Norwegian, nor-wē′ji-an,adj.pertaining toNorway—(Shak.)Norwē′yan.—n.a native ofNorway: a kind of fishing-boat on the Great Lakes.
Nose, nōz,n.the organ of smell: the power of smelling: sagacity: the projecting part of anything resembling a nose, as the spout of a kettle, &c.: a drip, a downward projection from a cornice: (slang) an informer.—v.t.to smell: to oppose rudely face to face: to sound through the nose.—ns.Nose′bag, a bag for a horse's nose, containing oats, &c.;Nose′-band, the part of the bridle coming over the nose, attached to the cheek-straps.—adjs.Nosed, having a nose—used in composition, as bottle-nosed, long-nosed, &c.;Nose′-led, led by the nose, ruled and befooled completely;Nose′less, without a nose.—ns.Nose′-leaf, a membranous appendage on the snouts of phyllostomine and rhinolophine bats, forming a highly sensitive tactile organ;Nose′-of-wax, an over-pliable person or thing;Nose′-piece, the outer end or point of a pipe, bellows, &c.: the extremity of the tube of a microscope to which the objective is attached: a nose-band: the nasal in armour;Nose′-ring, an ornament worn in the septum of the nose or in either of its wings;Nos′ing, the projecting rounded edge of the step of a stair or of a moulding.—Aquiline nose, a prominent nose, convex in profile;Bottle nose, a name given to certain species of cetaceans: an eruption on the nose such as is produced by intemperate drinking;Pug nose, a short turned-up nose;Roman nose, an aquiline nose.—Hold,Keep, orPut one's nose to the grindstone(seeGrindstone);Lead by the nose, to cause to follow blindly;Put one's nose out of joint, to bring down one's pride or sense of importance: to push out of favour;Thrust one's nose into, to meddle officiously with anything;Turn up one's nose(at), to express contempt for a person or thing. [A.S.nosu; Ger.nase, L.nasus.]
Nosegay, nōz′gā,n.a bunch of fragrant flowers: a posy or bouquet. [Fromnoseandgay(adj.).]
Nosocomial, nos-ō-kō′mi-al,adj.relating to a hospital. [Gr.nosos, sickness,komein, to take care of.]
Nosography, nō-sog′ra-fi,n.the description of diseases.—adj.Nosograph′ic. [Gr.nosos, disease,graphein, to write.]
Nosology, nos-ol′o-ji,n.the science of diseases: the branch of medicine which treats of the classification of diseases.—adj.Nosolog′ical.—n.Nosol′ogist. [Gr.nosos, disease,logia, discourse.]
Nosonomy, nō-son′o-mi,n.the classification of diseases. [Gr.nosos, a disease,onoma, a name.]
Nosophobia, nos-o-fō′bi-a,n.morbid dread of disease. [Gr.nosos, a disease,phobia, fear.]
Nostalgia, nos-tal′ji-a,n.home-sickness, esp. when morbid.—adj.Nostal′gic. [Gr.nostos, a return, algos, pain.]
Nostoc, nos′tok,n.a genus of Algæ, found in moist places.—AlsoWitches' butter,Spittle of the stars,Star-jelly, &c. [Ger.nostoch.]
Nostology, nos-tol′o-ji,n.the science of the phenomena of extreme old age or senility in which there is ever seen a return to the characteristics of the youthful stage.—adj.Nostolog′ic. [Gr.nostos, return,logia—legein, to speak.]
Nostradamus, nos-tra-dā′mus,n.any quack doctor or charlatan—from the French astrologer (1503-66).
Nostril, nos′tril,n.one of the openings of the nose. [M. E.nosethirl—A.S.nosthyrl—nosu, nose,thyrel, opening. Cf.Drill, to pierce, andThrill.]
Nostrum, nos′trum,n.any secret, quack, or patent medicine: any favourite remedy or scheme. [L., 'our own,' fromnos, we.]
Not, not,adv.a word expressing denial, negation, or refusal.—Not in it(coll.), having no part in some confidence or advantage. [Same asNaught, from A.S.ná,wiht, a whit.]
Notable, nō′ta-bl,adj.worthy of being known or noted: remarkable: memorable: distinguished: notorious: capable, clever, industrious.—n.a person or thing worthy of note, esp. inpl.for persons of distinction and political importance in France in pre-Revolution times.—n.pl.Notabil′ia, things worthy of notice: noteworthy sayings.—ns.Notabil′ity, the being notable: a notable person or thing;Nō′tableness.—adv.Nō′tably.
Notæum, nō-tē′um,n.the upper surface of a bird's trunk—opp. toGastræum: a dorsal buckler in some gasteropods. [Gr.nōtos, the back.]
