NINETEENTHNine"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.
NINETEENTHNine"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.
NINETIETHNine"ti*eth, a.
1. Next in order after the eighty-ninth.
2. Constituting or being one of ninety equal parts.
NINETIETHNine"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.
NINETYNine"ty, a. Etym: [See Nine, and cf. Forty.]
Defn: Nine times ten; eighty-nine and one more; as, ninety men.
NINETYNine"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.
NINNYHAMMERNin"ny*ham`mer, n.
Defn: A simpleton; a silly person. [Colloq.] Addison.
NINTHNinth, 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.
NINTHNinth, 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.
NINTHLYNinth"ly, adv.
Defn: In the ninth place.
NINUTNin"ut, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The magpie. [Prov. Eng.]
NIOBATENi"o*bate, n. Etym: [See Niobium.] (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Columbate.
NIOBENi"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.
NIOBICNi*ob"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Columbic.
NIOBITENi"o*bite, n. (Min.)
Defn: Same as Columbite.
NIOBIUMNi*o"bi*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. & E. Niobe.] (Chem.)
Defn: A later name of columbium. See Columbium.
NIOPONi*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.
NIPNip, 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.]
NIPPERNip"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).
NIPPERKINNip"per*kin, n. Etym: [See 1st Nip.]
Defn: A small cup. [Obs.]
NIPPERSNip"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.
NIPPINGNip"ping, a.
Defn: Biting; pinching; painful; destructive; as, a nipping frost; a nipping wind.
NIPPINGLYNip"ping*ly, adv.
Defn: In a nipping manner.
NIPPITATENip"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.
NIPPITATONip`pi*ta"to, n.
Defn: Strong liquor. [Old Cant] Beau. & Fl.
NIPPLENip"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.
NIPPLEWORTNip"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.
NIRVANANir*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.
NISNis. Etym: [From ne is.]
Defn: Is not. [Obs.] Chaucer.
NISANNi"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.
NISEYNi"sey, n.; pl. Nyseys.
Defn: A simpleton. [Obs.]
NISINi"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.
NISTENis"te. Etym: [Contr. from ne wiste.]
Defn: Wist not; knew not. [Obs.] Chaucer.
NISUSNi"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.
NITENCYNi"ten*cy, n. Etym: [L. nitens, p.pr. of nitere to shine.]
Defn: Brightness; luster. [R.]
NITENCYNi"ten*cy, n. Etym: [From :. nitens, p.pr. pf niti to strive.]
Defn: Endeavor; rffort; tendency. [R.] Boyle.
NITER; NITRENi"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.
NITHINGNith"ing, n. [Obs.]
Defn: See Niding.
NITIDNit"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.
NITRANILICNi`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.
NITRANILINENi*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.
NITRATENi"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.
NITRATEDNi"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.
NITRATINENi"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.
NITRENi"tre, n. (Chem.)
Defn: See Niter.
NITRIARYNi"tri*a*ry, n. Etym: [See Niter.]
Defn: An artificial bed of animal matter for the manufacture of niter by nitrification. See Nitrification, 2.
NITRICNi"tric, a. Etym: [Cf. F. nitrique. See Niter.] (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or containing, nitrogen; specifically, designating any one of those compounds in which, as contrasted with nitrous compounds, the element has a higher valence; as, nitric oxide; nitric acid. Nitric acid, a colorless or yellowish liquid obtained by distilling a nitrate with sulphuric acid. It is powerfully corrosive, being a strong acid, and in decomposition a strong oxidizer. — Nitric anhydride, a white crystalline oxide of nitrogen (N2O5), called nitric pentoxide, and regarded as the anhydride of nitric acid. — Nitric oxide, a colorless poisous gas (NO) obtained by treating nitric acid with copper. On contact with the air or with oxygen, it becomes reddish brown from the formation of nitric dioxide or peroxide.
NITRIDENi"tride ( or ), n. Etym: [fromNitrogen.] (Chem.)
Defn: A binary compound of nitrogen with a more metallic element or radical; as, boric nitride.
NITRIFEROUSNi*trif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Niter + -ferous.]
Defn: Bearing niter; yielding, or containing, niter.
NITRIFICATIONNi`tri*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. nitrification. see Nitrify.]
1. (Chem.) (a) The act, process, or result of combining with nitrogen or some of its compounds. (b) The act or process of oxidizing nitrogen or its compounds so as to form nitrous or nitric acid.
2. A process of oxidation, in which nitrogenous vegetable and animal matter in the presence of air, moisture, and some basic substances, as lime or alkali carbonate, is converted into nitrates.
Note: The process is going on at all times in porous soils and in water contaminated with nitrogenous matter, and is supposed to be due to the presence of an organized ferment or ferments, called nitrification ferments. In former times the process was extensively made use of in the production of saltpeter.
NITRIFIERNi"tri*fi`er, n. (Chem.)
Defn: An agent employed in nitrification.
NITRIFYNi"tri*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nitrified; p. pr. & vb. n.Nitrifying.] Etym: [Niter + -fy: cf. F. nitrifer. See Niter.] (Chem.)
Defn: To combine or impregnate with nitrogen; to convert, by oxidation, into nitrous or nitric acid; to subject to, or produce by, nitrification.
NITRILENi"trile ( or ), n. Etym: [See Nitro-.] (Chem.)
