Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary 1908/N Nicknack



the fourteenth letter and eleventh consonant of our alphabet, a nasal-dental: (chem.) the symbol for nitrogen: (math.) an indefinite constant whole number, esp. the degree of a quantic or an equation: as a numeral, formerly, N=90, and ( N )=90,000.

Na, nä, a Scotch form of no.

Nab, nab, v.t. to seize suddenly:—pr.p. pa.p. nabbed. [Sw. nappa; Dan. nappe, to catch.]

Nab, nab, n. a hill-top: the projecting cavity fixed to the jamb of a door to receive the latch or bolt: (obs.) a hat. [For knab=knap.]

Nabatæan, nab-a-tē′an, adj. of or pertaining to a once powerful Arab people who formerly dwelt on the east and south-east of Palestine, identified by some with the Nebaioth of Isa. lx. 7, the Nabathites of 1 Maccab. v. 25.—Also .

Nabk, nabk, n. one of the plants in the crown of thorns (Zizyphus Spina-Christi). [Prob. Ar.]

Nabob, nā′bob, n. a deputy or governor under the Mogul Empire: a European who has enriched himself in the East: any man of great wealth. [Corr. of Hind. nawwâb, a deputy, from Ar. nawwāb, pl. (used as sing.) of nāib, a deputy.]

Nacarat, nak′a-rat, n. a light-red colour, scarlet: a fabric of this colour. [Fr.]

Nacket, nak′et, n. (Scot.) a small cake, luncheon.

Nacre, nā′kr, n. mother-of-pearl.—adj. iridescent.—adj. , consisting of nacre: having a pearly lustre. [Fr.,—Ar. nakīr, hollowed.]

Nadir, nā′dir, n. the point of the heavens diametrically opposite to the zenith: the lowest point of anything. [Fr.,—Ar. nazīr, from nazara, to be like.]

Nævus, nē′vus, n. a birth-mark: a congenital growth strictly on a part of the skin, whether a pigmentary nævus or mole, or a vascular naevus or overgrowth of capillary blood-vessels—also Mother-spot or Birth-mark—also Næve, Neve:—pl. '.—adjs. ', ', '. [L.]

Nag, nag, n. a horse, but particularly a small one—(Scot.) Naig: (Shak.) a jade. [M. E. nagge—Mid. Dut. negge, negghe (mod. Dut. negge); cf. Neigh.]

Nag, nag, v.t. to worry or annoy continually: to tease or vex: to find fault with constantly:—pr.p. pa.p. nagged.—n. . [Cf. Gnaw.]

Naga, nä′ga, n. the name of deified serpents in Hindu mythology.

Nagari. See Deva-nagari.

Naiad, nā′yad, n. a water-nymph or a goddess, presiding over rivers and springs:—pl. . [L. and Gr. naias, naiados, from naein, to flow.]

Naiant, nā′yant, adj. floating: (her.) swimming, as a fish placed horizontally across a shield. [L. nans, nantis, pr.p. of natāre, to swim.]

Naïf, nä-ēf′, Naïve, nä-ēv′, adj. with natural or unaffected simplicity, esp. in thought, manners, or speech: artless: ingenuous.—adv. .—n. Naïveté natural simplicity and unreservedness of thought, manner, or speech. [Fr. naïf, fem, naïve—L. nativus, native—nasci, natus, to be born.]

Nail, nāl, n. one of the flattened, elastic, horny plates placed as protective coverings on the dorsal surface of the terminal phalanges of the fingers and toes: the claw of a bird or other animal: a thin pointed piece of metal for fastening wood: a measure of length (2¼ inches):—v.t. to fasten with nails: to make certain: to confirm, pin down, hold fast: to catch or secure through promptitude; to trip up or expose.—ns. ', a small brush for cleaning the nails; ', one whose trade is to make nails; ', a place where nails are made.—adj. ', having a head like that of a nail: formed like nail-heads, said of ornamental marks on cloth and on certain kinds of mouldings (dog-tooth).—n. , a strip cut from an iron plate to be made into nails: a trade name for a strong kind of manufactured tobacco.—Nail to the counter, to expose publicly as false, from the habit of nailing a counterfeit coin to a shop counter.—Drive a nail in one's coffin (see Coffin); Hit the nail on the head, to touch the exact point; On the nail, on the spot: immediately: without delay. [A.S. nægel; Ger. nagel.]

Nainsell, nān′sel, n. own self—Highland Scotch.

Nainsook, nān′sōōk, n. a kind of muslin like jaconet, both plain and striped. [Hind.]

Naissant, nās′sant, adj. (her.) rising or coming forth, as an animal newly born or about to be born. [Fr., pr.p. of naître—L. nasci, natus, to be born.]

Naïve. See Naïf.

Naked, nā′ked, adj. without clothes: uncovered: open to view: unconcealed: evident: unarmed: defenceless: unprovided: without addition or ornament: simple: artless: (bot.) without the usual covering.—adv. '.—n. '.—Naked eye, the eye unassisted by glasses of any kind; Naked lady, the meadow-saffron.—Stark naked, entirely naked. [A.S. nacod; Ger. nackt.]

Naker, nā′ker, n. a kettledrum. [O. Fr.,—Ar.]

Nam, nam, n. an obsolete law term for distraint.—n. . [A.S. niman, pa.t. nam, to take.]

Namby-pamby, nam′bi-pam′bi, n. silly talking or writing.—adj. sentimental, affectedly pretty.—v.t. to coddle. [H. Carey's nickname for Ambrose Philips (1671-1749), from his childish odes to children.]

Name, nām, n. that by which a person or a thing is known or called: a designation: that which is said of a person: reputed character: reputation: fame: celebrity: remembrance: a race or family: appearance, not reality: authority: behalf: assumed character of another: (gram.) a noun.—v.t. to give a name to: to designate: to speak of or to call by name: to mention for a post or office: to nominate: to mention formally by name a person in the House of Commons as guilty of disorderly conduct.—adjs. ', '; ', without a name: undistinguished: indescribable; ', distinguished.—adv. '.—n. '.—adv. ', by name: that is to say.—ns. ', a plate of metal having on it the name of a person, usually affixed to a door or a gate; '; ', one bearing the same name as another for his sake.—Name the day, to fix a day, esp. for a marriage.—Call names, to nickname; Christian name (see Christian); In name of, on behalf of: by the authority of; Proper name, a name given to a particular person, place, or thing; Take a name in vain, to use a name lightly or profanely. [A.S. nama; Ger. name; L. nomen.]

Nancy, nan′si, n. an effeminate young man, often a 'Miss Nancy.'—Nancy Pretty, a corruption of none so pretty, the Saxifraga umbrosa.

Nandine, nan′din, n. a small West African paradoxure, with spotted sides.

Nandu, Nandoo, nan′dōō, n. the South American ostrich.

Nanism, nā′nizm, n. dwarfishness.—n. ', the artificial dwarfing of trees.—adj. '. [Fr.,—L.,—Gr. nanos, a dwarf.]

