath.
OBJURGATION, ob-jur-g[=a]'shun, _n._ act of chiding: a blaming, reproof:
reprehension.--_v.t._ OBJUR'GATE, to chide.--_adj._ OBJUR'GATORY,
expressing blame or reproof. [Fr.,--L.,--_ob_, against, _jurg[=a]re_, to
sue at law--_jus_, law, _ag[)e]re_, to drive.]
OBLANCEOLATE, ob-lan'se-o-l[=a]t, _adj._ (_bot._) shaped like the head of a
lance reversed, as a leaf.
OBLATE, ob-l[=a]t', _n._ a secular person devoted to a monastery, but not
under its vows, esp. one of the Oblate Fathers or Oblate Sisters: one
dedicated to a religious order from childhood, or who takes the cowl in
anticipation of death: a loaf of altar-bread before its consecration.--_n._
OBL[=A]'TION, act of offering: anything offered in worship or sacred
service, esp. a eucharistic offering: an offering generally.--GREAT
OBLATION, the solemn offering or presentation in memorial before God of the
consecrated elements, as sacramentally the body and blood of Christ; LESSER
OBLATION, the offertory. [L. _oblatus_, offered up.]
OBLATE, ob-l[=a]t', _adj._ flattened at opposite sides or poles: shaped
like an orange.--_ns._ OBLATE'NESS, flatness at the poles;
OBLATE'-SPHER'OID, a spherical body flattened at the poles. [L. _oblatus_,
pa.p. of _offerre_, to offer--_ob_, against, _ferre_, to bring.]
OBLIGATO. See OBBLIGATO.
OBLIGE, [=o]-bl[=i]j', _v.t._ to bind or constrain: to bind by some favour
rendered, hence to do a favour to.--_adj._ OB'LIGABLE, that can be held to
a promise or an undertaking: true to a promise or a contract.--_n._
OB'LIGANT, one who binds himself to another to pay or to perform
something.--_v.t._ OB'LIG[=A]TE, to constrain: to bind by contract or
duty:--_pr.p._ ob'lig[=a]ting; _pa.p._ ob'lig[=a]ted.--_n._ OBLIG[=A]'TION,
act of obliging: the power which binds to a promise, a duty, &c.: any act
which binds one to do something for another: that to which one is bound:
state of being indebted for a favour: (_law_) a bond containing a penalty
in case of failure.--_adv._ OB'LIGATORILY.--_n._ OB'LIGATORINESS.--_adj._
OB'LIG[=A]TORY, binding: imposing duty.--_ns._ OBLIGEE (ob-li-j[=e]'), the
person to whom another is obliged; OBLIGE'MENT, a favour conferred.--_adj._
OBLIG'ING, disposed to confer favours: ready to do a good turn.--_adv._
OBLIG'INGLY.--_ns._ OBLIG'INGNESS; OB'LIGOR (_law_), the person who binds
himself to another. [Fr.,--L. _oblig[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_--_ob_, before,
_lig[=a]re_, to bind.]
OBLIQUE, ob-l[=e]k', _adj._ slanting: not perpendicular: not parallel: not
straightforward: obscure: (_geom._) not a right-angle: (_gram._) denoting
any case except the nominative.--_v.i._ to deviate from a direct line or
from the perpendicular, to slant: to advance obliquely by facing half right
or left and then advancing.--_ns._ OBLIQU[=A]'TION, OBLIQUE'NESS,
OBLIQ'UITY, state of being oblique: a slanting direction: error or wrong:
irregularity.--_adv._ OBLIQUE'LY.--_adj._ OBLIQ'UID (_Spens._),
oblique.--OBLIQUE CONE or CYLINDER, one whose axis is oblique to the plane
of its base; OBLIQUE NARRATION or SPEECH (L. _oratio obliqua_), indirect
narration, the actual words of the speaker, but, as related by a third
person, having the first person in pronoun and verb converted into the
third, adverbs of present time into the corresponding adverbs of past time,
&c.; OBLIQUE SAILING, the reduction of the position of a ship from the
various courses made good, oblique to the meridian or parallel of latitude;
OBLIQUITY OF THE ECLIPTIC, the angle between the plane of the earth's orbit
and that of the earth's equator. [Fr.,--L. _obliquus_--_ob_, before,
_liquis_, slanting.]
OBLITERATE, ob-lit'[.e]r-[=a]t, _v.t._ to blot out, so as not to be
readable: to wear out: to destroy: to reduce to a very low state.--_n._
OBLITER[=A]'TION, act of obliterating: a blotting or wearing out:
extinction.--_adj._ OBLIT'ER[=A]TIVE. [L. _obliter[=a]re_,
_-[=a]tum_--_ob_, over, _litera_, a letter.]
OBLIVION, ob-liv'i-un, _n._ act of forgetting or state of being forgotten:
remission of punishment.--_adj._ OBLIV'IOUS, forgetful: prone to forget:
causing forgetfulness.--_adv._ OBLIV'IOUSLY.--_ns._ OBLIV'IOUSNESS;
OBLIVISC'ENCE. [Fr.,--L. _oblivion-em_--_oblivisci_, to forget.]
OBLONG, ob'long, _adj._ long in one way: longer than broad.--_n._ (_geom._)
a rectangle longer than broad: any oblong figure.--_adj._
OB'LONGISH.--_adv._ OB'LONGLY.--_n._ OB'LONGNESS. [Fr.,--L. _ob_, over,
_longus_, long.]