Defn: Any one of a series of cyanogen compounds; particularly, one of those cyanides of alcohol radicals which, by boiling with acids or alkalies, produce a carboxyl acid, with the elimination of the nitrogen as ammonia.
Note: The nitriles are named with reference to the acids produced by their decomposition, thus, hydrocyanic acid is formic nitrile, and methyl cyanide is acetic nitrile.
NITRITENi"trite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. nitrite. See Niter.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of nitrous acid. Amyl nitrite, a yellow oily volatile liquid, used in medicine as a depressant and a vaso-dilator. Its inhalation produces an instantaneous flushing of the face.
NITRO-Ni"tro- (.
1. A combining form or an adjective denoting the presence of niter.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: A combining form (used also adjectively) designating certain compounds of nitrogen or of its acids, as nitrohydrochloric, nitrocalcite; also, designating the group or radical NO2, or its compounds, as nitrobenzene. Nitro group, the radical NO2; — called also nitroxyl.
NITROBENZENENi`tro*ben"zene ( or ), n. Etym: [Nitro- + benzene.] (Chem.)
Defn: A yellow aromatic liquid (C6H5.NO2), produced by the action of nitric acid on benzene, and called from its odor imitation oil of bitter almonds, or essence of mirbane. It is used in perfumery, and is manufactured in large quantities in the preparation of aniline. Fornerly called also nitrobenzol.
NITROBENZOL; NITROBENZOLENi`tro*ben"zol, Ni`tro*ben"zole, (, n.
Defn: See Nitrobenzene.
NITROCALCITENi`tro*cal"cite, n. Etym: [Nitro- + calcite.] (Min.)
Defn: Nitrate of calcium, a substance having a grayish white color, occuring in efforescences on old walls, and in limestone caves, especially where there exists decaying animal matter.
NITROCARBOLNi`tro*car"bol, n. Etym: [Nitro- + carbon + L. oleum oil.] (Chem.)
Defn: See Nitromethane.
NITROCELLULOSENi`tro*cel"lu*lose`, n. Etym: [Nitro- + cellulose.] (Chem.)
Defn: See Gun cotton, under Gun.
NITRO-CHLOROFORMNi`tro-chlo"ro*form, n. Etym: [Nitro- + chloroform.] (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Chlorpicrin.
NITROFORMNi"tro*form, n. Etym: [Nitro- + formyl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A nitro derivative of methane, analogous to chloroform, obtained as a colorless oily or crystalline substance, CH.(NO2)3, quite explosive, and having well-defined acid properties.
NITROGELATINNi`tro*gel"a*tin, n. Etym: [Nitro- + gelatin.]
Defn: An explosive consisting of gun cotton and camphor dissolved in nitroglycerin. [Written also nitrogelatine.]
NITROGENNi`tro*gen, n. Etym: [L. nitrum natron + -gen: cf. F. nitrogène. SeeNiter.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless nonmetallic element, tasteless and odorless, comprising four fifths of the atmosphere by volume. It is chemically very inert in the free state, and as such is incapable of supporting life (hence the name azote still used by French chemists); but it forms many important compounds, as ammonia, nitric acid, the cyanides, etc, and is a constituent of all organized living tissues, animal or vegetable. Symbol N. Atomic weight 14. It was formerly regarded as a permanent noncondensible gas, but was liquefied in 1877 by Cailletet of Paris, and Pictet of Geneva.
NITROGENIZENi"tro*gen*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nitrogenized; p. pr. & vb. n.Nitrogenizing.] (Chem.)
Defn: To combine, or impregnate, with nitrogen or its compounds.
NITROGENOUSNi*trog"e*nous, a. (Chem.)
Defn: of, pertaining to, or resembling, nitrogen; as, a nitrogenous principle; nitrogenous compounds. Nitrogenous foods. See 2d Note under Food, n., 1.
NITROGLYCERINNi`tro*glyc"er*in, n. Etym: [Nitro- + glycerinn.] (Chem.)
Defn: A liquid appearing like a heavy oil, colorless or yellowish, and consisting of a mixture of several glycerin salts of nitric acid, and hence more properly called glycerin nitrate. It is made by the action of nitric acid on glycerin in the presence of sulphuric acid. It is extremely unstable and terribly explosive. A very dilute solution is used in medicine as a neurotic under the name of glonion. [Written also nitroglycerine.]
Note: A great number of explosive compounds have been produced by mixing nitroglycerin with different substances; as, dynamite, or giant powder, nitroglycerin mixed with siliceous earth; lithofracteur, nitroglycerin with gunpowder, or with sawdust and nitrate of sodium or barium; Colonia powder, gunpowder with nitroglycerin; dualin, nitroglycerin with sawdust, or with sawdust and nitrate of potassium and some other substances; lignose, wood fiber and nitroglycerin.
NITROHYDROCHLORICNi`tro*hy`dro*chlo"ric, a. Etym: [Nitro- + hydrochloric.] (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or containing, nitric and hydrochloric acids. Nitrohydrochloric acid, a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids, usually in the proportion of one part of the former to three of the latter, and remarkable for its solvent action on gold and platinum; — called also nitromuriatic acid, and aqua regia.
NITROLNi"trol, n. (Chem.)
Defn: Any one of a series of hydrocarbons containing the nitro and the nitroso or isonitroso group united to the same carbon atom.