Nankeen, nan-kēn′, n. a buff-coloured cotton cloth first made at Nankin in China: (pl.) clothes, esp. breeches, made of nankeen.—Also .

Nanny, nan′i, n. a female goat.—Also .

Nap, nap, n. a short sleep.—v.i. to take a short sleep: to feel drowsy and secure:—pr.p. pa.p. napped.—Catch napping, to come upon unprepared. [A.S. hnappian; cf. Ger. nicken, to nod.]

Nap, nap, n. the woolly substance on the surface of cloth: the downy covering of plants.—v.t. to raise a nap on.—ns. ', a machine for testing the wearing strength of cloth; '.—adj. . [M. E. noppe: the same as knop.]

Nap, nap, n. a game of cards—Napoleon (q.v.).

Nap, nap, v.t. to seize, to take hold of, steal.

Nape, nāp, n. the back upper part of the neck, perhaps so called from the knob or projecting point of the neck behind. [Knap, knob.]

Napery, nā′per-i, n. linen, esp. for the table: table-cloths, napkins, &c. [O. Fr.,—Low L. naparia—napa, a cloth—L. mappa, a napkin.]

Naphtha, naf′tha, or nap′tha, n. a clear, inflammable liquid distilled from petroleum, wood, coal-tar, &c.: rock-oil.—n. ', a grayish-white, inflammable substance obtained by the distillation of coal-tar.—adj. ', pertaining to, or derived from, naphthalene.—v.t. '.—ns. ', . [L.,—Gr.,—Ar. naft.]

Napierian, nā-pē′ri-an, adj. pertaining to John Napier of Merchiston (1550-1617), the inventor of logarithms.—Napier's bones, or rods, an invention of Napier's for performing mechanically the operations of multiplication and division, by means of sets of rods.

Napiform, nāp′i-form, adj. shaped like a turnip: large and round above and slender below.—adj. , with leaves like the turnip. [L. napus, a turnip.]

Napkin, nap′kin, n. a cloth for wiping the hands: a handkerchief.—n. , a ring in which a table-napkin is rolled. [Dim. of Fr. nappe.]

Napless, nap′les, adj. without nap: threadbare.

Naples-yellow, nā′plz-yel′lō, n. a light-yellow pigment consisting of antimoniate of lead, originally made in Italy by a secret process.

Napoleon, na-pō′lē-on, n. a French gold coin worth 20 francs, or about 15s. 10½d.: a French modification of the game of euchre, each player receiving five cards and playing for himself: a kind of rich iced cake.—adj. , relating to Napoleon I. or III., the Great or the Little.—ns. '; '.—Go nap, to declare all five tricks—success rewarded by double payment all round.

Nappy, nap′i, adj. heady, strong: tipsy.—n. strong ale. [Prob. from nap, a sleep.]

Nappy, nap′i, adj. (Scot.) brittle. [Cf. Knap.]

Napron, nap′ron, n. (Spens.) an apron.

Narcissus, nar-sis′us, n. a genus of plants of the Amaryllis family, comprising the daffodils. [L.,—Gr. narkissos—narkē, torpor.]

Narcolepsy, nar′kō-lep-si, n. a nervous disorder marked by frequent short attacks of irresistible drowsiness.

Narcotic, nar-kot′ik, adj. having power to produce torpor, sleep, or deadness.—n. a medicine producing sleep or stupor.—n. ', the stupefying effect of a narcotic.—adv. '.—n. ', one of the organic bases or alkaloids occurring in opium.—v.t. '.—n. , the influence of narcotics, or the effects produced by their use. [Fr.,—Gr. narkē, torpor.]

Nard, närd, n. an aromatic plant usually called Spikenard: an ointment prepared from it.—adj. . [Fr.,—L. nardus—Gr. nardos—Pers. nard—Sans. nalada, from Sans. nal, to smell.]

Nardoo, när-dōō′, n. an Australian cryptogamic plant whose spore-cases are eaten by the natives.

Nardus, när′dus, n. a genus of grasses, having but one species, Nardus stricta, mat-grass.

Narghile, när′gi-le, n. an Eastern tobacco-pipe, in which the smoke is passed through water.—Also ', ', . [Pers.]

Naris, nā′ris, n. a nostril:—pl. '.—adjs. ', '.—n. ', the horny nasal sheath of the beak of some birds.—adj. . [L.]

Narrate, na-rāt′, or nar′-, v.t. to tell, to give an account of.—adj. ', capable of being told.—n. ', act of telling: that which is told: an orderly account of what has happened.—adj. ', narrating: giving an account of any occurrence: inclined to narration: story-telling.—n. that which is narrated: a continued account of any occurrence: story.—adv. '.—n. ', one who narrates: one who tells or states facts, &c.—adj. ', like narrative: consisting of narrative. [Fr.,—L. narrāre, -ātum—gnārus, knowing.]

Narre, när, adj. (Spens.) an older form of near.

Narrow, nar′ō, adj. of little breadth: of small extent from side to side: limited: contracted in mind: bigoted: not liberal: selfish: within a small distance: almost too small: close: accurate: careful.—n. (oftener used in the pl.) a narrow passage, channel, or strait.—v.t. to make narrow: to contract or confine.—v.i. to become narrow: to reduce the number of stitches in knitting.—adj. ', denoting a railroad of less width than 4 ft. 8½ in.—n. ', the act of making less in breadth: the state of being contracted: the part of anything which is made narrower.—adv. '.—adj. ', of a narrow or illiberal mind.—ns. '; '.—adjs. ' (Shak.), scrutinising closely, inquisitive; ', illiberal.—Narrow cloth, cloth, esp. woollen, of less than 54 inches in width; Narrow work, in mining, the making of passages, air-shafts, &c. [A.S. nearu; not conn. with near, but prob. with nerve, snare.]

Narthex, nar′theks, n. a former genus of umbelliferous plants, now included in Ferula: a portico or lobby in an early Christian or Oriental church or basilica. [L.,—Gr., narthēx.]

Narwhal, när′hwal, Narwal, när′wal, n. the sea-unicorn, a mammal of the whale family with one large projecting tusk. [Dan. narhval—Ice. náhvalr, 'corpse-whale,' from the creature's pallid colour (Ice. nár, corpse).]

Nary, ner′i, a provincial corruption of ne'er a, never a.

Nas, nas, an obsolete corruption of ne has; of ne was.

Nasal, nā′zal, adj. belonging to the nose: affected by, or sounded through, the nose.—n. a letter or sound uttered through the nose: the nose-piece in a helmet.—n. ', the act of uttering with a nasal sound.—v.i. ', to render nasal, as a sound: to insert a nasal letter into.—n. '.—adv. ', by or through the nose.—adjs. ', having a horn on the nose, as a rhinoceros; ', nose-shaped.—n. ', the median point of the naso-frontal suture.—adjs. ', pertaining to the nose and base of the skull; ', pertaining to the nose and eye, nasorbital; ', pertaining to the nasal bone and the frontal bone; ', pertaining to the nose and the upper lip; ', pertaining to the nose and to tears, as the duct which carries tears from the eyes to the nose; , pertaining to the nose and to the palate or palate-bones. [Fr.,—L. nasus, the nose.]

