← Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, Volume 6
Chapter 3
N (part 1)
Defn: N, the fourteenth letter of English alphabet, is a vocal consonent, and, in allusion to its mode of formation, is called the dentinasal or linguanasal consonent. Its commoner sound is that heard in ran, done; but when immediately followed in the same word by the sound of g hard or k (as in single, sink, conquer), it usually represents the same sound as the digraph ng in sing, bring, etc. This is a simple but related sound, and is called the gutturo-nasal consonent. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 243-246. The letter N came into English through the Latin and Greek from the Phoenician, which probably derived it from the Egyptian as the ultimate origin. It is etymologically most closely related to M. See M.
N
N, n. (Print.)
Defn: A measure of space equal to half an M (or em); an en.
NA
Na, a. & adv.
Defn: No, not. See No. [Obs.] Chaucer.
NAB
Nab, n. Etym: [Cf. Knap, Knop, Knob.]
1. The summit of an eminence. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
2. (Firearms)
Defn: The cock of a gunlock. Knight.
3. (Locksmithing)
Defn: The keeper, or box into which the lock is shot. Knight.
NAB Nab, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nabbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Nabbing.] Etym: [Dan nappe, or Sw. nappa.]
Defn: To catch or seize suddenly or unexpectedly. [Colloq.] Smollett.
NABIT
Na"bit, n.
Defn: Pulverized sugar candy. Crabb.
NABK
Nabk, n. Etym: [Ar. nabiqa,nibqa.] (Bot.)
Defn: The edible berries of the Zizyphys Lotus, a tree of Northern Africa, and Southwestern Europe. [Written also nubk.] See Lotus (b), and Sadr.
NABOB Na"bob, n. Etym: [Hind. nawab, from Ar. nawab, pl. of na\'8bb a vicegerent, governor. Cf Nawab.]
1. A deputy or viceroy in India; a governor of a province of the ancient Mogul empire.
2. One who returns to Europe from the East with immense riches: hence, any man of great wealth. " A bilious old nabob." Macaulay.
NACARAT Nac"a*rat, n. Etym: [F. nacarat, fr. Sp. or Pg. nacarado, fr. nácar mother-of-pearl. See Nacre.]
1. A pale red color, with a cast of orange. Ure.
2. Fine linen or crape dyed of this color. Ure.
NACELLE
Na*celle", n. [F.]
1. A small boat. [Obs.]
2. The basket suspended from a balloon; hence, the framework forming the body of a dirigible balloon, and containing the machinery, passengers, etc.
3. A boatlike, inclosed body of an aëroplane.
NACKER
Nack"er, n.
Defn: See Nacre. Johnson.
NACRE
Na"cre, n. Etym: [F., cf. Sp. nácara, nácar, It. nacchera, naccaro,
LL. nacara, nacrum; of Oriental origin, cf. Ar. nakir hollowed.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A pearly substance which lines the interior of many shells, and is most perfect in the mother-of-pearl. [Written also nacker and naker.] See Pearl, and Mother-of-pearl.
NACREOUS
Na"cre*ous, a. Etym: [See Nacre.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Consisting of, or resembling, nacre; pearly.
NAD; NADDE
Nad, Nad"de. Etym: [Contr. fr. ne hadde.]
Defn: Had not. [Obs.] Chaucer.
NADDER
Nad"der, n. Etym: [AS.nædre. See Adder.]
Defn: An adder. [Obs.] Chaucer.
NADIR Na"dir, n. Etym: [F., Sp., & It. nadir; all fr. Ar. nasiru's samt nadir, prop., the point opposite the zenith (as samt), in which nasir means alike, corresponding to. Cf. Azimuth, Zenith.]
1. That point of the heavens, or lower hemisphere, directly opposite the zenith; the inferior pole of the horizon; the point of the celestial sphere directly under the place where we stand.
2. The lowest point; the time of greatest depression. The seventh century is the nadir of the human mind in Europe. Hallam. Nadir of the sun (Astron.), the axis of the conical shadow projected by the earth. Crabb.
NAENIA
Næ"ni*a, n.
Defn: See Nenia.
NAEVE
Næve, n. Etym: [L. naevus.]
Defn: A nævus. [Obs.] Dryden.
NAEVOID
Næ"void, a. Etym: [Nævus + -oid.]
Defn: Resembling a nævus or nævi; as, nævoid elephantiasis.
Dunglison.
NAEVOSE
Næ"vose`, a.
Defn: Spotted; frecled.
NAEVUS
Næ"vus, n.; pl.Nævi (-vi). Etym: [L.] (Med.)
Defn: A spot or mark on the skin of children when born; a birthmark; — usually applied to vascular tumors, i. e., those consisting mainly of blood vessels, as dilated arteries, veins, or capillaries.
NAG
Nag, n. Etym: [OE. nagge, D. negge; akin to E. neigh.]
1. A small horse; a pony; hence, any horse.
2. A paramour; — in contempt. [Obs.] Shak.
NAG
Nag, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Nagged; p. pr. & vb. n. Nagging.] Etym:
[Cf. Sw. nagga to nibble, peck, Dan. nage to gnaw, Icel. naga, gnaga,
G. nagen, & E. gnaw.]
Defn: To tease in a petty way; to scold habitually; to annoy; to fret pertinaciously. [Colloq.] "She never nagged." J. Ingelow.
NAGANA
Na*ga"na, n. [Prob. native name.] (Med.)
Defn: The disease caused by the tsetse fly. [South Africa]
NAGGING
Nag"ging, a.
Defn: Fault-finding; teasing; persistently annoying; as, a nagging toothache. [Colloq.]
NAGGY
Nag"gy a.
Defn: Irritable; touchy. [Colloq.]
NAGOR
Na"gor, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A West African gazelle (Gazella redunca).
NAGYAGITE
Nag"yag*ite, n. Etym: [So called from Nagyag, in Transylvania.]
(Min.)
Defn: A mineral of blackish lead-gray color and metallic luster, generally of a foliated massive structure; foliated tellurium. It is a telluride of lead and gold.
NAIAD Na"iad, n. Etym: [L. naias, -adis, naïs, -idis, a water nymph, Gr naïade. Cf. Naid.]
1. (Myth.)
Defn: A water nymph; one of the lower female divinities, fabled to preside over some body of fresh water, as a lake, river, brook, or fountain.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of a tribe (Naiades) of freshwater bivalves, including Unio, Anodonta, and numerous allied genera; a river mussel.
3. (Zoöl)
Defn: One of a group of butterflies. See Nymph.
4. (Bot.)
Defn: Any plant of the order Naiadaceæ, such as eelgrass, pondweed, etc.
NAIANT
Na"iant, a.
Defn: (Her.) See Natant. Crabb.
NAID
Na"id, n. Etym: [See Naiad.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of small, fresh-water, chætopod annelids of the tribe Naidina. They belong to the Oligochæta.
NAIF
Na"ïf` (formerly , a. Etym: [F. naïf. See Naïve.]
1. Having a true natural luster without being cut; — applied by jewelers to a precious stone.
2. Naïve; as, a naïf remark. London Spectator.
NAIK
Na"ik, n. Etym: [Hind. nayak.]
Defn: A chief; a leader; a Sepoy corporal. Balfour (Cyc. of India).
NAIL Nail, n. Etym: [AS. nægel, akin to D. nagel, OS nagal, G. nagel, Icel. nagl, nail (in sense 1), nagli nail (in sense 3), Sw. nagel nail (in senses 1 and 3), Dan. nagle, Goth. ganagljan to nail, Lith. nagas nail (in sense 1), Russ. nogote, L. unguis, Gr. nakha.
1. (Anat.)
Defn: the horny scale of plate of epidermis at the end of the fingers and toes of man and many apes. His nayles like a briddes claws were. Chaucer.
Note: The nails are strictly homologous with hoofs and claws. When compressed, curved, and pointed, they are called talons or claws, and the animal bearing them is said to be unguiculate; when they incase the extremities of the digits they are called hoofs, and the animal is ungulate.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) The basal thickened portion of the anterior wings of certain hemiptera. (b) The terminal horny plate on the beak of ducks, and other allied birds.
3. A slender, pointed piece of metal, usually with a head, used for fastening pieces of wood or other material together, by being driven into or through them.
Note: The different sorts of nails are named either from the use to which they are applied, from their shape, from their size, or from some other characteristic, as shingle, floor, ship-carpenters', and horseshoe nails, roseheads, diamonds, fourpenny, tenpenny (see Penny), chiselpointed, cut, wrought, or wire nails, etc.
4. A measure of length, being two inches and a quarter, or the sixteenth of a yard. Nail ball (Ordnance), a round projectile with an iron bolt protruding to prevent it from turning in the gun. — Nail plate, iron in plates from which cut nails are made. — On the nail, in hand; on the spot; immediately; without delay or time of credit; as, to pay money on the nail. "You shall have ten thousand pounds on the nail." Beaconsfield. — To hit the nail on the head, to hit most effectively; to do or say a thing in the right way.
NAIL
Nail, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nailed; p. pr. & vb. n. Nailing.] Etym:
[AS. næglian. See Nail, n.]
1. To fasten with a nail or nails; to close up or secure by means of nails; as, to nail boards to the beams. He is now dead, and nailed in his chest. Chaucer.
2. To stud or boss with nails, or as with nails. The rivets of your arms were nailed with gold. Dryden.
3. To fasten, as with a nail; to bind or hold, as to a bargain or to acquiescence in an argument or assertion; hence, to catch; to trap. When they came to talk of places in town, you saw at once how I nailed them. Goldsmith.
4. To spike, as a cannon. [Obs.] Crabb. To nail a lie or an assertion, etc., to detect and expose it, so as to put a stop to its currency; — an expression probably derived from the former practice of shopkeepers, who were accustomed to nail bad or counterfeit pieces of money to the counter.
NAILBRUSH
Nail"brush`, n.
Defn: A brush for cleaning the nails.
NAILER
Nail"er, n.
1. One whose occupation is to make nails; a nail maker.
2. One who fastens with, or drives, nails.
NAILERESS
Nail"er*ess, n.
Defn: A women who makes nailes.
NAILERY
Nail"er*y, n.; pl. Naileries (.
Defn: A manufactory where nails are made.
NAIL-HEADED
Nail"-head`ed, a.
Defn: Having a head like that of a nail; formed so as to resemble the head of a nail. Nail-headed characters, arrowheaded or cuneiform characters. See under Arrowheaded. — Nail-headed molding (Arch.), an ornament consisting of a series of low four-sided pyramids resembling the heads of large nails; — called also nail-head molding, or nail-head. It is the same as the simplest form of dogtooth. See Dogtooth.
NAILLESS
Nail"less, a.
Defn: Without nails; having no nails.
NAINSOOK
Nain`sook", n. Etym: [Nainsukh, a valley in Kaghan.]
Defn: A thick sort of jaconet muslin, plain or striped, formerly made in India.
NAIS
Na"is, n. Etym: [L., a naiad.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Naiad.
NAISSANT
Nais`sant", a. Etym: [F., p. pr. of naître to be born, L. nasci.]
(Her.)
Defn: Same as Jessant.
NAIVE Na"ïve`, a. Etym: [F. naïf, fem. naïve, fr. L. nativus innate, natural, native. See Native, and cf. Naïf.]
Defn: Having native or unaffected simplicity; ingenuous; artless; frank; as, naïve manners; a naïve person; naïve and unsophisticated remarks.
NAIVELY
Na"ïve`ly, adv.
Defn: In a naïve manner.
NAIVETE
Na`ïve`té", n. Etym: [F. See Naïve, and cf. Nativity.]
Defn: Native simplicity; unaffected plainness or ingenuousness;
artlessness.
A story which pleases me by its naïveté — that is, by its
unconscious ingenuousness. De Quincey.
NAIVETY
Na"ïve`ty
Defn: , n. Naïveté. Carlyle.
NAKE
Nake
Defn: ,v.t. To make naked. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Come, be ready, nake your swords. Old Play.
NAKED Na"ked, a. Etym: [AS. nacod; akin to D. naakt, G. nackt, OHG. nacchot, nahhot, Icel. nökvi, nakinn, Sw. naken, Dan. nögen, Goth. naqa, Lith. n, Russ. nagii, L. nudus, Skr. nagna. sq. root266. Cf. Nude.]
1. Having no clothes on; uncovered; nude; bare; as, a naked body; a naked limb; a naked sword.
2. Having no means of defense or protection; open; unarmed;
defenseless.
Thy power is full naked. Chaucer.
Behold my bosom naked to your swords. Addison.
3. Unprovided with needful or desirable accessories, means of sustenance, etc.; destitute; unaided; bare. Patriots who had exposed themselves for the public, and whom they say now left naked. Milton.
4. Without addition, exaggeration, or excuses; not concealed or disguised; open to view; manifest; plain. The truth appears so naked on my side, That any purblind eye may find it out. Shak. All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we to do. Heb. iv. 13.
5. Mere; simple; plain. The very naked name of love. Shak.
6. (Bot.)
Defn: Without pubescence; as, a naked leaf or stem; bare, or not covered by the customary parts, as a flower without a perianth, a stem without leaves, seeds without a pericarp, buds without bud scales.
7. (Mus.)
Defn: Not having the full complement of tones; — said of a chord of only two tones, which requires a third tone to be sounded with them to make the combination pleasing to the ear; as, a naked fourth or fifth. Naked bed, a bed the occupant of which is naked, no night linen being worn in ancient times. Shak. — Naked eye, the eye alone, unaided by glasses, or by telescope, microscope, or the like. — Naked-eyed medusa. (Zoöl.) See Hydromedusa. — Naked flooring (Carp.), the timberwork which supports a floor. Gwilt. — Naked mollusk (Zoöl.), a nudibranch. — Naked wood (Bot.), a large rhamnaceous tree (Colibrina reclinata) of Southern Florida and the West Indies, having a hard and heavy heartwood, which takes a fine polish. C. S. Sargent.
Syn. — Nude; bare; denuded; uncovered; unclothed; exposed; unarmed; plain; defenseless.
NAKEDLY
Na"ked*ly, adv.
Defn: In a naked manner; without covering or disguise; manifestly; simply; barely.
NAKEDNESS
Na"ked*ness, n.
1. The condition of being naked.
2. (Script.)
Defn: The privy parts; the genitals.
Ham … saw the nakedness of his father. Gen. ix. 22.
NAKER
Na"ker, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Nacre.
NAKER
Na"ker, n. Etym: [OE. nakere, F. nakaire, LL. nacara, Per. naqaret.]
Defn: A kind of kettledrum. [Obs.] Chaucer.
NAKOO
Na"koo, n. Etym: [From the native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The gavial. [Written also nako.]
NALE Nale, n. Etym: [A corrupt form arising from the older "at þen ale" at the nale.]
Defn: Ale; also, an alehouse. [Obs.]
Great feasts at the nale. Chaucer.
NALL Nall, n. Etym: [Either fr. Icel. nal (see Needle); or fr. awl, like newt fr. ewt.]
Defn: An awl. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Tusser.
NAM
Nam. Etym: [Contr. fr. ne am.]
Defn: Am not. [Obs.]
NAM
Nam, obs. imp.
Defn: of Nim. Chaucer.
NAMABLE
Nam"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being named.
NAMATION
Na*ma"tion, n. Etym: [LL. namare to take; cf. AS. niman to take.] (O.
Eng. & Scots Law)
Defn: A distraining or levying of a distress; an impounding. Burrill.
NAMAYCUSH
Nam"ay*cush, n. Etym: [Indian name.] (Zool.)
Defn: A large North American lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush). It is usually spotted with red, and sometimes weighs over forty pounds. Called also Mackinaw trout, lake trout, lake salmon, salmon trout, togue, and tuladi.
NAMBY-PAMBY Nam"by-pam`by, n. Etym: [From Ambrose Phillips, in ridicule of the extreme simplicity of some of his verses.]
Defn: Talk or writing which is weakly sentimental or affectedly pretty. Macaulay.
NAMBY-PAMBY
Nam"by-pam`by, a.
Defn: Affectedly pretty; weakly sentimental; finical; insipid.
Thackeray.
Namby-pamby madrigals of love. W. Gifford.
NAME Name, n. Etym: [AS. nama; akin to D. naam, OS. & OHG. namo, G. name, Icel. nafn, for namn, Dan. navn, Sw. namn, Goth. namo, L. nomen (perh. influenced by noscere, gnoscere, to learn to know), Gr. 'o`mona, Scr. naman. sq. root267. Cf. Anonymous, Ignominy, Misnomer, Nominal, Noun.]
1. The title by which any person or thing is known or designated; a distinctive specific appellation, whether of an individual or a class. Whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. Gen. ii. 19. What's in a name That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet. Shak.
2. A descriptive or qualifying appellation given to a person or thing, on account of a character or acts. His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Is. ix. 6.
3. Reputed character; reputation, good or bad; estimation; fame; especially, illustrious character or fame; honorable estimation; distinction. What men of name resort to him Shak. Far above … every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. Eph. i. 21. I will get me a name and honor in the kingdom. 1 Macc. iii. 14. He hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin. Deut. xxii. 19. The king's army …had left no good name behind. Clarendon.
4. Those of a certain name; a race; a family. The ministers of the republic, mortal enemies of his name, came every day to pay their feigned civilities. Motley.
5. A person, an individual. [Poetic] They list with women each degenerate name. Dryden. Christian name. (a) The name a person receives at baptism, as distinguished from surname; baptismal name. (b) A given name, whether received at baptism or not. — Given name. See under Given. — In name, in profession, or by title only; not in reality; as, a friend in name. — In the name of. (a) In behalf of; by the authority of. " I charge you in the duke's name to obey me." Shak. (b) In the represented or assumed character of. " I'll to him again in name of Brook." Shak. — Name plate, a plate as of metal, glass, etc., having a name upon it, as a sign; a doorplate. — Pen name, a name assumed by an author; a pseudonym or nom de plume. Bayard Taylor. — Proper name (Gram.), a name applied to a particular person, place, or thing. — To call names, to apply opprobrious epithets to; to call by reproachful appellations. — To take a name in vain, to use a name lightly or profanely; to use a name in making flippant or dishonest oaths. Ex. xx. 7.
Syn. — Appellation; title; designation; cognomen; denomination; epithet. — Name, Appellation, Title, Denomination. Name is generic, denoting that combination of sounds or letters by which a person or thing is known and distinguished. Appellation, although sometimes put for name simply, denotes, more properly, a descriptive term, used by way of marking some individual peculiarity or characteristic; as, Charles the Bold, Philip the Stammerer. A title is a term employed to point out one's rank, office, etc.; as, the Duke of Bedford, Paul the Apostle, etc. Denomination is to particular bodies what appellation is to individuals; thus, the church of Christ is divided into different denominations, as Congregationalists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, etc.
NAME Name, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Named; p. pr. & vb. n. Naming.] Etym: [AS. namian. See Name, n.]
1. To give a distinctive name or appellation to; to entitle; to denominate; to style; to call. She named the child Ichabod. 1 Sam. iv. 21. Thus was the building left Ridiculous, and the work Confusion named. Milton.
2. To mention by name; to utter or publish the name of; to refer to by distinctive title; to mention. None named thee but to praise. Halleck. Old Yew, which graspest at the stones That name the underlying dead. Tennyson.
3. To designate by name or specifically for any purpose; to nominate; to specify; to appoint; as, to name a day for the wedding. Whom late you have named for consul. Shak.
4. (House of Commons)
Defn: To designate (a member) by name, as the Speaker does by way of reprimand.
Syn. — To denominate; style; term; call; mention; specify; designate; nominate.
NAMELESS
Name"less, a.
1. Without a name; not having been given a name; as, a nameless star. Waller.
2. Undistinguished; not noted or famous. A nameless dwelling and an unknown name. Harte.
3. Not known or mentioned by name; anonymous; as, a nameless writer."Nameless pens." Atterbury.
4. Unnamable; indescribable; inexpressible.
But what it is, that is not yet known; what I can not name; nameless
woe,I wot. Shak.
I have a nameless horror of the man. Hawthorne.
NAMELESSLY
Name"less*ly, adv.
Defn: In a nameless manner.
NAMELY
Name"ly, adv.
1. By name; by particular mention; specifically; especially; expressly. [Obs.] Chaucer. The solitariness of man …God hath namely and principally ordered to prevent by marriage. Milton.
2. That is to say; to wit; videlicet; — introducing a particular or specific designation. For the excellency of the soul, namely, its power of divining dreams; that several such divinations have been made, none Addison.
NAMER
Nam"er, n.
Defn: One who names, or calls by name.
NAMESAKE Name"sake`, n. Etym: [For name's sake; i. e., one named for the sake of another's name.]
Defn: One that has the same name as another; especially, one called after, or named out of regard to, another.
NAMO
Na*mo", adv.
Defn: No more. [Obs.] Chaucer.
NAN
Nan, inerj. Etym: [For anan.]
Defn: Anan. [Prov. Eng.]
NANDINE
Nan"dine, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An African carnivore (Nandinia binotata), allied to the civets.
It is spotted with black.
NANDOU; NANDU
Nan"dou, Nan"du, n. Etym: [Braz. nhandu or yandu.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of three species of South American ostriches of the genera Rhea and Pterocnemia. See Rhea. [Written also nandow.]
NANISM
Na"nism, n. [Gr. + -ism: cf. F. nanisme.]
Defn: The condition of being abnormally small in stature; dwarfishness; — opposed to gigantism.
NANKEEN Nan*keen", n. Etym: [So called from its being originally manufactured at Nankin, in China.] [Written also nankin.]
1. A species of cloth, of a firm texture, originally brought from China, made of a species of cotton (Gossypium religiosum) that is naturally of a brownish yellow color quite indestructible and permanent.
2. An imitation of this cloth by artificial coloring.
3. pl.
Defn: Trousers made of nankeen. Ld. Lytton. Nankeen bird (Zoöl.), the Australian night heron (Nycticorax Caledonicus); — called also quaker.
NANNY
Nan"ny, n.
Defn: A diminutive of Ann or Anne, the proper name. Nanny goat, a female goat. [Colloq.]
NANNYBERRY
Nan"ny*ber`ry, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Sheepberry.
NANPIE
Nan"pie, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The magpie.
NAOS
Na"os, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Arch.)
Defn: A term used by modern archæologists instead of cella. See
Cella.
NAP Nap, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Napped; p. pr. & vb. n. Napping.] Etym: [OE. nappen, AS. hn&ppian to take a nap, to slumber; cf. AS. hnipian to bend one's self, Icel. hnipna, hnipa, to droop.]
1. To have a short sleep; to be drowsy; to doze. Chaucer.
2. To be in a careless, secure state. Wyclif. I took thee napping, unprepared. Hudibras.
NAP
Nap, n.
Defn: A short sleep; a doze; a siesta. Cowper.
NAP Nap, n. Etym: [OE. noppe, AS. hnoppa; akin to D. nop, Dan. noppe, LG. nobbe.]
1. Woolly or villous surface of felt, cloth, plants, etc.; an external covering of down, of short fine hairs or fibers forming part of the substance of anything, and lying smoothly in one direction; the pile; — as, the nap of cotton flannel or of broadcloth.
2. pl.
Defn: The loops which are cut to make the pile, in velvet. Knight.
NAP
Nap, v. t.
Defn: To raise, or put, a nap on.
NAPE
Nape, n. Etym: [Perh. akin to knap a knop.]
Defn: The back part of the neck. Spenser.
NAPE-CREST
Nape"-crest`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An African bird of the genus Schizorhis, related to the plantain eaters.
NAPERY
Na"per*y, n.; pl. Naperies. Etym: [OF. naperie, fr. nape a
tablecloth, F. nappe, LL. napa, fr. L. mappa. See Map, and cf. Apron,
Napkin.]
Defn: Table linen; also, linen clothing, or linen in general. [Obs.]
Gayton.
NAPHA WATER
Na"pha wa`ter. Etym: [Sp. nafa, from Ar. napha odor.]
Defn: A perfume distilled from orange flowers.
NAPHEW
Na"phew, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Navew.
NAPHTHA
Naph"tha, n. Etym: [L. naphtha, Gr. nafth, nifth.]
1. (Chem.)
Defn: The complex mixture of volatile, liquid, inflammable hydrocarbons, occurring naturally, and usually called crude petroleum, mineral oil, or rock oil. Specifically: That portion of the distillate obtained in the refinement of petroleum which is intermediate between the lighter gasoline and the heavier benzine, and has a specific gravity of about 0.7, — used as a solvent for varnishes, as a carburetant, illuminant, etc.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: One of several volatile inflammable liquids obtained by the distillation of certain carbonaceous materials and resembling the naphtha from petroleum; as, Boghead naphtha, from Boghead coal (obtained at Boghead, Scotland); crude naphtha, or light oil, from coal tar; wood naphtha, from wood, etc.
Note: This term was applied by the earlier chemical writers to a number of volatile, strong smelling, inflammable liquids, chiefly belonging to the ethers, as the sulphate, nitrate, or acetate of ethyl. Watts. Naphtha vitrioli Etym: [NL., naphtha of vitriol] (Old Chem.), common ethyl ether; — formerly called sulphuric ether. See Ether.
NAPHTHALATE
Naph"tha*late, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of naphthalic acid; a phthalate. [Obs.]
NAPHTHALENE
Naph"tha*lene, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A white crystalline aromatic hydrocarbon, C10H8, analogous to benzene, and obtained by the distillation of certain bituminous materials, such as the heavy oil of coal tar. It is the type and basis of a large number of derivatives among organic compounds. Formerly called also naphthaline. Naphthalene red (Chem.), a dyestuff obtained from certain diazo derivatives of naphthylamine, and called also magdala red. — Naphthalene yellow (Chem.), a yellow dyestuff obtained from certain nitro derivatives of naphthol.
NAPHTHALENIC
Naph`tha*len"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to , or derived from, naphthalene; — used specifically to designate a yellow crystalline substance, called naphthalenic acid and also hydroxy quinone, and obtained from certain derivatives of naphthol.
NAPHTHALIC Naph*tha"lic, a. (Chem.) (a) Pertaining to, derived from, or related to, naphthalene; — used specifically to denote any one of a series of acids derived from naphthalene, and called naphthalene acids. (b) Formerly, designating an acid probably identical with phthalic acid.
NAPHTHALIDINE
Naph*thal"i*dine, n. Etym: [Naphthalene + toluidine.] (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Naphthylamine.
NAPHTHALIN; NAPHTHALINE
Naph"tha*lin, Naph"tha*line, n. Etym: [F. naphthaline.] (Chem.)
Defn: See Naphthalene.
NAPHTHALIZE
Naph"tha*lize, v. t. (Chem.)
Defn: To mingle, saturate, or impregnate, with naphtha.
NAPHTHAZARIN
Naph*thaz"a*rin, n. Etym: [Naphthalene + alizarin.] (Chem.)
Defn: A dyestuff, resembling alizarin, obtained from naphthoquinone as a red crystalline substance with a bright green, metallic luster; — called also naphthalizarin.
NAPHTHENE
Naph"thene, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A peculiar hydrocarbon occuring as an ingredient of Caucasian petroleum.
NAPHTHIDE
Naph"thide, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A compound of naphthalene or its radical with a metallic element; as, mercuric naphthide.
NAPHTHOIC
Naph*tho"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or related to, naphthalene; — used specifically to designate any one of a series of carboxyl derivatives, called naphthoic acids.
NAPHTHOL
Naph"thol, n. Etym: [Naphthalene + -ol.] (Chem.)
Defn: Any one of a series of hydroxyl derivatives of naphthalene, analogous to phenol. In general they are crystalline substances with a phenol (carbolic) odor. Naphthol blue, Naphthol orange, Naphthol yellow (Chem.), brilliant dyestuffs produced from certain complex nitrogenous derivatives of naphthol or naphthoquinone.
NAPHTHOQUINONE
Naph`tho*qui"none, n. Etym: [Naphthalene + quinone.] (Chem.)
Defn: A yellow crystalline substance, C10H6O2, analogous to quinone, obtained by oxidizing naphthalene with chromic acid.
NAPHTHYL
Naph"thyl, n. Etym: [Naphthalene + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A hydrocarbon radical regarded as the essential residue of naphthalene.
NAPHTHYLAMINE
Naph`thyl*am"ine, n. (Chem.)
Defn: One of two basic amido derivatives of naphthalene, C10H7.NH2, forming crystalline solids.
NAPIERIAN; NAPERIAN
Na*pie"ri*an, Na*pe"ri*an ,, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or discovered by, Napier, or Naper. Naperian logarithms. See under Logarithms.
NAPIER'S BONES; NAPIER'S RODS
Na"pi*er's bones`, Na"pi*er's rods`.
Defn: A set of rods, made of bone or other material, each divided into nine spaces, and containing the numbers of a column of the multiplication table; — a contrivance of Baron Napier, the inventor of logarithms, for facilitating the operations of multiplication and division.
NAPIFORM
Na"pi*form, a. Etym: [L. napus turnip + -form: cf. F. napiforme. Cf.
Navew.] (Bot.)
Defn: Turnip-shaped; large and round in the upper part, and very slender below.
NAPKIN Nap"kin, n. Etym: [Dim. of OF. nape a tablecloth, cloth, F. nappe, L. mappa. See Napery.]
1. A little towel, or small cloth, esp. one for wiping the fingers and mouth at table.
2. A handkerchief. [Obs.] Shak. Napkin pattern. See Linen scroll, under Linen. — Napkin ring, a ring of metal, ivory, or other material, used to inclose a table napkin.
NAPLESS
Nap"less, a.
Defn: Without nap; threadbare. Shak.
NAPLES YELLOW
Na"ples yel"low.
Defn: See under Yellow.
NAPOLEON
Na*po"le*on, n. Etym: [From the Emperor Napoleon 1.]
Defn: A French gold coin of twenty francs, or about $3.86.
NAPOLEONIC
Na*po`le*on"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Napoleon I., or his family; resembling, or having the qualities of, Napoleon I. Lowell.
NAPOLEONIST
Na*po"le*on*ist, n.
Defn: A supporter of the dynasty of the Napoleons.
NAPPE
Nappe, n. Etym: [F. nappe cloth, sheet. See Napery.] (Geom.)
Defn: Sheet; surface; all that portion of a surface that is continuous in such a way that it is possible to pass from any one point of the portion to any other point of the portion without leaving the surface. Thus, some hyperboloids have one nappe, and some have two.
NAPPINESS
Nap"pi*ness, n. Etym: [From 2d Nappy.]
Defn: The quality of having a nap; abundance of nap, as on cloth.
NAPPING
Nap"ping, n.
1. The act or process of raising a nap, as on cloth.
2. (Hat Making)
Defn: A sheet of partially felted fur before it is united to the hat body. Knight.
NAPPY
Nap"py, a. Etym: [From 1st Nap.]
1. Inclined to sleep; sleepy; as, to feel nappy.
2. Tending to cause sleepiness; serving to make sleepy; strong; heady; as, nappy ale. [Obs.] Wyatt.
NAPPY
Nap"py, a. Etym: [From 3d Nap.]
Defn: Having a nap or pile; downy; shaggy. Holland.
NAPPY
Nap"py, n.; pl. Nappies. Etym: [OE. nap, AS. hnæp cup, bowl. See
Hanaper.]
Defn: A round earthen dish, with a flat bottom and sloping sides.
[Written also nappie.]
NAP-TAKING
Nap"-tak`ing, n.
Defn: A taking by surprise; an unexpected onset or attack. Carew.
NAPU
Na*pu", n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A very small chevrotain (Tragulus Javanicus), native of Java. It is about the size of a hare, and is noted for its agility in leaping. Called also Java musk deer, pygmy musk deer, and deerlet.
NAPUS
Na"pus, n. Etym: [L.] (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of turnip. See Navew.
NARCEINE
Nar"ce*ine, n. Etym: [L. narce numbness, torpor, Gr. narcé\'8bne.]
(Chem.)
Defn: An alkaloid found in small quantities in opium, and extracted as a white crystalline substance of a bitter astringent taste. It is a narcotic. Called also narceia.
NARCISSINE
Nar*cis"sine, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Narcissus.
NARCISSUS Nar*cis"sus, n.; pl. Narcissuses. Etym: [L. narcissus, and (personified) Narcissus, Gr. na`rkissos, Na`rkissos, fr. na`rkh torpor, in allusion to the narcotic properties of the flower. Cf. Narcotic.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of endogenous bulbous plants with handsome flowers, having a cup-shaped crown within the six-lobed perianth, and comprising the daffodils and jonquils of several kinds.
2. (Classical Myth.)
Defn: A beautiful youth fabled to have been enamored of his own image as seen in a fountain, and to have been changed into the flower called Narcissus.
NARCOSIS
Nar*co"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. na`rkwsis. See Narcotic.] (Med.)
Defn: Privation of sense or consciousness, due to a narcotic.
NARCOTIC
Nar*cot"ic, a. Etym: [F. narcotique, Gr. na`rkh numbness, torpor.]
(Med.)
Defn: Having the properties of a narcotic; operating as a narcotic.
— Nar*cot"ic*ness, n.
NARCOTIC
Nar*cot"ic, n. (Med.)
Defn: A drug which, in medicinal doses, generally allays morbid susceptibility, relieves pain, and produces sleep; but which, in poisonous doses, produces stupor, coma, or convulsions, and, when given in sufficient quantity, causes death. The best examples are opium (with morphine), belladonna (with atropine), and conium. Nercotykes and opye (opium) of Thebes. Chaucer.
NARCOTICAL
Nar*cot"ic*al, a.
Defn: Narcotic.
— Nar*cot"ic*al*ly, adv.
NARCOTINE
Nar"co*tine, n. Etym: [Cf. F. narcotine. Cf. Cotarnine.] (Chem.)
Defn: An alkaloid found in opium, and extracted as a white crystalline substance, tasteless and less poisonous than morphine; — called also narcotia.
NARCOTINIC
Nar`co*tin"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to narcotine.
NARCOTISM
Nar"co*tism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. narcotisme.]
Defn: Narcosis; the state of being narcotized. G. Eliot.
NARCOTIZE
Nar"co*tize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Narcotized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Narcotizing.]
Defn: To imbue with, or subject to the influence of, a narcotic; to put into a state of narcosis.
NARD Nard, n. Etym: [AS., fr. L. nardus, Gr. nêrd, Per. nard, Scr. nalada.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: An East Indian plant (Nardostachys Jatamansi) of the Valerian family, used from remote ages in Oriental perfumery.
2. An ointment prepared partly from this plant. See Spikenard.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of grass (Nardus stricta) of little value, found in
Europe and Asia.
NARDINE
Nard"ine, a. Etym: [L. nardinus, Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to nard; having the qualities of nard.
NARDOO
Nar*doo", n. (Bot.)
Defn: An Australian name for Marsilea Drummondii, a four-leaved cryptogamous plant, sometimes used for food.
NARE
Nare, n. Etym: [L. naris.]
Defn: A nostril. [R.] B. Jonson.
NARES
Na"res, n. pl. Etym: [L., pl. of naris nostril.] (Anat.)
Defn: The nostrils or nasal openings, — the anterior nares being the external or proper nostrils, and the posterior nares, the openings of the nasal cavities into the mouth or pharynx.
NARGILE; NARGILEH Nar"gile, Nar"gi*leh, n. Etym: [Per. narghil, prop., a cocoanut; prob. so called because first made of a cocoanut.]
Defn: An apparatus for smoking tobacco. It has a long flexible tube, and the smoke is drawn through water.
NARICA
Nar"i*ca, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The brown coati. See Coati.
NARIFORM
Nar"i*form, a. Etym: [L. naris nostril + -form. See Nose.]
Defn: Formed like the nose.
NARINE
Nar"ine, a.
Defn: Of or belonging to the nostrils.
