Nephalism
Nephalism, nef′a-lizm, n. total abstinence from alcoholic drinks.—n. Neph′alist, a bigoted teetotaler. [Gr. nēphalios, sober; nēphein, to be sober.]
English · e-38699-213Historical source · 1908
Thomas Davidson (editor). Read this edition’s full extracted entries and its original proposals. Publication here preserves a source; it does not endorse every claim.
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Nephalism, nef′a-lizm, n. total abstinence from alcoholic drinks.—n. Neph′alist, a bigoted teetotaler. [Gr. nēphalios, sober; nēphein, to be sober.]
English · e-38699-213Nepheline, nef′e-lin, n. a rock-forming mineral, colourless, usually crystallising in hexagonal prisms, occurring in various volcanic rocks, as in certain basalts. [Gr. nephelē, a cloud.]
English · e-38699-214Nepheloid, 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 c
English · e-38699-215Nephew, nev′ū, or nef′ū, 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.]
English · e-38699-216Nephralgia, 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 kidne
English · e-38699-217Nepotism, nep′o-tizm, n. undue favouritism to one's relations, as in the bestowal of patronage.—adjs. Nepot′ic, Nepō′tious.—n. Nep′otist, one who practises nepotism. [L. nepos, nepotis, a grandson.]
English · e-38699-218Neptune, nep′tūn, 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. Neptū′nian, p
English · e-38699-219Nereid, nē′rē-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. Nē′rēis, a nereid; Nē′rēite, a
English · e-38699-220Nerine, nē-rī′nē, 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.
English · e-38699-221Nerite, nē′rīt, n. a gasteropod of the genus Nerita or the family Neritidæ.—adj. Neritā′cean.
English · e-38699-222 · brief source recordNerium, nē′ri-um, n. a genus of Mediterranean shrubs, with fragrant and showy pink, white, or yellowish flowers, the oleander.
English · e-38699-223Nero, nē′ro, n. the last emperor of the family of the Cæsars, at Rome (54-68 A.D.): any cruel and wicked tyrant.—adj. Nerō′nian.
English · e-38699-224Nero-antico, nā-rō-an-tē′ko, n. a deep-black marble found in Roman ruins. [It.]
English · e-38699-225 · brief source recordNerve, nėrv, 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 n
English · e-38699-226Nescience, nesh′ens, n. want of knowledge.—adj. Nesc′ient. [L. nescientia—nescīre, to be ignorant—ne, not, scīre, to know.]
English · e-38699-227Nesh, nesh, adj. (prov.) soft, crumbly: tender.—v.t. Nesh′en, to make tender.
English · e-38699-228 · brief source recordNeshamah, nesh′a-mä, n. the highest degree of the soul in the cabbalistic system.
English · e-38699-229 · brief source recordNesiote, nē′si-ōt, adj. insular. [Gr. nēsos, an island.]
English · e-38699-230 · brief source recordNeski, nes′ki, n. the cursive hand generally used in Arabic.—Also Nesh′ki. [Ar.]
English · e-38699-231 · brief source recordNesogæan, nē-sō-jē′an, adj. pertaining to Nesogæa—Polynesia or Oceania, New Zealand excepted, with regard to the distribution of its animals. [Gr. nēsos, an island, gaia, the earth.]
English · e-38699-232Ness, nes, n. a promontory or headland. [A.S. næss; a doublet of naze, prob. conn. with nose.]
English · e-38699-233 · brief source recordNest, 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
English · e-38699-234Nestle, 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
English · e-38699-235Nestor, 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. Nestō′rian.
English · e-38699-236Nestorian, nes-tō′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 div
English · e-38699-237Net, 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 kind
English · e-38699-238Net, 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.]
English · e-38699-239Nethelesse, neth′les, adv.=Nathless.
English · e-38699-240 · brief source recordNether, neth′ėr, 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′ers
English · e-38699-241Nethinim, neth′in-im, n.pl. (B.) servants of the old Jewish temple, set apart to assist the Levites. [Heb.]