Notalgia, nō-tal′ji-a,n.pain in the back.—adj.Notal′gic. [Gr.nōtos, the back,algos, pain.]
Notanda, nō-tan′da,n.pl.something to be specially noted or observed:—sing.Notan′dum. [L. pl. ger. ofnotāre, to note.]
Notary, nō′ta-ri,n.an officer authorised to certify deeds, contracts, copies of documents, affidavits, &c.—generally called aNotary public—anciently one who took notes or memoranda of others' acts.—adj.Notā′rial.—adv.Notā′rially.—Apostolical notary, the official who despatches the orders of the Pope;Ecclesiastical notary, in the early church, a secretary who recorded the proceedings of councils, &c. [L.notarius.]
Notation, nō-tā′shun,n.the act or practice of recording by marks or symbols: a system of signs or symbols.—adj.Nō′tate(bot.), marked with coloured spots or lines.—Chemical notation(seeChemistry). [L.,—notāre,-ātum, to mark.]
Notch, noch,n.a nick cut in anything: an indentation, incision, incisure: a narrow pass in a rock, or between two mountains.—v.t.to cut a hollow into.—n.Notch′-board, the board which receives the ends of the steps of a staircase—alsoBridge-board.—adjs.Notch′-eared, having emarginate ears, as the notch-eared bat;Notched, nicked.—n.Notch′ing, a method of joining framing-timbers, by halving, scarfing, or caulking. [From a Teut. root, as in Old Dut.nock. Cf.Nick, a notch.]
Notchel,Nochel, noch′el,v.t.(prov.) to repudiate.
Note, nōt,n.that by which a person or thing is known: a mark or sign calling attention: a brief explanation: a short remark: a brief report, a catalogue, a bill: a memorandum: a short letter: a diplomatic paper: a small size of paper used for writing: (mus.) a mark representing a sound, also the sound itself, air, tune, tone, also a digital or key of the keyboard: a paper acknowledging a debt and promising payment, as a bank-note, a note of hand: notice, heed, observation: reputation: fame.—v.t.to make a note of: to notice: to attend to: to record in writing: to furnish with notes.—n.Note′-book, a book in which notes or memoranda are written: a bill-book.—adj.Not′ed, marked: well known: celebrated: eminent: notorious.—adv.Not′edly.—n.Not′edness.—adj.Note′less, not attracting notice.—ns.Note′-pā′per, folded writing-paper for letters (commercial, 5 × 8 in.;octavo, 4½ × 7;billet, 4 × 6;queen, 3½ × 5⅜;packet, 5½ × 9;Bath, 7 × 8);Not′er, one who notes or observes: one who makes notes, an annotator;Note′-shav′er(U.S.), a money-lender.—adj.Note′worthy, worthy of note or of notice.—Note a bill, to record on the back of it a refusal of acceptance, as a ground of protest. [Fr.,—L.nota,noscĕre,notum, to know.]
Note, nōt (Spens.), wot or knew not (a contr. ofne wot): could not (a contr. ofne mote).
Nothing, nuth′ing,n.no thing: non-existence: absence of being: a low condition: no value or use: not anything of importance, a trifle: utter insignificance, no difficulty or trouble: no magnitude: a cipher.—adv.in no degree: not at all.—adj.andn.Nothingā′rian, believing nothing.—ns.Nothingā′rianism;Noth′ing-gift(Shak.), a gift of no value;Noth′ingism, nihility;Noth′ingness, state of being nothing or of no value: a thing of no value.—Nothing but, no more than: only;Nothing less than, equal to: as much as.—Come to nothing, to have no result: to turn out a failure;Make nothing of, to consider as of no difficulty or importance;Neck or nothing(seeNeck);Next to nothing, almost nothing. [Noandthing.]
Notice, nōt′is,n.act of noting or observing: attention: observation: information: warning: a writing containing information: public intimation: civility or respectful treatment: remark.—v.t.to mark or see: to regard or attend to: to mention: to make observations upon: to treat with civility.—adj.Not′iceable, that can be noticed: worthy of notice: likely to be noticed.—adv.Not′iceably.—n.Not′ice-board, a board on which a notice is fixed.—Give notice, to warn beforehand: to inform. [Fr.,—L.notitia—noscĕre,notum, to know.]
Notify, nō′ti-fī,v.t.to make known: to declare: to give notice or information of:—pa.t.andpa.p.nō′tified.—adj.Nō′tifiable, that must be made known.—n.Notificā′tion, the act of notifying: the notice given: the paper containing the notice. [Fr.,—L.notificāre,-ātum—notus, known,facĕre, to make.]