NARRABLE
Nar"ra*ble, a. Etym: [L. narrabilis, fr. narrare to narrate.]
Defn: Capable of being narrated or told. [Obs.]
NARRAGANSETTS
Nar`ra*gan"setts, n. pl.; sing. Narragansett (. (Ethnol.)
Defn: A tribe of Indians who formerly inhabited the shores of
Narragansett Bay.
NARRATE
Nar*rate", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Narrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Narrating.]
Etym: [L. narratus, p. p. of narrare to narrate, prob. for gnarigare,
fr. gnarus knowing. See Ignore, Know.]
Defn: To tell, rehearse, or recite, as a story; to relate the particulars of; to go through with in detail, as an incident or transaction; to give an account of.
Syn.
— To relate; recount; detail; describe.
NARRATION
Nar*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. narratio: cf. F. narration.]
1. The act of telling or relating the particulars of an event; rehearsal; recital.
2. That which is related; the relation in words or writing of the particulars of any transaction or event, or of any series of transactions or events; story; history.
3. (Rhet.)
Defn: That part of a discourse which recites the time, manner, or consequences of an action, or simply states the facts connected with the subject.
Syn. — Account; recital; rehearsal; relation; description; explanation; detail; narrative; story; tale; history. See Account.
NARRATIVE
Nar"ra*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. narratif.]
1. Of or pertaining to narration; relating to the particulars of an event or transaction.
2. Apt or inclined to relate stories, or to tell particulars of events; story-telling; garrulous. But wise through time, and narrative with age. Pope.
NARRATIVE
Nar"ra*tive, n.
Defn: That which is narrated; the recital of a story; a continuous account of the particulars of an event or transaction; a story. Cyntio was much taken with my narrative. Tatler.
Syn.
— Account; recital; rehearsal; relation; narration; story; tale.
See Account.
NARRATIVELY
Nar"ra*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In the style of narration.
NARRATOR
Nar*ra"tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who narrates; one who relates a series of events or transactions.
NARRATORY
Nar"ra*to*ry, a.
Defn: Giving an account of events; narrative; as, narratory letters.
Howell.
NARRE
Narre, a.
Defn: Nearer. [Obs.] Spenser.
NARROW Nar"row, a. [Compar. Narrower; superl. Narrowest.] Etym: [OE. narwe, naru, AS. nearu; akin to OS. naru, naro.]
1. Of little breadth; not wide or broad; having little distance from side to side; as, a narrow board; a narrow street; a narrow hem. Hath passed in safety through the narrow seas. Shak.
2. Of little extent; very limited; circumscribed. The Jews were but a small nation, and confined to a narrow compass in the world. Bp. Wilkins.
3. Having but a little margin; having barely sufficient space, time, or number, etc.; close; near; — with special reference to some peril or misfortune; as, a narrow shot; a narrow escape; a narrow majority. Dryden.
4. Limited as to means; straitened; pinching; as, narrow circumstances.
5. Contracted; of limited scope; illiberal; bigoted; as, a narrow mind; narrow views. "A narrow understanding." Macaulay.
6. Parsimonious; niggardly; covetous; selfish. A very narrow and stinted charity. Smalridge.
7. Scrutinizing in detail; close; accurate; exact. But first with narrow search I must walk round This garden, and no corner leave unspied. Milton.
8. (Phon.)
Defn: Formed (as a vowel) by a close position of some part of the tongue in relation to the palate; or (according to Bell) by a tense condition of the pharynx; — distinguished from wide; as e (eve) and oo (food), etc., from ì (ìll) and oo (foot), etc. See Guide to Pronunciation, § 13.
Note: Narrow is not unfrequently prefixed to words, especially to participles and adjectives, forming compounds of obvious signification; as, narrow-bordered, narrow-brimmed, narrow-breasted, narrow-edged, narrow-faced, narrow-headed, narrow-leaved, narrow- pointed, narrow-souled, narrow-sphered, etc. Narrow gauge. (Railroad) See Note under Gauge, n., 6.
NARROW
Nar"row, n.; pl. Narrows (.
Defn: A narrow passage; esp., a contracted part of a stream, lake, or sea; a strait connecting two bodies of water; — usually in the plural; as, The Narrows of New York harbor. Near the island lay on one side the jaws of a dangerous narrow. Gladstone.
NARROW
Nar"row, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Narrowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Narrowing.]
Etym: [AS. nearwian.]
1. To lessen the breadth of; to contract; to draw into a smaller compass; to reduce the width or extent of. Sir W. Temple.
2. To contract the reach or sphere of; to make less liberal or more selfish; to limit; to confine; to restrict; as, to narrow one's views or knowledge; to narrow a question in discussion. Our knowledge is much more narrowed if we confine ourselves to our own solitary reasonings. I. Watts.
3. (Knitting)
Defn: To contract the size of, as a stocking, by taking two stitches into one.
NARROW
Nar"row, v. i.
1. To become less broad; to contract; to become narrower; as, the sea narrows into a strait.
2. (Man.)
Defn: Not to step out enough to the one hand or the other; as, a horse narrows. Farrier's Dict.
3. (Knitting)
Defn: To contract the size of a stocking or other knit article, by taking two stitches into one.
NARROWER
Nar"row*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, narrows or contracts. Hannah More.
NARROWING
Nar"row*ing, n.
1. The act of contracting, or of making or becoming less in breadth or extent.
2. The part of a stocking which is narrowed.
NARROWLY
Nar"row*ly, adv. Etym: [AS. nearulice.]
1. With little breadth; in a narrow manner.
2. Without much extent; contractedly.
3. With minute scrutiny; closely; as, to look or watch narrowly; to search narrowly.
4. With a little margin or space; by a small distance; hence, closely; hardly; barely; only just; — often with reference to an avoided danger or misfortune; as, he narrowly escaped.
5. Sparingly; parsimoniously.
NARROW-MINDED
Nar"row-mind`ed, a.
Defn: Of narrow mental scope; illiberal; mean.
— Nar"row-mind`ed*ness, n.
NARROWNESS
Nar"row*ness, n. Etym: [AS. nearunes.]
Defn: The condition or quality of being narrow.
NART
Nart. Etym: [For ne art.]
Defn: Art not. [Obs.] Chaucer.
NARTHEX
Nar"thex, n. Etym: [L., giant fennel, Gr.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A tall umbelliferous plant (Ferula communis). See Giant fennel, under Fennel.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: The portico in front of ancient churches; sometimes, the atrium or outer court surrounded by ambulatories; — used, generally, for any vestibule, lobby, or outer porch, leading to the nave of a church.
NARWAL
Nar"wal, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Narwhal.
NARWE
Nar"we, a.
Defn: Narrow. [Obs.] Chaucer.
NARWHAL Nar"whal, n. Etym: [Sw. or Dan. narvhal; akin to Icel. nahvalr, and E. whale. the first syllable is perh. from Icel. nar corpse, dead body, in allusion to the whitish color its skin. See Whale.] [Written also narwhale.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An arctic cetacean (Monodon monocerous), about twenty feet long. The male usually has one long, twisted, pointed canine tooth, or tusk projecting forward from the upper jaw like a horn, whence it is called also sea unicorn, unicorn fish, and unicorn whale. Sometimes two horns are developed, side by side.
NAS
Nas. Etym: [For ne was.]
Defn: Was not. [Obs.] Chaucer.
NAS
Nas. Etym: [Contr. fr. ne has.]
Defn: Has not. [Obs.] Spenser.
NASAL
Na"sal, a. Etym: [F., from L. nasus the nose. See Nose.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the nose.
2. (Phon.)
Defn: Having a quality imparted by means of the nose; and specifically, made by lowering the soft palate, in some cases with closure of the oral passage, the voice thus issuing (wholly or partially) through the nose, as in the consonants m, n, ng (see Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 20, 208); characterized by resonance in the nasal passage; as, a nasal vowel; a nasal utterance. Nasal bones (Anat.), two bones of the skull, in front of the frontals. — Nasal index (Anat.), in the skull, the ratio of the transverse the base of the aperture to the nasion, which latter distance is taken as the standard, equal to 100.
NASAL
Na"sal, n.
1. An elementary sound which is uttered through the nose, or through both the nose and the mouth simultaneously.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A medicine that operates through the nose; an errhine.
[Archaic]
3. (Anc. Armor)
Defn: Part of a helmet projecting to protect the nose; a nose guard.
4. (Anat.)
Defn: One of the nasal bones.
5. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A plate, or scale, on the nose of a fish, etc.
NASALITY
Na*sal"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. nasalité.]
Defn: The quality or state of being nasal.
NASALIZATION
Na`sal*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of nasalizing, or the state of being nasalized.
NASALIZE
Na"sal*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nasalized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Nasalizing.]
Defn: To render nasal, as sound; to insert a nasal or sound in.
NASALIZE
Na"sal*ize, v. t.
Defn: To utter words or letters with a nasal sound; to speak through the nose.
NASALLY
Na"sal*ly, adv.
Defn: In a nasal manner; by the nose.
NASCAL
Nas"cal, n. Etym: [F. nascale.] (Med.)
Defn: A kind of pessary of medicated wool or cotton, formerly used.
NASCENCY
Nas"cen*cy, n. Etym: [L. nascentia. See Nascent.]
Defn: State of being nascent; birth; beginning; origin.
NASCENT
Nas"cent, a. Etym: [L. nascens, -entis, p.pr. nasci to be born. See
Nation, and cf. Naissant.]
1. Commencing, or in process of development; beginning to exist or to grow; coming into being; as, a nascent germ. Nascent passions and anxieties. Berkley.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: Evolving; being evolved or produced. Nascent state (Chem.), the supposed instantaneous or momentary state of an uncombined atom or radical just separated from one compound acid, and not yet united with another, — a hypothetical condition implying peculiarly active chemical properties; as, hydrogen in the nascent state is a strong reducer.
NASEBERRY Nase"ber`ry, n. Etym: [Sp. nispero medlar and naseberry tree, fr. L. mespilus. See Medlar.] (Bot.)
Defn: A tropical fruit. See Sapodilla. [Written also nisberry.]
NASH
Nash, a. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: Firm; stiff; hard; also, chilly. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
NASICORNOUS Nas`i*cor"nous, a. Etym: [L. nasus nose + cornu horn: cf. F. nasicorne.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Bearing a horn, or horns, on the nose, as the rhinoceros.
NASIFORM
Nas"i*form, a. Etym: [L. nasus nose + -form. See Nose, and cf.
Nariform.]
Defn: Having the shape of a nose.
NASION
Na*si*on, n. Etym: [Nl., fr. L. nasus nose.] (Anat.)
Defn: The middle point of the nasofrontal suture.
NASO-
Na"so- (. Etym: [L. nasus nose.] (Anat.)
Defn: A combining form denoting pertaining to, or connected with, the nose; as, nasofrontal.
NASOBUCCAL
Na"so*buc"cal, a. Etym: [Naso + buccal.] (Anat.)
Defn: Connected with both the nose and the mouth; as, the nasobuccal groove in the skate.
NASOFRONTAL
Na`so*fron"tal, a. Etym: [Naso- + frontal.] (Anat.)
Defn: of or pertaining to the nose and the front of the head; as, the embryonic nasofrontal process which forms the anterior boundary of the mouth.
NASOLACHRYMAL
Na`so*lach"ry*mal, a. Etym: [Naso- + lachrymal.] (Anat.)
Defn: Connected with the lachrymal apparatus and the nose; as, the nasolachrymal, or lachrymal duct.
NASOPALATAL; NASOPALATINE
Na`so*pal"a*tal, Na`so*pal"a*tine, a. Etym: [Naso- + palatal.]
(Anat.)
Defn: Connected with both the nose and the palate; as, the nasopalatine or incisor, canal connecting the mouth and the nasal chamber in some animals; the nasopalatine nerve.
NASOPHARYNGEAL
Na`so*phar`yn*ge"al ( or , a. Etym: [Naso- + pharyngeal.] (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to both throat and nose; as, a nasopharyngeal polypus.
NASOSEPTAL
Na`so*sep"tal, a. Etym: [Naso- + septal.] (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the internasal septum.
NASOTURBINAL
Na`so*tur"bi*nal, a. Etym: [Naso- + turbinal.] (Anat.)
Defn: Connected with, or near, both the turbinal and the nasal bones; as, the nasalturbinal bone, made up of the uppermost lammelæ of the ethmoturbinal, and sometimes united with the nasal. — n.
Defn: The nasoturbinal bone.
NASSA Nas"sa, n.; pl. E. Nassas, L. NassÆ. Etym: [From L. nassa a kind of basket, in allusion to the reticulation of some species.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of marine gastropods, of the genera Nassa, Tritia, and other allied genera of the family Nassidæ; a dog whelk. See Illust. under Gastropoda. — nas"soid, a.
NASTILY
Nas"ti*ly, adv.
Defn: In a nasty manner.
NASTINESS
Nas"ti*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being nasty; extreme filthness; dirtiness; also, indecency; obscenity. The nastiness of Plautus and Aristophanes. Dryden.
NASTURTION
Nas*tur"tion, n. Etym: [See Nasturtium.] (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Nasturtium.
NASTURTIUM Nas*tur"tium, n. Etym: [L. nasturtium, for nasitortium, fr. nasus nose + torquere, tortum, to twist, torture, in allusion to the causing one to make a wry face by its pungent taste. See Nose of the face, and Torture.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of cruciferous plants, having white or yellowish flowers, including several species of cress. They are found chiefly in wet or damp grounds, and have a pungent biting taste.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Any plant of the genus Tropæolum, geraniaceous herbs, having mostly climbing stems, peltate leaves, and spurred flowers, and including the common Indian cress (Tropæolum majus), the canary-bird flower (T. peregrinum), and about thirty more species, all natives of South America. The whole plant has a warm pungent flavor, and the fleshy fruits are used as a substitute for capers, while the leaves and flowers are sometimes used in salads.
NASTY Nas"ty, a. [Compar. Nastier (; superl. Nastiest.] Etym: [For older nasky; cf. dial. Sw. naskug, nasket.]
1. Offensively filthy; very dirty, foul, or defiled; disgusting; nauseous.
2. Hence, loosely: Offensive; disagreeable; unpropitious; wet; drizzling; as, a nasty rain, day, sky.
3. Characterized by obcenity; indecent; indelicate; gross; filthy.
Syn. — Nasty, Filthy, Foul, Dirty. Anything nasty is usually wet or damp as well as filthy or dirty, and disgusts by its stickness or odor; but filthy and foul imply that a thing is filled or covered with offensive matter, while dirty describes it as defiled or sullied with dirt of any kind; as, filthy clothing, foul vapors, etc.
NASUTE
Na"sute, a. Etym: [L. nasutus, fr. nasus the nose.]
1. Having a nice sense of smell. [Obs.] Evelyn.
2. Critically nice; captious. [Obs.] auden.
NASUTNESS
Na"sut*ness, n.
Defn: Quickness of scent; hence, nice discernment; acuteness. [Obs.]
Dr. H. More.
NAT
Nat, adv.
Defn: Not. [Obs.] Chaucer.
NAT
Nat Etym: [For ne at.]
Defn: Not at; nor at. [Obs.] haucer.
NATAL Na"tal, a. Etym: [L. natalis, fr. natus, p.p. of nasci to be born: cf. F. natal. See Nation, and cf. Noel.]
1. Of or pertaining to one's birth; accompying or dating from one's birth; native. Princes' children took names from their natal places. Camden. Propitious star, whose sacred power Presided o'er the monarch's natal hour. Prior.
2. (Actrol.)
Defn: Presiding over nativity; as, natal Jove.
Syn.
— Native, natural. See Native.
NATAL BOIL
Na*tal" boil. (Med.)
Defn: = Aleppo boil.
NATALITIAL; NATALITIOUS
Na`ta*li"tial, Na`ta*li"tious, a. Etym: [L. natalitius, from natalis.
See Natal.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to one's birth or birthday, or one's nativity.
[Obs.] "Natalitial poplar." Evelyn. "Natalitious fire." W.
Cartwright.
NATALOIN
Na*tal"o*in, n. Etym: [From Natal aloes.] (Chem.)
Defn: A bitter crystalline substance constituting the essential principle of Natal aloes. Cf. Aloon.
NATAL PLUM
Na*tal" plum`. (Bot.)
Defn: The drupaceous fruit of two South African shrubs of the genus
Arduina (A. bispinosa and A. grandiflora).
NATALS
Na"tals, n. pl.
Defn: One's birth, or the circumstances attending it. [Obs.] Fitz-
Geffry.
NATANT Na"tant, a. Etym: [L. natans, -antis, from swim, v. intens. fr. nare to swim: cf. F. natant.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Floating in water, as the leaves of water lilies, or submersed, as those of many aquatic plants.
2. (Her.)
Defn: Placed horizontally across the field, as if swimmimg toward the dexter side; said of all sorts of fishes except the flying fish.
NATANTLY
Na"tant*ly, adv.
Defn: In a floating manner; swimmingly.
NATATION Na*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. natatio, fr. natare to swim: cf. F. natation. See Natant.]
Defn: The act of floating on the water; swimming. Sir T. Browne.
NATATORES
Na`ta*to"res, n. pl. Etym: [L. natator a swimmer.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The swimming birds.
Note: They were formerly united into one order, which is now considered an artifical group.
NATATORIAL
Na`ta*to"rial, a.
Defn: Inclined or adapted to swim; swimming; as, natatorial birds.
NATATORIOUS
Na`ta*to"ri*ous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Adapted for swimming; — said of the legs of certain insects.
NATATORIUM
Na`ta*to"rium, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A swimming bath.
NATATORY
Na"ta*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. natatorius.]
Defn: Adapted for swimming or floating; as, natatory organs.
NATCH Natch, n. Etym: [OF. nache fesse, LL. natica, from L. natis the rump, buttocks. Cf. Aitchbone.]
Defn: The rump of beef; esp., the lower and back part of the rump.
Natch bone, the edgebone, or aitchbone, in beef.
NATCHEZ
Natch"ez, n. pl. (Ethnol.)
Defn: A tribe of Indians who formerly lived near the site of the city of Natchez, Mississippi. In 1729 they were subdued by the French; the survivors joined the Creek Confederacy.
NATCHNEE
Natch"nee, n. (Bot.)
Defn: An annual grass (Eleusine coracona), cultivated in India as a food plant.
NATES
Na"tes, n. pl. Etym: [L., the buttocks.]
1. (Anat.) (a) The buttocks. (b) The two anterior of the four lobes on the dorsal side of the midbrain of most mammals; the anterior optic lobes.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The umbones of a bivalve shell.
NATH
Nath. Etym: [Contr. fr. ne hath,]
Defn: hath not. [Obs.]
NATHLESS Nath"less, adv. Etym: [OE. natheles, na the les, not the less, AS. na never. See Na, The, conj., and cf. Nevertheless.]
Defn: Nevertheless. [Archaic] Chaucer. Milton. E. Arnold.
NATHMORE
Nath"more`, adv. Etym: [OE. na the more.]
Defn: Not the more; never the more. [Obs.] penser.
NATICA
Nat"i*ca, n.; pl. Naticas (, L. NaticÆ (. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of marine gastropods belonging to
Natica, Lunatia, Neverita, and other allied genera (family Naticidæ.)
They burrow beneath the sand, or mud, and drill other shells.
NATICOID
Nat"i*coid, a. Etym: [Natica + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or belonging to Natica, or the family Naticæ.
NATION Na"tion, n. Etym: [F. nation, L. natio nation, race, orig., a being born, fr. natus, p.p. of nasci, to be born, for gnatus, gnaci, from the same root as E. kin. *44. See Kin kindred, and cf. Cognate, Natal, Native.]
1. (Ethnol.)
Defn: A part, or division, of the people of the earth, distinguished
from the rest by common descent, language, or institutions; a race; a
stock.
All nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues. Rev. vii. 9.
2. The body of inhabitants of a country, united under an independent government of their own. A nation is the unity of a people. Coleridge. Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation. F. S. Key.
3. Family; lineage. [Obs.] Chaucer.
4. (a) One of the divisions of university students in a classification according to nativity, formerly common in Europe. (b) (Scotch Universities) One of the four divisions (named from the parts of Scotland) in which students were classified according to their nativity.
5. A great number; a great deal; — by way of emphasis; as, a nation of herbs. Sterne. Five nations. See under Five. — Law of nations. See International law, under International, and Law.
Syn.
— people; race. See People.
NATIONAL
Na"tion*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. national.]
1. Of or pertaining to a nation; common to a whole people or race; public; general; as, a national government, language, dress, custom, calamity, etc.
2. Attached to one's own country or nation. National anthem, a popular song or hymn which has become by general acceptance the recognized musical expression of the patriotic sentiment of a nation; as, "God save the King" is called the national anthem of England. — National bank, the official common name of a class of banking corporations established under the laws of the United States. — National flag. See under Flag. — National guard, a body of militia, or a local military organization, as in Paris during the French Revolution, or as certain bodies of militia in other European countries and in the United States. — National salute, a salute consisting of as many guns as there are States in the Union. [U.S.]
NATIONALISM
Na"tion*al*ism, n.
1. The state of being national; national attachment; nationality.
2. An idiom, trait, or character peculiar to any nation.
3. National independence; the principles of the Nationalists.
NATIONALIST
Na"tion*al*ist, n.
Defn: One who advocates national unity and independence; one of a party favoring Irish independence.
NATIONALITY
Na`tion*al"i*ty, n.; pl. Nationalities. Etym: [Cf. F. nationalité.]
1. The quality of being national, or strongly attached to one's own nation; patriotism.
2. The sum of the qualities which distinguish a nation; national character.
3. A race or people, as determined by common language and character, and not by political bias or divisions; a nation. the fulfillment of his mission is to be looked for in the condition of nationalities and the character of peoples. H. W. Beecher.
4. Existence as a distinct or individual nation; national unity and integrity.
5. The state or quality of belonging to or being connected with a nation or government by nativity, character, ownership, allegiance, etc.
NATIONALIZATION
Na`tion*al*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of nationalizing, or the state of being nationalized.
NATIONALIZE
Na"tion*al*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nationalized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Nationalizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. nationaliser.]
Defn: To make national; to make a nation of; to endow with the character and habits of a nation, or the peculiar sentiments and attachment of citizens of a nation.
NATIONALLY
Na"tion*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a national manner or way; as a nation. "The jews … being nationally espoused to God by covenant." South.
NATIONALNESS
Na"tion*al*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being national; nationality. Johnson.
NATIONALRATH
Na`ti*o*nal"rath`, n. [G.] (Switzerland)
Defn: See Legislature.
NATIVE
Na"tive, a. Etym: [F. natif, L. nativus, fr. nasci, p.p. natus. See
Nation, and cf. Naïve, Nelf a serf.]
1. Arising by birth; having an origin; born. [Obs.] Anaximander's opinion is, that the gods are native, rising and vanishing again in long periods of times. Cudworth.
2. Of or pertaining to one's birth; natal; belonging to the place or the circumstances in which one is born; — opposed to foreign; as, native land, language, color, etc.
3. Born in the region in which one lives; as, a native inhabitant, race; grown or originating in the region where used or sold; not foreign or imported; as, native oysters, or strawberries.
4. Original; constituting the original substance of anything; as, native dust. Milton.
5. Conferred by birth; derived from origin; born with one; inherent; inborn; not acquired; as, native genius, cheerfulness, simplicity, rights, etc. Courage is native to you. Jowett (Thucyd. ).
6. Naturally related; cognate; connected (with). [R.] the head is not more native to the heart, … Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father. Shak.
7. (Min.)
(a) Found in nature uncombined with other elements; as, native
silver.
(b) Found in nature; not artificial; as native sodium chloride.
Native American party. See under American, a.
— Native bear (Zoöl.), the koala.
— Native bread (Bot.), a large underground fungus, of Australia
(Mylitta australis), somewhat resembling a truffle, but much larger.
— Native devil. (Zoöl.) Same as Tasmanian devil, under Devil.
— Native hen (Zoöl.), an Australian rail (Tribonyx Mortierii).
— Native pheasant. (Zoöl.) See Leipoa.
— Native rabbit (Zoöl.), an Australian marsupial (Perameles
lagotis) resembling a rabbit in size and form.
— Native sloth (Zoöl.), the koala.
— Native thrush (Zoöl.), an Australian singing bird (Pachycephala
olivacea); — called also thickhead.
— Native turkey (Zoöl.), the Australian bustard (Choriotis
australis); — called also bebilya.
Syn. — Natural; natal; original; congential. — Native, Natural, Natal. natural refers to the nature of a thing, or that which springs therefrom; native, to one's birth or origin; as, a native country, language, etc.; natal, to the circumstances of one's birth; as, a natal day, or star. Native talent is that which is inborn; natural talent is that which springs from the structure of the mind. Native eloquence is the result of strong innate emotion; natural eloquence is opposed to that which is studied or artifical.
NATIVE
Na"tive, n.
1. One who, or that which, is born in a place or country referred to; a denizen by birth; an animal, a fruit, or vegetable, produced in a certain region; as, a native of France.
2. (Stock Breeding)
Defn: Any of the live stock found in a region, as distinguished from such as belong to pure and distinct imported breeds. [U.S.]
NATIVELY
Na"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: By natural or original condition; naturally; originally.
NATIVENESS
Na"tive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being native.
NATIVE STEEL
Na"tive steel.
Defn: A sort of steel which has been found where a burning coal seam had reduced and carbonized adjacent iron ore.
NATIVISM
Na"tiv*ism, n.
1. The disposition to favor the native inhabitants of a country, in preference to immigrants from foreign countries.
2. (Philos.)
Defn: The doctrine of innate ideas, or that the mind possesses forms of thought independent of sensation.
NATIVIST
Na"tiv*ist, n.
Defn: An advocate of nativism.
NATIVISTIC
Na`tiv*is"tic, a.
Defn: Relating to nativism.
NATIVITY
Na*tiv"i*ty, n.; pl. Nativies. Etym: [F. nativité, L. nativitas. See
Native, and cf. NaïvetÉ.]
1. The coming into life or into the world; birth; also, the circumstances attending birth, as time, place, manner, etc. Chaucer. I have served him from the hour of my nativity. Shak. Thou hast left … the land of thy nativity. Ruth ii. 11. These in their dark nativity the deep Shall yield us, pregnant with infernal flame. Milton.
2. (Fine Arts)
Defn: A picture representing or symbolizing the early infancy of Christ. The simplest form is the babe in a rude cradle, and the heads of an ox and an ass to express the stable in which he was born.
3. (Astrol.)
Defn: A representation of the positions of the heavenly bodies as the moment of one's birth, supposed to indicate his future destinies; a horoscope. The Nativity, the birth or birthday of Christ; Christmas day. — To cast, or calculate, one's nativity (Astrol.), to find out and represent the position of the heavenly bodies at the time of one's birth.
NATKA
Nat"ka, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of shrike.
NATRIUM
Na"tri*um, n. Etym: [NL. See Natron.] (Chem.)
Defn: The technical name for sodium.
NATROLITE
Na"tro*lite, n. Etym: [Natron + -lite: cf. F. natrolithe.] (Min.)
Defn: A zeolite occuring in groups of glassy acicular crystals, and in masses which often have a radiated structure. It is a hydrous silicate of alumina and soda.
NATRON
Na"tron, n. Etym: [F., fr. Sp. natron, Ar. natrun, nitrun. Cf. Niter,
Anatron.] (Min.)
Defn: Native sodium carbonate. [Written also anatron.]
NATTER
Nat"ter, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Icel. knetta to grumble.]
Defn: To find fault; to be peevish. [Prov. Eng. or Scot.]
NATTERJACK
Nat"ter*jack`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A European toad (Bufo calamita), having a yellow line along its back.
NATTY
Nat"ty, a. Etym: [Cf. Neat clean.]
Defn: Neat; tidy; spruce. [Colloq.] — Nat"ti*ly, adv.
— Nat"ti*ness, n.
NATURAL Nat"u*ral, a. Etym: [OE. naturel, F. naturel, fr. L. naturalis, fr. natura. See Nature.]
1. Fixed or determined by nature; pertaining to the constitution of a thing; belonging to native character; according to nature; essential; characteristic; not artifical, foreign, assumed, put on, or acquired; as, the natural growth of animals or plants; the natural motion of a gravitating body; natural strength or disposition; the natural heat of the body; natural color. With strong natural sense, and rare force of will. Macaulay.
2. Conformed to the order, laws, or actual facts, of nature; consonant to the methods of nature; according to the stated course of things, or in accordance with the laws which govern events, feelings, etc.; not exceptional or violent; legitimate; normal; regular; as, the natural consequence of crime; a natural death. What can be more natural than the circumstances in the behavior of those women who had lost their husbands on this fatal day Addison.
3. Having to do with existing system to things; dealing with, or derived from, the creation, or the world of matter and mind, as known by man; within the scope of human reason or experience; not supernatural; as, a natural law; natural science; history, theology. I call that natural religion which men might know … by the mere principles of reason, improved by consideration and experience, without the help of revelation. Bp. Wilkins.
4. Conformed to truth or reality; as: (a) Springing from true sentiment; not artifical or exaggerated; — said of action, delivery, etc.; as, a natural gesture, tone, etc. (b) Resembling the object imitated; true to nature; according to the life; — said of anything copied or imitated; as, a portrait is natural.
5. Having the character or sentiments properly belonging to one's position; not unnatural in feelings. To leave his wife, to leave his babes, … He wants the natural touch. Shak.
6. Connected by the ties of consanguinity. "Natural friends." J. H. Newman.
7. Begotten without the sanction of law; born out of wedlock; illegitimate; bastard; as, a natural child.
8. Of or pertaining to the lower or animal nature, as contrasted with the higher or moral powers, or that which is spiritual; being in a state of nature; unregenerate. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God. 1 Cor. ii. 14.
9. (Math.)
Defn: Belonging to, to be taken in, or referred to, some system, in which the base is 1; — said or certain functions or numbers; as, natural numbers, those commencing at 1; natural sines, cosines, etc., those taken in arcs whose radii are 1.
10. (Mus.) (a) Produced by natural organs, as those of the human throat, in distinction from instrumental music. (b) of or pertaining to a key which has neither a flat nor a sharp for its signature, as the key of C major. (c) Applied to an air or modulation of harmony which moves by easy and smooth transitions, digressing but little from the original key. Moore (Encyc. of Music). Natural day, the space of twenty-four hours. Chaucer. — Natural fats, Natural gas, etc. See under Fat, Gas. etc. — Natural Harmony (Mus.), the harmony of the triad or common chord. — Natural history, in its broadest sense, a history or description of nature as a whole, incuding the sciences of botany, zoölogy, geology, mineralogy, paleontology, chemistry, and physics. In recent usage the term is often restricted to the sciences of botany and zoölogy collectively, and sometimes to the science of zoology alone. — Natural law, that instinctive sense of justice and of right and wrong, which is native in mankind, as distinguished from specifically revealed divine law, and formulated human law. — Natural modulation (Mus.), transition from one key to its relative keys. — Natural order. (Nat. Hist.) See under order. — Natural person. (Law) See under person, n. — Natural philosophy, originally, the study of nature in general; in modern usage, that branch of physical science, commonly called physics, which treats of the phenomena and laws of matter and considers those effects only which are unaccompanied by any change of a chemical nature; — contrasted with mental and moral philosophy. — Natural scale (Mus.), a scale which is written without flats or sharps. Model would be a preferable term, as less likely to mislead, the so-called artificial scales (scales represented by the use of flats and sharps) being equally natural with the so-called natural scale — Natural science, natural history, in its broadest sense; — used especially in contradistinction to mental or moral science. — Natural selection (Biol.), a supposed operation of natural laws analogous, in its operation and results, to designed selection in breeding plants and animals, and resulting in the survival of the fittest. The theory of natural selection supposes that this has been brought about mainly by gradual changes of environment which have led to corresponding changes of structure, and that those forms which have become so modified as to be best adapted to the changed environment have tended to survive and leave similarly adapted descendants, while those less perfectly adapted have tended to die out though lack of fitness for the environment, thus resulting in the survival of the fittest. See Darwinism. — Natural system (Bot. & Zoöl.), a classification based upon real affinities, as shown in the structure of all parts of the organisms, and by their embryology. It should be borne in mind that the natural system of botany is natural only in the constitution of its genera, tribes, orders, etc., and in its grand divisions. Gray. — Natural theology, or Natural religion, that part of theological science which treats of those evidences of the existence and attributes of the Supreme Being which are exhibited in nature; — distinguished from revealed religion. See Quotation under Natural, a., 3. — Natural vowel, the vowel sound heard in urn, furl, sir, her, etc.; — so called as being uttered in the easiest open position of the mouth organs. See Neutral vowel, under Neutral and Guide to Pronunciation, § 17.
Syn.
— See Native.
NATURAL
Nat"u*ral, n.
1. A native; an aboriginal. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.
2. pl.
Defn: Natural gifts, impulses, etc. [Obs.] Fuller.
3. One born without the usual powers of reason or understanding; an idiot. "The minds of naturals." Locke.
4. (Mus.)
Defn: A character used to contradict, or to remove the effect of, a sharp or flat which has preceded it, and to restore the unaltered note.
NATURALISM
Nat"u*ral*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. naturalisme.]
1. A state of nature; conformity to nature.
2. (Metaph.)
Defn: The doctrine of those who deny a supernatural agency in the miracles and revelations recorded in the Bible, and in spiritual influences; also, any system of philosophy which refers the phenomena of nature to a blind force or forces acting necessarily or according to fixed laws, excluding origination or direction by one intelligent will.
NATURALIST
Nat"u*ral*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. naturaliste.]
1. One versed in natural science; a student of natural history, esp. of the natural history of animals.
2. One who holds or maintains the doctrine of naturalism in religion. H. Bushnell.
NATURALISTIC
Nat`u*ral*is"tic, a.
1. Belonging to the doctrines of naturalism.
2. Closely resembling nature; realistic. "Naturalistic bit of pantomime." W. D. Howells.
NATURALITY
Nat`u*ral"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. naturalitas: cf. F. naturalité.]
Defn: Nature; naturalness. [R.]
NATURALIZATION
Nat`u*ral*i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. naturalisation.]
Defn: The act or process of naturalizing, esp. of investing an alien with the rights and privileges of a native or citizen; also, the state of being naturalized.
NATURALIZE
Nat"u*ral*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Naturalized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Naturalizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. naturaliser. See Natural.]
1. To make natural; as, custom naturalizes labor or study.
2. To confer the rights and privileges of a native subject or citizen on; to make as if native; to adopt, as a foreigner into a nation or state, and place in the condition of a native subject.
3. To receive or adopt as native, natural, or vernacular; to make one's own; as, to naturalize foreign words.
4. To adapt; to accustom; to habituate; to acclimate; to cause to grow as under natural conditions. Its wearer suggested that pears and peaches might yet be naturalized in the New England climate. Hawthorne.
NATURALIZE
Nat"u*ral*ize, v. i.
1. To become as if native.
2. To explain phenomena by natural agencies or laws, to the exclusion of the supernatural. Infected by this naturalizing tendency. H. Bushnell.
NATURALLY
Nat"u*ral*ly, adv.
Defn: In a natural manner or way; according to the usual course of things; spontaneously.
NATURALNESS
Nat"u*ral*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being natural; conformity to nature.
NATURAL STEEL
Nat"u*ral steel.
Defn: Steel made by the direct refining of cast iron in a finery, or, as wootz, by a direct process from the ore.
NATURE Na"ture, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. natura, fr. natus born, produced, p.p. of nasci to be born. See Nation.]
1. The existing system of things; the world of matter, or of matter and mind; the creation; the universe. But looks through nature up to nature's God. Pope. Nature has caprices which art can not imitate. Macaulay.