English · e-38699-242 · brief source recordNetsuke, net′su-kā, n. a small toggle or button, carved or inlaid, on Japanese pipe-cases, pouches, &c.
English · e-38699-243 · brief source recordNettle, 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,
English · e-38699-244Nettling, 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.]
English · e-38699-245Neume, nūm, 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.]
English · e-38699-246Neural, nū′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 spina
English · e-38699-247Neuralgia, nū-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. Neu
English · e-38699-248Neurasthenia, nū-ras-the-nī′a, n. nervous debility.—adj. Neurasthen′ic—also n. one suffering from this. [Gr. neuron, a nerve, astheneia, weakness.]
English · e-38699-249Neuration, nū-rā′shun, n. Same as Nervation.
English · e-38699-250 · brief source recordNeurilemma, nū-ri-lem′a, n. the external sheath of a nerve-fibre.
English · e-38699-251 · brief source recordNeuritis, nū-rī′tis, n. inflammation of a nerve.
English · e-38699-252 · brief source recordNeurohypnology, nū-rō-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.]
English · e-38699-253Neurology, nū-rol′o-ji, n. the science of the nerves.—adj. Neurolog′ical.—n. Neurol′ogist, a writer on neurology. [Gr. neuron, nerve, logia, science.]
English · e-38699-254Neuron, nū′ron, n. the cerebro-spinal axis in its entirety: a nervure of an insect's wing.
English · e-38699-255 · brief source recordNeuropath, nū′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
English · e-38699-256Neuroptera, nū-rop′tėr-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
English · e-38699-257Neurose, nū′rōs, adj. nerved: having many nervures or veins, of an insect's wing, &c.
English · e-38699-258 · brief source recordNeurotic, nū-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. Neurō′sal.—n. Neurō′sis, a nervous disease, esp. without lesion of parts, as
English · e-38699-259Neurotomy, nū-rot′om-i, n. the cutting or dissection of a nerve.—adj. Neurotom′ical. [Gr. neuron, a nerve, tomē, cutting.]
English · e-38699-260Neurotonic, nū-ro-ton′ik, n. a medicine intended to strengthen the nervous system.
English · e-38699-261 · brief source recordNeuter, nū′tėr, 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 contes
English · e-38699-262Neutral, nū′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 a
English · e-38699-263Névé, nā-vā′, n. the same as firn or glacier snow. [Fr.,—L. nix, nivis, snow.]
English · e-38699-264 · brief source recordNevel, nev′el, v.t. (Scot.) to beat with the fists.
English · e-38699-265 · brief source recordNever, nev′ėr, 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.
English · e-38699-266New, nū, 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
English · e-38699-267Newel, nū′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.]
English · e-38699-268Newel, nū′el, n. (Spens.) a new thing: a novelty.
English · e-38699-269 · brief source recordNewfangled, nū-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 catc
English · e-38699-270Newfoundland, nū-fownd′land, n. a large dog of great intelligence, a strong swimmer, black without any white markings, first brought from Newfoundland.
English · e-38699-271Newgate, nū′gāt, 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.
English · e-38699-272Newmarket, nū′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 wom
English · e-38699-273News, nūz, 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
English · e-38699-274Newt, nūt, n. a genus of amphibious animals like small lizards. [Formed with initial n, borrowed from the article an, from ewt—A.S. efeta.]
English · e-38699-275Newtonian, nū-tō′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.
English · e-38699-276Next, 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
English · e-38699-277Nexus, 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.
English · e-38699-278Nib, 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.]
English · e-38699-279Nibble, 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.]
English · e-38699-280Nibelungen, nē′bel-ōōng-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.
English · e-38699-281Niblick, nib′lik, n. a golf-club with cup-shaped head.