Notion, nō′shun,n.the art of forming a conception in the mind of the various marks or qualities of an object: the result of this act, a conception: opinion: belief: judgment: a caprice or whim: any small article ingeniously devised or invented, usually inpl.—adj.Nō′tional, of the nature of a notion: ideal: fanciful.—adv.Nō′tionally, in notion or mental apprehension: in idea, not in reality.—n.Nō′tionist, one who holds ungrounded opinions. [Fr.,—L.notion-em—noscĕre,notum, to know.]
Notitia, nō-tish′i-a,n.a roll, list, register: a catalogue of public functionaries, with their districts: a list of episcopal sees. [L.; cf.Notice.]
Notobranchiate, nō-tō-brang′ki-āt,adj.andn.having dorsal gills, belonging toNotobranchiā′ta, an order of worms having such. [Gr.nōtos, the back,brangchia, gills.]
Notochord, nō′tō-kord,n.a simple cellular rod, the basis of the future spinal column, persisting throughout life in many lower vertebrates, as the amphioxus, &c.—adj.Nō′tochordal. [Gr.nōtos, the back,chordē, a string.]
Notodontiform, nō-tō-don′ti-form,adj.resembling a tooth-back or moth of the familyNotodontidæ. [Gr.nōtos, back,odous, tooth, L.forma, form.]
Notonectal, nō-tō-nek′tal,adj.swimming on the back, as certain insects: related to theNotonectidæ, a family of aquatic bugs, the boat-flies or water-boatmen. [Gr.nōtos, the back,nēktēs, a swimmer.]
Notopodal, nō-top′ō-dal,adj.pertaining to theNotop′oda, a division of decapods, including the dromioid crabs, &c.—AlsoNotop′odous. [Gr.nōtos, the back,pous,podos, the foot.]
Notopodium, nō-tō-pō′di-um,n.the dorsal or upper part of the parapodium of an annelid, a dorsal oar.—adj.Notopō′dial. [Gr.nōtos, the back,pous,podos, the foot.]
Notorious, no-tō′ri-us,adj.publicly known (now used in a bad sense): infamous.—n.Notorī′ety, state of being notorious: publicity: public exposure.—adv.Notō′riously.—n.Notō′riousness. [Low L.notorius—notāre,-ātum, to mark—noscĕre.]
Notornis, nō-tor′nis,n.a genus of gigantic ralline birds, with wings so much reduced as to be incapable of flight, which have within historical times become extinct in New Zealand, &c. [Gr.nōtos, the south,ornis, a bird.]
Nototherium, nō-tō-thē′ri-um,n.a genus of gigantic fossil kangaroo-like marsupials, found in Australia. [Gr.nōtos, the south,thērion, a wild beast.]
Nototrema, nō-tō-trē′ma,n.the pouch-toads, a genus ofHylidæ.—adj.Nototrem′atous. [Gr.nōtos, the back,trēma, a hole.]
Notour, no-tōōr′,adj.(Scot.) well known, notorious.
Nott-headed, not′-hed′ed,adj.(Shak.) having the hair cut bare.—Nott′-pat′ed. [A.S.hnot, shorn.]
Notum, nō′tum,n.the dorsal aspect of the thorax in insects. [Gr.nōtos, the back.]
Notus, nō′tus,n.the south or south-west wind. [L.]
Notwithstanding, not-with-stand′ing,prep.in spite of.—conj.in spite of the fact that, although.—adv.nevertheless, however, yet. [Orig. a participial phrase in nominative absolute=L.non obstante.]
Nougat, nōō-gä′,n.a confection made of a sweet paste filled with chopped almonds or pistachio-nuts. [Fr. (cf. Sp.nogado, an almond-cake)—L.nux,nucis, a nut.]
Nought, nawt,n.not anything: nothing.—adv.in no degree.—Set at nought, to despise. [Same asNaught.]
Noul, nōl,n.(Spens.) the top of the head. [A.S.hnoll, top or summit.]
Nould, nōōld (Spens.), would not. [A contr. ofne would.]
Noumenon, nōō′me-non,n.an unknown and unknowable substance or thing as it is in itself—opp. toPhenomenon, or the form through which it becomes known to the senses or the understanding:—pl.Nou′mena.—adj.Nou′menal. [Gr.noumenon, pa.p. ofnoein, to perceive—nous, the mind.]
Noun, nown,n.(gram.) the name of any person or thing.—adj.Noun′al. [O. Fr.non(Fr.nom)—L.nomen, name.]
Nourice, nur′is,n.(Spens.) a nurse. [Nurse.]
Nourish, nur′ish,v.t.to suckle: to feed or bring up: to support: to help forward growth in any way: to encourage: to cherish: to educate.—adjs.Nour′ishable, able to be nourished.—n.Nour′isher.—adj.Nour′ishing, giving nourishment.—n.Nour′ishment, the act of nourishing or the state of being nourished: that which nourishes: nutriment. [O. Fr.norir(Fr.nourrir)—L.nutrīre, to feed.]