Nasard, naz′ard, n. a mutation-stop in organ-building.—Also .

Nascent, nas′ent, adj. springing up: arising: beginning to exist or to grow.—n. , the beginning of production: birth or origin. [L. nascens, -entis, pr.p. of nasci, natus, to be born.]

Naseberry, nāz′ber-i, n. an American tropical tree.—Also ', '. [Sp. níspero—L. mespilus, medlar.]

Nasturtium, nas-tur′shi-um, n. the water-cress. [L., nasus, the nose, torquēre, tortum, to twist.]

Nasty, nas′ti, adj. dirty: filthy: obscene: disagreeable to the taste or smell: difficult to deal with: ill-natured: nauseous.—adv. '.—n. '. [Old form nasky, soft; cf. prov. Swed. snaskig, nasty, Low Ger. nask, nasty.]

Nasute, nā-sūt′, adj. having a long snout: keen-scented.

Natal, nā′tal, adj. pertaining to the nates or buttocks.—n.pl. ', the buttocks.—adj. '. [L. natis, the rump.]

Natal, nā′tal, adj. pertaining to birth: native: presiding over birthdays.—adj. ', pertaining to a birthday.—n. ', birth-rate. [Fr.,—L. natalis—nasci, natus, to be born.]

Natant, nā′tant, adj. floating on the surface, as leaves of water-plants: (her.) in a horizontal position, as if swimming.—n. ', swimming.—n.pl. ', the swimming-birds.—adj. ', swimming: adapted to swim.—n. ', a swimming-school.—adj. , pertaining to swimming: having the habit of swimming. [L. natans, -antis, pr.p. of natāre, inten. of nāre, to swim.]

Natch, nach, n. (prov.) the rump.

Natch, nach, n. a provincial form of notch.

Nathless, nath′les, adj. not the less: nevertheless.—Also . [A.S. ná thý læs, not the less.]

Nathmore, nath′mōr, adv. (Spens.) not or never the more.—Also . [A.S. ná thý mára.]

Nation, nā′shun, n. a body of people born of the same stock: the people inhabiting the same country, or under the same government: a race: a great number: a division of students in a university for voting purposes at Aberdeen and Glasgow. [Fr.,—L. nation-em,—nasci, natus, to be born.]

National, nash′un-al, adj. pertaining to a nation: public: general: attached to one's own country.—n. ', the act of nationalising, as of railways, private property, &c.: the state of being nationalised.—v.t. ', to make national: to make a nation of.—ns. '; ', one who strives after national unity or independence, esp. as in Ireland for more or less separation from Great Britain: an advocate of nationalism: ', birth or membership in a particular country: separate existence as a nation: a nation, race of people: national character.—adv. '.—n. .—National air, anthem, the popular song by which a people's patriotic feelings are expressed; National Church, the church established by law in a country; National Convention, the sovereign assembly which sat from Sept. 21, 1792, to Oct. 26, 1795, after the abolition of monarchy in France; National debt, money borrowed by the government of a country and not yet paid; National flag, or ensign, the principal flag of a country; National guard, a force which took part in the French Revolution, first formed in 1789.

Native, nā′tiv, adj. arising or appearing by birth: produced by nature: pertaining to the time or place of birth: belonging by birth, hereditary, natural, original: occurring uncombined with other substances, as metals.—n. one born in any place: an original inhabitant: (pl.) oysters raised in artificial beds.—adv. '.—ns. '; ', the belief that the mind possesses some ideas or forms of thought that are inborn, and not derived from sensation: the disposition to favour the natives of a country in preference to immigrants; '.—adj. '.—n. ', state or fact of being born: time, place, and manner of birth: the birth of Christ, hence the festival of His birth, Christmas—also a picture representing His birth: state or place of being produced: a horoscope.—Native rock, stone not yet quarried. [Fr.,—L. nativus—nasci, natus, to be born.]

Natrix, nā′triks, n. a genus of colubrine snakes. [L.,—natāre, to swim.]

Natrolite, nat′ro-līt, n. one of the most common of the group of minerals known as Zeolites.

Natron, nā′trun, n. native carbonate of sodium, or mineral alkali, the nitre of the Bible.—n. , an instrument for measuring the quantity of soda in salts of potash and soda. [Fr.,—L. nitrum—Gr. nitron.]

Natter, nat′ėr, v.t. and v.i. (prov.) to find fault.—adjs. ', ', peevish.

Natterjack, nat′ėr-jak, n. a common European toad. [Cf. Adder.]

Nattes, nats, n.pl. surface decoration or diaper resembling plaited or interlaced work. [Fr.]

Natty, nat′i, adj. trim, tidy, neat, spruce.—adv. '.—n. '. [Allied to neat.]

Natural, nat′ū-ral, adj. pertaining to, produced by, or according to nature: inborn: not far-fetched: not acquired: tender: unaffected: in a state of nature, unregenerate: (math.) having 1 as the base of the system, of a function or number: illegitimate: (mus.) according to the usual diatonic scale.—n. an idiot: (mus.) a character which removes the effect of a preceding sharp or flat: a white key in keyboard musical instruments.—adj. ', native.—n.pl. ', the sexual organs.—n. '.—v.t. ', to make natural or easy: to adapt to a different climate or to different conditions of life: to grant the privileges of natural-born subjects to.—ns. ', mere state of nature: a close following of nature, without idealisation, in painting, sculpture, fiction, &c.: the belief that natural religion is of itself sufficient; ', one who studies nature, more particularly zoology and botany: a believer in naturalism.—adj. ', pertaining to, or in accordance with, nature: belonging to the doctrines of naturalism.—adv. '.—n. .—Natural history, originally the description of all that is in nature, now used of the sciences that deal with the earth and its productions—botany, zoology, and mineralogy, esp. zoology; Natural law, the sense of right and wrong which arises from the constitution of the mind of man, as distinguished from the results of revelation or legislation; Natural numbers, the numbers 1, 2, 3, and upwards; Natural order, in botany, an order or division belonging to the natural system of classification, based on a consideration of all the organs of the plant; Natural philosophy, the science of nature, of the physical properties of bodies: physics; Natural scale, a scale of music written without sharps or flats; Natural science, the science of nature, as distinguished from that of mind (mental and moral science), and from pure science (mathematics); Natural selection, a supposed operation of the laws of nature, the result of which is the 'survival of the fittest,' as if brought about by intelligent design; Natural system, a classification of plants and animals according to real differences in structure; Natural theology, or Natural religion, the body of theological truths discoverable by reason without revelation.