English · e-38699-282 · brief source recordNice, nīs, 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
English · e-38699-283Nicene, nī′sēn, 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
English · e-38699-284Niche, 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 nich
English · e-38699-285Nick, 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: cat
English · e-38699-286Nick, 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.]
English · e-38699-287Nickel, 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, conta
English · e-38699-288Nicker, nik′ėr, v.i. to neigh: to snigger.—n. a neigh: a loud laugh—(obs.) Nich′er.
English · e-38699-289 · brief source recordNicknack, nik′nak, n. a trifle—dim. Nick′nacket.—n. Nick′nackery. [Same as Knick-knack.]
English · e-38699-290 · brief source recordNickname, nik′nām, 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.]
English · e-38699-291Nicotine, nik′o-tin, n. a poisonous, volatile, alkaloid base, obtained from tobacco.—adj. Nicō′tian, pertaining to tobacco, from Jean Nicot (1530-1600), the benefactor who introduced it into France in 1560.—n. a smoker o
English · e-38699-292Nictate, nik′tāt, v.i. to wink—also Nic′titate.—ns. Nic′tātion, Nictitā′tion.—Nictitating membrane, a thin movable membrane covering the eyes of birds. [L. nictāre, -ātum.]
English · e-38699-293Nidder, nid′ėr, v.t. (Scot.) to keep under: to pinch with cold or hunger: to molest.
English · e-38699-294 · brief source recordNiddle-noddle, nid′l-nod′l, adj. vacillating.—v.i. to wag the head.
English · e-38699-295 · brief source recordNiderling, nid′ėr-ling, n. a wicked fellow—also Nid′ering, Nith′ing.—n. Nidd′ering, a noodle.
English · e-38699-296 · brief source recordNidge, nij, v.t. to dress the face of (a stone) with a sharp-pointed hammer.
English · e-38699-297 · brief source recordNidging, nij′ing, adj. trifling.—n. Nidg′et, a fool.
English · e-38699-298 · brief source recordNidification, nid-i-fi-kā′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
English · e-38699-299Nidor, nī′dor, n. odour, esp. of cooked food.—adjs. Nī′dorose, Nī′dorous, Nī′dose. [L.]
English · e-38699-300 · brief source recordNidus, nī′dus, n. a place, esp. in an animal body, in which a germ lodges and begins to develop. [L.]
English · e-38699-301 · brief source recordNiece, nēs, n. (fem. of Nephew) the daughter of a brother or sister: (orig.) a granddaughter. [O. Fr.,—Low L. nepta—L. neptis, a granddaughter, niece.]
English · e-38699-302Niello, 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
English · e-38699-303Niersteiner, nēr′stī-ner, n. a variety of Rhine wine, named from Nierstein, near Mainz.
English · e-38699-304 · brief source recordNiffer, nif′ėr, v.t. (Scot.) to barter.—n. an exchange.
English · e-38699-305 · brief source recordNiffle, nif′l, v.t. (prov.) to pilfer.—n. Niff′naff, a trifle.—adj. Niff′naffy, fastidious.
English · e-38699-306 · brief source recordNiflheim, nifl′hīm, n. (Scand. myth.) a region of mist, ruled over by Hel.
English · e-38699-307 · brief source recordNifty, nif′ti, adj. (slang) stylish.
English · e-38699-308 · brief source recordNigella, nī-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
English · e-38699-309Niggard, 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
English · e-38699-310Nigger, nig′ėr, 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. Ni
English · e-38699-311Niggle, 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 wor
English · e-38699-312Nigh, nī, 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 quali
English · e-38699-313Night, nīt, 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
English · e-38699-314Nightingale, nīt′in-gāl, 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, t
English · e-38699-315Nightingale, nīt′in-gāl, 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.]
English · e-38699-316Nightmare, nīt′mār, 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 nig
English · e-38699-317Nigrescent, nī-gres′ent, adj. growing black or dark: approaching to blackness.—n. Nigresc′ence. [L., nigrescĕre, to grow black—niger, black.]