Noursle, nurs′l,v.t.to nurse: to bring up.—AlsoNous′le. [Nuzzle.]
Nous, nows,n.intellect: talent: common-sense. [Gr.]
Novaculite, nō-vak′ū-līt,n.a hone-stone.
Novalia, nō-vā′li-a,n.pl.(Scots law) waste lands newly reclaimed.
Novatian, nō-vā′shi-an,adj.of or pertaining toNovatianus, who had himself ordained Bishop of Rome in opposition to Cornelius (251), and headed the party of severity against the lapsed in the controversy about their treatment that arose after the Decian persecution.—ns.Novā′tianism;Novā′tianist.
Novation, nō-vā′shun,n.the substitution of a new obligation for the one existing: innovation.
Novel, nov′el,adj.new: unusual: strange.—n.that which is new: a new or supplemental constitution or decree, issued by certain Roman emperors, as Justinian, after their authentic publications of law (alsoNovell′a): a fictitious prose narrative or tale presenting a picture of real life, esp. of the emotional crises in the life-history of the men and women portrayed.—n.Novelette′, a small novel.—v.t.Nov′elise, to change by introducing novelties: to put into the form of novels.—v.i.to make innovations.—n.Nov′elist, a novel-writer: an innovator.—adj.Novelist′ic.—n.Nov′elty, newness: unusual appearance: anything new, strange, or different from anything before:—pl.Nov′elties. [O. Fr.novel(Fr.nouveau)—L.novellus—novus.]
November, nō-vem′bėr,n.the eleventh month of our year. [Theninthmonth of the Roman year; L., fromnovem, nine.]
Novena, nō-vē′na,n.a devotion lasting nine days, to obtain a particular request, through the intercession of the Virgin or some saint. [L.novenus, nine each,novem, nine.]
Novenary, nov′en-a-ri,adj.pertaining to the number nine.—adj.Novene′, going by nines. [L.novenarius—novem, nine.]
Novennial, nō-ven′yal,adj.done every ninth year. [L.novennis—novem, nine,annus, a year.]
Novercal, nō-vėr′kal,adj. pertaining to or befitting a stepmother. [L.novercalis—noverca, a stepmother.]
Noverint, nov′e-rint,n.a writ—beginning with the wordsnoverint universi—let all men know. [3d pers. pl. perf. subj. ofnoscĕre, to know.]
Novice, nov′is,n.one new in anything: a beginner: one newly received into the church: an inmate of a convent or nunnery who has not yet taken the vow.—ns.Nov′iceship;Novi′ciate,Novi′tiate, the state of being a novice: the period of being a novice: a novice. [Fr.,—L.novitius—novus, new.]
Novum, nō′vum,n.(Shak.) a certain game at dice, in which the chief throws were nine and five.
Novus homo, nov′us hom′o,n.a new man: one who has risen from a low position to a high dignity.
Now, now,adv.at the present time: at this time or a little before.—conj.but: after this: things being so.—n.the present time.—advs.Now′adays, in days now present.—Now—now, at one time—at another time. [A.S.nú; Ger.nun, L.nunc, Gr.nun.]
Nowel,Noël, nō′el,n.Christmas: a joyous shout or song at Christmas: a Christmas carol. [O. Fr.nowel,noel(mod. Fr.noël; cf. Sp.natal, It.natale)—L.natalis, belonging to one's birthday.]
Nowhere, nō′hwār,adv.in no where or place: at no time.—adv.Nō′whither, not any whither: to no place: in no direction: nowhere.
Nowl, nowl,n.(Shak.). Same asNoul.
Nowt, nowt,n.(Scot.) cattle.—AlsoNout. [Neat.]
Nowy, now′i,adj.(her.) having a convex curvature near the middle.—AlsoNowed. [O. Fr.noue—L.nudatus, knotted.]
Noxious, nok′shus,adj.hurtful: unwholesome: injurious: destructive: poisonous.—adj.Nox′al, relating to wrongful injury.—adv.Nox′iously.—n.Nox′iousness. [L.noxius—noxa, hurt—nocēre, to hurt.]
Noy, noi,v.t.(Spens.). Same asAnnoy.
Noyade, nwa-yad′,n.an infamous mode of drowning by means of a boat with movable bottom, practised by Carrier at Nantes, 1793-94. [Fr.,—noyer, to drown.]
Noyance, noi′ans,n.Same asAnnoyance.
Noyau, nwo-yō′,n.a liqueur flavoured with kernels of bitter almonds or of peach-stones. [Fr., the stone of a fruit—L.nucalis, like a nut—nux,nucis, a nut.]