Nature, nā′tūr, n. the power which creates and which regulates the material world: the power of growth: the established order of things, the universe: the qualities of anything which make it what it is: constitution: species: conformity to nature, truth, or reality: inborn mind, character, instinct, or disposition: vital power, as of man or animal: course of life: nakedness: a primitive undomesticated condition.—adj. ', having a certain temper or disposition: used in compounds, as good-natured.—ns. ', a deity personifying some force of physical nature; ', a myth symbolising natural phenomena; ', the process of printing in colours from plates that have been impressed with some object of nature, as a plant, leaf, &c.; ', ', worship of the powers of nature.—n. '.—adj. '.—Debt of nature, death; Ease, or Relieve, nature, to evacuate the bowels. [Fr.,—L. natura—nasci, natus, to be born.]

Naught, nawt, n. no-whit, nothing.—adv. in no degree.—adj. of no value or account: worthless: bad.—Be naught, an obsolete form of malediction; Come to naught, to come to nothing, to fail; Set at naught, to treat as of no account, to despise. [Another form of nought. A.S. náht, náwiht—ná, not, wiht, a whit.]

Naughty, nawt′i, adj. bad in conduct or speech: mischievous: perverse: disagreeable.—adv. '.—n. '.

Naumachy, naw′ma-ki, n. a sea-fight: a show representing a sea-fight.—Also . [Gr. naus, a ship, machē, a fight.]

Nauplius, naw′pli-us, n. a stage of development of low Crustaceans, as cirripeds, &c.:—pl. '.—adjs. ', . [L., a kind of shell-fish—Gr. Nauplios, a son of Poseidon, naus, a ship, plein, to sail.]

Nauropometer, naw-rō-pom′e-tėr, n. an instrument for measuring a ship's heeling or inclination at sea. [Gr. naus, a ship, hropē, inclination, metron, measure.]

Nauscopy, naw′skop-i, n. the art of sighting ships at great distances. [Gr. naus, a ship, skopein, to see.]

Nausea, naw′she-a, n. sea-sickness: any sickness of the stomach, with a tendency to vomit: loathing.—adj. ', producing nausea.—n. a substance having this quality.—v.i. ', to feel nausea or disgust.—v.t. to loathe: to strike with disgust.—n. '.—adjs. ', causing nausea or loathing; ', producing nausea: disgusting: loathsome.—adv. '.—n. . [L.,—Gr. nausia, sea-sickness—naus, a ship.]

Nautch, nawch, n. a kind of ballet-dance performed by professional dancers known as  in India: any form of stage entertainment with dancing. [Hind. nāch, dance.]

Nautical, naw′tik-al, adj. of or pertaining to ships, to sailors, or to navigation: naval: marine.—adv. .—Nautical almanac, an almanac giving information specially useful to sailors; Nautical mile, one-sixtieth of a degree measured at the Equator (=about 2025 yards). [L. nauticus—Gr. nautikos—naus; cog. with L. navis, a ship.]

Nautilus, naw′ti-lus, n. a Cephalopod found in the southern seas, once believed to sail by means of the expanded tentacular arms: a kind of diving-bell sinking or rising by means of condensed air:—pl. ', or '.—adjs. ', '.—Paper nautilus, any species of Argonauta. [L.,—Gr. nautilos, a sailor.]

Naval, nā′val, adj. pertaining to ships: consisting of, or possessing, ships: marine: nautical: belonging to the navy.—Naval brigade, a body of seamen so arranged as to be able to serve on land; Naval officer, an officer on board a man-of-war: a custom-house officer of high rank in the United States; Naval tactics, the science and methods of managing and moving squadrons of ships. [Fr.,—L. navalis—navis, a ship.]

Nave, nāv, n. the middle or main body of a church, distinct from the aisles or wings.—n. , a Greek admiral. [Fr. nef—L. navis, a ship.]

Nave, nāv, n. the hub or piece of wood, &c., in the centre of a wheel, through which the axle passes.—v.t. to form as a nave. [A.S. nafu, nave; cf. Dut. naaf, Ger. nabe.]

Navel, nāv′l, n. the mark or depression in the centre of the lower part of the abdomen, at first a small projection.—n. , the umbilical cord. [A.S. nafela, dim. of nafu, nave.]

Navew, nā′vū, n. the wild turnip.

Navicular, nav-ik′ū-lar, adj. pertaining to small ships or boats: (bot.) boat-shaped: scaphoid.—n. a bone in man and animals, so called from its shape.—n. , an incense-boat.—Navicular disease, an inflammation, often rheumatic, of the small bone—the navicular—in horses, below which passes the strong flexor tendon of the foot. [L. navicularis—navicula, dim. of navis, a ship.]

Navigate, nav′i-gāt, v.t. to steer or manage a ship in sailing: to sail upon.—v.i. to go in a vessel or ship: to sail.—ns. ', '.—adj. ', that may be passed by ships or vessels.—adv. '.—ns. ', the act, science, or art of sailing ships: shipping generally: a canal or artificial waterway; ', one who navigates or sails: one who directs the course of a ship.—Navigation laws, the laws passed from time to time to regulate the management and privileges of ships, and the conditions under which they may sail or carry on trade.—Aerial navigation, the management of balloons in motion; Inland navigation, the passing of boats, &c., along rivers and canals. [L. navigāre, -ātum—navis, a ship, agĕre, to drive.]

Navvy, nav′i, n. a labourer—originally a labourer on a navigation or canal: a machine for digging out earth, &c.—called also French navvy:—pl. . [A contr. of navigator.]

Navy, nā′vi, n. a fleet of ships: the whole of the ships-of-war of a nation: the officers and men belonging to the warships of a nation.—ns. ', a list of the officers and ships of a navy, published from time to time; ', a government dockyard. [O. Fr. navie—L. navis, a ship.]

Nawab, na-wab′, n. a nabob.

Nay, nā, adv. no: not only so, but: yet more: in point of fact.—n. a denial: a vote against.—n.  (Shak.), tendency to denial: the negative side. [M. E. nay, nai—Ice. nei, Dan. nei; cog. with no.]

Nayword, nā′wurd, n. (Shak.) a proverbial reproach, a byword, a watchword.

Nazarene, naz′ar-ēn, n. an inhabitant of Nazareth, in Galilee: a follower of Jesus of Nazareth, originally used of Christians in contempt: one belonging to the early Christian sect of the Nazarenes, which existed from the 1st to the 4th cent. A.D.—Also . [From Nazareth, the town.]

Nazarite, naz′ar-īt, n. a Jew who vowed to abstain from strong drink, &c.—also '.—n. ', the vow and practice of a Nazarite. [Heb. nāzar, to consecrate.]

Naze, nāz, n. a headland or cape. [Scand., as in Dan. næs; a doublet of ness.]

Nazir, na-zēr′, n. a native official in an Anglo-Indian court who serves summonses, &c. [Ar.]

Ne, ne, adv. not: never. [A.S. ne; cf. Nay.]

Neaf, nēf, n. the fist—(Scot.) Neive. [M. E. nefe—Ice. hnefi, nefi; cf. Sw. näfve, the fist.]