2. The personified sum and order of causes and effects; the powers which produce existing phenomena, whether in the total or in detail; the agencies which carry on the processes of creation or of being; — often conceived of as a single and separate entity, embodying the total of all finite agencies and forces as disconnected from a creating or ordering intelligence. I oft admire How Nature, wise and frugal, could commit Such disproportions. Milton.
3. The established or regular course of things; usual order of events; connection of cause and effect.
4. Conformity to that which is natural, as distinguished from that which is artifical, or forced, or remote from actual experience. One touch of nature makes the whole world kin. Shak.
5. The sum of qualities and attributes which make a person or thing what it is, as distinct from others; native character; inherent or essential qualities or attributes; peculiar constitution or quality of being. Thou, therefore, whom thou only canst redeem, Their nature also to thy nature join, And be thyself man among men on earth. Milton.
6. Hence: Kind, sort; character; quality. A dispute of this nature caused mischief. Dryden.
7. Physical constitution or existence; the vital powers; the natural life. "My days of nature." Shak. Oppressed nature sleeps. Shak.
8. Natural affection or reverence. Have we not seen The murdering son ascend his parent's bed, Through violated nature foce his way Pope.
9. Constitution or quality of mind or character. A born devil, on whose nature Nurture can never stick. Shak. That reverence which is due to a superior nature. Addison. Good nature, Ill nature. see under Good and Ill. — In a state of nature. (a) Naked as when born; nude. (b) In a condition of sin; unregenerate. (c) Untamed; uncvilized. — Nature printng, a process of printing from metallic or other plates which have received an impression, as by heavy pressure, of an object such as a leaf, lace, or the like. — Nature worship, the worship of the personified powers of nature. — To pay the debt of nature, to die.
NATURE
Na"ture, v. t.
Defn: To endow with natural qualities. [Obs.]
He [God] which natureth every kind. Gower.
NATURED
Na"tured, a.
Defn: Having (such) a nature, temper, or disposition; disposed; — used in composition; as, good-natured, ill-natured, etc.
NATURELESS
Na"ture*less, a.
Defn: Not in accordance with nature; unnatural. [Obs.] Milton.
NATURISM
Na"tur*ism, n. (Med.)
Defn: The belief or doctrine that attributes everything to nature as a sanative agent.
NATURIST
Na"tur*ist, n.
Defn: One who believes in, or conforms to, the theory of naturism.
Boyle.
NATURITY
Na*tu"ri*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being produced by nature. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
NATURIZE
Na"tur*ize, v. t.
Defn: To endow with a nature or qualities; to refer to nature. [Obs.]
B. Jonson.
NAUFRAGE
Nau"frage (; 48), n. Etym: [F., fr. L. naufragium; navis + frangere.]
Defn: Shipwreck; ruin. [Obs.] acon.
NAUFRAGOUS
Nau"fra*gous, a. Etym: [L. naufragus. See Naufrage.]
Defn: causing shipwreck. [Obs.] r. Taylor.
NAUGHT Naught, n. Etym: [OE. naught, nought, naht, nawiht, AS. n, n, n; ne not + wiht thing, whit; hence, not ever a whit. See No, adv. Whit, and cf. Aught, Not.]
1. Nothing. [Written also nought.] Doth Job fear God for naught Job i. 9.
2. The arithmetical character 0; a cipher. See Cipher. To set at naught, to treat as of no account; to disregard; to despise; to defy; to treat with ignominy. "Ye have set at naught all my counsel." Prov. i. 25.
NAUGHT
Naught, adv.
Defn: In no degree; not at all. Chaucer.
To wealth or sovereign power he naught applied. Fairfax.
NAUGHT
Naught, a.
1. Of no value or account; worthless; bad; useless.
It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer. Prov. xx. 14.
Go, get you to your house; begone, away! All will be naught else.
Shak.
Things naught and things indifferent. Hooker.
2. Hence, vile; base; naughty. [Obs.] No man can be stark naught at once. Fuller.
NAUGHTILY
Naugh"ti*ly, adv.
Defn: In a naughty manner; wickedly; perversely. Shak.
NAUGHTINESS
Naugh"ti*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being naughty; perverseness; badness;
wickedness.
I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart. 1 Sam. xvii.
28.
NAUGHTLY
Naught"ly, adv.
Defn: Naughtily; wrongly. [Obs.] because my parents naughtly brought me up. Mir. for Mag.
NAUGHTY
Naugh"ty, a. [Compar. Naughtier; superl. Naughtiest.]
1. Having little or nothing. [Obs.] [Men] that needy be and naughty, help them with thy goods. Piers Plowman.
2. Worthless; bad; good for nothing. [Obs.] The other basket had very naughty figs. Jer. xxiv. 2.
3. hence, corrupt; wicked. [Archaic] So shines a good deed in a naughty world. Shak.
4. Mischievous; perverse; froward; guilty of disobedient or improper conduct; as, a naughty child.
Note: This word is now seldom used except in the latter sense, as applied to children, or in sportive censure.
NAUHEIM TREATMENT; NAUHEIM BATH
Nau"heim treat`ment. (Med.)
Defn: Orig., a method of therapeutic treatment administered, esp. for chronic diseases of the curculatory system, at Bad Nauheim, Germany, by G. Schott, consisting in baths in the natural mineral waters of that place, which are charged with carbonic acid, and the use of a graduated course of rest, physical exercises, massage, etc.; hence, any similar treatment using waters artificially charged with the essential ingredients of the natural mineral waters of Bad Nauheim. Hence, Nauheim bath, etc.
NAUMACHY
Nau"ma*chy, n. Etym: [L. naumachia, Gr.
1. A naval battle; esp., a mock sea fight.
2. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A show or spectacle representing a sea fight; also, a place for such exhibitions.
NAUPLIUS
Nau"pli*us, n.; pl. Nauplii. Etym: [L., a kind of shellfish, fr. Gr.
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A crustacean larva having three pairs of locomotive organs (corresponding to the antennules, antennæ, and mandibles), a median eye, and little or no segmentation of the body.
NAUROPOMETER
Nau`ro*pom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.] (Naut.)
Defn: An instrument for measuring the amount which a ship heels at sea.
NAUSCOPY
Naus"co*py, n. Etym: [Gr. -scopy: cf. F. nauscopie.] (Naut.)
Defn: The power or act of discovering ships or land at considerable distances.
NAUSEA
Nau"se*a ( or , n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Nave of a church, and cf.
Noise.]
Defn: Seasickness; hence, any similar sickness of the stomach accompanied with a propensity to vomit; qualm; squeamishness of the stomach; loathing.
NAUSEANT
Nau"se*ant, n. Etym: [L. nauseans, p.pr. Of nauseare.] (Med.)
Defn: A substance which produces nausea.
NAUSEATE
Nau"se*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Nauseated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Nauseating.] Etym: [L. nauseare, nauseatum, fr. nausea. See Nausea.]
Defn: To become squeamish; to feel nausea; to turn away with disgust.
NAUSEATE
Nau"se*ate, v. t.
1. To affect with nausea; to sicken; to cause to feel loathing or disgust.
2. To sicken at; to reject with disgust; to loathe. The patient nauseates and loathes wholesome foods. Blackmore.
NAUSEATION
Nau`se*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act of nauseating, or the state of being nauseated.
NAUSEATIVE
Nau"se*a*tive ( or , a.
Defn: Causing nausea; nauseous.
NAUSEOUS
Nau"seous, a. Etym: [L. nauseosus.]
Defn: Causing, or fitted to cause, nausea; sickening; loathsome;
disgusting; exciting abhorrence; as, a nauseous drug or medicine.
— Nau"seous*ly, adv.
— Nau"seous*ness, n.
The nauseousness of such company disgusts a reasonable man. Dryden.
NAUTCH
Nautch, n. Etym: [Hind. nach, fr. Skr. n dance.]
Defn: An entertainment consisting chiefly of dancing by professional dancing (or Nautch) girls. [India]
NAUTIC
Nau"tic, a. Etym: [See Nautical.]
Defn: Nautical.
NAUTICAL Nau"tic*al, a. Etym: [L. nauticus, Gr. nautique. See Nave of a church.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to seamen, to the art of navigation, or to ships; as, nautical skill.
Syn.
— Naval; marine; maritime. See Naval. Nautical almanac. See under
Almanac.
— Nautical distance, the length in nautical miles of the rhumb line
joining any two places on the earth's surface.
— nautical mile. see under Mile.
NAUTICALLY
Nau"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a nautical manner; with reference to nautical affais.
NAUTIFORM
Nau"ti*form, a. Etym: [Gr. -form.]
Defn: Shaped like the hull of a ship.
NAUTILITE
Nau"ti*lite, n. (paleon.)
Defn: A fossil nautilus.
NAUTILOID
Nau"ti*loid, a. Etym: [Nautilus + -oid: cf. F. nautiloïde.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the nautilus; shaped like a nautilus shell. — n.
Defn: A mollusk, or shell, of the genus Nautilus or family Nautilidæ.
NAUTILUS
Nau"ti*lus, n.; pl. E. Nautiluses, L. Nautili. Etym: [L., fr. gr.
Nave of a church.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The only existing genus of tetrabranchiate cephalopods. About four species are found living in the tropical Pacific, but many other species are found fossil. The shell is spiral, symmetrical, and chambered, or divided into several cavities by simple curved partitions, which are traversed and connected together by a continuous and nearly central tube or siphuncle. See Tetrabranchiata.
Note: The head of the animal bears numerous simple tapered arms, or tentacles, arranged in groups, but not furnished with suckers. The siphon, unlike, that of ordinary cephalopods, is not a closed tube, and is not used as a locomotive organ, but merely serves to conduct water to and from the gill cavity, which contains two pairs of gills. The animal occupies only the outer chamber of the shell; the others are filled with gas. It creeps over the bottom of the sea, not coming to the surface to swim or sail, as was formerly imagined.
2. The argonaut; — also called paper nautilus. See Argonauta, and Paper nautilus, under Paper.
3. A variety of diving bell, the lateral as well as vertical motions of which are controlled, by the occupants.
NAVAJOES
Na"va*joes, n. pl.; sing. Navajo (. (Ethnol.)
Defn: A tribe of Indians inhabiting New Mexico and Arizona, allied to the Apaches. They are now largely engaged in agriculture.
NAVAL Na"val, a. Etym: [L. navalis, fr. navis ship: cf. F. naval. See Nave of a church.]
Defn: Having to do with shipping; of or pertaining to ships or a navy; consisting of ships; as, naval forces, successes, stores, etc.
Naval brigade, a body of seamen or marines organized for military service on land. — Naval officer. (a) An officer in the navy. (b) A high officer in some United States customhouses. — Naval tactics, the science of managing or maneuvering vessels sailing in squadrons or fleets.
Syn. — Nautical; marine; maritime. — Naval, Nautical. Naval is applied to vessels, or a navy, or the things which pertain to them or in which they participate; nautical, to seamen and the art of navigation. Hence we speak of a naval, as opposed to a military, engagement; naval equipments or stores, a naval triumph, a naval officer, etc., and of nautical pursuits or instruction, nautical calculations, a nautical almanac, etc.
NAVALS
Na"vals, n.pl.
Defn: Naval affairs. [Obs.]
NAVARCH
Na"varch, n. Etym: [L. navarchus, gr. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: The commander of a fleet. Mitford.
NAVARCHY
Na"varch*y, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Nautical skill or experience. [Obs.] ir W. Petty.
NAVARRESE
Na`var*rese" ( or , a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Navarre.
— n. sing. & pl.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Navarre; the people of Navarre.
NAVE Nave, n. Etym: [AS. nafu; akin to D. naaf, G. nabe, OHG. naba, Icel. nöf, Dan. nav, Sw. naf, Skr. nabhi nave and navel: cf. L. umbo boss of a shield. *260. Cf. Navel.]
1. The block in the center of a wheel, from which the spokes radiate, and through which the axle passes; — called also hub or hob.
2. The navel. [Obs.] hak.
NAVE Nave, n. Etym: [F. nef, fr. L. navis ship, to which the church was often likened; akin to Gr. naca boat, G. nachen, Icel. nökkvi; cf. L. nare to swim, float. Cf. Nausea, Nautical, Naval.] (Arch.)
Defn: The middle or body of a church, extending from the transepts to the principal entrances, or, if there are no transepts, from the choir to the principal entrance, but not including the aisles.
NAVEL
Na"vel, n. Etym: [AS. nafela, fr. nafu nave; akin to D. navel, G.
nabel, OHG. nabolo, Icel. nafli, Dan. navle, Sw. nafle, L. umbilicus,
Gr. n. *260. See Nave hub, and cf. Omphalic, Nombril, Umbilical.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: A mark or depression in the middle of the abdomen; the umbilicus. See Umbilicus.belly button in humans
2. The central part or point of anything; the middle. Within the navel of this hideous wood, Immured in cypress shades, a sorcerer dwells. Milton.
3. (Gun.)
Defn: An eye on the under side of a carronade for securing it to a carriage. Navel gall, a bruise on the top of the chine of the back of a horse, behind the saddle. Johnson. — Navel point. (Her.) Same as Nombril.
NAVEL ORANGE
Na"vel or"ange.
Defn: A type of orange in which the fruit incloses a small secondary fruit, the rind showing on the exterior a navel-like pit or depression at the apex. There are several varieties; they are usually seedless, or nearly so, and are much grown in California.
NAVEL-STRING
Na"vel-string`, n.
Defn: The umbilical cord.
NAVELWORT
Na"vel*wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A European perennial succulent herb (Cotyledon umbilicus), having round, peltate leaves with a central depression; — also called pennywort, and kidneywort.
NAVEW
Na"vew, n. Etym: [OE. navel, naveau, a dim. fr. L. napus navew. Cf.
Napiform.] (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of small turnip, a variety of Brassica campestris. See
Brassica. [Writen also naphew.]
NAVICULAR Na*vic"u*lar, a. Etym: [L. navicularius, fr. navicula, dim. of navis ship: cf. F. naviculaire.]
1. Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a boat or ship.
2. Shaped like a boat; cymbiform; scaphoid; as, the navicular glumes of most grasses; the navicular bone. Navicular bone. (Anat.) (a) One of the middle bones of the tarsus, corresponding to the centrale; — called also scaphoid. (b) A proximal bone on the radial side of the carpus; the scaphoid. — Navicular disease (Far.), a disease affecting the navicular bone, or the adjacent parts, in a horse's foot.
NAVICULAR
Na*vic"u*lar, n. (Anat.)
Defn: The navicular bone.
NAVIGABILITY
Nav`i*ga*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. navigabilité.]
Defn: The quality or condition of being navigable; navigableness.
NAVIGABLE
Nav"i*ga*ble, a. Etym: [L. navigabilis: cf. F. navigable. See
Navigate.]
Defn: Capable of being navigated; deep enough and wide enough to afford passage to vessels; as, a navigable river.
Note: By the comon law, a river is considered as navigable only so far as the tide ebbs and flows in it. This is also the doctrine in several of the United tates. In other States, the doctrine of thje civil law prevails, which is, that a navigable river is a river capable of being navigated, in the common sense of the term. Kent. Burrill. — Nav"i*ga*ble*ness, n. — Nav"i*ga*bly, adv.
NAVIGATE
Nav"i*gate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Navigated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Navigating.] Etym: [L. navigatus, p.p. of navigare, v.t. & i.; navis
ship + agere to move, direct. See Nave, and Agent.]
Defn: To joirney by water; to go in a vessel or ship; to perform the duties of a navigator; to use the waters as a highway or channel for commerce or communication; to sail. The Phenicians navigated to the extremities of the Western Ocean. Arbuthnot.
NAVIGATE
Nav"i*gate, v. t.
1. To pass over in ships; to sail over or on; as, to navigate the Atlantic.
2. To steer, direct, or manage in sailing; to conduct (ships) upon the water by the art or skill of seamen; as, to navigate a ship.
NAVIGATION
Nav`i*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. navigatio: cf. F. navigation.]
1. The act of navigating; the act of passing on water in ships or other vessels; the state of being navigable.
2. (a) the science or art of conducting ships or vessels from one place to another, including, more especially, the method of determining a ship's position, course, distance passed over, etc., on the surface of the globe, by the principles of geometry and astronomy. (b) The management of sails, rudder, etc.; the mechanics of traveling by water; seamanship.
3. Ships in general. [Poetic] Shak. Aërial navigation, the act or art of sailing or floating in the air, as by means of ballons; aëronautic. — Inland navigation, Internal navigation, navigation on rivers, inland lakes, etc.
NAVIGATOR
Nav"i*ga`tor, n.
Defn: One who navigates or sails; esp., one who direct the course of a ship, or one who is skillful in the art of navigation; also, a book which teaches the art of navigation; as, Bowditch's Navigator.
NAVIGEROUS
Na*vig"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. naviger; navis ship + gerere to bear.]
Defn: Bearing ships; capable of floating vessels. [R.] Blount.
NAVVY
Nav"vy, n.; pl. Navies. Etym: [Abbreviated fr. navigator.]
Defn: Originally, a laborer on canals for internal navigation; hence, a laborer on other public works, as in building railroads, embankments, etc. [Eng.]
NAVY Na"vy; n.; pl. Navies. Etym: [ OF. navie, fr. L. navis ship. See Nave of a church.]
1. A fleet of ships; an assemblage of merchantmen, or so many as sail in company. "The navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir." 1 kings x. 11.
2. The whole of the war vessels belonging to a nation or ruler, considered collectively; as, the navy of Italy.
3. The officers and men attached to the war vessels of a nation; as, he belongs to the navy. Navy bean. see Bean. — Navy yard, a place set apart as a shore station for the use of the navy. It often contains all the mechanical and other appliences for building and equipping war vessels and training their crews.
NAVY BLUE
Na"vy blue`.
Defn: Prussian blue.
NAWAB
Na*wab", n. Etym: [See Nabob.]
Defn: A deputy ruler or viceroy in India; also, a title given by courtesy to other persons of high rank in the East.
NAWL
Nawl, n. Etym: [See Nall.]
Defn: An awl. [Obs.] usser.
NAY
Nay, adv. Etym: [Icel. nei; akin to E. no. See No, adv.]
1. No; — a negative answer to a question asked, or a request made, now superseded by no. See Yes. And eke when I say "ye," ne say not "nay." Chaucer. I tell you nay; but except ye repent, ye shall all likewisr perish. Luke xiii. 3. And now do they thrust us out privily nay, verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. Acts xvi. 37. He that will not when he may, When he would he shall have nay. Old Prov.
Note: Before the time of Henry VIII. nay was used to answer simple questions, and no was used when the form of the question involved a negative expression; nay was the simple form, no the emphatic. Skeat.
2. Not this merely, but also; not only so, but; — used to mark the addition or substitution of a more explicit or more emphatic phrase.
Note: Nay in this sense may be interchanged with yea. "Were he my brother, nay, my kingdom's heir." Shak.
NAY
Nay, n.; pl. Nays (.
1. Denial; refusal.
2. a negative vote; one who votes in the negative. It is no nay, there is no denying it. [Obs.] haucer.
NAY
Nay, v. t. & i.
Defn: To refuse. [Obs.] Holinshed.
NAYAUR
Na*yaur", n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A specied of wild sheep (Ovis Hodgsonii), native of Nepaul and
Thibet. It has a dorsal mane and a white ruff beneath the neck.
NAYT
Nayt, v. t. Etym: [Icel. neita.]
Defn: To refuse; to deny. [Obs.] "He shall not nayt ne deny his sin."
Chaucer.
NAYWARD
Nay"ward, n.
Defn: The negative side. [R.]
Howe'er you lean to the nayward. Shak.
NAYWORD
Nay"word`, n.
Defn: A byword; a proverb; also, a watchword. [Obs.] hak.
NAZARENE
Naz`a*rene", n. Etym: [L. Nazarenus, Gr.
1. A native or inhabitant of Nazareth; — a term of contempt applied to Christ and the early Christians.
2. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of a sect of Judaizing Christians in the first and second centuries, who observed the laws of Moses, and held to certain heresies.
NAZARITE
Naz"a*rite, n.
Defn: A Jew bound by a vow to lave the hair uncut, to abstain from wine and strong drink, and to practice extraordinary purity of life and devotion, the obligation being for life, or for a certain time. The word is also used adjectively.
NAZARITESHIP
Naz"a*rite*ship, n.
Defn: The state of a Nazarite.
NAZARITIC
Naz`a*rit"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a Nazarite, or to Nazarites.
NAZARITISM
Naz"a*ri*tism, n.
Defn: The vow and practice of a Nazarite.
NAZE
Naze, n. Etym: [See Ness.]
Defn: A promotory or headland.
NAZIRITE
Naz"i*rite, n.
Defn: A Nazarite.
NE
Ne, adv. Etym: [AS. ne. See No.]
Defn: Not; never. [Obs.]
He never yet no villany ne said. Chaucer.
Note: Ne was formerly used as the universal adverb of negation, and survives in certain compounds, as never (= ne ever) and none (= ne one). Other combinations, now obsolete, will be found in the Vocabulary, as nad, nam, nil. See Negative, 2.
NE
Ne, conj. Etym: [See Ne, adv.]
Defn: Nor. [Obs.] Shak.
No niggard ne no fool. Chaucer.
Ne . . . ne, neither . . . nor. [Obs.] Chaucer.
NEAF
Neaf, n.
Defn: See 2d Neif. Shak.
NEAL
Neal, v. t.
Defn: To anneal. [R.] Chaucer.
NEAL
Neal, v. i.
Defn: To be tempered by heat. [R.] Bacon.
NEANDERTHAL; NEANDERTHAL RACE; NEANDERTHAL MAN
Ne*an"der*thal`, a. (Anthropol.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or named from, the Neanderthal, a valley in the Rhine Province, in which were found parts of a skeleton of an early type of man. The skull is characterized by extreme dolichocephaly, flat, retreating forehead, with closed frontal sutures, and enormous superciliary ridges. The cranial capacity is estimated at about 1,220 cubic centimeters, being about midway between that of the Pithecanthropus and modern man. Hence, designating the Neanderthal race, or man, a species supposed to have been widespread in paleolithic Europe.
NEANDERTHALOID
Ne*an`der*thal"oid, a. [Neanderthal + -oid.] (Anthropol.)
Defn: Like, or pertaining to, the Neanderthal skull, or the type of man it represents.
NEAP
Neap, n. Etym: [Cf. Neb, Nape.]
Defn: The tongue or pole of a cart or other vehicle drawn by two animals. [U.S.]
NEAP Neap, a. Etym: [As. nepflod neap flood; cf. hnipian to bend, incline.]
Defn: Low. Neap tides, the lowest tides of the lunar month, which occur in the second and fourth quarters of the moon; — opposed to spring tides.
NEAP
Neap, n.
Defn: A neap tide.
High springs and dead neaps. Harkwill.
NEAPED
Neaped, a. (Naut.)
Defn: Left aground on the height of a spring tide, so that it will not float till the next spring tide; — called also beneaped.
NEAPOLITAN
Ne`a*pol"i*tan, a. Etym: [L. Neapolitanus, fr. Neapolis Naples, Gr.
Defn: Of of pertaining to Maples in Italy.
— n.
Defn: A native or citizen of Naples.
NEAPOLITAN ICE; NEAPOLITAN ICE CREAM Ne`a*pol"i*tan ice, Neapolitan ice cream. (a) An ice or ice cream containing eggs as well as cream. (b) An ice or ice cream prepared in layers, as vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate ice cream, and orange or lemon water ice.
NEAR
Near, adv. Etym: [AS. neár, compar. of neáh nigh. See Nigh.]
1. At a little distance, in place, time, manner, or degree; not remote; nigh. My wife! my traitress! let her not come near me. Milton.
2. Nearly; almost; well-nigh. "Near twenty years ago." Shak. "Near a fortnight ago." Addison. Near about the yearly value of the land. Locke.
3. Closely; intimately. Shak. Far and near, at a distance and close by; throughout a whole region. — To come near to, to want but little of; to approximate to. "Such a sum he found would go near to ruin him." Addison. — Near the wind (Naut.), close to the wind; closehauled.
NEAR
Near, a. [Compar. Nearer; superl. Nearest.] Etym: [See Near, adv.]
1. Not far distant in time, place, or degree; not remote; close at hand; adjacent; neighboring; nigh. "As one near death." Shak. He served great Hector, and was ever near, Not with his trumpet only, but his spear. Dryden.
2. Closely connected or related. She is thy father's near kinswoman. Lev. xviii. 12.
3. Close to one's interests, affection, etc.; touching, or affecting intimately; intimate; dear; as, a near friend.
4. Close to anything followed or imitated; not free, loose, or rambling; as, a version near to the original.
5. So as barely to avoid or pass injury or loss; close; narrow; as, a near escape.
6. Next to the driver, when he is on foot; in the Unted States, on the left of an animal or a team; as, the near ox; the near leg. See Off side, under Off, a.
7. Immediate; direct; close; short. "The nearest way." Milton.
8. Close-fisted; parsimonious. [Obs. or Low, Eng.]
Note: Near may properly be followed by to before the thing approached'; but more frequently to is omitted, and the adjective or the adverb is regarded as a preposition. The same is also true of the word nigh.
Syn. — Nigh; close; adjacent; proximate; contiguous; present; ready; intimate; dear.
NEAR
Near, prep.
Defn: Adjacent to; close by; not far from; nigh; as, the ship sailed near the land. See the Note under near, a.
NEAR
Near, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Neared; p. pr. & vb. n Nearing.] Etym: [See
Near, adv.]
Defn: To approach; to come nearer; as, the ship neared the land.
NEAR
Near, v. i.
Defn: To draw near; to approach.
A speck, a mist, a shape, I wist! And still it neared, and neared.
Coleridge.
NEAR BEER
Near beer.
Defn: Any of various malt liquors (see Citation).
Near beer is a term of common currency used to designate all that class of malt liquors which contain so little alcohol that they will not produce intoxication, though drunk to excess, and includes in its meaning all malt liquors which are not within the purview of the general prohibition law. Cambell v. City of Thomasville, Georgia Appeal Records, 6 212.
NEARCTIC
Ne*arc"tic, a. Etym: [Neo + arctic.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a region of the earth's surface including all of temperate and arctic North America and Greenland. In the geographical distribution of animals, this region is marked off as the habitat certain species.
NEARHAND
Near"hand`, a. & adv.
Defn: Near; near at hand; closely. [Obs. or Scot.] Bacon.
NEAR-LEGGED
Near"-legged`, a.
Defn: Having the feet so near together that they interfere in traveling. Shak.
NEARLY
Near"ly, adv.
Defn: In a near manner; not remotely; closely; intimately; almost.
NEARNESS
Near"ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being near; — used in the various senses of the adjective.
NEARSIGHTED; NEARSIGHTEDNESS
Near"sight`ed, a.
Defn: Seeing distinctly at short distances only; shortsighted.
— Near"sight`ed*ness, n.
Defn: See Myopic, and Myopia.
NEAT Neat, n. sing. & pl. Etym: [AS. neát; akin to OHG. n, Icel. naut, Sw. nöt, Dan. nöd, and to AS. neótan to make use of, G. geniessen, Goth. niutan to have a share in, have joy of, Lith. nauda use, profit.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Cattle of the genus Bos, as distinguished from horses, sheep,
and goats; an animal of the genus Bos; as, a neat's tongue; a neat's
foot. Chaucer.
Wherein the herds[men] were keeping of their neat. Spenser.
The steer, the heifer, and the calf Are all called neat. Shak.
A neat and a sheep of his own. Tusser.
Neat's-foot, an oil obtained by boiling the feet of neat cattle. It
is used to render leather soft and pliable.
NEAT
Neat, a. Etym: [See neat, n.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the genus Bos, or to cattle of that genus; as, neat cattle.
NEAT Neat, a. [Compar. Neater; superl. Neatest.] Etym: [OE. nett, F. nett, fr. L. nitidus, fr. nitere to shine. Cf. Nitid, Net, a., Natty.]
1. Free from that which soils, defiles, or disorders; clean; cleanly; tidy. If you were to see her, you would wonder what poor body it was that was so surprisingly neat and clean. Law.
2. Free from what is unbecoming, inappropriate, or tawdry; simple and becoming; pleasing with simplicity; tasteful; chaste; as, a neat style; a neat dress.
3. Free from admixture or adulteration; good of its kind; as, neat brandy. "Our old wine neat." Chapman.
4. Excellent in character, skill, or performance, etc.; nice; finished; adroit; as, a neat design; a neat thief.
5. With all deductions or allowances made; net.
Note: [In this sense usually written net. See Net, a., 3.] neat line
(Civil Engin.), a line to which work is to be built or formed.
— Neat work, work built or formed to neat lines.
Syn.
— Nice; pure; cleanly; tidy; trim; spruce.
'NEATH
'Neath ( or , prep. & adv.
Defn: An abbreviation of Beneath. [Poetic]
NEATHERD
Neat"herd`, n.
Defn: A person who has the care of neat cattle; a cowherd. Dryden.
NEATHOUSE
Neat"house`, n.
Defn: A building for the shelter of neat cattle. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
Massinger.
NEATIFY
Neat"i*fy, v. t. Etym: [Neat, a. + -fy.]
Defn: To make neat. [Obs.] olland.
NEATLY
Neat"ly, adv.
Defn: In a neat manner; tidily; tastefully.
NEATNESS neat"ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being neat.
NEATRESS
Neat"ress, n. Etym: [From neat cattle.]
Defn: A woman who takes care of cattle. [R.] Warner.
NEB Neb, n. Etym: [AS. nebb head, face; akin to D. neb, Icel. nef, beak of a bird, nose, Dan. næb beak, bill, Sw. näbb, näf, and prob. also to D. sneb, snavel, bill, beak, G. schnabel, Dan. & Sw. snabel, and E. snap. Cf. Nib, Snap, Snaffle.]
Defn: The nose; the snout; the mouth; the beak of a bird; a nib, as of a pen. [Also written nib.] Shak.
NEBALIA
Ne*ba"li*a, n. Etym: [NL., of uncertain origin.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of small marine Crustacea, considered the type of a distinct order (Nebaloidea, or Phyllocarida.)
NEB-NEB
Neb"-neb`, n.
Defn: Same as Bablh.
NEBULA Neb"u*la, n.; pl. Nebulæ. Etym: [L., mist, cloud; akin to Gr. nebel mist, OHG. nebul, D. nevel, Skr. nabhas cloud, mist. Cf. Nebule.]
1. (Astron.)
Defn: A faint, cloudlike, self-luminous mass of matter situated beyond the solar system among the stars. True nebulæ are gaseous; but very distant star clusters often appear like them in the telescope.
2. (Med.) (a) A white spot or a slight opacity of the cornea. (b) A cloudy appearance in the urine. [Obs.]
NEBULAR
Neb"u*lar, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to nebulæ; of the nature of, or resembling, a nebula. Nebular hypothesis, an hypothesis to explain the process of formation of the stars and planets, presented in various forms by Kant, Herschel, Laplace, and others. As formed by Laplace, it supposed the matter of the solar system to have existed originally in the form of a vast, diffused, revolving nebula, which, gradually cooling and contracting, threw off, in obedience to mechanical and physical laws, succesive rings of matter, from which subsequently, by the same laws, were produced the several planets, satellites, and other bodies of the system. The phrase may indicate any hypothesis according to which the stars or the bodies of the solar system have been evolved from a widely diffused nebulous form of matter.
NEBULATED
Neb"u*la`ted, a.
Defn: Clouded with indistinct color markings, as an animal.
NEBULATION neb`u*la"tion, n.
Defn: The condition of being nebulated; also, a clouded, or ill- defined, color mark.
NEBULE
Neb"ule, n. Etym: [Cf. F. nébule. See nebula.]
Defn: A little cloud; a cloud. [Obs.]
O light without nebule. Old Ballad.
NEBULE; NEBULY
Né`bu`lé", Neb"u*ly, a. Etym: [F. nébulé.] (Her.)
Defn: Composed of successive short curves supposed to resemble a cloud; — said of a heraldic line by which an ordinary or subordinary may be bounded.
NEBULIZATION
Neb`u*li*za"tion, n. (Med.)
Defn: The act or process of nebulizing; atomization.
NEBULIZE
Neb"u*lize, v. t. Etym: [See Nebula.]
Defn: To reduce (as a liquid) to a fine spray or vapor; to atomize.
NEBULIZER
Neb"u*li`zer, n.
Defn: An atomizer.
NEBULOSE
Neb"u*lose`, a.
Defn: Nebulous; cloudy. Derham.
NEBULOSITY
Neb`u*los"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. nebulositas: cf. F. nébulosité]
1. The state or quality of being nebulous; cloudiness; hazeness; mistiness; nebulousness. The nebulosity … of the mother idiom. I. Disraeli.
2. (Astron.) (a) The stuff of which a nebula is formed. (b) A nebula.
NEBULOUS
Neb"u*lous, a. Etym: [L. nebulosus: cf. F. nébuleux. See Nebula.]
1. Cloudy; hazy; misty.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or having the appearance of, a nebula;
nebular; cloudlike.
— Neb"u*lous*ly, adv.
— Neb"u*lous*ness, n.
NEBULY
Neb"u*ly, n. (Her. & Arch.)
Defn: A line or a direction composed of successive short curves or waves supposed to resembe a cloud. See NÉbulÉ
NECESSARIAN
Nec`es*sa"ri*an, n. Etym: [Cf. F. nécessarien. See Mecessary.]
Defn: An advocate of the doctrine of philosophical necessity; a nacessitarian.
NECESSARIAN
Nec`es*sa"ri*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to necessarianism.
NECESSARIANISM
Nec`es*sa"ri*an*ism, n.
Defn: The doctrine of philosophical necessity; necessitarianism.
Hixley.
NECESSARILY
Nec"es*sa*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In a necessary manner; by necessity; unavoidably; indispensably.
NECESSARINESS
Nec"es*sa*ri*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being necessary.
NECESSARY Nec"es*sa*ry, a. Etym: [L. necessarius, from necesse unavoidable, necessary; of uncertain origin: cf. F. nécessaire.]
1. Such as must be; impossible to be otherwise; not to be avoided; inevitable. Death, a necessary end, Will come when it will come. Shak.
2. Impossible to be otherwise, or to be dispensed with, without preventing the attainment of a desired result; indispensable; requiste; essential. "'T is necessary he should die." Shak. A certain kind of temper is necessary to the pleasure and quiet of our minds. Tillotson.
3. Acting from necessity or compulsion; involuntary; — opposed to free; as, whether man is a necessary or a free agent is a question much discussed.
NECESSARY
Nec"es*sa*ry, n.; pl. Necessaries (.
1. A thing that is necessary or indispensable to some purpose; something that one can not do without; a requisite; an essential; — used chiefly in the plural; as, the necessaries of life.
2. A privy; a water-closet.
3. pl. (Law)
Defn: Such things, in respect to infants, lunatics, and married women, as are requisite for support suitable to station.
NECESSITARIAN
Ne*ces`si*ta"ri*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the doctrine of philosophical necessity in regard to the origin and existence of things, especially as applied to the actings or choices of the will; — opposed to libertarian.
NECESSITARIAN
Ne*ces`si*ta"ri*an, n.
Defn: One who holds to the doctrine of necessitarianism.
NECESSITARIANISM
Ne*ces`si*ta"ri*an*ism, n.
Defn: The doctrine of philosophical necessity; the doctrine that results follow by invariable sequence from causes, and esp. that the will is not free, but that human actions and choices result inevitably from motives; deteminism. M. Arnold.
NECESSITATE
Ne*ces"si*tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Necessitated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Necessitating.] Etym: [Cf. L. necessitatus, p.p. of necessitare, and
F. nécessiter. See Necessity.]
1. To make necessary or indispensable; to render unaviolable. Sickness [might] necessitate his removal from the court. South. This fact necessitates a second line. J. Peile.