NITROLEUMNi*tro"le*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. nitrum natron + oleum oil.](Chem.)
Defn: Nitroglycerin.
NITROLICNi*trol"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: of, derived from, or designating, a nitrol; as, a nitrolic acid.
NITROMAGNESITENi`tro*mag"ne*site, n. Etym: [Nitro- + magnesite.] (Chem.)
Defn: Nitrate of magnesium, a saline efflorescence closely resembling nitrate of calcium.
NITROMETERNi*trom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Nitro- + -meter: cf. F. nitromètre.] (Chem.)
Defn: An apparatus for determining the amount of nitrogen or some of its compounds in any substance subjected to analysis; an azotometer.
NITROMETHANENi`tro*meth"ane, n. Etym: [Nitro- + methane.] (Chem.)
Defn: A nitro derivative of methane obtained as a mobile liquid; — called also nitrocarbol.
NITROMURIATICNi`tro*mu`ri*at"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. nitromuriatique. See Nitro-, andMuriatic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or composed of, nitric acid and muriatic acid; nitrohydrochloric. See Nitrohydrochloric.
NITROPHNOLNi`tro*ph"nol, n. Etym: [Nitro- + phenol.] (Chem.)
Defn: Any one of a series of nitro derivatives of phenol. They are yellow oily or crystalline substances and have well-defined acid properties, as picric acid.
NITROPRUSSICNi`tro*prus"sic ( or , a. Etym: [Nitro- + prussic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or designating, a complex acid called nitroprussic acid, obtained indirectly by the action of nitric acid on potassium ferrocyanide (yellow prussiate), as a red crystalline unstable substance. It forms salts called nitroprussides, which give a rich purple color with alkaline subphides.
NITROPRUSSIDENi`tro*prus"side, n.
Defn: See Nitroprussic.
NITROQUINOLNi`tro*qui"nol, n. Etym: [Nitro- + quine + -ol.] (Chem.)
Defn: A hypothetical nitro derivative of quinol or hydroquinone, not known in the free state, but forming a well defined series of derivatives.
NITROSACCHARINNi`tro*sac"cha*rin, n. Etym: [Nitro- + saccharin.] (Chem.)
Defn: An explosive nitro derivative of certain sugars, analogous to nitroglycerin, gun cotton, etc.
NITROSALICYLICNi`tro*sal`i*cyl"ic, a. Etym: [Nitro- + salicylic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, a nitro derivative of salicylic acid, called also anilic acid.
NITROSENi*trose", a. (Chem.)
Defn: See Nitrous.
NITROSO-Ni*tro"so-
Defn: (. (Chem.) A prefix (also used adjectively) designating the group or radical NO, called the nitroso group, or its compounds.
NITROSYLNi*tro"syl, n. Etym: [Nitroso- + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: the radical NO, called also the nitroso group. The term is sometimes loosely used to designate certain nitro compounds; as, nitrosyl sulphuric acid. Used also adjectively.
NITROSYLICNi`tro*syl"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or containing, nitrosyl; as, nitrosylic acid.
NITROUSNi"trous, a. Etym: [L. nitrosus full of natron: cf. F. nitreux. SeeNiter.]
1. Of, pertaining to, or containing, niter; of the quality of niter, or resembling it.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, any one of those compounds in which nitrogen has a relatively lower valence as contrasted with nitric compounds. Nitrous acid (Chem.), a hypothetical acid of nitrogen HNO2, not known in the free state, but forming a well known series of salts, viz., the nitrites. — Nitrous oxide. See Laughing gas.
NITROXYLNi*trox"yl, n. Etym: [Nitro- + oxygen + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: The group NO2, usually called the nitro group.
NITRUMNi"trum, n. Etym: [L., natron. See Niter.] (Old Chem.)
Defn: Niter. Nitrum flammans Etym: [L., flaming niter] (Old Chem.), ammonium nitrate; — probably so called because it deflagerates when suddenly heated.
NITRYNi"try, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Nitrous. [Obs.]
NITRYLNi"tryl, n. Etym: [Nitro- + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A name sometimes given to the nitro group or radical.
NITTERNit"ter, n. Etym: [From Nit.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The horselouse; an insect that deposits nits on horses.
NITTILYNit"ti*ly, adv.
Defn: Lousily. [Obs.] Haywar
NITTINGSNit"tings, n. pl. Etym: [Prob. from Nit.] (Mining)
Defn: The refuse of good ore. Raymond.
NITTYNit"ty, a.
Defn: Full of nits. B. Jonson.
NITTYNit"ty, a. Etym: [L. nitidus. See Nitid.]
Defn: Shining; elegant; spruce. [Obs.] "O sweet, nitty youth."Marston.
NIVALNi"val, a. Etym: [L. nivalis, fr. nix, nivis, snow.]
Defn: Abounding with snow; snowy. [Obs.] Johnson.
NIVEOUSNiv"e*ous, a. Etym: [L. niveus, fr. nix, nivis, snow.]
Defn: Snowy; resembling snow; partaking of the qualities of snow. SirT. Browne.
NIVOSENi`vose", n. Etym: [F., fr. L. nix. nivis, snow.]
Defn: The fourth month of the French republican calendar [1792-1806].It commenced December 21, and ended January 19. See VendÉmiaire.