Neal, nēl, v.t. to temper by heat.—v.i. to be tempered by heat. [Cf. Anneal.]

Nealogy, nē-al′o-ji, n. the description of the morphological correlations of the early adolescent stages of an animal.—adj. . [Gr. neos, young, logia—legein, to speak.]

Neanderthaloid, nē-an′dėr-tal-oid, adj. like the low type of skull found in 1857 in a cave in the Neanderthal, a valley between Düsseldorf and Elberfeld.

Neap, nēp, adj. low, applied to the lowest tides.—n. a neap-tide: the lowest point of the tide.—adj. Neaped, left aground from one high tide to another. [A.S. nép, orig. hnép; Dan. knap, Ice. neppr, scanty.]

Neapolitan, nē-a-pol′i-tan, adj. pertaining to the city of Naples or its inhabitants.—n. a native or inhabitant of Naples.—Neapolitan ice, a combination of two different ices. [L. Neapolitanus—Gr. Neapolis, Naples—neos, new, polis, city.]

Near, nēr, adj. nigh: not far away in place or time: close in kin or friendship: dear: following or imitating anything closely: close, narrow, so as barely to escape: short, as a road: greedy, stingy: on the left in riding or driving.—adv. at a little distance: almost: closely,—prep. close to.—v.t. and v.i. to approach: to come nearer.—adjs. ', adjacent; ' (Scot.), near—also adv. nearly.—adv. ', at no great distance: closely: intimately: pressingly: almost: stingily.—n. ', the state of being near: closeness: intimacy: close alliance: stinginess.—adj. ', seeing distinctly only when near, myopic, short-sighted.—n. '.—Near point, the nearest point the eye can focus. [A.S. neár, comp. of neáh, nigh; Ice. nær; Ger. näher.]

Nearctic, nē-ark′tik, adj. of or pertaining to the northern part of the New World—embracing temperate and arctic North America.

Neat, nēt, adj. belonging to the bovine genus.—n. black-cattle: an ox or cow.—ns. ', one who herds, or has the care of, neat or cattle; ', a building for the shelter of neat-cattle.—Neat's-foot oil, an oil obtained from the feet of oxen; Neat's leather, leather made of the hides of neat-cattle. [A.S. neát, cattle, a beast—neótan, niótan, to use; cf. Scot. nowt, black-cattle.]

Neat, nēt, adj. trim: tidy: clean: well-shaped: without mixture or adulteration: finished, adroit, clever, skilful.—adj. ', dexterous.—adv. '.—n. . [Fr. net—L. nitidus, shining—nìtēre, to shine.]

Neb, neb, n. the beak of a bird: the nose: the sharp point of anything.—adj.  (Scot.), saucy. [A.S. nebb, the face; cog. with Dut. neb, beak.]

Nebbuk, neb′uk, n. a shrub, Zizyphus Spina-Christi, one of the thorns of Christ's crown.

Nebel, neb′el, n. a Hebrew stringed instrument.

Neb-neb, neb′-neb, n. the dried pods of a species of acacia found in Africa, which are much used in Egypt for tanning—called also Bablah.

Nebris, neb′ris, n. a fawn-skin worn in imitation of Bacchus by his priests and votaries.

Nebula, neb′ū-la, n. a little cloud: a faint, misty appearance in the heavens produced either by a group of stars too distant to be seen singly, or by diffused gaseous matter:—pl. '.—adjs. ', pertaining to nebulæ: like nebulæ; Nebulé curved in and out (her.); ', ', misty, hazy, vague: relating to, or having the appearance of, a nebula.—ns. ', '.—Nebular hypothesis, the theory of Laplace and Sir W. Herschel that nebulæ form the earliest stage in the formation of stars and planets. [L.; Gr. nephelē, cloud, mist.]

Necessary, nes′es-sar-i, adj. that must be: that cannot be otherwise: unavoidable: indispensable: under compulsion: not free.—n. that which cannot be left out or done without (food, &c.)—used chiefly in pl.: a privy.—ns. ', one who holds the doctrine of necessity; ', the doctrine that the will is not free, but subject to causes without, which determine its action.—adv. '.—n. ', the state or quality of being necessary.—Necessary truths, such as cannot but be true. [Fr.,—L. necessarius.]

Necessity, ne-ses′i-ti, n. state or quality of being necessary: that which is necessary or unavoidable: compulsion: great need: poverty.—ns. '; ', necessarianism.—v.t. ', to make necessary: to render unavoidable: to compel.—n. '.—adjs. ' (Shak.), in a state of want; ', in necessity: very poor: destitute.—adv. '.—n. '.—Natural necessity, the condition of being necessary according to the laws of nature; Logical or Mathematical, according to those of human intelligence; Moral, according to those of moral law; Works of necessity, work so necessary as to be allowable on the Sabbath. [L. necessitas.]

Neck, nek, n. the part of an animal's body between the head and trunk: anything that resembles the neck: a long narrow part or corner: (fig.) life: the flesh of the neck and adjoining parts.—v.t. to break the neck or cut off the head.—ns. ', a neckerchief; ', the part of a shirt encircling the neck; ', that part of a shaft which rotates in the bearing proper, a journal; ', the coarse flesh of the neck of cattle; ', a piece of folded cloth worn round the neck by men as a band or cravat, the ends hanging down often of lace.—adj. Necked, having a neck of a certain kind.—ns. ', a kerchief for the neck; ', a lace or string of beads or precious stones worn on the neck by women; ', a simple form of necklace; ', a small moulding surrounding a column at the junction of the shaft and capital; ', the part of a suit of armour that protects the neck: an ornamental frill round the neck of a gown; ', a tie or cloth for the neck; ', the verse (usually Ps. li. 1) in early times placed before a prisoner claiming benefit-of-clergy, in order to test his ability to read, which, if he could do, he was burned in the hand and set free (see Benefit).—n.  (see Stiff).—Neck and crop, completely; Neck and neck, exactly equal: side by side; Neck or nothing, risking everything.—Harden the neck, to grow more obstinate; Tread on the neck of, to oppress or tyrannise over. [A.S. hnecca; Ger. nacken.]

Necrolatry, nek-rol′a-tri, n. worship of the dead.—ns. ', degeneration of living tissue; ', one who writes an obituary notice.—adjs. ', ', pertaining to necrology.—ns. ', one who gives an account of deaths; ', an account of those who have died, esp. of the members of some society: a register of deaths; ', one who practises necromancy: a sorcerer; ', the art of revealing future events by calling up and questioning the spirits of the dead: enchantment.—adjs. ', ', pertaining to necromancy: performed by necromancy.—adv. '.—adj. ', feeding on carrion.—ns. ', a morbid love for the dead; ', a morbid horror of corpses.—adj. ', carrying away and burying dead bodies, esp. of beetles of the genus Necrophorus.—n. ', a cemetery.—adjs. ', '.—n. ', a post-mortem examination, autopsy—also '.—adjs. ', '.—ns. ', the mortification of bone: (bot.) a disease of plants marked by small black spots; '; , dissection of dead bodies. [Gr. nekros, dead.]