2. To reduce to the necessity of; to force; to compel. The Marquis of Newcastle, being pressed on both sides, was necessitated to draw all his army into York. Clarendon.
NECESSITATTION
Ne*ces`si*tat"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. nécessitation.]
Defn: The act of making necessary, or the state of being made necessary; compulsion. [R.] bp. Bramhall.
NECESSITIED
Ne*ces"si*tied, a.
Defn: In a state of want; necessitous. [Obs.] Shak.
NECESSITOUS
Ne*ces"si*tous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. nécessiteux.]
1. Very needy or indigent; pressed with poverty. Necessitous heirs and penurious parents. Arbuthnot.
2. Narrow; destitute; pinching; pinched; as, necessitous
circumstances.
— Ne*ces"si*tous*ly, adv.
— Ne*ces"si*tous*ness, n.
NECESSITUDE
Ne*ces"si*tude, n. Etym: [L. necessitudo, fr. necesse. See
Necessray.]
1. Necessitousness; want. Sir M. Hale.
2. Necessary connection or relation. Between kings and their people, parents and their children, there is so great a necessitude, propriety, and intercourse of nature. Jer. Taylor.
NECESSITY Ne*ces"si*ty, n.; pl. Necessities. Etym: [OE. necessite, F. nécessité, L. necessitas, fr. necesse. See Necessary.]
1. The quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite; inevitableness; indispensableness.
2. The condition of being needy or necessitous; pressing need;
indigence; want.
Urge the necessity and state of times. Shak.
The extreme poverty and necessity his majesty was in. Clarendon.
3. That which is necessary; a necessary; a requisite; something indispensable; — often in the plural. These should be hours for necessities, Not for delights. Shak. What was once to me Mere matter of the fancy, now has grown The vast necessity of heart and life. Tennyson.
4. That which makes an act or an event unavoidable; irresistible force; overruling power; compulsion, physical or moral; fate; fatality. So spake the fiend, and with necessity, The tyrant's plea, excused his devilish deeds. Milton.
5. (Metaph.)
Defn: The negation of freedom in voluntary action; the subjection of all phenomena, whether material or spiritual, to inevitable causation; necessitarianism. Of necessity, by necessary consequence; by compulsion, or irresistible power; perforce.
Syn.
— See Need.
NECK Neck, n. Etym: [OE. necke, AS. hnecca; akin to D. nek the nape of the neck, G. nacken, OHG. nacch, hnacch, Icel. hnakki, Sw. nacke, Dan. nakke.]
1. The part of an animal which connects the head and the trunk, and which, in man and many other animals, is more slender than the trunk.
2. Any part of an inanimate object corresponding to or resembling the neck of an animal; as: (a) The long slender part of a vessel, as a retort, or of a fruit, as a gourd. (b) A long narrow tract of land projecting from the main body, or a narrow tract connecting two larger tracts. (c) (Mus.) That part of a violin, guitar, or similar instrument, which extends from the head to the body, and on which is the finger board or fret board.
3. (Mech.)
Defn: A reduction in size near the end of an object, formed by a groove around it; as, a neck forming the journal of a shaft.
4. (Bot.)
Defn: the point where the base of the stem of a plant arises from the root. Neck and crop, completely; wholly; altogether; roughly and at once. [Colloq.] — Neck and neck (Racing), so nearly equal that one cannot be said to be before the other; very close; even; side by side. — Neck of a capital. (Arch.) See Gorgerin. — Neck of a cascabel (Gun.), the part joining the knob to the base of the breech. — Neck of a gun, the small part of the piece between the chase and the swell of the muzzle. — Neck of a tooth (Anat.), the constriction between the root and the crown. — Neck or nothing (Fig.), at all risks. — Neck verse. (a) The verse formerly read to entitle a party to the benefit of clergy, said to be the first verse of the fifty-first Psalm, "Miserere mei," etc. Sir W. Scott. (b) Hence, a verse or saying, the utterance of which decides one's fate; a shibboleth. These words, "bread and cheese," were their neck verse or shibboleth to distinguish them; all pronouncing "broad and cause," being presently put to death. Fuller. — Neck yoke. (a) A bar by which the end of the tongue of a wagon or carriage is suspended from the collars of the harnesses. (b) A device with projecting arms for carrying things (as buckets of water or sap) suspended from one's shoulders. — On the neck of, immediately after; following closely. "Commiting one sin on the neck of another." W. Perkins. — Stiff neck, obstinacy in evil or wrong; inflexible obstinacy; contumacy. "I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck." Deut. xxxi. 27. — To break the neck of, to destroy the main force of. "What they presume to borrow from her sage and virtuous rules… breaks the neck of their own cause." Milton. — To harden the neck, to grow obstinate; to be more and more perverse and rebellious. Neh. ix. 17. — To tread on the neck of, to oppress; to tyrannize over.
NECK
Neck, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Necked; p. pr. & vb. n. Necking.] (Mech.)
Defn: To reduce the diameter of (an object) near its end, by making a groove around it; — used with down; as, to neck down a shaft. v. t. & i. To kiss and caress amorously. n. necking
NECKAR NUT
Neck"ar nut`. (Bot.)
Defn: See Nicker nut.
NECKBAND
Neck"band`, n.
Defn: A band which goes around the neck; often, the part at the top of a garment.
NECKCLOTH
Neck"cloth`, n.
Defn: A piece of any fabric worn around the neck.
NECKED
Necked, a.
1. Having (such) a neck; — chiefly used in composition; as, stiff- necked.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: Cracked; — said of a treenail.
NECKERCHIEF
Neck"er*chief, n. Etym: [For neck kerchief.]
Defn: A kerchief for the neck; — called also neck handkerchief.
NECKING
Neck"ing, n.
Defn: Same as Neckmold.
NECKLACE
Neck"lace (; 48), n.
1. A string of beads, etc., or any continuous band or chain, worn around the neck as an ornament.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: A rope or chain fitted around the masthead to hold hanging blocks for jibs and stays.
NECKLACED neck"laced, a.
Defn: Wearing a necklace; marked as with a necklace.
The hooded and the necklaced snake. Sir W. Jones.
NECKLAND neck"land, n.
Defn: A neck of land. [Obs.]
NECKLET neck"let, n.
Defn: A necklace. E. Anold.
NECKMOLD; NECKMOULD
Neck"mold`, Neck"mould`, n. (Arch.)
Defn: A small convex molding surrounding a column at the jinction of the shaft and capital. Weale.
NECKPLATE
Neck"plate`, n.
Defn: See Gorget, 1 and 2.
NECKTIE
Neck"tie`, n.
Defn: A scarf, band, or kerchief of silk, etc., passing around the neck or collar and tied in front; a bow of silk, etc., fastened in front of the neck.
NECKWEAR
Neck"wear`, n.
Defn: A collective term for cravats, collars, etc. [Colloq. or trade name]
NECKWEED Neck"weed`, n. (Bot.) (a) An American annual weed (veronica peregrina), with small white flowers and a roundish pod. (b) The hemp; — so called as furnishing ropes for hanging criminals. Dr. prior.
NECROBIOSIS
Nec`ro*bi*o"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Biol. & Med.)
Defn: The death of a part by molecular disintegration and without loss of continuity, as in the processes of degeneration and atrophy. Virchow.
NECROBIOTIC
Nec`ro*bi*ot"ic, a. (Biol. & Med.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to necrobiosis; as, a necrobiotic metamorphosis.
NECROLATRY
Ne*crol"a*try, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The worship of the dead; manes worship. H. Spenser.
NECROLITE
Nec"ro*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite.] (Min.)
Defn: Same as Necronite.
NECROLOGIC; NECROLOGICAL
Nec`ro*log"ic, Nec`ro*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. nécrologique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to necrology; of the nature of necrology; relating to, or giving, an account of the dead, or of deaths.
NECROLOGIST
Ne*crol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One who gives an account of deaths.
NECROLOGY Ne*crol"o*gy, n.; pl. Necrologies. Etym: [Gr. -logy: cf. F. nécrologie. See Necromancy.]
Defn: An account of deaths, or of the dead; a register of deaths; a collection of obituary notices.
NECROMANCER
Nec"ro*man`cer, n.
Defn: One who practices necromancy; a sorcerer; a wizard.
NECROMANCY Nec"ro*man`cy, n. Etym: [OE. nigromaunce, nigromancie, OF. nigromance, F. nécromance, nécromancie, from L. necromantia, Gr. necare to kill, Skr. na to perish, vanish) + mania. See Mania, and cf. Internecine, Noxious. The old spelling is due to confusion with L. niger black. Hence the name black art.]
Defn: The art of revealing future events by means of a pretended communication with the dead; the black art; hence, magic in general; conjuration; enchantment. See Black art. This palace standeth in the air, By necromancy placèd there. Drayton.
NECROMANTIC
Nec`ro*man"tic, n.
Defn: Conjuration. [R.]
With all the necromantics of their art. Young.
NECROMANTIC; NECROMANTICAL
Nec`ro*man"tic, Nec`ro*man"tic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to necromancy; performed by necromancy.
— Nec`ro*man"tic*al*ly, adv.
NECRONITE
Nec"ro*nite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: Fetid feldspar, a mineral which, when struck, exhales a fetid odor.
NECROPHAGAN
Ne*croph"a*gan, a. Etym: [See Necrophagous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Eating carrion.
— n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of a tribe (Necrophaga) of beetles which, in the larval state, feed on carrion; a burying beetle.
NECROPHAGOUS
Ne*croph"a*gous, a. Etym: [Gr. nécrophage.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Necrophaga; eating carrion. See
Necrophagan.
NECROPHOBIA
Nec`ro*pho"bi*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
Defn: An exaggerated fear of death or horror of dead bodies.
NECROPHORE
Nec"ro*phore, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of beetles of the genus Necrophorus and allied genera; — called also burying beetle, carrion beetle, sexton beetle.
NECROPOLIS
Ne*crop"o*lis, n.; pl. Necropolises. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
Defn: A city of the dead; a name given by the ancients to their cemeteries, and sometimes applied to modern burial places; a graveyard.
NECROPSY
Nec"rop*sy, n. Etym: [Gr. nécropsie.] (Med.)
Defn: A post-mortem examination or inspection; an autopsy. See
Autopsy.
NECROSCOPIC; NECROSCOPICAL
Nec`ro*scop"ic, Nec`ro*scop"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. -scope.]
Defn: Or or relating to post-mortem examinations.
NECROSE
Ne*crose", v. t. & i. (Med.)
Defn: To affect with necrosis; to unergo necrosis. Quain.
NECROSED
Ne*crosed", a. (Med.)
Defn: Affected by necrosis; dead; as, a necrosed bone. Dunglison.
NECROSIS
Ne*cro"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. gr.
1. (med.)
Defn: Mortification or gangrene of bone, or the death of a bone or portion of a bone in mass, as opposed to its death by molecular disintegration. See Caries.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A disease of trees, in which the branches gradually dry up from the bark to the center.
NECROTIC
Ne*crot"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Affected with necrosis; as, necrotic tissue; characterized by, or producing, necrosis; as, a necrotic process.
NECROTOMY
Nec*rot"o*my, n. [Gr. dead person + to cut.] (Med.)
Defn: The dissection of dead bodies; also, excision of necrosed bone.
—Nec`ro*tom"ic (#), a. —Nec*rot"o*mist (#), n.
NECTAR
Nec"tar, n. Etym: [L., fr. gr.
1. (Myth. & Poetic)
Defn: The drink of the gods (as ambrosia was their food); hence, any delicious or inspiring beverage.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A sweetish secretion of blossoms from which bees make honey.
NECTAREAL
Nec*ta"re*al, a.
1. Nectareous.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a nectary.
NECTAREAN
Nec*ta"re*an, a. Etym: [L. nectareus: cf. F. nectaréen.]
Defn: Resembling nectar; very sweet and pleasant. "nectarean juice."
Talfourd.
NECTARED
Nec"tared, a.
Defn: Imbued with nectar; mingled with nectar; abounding with nectar.
Milton.
NECTAREOUS
Nec*ta"re"ous, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, containing, or resembling nectar; delicious;
nectarean. Pope.
— Nec*ta"re*ous*ly, adv.
— Nec*ta"re*ous*ness, n.
NECTARIAL
Nec*ta"ri*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the nectary of a plant.
NECTARIED
Nec"ta*ried, a.
Defn: Having a nectary.
NECTARIFEROUS Nec`tar*if"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. nectar nectar + -ferous: cf. F. nectarifère.] (Bot.)
Defn: Secreting nectar; — said of blossoms or their parts.
NECTARINE
Nec"tar*ine, a.
Defn: Nectareous. [R.] Milton.
NECTARINE
Nec"tar*ine, n. Etym: [Cf. F. nectarine. See Nectar.] (Bot.)
Defn: A smooth-skinned variety of peach. Spanish nectarine, the plumlike fruit of the West Indian tree Chrysobalanus Icaco; — also called cocoa plum. it is made into a sweet conserve which a largely exported from Cuba.
NECTARIZE
Nec"tar*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nectarized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Nectarizing.]
Defn: To mingle or infuse with nectar; to sweeten. [Obs.] Cockeram.
NECTAROUS
Nec"tar*ous, a.
Defn: Nectareous. Milton.
NECTARY
Nec"ta*ry, n.; pl. Nectaries. Etym: [From Nectar: cf. F. nectaire.]
(Bot.)
Defn: That part of a blossom which secretes nectar, usually the base of the corolla or petals; also, the spur of such flowers as the larkspur and columbine, whether nectariferous or not. See the Illustration of Nasturtium.
NECTOCALYX Nec`to*ca"lyx, n.; pl. Nectocalyces. Etym: [NL., fr. gr. (Zoöl.) (a) The swimming bell or umbrella of a jellyfish of medusa. (b) One of the zooids of certain Siphonophora, having somewhat the form, and the essential structure, of the bell of a jellyfish, and acting as a swimming organ.
NECTOSAC; NECTOSACK
Nec"to*sac, Nec"to*sack, n. Etym: [Gr. sac, sack.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The cavity of a nectocalyx.
NECTOSTEM
Nec"to*stem, n. Etym: [Gr. stem.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: That portion of the axis which bears the nectocalyces in the
Siphonophora.
NEDDER
Ned"der, n. Etym: [See Adder.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An adder. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Chaucer.
NEDDY
Ned"dy, n.; pl. Neddies (. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A pet name for a donkey.
NEE Nee, p. p., fem. Etym: [F., fr. L. nata, fem. of natus, p.p. of nasci to be born. See Nation.]
Defn: Born; — a term sometimes used in introducing the name of the family to which a married woman belongs by birth; as, Madame de Staël, née Necker.
NEED
Need, n. Etym: [OE. need, neod, nede, AS. neád, nyd; akin to D. nood,
G. not, noth, Icel. nauedhr, Sw. & Dan. nöd, Goth. naups.]
1. A state that requires supply or relief; pressing occasion for something; necessity; urgent want. And the city had no need of the sun. Rev. xxi. 23. I have no need to beg. Shak. Be governed by your needs, not by your fancy. Jer. Taylor.
2. Want of the means of subsistence; poverty; indigence; destitution.
Chaucer.
Famine is in thy cheeks; Need and oppression starveth in thine eyes.
Shak.
3. That which is needful; anything necessary to be done; (pl.) necessary things; business. [Obs.] Chaucer.
4. Situation of need; peril; danger. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Syn. — Exigency; emergency; strait; extremity; necessity; distress; destitution; poverty; indigence; want; penury. — Need, Necessity. Necessity is stronger than need; it places us under positive compulsion. We are frequently under the necessity of going without that of which we stand very greatly in need. It is also with the corresponding adjectives; necessitous circumstances imply the direct pressure of suffering; needy circumstances, the want of aid or relief.
NEED
Need, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Needed; p. pr. & vb. n. Needing.] Etym:
[See Need, n. Cf. AS. n to force, Goth. nau.]
Defn: To be in want of; to have cause or occasion for; to lack; to require, as supply or relief. Other creatures all day long Rove idle, unemployed, and less need rest. Milton.
Note: With another verb, need is used like an auxiliary, generally in a negative sentence expressing requirement or obligation, and in this use it undergoes no change of termination in the third person singular of the present tense. "And the lender need not fear he shall be injured." Anacharsis (Trans. ).
NEED
Need, v. i.
Defn: To be wanted; to be necessary. Chaucer. When we have done it, we have done all that is in our power, and all that needs. Locke.
NEED
Need, adv.
Defn: Of necessity. See Needs. [Obs.] Chaucer.
NEEDER
Need"er, n.
Defn: One who needs anything. Shak.
NEEDFUL
Need"ful, a.
1. Full of need; in need or want; needy; distressing. [Archaic] Chaucer. The needful time of trouble. Bk. of Com. Prayer.
2. Necessary for supply or relief; requisite.
All things needful for defense abound. Dryden.
— Need"ful*ly, adv.
— Need"ful*ness, n.
NEEDILY
Need"i*ly, adv. Etym: [From Needy.]
Defn: In a needy condition or manner; necessarily. Chaucer.
NEEDINESS
Need"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being needy; want; poverty; indigence.
NEEDLE
Nee"dle, n. Etym: [OE. nedle, AS. n; akin to D. neald, OS. nadla, G.
nadel, OHG. nadal, nadala, Icel. nal, Sw. nål, Dan. naal, and also to
G. nähen to sew, OHG. najan, L. nere to spin, Gr. snare: cf. Gael. &
Ir. snathad needle, Gael. snath thread, G. schnur string, cord.]
1. A small instrument of steel, sharply pointed at one end, with an eye to receive a thread, — used in sewing. Chaucer.
Note: In some needles(as for sewing machines) the eye is at the pointed end, but in ordinary needles it is at the blunt end.
2. See Magnetic needle, under Magnetic.
3. A slender rod or wire used in knitting; a knitting needle; also, a hooked instrument which carries the thread or twine, and by means of which knots or loops are formed in the process of netting, knitting, or crocheting.
4. (Bot.)
Defn: One of the needle-shaped secondary leaves of pine trees. See
Pinus.
5. Any slender, pointed object, like a needle, as a pointed crystal, a sharp pinnacle of rock, an obelisk, etc. Dipping needle. See under Dipping. — Needle bar, the reciprocating bar to which the needle of a sewing machine is attached. — Needle beam (Arch.), to shoring, the horizontal cross timber which goes through the wall or a pier, and upon which the weight of the wall rests, when a building is shored up to allow of alterations in the lower part. — Needle furze (Bot.), a prickly leguminous plant of Western Europe; the petty whin (Genista Anglica). — Needle gun, a firearm loaded at the breech with a cartridge carrying its own fulminate, which is exploded by driving a slender needle, or pin, into it. — Needle loom (Weaving), a loom in which the weft thread is carried through the shed by a long eye-pointed needle instead of by a shuttle. — Needle ore (Min.), acicular bismuth; a sulphide of bismuth, lead, and copper occuring in acicular crystals; — called also aikinite. — Needle shell (Zoöl.), a sea urchin. — Needle spar (Min.), aragonite. — Needle telegraph, a telegraph in which the signals are given by the deflections of a magnetic needle to the right or to the left of a certain position. — Sea needle (Zoöl.), the garfish.
NEEDLE
Nee"dle, v. t.
Defn: To form in the shape of a needle; as, to needle crystals.
NEEDLE
Nee"dle, v. i.
Defn: To form needles; to crystallize in the form of needles.
NEEDLEBOOK
Nee"dle*book`, n.
Defn: A book-shaped needlecase, having leaves of cloth into which the needles are stuck.
NEEDLECASE
Nee"dle*case`, n.
Defn: A case to keep needles.
NEEDLEFISH Nee"dle*fish`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) The European great pipefich (Siphostoma, or Syngnathus, acus); — called also earl, and tanglefish. (b) The garfish.
NEEDLEFUL nee"dle*ful, n.; pl. needlefuls (.
Defn: As much thread as is used in a needle at one time.
NEEDLE-POINTED
Nee"dle-pointed`, a.
Defn: Pointed as needles.
NEEDLER
Nee"dler, n.
Defn: One who makes or uses needles; also, a dealer in needles. Piers
Plowman.
NEEDLESS
Nee"dless, a.
1. Having no need. [Obs.] Weeping into the needless stream. Shak.
2. Not wanted; unnecessary; not requiste; as, needless labor; needless expenses.
3. Without sufficient cause; groundless; cuseless. "Needless
jealousy." Shak.
— Need"less*ly, adv.
— Need"less*ness, n.
NEEDLESTONE
Nee"dle*stone`, n. (Min.)
Defn: Natrolite; — called also needle zeolite.
NEEDLEWOMAN
Nee"dle*wom`an, n.; pl. Needlewomen (.
Defn: A woman who does needlework; a seamstress.
NEEDLEWORK
Nee"dle*work`, n.
1. Work executed with a needle; sewed work; sewing; embroidery; also, the business of a seamstress.
2. The combination of timber and plaster making the outside framework of some houses.
NEEDLY
Nee"dly, a.
Defn: Like a needle or needles; as, a needly horn; a needly beard. R.
D. Blackmore.
NEEDLY
Need"ly, adv. Etym: [AS. n. See Need.]
Defn: Necessarily; of necessity. [Obs.] hak.
NEEDMENT
Need"ment, n.
Defn: Something needed or wanted. pl.
Defn: Outfit; necessary luggage. [Archaic] Spenser.
Carrying each his needments. Wordsworth.
NEEDS Needs, adv. Etym: [Orig. gen. of need, used as an adverb. Cf. - wards.]
Defn: Of necessity; necessarily; indispensably; — often with must,
and equivalent to of need.
A man must needs love mauger his head. Chaucer.
And he must needs go through Samaria. John iv. 4.
He would needs know the cause of his reulse. Sir J. Davies.
NEEDSCOST
Needs"cost`, adv.
Defn: Of necessity. [Obs.] Chaucer.
NEEDSLY
Needs"ly, adv.
Defn: Of necessity. [Obs.] Drayton.
NEEDY
Need"y, a. [Compar. Needer; superl. Neediest.]
1. Distressed by want of the means of living; very por; indigent; necessitous. Thou shalt open thy hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy in thy land. Deut. xv. 11. Spare the bluches of needly merit. Dr. T. Dwight.
2. Necessary; requiste. [Obs.] Corn to make your needy bread. Shak.
NEELD; NEELE
Neeld, Neele, n. Etym: [See Needle.]
Defn: A needle. [Obs.] Shak.
NEELGHAU
Neel"ghau, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Nylghau.
NEEM TREE
Neem" tree`. Etym: [Hind. nim.] (Bot.)
Defn: An Asiatic name for Melia Azadirachta, and M. Azedarach. See
Margosa.
NEER
Neer, adv. & a.
Defn: Nearer. [Obs.] Chaucer.
NE'ER
Ne'er ( or ), adv.
Defn: a contraction of Never.
NE'ER-DO-WELL
Ne'er"-do-well`, n.
Defn: A person who never does, or fares, well; a good for nothing.
The idle and dissolute ne'er-do-wells of their communities.
Harper's Mag.
NEESE
Neese, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Neesed; p. pr. & vb. n. Neesing.] Etym:
[OE. nesen; akin to D. niezen, G. niesen, Icel. hnjosa.]
Defn: To sneeze. [Obs.] [Written also neeze.]
NEESING
Nees"ing, n.
Defn: Sneezing. [Obs.] "By his neesings a light doth shine." Job xli. 18.
NE EXEAT Ne` ex"e*at. Etym: [L. ne exeat regno let him not go out of the kingdom.] (Law)
Defn: A writ to restrain a person from leaving the country, or the jurisdiction of the court. The writ was originally applicable to purposes of state, but is now an ordinary process of courts of equity, resorted to for the purpose of obtaining bail, or security to abide a decree. Kent.
NEF
Nef (; F. , n. Etym: [F. See Nave.]
Defn: The nave of a church. Addison.
NEFAND; NEFANDOUS Ne"fand, Ne*fan"dous, a. Etym: [L. nefandus not to be spoken; ne not + fari to speak.]
Defn: Unfit to speak of; unmentionable; impious; execrable. [Obs.]
"Nefand adominations." Sheldon. "Nefandous high treason." Cotton
Mather.
NEFARIOUS Ne*fa"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. nefarius, fr. nefas crime, wrong; ne not + fas divine law; akin to fari to speak. See No, adv., and Fate.]
Defn: Wicked in the extreme; abominable; iniquitous; atrociously villainous; execrable; detestably vile.
Syn.
— Iniquitous; detestable; horrible; heinious; atrocious; infamous;
impious. See Iniquitous.
— Ne*fa"ri*ous*ly, adv.
— Ne*fa"ri*ous*ness, n.
NEFASCH
Ne"fasch, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any fish of the genus Distichodus. Several large species inhabit the Nile.
NEFAST
Ne"fast, a. Etym: [L. nefastus.]
Defn: Wicked. [R.]
NEGATION
Ne*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. negatio, fr. negare to say no, to deny; ne
not + the root of aio I say; cf. Gr. ah to say; cf. F. négation. See
No, adv., and cf. Adage, Deny, Renegade.]
1. The act of denying; assertion of the nonreality or untruthfulness of anything; declaration that something is not, or has not been, or will not be; denial; — the opposite of Ant: affirmation. Our assertions and negations should be yea and nay. Rogers.
2. (Logic)
Defn: Description or definition by denial, exclusion, or exception; statement of what a thing is not, or has not, from which may be inferred what it is or has.
NEGATIVE
Neg"a*tive, a. Etym: [F. négatif, L. negativus, fr. negare to deny.
See Negation.]
1. Denying; implying, containing, or asserting denial, negation or refusal; returning the answer no to an inquiry or request; refusing assent; as, a negative answer; a negative opinion; — opposed to Ant: affirmative. If thou wilt confess, Or else be impudently negative. Shak. Denying me any power of a negative voice. Eikon Basilike. Something between an affirmative bow and a negative shake. Dickens.
2. Not positive; without affirmative statement or demonstration; indirect; consisting in the absence of something; privative; as, a negative argument; a negative morality; negative criticism. There in another way of denying Christ, … which is negative, when we do not acknowledge and confess him. South.
3. (Logic)
Defn: Asserting absence of connection between a subject and a predicate; as, a negative proposition.
4. (Photog.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a picture upon glass or other material, in which the lights and shades of the original, and the relations of right and left, are reversed.
5. (Chem.)
Defn: Metalloidal; nonmetallic; — contracted with positive or basic; as, the nitro group is negative.
Note: This word, derived from electro-negative, is now commonly used in a more general sense, when acidiferous is the intended signification. Negative crystal. (a) A cavity in a mineral mass, having the form of a crystal. (b) A crystal which has the power of negative double refraction. See refraction. — negative electricity (Elec.), the kind of electricity which is developed upon resin or ebonite when rubbed, or which appears at that pole of a voltaic battery which is connected with the plate most attacked by the exciting liquid; — formerly called resinous electricity. Opposed to Ant: positive electricity. Formerly, according to Franklin's theory of a single electric fluid, negative electricity was supposed to be electricity in a degree below saturation, or the natural amount for a given body. see Electricity. — Negative eyepiece. (Opt.) see under Eyepiece. — Negative quantity (Alg.), a quantity preceded by the negative sign, or which stands in the relation indicated by this sign to some other quantity. See Negative sign (below). — Negative rotation, right-handed rotation. See Right-handed, 3. — Negative sign, the sign -, or minus (opposed in signification to +, or Ant: plus), indicating that the quantity to which it is prefixed is to be subtracted from the preceding quantity, or is to be reckoned from zero or cipher in the opposite direction to that of quanties having the sign plus either expressed or understood; thus, in a - b, b is to be substracted from a, or regarded as opposite to it in value; and -10° on a thermometer means 10° below the zero of the scale.
NEGATIVE
Neg"a*tive, n. Etym: [Cf. F. négative.]
1. A proposition by which something is denied or forbidden; a conception or term formed by prefixing the negative particle to one which is positive; an opposite or contradictory term or conception. This is a known rule in divinity, that there is no command that runs in negatives but couches under it a positive duty. South.
2. A word used in denial or refusal; as, not, no.
Note: In Old England two or more negatives were often joined together for the sake of emphasis, whereas now such expressions are considered ungrammatical, being chiefly heard in iliterate speech. A double negative is now sometimes used as nearly or quite equivalent to an affirmative. No wine ne drank she, neither white nor red. Chaucer. These eyes that never did nor never shall So much as frown on you. Shak.
3. The refusal or withholding of assents; veto. If a kind without his kingdom be, in a civil sense, nothing, then … his negative is as good as nothing. Milton.
4. That side of a question which denies or refuses, or which is taken by an opposing or denying party; the relation or position of denial or opposition; as, the question was decided in the negative.
5. (Photog.)
Defn: A picture upon glass or other material, in which the light portions of the original are represented in some opaque material (usually reduced silver), and the dark portions by the uncovered and transparent or semitransparent ground of the picture.
Note: A negative is chiefly used for producing photographs by means of the sun's light passing through it and acting upon sensitized paper, thus producing on the paper a positive picture.
6. (Elect.)
Defn: The negative plate of a voltaic or electrolytic cell. Negative pregnant (Law), a negation which implies an affirmation.
NEGATIVE
Neg"a*tive, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Negatived; p. pr. & vb. n.
Negativing.]
1. To prove unreal or intrue; to disprove. The omission or infrequency of such recitals does not negative the existence of miracles. Paley.
2. To reject by vote; to refuse to enact or sanction; as, the Senate negatived the bill.
3. To neutralize the force of; to counteract.
NEGATIVELY
Neg"a*tive*ly, adv.
1. In a negative manner; with or by denial. "He answered negatively." Boyle.
2. In the form of speech implying the absence of something; — opposed to positively. negatively, by showing wherein it does not consist, and positively, by showing wherein it does consist. South. Negatively charged or electrified (Elec.), having a charge of the kind of electricity called negative.
NEGATIVENESS; NEGATIVITY
Neg"a*tive*ness, Neg`a*tiv"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being negative.
NEGATORY
Neg"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. negatorius: cf. F. négatorie.]
Defn: Expressing denial; belonging to negation; negative. Carlyle.
NEGINOTH
Neg"i*noth, n. pl. Etym: [Heb. nêginoth.] (Script.)
Defn: Stringed instruments. Dr. W. Smith.
To the chief musician on Neginoth. Ps. iv. 9heading).
NEGLECT Neg*lect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Neglected; p. pr. & vb. n. Neglecting.] Etym: [L. neglectus, p.p. of neglegere (negligere) to disregard, neglect, the literal sense prob. neing, not to pick up; nec not, nor (fr. ne not + -que, a particle akin to Goth. -h, -uh, and prob. to E. who; cf. Goth. nih nor) + L. legere to pick up, gather. See No, adv., Legend, Who.]
1. Not to attend to with due care or attention; to forbear one's duty in regard to; to suffer to pass unimproved, unheeded, undone, etc.; to omit; to disregard; to slight; as, to neglect duty or business; to neglect to pay debts. I hope My absence doth neglect no great designs. Shak. This, my long suffering and my day of grace, Those who neglect and scorn shall never taste. Milton.
2. To omit to notice; to forbear to treat with attention or respect; to slight; as, to neglect strangers.
Syn.
— To slight; overlook; disregard; disesteem; contemn. See Slight.
NEGLECT
Neg*lect", n. Etym: [L. neglectus. See Neglect, v.]
1. Omission of proper attention; avoidance or disregard of duty, from heedlessness, indifference, or willfulness; failure to do, use, or heed anything; culpable disregard; as, neglect of business, of health, of economy. To tell thee sadly, shepherd, without blame, Or our neglect, we lost her as we came. Milton.
2. Omission if attention or civilities; slight; as, neglect of strangers.
3. Habitual carelessness; negligence. Age breeds neglect in all. Denham.
4. The state of being disregarded, slighted, or neglected. Rescue my poor remains from vile neglect. Prior.
Syn. — Negligence; inattention; disregard; disesteem; remissness; indifference. See Negligence.
NEGLECTEDNESS
Neg*lect"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being neglected.
NEGLECTER
Neg*lect"er, n.
Defn: One who neglects. South.
NEGLECTFUL
Neg*lect"ful, a.
Defn: Full of neglect; heedless; careless; negligent; inattentive;
indifferent. Pope.
A cold and neglectful countenance. Locke.
Though the Romans had no great genius for trade, yet they were not
entirely neglectful of it. Arbuthnot.
— Neg*lect"ful*ly, adv.
— Neg*lect"ful*ness, n.
NEGLECTINGLY
Neg*lect"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: Carelessly; heedlessly. Shak.
NEGLECTION
Neg*lec"tion, n. Etym: [L. neglectio.]
Defn: The state of being negligent; negligence. [Obs.] Shak.
NEGLECTIVE
Neg*lect"ive, a.
Defn: Neglectful. [R.] "Neglective of their own children." Fuller.
NEGLIGEE Neg`li*gee", n. Etym: [F. négligé, fr. négliger to neglect, L. negligere. See Neglect.]
Defn: An easy, unceremonious attire; undress; also, a kind of easy robe or dressing gown worn by women.
NEGLIGENCE
Neg"li*gence, n. Etym: [F. négligence, L. negligentia.]
Defn: The quality or state of being negligent; lack of due diligence or care; omission of duty; habitual neglect; heedlessness.
2. An act or instance of negligence or carelessness. remarking his beauties, … I must also point out his negligences and defects. Blair.
3. (Law)
Defn: The omission of the care usual under the circumstances, being convertible with the Roman culpa. A specialist is bound to higher skill and diligence in his specialty than one who is not a specialist, and liability for negligence varies acordingly. Contributory negligence. See under Contributory.
Syn. — Neglect; inattention; heedlessness; disregard; slight. — Negligence, Neglect. These two words are freely interchanged in our older writers; but a distinction has gradually sprung up between them. As now generally used, negligence is the habit, and neglect the act, of leaving things undone or unattended to. We are negligent as a general trait of character; we are guilty of neglect in particular cases, or in reference to individuals who had a right to our attentions.
NEGLIGENT
Neg"li*gent, a. Etym: [F. négligent, L. negligens,p.pr. of negligere.
See Neglect.]
Defn: Apt to neglect; customarily neglectful; characterized by negligence; careless; heedless; culpably careless; showing lack of attention; as, disposed in negligent order. "Be thou negligent of fame." Swift. He that thinks he can afford to be negligent is not far from being poor. Rambler.
Syn. — Careles; heedless; neglectful; regardless; thoughtless; indifferent; inattentive; remiss.
NEGLIGENTLY
Neg"li*gent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a negligent manner.
NEGLIGIBLE
Neg"li*gi*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. négligible, négligeable.]
Defn: That may neglicted, disregarded, or left out of consideration.
Within very negligible limits of error. Sir J. Herschel.
NEGOCE
Ne*goce", n. Etym: [F. négoce. See Negotiate.]
Defn: Business; occupation. [Obs.] Bentley.
NEGOTIABILITY
Ne*go`ti*a*bil"i*ty ( or ), n. Etym: [Cf. F. négociabilité.]
Defn: The quality of being negotiable or transferable by indorsement.
NEGOTIABLE
Ne*go"ti*a*ble ( or ), a. Etym: [Cf. F. négotiable. See Negotiate.]
Defn: Capable of being negotiated; transferable by assigment or indorsement to another person; as, a negotiable note or bill of exchange. Negotiable paper, any commercial paper transferable by sale or delivery and indorsement, as bills of exchange, drafts, checks, and promissory notes.
NEGOTIANT
Ne*go"ti*ant, n. Etym: [L. negotians, prop. p.pr. of negotiari: cf.
F. négociant.]
Defn: A negotiator. [R.] Sir W. Raleigh.
NEGOTIATE Ne*go"ti*ate, v. i. Etym: [L. negotiatus, p.p. of negotiari, fr. negotium business; nec not + otium leisure. Cf. Neglect.]