NIXNix, n.; fem. Nixe (. Etym: [G. Cf. 1st Nick.] (Teut. Myth.)
Defn: One of a class of water spirits, commonly described as of a mischievous disposition. The treacherous nixes who entice men to a watery death. Tylor.
NIXIENix"ie, n.
Defn: See Nix.
NIXIE CLERKNixie clerk.
Defn: A post-office clerk in charge of the nixies.
NIZAM Ni*zam", n. Etym: [Hind. & Ar. nizam order, a ruler, fr. Ar. nazama arrange, govern.]
Defn: The title of the native sovereigns of Hyderabad, in India, since 1719.
NONo, a. Etym: [OE. no, non, the same word as E. none; cf. E. a, an.See None.]
Defn: Not any; not one; none.Let there be no strife … between me and thee. Gen. xiii. 8.That goodness is no name, and happiness no dream. Byron.
Note: In Old England before a vowel the form non or noon was used."No man." "Noon apothercary." Chaucer.
NO No, adv. Etym: [OE. no, na, AS. na; ne not + a ever. AS. ne is akin to OHG. ni, Goth. ni, Russ. ne, Ir., Gael. & W. ni, L. ne, gr. nh (in comp.), Skr. na, and also to E. prefix un-. sq. root 193. See Aye, and cf. Nay, Not, Nice, Nefarious.]
Defn: Nay; not; not at all; not in any respect or degree; — a word expressing negation, denial, or refusal. Before or after another negative, no is emphatic. We do no otherwise than we are willed. Shak. I am perplx'd and doubtful whether or no I dare accept this your congratulation. Coleridge. There is none righteous, no, not one. Rom. iii. 10. No! Nay, Heaven forbid. Coleridge.
NONo, n.; pl. Noes (.
1. A refusal by use of the wordd no; a denial.
2. A negative vote; one who votes in the negative; as, to call for the ayes and noes; the noes have it.
NOACHIANNo*a"chi*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the patriarch Noah, or to his time.
NOAHNo"ah, n. Etym: [Heb. Noakh rest.]
Defn: A patriarch of Biblical history, in the time of the Deluge. Noah's ark. (a) (Zoöl.) A marine bivalve shell (Arca Noæ), which somewhat resembles an ark, or ship, in form. (b) A child's toy, consisting of an ark-shaped box containing many different wooden animals.
NOBNob, n. Etym: [Cf. Knob.]
Defn: The head. [Low]
NOBNob, n. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. noble.]
Defn: A person in a superior position in life; a nobleman. [Slang]
NOBBILYNob"bi*ly, adv.
Defn: In a nobby manner. [Slang]
NOBBLERNob"bler, n.
Defn: A dram of spirits. [Australia]
NOBBYNob"by, a. Etym: [From 2d Nob.]
Defn: Stylish; modish; elegant; showy; aristocratic; fashionable.[Slang]
NOBEL PRIZESNo*bel" prizes.
Defn: Prizes for the encouragement of men and women who work for the interests of humanity, established by the will of A. B. Nobel (1833- 96), the Swedish inventor of dynamite, who left his entire estate for this purpose. They are awarded yearly for what is regarded as the most important work during the year in physics, chemistry, medicine or physiology, idealistic literature, and service in the interest of peace. The prizes, averaging $40,000 each, were first awarded in 1901.
NOBERT'S LINESNo"bert's lines. [After F. A. Nobert, German manufacturer inPomerania.]
Defn: Fine lines ruled on glass in a series of groups of different closeness of line, and used to test the power of a microscope.
NOBILIARYNo*bil"ia*ry, a. Etym: [F. nobiliare. See Noble.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the nobility. Fitzed. Hall.
NOBILIARYNo*bil"ia*ry, n.
Defn: A history of noble families.
NOBILIFYNo*bil"i*fy, v. t. Etym: [L. nobilis noble + -fy.]
Defn: To make noble; to nobiliate. [Obs.]
NOBILI'S RINGS No"bi*li's rings. [After Leopoldo Nobili, an Italian physicist who first described them in 1826.] (Physics)
Defn: Colored rings formed upon a metal plate by the electrolytic disposition of copper, lead peroxide, etc. They may be produced by touching with a pointed zinc rod a silver plate on which is a solution of copper sulphate.
NOBILITATENo*bil"i*tate, v. t. Etym: [L. nobilitatus, p.p. of nobilitare.]
Defn: To make noble; to ennoble; to exalt. [Obs.]
NOBILITATIONNo*bil`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. nobilitation.]
Defn: The act of making noble. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
NOBILITYNo*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. nobilitas: cf. OF. nobilité. See Noble.]
1. The quality or state of being noble; superiority of mind or of character; commanding excellence; eminence. Though she hated Amphialus, yet the nobility of her courage prevailed over it. Sir P. Sidney. They thought it great their sovereign to control, And named their pride nobility of soul. Dryden.
2. The state of being of high rank or noble birth; patrician dignity; antiquity of family; distinction by rank, station, or title, whether inherited or conferred. I fell on the same argument of preferring virtue to nobility of blood and titles, in the story of Sigismunda. Dryden.
3. Those who are noble; the collictive body of nobles or titled persons in a stste; the aristocratic and patrician class; the peerage; as, the English nobility.