Nectar, nek′tar, n. the name given by Homer, Hesiod, Pindar, &c. to the beverage of the gods, giving life and beauty: a delicious beverage: the honey of the glands of plants.—adjs. ', ', pertaining to, or resembling, nectar: delicious; ', imbued with nectar: mingled or abounding with nectar; ', ', pertaining to, containing, or resembling nectar: delicious.—adv. ', in a nectareous manner.—n. ', the quality of being nectareous.—adjs. '; ', producing nectar or honey: having a nectary; ', sweet as nectar.—n. a variety of peach with a smooth fruit.—n. , the part of a flower which secretes the nectar or honey. [L.,—Gr. nektar; ety. dub.]

Nectocalyx, nek′to-kā-liks, n. the swimming-bell of a medusa:—pl. .

Neddy, ned′i, n. a donkey. [From Ned=Edward.]

Née, nā, adj. born: placed before a married woman's maiden-name, to show her own family, as Rebecca Crawley, née Sharp. [Fr., fem. of né, pa.p. of naître, to be born—L. nasci, natus, to be born.]

Need, nēd, n. want of something which one cannot do without: necessity: a state that requires relief: want of the means of living.—v.t. to have occasion for: to want.—ns. ', a necessity; '; ', fire produced by friction, to which a certain virtue is superstitiously attached: a beacon generally.—adj. ', full of need: having need: needy: necessary: requisite.—adv. '.—n. '.—adv. '.—n. '.—adj. ' (Shak.), having no need: not needed: unnecessary.—adv. '.—n. '.—adv. ' (Shak.), necessarily.—n. ', something needed.—adv. Needs, of necessity: indispensably—often used with must, as 'needs must.'—adj. ', very poor: requisite.—n. .—The needful (slang), ready money. [A.S. néd, niéd, nýd; Dut. nood, Ger. noth.]

Needle, nēd′l, n. a small, sharp-pointed steel instrument, with an eye for a thread—(Shak.) Neeld, Neele: any slender, pointed instrument like a needle, as the magnet or movable bar of a compass, or for knitting, etching, &c.: anything sharp and pointed, like a pinnacle of rock, &c.: an aciform crystal: a temporary support used by builders to sustain while repairing, being a strong beam resting on props: the long, narrow, needle-like leaf of a pine-tree.—v.t. to form into a shape like a needle, as crystals: to work with a needle.—v.i. to become of the shape of needles, as crystals.—ns. , a number of pieces of cloth, leather, &c. arranged like a book, for holding needles; ', a case for holding needles; ', a pipe-fish: a garfish or belonid; ', as much thread as fills a needle; ', a gun or rifle loaded at the breech, the cartridge of which is exploded by the impact of a needle or spike at its base.—adjs. ', pointed like a needle: without a barb, as a fish-hook; ', shaped like a needle: applied to the long, slender, sharp-pointed leaves of pines, firs, and other trees.—ns. ', a telegraph the receiver of which gives its messages by the deflections of a magnetic needle; ', a woman who makes her living by her needle, a seamstress; ', work done with a needle: the business of a seamstress.—adj. ', thorny. [A.S. nǽdl; Ger. nadel; cog. with Ger. nähen, to sew, L. nēre, to spin.]

Neep, a Scotch form of turnip.

Ne'er, nār, adv. contr. of never.—adj. and n. , past all well-doing: one who is good for nothing.

Neese, nēz, v.i. an old form of sneeze.—n. , sneezing.

Nef, nef, n. a cadenas.

Nefandous, nē-fan′dus, adj. bad to execration, abominable. [L.,—ne, not, fandus, fāri, to speak.]

Nefarious, nē-fā′ri-us, adj. impious: extremely wicked: villainous.—adv. '.—n. '.—adj. , abominable. [L. nefarius, contrary to divine law—ne, not, fas, divine law, prob. from fāri, to speak.]

Negation, ne-gā′shun, n. act of saying no: denial: (logic) the absence of certain qualities in anything. [Fr.,—L. negation-em-—negāre, -ātum, to say no—nec, not, aio, I say yes.]

Negative, neg′a-tiv, adj. that denies or refuses—opp. to Affirmative: implying absence: that stops, hinders, neutralises—opp. to Positive: in photography, exhibiting the reverse, as dark for light, light for dark: (logic) denying the connection between a subject and a predicate: (algebra) noting a quantity to be subtracted.—n. a word or statement by which something is denied: the right or act of saying 'no,' or of refusing assent: the side of a question or the decision which denies what is affirmed: in photography, an image on glass or other medium, in which the lights and shades are the opposite of those in nature, used for printing positive impressions from on paper, &c.: (gram.) a word that denies.—v.t. to prove the contrary: to reject by vote.—adv. '.—ns. ', ', '.—adj. , expressing denial.—Negative bath, a silver solution in which photographic negatives are placed to be sensitised; Negative electricity, electricity with a relatively low potential, electricity such as is developed by rubbing resinous bodies with flannel, opposite to that obtained by rubbing glass; Negative quantity (math.), a quantity with a minus sign ( - ) before it, indicating that it is either to be subtracted, or reckoned in an opposite direction from some other with a plus sign; Negative sign, the sign ( - or minus) of subtraction. [L. negativus—negāre, to deny.]

Negātur, v. it is denied. [L., 3d pers. sing. pres. ind. pass. of negāre, to deny.]

Neglect, neg-lekt′, v.t. to treat carelessly, pass by without notice: to omit by carelessness.—n. disregard: slight: omission.—adj. ', that may be neglected.—ns. '; '.—adj. ', careless: accustomed to omit or neglect things: slighting.—adv. '.—n. '.—adj. '.—adv. ', carelessly: heedlessly. [L. negligĕre, neglectum—nec, not, legĕre, to gather.]

Negligée, neg-li-zhā′, n. easy undress: a plain, loose gown: a necklace, usually of red coral.—adj. carelessly or unceremoniously dressed: careless. [Fr., fem. of négligé—négliger, to neglect.]

Negligence, neg′li-jens, n. fact or quality of being negligent: want of proper care: habitual neglect: a single act of carelessness or neglect, a slight: carelessness about dress, manner, &c.: omission of duty, esp. such care for the interests of others as the law may require—(Shak.) '.—adj. ', neglecting: careless: inattentive: disregarding ceremony or fashion.—adv. '.—adj. '.—adv. . [Fr.,—L. negligentia—negligens, -entis, pr.p. of negligĕre, to neglect.]

Negotiable, ne-gō′shi-a-bl, adj. that may be transacted: that can be transferred to another with the same rights as belonged to the original holder, as a bill of exchange.—n. .