1. To transact business; to carry on trade. [Obs.] Hammond.
2. To treat with another respecting purchase and sale or some business affair; to bargain or trade; as, to negotiate with a man for the purchase of goods or a farm.
3. To hold intercourse respecting a treaty, league, or convention; to treat with, respecting peace or commerce; to conduct communications or conferences. He that negotiates between God and man Is God's ambassador. Cowper.
4. To intrigue; to scheme. [Obs.] Bacon.
NEGOTIATE
Ne*go"ti*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Negotiated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Negotiating.]
1. To carry on negotiations concerning; to procure or arrange for by negotiation; as, to negotiate peace, or an exchange. Constantinople had negotiated in the isles of the Archipelago … the most indispensable supplies. Gibbon.
2. To transfer for a valuable consideration under rules of commercial law; to sell; to pass. The notes were not negotiated to them in the usual course of business or trade. Kent.
NEGOTIATION
Ne*go`ti*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. negotiatio: cf. F. négociation.]
1. The act or process of negotiating; a treating with another respecting sale or purchase. etc.
2. Hence, mercantile business; trading. [Obs.] Who had lost, with these prizes, forty thousand pounds, after twenty years' negotiation in the East Indies. Evelyn.
3. The transaction of business between nations; the mutual intercourse of governments by diplomatic agents, in making treaties, composing difference, etc.; as, the negotiations at Ghent. An important negotiation with foreign powers. Macaulay.
NEGOTIATOR
Ne*go"ti*a`tor, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. négociateur.]
Defn: One who negotiates; a person who treats with others, either as principal or agent, in respect to purchase and sale, or public compacts.
NEGOTIATORY
Ne*go"ti*a*to*ry ( or ), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to negotiation.
NEGOTIATRIX
Ne*go`ti*a"trix, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A woman who negotiates. Miss Edgeworth.
NEGOTIOSITY
Ne*go`ti*os"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. negotiositas.]
Defn: The state of being busy; multitude of business. [Obs.]
NEGOTIOUS
Ne*go"tious, a. Etym: [L. negotiosus.]
Defn: Very busy; attentive to business; active. [R.] D. Rogers.
NEGOTIOUSNESS
Ne*go"tious*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being busily occupied; activity. [R.] D. Rogers.
NEGRESS Ne"gress, n.; pl. Negresses (. Etym: [Cf. F. négrese, fem. of négre a negro. See Negro.]
Defn: A black woman; a female negro.
NEGRITA Ne*gri"ta, n. Etym: [Sp., blackish, fem. of negrito, dim. of negro black.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A blackish fish (Hypoplectrus nigricans), of the Sea-bass family. It is a native of the West Indies and Florida.
NEGRITIC
Ne*grit"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to negroes; composed of negroes. Keary.
NEGRITOS
Ne*gri"tos, n. pl.; sing Negrito (. Etym: [Sp., dim. of negro black.]
(Ethnol.)
Defn: A degraded Papuan race, inhabiting Luzon and some of the other east Indian Islands. They resemble negroes, but are smaller in size. They are mostly nomads.
NEGRO
Ne"gro, n.; pl. Negroes (. Etym: [Sp. or Pg. negro, fr. negro black,
L. niger; perh. akin to E. night.]
Defn: A black man; especially, one of a race of black or very dark persons who inhabit the greater part of tropical Africa, and are distinguished by crisped or curly hair, flat noses, and thick protruding lips; also, any black person of unmixed African blood, wherever found.
NEGRO
Ne"gro, a.
Defn: of or pertaining to negroes; black. Negro bug (Zoöl.), a minute black bug common on the raspberry and blackberry. It produced a very disagreeable flavor. — negro corn, the Indian millet or durra; — so called in the West Indies. see Durra. McElrath. — Negro fly (Zoöl.), a black dipterous fly (Psila rosæ) which, in the larval state, is injurious to carrots; — called also carrot fly. — Negro head (Com.), Cavendish tobacco. [Cant] McElrath. — Negro monkey (Zoöl.), the moor monkey.
NEGROHEAD
Ne"gro*head`, n.
Defn: An inferior commercial variety of India rubber made up into round masses.
NEGROID
Ne"groid, a. Etym: [Negro + -oid.]
1. Characteristic of the negro.
2. Resembling the negro or negroes; of or pertaining to those who resemble the negro.
NEGROLOID
Ne"gro*loid, a.
Defn: See Negroid.
NEGUS
Ne"gus, n.
Defn: A beverage made of wine, water, sugar, nutmeg, and lemon juice; — so called, it is said, from its first maker, Colonel Negus.
NEHILOTH
Ne"hi*loth, n. pl. Etym: [Heb.] (Script.)
Defn: A term supposed to mean, perforated wind instruments of music, as pipes or flutes. Ps. v. (heading).
NEHUSHTAN
Ne*hush"tan, n. Etym: [Heb.]
Defn: A thing of brass; — the name under which the Israelites worshiped the brazen serpent made by Moses. 2 Kings xviii. 4.
NEIF; NEIFE Neif, Neife, n. Etym: [OF. neïf, naïf, a born serf, fr. L. nativus born, imparted by birth. See Native.]
Defn: A woman born in the state of villeinage; a female serf.
Blackstone.
NEIF; NEAF
Neif, Neaf, n. Etym: [Icel. hnefi; akin to Dan. næve, Sw. näfve.]
Defn: The first. [Obs.] "I kiss thy neif." "Give me your neaf." Shak.
NEIGH
Neigh, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Neighed; p. pr. & vb. n. Neighing.] Etym:
[OE. neien, AS. hn, prob. of imitative origin; cf. MHG. n, Icel.
hneggja, gneggja, Sw. gnägga. Cf. Nag a horse.]
1. To utter the cry of the horse; to whinny.
2. To scoff or sneer; to jeer. [Obs.] Neighed at his nakedness. Beau. & Fl.
NEIGH
Neigh, n.
Defn: The cry of a horse; a whinny.
NEIGHBOR
Neigh"bor, n. Etym: [OE. neighebour, AS. neáhgeb; neáh nigh + gebr a
dweller, farmer; akin to D. nabuur, G. nachbar, OHG. nahgib. See
Nigh, and Boor.] [Spelt also neighbour.]
1. A person who lives near another; one whose abode is not far off. Chaucer. Masters, my good friends, mine honest neighbors. Shak.
2. One who is near in sympathy or confidence. Buckingham No more shall be the neighbor to my counsel. Shak.
3. One entitled to, or exhibiting, neighborly kindness; hence, one of the human race; a fellow being. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves Luke x. 36. The gospel allows no such term as "stranger;" makes every man my neighbor. South.
NEIGHBOR
Neigh"bor, a.
Defn: Near to another; adjoining; adjacent; next; neighboring. "The neighbor cities." Jer. l. 40. "The neighbor room." Shak.
NEIGHBOR neigh"bor, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Neighbored; p. pr. & vb. n Neighboring.]
1. To adjoin; to border on; tobe near to. Leisurely ascending hills that neighbor the shore. Sandys.
2. To associate intimately with. [Obs.] Shak.
NEIGHBOR
Neigh"bor, v. i.
Defn: To dwell in the vicinity; to be a neighbor, or in the neighborhood; to be near. [Obs.] A copse that neighbors by. Shak.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Neigh"bor*hood, n. Etym: [Written also neighbourhood.]
1. The quality or condition of being a neighbor; the state of being or dwelling near; proximity. Then the prison and the palace were in awful neighborhood. Ld. Lytton.
2. A place near; vicinity; adjoining district; a region the inhabitants of which may be counted as neighbors; as, he lives in my neighborhood.
3. The inhabitants who live in the vicinity of each other; as, the fire alarmed all the neiborhood.
4. The disposition becoming a neighbor; neighborly kindness or good will. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
Syn. — Vicinity; vicinaty; proximity. — Neighborhood, Vicinity. Neigborhood is Anglo-Saxon, and vicinity is Latin. Vicinity does not commonly denote so close a connection as neighborhood. A neigborhood is a more immediately vicinity. The houses immediately adjoining a square are in the neighborhood of that square; those which are somewhat further removed are also in the vicinity of the square.
NEIGHBORING
Neigh"bor*ing, a.
Defn: Living or being near; adjacent; as, the neighboring nations or countries.
NEIGHBORLINESS
Neigh"bor*li*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being neighborly.
NEIGHBORLY
Neigh"bor*ly, a. Etym: [Also written neighbourly.]
Defn: Apropriate to the relation of neighbors; having frequent or familiar intercourse; kind; civil; social; friendly. — adv.
Defn: In a neigborly manner.
Judge if this be neighborly dealing. Arbuthnot.
NEIGHBORSHIP
Neigh"bor*ship, n.
Defn: The state of being neighbors. [R.] J. Bailie.
NEISHOUT
Neis"hout, n. Etym: [From D. niezen to sneeze + hout wood.] (Bot.)
Defn: The mahogany-like wood of the South African tree Pteroxylon utile, the sawdust of which causes violent sneezing (whence the name). Also called sneezewood.
NEITHER Nei"ther ( or ; 277), a. Etym: [OE. neiter, nother, nouther, AS. naw, nahwæ; na never, not + hwæ whether. The word has followed the form of either. See No, and Whether, and cf. Neuter, Nor.]
Defn: Not either; not the one or the other.
Which of them shall I take Both one or neither Neither can be
enjoyed, If both remain alive. Shak.
He neither loves, Nor either cares for him. Shak.
NEITHER
Nei"ther, conj.
Defn: not either; generally used to introduce the first of two or more coördinate clauses of which those that follow begin with nor. Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king. 1 Kings xxii. 31. Hadst thou been firm and fixed in thy dissent, Neither had I transgressed, nor thou with me. Milton. When she put it on, she made me vow That I should neither sell, nor give, nor lose it. Shak.
Note: Neither was formerly often used where we now use nor. "For neither circumcision, neither uncircumcision is anything at all." Tyndale. "Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it." Gen. iii. 3. Neither is sometimes used colloquially at the end of a clause to enforce a foregoing negative (nor, not, no). "He is very tall, but not too tall neither." Addison. " `I care not for his thrust' `No, nor I neither.'" Shak. Not so neither, by no means. [Obs.] Shak.
NELUMBO
Ne*lum"bo, n. Etym: [Ceylonese word.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of great water lilies. The North American species is Nelumbo lutea, the Asiatic is the sacred lotus, N. speciosa. [Written also Nelumbium.]
NEMALINE
Nem"a*line, a. Etym: [L. nema thread, gr. (Min.)
Defn: Having the form of threads; fibrous.
NEMALITE
Nem"a*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite: cf. F. némalite.] (Min.)
Defn: A fibrous variety of brucite.
NEMATELMIA
Nem`a*tel"mi*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Nemathelminthes.
NEMATHECIUM
Nem`a*the"ci*um ( or , n.; pl. Nemathecia. Etym: [NL., fr. gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A peculiar kind of fructification on certain red algæ, consisting of an external mass of filaments at length separating into tetraspores.
NEMATHELMINTHES; NEMATELMINTHES
Nem`a*thel*min"thes, Nem`a*tel*min"thes, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See
Nemato-, and Helminthes.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of helminths, including the Nematoidea and Gordiacea; the roundworms. [Written also Nematelminthea.]
NEMATO-
Nem"a*to-
Defn: . A combining from Gr. nhema, nhematos, a thread.
NEMATOBLAST
Nem"a*to*blast, n. Etym: [Nemato- + -blast.] (Biol.)
Defn: A spermatocyte or spermoblast.
NEMATOCALYX
Nem`a*to*ca"lyx, n.; pl. Nematocalyces, E. -calyxes. Etym: [NL. See
Nemato-, and Calyx.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a peculiar kind of cups, or calicles, found upon hydroids of the family Plumularidæ. They contain nematocysts. See Plumularia.
NEMATOCERA
Nem`a*toc"e*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A suborder of dipterous insects, having long antennæ, as the mosquito, gnat, and crane fly; — called also Nemocera.
NEMATOCYST
Nem"a*to*cyst, n. Etym: [Nemato- + cyst.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A lasso cell, or thread cell. See Lasso cell, under Lasso.
NEMATODE
Nem"a*tode, a. & n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Nematoid.
NEMATOGENE
Nem"a*to*gene, n. Etym: [Nemato- + root of Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the dimorphic forms of the species of Dicyemata, which produced vermiform embryos; — opposed to Ant: rhombogene.
NEMATOGNATH
Nem`a*tog"nath, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: one of the Nematognathi.
NEMATOGNATHI
Nem`a*tog"na*thi, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See nemato-, and Gnathic.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of fishes having barbels on the jaws. It includes the catfishes, or siluroids. See Siluroid.
NEMATOID
Nem"a*toid, a. Etym: [Nemato- + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: of or pertaining to the Nematoidea.
— n.
Defn: One of the Nematoidea. see Illustration in Appendix.
NEMATOIDEA
Nem`a*toi"de*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. gr. -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of worms, having a long, round, and generally smooth body; the roundworms. they are mostly parasites. Called also Nematodea, and Nematoda.
Note: The trichina, stomach worm, and pinworm of man belong to this group. See also Vinegar eel, under Vinegar, and Gapeworm.
NEMATOIDEAN
Nem`a*toid"e*an, a. & n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Nematoid.
NEMATOPHORA
Nem`a*toph"o*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Cælenterata.
NEMEAN
Ne"me*an, a. Etym: [L. Nemeus, fr. Nemea, Ge.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Nemea, in Argolis, where the ancient Greeks celebrated games, and Hercules killed a lion.
NEMERTEAN
Ne*mer"te*an, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Nemertina.
— n.
Defn: One of the Nemertina.
NEMERTES
Ne*mer"tes, n. Etym: [NL., fr. gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of nemertina.
NEMERTIAN
Ne*mer"ti*an, a. & n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Nemertean.
NEMERTID
Ne*mer"tid, a. & n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Nemertean.
NEMERTIDA
Ne*mer"ti*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Nemertina.
NEMERTINA
Nem`er*ti"na, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Nemrtes.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of helminths usually having a long, slender, smooth, often bright-colored body, covered with minute vibrating cilia; — called also Nemertea, Nemertida, and Rhynchocæla.
Note: The mouth is beneath the head, and the straight intestine at the posterior and. They have a very singular long tubular proboscis, which can be everted from a pore in the front of the head. Their nervous system and blood vessels are well developed. Some of the species become over one hundred feet long. They are mostly marine and seldom parasitic; a few inhabit fresh water. the two principal divisions are Anopla and Enopla.
NEMESIS
Nem"e*sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. gr. Nomad.] (Class. Myth.)
Defn: The goddess of retribution or vengeance; hence, retributive justice personified; divine vengeance. This is that ancient doctrine of nemesis who keeps watch in the universe, and lets no offense go unchastised. Emerson.
NEMOPHILIST
Ne*moph"i*list, n. Etym: [See Nemophily.]
Defn: One who is fond of forest or forest scenery; a haunter of the woods. [R.]
NEMOPHILY
Ne*moph"i*ly, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Fondness for forest scenery; love of the woods. [R.]
NEMORAL Nem"o*ral, a. Etym: [L. nemoralis, fr. nemus, nemoris, a wood or grove: cf. F. némoral.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a wood or grove. [R.]
NEMOROUS
Nem"o*rous, a. Etym: [L. nemorosus.]
Defn: Woody. [R.]
Paradise itself was but a kind of nemorous temple. Evelyn.
NEMPNE
Nemp"ne, v. t. Etym: [AS. nemnan to name or call. See Name, v.]
Defn: To name or call. [Obs.] Chaucer.
NEMPT
Nempt, p. p.
Defn: of Nempne. Called; named. [Obs.]
NEMS
Nems, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The ichneumon.
NENIA
Ne"ni*a, n. Etym: [L. nenia, naenia.]
Defn: A funeral song; an elegy.
NENUPHAR Nen"u*phar, n. Etym: [F. nénufar: cf. Sp. nenúfar, It. nenufár; all fr. Per. nil.] (Bot.)
Defn: The great white water lily of Europe; the Nymphæa alba.
NEO-
Ne"o- (. Etym: [Gr. New.]
Defn: A prefix meaning new, recent, late; and in chemistry designating specifically that variety of metameric hydrocarbons which, when the name was applied, had been recently classified, and in which at least one carbon atom in connected directly with four other carbon atoms; — contrasted with normal and iso-; as, neopentane; the neoparaffins. Also used adjectively.
NEOCARIDA
Ne`o*car"i*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The modern, or true, Crustacea, as distinguished from the
Merostomata.
NEOCENE
Ne"o*cene, a. Etym: [Neo- + Gr. (Geol.)
Defn: More recent than the Eocene, that is, including both the
Miocene and Pliocene divisions of the Tertiary.
NEO-CHRISTIANITY
Ne`o-Chris*tian"i*ty ( or ), n. Etym: [Neo- + Christianity.]
Defn: Rationalism.
NEOCLASSIC
Ne`o*clas"sic, a. [Neo- + classic.]
Defn: Belonging to, or designating, the modern revival of classical, esp. Greco-Roman, taste and manner of work in architecture, etc.
NEOCLASSIC ARCHITECTURE
Neoclassic architecture.
Defn: All that architecture which, since the beginning of the Italian Renaissance, about 1420, has been designed with deliberate imitation of Greco-Roman buildings.
NEOCOMIAN Ne`o*co"mi*an, n. Etym: [From Neocomium, the Latin name of Neuchatel, in Switzerland, where these rocks occur.] (Geol.)
Defn: A term applied to the lowest deposits of the Cretaceous or chalk formation of Europe, being the lower greensand.
NEOCOMIAN
Ne`o*co"mi*an, a. (Geol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the lower greensand.
NEOCOSMIC
Ne`o*cos"mic, a. Etym: [Neo- + cosmic.]
Defn: of or pertaining to the universe in its present state; specifically, pertaining to the races of men known to history.
NEOCRACY
Ne*oc"ra*cy, n. Etym: [Neo-+ -cracy, as in aristocracy.]
Defn: Government by new or inexperienced hands; upstart rule; raw or untried officials.
NEOCRITICISM
Ne`o*crit"i*cism, n. [Neo- + classicism.]
Defn: The form of Neo-Kantianism developed by French idealists, following C. Renouvier. It rejects the noumena of Kant, restricting knowledge to phenomena as constituted by a priori categories.
NEODAMODE
Ne*od"a*mode, n. Etym: [Gr. dh`mos, the people +
Defn: In ancient Sparta, one of those Helots who were freed by the state in reward for military service. Milford.
NEO-DARWINISM
Ne`o-Dar"win*ism, n.
Defn: The theory which holds natural selection, as explained by Darwin, to be the chief factor in the evolution of plants and animals, and denies the inheritance of acquired characters; — esp. opposed to Neo-Lamarckism. Weismannism is an example of extreme Neo- Darwinism. — Ne`o-Dar*win"i*an, a. & n.
NEODYMIUM
Ne`o*dym"i*um, n. Etym: [NL. Dee Neo-, and Didymium.] (Chem.)
Defn: An elementary substance which forms one of the constituents of didymium. Symbol Nd. Atomic weight 140.8.
NEOGAEAN
Ne`o*gæ"an, a. Etym: [Neo- + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the New World, or Western Hemisphere.
NEOGAMIST
Ne*og"a*mist, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A person recently married.
NEOGEN
Ne"o*gen, n. Etym: [Neo- + -gen.] (Chem.)
Defn: An alloy resembling silver, and consisting chiefly of copper, zinc, and nickel, with small proportions of tin, aluminium, and bismuth. Ure.
NEOGRAMMARIAN Ne`o*gram*ma"ri*an, n. [Neo-+ grammarian; a translation of G. junggrammatiker.]
Defn: One of a group of philologists who apply phonetic laws more widely and strictly than was formerly done, and who maintain that these laws admit of no real exceptions. —Ne`o*gram*mat"ic*al (#), a.
NEOGRAPHY
Ne*og"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Neo- + -graphy.]
Defn: A new method or system of writing.
NEO-GREEK
Ne`o-Greek", n.
Defn: A member of a body of French painters (F. les néo-Grecs) of the middle 19th century. The term is rather one applied by outsiders to certain artists of grave and refined style, such as Hamon and Aubert, than a name adopted by the artists themselves.
NEO-HEBRAIC
Neo-Hebraic, n.
Defn: The modern Hebrew language.
NEO-HEBRAIC
Ne`o-He*bra"ic, a.
Defn: Of, pert. to, or designating, modern Hebrew, or Hebrew of later date than the Biblical.
NEO-HEGELIAN
Neo-Hegelian, n.
Defn: An adherent of Neo-Hegelianism.
NEO-HEGELIAN
Ne`o-He*ge"li*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Neo-Hegelianism.
NEO-HEGELIANISM
Ne`o-He*ge"li*an*ism, n.
Defn: The philosophy of a school of British and American idealists who follow Hegel in dialectical or logical method and in the general outcome of their doctrine. The founders and leaders of Neo- Hegelianism include: in England, T. H. Green (1836-1882); in Scotland, J. (1820-98) and E. (1835-1908) Caird; in the United States, W. T. Harris (1835-1909) and Josiah Royce (1855- -).
NEO-HELLENIC
Ne`o-Hel*len"ic, n.
Defn: Same as Romaic.
NEO-HELLENISM
Ne`o-Hel"len*ism, n.
Defn: Hellenism as surviving or revival in modern times; the practice or pursuit of ancient Greek ideals in modern life, art, or literature, as in the Renaissance.
NEOIMPRESSIONISM; POINTILLISM
Ne`o*im*pres"sion*ism, n. (Painting)
Defn: A theory or practice which is a further development, on more rigorously scientific lines, of the theory and practice of Impressionism, originated by George Seurat (1859-91), and carried on by Paul Signac (1863- -) and others. Its method is marked by the laying of pure primary colors in minute dots upon a white ground, any given line being produced by a variation in the proportionate quantity of the primary colors employed. This method is also known as Pointillism (stippling).
NEO-KANTIAN
Neo-Kantian, n.
Defn: An adherent of Neo-Kantianism.
NEO-KANTIAN
Ne`o-Kant"i*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Neo-Kantianism.
NEO-KANTIANISM
Ne`o-Kant"i*an*ism, n.
Defn: The philosophy of modern thinkers who follow Kant in his general theory of knowledge, esp. of a group of German philosophers including F. A. Lange, H. Cohen, Paul Natorp, and others.
NEO-LAMARCKISM
Ne`o-La*marck"ism, n. (Biol.)
Defn: Lamarckism as revived, modified, and expounded by recent biologists, esp. as maintaining that the offspring inherits characters acquired by the parent from change of environment, use or disuse of parts, etc.; — opposed of Neo-Darwinism (which see, above). — Ne`o-La*marck"i*an, a. & n.
NEO-LATIN
Ne`o-Lat"in, a. Etym: [Neo- + Latin.]
Defn: Applied to the Romance languages, as being mostly of Latin origin.
NEOLITHIC
Ne`o*lith"ic, a. Etym: [Neo- + -lith + -ic.] (Archæol. & Geol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to, or designating, an era characterized by late remains in stone. The Neolithic era includes the latter half of the "Stone age;" the human relics which belong to it are associated with the remains of animals not yet extinct. The kitchen middens of Denmark, the lake dwellings of Switzerland, and the stockaded islands, or "crannogs," of the British Isles, belong to this era. Lubbock.
NEOLOGIAN
Ne`o*lo*gi*an, a.
Defn: Neologic; neological.
NEOLOGIAN
Ne`o*lo"gi*an, n.
Defn: A neologist.
NEOLOGIANISM
Ne`o*lo"gi*an*ism, n.
Defn: Neologism.
NEOLOGIC; NEOLOGICAL
Ne`o*log"ic, Ne`o*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. néologique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to neology; employing new words; of the nature of, or containing, new words or new doctrines. A genteel neological dictionary. Chesterfield.
NEOLOGICALLY
Ne`o*log"ic*al*ly
Defn: , adv. In a neological manner.
NEOLOGISM
Ne*ol"o*gism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. néologisme.]
1. The introduction of new words, or the use of old words in a new sense. Mrs. Browning.
2. A new word, phrase, or expression.
3. A new doctrine; specifically, rationalism.
NEOLOGIST
Ne*ol"o*gist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. néologiste.]
1. One who introduces new word or new senses of old words into a language.
2. An innovator in any doctrine or system of belif, especially in theology; one who introduces or holds doctrines subversie of supernatural or revealed religion; a rationalist, so-called.
NEOLOGISTIC; NEOLOGISTICAL
Ne*ol`o*gis"tic, Ne*ol`o*gis"tic*al, a.
Defn: of or pertaining to neology; neological.
NEOLOGIZATION
Ne*ol`o*gi*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act or process of neologizing.
NEOLOGIZE
Ne*ol"o*gize, v. i.
1. To introduce or use new words or terms or new uses of old words.
2. To introduce innovations in doctrine, esp. in theological doctrine.
NEOLOGY
Ne*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Neo- + -logy: cf. F. néologie.]
1. The introduction of a new word, or of words or significations, into a language; as, the present nomenclature of chemistry is a remarkable instance of neology.
2. A new doctrine; esp. (Theol.), a doctrine at variance with the received interpretation of revealed truth; a new method of theological interpretation; rationalism.
NEO-MALTHUSIAN
Ne`o-Mal*thu"sian, a.
Defn: Designating, or pertaining to, a group of modern economists who hold to the Malthusianism doctrine that permanent betterment of the general standard of living is impossible without decrease of competition by limitation of the number of births. — Ne`o- Mal*thu"sian, Ne`o-Mal*thu"sian*ism, n.
NEOMENIA
Ne`o*me"ni*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
Defn: The time of the new moon; the beginning of the month in the lunar calendar.
NEOMENOIDEA Ne`o*me*noi"de*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Neomenia, a representative genus (See Neomenia) + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of vermiform gastropod mollusks, without a shell, belonging to the Isopleura.
NEOMORPH
Ne"o*morph, n. Etym: [Neo- + Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: A structure, part, or organ developed independently, that is, not derived from a similar structure, part, or organ, in a pre existing form.
NEONISM
Ne"o*nism, n.
Defn: Neologism.
NEONOMIAN
Ne`o*no"mi*an, n. Etym: [Neo- + gr.
Defn: One who advocates adheres to new laws; esp. one who holds or believes that the gospel is a new law.
NEONOMIAN
Ne`o*no"mi*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Neonomians, or in accordance with their doctrines.
NEONOMIANISM
Ne`o*no"mi*an*ism, n.
Defn: The doctrines or belief of the neonomians.
NEOPAGANISM
Ne`o*pa"gan*ism, n. [Neo- + paganism.]
Defn: Revived or new paganism.
NEOPHYTE
Ne"o*phyte, n. Etym: [L. neophytis, Gr. néophyte. See New, and Be.]
1. A new convert or proselyte; — a name given by the early Christians, and still given by the Roman Catholics, to such as have recently embraced the Christian faith, and been admitted to baptism, esp. to converts from heathenism or Judaism.
2. A novice; a tyro; a beginner in anything.
NEOPLASIA
Ne`o*pla"si*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. gr. (Physiol. & Med.)
Defn: Growth or development of new material; neoplasty.
NEOPLASM
Ne"o*plasm, n. Etym: [See Neoplasia.] (Physiol. & Med.)
Defn: A new formation or tissue, the product of morbid action.
NEOPLASTIC
Ne`o*plas"tic, a. (Physiol. & Med.)
Defn: of or pertaining to neoplasty, or neoplasia.
NEOPLASTY
Ne"o*plas`ty, n. Etym: [See Neoplasia.] (Physiol. & Med.)
Defn: Restoration of a part by granulation, adhesive inflammation, or autoplasty.
NEOPLATONIC
Ne`o*pla"ton"ic, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, Neoplatonism or the
Neoplatonists.
NEOPLATONICIAN
Ne`o*pla`to*ni"cian, n.
Defn: A neoplatonist.
NEOPLATONISM
Ne`o*pla"to*nism, n. Etym: [Neo- + Platonism.]
Defn: A pantheistic eclectic school of philosophy, of which Plotinus was the chief (A. D. 205-270), and which sought to reconcile the Platonic and Aristotelian systems with Oriental theosophy. It tended to mysticism and theurgy, and was the last product of Greek philosophy.
NEOPLATONIST
Ne`o*pla"to*nist, n.
Defn: One who held to Neoplatonism; a member of the Neoplatonic school.
NEORAMA
Ne`o*ra"ma ( or ), n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A panorama of the interior of a building, seen from within.
NEO-SCHOLASTIC
Ne`o-Scho*las"tic, a.
Defn: Of or pert. to Neo-Scholasticism.
NEO-SCHOLASTICISM
Ne`o-Scho*las"ti*cism, n.
Defn: The modern revival of the Scholastic philosophy, esp. of that of Thomas Aquinas, with critical revision to suit the exigencies of the general advance in learning. The Neo-Scholastic movement received a great impetus from Leo XIII.'s interest in it.
NEOSSINE
Ne*os"sine, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The substance constituting the edible bird's nest.
NEOSSOLOGY
Ne`os*sol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The study of young birds.
NEOTERIC; NEOTERICAL
Ne`o*ter"ic, Ne`o*ter"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. neotericus, gr.
Defn: Recent in origin; modern; new. "Our neoteric verbs." Fitzed.
Hall.
Some being ancient, others neoterical. Bacon.
NEOTERIC
Ne`o*ter"ic, n.
Defn: One of modern times; a modern.
NEOTERICALLY
Neo`ter"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: Recently; newly.
NEOTERISM
Ne*ot"er*ism, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: An innovation or novelty; a neoteric word or phrase.
NEOTERIST
Ne*ot"er*ist, n.
Defn: One ho introduces new word Fitzed Hall.
NEOTERIZE
Ne*ot"er*ize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Neoterized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Neoterized.] Etym: [Gr.
Defn: To innovate; to coin or introduce new words.
Freely as we of the nineteenth century neoterize. fized. Hall.
NEOTROPICAL
Ne`o*trop"ic*al, a. Etym: [Neo- + tropical.] (Geog. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Belonging to, or designating, a region of the earth's surface which comprises most of South America, the Antilles, and tropical North America.
NEOZOIC
Ne`o*zo"ic, a. Etym: [Neo- + Gr. (Geol.)
Defn: More recent than the Paleozoic, — that is, including the
Mesozoic and Cenozoic.
NEP
Nep, n. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. Nepeta.] (Bot.)
Defn: Catnip.
NEPA
Ne"pa, n. Etym: [L. nepa scorpion.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of aquatic hemipterus insects. The species feed upon other insects and are noted for their voracity; — called also scorpion bug and water scorpion.
NEPAULESE
Nep`au*lese" ( or ), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Nepaul, a kingdom in Northern Hindostan.
— n. sing. & pl.
Defn: A native or natives of Nepaul.
NEPENTHE
Ne*pen"the, n. Etym: [Fr. Gr.
Defn: A drug used by the ancients to give relief from pain and sorrow; — by some supposed to have been opium or hasheesh. Hence, anything soothing and comforting. Lulled with the sweet nepenthe of a court. Pope. Quaff, O quaff this kind nepenthe. Poe.
NEPENTHES
Ne*pen"thes, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Nepenthe.]
1. Same as Nepenthe. Milton.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of climbing plants found in India, Malaya, etc., which have the leaves prolonged into a kind of stout tendril terminating in a pitcherlike appendage, whence the plants are often called pitcher plants and monkey-cups. There are about thirty species, of which the best known is Nepenthes distillatoria. See Pitcher plant.
NEPETA
Nep"e*ta, n. Etym: [L.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of labiate plants, including the catnip and ground ivy.
NEPHALISM
Neph"a*lism, n. Etym: [Gr. néphalisme.]
Defn: Total abstinence from spirituous liquor.
NEPHALIST
Neph"a*list, n. Etym: [Cf. F. néphaliste.]
Defn: One who advocates or practices nephalism.
NEPHELINE; NEPHELITE
Neph"e*line, Neph"e*lite, n. Etym: [gr. néphéline. Cf. Nebula.]
(Min.)
Defn: A mineral occuring at Vesuvius, in glassy agonal crystals; also elsewhere, in grayish or greenish masses having a greasy luster, as the variety elæolite. It is a silicate of aluminia, soda, and potash.
NEPHELODOMETER
Neph`e*lo*dom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.] (Meteorol.)
Defn: An instrument for reckoning the distances or velocities of clouds.
NEPHELOMETER
Neph`e*lom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring or registering the amount of cloudiness.
NEPHEW Neph"ew (; in England , n. Etym: [OE. neveu, nevou, nevu, fr. F. neveu, OF. also, nevou, L. nepos; akin to AS. nefa, D. neef, G. neffe, OHG. nevo, Icel. nefi a kinsman, gr. nepat grandson, descendant. sq. root262. Cf. Niece, Nepotism.]
1. A grandson or grandchild, or remoter lineal descendant. [Obs.] But if any widow have children or nephews [Rev. Ver. grandchildren,]. 1 Tim. v. 4. If naturalists say true that nephews are often liker to their grandfathers than to their fathers. Jer. Taylor.
2. A cousin. [Obs.] Shak.
3. The son of a brother or a sister, or of a brother-in-law or sister-in-law. Chaucer.
NEPHILIM
Neph"i*lim, n. pl. Etym: [Heb. n.]
Defn: Giants. Gen. vi. 4. Num. xiii. 33.
NEPHOSCOPE
Neph"o*scope, n. Etym: [Gr. -scope.] (Meteorol.)
Defn: An instrument for observing the clouds and their velocity.
NEPHRALGIA; NEPHRALGY Ne*phral"gi*a, Ne*phral"gy, n. Etym: [NL. nephralgia, fr. Gr. néphralgie.] (Med.)
Defn: Neuralgia of the kidneys; a disease characterized by pain in the region of the kidneys without any structural lesion of the latter. Quain.
NEPHRIDIAL
Ne*phrid"i*al, a. (Zoöl. & Anat.)
Defn: of or pertaining to a nephridium.
NEPHRIDIUM
Ne*phrid"i*um, n.; pl. Nephridia. Etym: [NL., fr. gr. kidneys.]
(Zoöl. & Anat.)
Defn: A segmental tubule; one of the tubules of the primitive urinogenital organs; a segmental organ. See Illust. under Loeven's larva.
NEPHRITE
Neph"rite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. néphrite. See Nephritis.] (Min.)
Defn: A hard compact mineral, of a dark green color, formerly worn as a remedy for diseases of the kidneys, whence its name; kidney stone; a kind of jade. See Jade.
NEPHRITIC; NEPHRITICAL Ne*phrit"ic, Ne*phrit"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. nephriticus, gr. néphrétique. See Nephritis.]
1. Of or pertaining to the kidneys or urinary organs; renal; as, a nephritic disease.
2. (Med.) (a) Affected with a disease of the kidneys; as, a nephritic patient. (b) Relieving disorders of the kidneys; affecting the kidneys; as, a nephritic medicine. Nephritic stone (Min.), nephrite; jade. See Nephrite.
NEPHRITIC
Ne*phrit"ic, n. (Med.)
Defn: A medicine adapted to relieve or cure disease of the kidneys.
NEPHRITIS
Ne*phri"tis, n. Etym: [L., fr. gr. (Med.)
Defn: An inflammation of the kidneys.
NEPHROLITHIC neph`ro*lith"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. -lith + ic.] (Med.)
Defn: of or pertaining to gravel, or renal calculi. Dunglison.
NEPHROLOGY
Ne*phrol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: A treatise on, or the science which treats of, the kidneys, and their structure and functions.
NEPHROSTOME
Neph"ro*stome, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl. & Anat.)
Defn: The funnelshaped opening of a nephridium into the body cavity.
NEPHROTOMY
Ne*phrot"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. néphrotomie.] (Surg.)