OBLOQUY, ob'lo-kwi, _n._ reproachful language: censure: calumny: disgrace.
[L. _obloquium_--_ob_, against, _loqui_, to speak.]
OBMUTESCENCE, ob-m[=u]-tes'ens, _n._ loss of speech, dumbness. [L.
_obmutesc[)e]re_, to become dumb.]
OBNOXIOUS, ob-nok'shus, _adj._ liable to hurt or punishment: exposed to:
guilty: blameworthy: offensive: subject: answerable.--_adv._
OBNOX'IOUSLY.--_n._ OBNOX'IOUSNESS. [L.,--_ob_, before, _noxa_, hurt.]
OBNUBILATION, ob-n[=u]-bi-l[=a]'shun, _n._ the act of making dark or
obscure.--_v.t._ OBN[=U]'BIL[=A]TE. [Low L. _obnubilare_, to cloud over--L.
_ob_, over, _nubilus_, cloudy.]
OBOE, [=o]'b[=o]-e, _n._ a treble reed musical instrument, usually with
fifteen keys, with a rich tone, giving the pitch to the violin in the
orchestra: a treble stop on the organ, its bass being the bassoon--also
_Hautboy._--_n._ O'B[=O]IST, a player on the oboe.--OBOE D'AMORE, an
obsolete alto oboe; OBOE DI CACCIA, an obsolete tenor oboe, or rather tenor
bassoon. [Fr. _hautbois_.]
OBOL, ob'ol, _n._ in ancient Greece, a small coin, worth rather more than
three-halfpence: also a weight, the sixth part of a drachma--also
OB'OLUS:--_pl._ OB'OLI ([=i]).--_adj_. OB'OLARY, consisting of obols:
extremely poor. [Gr. _obelos_, a spit.]
OBOVATE, ob-[=o]'v[=a]t, _adj_. _(bot.)_ egg-shaped, as a leaf, with the
narrow end next the leaf-stalk.--_adv._ OB[=O]'V[=A]TELY.--_adj_.
OB[=O]'VOID, solidly obovate.
OBREPTION, ob-rep'shun, _n._ obtaining of gifts of escheat by
falsehood--opp. to _Subreption_ (q.v.).--_adj._ OBREPTIT'IOUS.
OBSCENE, ob-s[=e]n', _adj_. offensive to chastity: unchaste: indecent:
disgusting: ill-omened.--_adv_. OBSCENE'LY.--_ns._ OBSCENE'NESS,
OBSCEN'ITY, quality of being obscene: lewdness. [L. _obscenus_.]
OBSCURE, ob-sk[=u]r', _adj_. dark: not distinct: not easily understood: not
clear, legible, or perspicuous: unknown: humble: unknown to fame: living in
darkness.--_v.t._ to darken: to make less plain: to render doubtful.--_ns._
OBSC[=U]'RANT, one who labours to prevent enlightenment or reform;
OBSC[=U]'RANTISM, opposition to inquiry or reform; OBSC[=U]'RANTIST, an
obscurant.--_adj_. pertaining to obscurantism.--_n._ OBSC[=U]R[=A]'TION,
the act of obscuring or state of being obscured.--_adv_.
OBSC[=U]RE'LY.--_ns._ OBSC[=U]RE'MENT; OBSC[=U]RE'NESS; OBSC[=U]'RER;
OBSC[=U]'RITY, state or quality of being obscure: darkness: an obscure
place or condition: unintelligibleness: humility. [Fr.,--L. _obscurus_.]
OBSECRATE, ob'se-kr[=a]t, _v._ to beseech: to implore.--_n._
OBSECR[=A]'TION, supplication: one of the clauses in the Litany beginning
with _by._--_adj_. OB'SECR[=A]TORY, supplicatory. [L. _obsecr[=a]re_,
_-[=a]tum_, to entreat; _ob_, before, _sacr[=a]re_--_sacer_, sacred.]
OBSEQUIES, ob'se-kwiz, _n.pl._ funeral rites and solemnities:--_sing._
OB'SEQUY (_Milt._)--rarely used.--_adj_. OBS[=E]'QUIAL. [Fr. _obsèques_--L.
_obsequiæ_--_ob_, before, upon, sequi, to comply.]
OBSEQUIOUS, ob-s[=e]'kwi-us, _adj_. compliant to excess: meanly
condescending.--_adv_. OBS[=E]'QUIOUSLY.--_n._ OBS[=E]'QUIOUSNESS.
[Fr.,--L. _obsequiosus_, compliant, _obsequium_, compliance.]
OBSERVE, ob-z[.e]rv', _v.t._ to keep in view: to notice: to subject to
systematic observation: to regard attentively: to remark, refer to in
words: to comply with: to heed and to carry out in practice: to keep with
proper ceremony: to keep or guard.--_v.i._ to take notice: to attend: to
remark.--_adj._ OBSERV'ABLE, that may be observed or noticed: worthy of
observation: remarkable: requiring to be observed.--_n._
OBSERV'ABLENESS.--_adv_. OBSERV'ABLY.--_ns._ OBSERV'ANCE, act of observing
or paying attention to: performance: attention: that which is to be
observed: rule of p
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