Negotiate, ne-gō′shi-āt, v.i. to carry on business: to bargain: to hold intercourse for the purpose of mutual arrangement.—v.t. to arrange for by agreement: to manage: to transfer to another with all the rights of the original holder: to pass, as a bill: to sell.—ns. ', act of negotiating: the treating with another on business; '; '.—adj. ', of or pertaining to negotiation. [L. negotiāri, -ātus—negotium, business—nec, not, otium, leisure.]

Negrito, ne-grē′to, n. the Spanish name for certain tribes of negro-like diminutive people in the interior of some of the Philippine Islands—also Aëtas or Itas: in a wider sense, the Papuans and all the Melanesian peoples of Polynesia.

Negro, nē′grō, n. one of the black-skinned woolly-haired race in the Soudan and central parts of Africa, also their descendants in America.—adj. of or pertaining to the race of black men:—fem. '.—ns. ', the name given in the West Indies to the plant durra or Indian millet; ', tobacco soaked in molasses and pressed into cakes, so called from its blackness.—adj. '.—n. , any peculiarity of speech noticeable among negroes, esp. in the southern United States. [Sp. negro—L. niger, black.]

Negus, nē′gus, n. a beverage of either port or sherry with hot water, sweetened and spiced. [Said to be so called from Colonel Negus, its first maker, in the reign of Queen Anne.]

Negus, nē′gus, n. the title of the kings of Abyssinia.

Neif, nēf, n. (Shak.) the fist.

Neigh, nā, v.i. to utter the cry of a horse:—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p. neighed (nād).—n. the cry of a horse—(Scot.) . [A.S. hnǽgan; Ice. hneggja.]

Neighbour, nä′bur, n. a person who dwells, sits, or stands near another: one who is on friendly terms with another.—adj. (B.) neighbouring.—v.i. to live near each other.—v.t. to be near to.—n. ', state of being neighbours, kindly feeling: adjoining district or the people living in it: a district generally, esp. with reference to its inhabitants.—adj. ', being near: adjoining.—n. '.—adjs. ', like or becoming a neighbour: friendly: social—also adv.;  (Shak.), stained with neighbours' blood. [A.S. neáhbúr, neáhgebúr—A.S. neáh, near, gebúr or búr, a farmer.]

Neist, nēst, a dialectic form of next.

Neither, nē′thėr, or nī′thėr, adj. and pron. not either.—conj. not either: and not: nor yet.—adv. not at all: in no case. [A.S. náther, náwther, abbrev. of náhwæther—ne, not, áhwæther, áwther, either.]

Neivie-nick-nack, nē′vi-nik′-nak, n. a Scotch children's game of guessing in which hand a thing is held while the holder repeats a rhyme beginning with these words.

Nelumbo, nē-lum′bō, n. a genus of water-lilies including the Egyptian Bean of Pythagoras, and the Hindu Lotus.—Also . [Ceylon name.]

Nemalite, nem′a-līt, n. a fibrous hydrate of magnesia. [Gr. nēma, a thread, lithos, a stone.]

Nemathecium, nem-a-thē′si-um, n. a wart-like elevation on the surface of the thallus of certain florideous algæ. [Gr. nēma, a thread, thēkion, thēkē, case.]

Nemathelminthes, nem-a-thel-min′thez, n.pl. a name applied to the thread-worms or nematodes (as Ascaris, Guinea-worm, Trichina), to the somewhat distinct Gordiidæ or hair-eels, and to the more remotely allied Acanthocephala or Echinorhynchus.—Also '.—adjs. ', . [Gr. nēma, a thread, helmins, -minthos, worm.]

Nematocerous, nem-a-tos′e-rus, adj. having long thready antennæ, as a dipterous insect. [Gr. nēma, a thread, keras, a horn.]

Nematocyst, nem′a-tō-sist, n. a cnida, one of the offensive organs of Cœlenterates, as jellyfish. [Gr. nēma, a thread, kystis, a bladder.]

Nematoid, nem′a-toid, adj. thread-like—also '.—n.pl. ', a class of Vermes, with mouth, alimentary canal, and separate sexes, usually parasitic. [Gr. nēma, thread, eidos, form.]

Nemean, nē′mē-an, adj. pertaining to Nemea, a valley of Argolis in the Peloponnesus, famous for its public games held in the second and fourth of each Olympiad.

Nemertea, nē-mer′tē-a, n.pl. a class of Vermes, mostly marine, unsegmented, covered with cilia, often brightly coloured, with protrusile proboscis, and usually distinct sexes.—adj. . [Gr. Nēmertēs, a nereid's name.]

Nemesis, nem′e-sis, n. (myth.) the goddess of vengeance: retributive justice.—adj. . [Gr.,—nemein, to distribute.]

Nemo, nē′mo, n. nobody: a nobody. [L.]

Nemocerous, nē-mos′e-rus, adj. having filamentous antennæ.

Nemoral, nem′o-ral, adj. pertaining to a wood or grove.—n. '.—adjs. ', fond of woods, inhabiting woods; ', growing in woodland; ', woody. [L. nemus, -ŏris, a grove.]

Nempt, nemt (Spens.), named, called.

Nenuphar, nen′ū-far, n. the great white water-lily. [Fr.,—Ar.]

Neo-Catholic, nē-ō-kath′o-lik, adj. pertaining to the short-lived school of liberal Catholicism that followed Lamennais, Lacordaire, and Montalembert about 1830: pertaining to a small party within the Anglican Church, who think they have outgrown Keble and Pusey and the great Caroline divines, and are more noisy than intelligent in their avowal of preference for Roman doctrine, ritual, and discipline.

Neo-Christian, nē-ō-kris′tyan, adj. and n. of or pertaining to so-called Neo-Christianity, which merely means old Rationalism.

Neocomian, nē-ō-kō′mi-an, adj. and n. (geol.) of or pertaining to the lower division of the Cretaceous system, including the Lower Greensand and the Wealden of English geologists. [Græcised from Neuchâtel, near which is its typical region; Gr. neos, new, kōmē, a village.]

Neocosmic, nē-ō-koz′mik, adj. pertaining to the present condition of the universe, esp. its races of men. [Gr. neos, new, kosmos, the universe.]

Neocracy, nē-ok′ra-si, n. government by upstarts.

Neogamist, nē-og′a-mist, n. a person recently married.

Neogrammarian, nē-ō-gra-mā′ri-an, n. one of the more recent school in the study of Indo-European grammar and philology, who attach vast importance to phonetic change, and the laws governing it.—adj. .

Neohellenism, nē-ō-hel′en-izm, n. the modern Hellenism inspired by the ancient: the devotion to ancient Greek ideals in literature and art, esp. in the Italian Renaissance.

Neo-Kantian, nē-ō-kan′ti-an, adj. pertaining to the philosophy of Kant as taught by his successors.

Neo-Latin, nē-ō-lat′in, n. Latin as written by modern writers: new Latin, as in the Romance languages sprung from the Latin.

Neolite, nē′ō-līt, n. a dark-green silicate of aluminium and magnesium. [Gr. neos, new, lithos, a stone.]