Defn: Extraction of stone from the kidney by cutting.
NE PLUS ULTRA Ne plus ul"tra. [L., no further; ne no, not + plus more + ultra beyond.]
1. The uttermost point to which one can go or attain; hence, the summit of achievement; the highest point or degree; the acme.
2. A prohibition against proceeding further; an insuperable obstacle or limiting condition. [Obs. or R.]
NEPOTAL
Nep"o*tal, a.
Defn: Of or relating to a nephew.
NEPOTIC
Ne*pot"ic, a. Etym: [See nepotism.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to npotism.
The nepotic ambition of the ruling pontiff. Milman.
NEPOTISM
Nep"o*tism, n. Etym: [L. nepus, nepotus, nephew: cf. F. népotisme.
See Nephew.]
Defn: Undue attachment to relations; favoritism shown to members of one's family; bestowal of patronage in consideration of relationship, rather than of merit or of legal claim. From nepotism Alexander V. was safe; for he was without kindred or relatives. But there was another perhaps more fatal nepotism, which turned the tide of popularity against him — the nepotism of his order. Milman.
NEPOTIST
Nep"o*tist, n.
Defn: One who practices nepotism.
NEPTUNE
Nep"tune, n. Etym: [L. Neptunus.]
1. (Rom. Myth.)
Defn: The son of Saturn and Ops, the god of the waters, especially of the sea. He is represented as bearing a trident for a scepter.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: The remotest known planet of our system, discovered — as a result of the computations of Leverrier, of Paris — by Galle, of Berlin, September 23, 1846. Its mean distance from the sun is about 2,775,000,000 miles, and its period of revolution is about 164,78 years. Neptune powder, an explosive containing nitroglycerin, — used in blasting. — Neptune's cup (Zoöl.), a very large, cup-shaped, marine sponge (Thalassema Neptuni).
NEPTUNIAN Nep*tu"ni*an, a. Etym: [L. Neptunius belonging to Neptune: cf. F. neptunien.]
1. Of or pertaining to the ocean or sea.
2. (Geol.)
Defn: Formed by water or aqueous solution; as, Neptunian rocks. Neptunian races (Ethnol.), the Malay and Polynesian races. — Neptunian theory (Geol.), the theory of Werner, which referred the formation of all rocks and strata to the agency of water; — opposed to the Plutonic theory.
NEPTUNIAN; NEPTUNIST
Nep*tu"ni*an, Nep"tu*nist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. neptinien, neptuniste.]
(Geol.)
Defn: One who adopts the neptunian theory.
NEPTUNICENTRIC
Nep*tu`ni*cen"tric, a. Etym: [Neptune + centric.] (Astron.)
Defn: As seen from Neptune, or having Neptune as a center; as,
Neptunicentric longitude or force.
NEPTUNIUM
Nep*tu"ni*um, n. Etym: [NL.]
Defn: A new metallic element, of doubtful genuineness and uncertain indentification, said to exist in certain minerals, as columbite. Hermann.
NER
Ner, adv. & a.
Defn: nearer. [Obs.] See Nerre.
NERE
Nere. Etym: [Contr. fr. ne were.]
Defn: Were not. [Obs.] Chaucer.
NEREID Ne"re*id, n.; pl. E. Nereids, L. Nereides. Etym: [L. Nereis, -idis, gr. nara water, cf. Gr.
1. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: A sea nymph, one of the daughters of Nereus, who were attendants upon Neptune, and were represented as riding on sea horses, sometimes with the human form entire, and sometimes with the tail of a fish.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of Nereis. The word is sometimes used for similar annelids of other families.
NEREIDIAN
Ne`re*id"i*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any annelid resembling Nereis, or of the family Lycoridæ or allied families.
NEREIS
Ne"re*is ( or ), n.; pl. Nereides. Etym: [L.]
1. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: A Nereid. See Nereid.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus, including numerous species, of marine chætopod annelids, having a well-formed head, with two pairs of eyes, antennæ, four pairs of tentacles, and a protrusile pharynx, armed with a pair of hooked jaws.
NEREITES
Ne"re*ites, n. pl. (Paleon.)
Defn: Fossil tracks of annelids.
NEREOCYSTIS
Ne`re*o*cys"tis, n. Etym: [NL. See Nereid, and Cyst.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of gigantic seaweeds.
Note: Nereocystis Lutkeana, of the North Pacific, has a stem many fathoms long, terminating in a great vesicle, which is crowned with a tuft of long leaves. The stem is used by the Alaskans for fishing lines.
NERFLING
Nerf"ling, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The id.
NERITA
Ne*ri"ta, n. Etym: [L., a sort of sea mussel, gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of marine gastropods, mostly natives of warm climates.
NERITE
Ner"ite ( or ; 277), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any mollusk of the genus Nerita.
NERITINA
Ner`i*ti"na, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus including numerous species of shells resembling Nerita in form. They mostly inhabit brackish water, and are often delicately tinted.
NERKA
Ner"ka, n. [Russ. niarka, prob. fr. native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The most important salmon of Alaska (Oncorhinchus nerka), ascending in spring most rivers and lakes from Alaska to Oregon, Washington, and Idaho; —called also red salmon, redfish, blueback, and sawqui.
NERO
Ne"ro, n.
Defn: A Roman emperor notorius for debauchery and barbarous cruelty; hence, any profligate and cruel ruler or merciless tyrant. — Ne*ro"ni*an, a.
NERO-ANTICO
Ne`ro-an*ti"co, n. [It.; nero black + antico ancient.] (Art)
Defn: A beautiful black marble found in fragments among Roman ruins, and usually thought to have come from ancient Laconia.
NEROLI Ner"o*li, n. Etym: [F. néroli, said to be from the name of an Italian princess.] (Chem.)
Defn: An essential oil obtained by distillation from the flowers of the orange. It has a strong odor, and is used in perfumery, etc. Neroli camphor (Chem.), a white crystalline waxy substance, tasteless and odorless, obtained from beroli oil; — called also auradin.
NERRE
Ner"re, adv. & a. Etym: [See Near.]
Defn: Nearer. [Obs.] [Written also neer, ner.] Chaucer. Never the neer, never the nearer; no nearer. [Obs.]
NERVATE
Nerv"ate, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Nerved.
NERVATION
Ner*va"tion, n.
Defn: The arrangement of nerves and veins, especially those of leaves; neuration. The outlines of the fronds of ferns, and their nervation, are frail characters if employed alone for the determination of existing genera. J. D. Hooker.
NERVE
Nerve, n. Etym: [OE. nerfe, F. nerf, L. nervus, akin to Gr. needle.
Cf. Neuralgia.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: One of the whitish and elastic bundles of fibers, with the accompanying tissues, which transmit nervous impulses between nerve centers and various parts of the animal body.
Note: An ordinary nerve is made up of several bundles of nerve fibers, each bundle inclosed in a special sheath (the perineurium) and all bound together in a connective tissue sheath and framework (the epineurium) containing blood vessels and lymphatics.
2. A sinew or a tendon. Pope.
3. Physical force or steadiness; muscular power and control; constitutional vigor. he led me on to mightiest deeds, Above the nerve of mortal arm. Milton.
4. Steadiness and firmness of mind; self-command in personal danger, or under suffering; unshaken courage and endurance; coolness; pluck; resolution.
5. Audacity; assurance. [Slang]
6. (Bot.)
Defn: One of the principal fibrovascular bundles or ribs of a leaf, especially when these extend straight from the base or the midrib of the leaf.
7. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the nervures, or veins, in the wings of insects. Nerve cell (Anat.), one of the nucleated cells with which nerve fibers are connected; a ganglion cell. — Nerve fiber (Anat.), one of the fibers of which nerves are made up. These fibers are either medullated or nonmedullated. in both kinds the essential part is the translucent threadlike axis cylinder which is continuous the whole length of the fiber. — Nerve stretching (Med.), the operation of stretching a nerve in order to remedy diseases such as tetanus, which are supposed to be influenced by the condition of the nerve or its connections.
NERVE
Nerve, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nerved; p. pr. & vb. n. Nerving.]
Defn: To give strength or vigor to; to supply with force; as, fear nerved his arm.
NERVED
Nerved, a.
1. Having nerves of a special character; as, weak-nerved.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Having nerves, or simple and parallel ribs or veins. Gray.
NERVELESS
Nerve"less, a.
1. Destitute of nerves.
2. Destitute of strength or of courage; wanting vigor; weak;
powerless.
A kingless people for a nerveless state. Byron.
Awaking, all nerveless, from an ugly dream. Hawthorne.
NERVELESSNESS
Nerve"less*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being nerveless.
NERVE-SHAKEN
Nerve"-shak`en, a.
Defn: Affected by a tremor, or by a nervous disease; weakened; overcome by some violent influence or sensation; shoked.
NERVIMOTION
Ner`vi*mo"tion, n. Etym: [Nerve + motion.] (Physiol.)
Defn: The movement caused in the sensory organs by external agents and transmitted to the muscles by the nerves. Dunglison.
NERVIMOTOR
Ner`vi*mo"tor, n. Etym: [Nerve + motor.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Any agent capable of causing nervimotion. Dunglison.
NERVINE
Nerv"ine a. Etym: [L. nervinus made of sinews: cf.F. nervin. See
Nerve.] (Med.)
Defn: Having the quality of acting upon or affecting the nerves; quieting nervous excitement. — n.
Defn: A nervine agent.
NERVOMUSCULAR
Ner`vo*mus"cu*lar, a. Etym: [Nerve + muscular.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to both nerves and muscles; of the nature of nerves and muscles; as, nervomuscular energy.
NERVOSE
Ner*vose", a. Etym: [See Nervous.] (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Nerved.
NERVOSITY
Ner*vos"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. nervositas strength.]
Defn: Nervousness. [R.]
NERVOUS
Nerv"ous, a. Etym: [L. nervosus sinewy, vigorous: cf. F. nerveux. See
Nerve.]
1. possessing nerve; sinewy; strong; vigorous. "Nervous arms." Pope.
2. Possessing or manifesting vigor of mind; characterized by strength in sentiment or style; forcible; spirited; as, a nervous writer.
3. Of or pertaining to the nerves; seated in the nerves; as, nervous excitement; a nervous fever.
4. Having the nerves weak, diseased, or easily excited; subject to, or suffering from, undue excitement of the nerves; easily agitated or annoyed. Poor, weak, nervous creatures. Cheyne.
5. Sensitive; excitable; timid. Our aristocratic class does not firmly protest against the unfair treatment of Irish Catholics, because it is nervous about the land. M. Arnold. Nervous fever (Med.), a low form of fever characterized by great disturbance of the nervous system, as evinced by delirium, or stupor, disordered sensibility, etc. — Nervous system (Anat.), the specialized coördinating apparatus which endows animals with sensation and volition. In vertebrates it is often divided into three systems: the central, brain and spinal cord; the peripheral, cranial and spinal nerves; and the sympathetic. See Brain, Nerve, Spinal cord, under Spinal, and Sympathetic system, under Sympathetic, and Illust. in Appendix. — Nervous temperament, a condition of body characterized by a general predominance of mental manifestations. Mayne.
NERVOUSLY
Nerv"ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a nervous manner.
NERVOUSNESS
Nerv"ous*ness, n.
Defn: State or quality of being nervous.
NERVURE
Nerv"ure, n. Etym: [F. See Nerve.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: One of the nerves of leaves.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the chitinous supports, or veins, in the wings of incests.
NERVY
Nerv"y, a. [Compar. Nervier; superl. - iest.]
Defn: Strong; sinewy. "His nervy knees." Keats.
NESCIENCE Nes"cience, n. Etym: [L. nescientia, fr. nesciens, p.pr. of nescire not to know; ne not + scire to know.]
Defn: Want of knowledge; ignorance; agnosticism.
God fetched it about for me, in that absence and nescience of mine.
Bp. Hall.
NESE
Nese, n.
Defn: Nose. [Obs.] Piers plowman.
NESH
Nesh, a. Etym: [AS. hnesc, hnæsc, akin to Goth. hnasqus.]
Defn: Soft; tender; delicate. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
NESS Ness, n. Etym: [AS. næs, ns; akin to Icel. nes, Sw. näs, Dan. næs, and E. nose. sq. root 261. See Nose.]
Defn: A promontory; a cape; a headland. Hakluyt.
Note: Ness is frequently used as a suffix in the names of places and promontories; as, Sheerness.
-NESS -ness (. Etym: [AS. -ness, -nyss, -nys; akin to OS. -nissi, nussi, D. -nis, OHG. -nissa, -nassi, -nussi, G. -nis, -niss, Goth. -inasus.]
Defn: A suffix used to form abstract nouns expressive of quality or state; as, goodness, greatness.
NESSLERIZE
Ness"ler*ize, v. t. Etym: [From Nessler, the chemist.] (Chem.)
Defn: To treat or test, as a liquid, with a solution of mercuric iodide in potassium iodide and potassium hydroxide, which is called Nessler's solution or Nessler's test, and is used to detect the presence of ammonia.
NEST Nest, n. Etym: [AS. nest; akin to D. & G. nest, Sw. näste, L. nidus, for nisdus, Skr. ni resting place, nest; cf. Lith. lizdas, Arm. neiz, Gael. & Ir. nead. Prob. from the particle ni down, Skr. ni + the root of E. sit, and thus orig., a place to sit down in. sq. root 264. See Nether, and Sit, and cf. Eyas, Nidification, Nye.]
1. The bed or receptacle prepared by a fowl for holding her eggs and for hatching and rearing her young. The birds of the air have nests. Matt. viii. 20.
2. Hence: the place in which the eggs of other animals, as insects, turtles, etc., are laid and hatched; a snug place in which young animals are reared. Bentley.
3. A snug, comfortable, or cozy residence or situation; a retreat, or place of habitual resort; hence, those who occupy a nest, frequent a haunt, or are associated in the same pursuit; as, a nest of traitors; a nest of bugs. A little cottage, like some poor man's nest. Spenser.
4. (Geol.)
Defn: An aggregated mass of any ore or mineral, in an isolated state, within a rock.
5. A collection of boxes, cases, or the like, of graduated size, each put within the one next larger.
6. (Mech.)
Defn: A compact group of pulleys, gears, springs, etc., working together or collectively. Nest egg, an egg left in the nest to prevent the hen from forsaking it, and to induce her to lay more in the same place; hence, figuratively, something laid up as the beginning of a fund or collection. Hudibras.
NEST
Nest, v. i.
Defn: To build and occupy a nest.
The king of birds nested within his leaves. Howell.
NEST
Nest, v. t.
Defn: To put into a nest; to form a nest for.
From him who nested himself into the chief power. South.
NESTFUL
Nest"ful, n.; pl. Nestfuls (.
Defn: As much or many as will fill a nest.
NESTLE
Nes"tle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Nestled; p. pr. & vb. n. Nestling.]
Etym: [AS. nestlian.]
1. To make and occupy a nest; to nest. [Obs.] The kingfisher … nestles in hollow banks. L'Estrange.
2. To lie close and snug, as a bird in her nest; to cuddle up; to settle, as in a nest; to harbor; to take shelter. Their purpose was to fortify in some strong place of the wild country, and there nestle till succors came. Bacon.
3. To move about in one's place, like a bird when shaping the interior of her nest or a young bird getting close to the parent; as, a child nestles.
NESTLE
Nes"tle, v. t.
Defn: To house, as in a nest.
2. To cherish, as a bird her young.
NESTLING
Nes"tling. n.
1. A young bird which has not abandoned the nest. Piers Plowman.
2. A nest; a receptacle. [Obs.] Bacon.
NESTLING
Nes"tling, a.
Defn: Newly hatched; being yet in the nest.
NESTOR
Nes"tor, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of parrots with gray heads. of New Zeland and papua, allied to the cockatoos. See Kaka.
NESTORIAN
Nes*to"ri*an, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: An adherent of Nestorius, patriarch of Constantinople to the fifth century, who has condemned as a heretic for maintaining that the divine and the human natures were not merged into one nature in Christ (who was God in man), and, hence, that it was improper to call Mary the mother of Christ; also, one of the sect established by the followers of Nestorius in Persia, india, and other Oriental countries, and still in existence. opposed to Ant: Eutychian.
NESTORIAN
Nes*to"ri*an, a.
1. Of or relating to the Nestorians.
2. relating to, or resembling, Nestor, the aged warior and counselor mentioned by Homer; hence, wise; experienced; aged; as, Nestorian caution.
NESTORIANISM
Nes*to"ri*an*ism, n.
Defn: The doctrines of the nestorian Christians, or of Nestorius.
NET
Net, n. Etym: [AS. net; akin to D. net, OS. net, netti, OHG. nezzi,
G. netz, Icel. & Dan. net, Sw. nät, Goth. nati; of uncertain origin.]
1. A fabric of twine, thread, or the like, wrought or woven into meshes, and used for catching fish, birds, butterflies, etc.
2. Anything designed or fitted to entrap or catch; a snare; any device for catching and holding. A man that flattereth his neighbor spreadeth a net for his feet. Prov. xxix. 5. In the church's net there are fishes good or bad. Jer. Taylor.
3. Anything wrought or woven in meshes; as, a net for the hair; a mosquito net; a tennis net.
4. (Geom.)
Defn: A figure made up of a large number of straight lines or curves, which are connected at certain points and related to each other by some specified law.
NET
Net, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Netted; p. pr. & vb. n. Netting.]
1. To make into a net; to make n the style of network; as, to net silk.
2. To take in a net; to capture by stratagem or wile. And now I am here, netted and in the toils. Sir W. Scott.
3. To inclose or cover with a net; as, to net a tree.
NET
Net, v. i.
Defn: To form network or netting; to knit.
NET
Net, a. Etym: [F. See Neat clean.]
1. Without spot; pure; shining. [Obs.] Her breast all naked as net ivory. Spenser.
2. Free from extraneous substances; pure; unadulterated; neat; as, net wine, etc. [R.]
3. Not including superfluous, incidental, or foreign matter, as boxes, coverings, wraps, etc.; free from charges, deductions, etc; as, net profit; net income; net weight, etc. [Less properly written nett.] Net tonnage (Naut.), the tonnage of a vessel after a deduction from the gross tonnage has been made, to allow space for crew, machinery, etc.
NET
Net, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Netted; p. pr. & vb. n. Netting.]
Defn: To produce or gain as clear profit; as, he netted a thousand dollars by the operation.
NE TEMERE Ne Te"me*re. [So named from L. ne not + temere rashly, the first two words in the decree.] (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: A decree of the Congregation of the Council declaring invalid [so far as the laws of the Roman Catholic Church are concerned] any marriage of a Roman Catholic, or of a person who has ever been a Roman Catholic, if not contracted before a duty qualified priest (or the bishop of the diocese) and at least two witnesses. The decree was issued Aug. 2, 1907, and took effect on Easter Apr. 19, 1908. The decree by its terms does not affect mixed marriages (those between Roman Catholics and persons of another faith) in Germany.
NETFISH
Net"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An astrophyton.
NETHER Neth"er, a. Etym: [OE. nethere, neithere, AS. ni, fr. the adv. ni downward; akin to neo below, beneath, D. neder down, G. nieder, Sw. nedre below, nether, a. & adv., and also to Skr. ni down. sq. root201. Cf. Beneath.]
Defn: Situated down or below; lying beneath, or in the lower part;
having a lower position; belonging to the region below; lower; under;
— opposed to upper.
'Twixt upper, nether, and surrounding fires. Milton.
This darksome nether world her light Doth dim with horror and
deformity. Spenser.
All my nether shape thus grew transformed. Milton.
NETHERMORE
Neth"er*more`, a.
Defn: Lower, nether. [Obs.] Holland.
NETHERMOST
Neth"er*most`, a. Etym: [AS. ni(Nether, and cf. Aftermost.]
Defn: Lowest; as, the nethermost abyss. Milton.
NETHINIM Neth"i*nim, n. pl. Etym: [Heb., pl. of nathin given, granted, a slave of the temple, fr. nathan to give.] (jewish Antiq.)
Defn: Servants of the priests and Levites in the menial services about the tabernacle and temple.
NETIFY
Net"i*fy, v. t. Etym: [Net, a. + -fy.]
Defn: To render neat; to clean; to put in order. [R.] Chapman.
NETSUKE
Net"su*ke, n. [Jap.]
Defn: In Japanese costume and decorative art, a small object carved in wood, ivory, bone, or horn, or wrought in metal, and pierced with holes for cords by which it is connected, for convenience, with the inro, the smoking pouch (tabako-ire), and similar objects carried in the girdle. It is now much used on purses sold in Europe and America.
NETTING
Net"ting, n. Etym: [From Net, n.]
1. The act or process of making nets or network, or of forming meshes, as for fancywork, fishing nets, etc.
2. A piece of network; any fabric, made of cords, threads, wires, or the like, crossing one another with open spaces between.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: A network of ropes used for various purposes, as for holding the hammocks when not in use, also for stowing sails, and for hoisting from the gunwale to the rigging to hinder an enemy from boarding. Totten. Netting needle, a kind of slender shuttle used in netting. See Needle, n., 3.
NETTING
Net"ting, n.
Defn: Urine. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
NETTLE
Net"tle, n. Etym: [AS. netele; akin to D. netel, G. nessel, OHG.
nezzïla, nazza, Dan. nelde, nälde, Sw. nässla; cf, Lith. notere.]
(Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the genus Urtica, covered with minute sharp hairs containing a poison that produces a stinging sensation. Urtica gracitis is common in the Northern, and U. chamædryoides in the Southern, United States. the common European species, U. urens and U. dioica, are also found in the Eastern united States. U. pilulifera is the Roman nettle of England.
Note: The term nettle has been given to many plants related to, or to some way resembling, the true nettle; as: Australian nettle, a stinging tree or shrub of the genus Laportea (as L. gigas and L. moroides); — also called nettle tree. — Bee nettle, Hemp nettle, a species of Galeopsis. See under Hemp. — Blind nettle, Dead nettle, a harmless species of Lamium. — False nettle (Bæhmeria cylindrica), a plant common in the United States, and related to the true nettles. — Hedge nettle, a species of Stachys. See under Hedge. — Horse nettle (Solanum Carolinense). See under Horse. — nettle tree. (a) Same as Hackberry. (b) See Australian nettle (above). — Spurge nettle, a stinging American herb of the Spurge family (Jatropha urens). — Wood nettle, a plant (Laportea Canadensis) which stings severely, and is related to the true nettles. Nettle cloth, a kind of thick cotton stuff, japanned, and used as a substitute for leather for various purposes. — Nettle rash (Med.), an eruptive disease resembling the effects of whipping with nettles. — Sea nettle (Zoöl.), a medusa.
NETTLE
Net"tle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nettled; p. pr. & vb. n. Nettling.]
Defn: To fret or sting; to irritate or vex; to cause to experience sensations of displeasure or uneasiness not amounting to violent anger. The princes were so nettled at the scandal of this affront, that every man took it to himself. L'Estrange.
NETTLEBIRD
Net"tle*bird`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: the European whitethroat. [Prov. Eng.]
NETTLER
Net"tler, n.
Defn: One who nettles. [R.] Milton.
NETTLES Net"tles, n. pl. Etym: [See Knittle.] (Naut.) (a) The halves of yarns in the unlaid end of a rope twisted for pointing or grafting. (b) Small lines used to sling hammocks under the deck beams. (c) Reef points.
NETTLING Net"tling, n. (Rope Making) (a) A process (resembling splicing) by which two ropes are jointed end so as to form one rope. (b) The process of tying together the ends of yarns in pairs, to prevent tangling.
NETTLING
Net"tling, p. pr. & a.
Defn: Stinging; irritating. Nettling cell (Zoöl.), a lasso cell. See under Lasso.
NETTY
Net"ty, a.
Defn: Like a net, or network; netted. [R.]
NET-VEINED
Net"-veined`, a.
Defn: Having veins, or nerves, reticulated or netted; as, a net- veined wing or leaf.
NETWORK
Net"work`, n.
1. A fabric of threads, cords, or wires crossing each other at certain intervals, and knotted or secured at the crossings, thus leaving spaces or meshes between them.
2. Any system of lines or channels interlacing or crossing like the fabric of a net; as, a network of veins; a network of railroads.
NEUFCHATEL
Neuf`châ`tel", n.
Defn: A kind of soft sweet-milk cheese; — so called from Neufchâtel- en-Bray in France.
NEURAD
Neu"rad, adv. Etym: [Gr. ad to.] (Anat.)
Defn: Toward the neural side; — opposed to hæmad.
NEURAL
Neu"ral, a. Etym: [Gr. (Anat. & Zoöl.)
Defn: relating to the nerves or nervous system; taining to, situated in the region of, or on the side with, the neural, or cerebro-spinal, axis; — opposed to hemal. As applied to vertebrates, neural is the same as dorsal; as applied to invertebrates it is usually the same as ventral. Cf. Hemal. Neural arch (Anat.), the cartilaginous or bony arch on the dorsal side of the centrum of the vertebra in a segment of the spinal skeleton, usually inclosing a segment of the spinal cord.
NEURALGIA
Neu*ral"gi*a, n. Etym: [NL., from gr. nerve.] (Med.)
Defn: A disease, the chief symptom of which is a very acute pain, exacerbating or intermitting, which follows the course of a nervous branch, extends to its ramifications, and seems therefore to be seated in the nerve. It seems to be independent of any structural lesion. Dunglison.
NEURALGIC
Neu*ral"gic, a.
Defn: of or pertaining to, or having the character of, neuralgia; as, a neuralgic headache.
NEURALGY
Neu*ral"gy, n.
Defn: Neuralgia.
NEURAPOPHYSIAL
Neu*rap`o*phys"i*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: of or pertaining to a neurapophysis.
NEURAPOPHYSIS Neu`ra*poph"y*sis, n.; pl. Neurapophyses. Etym: [NL. See Neuro-, and Apophysis.] (Anat.) (a) One of the two lateral processes or elements which form the neural arch. (b) The dorsal process of the neural arch; neural spine; spinous process.
NEURASTHENIA
Neu*ras`the*ni"a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A condition of nervous debility supposed to be dependent upon impairment in the functions of the spinal cord.
NEURATION
Neu*ra"tion, n. (Biol.)
Defn: The arrangement or distribution of nerves, as in the leaves of a plant or the wings of an insect; nervation.
NEURAXIS
Neu*rax"is, n. Etym: [Neuro- + axis.] (Anat.)
Defn: See Axis cylinder, under Axis.
NEURENTERIC
Neu`ren*ter"ic, a. Etym: [Neuro- + enteric.] (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to both the neuron and the enteron; as, the neurenteric canal, which, in embroys of many vertebrates, connects the medullary tube and the primitive intestine. See Illust. of Ectoderm.
NEURIDIN
Neu"ri*din, n. Etym: [From Neurine.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: a nontoxic base, C5H14N2, found in the putrescent matters of flesh, fish, decaying cheese, etc.
NEURILEMMA Neu`ri*lem"ma, n. Etym: [NL., from gr. (Anat.) (a) The delicate outer sheath of a nerve fiber; the primitive sheath. (b) The perineurium.
NEURILITY
Neu*ril"i*ty, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: The special properties and functions of the nerves; that capacity for transmitting a stimulus which belongs to nerves. G. H. Lewes.
NEURINE
Neu"rine ( or ), n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A poisonous organic base (a ptomaine) formed in the decomposition of protagon with boiling baryta water, and in the putrefraction of proteid matter. It was for a long time considered identical with choline, a crystalline body originally obtained from bile. Chemically, however, choline is oxyethyl-trimethyl-ammonium hydroxide, while neurine is vinyl-trimethyl-ammonium hydroxide. [Written also neurin.]
NEURISM
Neu"rism, n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Nerve force. See Vital force, under Vital.
NEURITIS
Neu*ri"tis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. gr. -itis.] (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of a nerve.
NEURO-
Neu"ro- (. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: A combining denoting a nerve, of or pertaining to a nerve or the nervous system.
NEURO-CENTRAL
Neu`ro-cen"tral, a. Etym: [Neuro- + central.] (Anat.)
Defn: Between the neural arch and the centrum of a vertebra; as, the neurocentral suture. Huxley.
NEUROCHORD; NEUROCHORDAL
Neu"ro*chord, n., Neu`ro*chor"dal (, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Neurocord.
NEUROCITY
Neu*roc"i*ty, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: Nerve force.
NEUROCOELE; NEUROCELE
Neu"ro*coele, Neu"ro*cele, n. Etym: [Neuro- + Ge. (Anat.)
Defn: The central canal and ventricles of the spinal cord and brain; the myelencephalic cavity.
NEUROCORD
Neu"ro*cord, n. Etym: [Neuro- + cord.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A cordlike organ composed of elastic fibers situated above the ventral nervous cord of annelids, like the earthworm. — Neu`ro*cor"dal, a.
NEURO-EPIDERMAL
Neu`ro-ep`i*der"mal, a. Etym: [Neuro- + epidermal.] (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or giving rise to, the central nervous system and epiderms; as, the neuroepidermal, or epiblastic, layer of the blastoderm.
NEUROGLIA
Neu*rog"li*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The delicate connective tissue framework which supports the nervous matter and blood vessels of the brain and spinal cord.
NEUROGRAPHY
Neu*rog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Neuro- + -graphy.] (Anat.)
Defn: A description of the nerves. Dunglison.
NEUROKERATIN
Neu`ro*ker"a*tin, n. Etym: [Neuro- + keratin.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A substance, resembling keratin, present in nerve tissue, as in the sheath of the axis cylinder of medullated nerve fibers. Like keratin it resists the action of most chemical agents, and by decomposition with sulphuric acid yields leucin and tyrosin.
NEUROLOGICAL
Neu`ro*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to neurolgy.
NEUROLOGIST
Neu*rol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One who is versed in neurology; also, one skilled in the treatment of nervous diseases.
NEUROLOGY
Neu*rol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Neuro- + -logy.]
Defn: The branch of science which treats of the nervous system.
NEUROMA
Neu*ro"ma, n. Etym: [NL. See Neuro-, and -oma.] (Med.)
Defn: A tumor developed on, or connected with, a nerve, esp. one consisting of new-formed nerve fibers.
NEUROMERE
Neu"ro*mere, n. Etym: [Neuro- + -mere.] (Anat.)
Defn: A metameric segment of the cerebro-spinal nervous system.
NEUROMUSCULAR
Neu`ro*mus"cu*lar, a. Etym: [Neuro- + muscular.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Nervomuscular.
NEURON
Neu"ron, n.; pl. Neura. Etym: [NL., from Gr. ney^ron nerve.] (Anat.)
Defn: The brain and spinal cord; the cerebro-spinal axis; myelencephalon. B. G. Wilder.
NEUROPATHIC
Neu`ro*path"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to neuropathy; of the nature of, or suffering from, nervous disease.
NEUROPATHY
Neu*rop"a*thy, n. Etym: [Neuro- + Gr. (Med.)
Defn: An affection of the nervous system or of a nerve.
NEUROPOD
Neu"ro*pod, n. Etym: [Neuro- + -pod.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A neuropodous animal. G. Rolleston.
NEUROPODIUM
Neu`ro*po"di*um, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The ventral lobe or branch of a parapodium.
NEUROPODOUS
Neu*rop"o*dous, a. Etym: [Neuro- + -pod + -ous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the limbs on, or directed toward, the neural side, as in most invertebrates; — opposed to Ant: hæmapodous. G. Rolleston.
NEUROPORE
Neu"ro*pore, n. Etym: [Neuro- + pore.] (Anat.)
Defn: An opening at either end of the embryonic neural canal.
NEUROPTER
Neu*rop"ter, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Neuroptera.
NEUROPTERA
Neu*rop"te*ra, n. pl. Etym: [Nl., fr. gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of hexapod insects having two pairs of large, membranous, net-veined wings. The mouth organs are adapted for chewing. They feed upon other insects, and undergo a complete metamorphosis. The ant-lion, hellgamite, and lacewing fly are examples. Formerly, the name was given to a much more extensive group, including the true Neuroptera and the Pseudoneuroptera.
NEUROPTERAL
Neurop"ter*al, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Neuroptera.
NEUROPTERAN
Neu*rop"ter*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A neuropter.
NEUROPTERIS
Neu*rop"te*ris, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: An extensive genus of fossil ferns, of which species have been found from the Devonian to the Triassic formation.
NEUROPTEROUS
Neu*rop"ter*ous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Neuropteral.
NEUROSENSIFEROUS
Neu`ro*sen*sif"er*ous, a. Etym: [neuro- + sensiferous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or forming, both nerves and sense organs.
NEUROSIS
Neu*ro"sis, n.; pl. Neuroses. Etym: [NL., fr. gr. (Med.)
Defn: A functional nervous affection or disease, that is, a disease of the nerves without any appreciable change of nerve structure.
NEUROSKELETAL
Neu`ro*skel"e*tal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the neuroskeleton. [R.] Owen.
NEUROSKELETON
Neu`ro*skel"e*ton, n. Etym: [Neuro- + skeleton.] (Anat.)
Defn: The deep-seated parts of the vertebrate skeleton which are relation with the nervous axis and locomation. Owen.
NEUROSPAST
Neu"ro*spast, n. Etym: [L. neurospaston, Gr.
Defn: A puppet. [R.] Dr. H. More.
NEUROTIC
Neu*rot"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
1. Of or pertaining to the nerves; seated in the nerves; nervous; as, a neurotic disease.
2. Uself in disorders of, or affecting, the nerves.
NEUROTIC
Neu*rot"ic, n.
1. A disease seated in the nerves.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Any toxic agent whose action is mainly directed to the great nerve centers.
Note: Neurotic as a class include all those poisons whose mains action is upon the brain and spinal cord. They may be divided three orders: (a) Cerebral neurotics, or those which affect the brain only. (b) Spinal neurotics, or tetanics, those which affect the spinal cord. (c) Cerebro-spinal neurotics, or those which affect both brain and spinal cord.
NEUROTOME
Neu"ro*tome, n. Etym: [See Neurotomy.]
1. An instrument for cutting or dissecting nerves.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A neuromere.
NEUROTOMICAL
Neu`ro*tom"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to neurotomy.
NEUROTOMIST
Neu*rot"o*mist, n.
Defn: One who skilled in or practices neurotomy.
NEUROTOMY
Neu*rot"o*my, n. Etym: [Neuro- + Gr.
1. The dissection, or anatomy, of the nervous system.
2. (Med.)
Defn: The division of a nerve, for the relief of neuralgia, or for other purposes. Dunglison.
NEURULA
Neu"ru*la, n. Etym: [NL., dim. of Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An embryo or certain invertebrates in the stage when the primitive band is first developed.
NEUTER
Neu"ter, a. Etym: [L., fr. ne not + uter whether; akin to E. whether.
See No, and Whether, and cf. Neither.]
1. Neither the one thing nor the other; on neither side; impartial; neutral. [Archaic] In all our undertakings God will be either our friend or our enemy; for Providence never stands neuter. South.
2. (Gram.) (a) Having a form belonging more especially to words which are not appellations of males or females; expressing or designating that which is of neither sex; as, a neuter noun; a neuter termination; the neuter gender. (b) Intransitive; as, a neuter verb.
3. (Biol.)
Defn: Having no generative organs, or imperfectly developed ones; sexless. See Neuter, n., 3.
NEUTER
Neu"ter, n.
1. A person who takes no part in a contest; one who is either indifferent to a cause or forbears to interfere; a neutral. The world's no neuter; it will wound or save. Young.
2. (Gram.) (a) A noun of the neuter gender; any one of those words which have the terminations usually found in neuter words. (b) An intransitive verb.
3. (Biol.)
Defn: An organism, either vegetable or animal, which at its maturity has no generative organs, or but imperfectly developed ones, as a plant without stamens or pistils, as the garden Hydrangea; esp., one of the imperfectly developed females of certain social insects, as of the ant and the common honeybee, which perform the labors of the community, and are called workers.