NOBLE No"ble, a. [Compar. Nobler; superl. Noblest.] Etym: [F. noble, fr. L. nobilis that can be or is known, well known, famous, highborn, noble, fr.noscere to know. See know.]
1. Possessing eminence, elevation, dignity, etc.; above whatever is low, mean, degrading, or dishonorable; magnanimous; as, a noble nature or action; a noble heart. Statues, with winding ivy crowned, belong To nobler poets for a nobler song. Dryden.
2. Grand; stately; magnificent; splendid; as, a noble edifice.
3. Of exalted rank; of or pertaining to the nobility; distinguished from the masses by birth, station, or title; highborn; as, noble blood; a noble personage.
Note: Noble is used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, noble-born, noble-hearted, noble-minded. Noble metals (Chem.), silver, gold, and platinum; — so called from their freedom from oxidation and permanence in air. Copper, mercury, aluminium, palladium, rhodium, iridium, and osmium are sometimes included.
Syn. — Honorable; worthy; dignified; elevated; exalted; superior; sublime; great; eminent; illustrious; renowned; stately; splendid; magnificent; grand; magnanimous; generous; liberal; free.
NOBLENo"ble, n.
1. A person of rank above a commoner; a nobleman; a peer.
2. An English money of account, and, formerly, a gold coin, of the value of 6 s. 8 d. sterling, or about $1.61.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A European fish; the lyrie.
NOBLENo"ble, v. t.
Defn: To make noble; to ennoble. [Obs.]Thou nobledest so far forth our nature. Chaucer.
NOBLEMANNo"ble*man, n.; pl. Noblemen (.
Defn: One of the nobility; a noble; a peer; one who enjoys rank above a commoner, either by virtue of birth, by office, or by patent.
NOBLE-MINDEDNo"ble-mind`ed, a.
Defn: Having a noble mind; honorable; magnanimous.— No"ble-mind`ed*ness, n.
NOBLENESSNo"ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being noble; greatness; dignity;magnanimity; elevation of mind, character, or station; nobility;grandeur; stateliness.His purposes are full honesty, nobleness, and integrity. Jer. Taylor.
NOBLESS; NOBLESSENo*bless", No*blesse", n. Etym: [F. noblesse. See Noble.]
1. Dignity; greatness; noble birth or condition. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spenser. B. Jonson.
2. The nobility; persons of noble rank collectively, including males and females. Dryden.
NOBLEWOMANNo"ble*wom`an, n.; pl. Noblewomen (.
Defn: A female of noble rank; a peeress.
NOBLEYNo"bley, n. Etym: [OF. nobleie.]
1. The body of nobles; the nobility. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. Noble birth; nobility; dignity. [Obs.] Chaucer.
NOBLYNo"bly, adv.
1. Of noble extraction; as, nobly born or descended.
2. In a noble manner; with greatness of soul; heroically; with magnanimity; as, a deed nobly done.
3. Splendidly; magnificently.
Syn. — Illustriously; honorably; magnanimously; heroically; worthly; eminently; grandly.
NOBODYNo"bod*y, n.; pl. Nobodies. Etym: [No, a. + body.]
1. No person; no one; not anybody.
2. Hence: A person of no influence or importance; an insignificant or contemptible person. [Colloq.]
NOCAKENo"cake, n. Etym: [Corrupted fr. Indian nookhik meal. Palfrey.]
Defn: Indian corn parched, and beaten to powder, — used for food by the Northern American Indians.
NOCENTNo"cent, a. Etym: [L. nocens, p.pr. of nocere to hurt. See Nuisance,Noxious.]
1. Doing hurt, or having a tendency to hurt; hurtful; mischievous; noxious; as, nocent qualities. I. Watts.
2. Guilty; — the opposite of innocent. [Obs.] Foxe.
NOCENTNo"cent, n.
Defn: A criminal. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
NOCENTLYNo"cent*ly, adv.
Defn: Hurtfully; injuriosly. [R.]
NOCIVENo"cive, a. Etym: [L. nocivus, fr. nocere to hurt.]
Defn: Hurtful; injurious. [R.] Hooker.
NOCKNock, n. Etym: [See Notch.]
1. A notch. He took his arrow by the nock. Chapman.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: The upper fore corner of a boom sail or of a trysail.
NOCKNock, v. t.
Defn: To notch; to fit to the string, as an arrow; to string, as a bow. Chapman.
NOCTAMBULATION Noc*tam`bu*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. nox, noctis, night + ambulare to walk: cf. F. noctambulation.]
Defn: Somnambulism; walking in sleep. Quain.
NOCTAMBULISMNoc*tam"bu*lism, n.
Defn: Somnambulism.
NOCTAMBULISTNoc*tam"bu*list, n.
Defn: A somnambulist.
NOCTAMBULONoc*tam"bu*lo, n.
Defn: A noctambulist. [Obs.]
NOCTIDIALNoc*tid"i*al, a. Etym: [L. nox, noctos, night + dies day.]
Defn: Comprising a night and a day; a noctidial day. [R.] Holder.
NOCTIFEROUSNoc*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. noctifer; nox, noctis + ferre to bring.]
Defn: Bringing night. [Obs.] Johnson.
NOCTILIONIDNoc*til"i*o*nid, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A South American bat of the genus Noctilio, having cheek pouches and large incisor teeth.