Noyous, noi′us,adj.(Spens.) serving to annoy: troublesome: hurtful. [Annoy.]
Noysome, noi′sum,adj.(Spens.) noisome (q.v.).
Nozzle, noz′l,n.a little nose: the snout: the extremity of anything: the open end of a pipe or tube, as of a bellows, &c. [Dim. ofnose.]
Nuance, nū-ans′,n.a delicate degree or shade of difference perceived by any of the senses, or by the intellect. [Fr.,—L.nubes, a cloud.]
Nub, nub,v.t.(prov.) to push: beckon: hang.
Nub, nub,n.a knob, knot: point, gist.—adjs.Nub′bly, full of knots;Nub′by, lumpy, dirty.
Nubble, nub′l,v.t.to beat with the fist.
Nubecula, nū-bek′ū-la,n.a light film on the eye: a cloudy appearance in urine:—pl.Nubec′ulæ.
Nubiferous, nū-bif′e-rus,adj.bringing clouds.—adjs.Nūbig′enous, produced by clouds;Nū′bilous, cloudy, overcast—(obs.)Nū′bilose.
Nubile, nū′bil,adj.marriageable.—n.Nubil′ity. [L.nubilis—nubĕre, to veil one's self, hence to marry.]
Nucellus, nū-sel′us,n.the nucleus of the ovule.
Nuchal, nū′kal,adj.pertaining to theNū′chaor nape.
Nuciform, nūs′i-form,adj.nut-shaped.—adj.Nucif′erous, nut-bearing. [L.nux,nucis, nut,forma, form.]
Nucifraga, nū-sif′ra-ga,n.a genus of corvine birds, between crows and jays, the nutcrackers.
Nucleus, nū′klē-us,n.the central mass round which matter gathers: (astron.) the head of a comet:—pl.Nuclei(nū′klē-ī).—adjs.Nū′clēal,Nū′clēar, pertaining to a nucleus.—v.t.Nū′clēāte, to gather into or around a nucleus.—adjs.Nū′clēate,-d, having a nucleus;Nū′clēiform.—ns.Nū′clēin, a colourless amorphous proteid, a constituent of cell-nuclei;Nū′cleobranch, one of an order of molluscs which have the gills packed in the shell along with the heart:—pl.Nucleobranchiă′ta;Nū′clēōle, a little nucleus: a nucleus within a nucleus—alsoNuclē′olus:—pl.Nuclē′oli. [L.,—nux,nucis, a nut.]
Nucule, nūk′ūl,n.a little nut: inCharaceæthe female sexual organ. [L.nucula, dim. ofnux,nucis, a nut.]
Nude, nūd,adj.naked: bare: without drapery, as a statue: void, as a contract.—n.Nūdā′tion, act of making bare.—adv.Nūde′ly.—ns.Nūde′ness,Nū′dity, nakedness: want of covering: anything laid bare.—adjs.Nudiflō′rous, having the flowers destitute of hairs, glands, &c.;Nūdifō′lious, having bare or smooth leaves;Nūdiros′trate, having the rostrum naked.—n.pl.Nū′dities, naked parts: figures divested of drapery.—The nude, the undraped human figure as a branch of art. [L.nudus, naked.]
Nudge, nuj,n.a gentle push.—v.t.to push gently. [Cf.Knock,Knuckle; Dan.knuge.]
Nudibranch, nū′di-brangk,n.one of an order of gasteropods having no shell, and with the gills exposed on the surface of the body:—pl.Nudibranchiā′ta. [L.nudus, naked,branchiæ, gills.]
Nugatory, nū′ga-tor-i,adj.trifling: vain: insignificant: of no power: ineffectual. [L.nugatorius,—nugæ, jokes, trifles.]
Nugget, nug′et,n.a lump or mass, as of a metal. [Prob.ingot, with thenof the article.]
Nuisance, nū′sans,n.that which annoys or hurts: that which troubles: that which is offensive.—n.Nū′isancer. [Fr.,—L.nocēre, to hurt.]
Null, nul,adj.of no legal force: void: invalid: of no importance.—n.something of no value or meaning, a cipher: a bead-like raised work.—v.t.to annul, nullify.—v.i.to kink: to form nulls, or into nulls, as in a lathe.—Nulled work, woodwork turned by means of a lathe so as to form a series of connected knobs—for rounds of chairs, &c. [L.nullus, not any, fromne, not,ullus, any.]
Nullah, nul′a,n.a dry water-course.
Nulla-nulla, nul′a-nul′a,n.an Australian's hard-wood club.
Nullifidian, nul-i-fid′i-an,adj.having no faith.—n.a person in such a condition. [L.nullus, none,fides, faith.]