NEUTRAL
Neu"tral, a. Etym: [L. neutralis, fr. neuter. See Neuter.]
1. Not engaged on either side; not taking part with or assisting either of two or more contending parties; neuter; indifferent. The heart can not possibly remain neutral, but constantly takes part one way or the other. Shaftesbury.
2. Neither good nor bad; of medium quality; middling; not decided or pronounced. Some things good, and some things ill, do seem, And neutral some, in her fantastic eye. Sir J. Davies.
3. (Biol.)
Defn: Neuter. See Neuter, a., 3.
4. (Chem.)
Defn: Having neither acid nor basic properties; unable to turn red litmus blue or blue litmus red; — said of certain salts or other compounds. Contrasted with Ant: acid, and Ant: alkaline. Neutral axis, Neutral surface (Mech.), that line or plane, in a beam under transverse pressure, at which the fibers are neither stretched nor compressed, or where the longitudinal stress is zero. See Axis. — Neutral equilibrium (Mech.), the kind of equilibrium of a body so placed that when moved slighty it neither tends to return to its former position not depart more widely from it, as a perfect sphere or cylinder on a horizontal plane. — Neutral salt (Chem.), a salt formed by the complete replacement of the hydrogen in an acid or base; in the former case by a positive or basic, in the latter by a negative or acid, element or radical. — Neutral tint, a bluish gray pigment, used in water colors, made by mixing indigo or other blue some warm color. the shades vary greatly. — Neutral vowel, the vowel element having an obscure and indefinite quality, such as is commonly taken by the vowel in many unaccented syllables. It is regarded by some as identical with the û in up, and is called also the natural vowel, as unformed by art and effort. See Guide to Pronunciation, § 17.
NEUTRAL
Neu"tral, n.
Defn: A person or a nation that takes no part in a contest between
others; one who is neutral.
The neutral, as far as commerce extends, becomes a party in the war.
R. G. Harper.
NEUTRALIST
Neu"tral*ist, n.
Defn: A neutral; one who professes or practices neutrality. Milman.
NEUTRALITY
Neu*tral"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. neutralité.]
1. The state or quality of being neutral; the condition of being unengaged in contests between others; state of taking no part on either side; indifference. Men who possess a state of neutrality in times of public danger, desert the interest of their fellow subjects. Addison.
2. Indifference in quality; a state neither very good nor bad. [Obs.] Donne.
3. (Chem.)
Defn: The quality or state of being neutral. See Neutral, a., 4.
4. (International Law)
Defn: The condition of a nation or government which refrains from taking part, directly or indirectly, in a war between other powers.
5. Those who are neutral; a combination of neutral powers or states. Armed neutrality, the condition of a neutral power, in time of war, which holds itself ready to resist by force any aggression of either belligerent.
NEUTRALIZATION
Neu`tral*i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. neutralisation.]
1. The act or process of neutralizing, or the state of being neutralized.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: The act or process by which an acid and a base are combined in such proportions that the resulting compound is neutral. See Neutral, a., 4.
NEUTRALIZE
Neu"tral*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Neutralized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Neutralizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. neutraliser.]
1. To render neutral; to reduce to a state of neutrality. So here I am neutralized again. Sir W. Scott.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: To render inert or imperceptible the peculiar affinities of, as a chemical substance; to destroy the effect of; as, to neutralize an acid with a base.
3. To destroy the peculiar or opposite dispositions of; to reduce to a state of indifference inefficience; to counteract; as, to neutralize parties in government; to neutralize efforts, opposition, etc. Counter citations that neutralize each other. E. Everett.
NEUTRALIZER
Neu"tral*i`zer, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, neutralizes; that which destroys, disguises, or renders inert the peculiar properties of a body.
NEUTRALLY
Neu"tral*ly, adv.
Defn: In a neutral manner; without taking part with either side; indifferently.
NEUTROPHILE; NEUTROPHIL
Neu"tro*phile, Neu"tro*phil, n. [L. neuter + Gr. loving.] (Physiol.)
Defn: One of a group of leucocytes whose granules stain only with neutral dyes. — Neu"tro*phil"ic (#), a., Neu*troph"i*lous (#), a.
NEUVAINES
Neu`vaines", n. pl. Etym: [F. neuvaine, fr. LL. novena, fr. L. novem.
See Noon.] (R.C.Ch.)
Defn: Prayers offered up for nine successive days.
NEVADITE
Ne*va"dite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A grantitoid variety of rhyolite, common in Nevada.
NEVE
Né`vé", n. Etym: [F., fr. nix, nivis, snow.] (Geol.)
Defn: The upper part of a glacier, above the limit or perpetual snow.
See Galcier.
NEVEN
Nev"en, v. t. Etym: [Icel. nefna.
Defn: To name; to mention; to utter. [Obs.]
As oft I heard my lord them neven. Chaucer.
NEVER
Nev"er, adv. Etym: [AS. n; ne not, no + ever.]
1. Not ever; not at any time; at no time, whether past, present, or future. Shak. Death still draws nearer, never seeming near. Pope.
2. In no degree; not in the least; not. Whosoever has a friend to guide him, may carry his eyes in another man's head, and yet see never the worse. South. And he answered him to never a word. Matt. xxvii. 14.
Note: Never is much used in composition with present participles to form adjectives, as in never-ceasing, never-dying, never-ending, never-fading, never-failing, etc., retaining its usual signification. Never a deal, not a bit. [Obs.] Chaucer. — Never so, as never before; more than at any other time, or in any other circumstances; especially; particularly; — now often expressed or replaced by ever so. Ask me never so much dower and gift. Gen. xxxiv. 12. A fear of battery, … though never so well grounded, is no duress. Blackstone.
NEVERMORE
Nev"er*more`, adv.
Defn: Never again; at no time hereafter. Testament of Love. Tyndale.
Where springtime of the Hesperides Begins, but endeth nevermore.
Longfellow.
NEVERTHELATER
Nev`er*the*lat"er, adv. or conj.
Defn: Nevertheless. [Obs.]
NEVERTHELESS Nev`er*the*less", adv. or conj. Etym: [Never + the (see The by that) + less.]
Defn: Not the less; notwithstanding; in spite of that; yet. No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness. Heb. xii. 11.
Syn.
— However; at least; yet; still. See However.
NEVEW
Nev"ew, n.
Defn: Nephew. [Obs.] haucer.
NEW New, a. [Compar. Newer; superl. Newest.] Etym: [OE. OE. newe, AS. niwe, neowe; akin to D. nieuw, OS. niwi, OHG. niuwi, G. neu, Icel. n, Dan. & Sw. ny, Goth. niujis, Lith. naujas, Russ. novuii, Ir. nua, nuadh, Gael. nuadh, W. newydd, Armor. nevez, L. novus, gr. nava, and prob. to E. now. Now, and cf. Announce, Innovate, Neophyte, Novel.]
1. Having existed, or having been made, but a short time; having originated or occured lately; having recently come into existence, or into one's possession; not early or long in being; of late origin; recent; fresh; modern; — opposed to old, as, a new coat; a new house; a new book; a new fashion. "Your new wife." Chaucer.
2. Not before seen or known, although existing before; lately manifested; recently discovered; as, a new metal; a new planet; new scenes.
3. Newly beginning or recurring; starting anew; now commencing; different from has been; as, a new year; a new course or direction.
4. As if lately begun or made; having the state or quality of original freshness; also, changed for the better; renovated; unworn; untried; unspent; as, rest and travel made him a new man. Steadfasty purposing to lead a new life. Bk. of Com. Prayer. Men after long emaciating diets, fat, and almost new. Bacon.
5. Not of ancient extraction, or of a family of ancient descent; not previously kniwn or famous. Addison.
6. Not habituated; not familiar; unaccustomed. New to the plow, unpracticed in the trace. Pope.
7. Fresh from anything; newly come. New from her sickness to that northern air. Dryden. New birth. See under Birth. — New Church, or New Jerusalem Church, the church holding the doctrines taught by Emanuel Swedenborg. See Swedenborgian. — New heart (Theol.), a heart or character changed by the power of God, so as to be governed by new and holy motives. — New land, land ckeared and cultivated for the first time. — New light. (Zoöl.) See Crappie. — New moon. (a) The moon in its first quarter, or when it first appears after being invisible. (b) The day when the new moon is first seen; the first day of the lunar month, which was a holy day among the Jews. 2 Kings iv. 23. — New Red Sandstone (Geol.), an old name for the formation immediately above the coal measures or strata, now divided into the Permian and Trias. See Sandstone. — New style. See Style. — New testament. See under Testament. — New world, the land of the Western Hemisphere; — so called because not known to the inhabitants of the Eastern Hemisphere until recent times.
Syn.
— Novel; recent; fresh; modern. See Novel.
NEW
New, adv.
Defn: Newly; recently. Chaucer.
Note: New is much used in composition, adverbially, in the sense of newly, recently, to quality other words, as in new-born, new-formed, new-found, new-mown. Of new, anew. [Obs.] Chaucer.
NEW
New, v. t. & i.
Defn: To make new; to renew. [Obs.]
NEWBORN
New"born`, a.
Defn: Recently born. Shak.
NEWCOME
New"come`, a.
Defn: Recently come.
NEWCOMER
New"com`er, n.
Defn: One who has lately come.
NEWEL
New"el, n. Etym: [From New. Cf. Novel.]
Defn: A novelty; a new thing. [Obs.] Spenser.
NEWEL New"el, n. Etym: [OF. nual, F. noyau sone, of fruit, noyau d'escaler newel, fr. L. nucalis like a nut, fr. nux, nucis, nut. Cf Nowel the inner wall of a mold, Nucleus..] (Arch.)
Defn: The upright post about which the steps of a circular staircase wind; hence, in stairs having straight flights, the principal post at the foot of a staircase, or the secondary ones at the landings. See Hollow newel, under Hollow.
NEWFANGLE
New"fan`gle, a. Etym: [New + fangle.]
Defn: Eager for novelties; desirous of changing. [Obs.]
So newfangel be they of their meat. Chaucer.
NEWFANGLE
New"fan`gle, v. t.
Defn: To change by introducing novelties. [Obs.]
NEWFANGLED
New"fan`gled, a.
1. Newmade; formed with the affectation of novelty. "A newfangled nomenclature." Sir W. Hamilton.
2. Disposed to change; inclined to novelties; given to new theories or fashions. "Newfangled teachers." 1 Tim. vi. (heading). "Newfangled men." Latimer.
NEWFANGLEDNESS
New"fan`gled*ness, n.
Defn: Affectation of, or fondness for, novelty; vain or affected fashion or form.
NEWFANGLENESS
New"fan`gle*ness, n. Etym: [OE. newefanglenes. See Fangle.]
Defn: Newfangledness. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Proud newfangleness in their apparel. Robynson (More's Utopia).
NEWFANGLIST
New"fan`glist, n.
Defn: One who is eager for novelties or desirous of change. [Obs.]
Tooker.
NEWFANGLY
New"fan`gly, adv.
Defn: In a newfangled manner; with eagerness for novelty. [Obs.] Sir
T. More.
NEWFASHIONED
New`fash"ioned, a.
Defn: Made in a new form, or lately come into fashion.
NEWFOUNDLAND
New"found*land` (, often , n.
1. An island on the coast of British North America, famed for the fishing grounds in its vicinity.
2. A Newfoundland dog. Tennyson. Newfoundland dog (Zoöl.), a breed of large dogs, with shaggy hair, which originated in Newfoundland, noted for intelligence, docility, and swimming powers.
NEWING
New"ing, n. Etym: [From New, v. t.]
Defn: Yeast; barm. [prov. Eng.]
NEWISH
New"ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat new; nearly new. Bacon.
NEWLY
New"ly, adv.
1. Lately; recently. He rubbed it o'er with newly gathered mint. Dryden.
2. Anew; afresh; freshly. And the refined mind doth newly fashion Into a fairer form. Spenser.
NEWMARKET
New"mar`ket, n. Etym: [From Newmarket, England.]
Defn: A long, closely fitting cloak.
NEW-MODEL
New`-mod"el, v. t.
Defn: To remodel.
NEWNESS
New"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being new; as, the newness of a system; the newness of a scene; newness of life.
NEWS
News, n Etym: [From New; cf. F. nounelles. News
1. A report of recent occurences; information of something that has lately taken place, or of something before unknown; fresh tindings; recent intelligence. Evil news rides post, while good news baits. Milton.
2. Something strange or newly happened. It is no news for the weak and poor to be a prey to the strong and rich. L'Estrange.
3. A bearer of news; a courier; a newspaper. [Obs.] There cometh a news thither with his horse. Pepys.
NEWS-BOOK
News"-book`, n.
Defn: A newspaper. [Obs.]
NEWSBOY news"boy`, n.
Defn: A boy who distributes or sells newspaper.
NEWS-LETTER
News"-let`ter, n.
Defn: A circular letter, written or printed for the purpose of disseminating news. This was the name given to the earliest English newspapers.
NEWSMAN
News"man, n.; pl. Newsmen (.
1. One who brings news. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. A man who distributes or sells newspapers.
NEWSMONGER
News"mon`ger, n.
Defn: One who deals in news; one who is active in hearing and telling news.
NEWSPAPER
News"pa`per, n.
Defn: A sheet of paper printed and distributed, at stated intervals, for conveying intelligence of passing events, advocating opinions, etc.; a public print that circulates news, advertisements, proceedings of legislative bodies, public announcements, etc.
NEWSROOM
News"room`, n.
Defn: A room where news is collected and disseminated, or periodicals sold; a reading room supplied with newspapers, magazines, etc.
NEWS-VNDER
News"-vnd`er, n.
Defn: A seller of newspapers.
NEWS-WRITER
News"-writ`er, n.
Defn: One who gathered news for, and wrote, news-letters. Macaulay.
NEWSY
News"y, a.
Defn: Full of news; abounding in information as to current events.
[Colloq.]
NEWT Newt, n. Etym: [OE. ewt, evete, AS. efete, with n prefixed, an ewt being understood as a newt. Cf. Eft.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of small aquatic salamanders. The common British species are the crested newt (Triton cristatus) and the smooth newt (Lophinus punctatus). In America, Diemictylus viridescens is one of the most abundant species.
NEW THOUGHT
New Thought.
Defn: Any form of belief in mental healing other than (1) Christian Science and (2) hypnotism or psychotherapy. Its central principle is affirmative thought, or suggestion, employed with the conviction that man produces changes in his health, his finances, and his life by the adoption of a favorable mental attitude. AS a therapeutic doctrine it stands for silent and absent mental treatment, and the theory that all diseases are mental in origin. As a cult it has its unifying idea the inculcation of workable optimism in contrast with the "old thought" of sin, evil, predestination, and pessimistic resignation. The term is essentially synonymous with the term High Thought, used in England.
NEWTONIAN
New*to"ni*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Sir Isaac Newton, or his discoveries. Newtonian philosophy, the philosophy of Sir Isaac Newton; — applied to the doctrine of the universe as expounded in Newton's "Principia," to the modern or experimental philosophy (as opposed to the theories of Descartes and others), and, most frequently, to the mathematical theory of universal gravitation. — Newtonian telescope (Astron.), a reflecting telescope, in which rays from the large speculum are received by a plane mirror placed diagonally in the axis, and near the open end of the tube, and thrown at right angles toward one side of the tube, where the image is formed and viewed through the eyeplace. — Newtonian theory of light. See Note under Light.
NEWTONIAN
New*to"ni*an, n.
Defn: A follower of Newton.
NEW-YEAR
New"-year`, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to, or suitable for, the commencement of the year; as, New-year gifts or odes.
NEW YEAR'S DAY
New" Year's` Day".
Defn: the first day of a calendar year; the first day of January.
Often colloquially abbreviated to New year's or new year.
NEW ZEALAND
New` Zea"land.
Defn: A group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean. New Zealand flax. (a) (Bot.) A tall, liliaceous herb (Phormium tenax), having very long, sword-shaped, distichous leaves which furnish a fine, strong fiber very valuable for cordage and the like. (b) The fiber itself. — New Zealand tea (Bot.), a myrtaceous shrub (Leptospermum scoparium) of New Zealand and Australia, the leaves of which are used as a substitute for tea.
NEXIBLE
Nex"i*ble, a. Etym: [L. nexibilis, from nectere, nexum, to bind.]
Defn: That may be knit together. [R.]
NEXT Next, a., superl. of Nigh. Etym: [AS. n, niéhst, n, superl. of neáh nigh. See Nigh.]
1. Nearest in place; having no similar object intervening. Chaucer. Her princely guest Was next her side; in order sat the rest. Dryden. Fear followed me so hard, that I fled the next way. Bunyan.
2. Nearest in time; as, the next day or hour.
3. Adjoining in a series; immediately preceding or following in order. None could tell whose turn should be the next. Gay.
4. Nearest in degree, quality, rank, right, or relation; as, the next heir was an infant. The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen. Ruth ii. 20.
Note: Next is usually followed by to before an object, but to is sometimes omitted. In such cases next in considered by many grammarians as a preposition. Next friend (Law), one who represents an infant, a married woman, or any person who can not appear sui juris, in a suit at law.
NEXT
Next, adv.
Defn: In the time, place, or order nearest or immediately suceeding; as, this man follows next.
NEXUS
Nex"us, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Connection; tie. Man is doubtless one by some subtile nexus … extending from the new-born infant to the superannuated dotard. De Quincey.
NEZ PERCES
Nez" Per`cés", pl.; sing. Nez PercÉ (. Etym: [F., pierced noses.]
(Ethnol.)
Defn: A tribe of Indians, mostly inhabiting Idaho.
NGINA
Ngi"na, n. Etym: [Native name.]
Defn: The gorilla.
NIAGARA PERIOD
Ni*ag"a*ra pe"ri*od. (Geol.)
Defn: A subdivision or the American Upper Silurian system, embracing the Medina, Clinton, and Niagara epoch. The rocks of the Niagara epoch, mostly limestones, are extensively distributed, and at Niagara Falls consist of about eighty feet of shale supporting a greater thickness of limestone, which is gradually undermined by the removal of the shale. See Chart of Geology.
NIAS
Ni"as, n. Etym: [F. niais. See Eyas.]
Defn: A young hawk; an eyas; hence, an unsophisticated person. [Obs.]
NIB
Nib, n. Etym: [A variabt of neb.]
1. A small and pointed thing or part; a point; a prong. "The little nib or fructifying principle." Sir T. Browne.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The bill or beak of a bird; the neb.
3. The points of a pen; also, the pointed part of a pen; a short pen adapted for insertion in a holder.
4. One of the handles which project from a scythe snath; also, [Prov. Eng.], the shaft of a wagon.
NIB
Nib, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nebbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Nibbing.]
Defn: To furnish with a nib; to point; to mend the point of; as, to nib a pen.
NIBBED
Nibbed, a.
Defn: Having a nib or point.
NIBBLE
Nib"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nibbled; p. pr. & vb. n. Nibbling.]
Etym: [Cf. Nip.]
Defn: To bite by little at a time; to seize gently with the mouth; to eat slowly or in small bits. Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep. Shak.
NIBBLE
Nib"ble, v. t.
Defn: To bite upon something gently or cautiously; to eat a little of a thing, as by taking small bits cautiously; as, fishes nibble at the bait. Instead of returning a full answer to my book, he manifestly falls a- nibbling at one single passage. Tillotson.
NIBBLE
Nib"ble, n.
Defn: A small or cautious bite.
NIBBLER
Nib"bler, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, nibbles.
NIBBLINGLY
Nib"bling*ly, adv.
Defn: In a nibbling manner; cautiously.
NIBELUNGENLIED
Ni"be*lung`en*lied`, n. [G. See Nibelungs; Lied.]
Defn: A great medieval German epic of unknown authorship containing traditions which refer to the Burgundians at the time of Attila (called Etzel in the poem) and mythological elements pointing to heathen times.
NIBELUNGS
Ni"be*lungs, n. pl.; sing. Nibelung .
Defn: In German mythology, the children of the mist, a race of dwarfs or demonic beings, the original possessors of the famous hoard and ring won by Siegfrid; also, the Burgundian kings in the Nibelungenlied.
NIBLICK
Nib"lick, n.
Defn: A kind of golf stick used to lift the ball out of holes, ruts, etc.
NICAGUA
Ni*ca"gua, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The laughing falcon. See under laughing.
NICARAGUA WOOD
Nic`a*ra"gua wood`.
Defn: Brazil wood.
NICCOLITE
Nic"co*lite, n. Etym: [from NL. niccolum nickel.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral of a copper-red color and metallic luster; an arsenide of nickel; — called also coppernickel, kupfernickel.
NICE
Nice, a. [Compar. Nicer; superl. Nicest.] Etym: [OE., foolish, fr.
OF. nice ignorant, fool, fr. L. nescius ignorant; ne not + scius
knowing, scire to know. perhaps influenced by E. nesh delicate, soft.
See No, and Science.]
1. Foolish; silly; simple; ignorant; also, weak; effeminate. [Obs.] Gower. But say that we ben wise and nothing nice. Chaucer.
2. Of trifling moment; nimportant; trivial. [Obs.] The letter was not nice, but full of charge Of dear import. Shak.
3. Overscrupulous or exacting; hard to please or satisfy; fastidious
in small matters.
Curious not knowing, not exact but nice. Pope.
And to taste Think not I shall be nice. Milton.
4. Delicate; refined; dainty; pure. Dear love, continue nice and chaste. Donne. A nice and subtile happiness. Milton.
5. Apprehending slight diffferences or delicate distinctions; distinguishing accurately or minutely; carefully discriminating; as, a nice taste or judgment. "Our author happy in a judge so nice." Pope. "Nice verbal criticism." Coleridge.
6. Done or made with careful labor; suited to excite admiration on account of exactness; evidencing great skill; exact; fine; finished; as, nice proportions, nice workmanship, a nice application; exactly or fastidiously discriminated; requiring close discrimination; as, a nice point of law, a nice distinction in philosophy. The difference is too nice Where ends the virtue, or begins the vice. Pope.
7. Pleasing; agreeable; gratifying; delightful; good; as, a nice party; a nice excursion; a nice person; a nice day; a nice sauce, etc. [Loosely & Colloquially] To make nice of, to be scrupulous about. [Obs.] Shak.
Syn. — Dainty; delicate; exquisite; fine; accurate; exact; correct; precise; particular; scrupulous; punctilious; fastidious; squeamish; finical; effeminate; silly.
NICELY
Nice"ly adv.
Defn: In a nice manner.
NICENE
Ni"cene, a. Etym: [L. Nicaenus, fr. Nicaea Nice, Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Nice, a town of Asia Minor, or to the
ecumenial council held there A. D. 325. Nicene Creed (, a summary of
Christian faith, composed and adopted by the Council of Nice, against
Arianism, A. D. 325, altered and confirmed by the Council of
Constantinople, A. D. 381, and by subsequent councils.
NICENESS
Nice"ness, n.
Defn: Quality or state of being nice.
NICERY
Ni"cer*y, n.
Defn: Nicety. [Colloq.] Chapman.
NICETY
Ni"ce*ty, n.; pl. Niceties. Etym: [OE. niceté foolishness.]
1. The quality or state of being nice (in any of the senses of that word.). The miller smiled of her nicety. Chaucer.
2. Delicacy or exactness of perception; minuteness of observation or of discrimination; precision.
3. A delicate expression, act, mode of treatment, distinction, or the like; a minute distinction. The fineness and niceties of words. Locke. To a nicety, with great exactness or accuracy.
NICHE Niche, n. Etym: [F., fr. It. nicchia, prop., a shell-like recess in a wall, fr. nicchio a shellfish, mussel, fr. L. mytilus.]
Defn: A cavity, hollow, or recess, generally within the thickness of a wall, for a statue, bust, or other erect ornament. hence, any similar position, literal or figurative. Images defended from the injuries of the weather by niches of stone wherein they are placed. Evelun.
NICHED
Niched. (, a.
Defn: Placed in a niche. "Those niched shapes of noble mold."
Tennyson.
NICK Nick (, n. Etym: [AS. nicor a marine monster; akin to D. nikker a water spite, Icel. nykr, ONG. nihhus a crocodile, G. nix a water sprite; cf. Gr. nij. Cf. Nix.] (Northern Myth.)
Defn: An evil spirit of the waters. Old Nick, the evil one; the devil. [Colloq.]
NICK
Nick, n. Etym: [Akin to Nock.]
1. A notch cut into something; as: (a) A score for keeping an account; a reckoning. [Obs.] (b) (Print.) A notch cut crosswise in the shank of a type, to assist a compositor in placing it properly in the stick, and in distribution. W. Savage. (c) A broken or indented place in any edge or surface; nicks in china.
2. A particular point or place considered as marked by a nick; the exact point or critical moment. To cut it off in the very nick. Howell. This nick of time is the critical occasion for the gainger of a point. L'Estrange.
NICK
Nick, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nicked; p. pr. & vb. n. Nicking.]
1. To make a nick or nicks in; to notch; to keep count of or upon by nicks; as, to nick a stick, tally, etc.
2. To mar; to deface; to make ragged, as by cutting nicks or notches in. And thence proceed to nicking sashes. Prior. The itch of his affection should not then Have nicked his captainship. Shak.
3. To suit or fit into, as by a correspondence of nicks; to tally with. Words nicking and resembling one another are applicable to different significations. Camden.
4. To hit at, or in, the nick; to touch rightly; to strike at the precise point or time. The just season of doing things must be nicked, and all accidents improved. L'Estrange.
5. To make a cross cut or cuts on the under side of (the tail of a horse, in order to make him carry ir higher).
NICK
Nick, v. t.
Defn: To nickname; to style. [Obs.]
For Warbeck, as you nick him, came to me. Ford.
NICKAR NUT; NICKAR TREE
Nick"ar nut`, Nick"ar tree`. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Nicker nut, Nicker tree.
NICKEL Nick"el, n. Etym: [G., fr. Sw. nickel, abbrev. from Sw. kopparnickel copper-nickel, a name given in derision, as it was thought to be a base ore of copper. The origin of the second part of the word is uncertain. Cf. Kupfer-nickel, Copper-nickel.]
1. (Chem.)
Defn: A bright silver-white metallic element. It is of the iron group, and is hard, malleable, and ductile. It occurs combined with sulphur in millerite, with arsenic in the mineral niccolite, and with arsenic and sulphur in nickel glance. Symbol Ni. Atomic weight 58.6.
Note: On account of its permanence in air and inertness to oxidation, it is used in the smaller coins, for plating iron, brass, etc., for chemical apparatus, and in certain alloys, as german silver. It is magnetic, and is very frequently accompanied by cobalt, both being found in meteoric iron.
2. A small coin made of or containing nickel; esp., a five-cent piece. [Colloq. U.S.] Nickel silver, an alloy of nickel, copper, and zinc; — usually called german silver; called also argentan.
NICKELIC
Nick*el"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or containing, nickel; specifically, designating compounds in which, as contrasted with the nickelous compounds, the metal has a higher valence; as nickelic oxide.
NICKELIFEROUS
Nick`el*if"er*ous, a. Etym: [Nickel + -ferous.]
Defn: Containing nickel; as, nickelferous iron.
NICKELINE
Nick"el*ine ( or ), n.
1. (Chem.)
Defn: An alloy of nickel, a variety of German silver.
2. (Min.)
Defn: Niccolite.
NICKELODEON
Nick`el*o"de*on, n. [Nickel + odeon.]
Defn: A place of entertainment, as for moving picture exhibition, charging a fee or admission price of five cents. [U. S.]
NICKELOUS
Nick"el*ous, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, those compounds of nickel in which, as contrasted with the nickelic compounds, the metal has a lower valence; as, nickelous oxide. Frankland.
NICKEL STEEL
Nickel steel.
Defn: A kind of cast steel containing nickel, which greatly increases its strength. It is used for armor plate, bicycle tubing, propeller shafts, etc.
NICKER
Nick"er, n. Etym: [From Nick, v.t.]
1. One of the night brawlers of London formerly noted for breaking windows with half-pence. [Cant] Arbuthnot.
2. The cutting lip which projects downward at the edge of a boring bit and cuts a circular groove in the wood to limit the size of the hole that is bored.
NICKER NUT
Nick"er nut`.
Defn: A rounded seed, rather smaller than a nutmeg, having a hard smooth shell, and a yellowish or bluish color. The seeds grow in the prickly pods of tropical, woody climbers of the genus Cæsalpinia. C. Bonduc has yellowish seeds; C.Bonducella, bluish gray. [Spelt also neckar nut, nickar nut.]
NICKER TREE
Nick"er tree`. (Bot.)
Defn: The plant producing nicker nuts. [Written also neckar tree and nickar tree.]
NICKING Nick"ing, n. Etym: [From Nick, v. t.] (Coal Mining) (a) The cutting made by the hewer at the side of the face. (b) pl.
Defn: Small coal produced in making the nicking.
NICKLE
Nic"kle, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European woodpecker, or yaffle; — called also nicker pecker.
NICKNACK
Nick"nack`, n.
Defn: See Knickknack.
NICKNACKERY
Nick"nack`er*y, n.
Defn: See Knickknackery.
NICKNAME Nick"name`, n. Etym: [OE. ekename surname, hence, a nickname, an ekename being understood as a nekename, influenced also by E. nick, v. See Eke, and Name.]
Defn: A name given in contempt, derision, or sportive familiarity; a familiar or an opprobrious appellation.
NICKNAME
Nick"name`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nicknamed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Nicknaming.]
Defn: To give a nickname to; to call by a nickname.
You nickname virtue; vice you should have spoke. Shak.
I altogether disclaim what has been nicknamed the doctrine of
finality. Macaulay.
NICOLAITAN Ni`co*la"i*tan, n. Etym: [So called from Nicolas of Antioch, mentioned in Acts vi. 5.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of certain corrupt persons in the early church at Ephesus, who are censured in rev. ii. 6, 15.
NICOTIAN Ni*co"tian, n. Etym: [F. nicotiane; — so called from Nicot, who introduced it into France, a.d. 15
Defn: Tobacco. [R.] B. Jonson.
NICOTIAN
Ni*co"tian, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, tobacco. [R.] Bp. Hall.
NICOTIANA
Ni*co"ti*an*a, n. Etym: [NL. See Nicotian.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of American and Asiatic solanaceous herbs, with viscid foliage and funnel-shaped blossoms. Several species yield tobacco. See Tobacco.
NICOTIANINE
Ni*co"ti*a*nine ( or ), n. Etym: [F. nicotianine. See Nicotian.]
(Chem.)
Defn: A white waxy substance having a hot, bitter taste, extracted from tobacco leaves and called also tobacco camphor.
NICOTIC
Ni*cot"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Nicotinic.
NICOTIDINE
Ni*cot"i*dine ( or ), n. Etym: [Nicotine + pyridine.] (Chem.)
Defn: A complex, oily, nitrogenous base, isomeric with nicotine, and obtained by the reduction of certain derivatives of the pyridine group.
NICOTINE
Nic"o*tine ( or ), n. Etym: [F. nicotine. See Nicotian.] (Chem.)
Defn: An alkaloid which is the active principle of tobacco. It is a colorless, transparent, oily liquid, having an acrid odor, and an acrid burning taste. It is intensely poisonous. Ure.
NICOTINIC
Nic`o*tin"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, nicotine; nicotic; — used specifically to designate an acid related to pyridine, obtained by the oxidation of nicotine, and called nicotinic acid.
NICOTINISM
Nic"o*tin*ism, n. [Nicotine + -ism.] (Med.)
Defn: The morbid condition produced by the excessive use of tobacco.
NICTATE
Nic"tate, v. i. Etym: [L. nictare, nictatum, from nicere to beckon.]
Defn: To wink; to nictitate.
NICTATION
Nic*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. nictatio nictation.]
Defn: the act of winking; nictitation.
NICTITATE
Nic"ti*tate, v. i. Etym: [See Nictate.]
Defn: To wink; to nictate. Nictitating membrance (Anat.), a thin membrance, found in many animals at the inner angle, or beneath the lower lid, of the eye, and capable of being drawn across the eyeball; the third eyelid; the haw.
NICTITATION
Nic`ti*ta"tion, n.
Defn: The act of winking.
NIDAMENTAL Nid`a*men"tal, a. Etym: [L. nidamentum materials for a nest, fr. nidus nest. See Nest.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: of, pertaining to, or baring, eggs or egg capsules; as, the nidament capsules of certain gastropods; nidamental glands. See Illust. of Dibranchiata.
NIDARY
Ni"da*ry, n. Etym: [L. nidus a nest.]
Defn: A collection of nests. [R.] velyn.
NIDE
Nide, n. Etym: [L. nidus a nest: cf. F. nid.]
Defn: A nestful; a brood; as, a nide of pheasants. [Obs.]
NIDERING
Ni"der*ing, a. Etym: [See Niding.]
Defn: Infamous; dastardly. [Obs.] Sir W. Scott.
NIDGERY
Nidg"er*y, n. Etym: [See Nidget.]
Defn: A trifle; a piece of foolery. [Obs.] Skinner.
NIDGET Nidg"et, n. [Written also nigget, nigeot.] Etym: [Cf. F. nigaud a boody, fool, OF. niger to play the fool.]
Defn: A fool; an idiot, a coward. [Obs.] Camden.
NIDIFICATE
Nid"i*fi*cate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Nidificated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Nidificating.] Etym: [L. nidificare, nidificatum; nidus nest + -
ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy, and cf. nest.]
Defn: To make a nest.
Where are the fishes which nidificated in trees Lowell.
NIDIFICATION
Nid`i*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. nidification.]
Defn: The act or process of building a nest.
NIDING Ni"ding (ni"dîng), n. [Written also nithing.] Etym: [AS. niedhing, fr. niedh wickness, malice, hatred.]
Defn: A coward; a dastard; — a term of utmost opprobrium. [Obs.]
He is worthy to be called a niding. Howell.
NIDOR
Ni"dor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Scent or savor of meat or food, cooked or cooking. [Obs.] Jer.
Taylor.
NIDOROSE
Ni"dor*ose`, a.
Defn: Nidorous. [R.] Arbuthnot.
NIDOROUS Ni"dor*ous, a. Etym: [L. nidorosus steaming, reeking: cf. F. nidoreux. See Nidor.]
Defn: Resembling the smell or taste of roast meat, or of corrupt animal matter. [R.]
NIDULANT
Nid"u*lant, a. Etym: [L. nidulans, p.pr.: cf. F. Nidulant.]
1. Nestling, as a bird in itss nest.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Lying loose in pulp or cotton within a berry or pericarp, as in a nest.
NIDULATE
Nid"u*late, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Nidulated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Nidulating.] Etym: [L. nidulari, fr. nidulus, dim. of nidus a nest.]
Defn: To make a nest, as a bird. [R.] Cockeram.
NIDULATION
Nid`u*la"tion, n.
Defn: The time of remaining in the nest. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
NIDULITE
Nid"u*lite, n. Etym: [L. nidulus a little nest.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A Silurian fossil, formerly supposed to consist of eggs.
NIDUS
Ni"dus, n.; pl. nidi. Etym: [L. See Nidi, Nest.]
Defn: A nest: a repository for the eggs of birds, insects, etc.; a breeding place; esp., the place or substance where parasites or the germs of a disease effect lodgment or are developed.
NIECE Niece, n. Etym: [OE. nece, F. nièce, LL. neptia, for L. neptis a granddaughter, niece, akin to nepos. See Nephew.]
1. A relative, in general; especially, a descendant, whether male or female; a granddaughter or a grandson. [Obs.] B. Jonson. Wyclif. Shak.
2. A daughter of one's brother or sister, or of one's brother-in-law or sister-in-law.
NIEF
Nief, n.
Defn: See Neif, the fist.