NOCTILUCA Noc`ti*lu"ca, n.; pl. NoctilucÆ. Etym: [L. noctiluca something that shines by night, fr. nox, noctis, night + lucere to shine, lux light.]
1. (Old Chem.)
Defn: That which shines at night; — a fanciful name for phosphorus.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of marine flagellate Infusoria, remarkable for their unusually large size and complex structure, as well as for their phosphorescence. The brilliant diffuse phosphorescence of the sea is often due to myriads of Noctilucæ.
NOCTILUCINNoc*ti*lu"cin, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fatlike substance in certain marine animals, to which they owe their phosphorescent properties.
NOCTILUCINENoc`ti*lu"cine, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to Noctiluca.
NOCTILUCOUSNoc`ti*lu"cous, a.
Defn: Shining in the night.
NOCTIVAGANT Noc*tiv"a*gant, a. Etym: [L. nox, noctis, night + vagans, p.pr. of vagari to wander about.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Going about in the night; night-wandering.
NOCTIVAGATIONNoc*tiv`a*ga"tion, n.
Defn: A roving or going about in the night. Gayton.
NOCTIVAGOUS Noc*tiv"a*gous, a. Etym: [L. noctivagus; nox, noctis + vagus wandering.]
Defn: Noctivagant.
NOCTOGRAPHNoc"to*graph, n. Etym: [L. nox, noctis, night + -graph.]
1. A kind of writing frame for the blind.
2. An instrument or register which records the presence of watchmen on their beats. Knight.
NOCTUARYNoc"tu*a*ry, n. Etym: [L. noctu by night.]
Defn: A record of what passes in the night; a nightly journal; — distinguished from diary. [R.] Addison.
NOCTUIDNoc"tu*id, n. Etym: [From L. nox, noctis, night.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous moths of the family Noctuidæ, or Noctuælitæ, as the cutworm moths, and armyworm moths; — so called because they fly at night. — a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the noctuids, or family Noctuidæ.
NOCTULE Noc"tule, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. noctua a night owl, fr. nox, noctis, night.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large European bat (Vespertilio, or Noctulina, altivolans).
NOCTURN Noc"turn, n. Etym: [F. nocturne, fr. L. nocturnus. See Nocturnal, and cf. Nocturne.]
1. An office of devotion, or act of religious service, by night.
2. One of the portions into which the Psalter was divided, each consisting of nine psalms, designed to be used at a night service. Hook.
NOCTURNAL Noc*tur"nal, a. Etym: [L. nocturnalis, nocturnus, fr. nox, noctis, night. See Night, and cf. Nocturn.]
1. Of, pertaining to, done or occuring in, the night; as, nocturnal darkness, cries, expedition, etc.; — opposed to Ant: diurnal. Dryden.
2. Having a habit of seeking food or moving about at night; as, nocturnal birds and insects.
NOCTURNALNoc*tur"nal, n.
Defn: An instrument formerly used for taking the altitude of the stars, etc., at sea. I. Watts.
NOCTURNALLYNoc*tur"nal*ly, adv.
Defn: By night; nightly.
NOCTURNENoc*turne", n. Etym: [F. See Nocturn.] (Mus.)
Defn: A night piece, or serenade. The name is now used for a certain graceful and expressive form of instrumental composition, as the nocturne for orchestra in Mendelsohn's "Midsummer-Night's Dream" music.
NOCUMENTNoc"u*ment, n. Etym: [LL. nocumentum, fr. L. nocere to hurt.]
Defn: Harm; injury; detriment. [Obs.]
NOCUOUSNoc"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. nocuus, fr. nocere to hurt.]
Defn: Hurtful; noxious. [R.] — Noc"u*ous*ly, adv. [R.]
NOD Nod, v. i. Etym: [OE. nodden; cf. OHG. kn, genuot, to shake, and E. nudge.]
1. To bend or incline the upper part, with a quick motion; as, nodding plumes.
2. To incline the head with a quick motion; to make a slight bow; to make a motion of assent, of salutation, or of drowsiness, with the head; as, to nod at one.
3. To be drowsy or dull; to be careless. Nor is it Homer nods, but we that dream. Pope.
NODNod, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nodded; p. pr. & vb. n. Nodding.]
1. To incline or bend, as the head or top; to make a motion of assent, of salutation, or of drowsiness with; as, to nod the head.
2. To signify by a nod; as, to nod approbation.
3. To cause to bend. [Poetic] By every wind that nods the mountain pine. Keats.
NODNod, n.
1. A dropping or bending forward of the upper oart or top ofanything.Like a drunken sailor on a mast, Ready with every nod to tumble down.Shak.
2. A quick or slight downward or forward motion of the head, in assent, in familiar salutation, in drowsiness, or in giving a signal, or a command. A look or a nod only ought to correct them [the children] when they do amiss. Locke. Nations obey my word and wait my nod. Prior. The land of Nod, sleep.
NODALNod"al, a.
Defn: Of the nature of, or relating to, a node; as, a nodal point. Nodal line, Nodal point, in a vibrating plate or cord, that line or point which remains at rest while the other parts of the body are in a state of vibration.
NODATED No"da*ted, a. Etym: [L. nodatus, p.p. of nodare to make knotty, fr. nodus knot. See Node.]
Defn: Knotted. Nodated hyperbola (Geom.), a certain curve of the third order having two branches which cross each other, forming a node.