English · e-38699-318Nigrite, nig′rīt, n. an insulating composition consisting of the impure residuum obtained in the distillation of paraffin. [L. niger, black.]
English · e-38699-319Nigritian, 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.
English · e-38699-320Nigritude, nig′ri-tūd, n. blackness. [L. nigritudo—niger, black.]
English · e-38699-321 · brief source recordNigrosine, nig′rō-sin, n. a coal-tar colour prepared from the hydrochloride of violaniline. [L. niger, black.]
English · e-38699-322 · brief source recordNihil, nī′hil, n. nothing.—ns. Nī′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
English · e-38699-323Nike, nī′kē, n. the goddess of victory. [Gr.]
English · e-38699-324 · brief source recordNilgau. See Nyl-ghau.
English · e-38699-325 · brief source recordNill, nil, v.t. (Spens.) to refuse, to reject.—v.i. to be unwilling. [A.S. nillan—ne, not, willan, to will.]
English · e-38699-326 · brief source recordNilometer, nī-lom′e-tėr, n. a gauge for measuring the height of water in the river Nile: any river-gauge—also Nī′loscope.—adj. Nilot′ic.
English · e-38699-327Nim, nim, v.t. to steal, pilfer. [A.S. niman, to take.]
English · e-38699-328 · brief source recordNimble, 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
English · e-38699-329Nimbus, 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.]
English · e-38699-330Nimiety, ni-mī′e-ti, n. (rare) state of being too much. [L. nimietas—nimis, too much.]
English · e-38699-331 · brief source recordNiminy-piminy, nim′i-ni-pim′i-ni, adj. affectedly fine or delicate.—n. affected delicacy. [Imit.]
English · e-38699-332 · brief source recordNimrod, nim′rod, n. the founder of Babel (see Gen. x. 8-10): any great hunter.
English · e-38699-333 · brief source recordNincompoop, nin′kom-poop, n. a simpleton. [Corr. of L. non compos (mentis), not of sound mind.]
English · e-38699-334 · brief source recordNine, nīn, 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
English · e-38699-335Ninny, nin′i, n. a simpleton.—Also Ninn′y-hamm′er. [It. ninno, child; Sp. niño, infant.]
English · e-38699-336 · brief source recordNiobe, nī′o-bē, 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 moth
English · e-38699-337Niobium, nī-ō′bi-um, n. a rare metal, steel-gray in colour, discovered in the mineral Tantalite—sometimes called Columbium.
English · e-38699-338Nip, 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.]
English · e-38699-339Nip, 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 closin
English · e-38699-340Nipperty-tipperty, nip′ėr-ti-tip′ėr-ti, adj. (Scot.) silly, frivolous.
English · e-38699-341 · brief source recordNipple, 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 nippl
English · e-38699-342Nippy, nip′i, adj. (Scot.) sharp in taste: curt: parsimonious.
English · e-38699-343 · brief source recordNipter, nip′tėr, n. the ecclesiastical ceremony of washing the feet—the same as maundy. [Gr. niptēr, a basin—niptein, to wash.]
English · e-38699-344Nirles, Nirls, nirlz, n. herpes.
English · e-38699-345 · brief source recordNirvana, nir-vä′na, n. the cessation of individual existence—the state to which a Buddhist aspires as the best attainable. [Sans., 'a blowing out.']
English · e-38699-346Nis, nis (Spens.), is not. [A contr. of ne is.]
English · e-38699-347 · brief source recordNis, nis, n. a hobgoblin. [Same as Nix.]
English · e-38699-348 · brief source recordNisan, nī′san, n. the name given after the Captivity to the Jewish month Abib. [Heb.]
English · e-38699-349 · brief source recordNisi, nī′sī, 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
English · e-38699-350Nisus, nī′sus, n. effort, attempt.—Nisus formativus (biol.), formative effort. [L.]