NIELLIST
Ni*el"list, n.
Defn: One who practices the style of ornamentation called niello.
NIELLO
Ni*el"lo, n. Etym: [It. niello, LL. nigellum a black of blackish
enamel, fr. L. nigellus, dim. of niger black. See Negro, and cf.
Anneal.]
1. A metallic alloy of a deep black color.
2. The art, process, or method of decorating metal with incised designs filled with the black alloy.
3. A piece of metal, or any other object, so decorated.
4. An impression on paper taken from an ancient incised decoration or metal plate.
NIEPCE'S PROCESS
Niep"ce's proc"ess. (Photog.)
Defn: A process, now no longer used, invented by J. N. Niepce, a French chemist, in 1829. It depends upon the action of light in rendering a thin layer of bitumen, with which the plate is coated, insoluble.
NIFLE
Ni"fle, n. Etym: [OF.]
Defn: A trifle. [Obs.] Chaucer.
NIGGARD Nig"gard, n. Etym: [Icel. hnöggr niggardly, stingy + -ard; cf. Sw. njugg, AS. hneáw.]
Defn: A person meanly close and covetous; one who spends grudgingly;
a stingy, parsimonous fellow; a miser. Chaucer.
A penurious niggard of his wealth. Milton.
Be niggards of advice on no pretense. Pope.
NIGGARD
Nig"gard, a.
Defn: Like a niggard; meanly covetous or parsimonious; niggardly; miserly; stingy.
NIGGARD
Nig"gard, v. t. & i.
Defn: To act the niggard toward; to be niggardly. [R.] Shak.
NIGGARDISE
Nig"gard*ise, n.
Defn: Niggardliness. [Obs.] Spenser.
NIGGARDISH
Nig"gard*ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat niggard.
NIGGARDLINESS
Nig"gard*li*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being niggard; meanness in giving or spending; parsimony; stinginess. Niggardliness is not good husbandry. Addison.
NIGGARDLY
Nig"gard*ly, a.
Defn: Meanly covetous or avarcious in dealing with others; stingy;
niggard.
Where the owner of the house will be bountiful, it is not for the
steward to be niggardly. Bp. Hall.
Syn. — Avarcious; covetous; parsimonious; sparing; miserly; penurios; sordid; stingy. See Avaricious.
NIGGARDLY
Nig"gard*ly, adv.
Defn: In a niggard manner.
NIGGARDNESS
Nig"gard*ness, n.
Defn: Niggardliness. Sir P. Sidney.
NIGGARDOUS
Nig"gard*ous, a.
Defn: Niggardly. [Obs.]
Covetous gathering and niggardous keeping. Sir T. More.
NIGGARDSHIP
Nig"gard*ship, n.
Defn: Niggardliness. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.
NIGGARDY
Nig"gard*y, n.
Defn: Niggardliness. [Obs.] Chaucer.
NIGGED nigged, n. Etym: [Prov. E. nig to clip money.] (Masonry)
Defn: Hammer-dressed; — said of building stone.
NIGGER
Nig"ger, n.
Defn: A negro; — in vulgar derision or depreciation.
NIGGERHEAD
Nig"ger*head`, n.
Defn: A strong black chewing tobacco, usually in twisted plug form; negro head.
NIGGISH
Nig"gish, a. Etym: [See Niggard.]
Defn: Niggardly. [Obs.]
NIGGLE
Nig"gle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Niggled; p. pr. & vb. n. Niggling.]
Etym: [Dim. of Prov. E. nig to clip money; cf. also Prov. E. nig a
small piece.]
Defn: To trifle with; to deceive; to mock. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
NIGGLE
Nig"gle, v. t.
1. To trifle or play. Take heed, daughter, You niggle not with your conscience and religion. Massinger.
2. To act or walk mincingly. [Prov. Eng.]
3. To fret and snarl about trifles. [Prov. Eng.]
NIGGLER
Nig"gler, n.
Defn: One who niggles.
NIGGLING
Nig"gling, n.
Defn: Finicky or pottering work; specif. (Fine Arts),
Defn: minute and very careful workmanship in drawing, painting, or the like, esp. when bestowed on unimportant detail.
NIGH Nigh, a. [Compar. Nigher; superl. Nighest, or Next (.] Etym: [OE. nigh, neigh, neih, AS. neáh, n; akin to D. na, adv., OS. nah, a., OHG. nah, G. nah, a., nach to, after, Icel. na (in comp.) nigh, Goth. n, n, adv., nigh. Cf. Near, Neighbor, Next.]
1. Not distant or remote in place or time; near. The loud tumult shows the battle nigh. Prior.
2. Not remote in degree, kindred, circumstances, etc.; closely allied; intimate. "Nigh kinsmen." Knolles. Ye … are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Eph. ii. 13.
Syn.
— Near; close; adjacent; contiguous; present; neighboring.
NIGH
Nigh, adv. Etym: [AS. neáh, n. See Nigh, a.]
1. In a situation near in place or time, or in the course of events; near. He was sick, nigh unto death. Phil. ii. 27. He drew not nigh unheard; the angel bright, Ere he drew nigh, his radiant visage turned. Milton.
2. Almost; nearly; as, he was nigh dead.
NIGH
Nigh, v. t. & i.
Defn: To draw nigh (to); to approach; to come near. [Obs.] Wyclif
(Matt. iii. 2).
NIGH
Nigh, prep.
Defn: Near to; not remote or distant from. "was not this nigh shore"
Shak.
NIGHLY
Nigh"ly, adv.
Defn: In a near relation in place, time, degree, etc.; within a little; almost. [Obs.] A cube and a sphere … nighly of the same bigness. Locke.
NIGHNESS
Nigh"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being nigh. [R.] "Nighness of blood."
Holished.
NIGHT
Night, n. Etym: [OE. night, niht, AS. neaht, niht; akin to D. nacht,
OS. & OHG. naht, G. nacht, Icel. n, Sw. natt, Dan. nat, Goth. nachts,
Lith. naktis, Russ. noche, W. nos, Ir. nochd, L. nox, noctis, gr.
nakta, nakti. sq. root 265. Cf. Equinox, Nocturnal.]
1. That part of the natural day when the sun is beneath the horizon, or the time from sunset to sunrise; esp., the time between dusk and dawn, when there is no light of the sun, but only moonlight, starlight, or artificial light. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. Gen. i. 5.
2. Hence: (a) Darkness; obscurity; concealment. Nature and nature's laws lay hid in night. Pope.
(b) Intellectual and moral darkness; ignorance. (c) A state of affliction; adversity; as, a dreary night of sorrow. (d) The period after the close of life; death. She closed her eyes in everlasting night. Dryden.
(e) A lifeless or unenlivened period, as when nature seems to sleep. "Sad winter's night". Spenser.
Note: Night is sometimes used, esp. with participles, in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, night-blooming, night- born, night-warbling, etc. Night by night, Night after night, nightly; many nights. So help me God, as I have watched the night, Ay, night by night, in studying good for England. Shak. — Night bird. (Zoöl.) (a) The moor hen (Gallinula chloropus). (b) The Manx shearwater (Puffinus Anglorum). — Night blindness. (Med.) See Hemeralopia. — Night cart, a cart used to remove the contents of privies by night. — Night churr, (Zoöl.), the nightjar. — Night crow, a bird that cries in the night. — Night dog, a dog that hunts in the night, — used by poachers. — Night fire. (a) Fire burning in the night. (b) Ignis fatuus; Will-o'-the-wisp; Jask-with-a-lantern. — Night flyer (Zoöl.), any creature that flies in the night, as some birds and insects. — night glass, a spyglass constructed to concentrate a large amount of light, so as see objects distinctly at night. Totten. — Night green, iodine green. — Night hag, a witch supposed to wander in the night. — Night hawk (Zoöl.), an American bird (Chordeiles Virginianus), allied to the goatsucker. It hunts the insects on which it feeds toward evening, on the wing, and often, diving down perpendicularly, produces a loud whirring sound, like that of a spinning wheel. Also sometimes applied to the European goatsuckers. It is called also bull bat. — Night heron (Zoöl.), any one of several species of herons of the genus Nycticorax, found in various parts of the world. The best known species is Nycticorax griseus, or N. nycticorax, of Europe, and the American variety (var. nævius). The yellow-crowned night heron (Nycticorax violaceus) inhabits the Southern States. Called also qua- bird, and squawk. — Night house, a public house, or inn, which is open at night. — Night key, a key for unfastening a night latch. — Night latch, a kind of latch for a door, which is operated from the outside by a key. — Night monkey (Zoöl.), an owl monkey. — night moth (Zoöl.), any one of the noctuids. — Night parrot (Zoöl.), the kakapo. — Night piece, a painting representing some night scene, as a moonlight effect, or the like. — Night rail, a loose robe, or garment, worn either as a nightgown, or over the dress at night, or in sickness. [Obs.] — Night raven (Zoöl.), a bird of ill omen that cries in the night; esp., the bittern. — Night rule. (a) A tumult, or frolic, in the night; — as if a corruption, of night revel. [Obs.] (b) Such conduct as generally rules, or prevails, at night. What night rule now about this haunted grove Shak. — Night sight. (Med.) See Nyctolopia. — Night snap, a night thief. [Cant] Beau. & Fl. — Night soil, human excrement; — so called because in cities it is collected by night and carried away for manure. — Night spell, a charm against accidents at night. — Night swallow (Zoöl.), the nightjar. — Night walk, a walk in the evening or night. — Night walker. (a) One who walks in his sleep; a somnambulist; a noctambulist. (b) One who roves about in the night for evil purposes; specifically, a prostitute who walks the streets. — Night walking. (a) Walking in one's sleep; somnambulism; noctambulism. (b) Walking the streets at night with evil designs. — Night warbler (Zoöl.), the sedge warbler (Acrocephalus phragmitis); — called also night singer. [prov. Eng.] — Night watch. (a) A period in the night, as distinguished by the change of watch. (b) A watch, or guard, to aford protection in the night. — Night watcher, one who watches in the night; especially, one who watches with evil designs. — Night witch. Same as Night hag, above.
NIGHT-BLOOMING
Night"-bloom`ing, a.
Defn: Blooming in the night. Night-blooming cereus. (Bot.) See Note under Cereus.
NIGHTCAP
Night"cap`, n.
1. A cap worn in bed to protect the head, or in undress.
2. A potion of spirit drank at bedtime. [Cant] Wright.
NIGHTDRESS
Night"dress`, n.
Defn: A nightgown.
NIGHTED
Night"ed, a.
1. Darkness; clouded. [R.] Shak.
2. Overtaken by night; belated. Beau. & Fl.
NIGHTERTALE
Night"er*tale, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. nattarpel.]
Defn: period of night; nighttime. [Obs.] Chaucer.
NIGHT-EYED
Night"-eyed`, a.
Defn: Capable of seeing at night; sharp-eyed. "Your night-eyed
Tiberius." B. Jonson.
NIGHTFALL
Night"fall`, n.
Defn: The close of the day. Swift.
NIGHT-FARING
Night"-far`ing, a.
Defn: Going or traveling in the night. Gay.
NIGHTGOWN
Night"gown`, n.
Defn: A loose gown used for undress; also, a gown used for a sleeping garnment.
NIGHTINGALE Night"in*gale, n. Etym: [OE. nihtegale,nightingale, AS. nihtegale; niht night + galan to sing, akin to E. yell; cf. D. nachtegaal, OS. nahtigala, OHG. nahtigala, G. nachtigall, Sw. näktergal, Dan. nattergal. See Night, and Yell.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small, plain, brown and gray European song bird (Luscinia luscinia). It sings at night, and is celebrated for the sweetness of its song.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A larger species (Lucinia philomela), of Eastern Europe, having similar habits; the thrush nightingale. The name is also applied to other allied species. Mock nightingale. (Zoöl.) See Blackcap, n., 1 (a).
NIGHTISH
Night"ish, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to night.
NIGHTJAR
Night"jar`, n.
Defn: A goatsucker, esp. the European species. See Illust. of
Goatsucker.
NIGHTLESS
Night"less, a.
Defn: Having no night.
NIGHT LETTER; NIGHT LETTERGRAM
Night letter, Night lettergram.
Defn: See Letter, above.
NIGHTLONG
Night"long`, a.
Defn: Lasting all night.
NIGHTLY
Night"ly, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the night, or to every night; happening or done by night, or every night; as, nightly shades; he kept nightly vigils.
NIGHTLY
Night"ly, adv.
Defn: At night; every night.
NIGHTMAN
Night"man, n.; pl. Nightmen (.
Defn: One whose business is emptying privies by night.
NIGHTMARE
Night"mare`, n. Etym: [Night + mare incubus. See Mare incubus.]
1. A fiend or incubus formerly supposed to cause trouble in sleep.
2. A condition in sleep usually caused by improper eating or by digestive or nervous troubles, and characterized by a sense of extreme uneasiness or discomfort (as of weight on the chest or stomach, impossibility of motion or speech, etc.), or by frightful or oppressive dreams, from which one wakes after extreme anxiety, in a troubled state of mind; incubus. Dunglison.
3. Hence, any overwhelming, oppressive, or stupefying influence.
NIGHTSHADE
Night"shade`, n. Etym: [AS. nichtscadu.] (Bot.)
Defn: A common name of many species of the genus Solanum, given esp. to the Solanum nigrum, or black nightshade, a low, branching weed with small white flowers and black berries reputed to be poisonous. Deadly nightshade. Same as Belladonna (a). — Enchanter's nightshade. See under Enchanter. — Stinking nightshade. See Henbane. — Three-leaved nightshade. See Trillium.
NIGHTSHIRT
Night"shirt`, n.
Defn: A kind of nightgown for men.
NIGHT TERRORS
Night terrors. (Med.)
Defn: A sudden awkening associated with a sensation of terror, occurring in children, esp. those of unstable nervous constitution.
NIGHTTIME
Night"time`, n.
Defn: The time from dusk to dawn; — opposed to Ant: daytime.
NIGHTWARD
Night"ward, a.
Defn: Approaching toward night.
NIGRANILINE
Ni*gran"i*line ( or ), n. Etym: [L. niger black + E. aniline.]
(Chem.)
Defn: The complex, nitrogenous, organic base and dyestuff called also aniline black.
NIGRESCENT Ni*gres"cent, a. Etym: [L. nigrescens, p.pr. of nigrescere to grow black, fr. niger black. See Negro.]
Defn: Growing black; changing to a black color; approaching to blackness. Johnson.
NIGRIFICATION Nig`ri*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. nigrificare to blacken; niger black + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy.]
Defn: The act or process of making black. [R.] Johnson.
NIGRINE
Ni"grine, n. Etym: [L. niger black: cf. F. nigrine.] (Min.)
Defn: A ferruginous variety of rutile.
NIGRITIC
Ni*grit"ic, a. (Ethnol.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or having the characteristics of, negroes, or of the Negritos, Papuans, and the Melanesian races; negritic.
NIGRITUDE
Nig"ri*tude, n. Etym: [L. nigritudo, fr. niger black.]
Defn: Blackness; the state of being black. Lamb.
NIGROMANCIE
Nig"ro*man`cie, n.
Defn: Necromancy. [Obs.]
NIGROMANCIEN
Nig"ro*man`cien, n.
Defn: A necromancer. [Obs.]
These false enchanters or nigromanciens. Chaucer.
NIGROSINE
Ni"gro*sine ( or ), n. Etym: [From L. niger black.] (Chem.)
Defn: A dark blue dyestuff, of the induline group; — called also azodiphenyl blue.
NIGUA
Ni"gua, n. Etym: [Sp.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The chigoe.
NIHIL
Ni"hil, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Nothing. Nihil album Etym: [L., white nothing] (Chem.), oxide of zinc. See under Zinc. — Nihil debet Etym: [L., he owes nothing] (Law), the general issue in certain actions of debt. — Nihil dicit Etym: [L., he says nothing] (Law), a declinature by the defendant to plead or answer. Tomlins.
NIHILISM
Ni"hil*ism, n. Etym: [L. nihil nothing: cf. F. nihilisme. See
Annihilate.]
1. Nothingness; nihility.
2. The doctrine that nothing can be known; scepticism as to all knowledge and all reality.
3. (Politics)
Defn: The theories and practices of the Nihilists.
NIHILIST
Ni"hil*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. nihiliste. See Nihilism.]
1. One who advocates the doctrine of nihilism; one who believes or teaches that nothing can be known, or asserted to exist.
2. (Politics)
Defn: A member of a secret association (esp. in Russia), which is devoted to the destruction of the present political, religious, and social institutions.
NIHILISTIC
Ni`hil*is"tic, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or characterized by, nihilism.
NIHILITY
Ni*hil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. nihilité. See Nihilism.]
Defn: Nothingness; a state of being nothing.
NIL
Nil. Etym: [See Nill, v. t.]
Defn: Will not. [Obs.] Chaucer.
NIL
Nil, n. & a. Etym: [L., a contr. of nihil.]
Defn: Nothing; of no account; worthless; — a term often used for canceling, in accounts or bookkeeping. A. J. Ellis.
NILE
Nile, n. Etym: [L. Nilus, gr.
Defn: The great river of Egypt. Nile bird. (Zoöl.) (a) The wryneck.
[Prov. Eng.] (b) The crocodile bird.
— Nile goose (Zoöl.), the Egyptian goose. See Note under Goose, 2.
NILGAU
Nil"gau, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: see Nylghau.
NILL
Nill, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Nilling.] Etym:
[AS. nilan, nyllan; ne not + willan to will. See No, and Will.]
Defn: Not to will; to refuse; to reject. [Obs.]
Certes, said he, I nill thine offered grace. Spenser.
NILL
Nill, v. i.
Defn: To be unwilling; to refuse to act.
The actions of the will are "velle" and "nolle," to will and nill.
Burton.
Will he, nill he, whether he wills it or not.
NILL
Nill, n. Etym: [Cf. Ir. & Gael. neul star, light. Cf. Nebula.]
1. Shining sparks thrown off from melted brass.
2. Scales of hot iron from the forge. Knight.
NILOMETER
Ni*lom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. nilomètre.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring the rise of water in the Nile during its periodical flood.
NILOSCOPE
Ni"lo*scope, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A Nilometer.
NILOTIC
Ni*lot"ic, a. Etym: [L. Niloticus, fr. Nilus th Nile, Gr. nilotique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the river Nile; as, the Nilotic crocodile.
NILT
Nilt. Etym: [Contr. fr. ne wilt.]
Defn: Wilt not. [Obs.]
NIM Nim, v. t. [imp. Nam or Nimmed (; p. p. Nomen or Nome (.] Etym: [AS. niman. sq. root 7. Cf. Nimble.]
Defn: To take; to steal; to filch. [Obs.]
This canon it in his hand nam. Chaucer.
NIMBIFEROUS Nim*bif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. nimbifer; nimbus a cloud + ferre to bear.]
Defn: Serving to bring clouds or stormy weather.
NIMBLE
Nim"ble, a. [Compar. Nimbler; superl. Nimblest.] Etym: [OE. nimel,
prob. orig., quick at seizing, fr. nimen to take, AS. niman; akin to
D. nemen, G. nehmen, OHG. neman, Icel. nema, Goth. nima, and prob. to
Gr. Nomand, Numb.]
Defn: Light and quick in motion; moving with ease and celerity;
lively; swift.
Through the mid seas the nimble pinnace sails. Pope.
Note: Nimble is sometimes used in the formation of self-explaining
compounds; as, nimble-footed, nimble-pinioned, nimble-winged, etc.
Nimble Will (Bot.), a slender, branching, American grass
(Muhlenbergia diffusa), of some repute for grazing purposes in the
Mississippi valley.
Syn.
— Agile; quick; active; brisk; lively; prompt.
NIMBLENESS
Nim"ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being nimble; lightness and quickness in motion; agility; swiftness.
NIMBLESS
Nim"bless, n.
Defn: Nimbleness. [Obs.] Spenser.
NIMBLY
Nim"bly, adv.
Defn: In a nimble manner; with agility; with light, quick motion.
NIMBOSE
Nim*bose", a. Etym: [L. nimbosus, fr. nimbus cloud.]
Defn: Cloudy; stormy; tempestuous.
NIMBUS Nim"bus, n.; pl. L. Nimbi, E. Nimbuses. Etym: [L., a rain storm, a rain cloud, the cloudshaped which enveloped the gods when they appeared on earth.]
1. (Fine Arts)
Defn: A circle, or disk, or any indication of radiant light around the heads of divinities, saints, and sovereigns, upon medals, pictures, etc.; a halo. See Aureola, and Glory, n., 5.
Note: "The nimbus is of pagan origin." "As an atribute of power, the nimbus is often seen attached to the heads of evil spirits." Fairholl.
2. (Meteor.)
Defn: A rain cloud; one of the four principal varieties of clouds.
See Cloud.
NIMIETY Ni*mi"e*ty, n. Etym: [L. nimietas, fr. nimius, a., nimis, adv., too much.]
Defn: State of being in excess. [R.]
There is a nimiety, a too-muchess, in all Germans. Coleridge.
NIMIOUS
Nim"i*ous, a. Etym: [L. nimius.]
Defn: Excessive; extravagant; inordinate. [Obs.]
NIMMER
Nim"mer, n. Etym: [From Nim.]
Defn: A thief. [Obs.]
NIN
Nin. Etym: [Fr. ne in.]
Defn: Not in. [Obs.] Chaucer.
NINCOMPOOP
Nin"com*poop, n. Etym: [A corruption of non compos.]
Defn: A fool; a silly or stupid person. [Law] An old ninnyhammer, a dotard, a nincompoop, is the best language she can afford me. Addison.
NINE Nine, a. Etym: [OE. nine, nihen, AS. nigon, nigan; akin to D. & LG. negen, OS. & OFries. nigun, OHG. niun, G. neun, Icel. niu, sw. nio, Dan. ni, Goth. niun, Ir. & Gael. naoi, W. naw, L. novem, gr. navan; of unknown origin. Novembeer.]
Defn: Eight and one more; one less than ten; as, nine miles. Nine men's morris. See Morris. — Nine points circle (Geom.), a circle so related to any given triangle as to pass through the three points in which the perpendiculars from the angles of the triangle upon the opposite sides (or the sides produced) meet the sides. It also passes through the three middle points of the sides of the triangle and through the three middle points of those parts of the perpendiculars that are between their common point of meeting and the angles of the triangle. The circle is hence called the nine points or six points circle.
NINE
Nine, n.
1. The number greater than eight by a unit; nine units or objects.
2. A symbol representing nine units, as 9 or ix. The Nine, the nine Muses.
NINE-BARK
Nine"-bark`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A white-flowered rosaceous shrub (Neillia, or Spiræa, opulifolia), common in the Northern United States. The bark separates into many thin layers, whence the name.
NINE-EYES
Nine"-eyes`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The lamprey.
NINEFOLD
Nine"fold`, a.
Defn: Nine times repeated.
NINEHOLES
Nine"holes`, n. pl.
Defn: A game in which nine holes are made in the ground, into which a ball is bowled.
NINE-KILLER Nine"-kill`er, n. Etym: [So called because it is believed to kill and impale on thorns nine birds, etc., in succession.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The northern butcher bird.
NINEPENCE
Nine"pence, n.; pl. Ninepences (.
1. An old English silver coin, worth nine pence.
2. A New England name for the Spanish real, a coin formerly current in the United States, as valued at twelve and a half cents.
NINEPINS
Nine"pins, n. pl.
Defn: A game played with nine pins, or pieces of wood, set on end, at which a wooden ball is bowled to knock them down; bowling.
Note: In the United States, ten pins are used for this game, which is therefore often called tenpins.
NINESCORE
Nine"score`, a.
Defn: Nine times twenty, or one hundred and eighty.
— n.
Defn: The product of nine times twenty; ninescore units or objects.
NINETEEN
Nine"teen`, a. Etym: [AS. nigont, nigont. See Nine, and Ten.]
Defn: Nine and ten; eighteen and one more; one less than twenty; as, nineteen months.
NINETEEN
Nine"teen`, n.
1. The number greater than eighteen by a unit; the sum of ten and nine; nineteen units or objects.
2. A symbol for nineteen units, as 19 or xix.
NINETEENTH
Nine"teenth`, a. Etym: [Cf. AS. nigonteó.]
1. Following the eighteenth and preceding the twentieth; coming after eighteen others.
2. Constituting or being one of nineteen equal parts into which anything is divided.
NINETEENTH
Nine"teenth`, n.
1. The quotient of a unit divided by nineteen; one of nineteen equal parts of anything.
2. The next in order after the eighteenth.
3. (Mus.)
Defn: An interval of two octaves and a fifth.
NINETIETH
Nine"ti*eth, a.
1. Next in order after the eighty-ninth.
2. Constituting or being one of ninety equal parts.
NINETIETH
Nine"ti*eth, n.
1. The quotient of a unit divided by ninety; one of ninety equal parts of anything.
2. The next in order after the eighty-ninth.
NINETY
Nine"ty, a. Etym: [See Nine, and cf. Forty.]
Defn: Nine times ten; eighty-nine and one more; as, ninety men.
NINETY
Nine"ty, n.; pl. Nineties (.
1. The sum of nine times ten; the number greater by a unit than eighty-nine; ninety units or objects.
2. A symbol representing ninety units, as 90 or xc.
NINNY Nin"ny, n.; pl. Ninnies. Etym: [Cf. It. ninno, ninna, a baby, Sp. niño, niña, child, infant, It. ninna, ninna nanna, lullably, prob. fr. ni, na, as used in singing a child to sleep.]
Defn: A fool; a simpleton. Shak.
NINNYHAMMER
Nin"ny*ham`mer, n.
Defn: A simpleton; a silly person. [Colloq.] Addison.
NINTH
Ninth, a. Etym: [From Nine; cf. AS. nigoedha.]
1. Following the eight and preceding the tenth; coming after eight others.
2. Constituting or being one of nine equal parts into which anything is divided.
NINTH
Ninth, n.
1. The quotient of one divided by nine; one of nine equal parts of a thing; the next after the eighth.
2. (Mus.) (a) An interval containing an octave and a second. (b) A chord of the dominant seventh with the ninth added.
NINTHLY
Ninth"ly, adv.
Defn: In the ninth place.
NINUT
Nin"ut, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The magpie. [Prov. Eng.]
NIOBATE
Ni"o*bate, n. Etym: [See Niobium.] (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Columbate.
NIOBE
Ni"o*be, n. Etym: [L. Nioba, Niobe, gr. (Class, Myth.)
Defn: The daughter of Tantalus, and wife of Amphion, king of Thebes. Her pride in her children provoked Apollo and Diana, who slew them all. Niobe herself was changed by the gods into stone.
NIOBIC
Ni*ob"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Columbic.
NIOBITE
Ni"o*bite, n. (Min.)
Defn: Same as Columbite.
NIOBIUM
Ni*o"bi*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. & E. Niobe.] (Chem.)
Defn: A later name of columbium. See Columbium.
NIOPO
Ni*o"po, n.
Defn: A kind of snuff prepared by the natives of Venezuela from the roasted seeds of a leguminous tree (Piptadenia peregrina), thence called niopo tree.
NIP Nip, n. Etym: [LG. & D. nippen to sip; akin to Dan. nippe, G. nippen.]
Defn: A sip or small draught; esp., a draught of intoxicating liquor; a dram.
NIP Nip, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nipped, less properly Nipt; p. pr. & vb. n. Nipping.] Etym: [OE. nipen; cf. D. niipen to pinch, also knippen to nip, clip, pinch, snap, knijpen to pinch, LG. knipen, G. kneipen, kneifen, to pinch, cut off, nip, Lith. knebti.]
1. To catch and inclose or compress tightly between two surfaces, or points which are brought together or closed; to pinch; to close in upon. May this hard earth cleave to the Nadir hell, Down, down, and close again, and nip me flat, If I be such a traitress. Tennyson.
2. To remove by pinching, biting, or cutting with two meeting edges of anything; to clip. The small shoots … must be nipped off. Mortimer.
3. Hence: To blast, as by frost; to check the growth or vigor of; to destroy.
4. To vex or pain, as by nipping; hence, to taunt. And sharp remorse his heart did prick and nip. Spenser. To nip in the bud, to cut off at the verycommencement of growth; to kill in the incipient stage.
NIP
Nip, n.
1. A seizing or closing in upon; a pinching; as, in the northern seas, the nip of masses of ice.
2. A pinch with the nails or teeth.
3. A small cut, or a cutting off the end.
4. A blast; a killing of the ends of plants by frost.
5. A biting sarcasm; a taunt. Latimer.
6. (Naut.)
Defn: A short turn in a rope. Nip and tuck, a phrase signifying equality in a contest. [Low, U.S.]
NIPPER
Nip"per, n.
1. One who, or that which, nips.
2. A fore tooth of a horse. The nippers are four in number.
3. A satirist. [Obs.] Ascham.
4. A pickpocket; a young or petty thief. [Old Cant]
5. (Zoöl.) (a) The cunner. (b) A European crab (Polybius Henslowii).
NIPPERKIN
Nip"per*kin, n. Etym: [See 1st Nip.]
Defn: A small cup. [Obs.]
NIPPERS
Nip"pers, n. pl. Etym: [From 2d Nip.]
1. Small pinchers for holding, breaking, or cutting.
2. (Mach.)
Defn: A device with fingers or jaws for seizing an object and holding or conveying it; as, in a printing press, a clasp for catching a sheet and conveying it to the form.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: A number of rope-yarns wound together, used to secure a cable to the messenger.
NIPPING
Nip"ping, a.
Defn: Biting; pinching; painful; destructive; as, a nipping frost; a nipping wind.
NIPPINGLY
Nip"ping*ly, adv.
Defn: In a nipping manner.
NIPPITATE
Nip"pi*tate, a. Etym: [Cf. 1st Nip.]
Defn: Peculiary strong and good; — said of ale or liquor. [Old Cant]
'T will make a cup of wine taste nippitate. Chapman.
NIPPITATO
Nip`pi*ta"to, n.
Defn: Strong liquor. [Old Cant] Beau. & Fl.
NIPPLE
Nip"ple, n. Etym: [Formerly neble, a dim. of neb. See Neb, Nib.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: The protuberance through which milk is drawn from the breast or mamma; the mammilla; a teat; a pap.
2. The orifice at which any animal liquid, as the oil from an oil bag, is discharged. [R.] Derham.
3. Any small projection or article in which there is an orifice for discharging a fluid, or for other purposes; as, the nipple of a nursing bottle; the nipple of a percussion lock, or that part on which the cap is put and through which the fire passes to the charge.
4. (Mech.)
Defn: A pipe fitting, consisting of a short piece of pipe, usually provided with a screw thread at each end, for connecting two other fittings. Solder nipple, a short pipe, usually of brass, one end of which is tapered and adapted for attachment to the end of a lead pipe by soldering.
NIPPLEWORT
Nip"ple*wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A yellow-flowered composite herb (Lampsana communis), formerly used as an external application to the nipples of women; — called also dock-cress.
NIRVANA
Nir*va"na, n. Etym: [Skr. nirvansa.]
Defn: In the Buddhist system of religion, the final emancipation of the soul from transmigration, and consequently a beatific enfrachisement from the evils of wordly existence, as by annihilation or absorption into the divine. See Buddhism.
NIS
Nis. Etym: [From ne is.]
Defn: Is not. [Obs.] Chaucer.
NISAN
Ni"san, n. Etym: [Heb. nisan.]
Defn: The first month of the jewish ecclesiastical year, formerly answering nearly to the month of April, now to March, of the Christian calendar. See Abib.
NISEY
Ni"sey, n.; pl. Nyseys.
Defn: A simpleton. [Obs.]
NISI
Ni"si, conj. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Unless; if not.
Note: In legal proceedings, this word is used to indicate that any order, etc., shall take effect at a given time, unless before that time the order, etc., in modified, or something else is done to prevent its taking effect. Continuance nisi is a conditional continuance of the case till the next term of the court, unless otherwise disposed of in the mean time. Nisi prius (Law), unless before; — a phrase applied to terms of court, held generally by a single judge, with a jury, for the trial of civil causes. The term originated in a legal fiction. An issue of fact being made up, it is, according to the English practice, appointed by the entry on the record, or written proceedings, to be tried by a jury from the county of which the proceedings are dated, at Westminster, unless before the day appointed (nisi prius) the judges shall have come to the county in question (which they always do) and there try the cause. See In banc, under Banc.
NISTE
Nis"te. Etym: [Contr. from ne wiste.]
Defn: Wist not; knew not. [Obs.] Chaucer.
NISUS
Ni"sus, n. Etym: [L., fr. niti, p.p. nisus, to strive.]
Defn: A striving; an effort; a conatus.
A nisus or energizing towards a presented object. Hickok.
NIT Nit, n. Etym: [AS. hnitu; akin to D. neet, G. niss, OHG. niz; cf. gr. gnit, Sw. gnet, Dan. gnid, Russ. & Pol. gnida, Bohem. hnida, W. nedd.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The egg of a louse or other small insect. Nit grass (Bot.), a pretty annual European grass (Gastridium lendigerum), with small spikelets somewhat resembling a nit. It is also found in California and Chili.
NITENCY
Ni"ten*cy, n. Etym: [L. nitens, p.pr. of nitere to shine.]
Defn: Brightness; luster. [R.]
NITENCY
Ni"ten*cy, n. Etym: [From :. nitens, p.pr. pf niti to strive.]
Defn: Endeavor; rffort; tendency. [R.] Boyle.
NITER; NITRE
Ni"ter, Ni"tre, n. Etym: [F. nitre, L. nitrum native soda, natron,
Gr. nit, natr natron. Cf. Natron.]
1. (Chem.)
Defn: A white crystalline semitransparent salt; potassium nitrate; saltpeter. See Saltpeter.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: Native sodium carbonate; natron. [Obs.] For though thou wash thee with niter, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me. Jer. ii. 22. Cubic niter, a deliquescent salt, sodium nitrate, found as a native incrustation, like niter, in Peru and Chili, whence it is known also as Chili saltpeter. — Niter bush (Bot.), a genus (Nitraria) of thorny shrubs bearing edible berries, and growing in the saline plains of Asia and Northern Africa.
NITHING
Nith"ing, n. [Obs.]
Defn: See Niding.
NITID
Nit"id, a. Etym: [L. nitidus, fr. nitere. See 3d Neat.]
1. Bright; lustrous; shining. [R.] Boyle.
2. Gay; spruce; fine; — said of persons. [R.] T. Reeve.
NITRANILIC
Ni`tra*nil"ic, a. Etym: [Nitro- + chloranil + -ic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, a complex organic acid produced as a white crystalline substance by the action of nitrous acid on hydroquinone.
NITRANILINE
Ni*tran"i*line ( or ), n. Etym: [Nitro- + aniline.] (Chem.)
Defn: Any one of a series of nitro derivatives of aniline. In general they are yellow crystalline substances.
NITRATE
Ni"trate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. nitrate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of nitric acid. Nitrate of silver, a white crystalline salt (AgNO3), used in photography and as a cauterizing agent; — called also lunar caustic.
NITRATED
Ni"tra*ted, a.
1. (Chem.)
Defn: Combined, or impregnated, with nitric acid, or some of its compounds.
2. (Photog.)
Defn: Prepared with nitrate of silver.
NITRATINE
Ni"tra*tine, n. (Min.)
Defn: A mineral occurring in transparent crystals, usually of a white, sometimes of a reddish gray, or lemon-yellow, color; native sodium nitrate. It is used in making nitric acid and for manure. Called also soda niter.
NITRE
Ni"tre, n. (Chem.)
Defn: See Niter.
NITRIARY
Ni"tri*a*ry, n. Etym: [See Niter.]
Defn: An artificial bed of animal matter for the manufacture of niter by nitrification. See Nitrification, 2.