NODATIONNo*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. nodatio knottiness.]
Defn: Act of making a knot, or state of being knotted. [R.]
NODDERNod"der, n.
Defn: One who nods; a drowsy person.
NODDINGNod"ding, a.
Defn: Curved so that the apex hangs down; having the top bent downward.
NODDLENod"dle, n. Etym: [OE. nodil, nodle; perh. fr. nod, because the headis the nodding part of the body, or perh. akin to E. knot; cf. Prov.E. nod the nape of the neck.]
1. The head; — used jocosely or contemptuously. Come, master, I have a project in my noddle. L'Estrange.
2. The back part of the head or neck. [Obs.] For occasion … turneth a bald noddle, after she hath presented her locks in front, and no hold taken. Bacon.
NODDY Nod"dy, n.; pl. Noddies. Etym: [Prob. fr. nod to incline the head, either as in assent, or from drowsiness.]
1. A simpleton; a fool. L'Estrange.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) Any tern of the genus Anous, as A. stolidus. (b) The arctic fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis). Sometimes also applied to other sea birds.
3. An old game at cards. Halliwell.
4. A small two-wheeled one-horse vehicle.
5. An inverted pendulum consisting of a short vertical flat spring which supports a rod having a bob at the top; — used for detecting and measuring slight horizontal vibrations of a body to which it is attached.
NODENode, n. Etym: [L. nodus; perh. akin to E. knot. Cf. Noose, Nowed.]
1. A knot, a knob; a protuberance; a swelling.
2. Specifically: (a) (Astron.) One of the two points where the orbit of a planet, or comet, intersects the ecliptic, or the orbit of a satellite intersects the plane of the orbit of its primary. (b) (Bot.) The joint of a stem, or the part where a leaf or several leaves are inserted. (c) (Dialing) A hole in the gnomon of a dial, through which passes the ray of light which marks the hour of the day, the parallels of the sun's declination, his place in the ecliptic, etc. (d) (Geom.) The point at which a curve crosses itself, being a double point of the curve. See Crunode, and Acnode. (e) (Mech.) The point at which the lines of a funicular machine meet from different angular directions; — called also knot. W. R. Johnson. (f) (poet.) The knot, intrigue, or plot of a piece. (g) (Med.) A hard concretion or incrustation which forms upon bones attacked with rheumatism, gout, or syphilis; sometimes also, a swelling in the neighborhood of a joint. Dunglison. (h) (Mus) One of the fixed points of a sonorous string, when it vibrates by aliquot parts, and produces the harmonic tones; nodal line or point. (i) (Zoöl.) A swelling. Ascending node (Astron.), the node at which the body is passing northerly, marked with the symbol &astascending;, called the Dragon's head. Called also northern node. — Descending node, the node at which the body is moving southwardly, marked thus &astdescending;, called Dragon's tail. — Line of nodes, a straight line joining the two nodes of an orbit.
NODICALNod"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the nodes; from a node to the same node again; as, the nodical revolutions of the moon. Nodical month. See Lunar month, under Month.
NODOSARINENo`do*sa"rine, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Resembling in form or structure a foraminiferous shell of the genus Nodosaria. — n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A foraminifer of the genus Nodosaria or of an allied genus.
NODOSENo*dose", a. Etym: [L. nodosus, fr. nodus knot.]
1. Knotty; having numerous or conspicuous nodes.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having nodes or prominences; having the alternate joints enlarged, as the antennæ of certain insects.
NODOSITYNo*dos"i*ty (, n. Etym: [L. nodositas.]
1. The quality of being knotty or nodose; resemblance to a node or swelling; knottiness. Holland.
2. A knot; a node.
NODOSOUS; NODOUSNo*do"sous, No"dous, a.
Defn: Nodose; knotty; knotted. [Obs.]
NODULARNod"u*lar, a. Etym: [Cf. F. nodulaire.]
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or in the form of, a nodule or knot.
NODULENod"ule, n. Etym: [L. nodulus, dim. of nodus knot: cf. F. nodule.]
Defn: A rounded mass or irregular shape; a little knot or lump.
NODULEDNod"uled, a.
Defn: Having little knots or lumps.
NODULOSE; NODULOUSNod"u*lose`, Nod"u*lous, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Having small nodes or knots; diminutively nodose.
NOELNo"el, n. Etym: [F. noël, L. natalis birthday, fr. natalis natal. SeeNatal.]
Defn: Same as Nowel.
NOEMATACHOGRAPHNo*e`ma*tach"o*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. -graph.]
Defn: An instrument for determining and registering the duration of more or less complex operations of the mind. Dunglison.
NOEMATIC; NOEMATICALNo`e*mat"ic, No`e*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. Noetic.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the understanding. [Obs.] Cudworth.
NOEMICSNo*e"mics, n. Etym: [Gr. Noetic.]
Defn: The science of the understanding; intellectual science.
NOETIANNo*e"tian, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of the followers of Noetus, who lived in the third century.He denied the distinct personality of the Father, Son, and HolyGhost.
NOETIC; NOETICALNo*et"ic, No*et"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the intellect; intellectual. I would employ the word noetic to express all those cognitions which originate in the mind itself. Sir W. Hamilton.
NOFNof. Etym: [Contr. fr. ne of.]
Defn: Not of; nor of. [Obs.]