English · e-38699-351 · brief source recordNit, nit, n. the egg of a louse or other small insect.—adj. Nit′ty, full of nits. [A.S. hnitu; Ger. niss.]
English · e-38699-352 · brief source recordNithing, nī′thing, adj. wicked, mean.—n. a wicked man. [A.S. níthing; Ger. neiding.]
English · e-38699-353 · brief source recordNithsdale, niths′dāl, 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.]
English · e-38699-354Nitid, nit′id, adj. shining: gay.—n. Nī′tency, brightness. [L. nitidus—nitēre, to shine.]
English · e-38699-355 · brief source recordNitre, nī′tėr, n. the nitrate of potash—also called Saltpetre.—n. Nī′trāte, a salt of nitric acid.—adjs. Nī′trāted, combined with nitric acid; Nī′tric, pertaining to, formed from, or containing or resembling nitre.—n. Nī
English · e-38699-356Nitrogen, nī′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.
English · e-38699-357Nitter, nit′ėr, n. a bot-fly, the horse-bot.
English · e-38699-358 · brief source recordNittings, nit′ingz, n.pl. small particles of coal or refuse of any ore.
English · e-38699-359 · brief source recordNival, nī′val, adj. snowy, growing among snow.—adj. Niv′eous, snowy, white.—n. Nivôse (nē-vōz′), the 4th month of the French revolutionary calendar, Dec. 21-Jan. 19. [L. niveus—nix, nivis, snow.]
English · e-38699-360Nix, niks, n. (Teut. myth.) a water-spirit, mostly malignant.—Also Nix′ie, Nix′y. [Ger. nix; cf. Nicker.]
English · e-38699-361 · brief source recordNix, 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.
English · e-38699-362Nix, niks, interj. a roughs' street-cry of warning at the policeman, &c.
English · e-38699-363 · brief source recordNizam, 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.]
English · e-38699-364No, nō, 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 (nōz).—adj. not any: not one: none.—advs. Nō′way, in no way, manner, or degree—also Nō′
English · e-38699-365No-man's-land, nō′-manz-land, n. a region to which no one possesses a recognised claim.
English · e-38699-413 · brief source recordNoachian, nō-ā′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.
English · e-38699-366Nob, 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.]
English · e-38699-367Nob, nob, n. a superior sort of person.—adv. Nob′bily.—adj. Nob′by, smart, fashionable: good, capital. [A contr. of nobleman.]
English · e-38699-368Nobble, 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 dra
English · e-38699-369Nobility, 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′
English · e-38699-370Noble, nō′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. Nō′bleman, a man who is noble or
English · e-38699-371Nobody, nō′bod-i, n. no body or person: no one: a person of no account, one not in fashionable society.
English · e-38699-372 · brief source recordNocake, nō′kāk, n. meal made of parched corn, once much used by North American Indians on the march. [Amer. Ind. nookik, meal.]
English · e-38699-373Nocent, nō′sent, adj. (obs.) hurtful: guilty.—n. one who is hurtful or guilty.—adv. Nō′cently. [L. nocēre, to hurt.]
English · e-38699-374 · brief source recordNock, 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.]
English · e-38699-375Noctambulation, nok-tam-bū-lā′shun, n. walking in sleep.—ns. Noctam′bulism, sleep-walking; Noctam′bulist, one who walks in his sleep. [L. nox, noctis, night, ambulāre, -ātum, to walk.]
English · e-38699-376Noctilio, nok-til′i-ō, n. a genus of American bats.
English · e-38699-377 · brief source recordNoctiluca, nok-ti-lū′ka, n. a phosphorescent marine Infusorian, abundant around the British coasts, one of the chief causes of the phosphorescence of the waves.—adjs. Noctilū′cent, Noctilū′cid, Noctilū′cous, shining in t
English · e-38699-378Noctivagant, nok-tiv′a-gant, adj. wandering in the night.—n. Noctivagā′tion.—adj. Noctiv′agous. [L. nox, noctis, night, vagāri, to wander.]