Nullify, nul′i-fī,v.t.to make null: to annul: to render void or of no force:—pr.p.null′ifying;pa.t.andpa.p.null′ified.—ns.Nullificā′tion, a rendering void or of none effect, esp. (U.S.) of a contract by one of the parties, or of a law by one legislature which has been passed by another;Null′ifier;Null′ity, the state of being null or void: nothingness: want of existence, force, or efficacy.
Nullipara, nul-lip′a-ra,n.a woman who has never given birth to a child, esp. if not a virgin.—adj.Nullip′arous.
Nullipennate, nul-i-pen′āt,adj.having no flight-feathers, as a penguin.
Nullipore, nul′i-pōr,n.a small coral-like seaweed.—adj.Null′iporous.
Numb, num,adj.deprived of sensation or motion: powerless to feel or act: stupefied: motionless: (Shak.) causing numbness.—v.t.to make numb: to deaden: to render motionless:—pr.p.numbing(num′ing);pa.p.numbed (numd).—adj.Numb′-cold(Shak.), numbed with cold: causing numbness.—n.Numb′ness, state of being numb: condition of living body in which it has lost the power of feeling: torpor. [A.S.numen, pa.p. ofniman, to take; so Ice.numinn, bereft.]
Number, num′bėr,n.that by which things are counted or computed: a collection of things: more than one: a unit in counting: a numerical figure: the measure of multiplicity: sounds distributed into harmonies: metre, verse, esp. inpl.: (gram.) the difference in words to express singular or plural: (pl.) the fourth book of the Old Testament.—v.t.to count: to reckon as one of a multitude: to mark with a number: to amount to.—n.Num′berer.—adj.Num′berless, without number: more than can be counted.—ns.Numerabil′ity,Nū′merableness.—adj.Nū′merable, that may be numbered or counted.—adv.Nū′merably.—adj.Nū′meral, pertaining to, consisting of, or expressing number.—n.a figure or mark used to express a number, as 1, 2, 3, &c.: (gram.) a word used to denote a number.—adv.Nū′merally, according to number.—adj.Nū′merary, belonging to a certain number: contained within or counting as one of a body or a number—opp. toSupernumerary.—v.t.Nū′merāte, to point off and read as figures: (orig.) to enumerate, to number.—ns.Nūmerā′tion, act of numbering: the art of reading numbers, and expressing their values;Nū′merātor, one who numbers: the upper number of a vulgar fraction, which expresses the number of fractional parts taken.—adjs.Nūmer′ic,-al, belonging to, or consisting in, number: the same both in number and kind.—adv.Nūmer′ically.—n.Nūmeros′ity, numerousness: harmonious flow.—adj.Nū′merous, great in number: being many.—adv.Nū′merously.—n.Nū′merousness. [Fr.nombre—L.numerus, number.]
Numbles, num′bls,n.pl.the entrails of a deer. SeeUmbles.
Numerotage, nū-me-rō-täzh′,n.the numbering of yarns so as to denote their fineness. [Fr.]
Numismatic, nū-mis-mat′ik,adj.pertaining to money, coins, or medals.—n.sing.Nūmismat′ics, the science of coins and medals.—ns.Nūmis′matist, one having a knowledge of coins and medals;Nūmismatog′raphy, description of coins;Numismatol′ogist, one versed in numismatology;Nūmismatol′ogy, the science of coins and medals in relation to history. [L.numisma—Gr.nomisma, current coin—nomizein, to use commonly—nomos, custom.]
Nummary, num′a-ri,adj.relating to coins or money.—adjs.Numm′iform, shaped like a coin;Numm′ūlar,Numm′ūlary,Numm′ūlāted,Numm′ūline, pertaining to coins: like a coin in shape;Numm′ūliform.—n.Numm′ūlite, a fossil shell resembling a coin.—adj.Nummulit′ic. [L.nummus, a coin.]
Numskull, num′skul,n.a stupid fellow: a blockhead.—adj.Num′skulled. [Fromnumbandskull.]
Nun, nun,n.a female who, under a vow, secludes herself in a religious house, to give her time to devotion: (zool.) a kind of pigeon with the feathers on its head like the hood of a nun.—ns.Nun′-buoy, a buoy somewhat in the form of a double cone;Nun′nery, a house for nuns.—adj.Nun′nish.—ns.Nun′nishness;Nun's′-veil′ing, a woollen cloth, soft and thin, used by women for veils and dresses. [A.S.nunne—Low L.nunna,nonna, a nun, an old maiden lady, the orig. sig. being 'mother;' cf. Gr.nannē, aunt, Sans.nanā, a child's word for 'mother.']
Nunc dimittis, nungk di-mit′tis,n.'now lettest thou depart:' the name given to the song of Simeon (Luke, ii. 29-32) in the R.C. Breviary and the Anglican evening service—from the opening words.