NOGNog, n. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. noggin.]
1. A noggin.
2. A kind of strong ale. Halliwell.
NOGNog, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
1. A wooden block, of the size of a brick, built into a wall, as a hold for the nails of woodwork.
2. One of the square logs of wood used in a pile to support the roof of a mine.
3. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: A treenail to fasten the shores.
NOGNog, v. t. Etym: [From 2d Nog.]
1. To fill in, as between scantling, with brickwork.
2. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: To fasten, as shores, with treenails.
NOGGENNog"gen, a. Etym: [Prop., made of hemp, fr. Prov. E. nogs hemp.]
Defn: Made of hemp; hence, hard; rough; harsh. [Obs.] Johnson.
NOGGINNog"gin, n. Etym: [Ir. noigin, or Gael. noigean. Cf. lst Nog.]
1. A small mug or cup.
2. A measure equivalent to a gill. [Prov. Eng.]
NOGGINGNog"ging, n. Etym: [From Nog, v. t.]
Defn: Rough brick masonry used to fill in the interstices of a wooden frame, in building.
NOGHTNoght, adv.
Defn: Not. [Obs.] Chaucer.
NOIANCE Noi"ance, n. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. OE. anoiance.] [Written also noyance.]
Defn: Annoyance. [Obs.] Tusser.
NOIENoie, v. t.
Defn: To annoy. See Noy. [Obs.]
NOIERNoi"er, n.
Defn: An annoyer. [Obs.] Tusser.
NOIL Noil, n. [Prob. fr. Prov. E. oil, ile, ail, a beard of grain (OE. eil, AS. egl) combined with the indef. article, an oil becoming a noil.]
Defn: A short or waste piece or knot of wool separated from the longer staple by combing; also, a similar piece or shred of waste silk.
NOILSNoils, n. pl. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: Waste and knots of wool removed by the comb; combings.
NOINTNoint, v. t.
Defn: To anoint. [Obs.] Sir T. North.
NOIOUSNoi"ous, a.
Defn: Annoying; troublesome. [Obs.]
NOISE Noise, n. Etym: [F. noise noisy strife, quarrel, brawl, fr. L. nausea seasickness, sickness, disgust. See Nausea.]
1. Sound of any kind. The heavens turn about in a most rapid motion without noise to us perceived. Bacon.
Note: Noise is either a sound of too short a duration to be determined, like the report of a cannon; or else it is a confused mixture of many discordant sounds, like the rolling of thunder or the noise of the waves. Nevertheless, the difference between sound and noise is by no means precise. Ganot.
2. Especially, loud, confused, or senseless sound; clamor; din.
3. Loud or continuous talk; general talk or discussion; rumor; report. "The noise goes." Shak. What noise have we had about transplantation of diseases and transfusion of blood! T. Baker. Soerates lived in Athens during the great plague which has made so much noise in all ages. Spectator.
4. Music, in general; a concert; also, a company of musicians; a band. [Obs.] Milton. The king has his noise of gypsies. B. Jonson.
Syn.— Cry; outcry; clamor; din; clatter; uproar.
NOISENoise, v. i.
Defn: To sound; to make a noise. Milton.
NOISENoise, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Noised; p pr. & vb. n. Noising.]
1. To spread by rumor or report. All these sayings were noised abroad. Luke i. 65.
2. To disturb with noise. [Obs.] Dryden.
NOISEFULNoise"ful, a.
Defn: Loud; clamorous. [Obs.] Dryden.
NOISELESSNoise"less, a.
Defn: Making, or causing, no noise or bustle; without noise; silent;as, the noiseless foot of time.So noiseless would I live. Dryden.— Noise"less*ly, adv.— Noise"less*ness, n.
NOISETTENoi*sette", n. (Bot.)
Defn: A hybrid rose produced in 1817, by a French gardener, Noisette, of Charleston, South Carolina, from the China rose and the musk rose. It has given rise to many fine varieties, as the Lamarque, the Marechal (or Marshal) Niel, and the Cloth of gold. Most roses of this class have clustered flowers and are of vigorous growth. P. Henderson.
NOISILYNois"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a noisy manner.
NOISINESSNois"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being noisy.
NOISOMENoi"some, a. Etym: [For noysome, fr. noy for annoy. See Annoy.]
1. Noxious to health; hurtful; mischievous; unwholesome; insalubrious; destructive; as, noisome effluvia. "Noisome pestilence." Ps. xci. 3.
2. Offensive to the smell or other senses; disgusting; fetid. "Foulbreath is noisome." Shak.— Noi"some*ly, adv.— Noi"some*ness, n.
Syn. — Noxious; unwholesome; insalubrious; mischievous; destructive. — Noisome, Noxious. These words have to a great extent been interchanged; but there is a tendency to make a distinction between them, applying noxious to things that inflict evil directly; as, a noxious plant, noxious practices, etc., and noisome to things that operate with a remoter influence; as, noisome vapors, a noisome pestilence, etc. Noisome has the additional sense of disqusting. A garden may be free from noxious weeds or animals; but, if recently covered with manure, it may be filled with a noisome smell.
NOISYNois"y, a. [Compar. Noisier; superl. Noisiest.] Etym: [From Noise.]
1. Making a noise, esp. a loud sound; clamorous; vociferous; turbulent; boisterous; as, the noisy crowd.