English · e-38699-379Noctograph, 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
English · e-38699-380Noctua, nok′tū-a, n. a generic name variously used—giving name to the Noctū′idæ, a large family of nocturnal lepidopterous insects, strong-bodied moths.—n. Noc′tuid.—adjs. Noctū′idous; Noc′tuiform; Noc′tuoid.
English · e-38699-381Noctuary, nok′tū-ā-ri, n. an account kept of the events or thoughts of night.
English · e-38699-382 · brief source recordNoctule, nok′tūl, n. a vespertilionine bat. [Fr.,—L. nox, noctis, night.]
English · e-38699-383 · brief source recordNocturn, 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.]
English · e-38699-384Nocturnal, nok-tur′nal, adj. pertaining to night: happening by night: nightly.—n. an instrument for observations in the night.—adv. Noctur′nally.
English · e-38699-385Nocturne, 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.]
English · e-38699-386Nocuous, nok′ū-us, adj. hurtful.—adv. Noc′uously. [L. nocuus—nocēre, to hurt.]
English · e-38699-387 · brief source recordNod, 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.
English · e-38699-388Noddle, 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.]
English · e-38699-389Noddy, 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
English · e-38699-390Node, nōd, 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.
English · e-38699-391Noël, nō′el, n. Christmas.—Same as Nowel (q.v.).
English · e-38699-392 · brief source recordNoematic, -al, nō-ē-mat′ik, -al, adj. intellectual—also Noet′ic, -al.—adv. Noemat′ically.—n.pl. Noem′ics, intellectual science. [Gr. noēma—noein, to perceive.]
English · e-38699-393Noetian, nō-ē′shi-an, adj. pertaining to Noë′tus or Noë′tianism, a form of Patripassianism taught by Noëtus of Smyrna about 200 A.D.
English · e-38699-394Nog, nog, n. a mug, small pot: a kind of strong ale.
English · e-38699-395 · brief source recordNog, 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.
English · e-38699-396Noggin, nog′in, n. a small mug or wooden cup, or its contents, a dram suitable for one person. [Ir. noigin, Gael. noigean.]
English · e-38699-397Nogging, 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.
English · e-38699-398Nohow, nō′how, adv. not in any way, not at all: (coll.) out of one's ordinary way, out of sorts.
English · e-38699-399 · brief source recordNoiance, noi′ans, n. (Shak.). Same as Annoyance.
English · e-38699-400 · brief source recordNoils, noilz, n.pl. short pieces of wool separated from the longer fibres by combing.
English · e-38699-401 · brief source recordNoint, noint, v.t. (Shak.). Same as Anoint.
English · e-38699-402 · brief source recordNoise, 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
English · e-38699-403Noisette, nwo-zet′, n. a variety of rose. [Fr.]
English · e-38699-404 · brief source recordNoisome, noi′sum, adj. injurious to health: disgusting to sight or smell.—adv. Noi′somely.—n. Noi′someness. [M. E. noy, annoyance. Cf. Annoy.]
English · e-38699-405Noisy, noiz′i, adj. making a loud noise or sound: attended with noise: clamorous: turbulent.—adv. Nois′ily.—n. Nois′iness.
English · e-38699-406Nokes, nōks, n. a simpleton.
English · e-38699-407 · brief source recordNolens volens, nōlens vol′ens, unwilling (or) willing: willy-nilly.—n. Noli-me-tangere (nō′lī-mē-tan′je-rē), the wild cucumber: lupus of the nose: a picture showing Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene, as in John xx.—Nolle
English · e-38699-408Noll, nol, n. the head.
English · e-38699-409 · brief source recordNom, 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.
English · e-38699-410Nomad, 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: unsettl
English · e-38699-411A historical dictionary can preserve useful evidence and superseded analyses at the same time. These records retain their source identity; no parent edge, sound law, first-use date or confidence score is generated from a sentence’s position.
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