Nuncheon, nun′shun,n.a luncheon. [Prob. a corr. ofluncheon, with some reference tonoon.]
Nuncio, nun′shi-o,n.a messenger: one who brings tidings: an ambassador from the Pope to an emperor or a king.—n.Nun′ciātūre, the office of a nuncio. [It.,—L.nuncius, a messenger, one who brings news—prob. a contr. ofnoventius; cf.novus, new.]
Nuncle, nung′kl,n.(Shak.) a contr. ofmine uncle.
Nuncupative, nung′kū-pā-tiv,adj.declaring publicly or solemnly: (law) verbal, not written, as a will—alsoNun′cūpātory.—v.t.andv.i.Nun′cupate, to declare solemnly: to declare orally.—n.Nuncūpā′tion. [Fr.,—Low L.nuncupativus, nominal—L.nuncupāre, to call by name—prob. fromnomen, name,capĕre, to take.]
Nundinal, nun′di-nal,adj.pertaining to a fair or market.—AlsoNun′dinary. [L.nundinæ, the market-day, properly the ninth day—i.e. from the preceding market-day, both days inclusive—novem, nine,dies, a day.]
Nuphar, nū′fär,n.a genus of yellow water-lilies, theNymphæa.
Nuptial, nup′shal,adj.pertaining to marriage: constituting marriage.—n.pl.Nup′tials, marriage: wedding ceremony. [Fr.,—L.nuptialis—nuptiæ, marriage—nubĕre,nuptum, to marry.]
Nur, nur,n.a knot or knob in wood. SeeKnurr.
Nurl, nurl,v.t.to mill or indent on the edge.—ns.Nurl′ing, the milling of a coin: the series of indentations on the edge of some screw-heads: zigzag ornamental engraving;Nurl′ing-tool.
Nurse, nurs,n.a woman who nourishes an infant: a mother while her infant is at the breast: one who has the care of infants or of the sick: (hort.) a shrub or tree which protects a young plant.—v.t.to tend, as an infant or a sick person: to bring up: to cherish: to manage with care and economy: to play skilfully, as billiard-balls, in order to get them into the position one wants.—adj.Nurse′like(Shak.), like or becoming a nurse.—ns.Nurse′maid, a girl who takes care of children;Nurs′er, one who nurses: one who promotes growth;Nurs′ery, place for nursing: an apartment for young children: a place where the growth of anything is promoted: (hort.) a piece of ground where plants are reared;Nurs′ery-gov′erness;Nurs′erymaid, a nurse-maid;Nurs′eryman, a man who owns or works a nursery: one who is employed in cultivating plants, &c., for sale;Nurs′ing-fa′ther(B.), a foster-father;Nurs′ling, that which is nursed: an infant. [O. Fr.norrice(Fr.nourrice)—L.nutrix—nutrīre, to nourish.]
Nurture, nurt′ūr,n.act of nursing or nourishing: nourishment: education: instruction.—v.t.to nourish: to bring up: to educate.—n.Nurt′urer. [O. Fr.noriture(Fr.nourriture)—Low L.nutritura—L.nutrīre, to nourish.]
Nut, nut,n.the name popularly given to all those fruits which have the seed enclosed in a bony, woody, or leathery pericarp, not opening when ripe: (bot.) a one-celled fruit, with a hardened pericarp, containing, when mature, only one seed: often the hazel-nut, sometimes the walnut: a small block of metal for screwing on the end of a bolt.—v.i.to gather nuts:—pr.p.nut′ting;pa.p.nut′ted.—adj.Nut′-brown, brown, like a ripe old nut.—ns.Nut′cracker, an instrument for cracking nuts: a genus of birds of the familyCorvidæ;Nut′-gall, an excrescence, chiefly of the oak;Nut′hatch, a genus of birds of the familySittidæ, agile creepers—alsoNut′jobber,Nut′pecker;Nut′-hook, a stick with a hook at the end for pulling down boughs that the nuts may be gathered: a bailiff, a thief who uses a hook;Nut′meal, meal made from the kernels of nuts;Nut′-oil, an oil obtained from walnuts;Nut′-pine, one of several pines with large edible seeds;Nut′shell, the hard substance that encloses the kernel of a nut: anything of little value;Nut′ter, one who gathers nuts;Nut′tiness;Nut′ting, the gathering of nuts;Nut′-tree, any tree bearing nuts, esp. the hazel.—adj.Nut′ty, abounding in nuts: having the flavour of nuts.—n.Nut′-wrench, an instrument for fixing on nuts or removing them from screws.—A nut to crack, a difficult problem to solve;Be nuts on(slang), to be very fond of;In a nutshell, in small compass. [A.S.hnutu; Ice.hnot, Dut.noot, Ger.nuss.]
Nutant, nū′tant,adj.nodding: (bot.) having the top of the stem of the flower-cluster bent downward.—n.Nūtā′tion, a nodding: (astron.) a periodical and constant change of the angle made by the earth's axis, with the ecliptic, caused by the attraction of the moon on the greater mass of matter round the equator: (bot.) the turning of flowers towards the sun. [L.nutāre, to nod.]
Nutmeg, nut′meg,n.the aromatic kernel of an East Indian tree, much used as a seasoning in cookery.—adj.Nut′megged;Nut′meggy. [M. E.notemuge, a hybrid word formed fromnut, and O. Fr.muge, musk—L.muscus, musk.]
Nutria, nū′tri-a,n.the fur of the coypou, a South American beaver. [Sp.,—L.lutra, an otter.]
Nutriment, nū′tri-ment,n.that which nourishes: that which helps forward growth or development: food.—adj.Nū′trient, nourishing.—n.anything nourishing.—adj.Nū′trimental, having the quality of nutriment or food: nutritious.—n.Nūtri′tion, act of nourishing: process of promoting the growth of bodies: that which nourishes: nutriment.—adjs.Nūtri′tional;Nūtri′tious, nourishing: promoting growth.—adv.Nūtri′tiously.—n.Nūtri′tiousness.—adjs.Nū′tritive,Nū′tritory, nourishing: concerned in nutrition.—adv.Nū′tritively.—ns.Nū′tritiveness;Nūtritō′rium, the nutritive apparatus. [L.nutrimentum—nutrīre, to nourish.]
Nux vomica, nuks vom′ik-a,n.the seed of an East Indian tree, from which the powerful poison known as strychnine is obtained. [L.nux, a nut,vomicus, fromvomĕre, to vomit.]
Nuzzer, nuz′ėr,n.a present made to a superior. [Ind.]
Nuzzle, nuz′l,v.i.to rub the nose against: to fondle closely, to cuddle: to nurse or rear.—v.t.to touch with the nose: to go with the nose toward the ground.—AlsoNous′le. [A freq. verb fromnose.]
Nyanza, ni-an′za,n.a sheet of water, marsh, the river feeding a lake. [Afr.]
Nyas. SeeEyas.
Nyctala, nik′ta-la,n.a genus of owls of familyStrigidæ.
Nyctalopia, nik-ta-lō′pi-a,n.the defective vision of persons who can see in a faint light but not in bright daylight: sometimes applied to the opposite defect, inability to see save in a strong daylight—alsoNyc′talopy.—n.Nyc′talops, one affected with nyctalopia. [Gr.nyktalōps, seeing by night only—nyx,nyktos, night,ōps, vision.]
Nyctitropism, nik′ti-trō-pizm,n.the so-called sleep of plants, the habit of taking at night certain positions unlike those during the day.—adj.Nyctitrop′ic. [Gr.nyx, night,tropos, a turn.]
Nylghau, nil′gaw,n.a large species of antelope, in North Hindustan, the males of which are of a bluish colour. [Pers.níl gáw—níl, blue,gáw, ox, cow.]
Nymph, nimf,n.a young and beautiful maiden: (myth.) one of the beautiful goddesses who inhabited mountains, rivers, trees, &c.—adjs.Nymph′al, relating to nymphs;Nymphē′an, pertaining to nymphs: inhabited by nymphs;Nymph′ic,-al, pertaining to nymphs;Nymph′ish,Nymph′ly, nymph-like;Nymph′-like.—ns.Nymph′olepsy, a species of ecstasy or frenzy said to have seized those who had seen a nymph;Nymph′olept, a person in frenzy.—adj.Nympholept′ic.—ns.Nymphomā′nia, morbid and uncontrollable sexual desire in women;Nymphomā′niac, a woman affected with the foregoing.—adjs.Nymphomā′niac,-al. [Fr.,—L.nympha—Gr.nymphē, a bride.]
Nymph, nimf,Nympha, nimf′a,n.the pupa or chrysalis of an insect.—n.pl.Nymphæ(nimf′ē),the labia minora.—adj.Nymphip′arous, producing pupæ.—ns.Nymphī′tis, inflammation of the nymphæ;Nymphot′omy, the excision of the nymphæ.
Nymphæa, nim-fē′a,n.a genus of water-plants, with beautiful fragrant flowers, including the water-lily, Egyptian lotus, &c. [L.nympha, a nymph.]
Nys, nis (Spens.), none is. [Ne, not, andis.]
Nystagmus, nis-tag′mus,n.a spasmodic, lateral, oscillatory movement of the eyes, found in miners, &c. [Gr.,nystazein, to nap.]
Nyula, ni-ū′la,n.an ichneumon.