Neolithic, nē-ō-lith′ik, adj. applied to the more recent implements of the stone age—opp. to Palæolithic. [Gr. neos, new, lithos, a stone.]

Neology, nē-ol′o-ji, n. the introduction of new words, or new senses of old words, into a language: (theol.) new doctrines, esp. German rationalism.—n. '.—adjs. ', ', pertaining to neology: using new words.—adv. '.—v.i. ', to introduce new words or doctrines.—ns. ', a new word, phrase, or doctrine: the use of old words in a new sense; ', one who introduces new words or senses: one who introduces new doctrines in theology.—adjs. ', . [Gr. neos, new, logos, word.]

Neonomianism, nē-ō-nō′mi-an-izm, n. the doctrine that the gospel is a new law, and that faith has abrogated the old moral obedience.—n. . [Gr. neos, new, nomos, law.]

Neonomous, nē-on′o-mus, adj. having a greatly modified biological structure, specialised according to recent conditions of environment. [Gr. neos, new, nomos, law.]

Neontology, nē-on-tol′o-ji, n. the science and description of extant, as apart from extinct, animals.—n. . [Gr. neos, new, on, ontos, being, logia—legein, to speak.]

Neo-paganism, nē-ō-pā′gan-izm, n. a revival of paganism, or its spirit—a euphemism for mere animalism.—v.t. , to imbue with this spirit.

Neophobia, nē-ō-fō′bi-a, n. dread of novelty. [Gr. neos, new, phobia—phebesthai, to fear.]

Neophron, nē′ō-fron, n. a genus of vultures, having horizontal nostrils. [Gr.,—neos, new, phren, mind.]

Neophyte, nē′ō-fīt, n. a new convert, one newly baptised or admitted to the priesthood, or to a monastery, a novice: a tyro or beginner.—adj. newly admitted or entered on office.—n. . [L. neophytus—Gr. neos, new, phytos, grown—phyein, to produce.]

Neoplasm, nē′ō-plazm, n. a morbid new growth or formation of tissue.—adj. .

Neoplatonism, nē-ō-plā′to-nizm, n. a system of philosophy combining Platonic and Oriental elements, originating with Ammonius Saccas at Alexandria in the 3d century, developed by Plotinus, Porphyry, Proclus, &c.—adj. '.—n. '.

Neoteric, -al, nē-ō-ter′ik, -al, adj. of recent origin, modern.—v.i. '.—n. ', the introduction of new things, esp. new words. [Gr.,—neōteros, comp. of neos, new.]

Neotic, nē-ot′ik, adj. addressed to the understanding.

Neotropical, nē-ō-trop′i-kal, adj. applied to the part of the New World including tropical and South America and the adjacent islands.

Neozoic, nē-ō-zō′ik, adj. denoting all rocks from the Trias down to the most recent formations, as opposed to Palæozoic. [Gr. neos, new, zoē, life.]

Nep, nep, n. (prov.) a knot in a fibre of cotton.

Nepenthes, ne-pen′thēz, n. (med.) a drug that relieves pain—also : a genus of plants having a cup or pitcher attached to the leaf, often filled with a sweetish liquid, the pitcher-plant. [Gr.,—nē, neg., penthos, grief.]

Nephalism, nef′a-lizm, n. total abstinence from alcoholic drinks.—n. , a bigoted teetotaler. [Gr. nēphalios, sober; nēphein, to be sober.]

Nepheline, nef′e-lin, n. a rock-forming mineral, colourless, usually crystallising in hexagonal prisms, occurring in various volcanic rocks, as in certain basalts. [Gr. nephelē, a cloud.]

Nepheloid, nef′e-loid, adj. cloudy, turbid.—ns. ', a supposititious instrument for measuring cloudiness; ', an apparatus for illustrating the formation of cloud; , an atmosphere of cloud surrounding a planet, &c. [Gr. nephelē, cloud.]

Nephew, nev′ū, or nef′ū, n. the son of a brother or sister: (orig.) a grandson (so in New Test.):—fem. Niece. [O. Fr. neveu—L. nepos, nepotis, grandson, nephew; A.S. nefa, Ger. neffe, nephew.]

Nephralgia, ne-fral′ji-a, n. pain or disease of the kidneys—also '.—ns. ', a mineral usually called Jade, an old charm against kidney disease; ', a medicine for the cure of diseases of the kidneys.—adjs. ', ', pertaining to the kidneys: affected with a disease of the kidneys: relieving diseases of the kidneys.—ns. ', inflammation of the kidneys; ', hernia of the kidney; ', a description of the kidneys.—adj. ', kidney-shaped.—ns. ', scientific knowledge of the kidneys; , the operation of excising the kidneys. [Gr. nephros, a kidney, algos, pain.]

Nepotism, nep′o-tizm, n. undue favouritism to one's relations, as in the bestowal of patronage.—adjs. ', '.—n. , one who practises nepotism. [L. nepos, nepotis, a grandson.]

Neptune, nep′tūn, n. (Rom. myth.) the god of the sea, identified with the Greek Poseidon, represented with a trident in his hand: (astron.) the outermost planet of the solar system, discovered in 1846.—adj. ', pertaining to the sea: (geol.) formed by water: applied to stratified rocks or to those due mainly to the agency of water, as opposed to Plutonic or Igneous.—n. ', one who holds the Neptunian theory in geology—also adj. [L. Neptunus.]

Nereid, nē′rē-id, n. (Gr. myth.) a sea-nymph, one of the daughters of the sea-god Nereus, who attended Neptune riding on sea-horses: (zool.) a genus of marine worms like long myriapods.—ns. ', a nereid; ', a fossil annelid related to the nereids. [L.,—Gr.]

Nerine, nē-rī′nē, n. a genus of ornamental South African plants of the Amaryllis family, with scarlet or rose-coloured flowers.—The Guernsey Lily is the Nerine Sarniensis.

Nerite, nē′rīt, n. a gasteropod of the genus Nerita or the family Neritidæ.—adj. .

Nerium, nē′ri-um, n. a genus of Mediterranean shrubs, with fragrant and showy pink, white, or yellowish flowers, the oleander.

Nero, nē′ro, n. the last emperor of the family of the Cæsars, at Rome (54-68 A.D.): any cruel and wicked tyrant.—adj. .

Nero-antico, nā-rō-an-tē′ko, n. a deep-black marble found in Roman ruins. [It.]

Nerve, nėrv, n. bodily strength, firmness, courage: (anat.) one of the fibres which convey sensation from all parts of the body to the brain: (bot.) one of the fibres or ribs in the leaves of plants: a trade term for a non-porous quality of cork, slightly charred: (pl.) hysterical nervousness.—v.t. to give strength or vigour to: to arm with force.—adj. '.—ns. ', the arrangement or distribution of nerves, esp. those of leaves; ', any cell forming part of the nervous system, esp. one of those by means of which nerve-fibres are connected with each other; ', a collection of nerve-cells from which nerves branch out.—adj. Nerved, furnished with nerves, or with nerves of a special character, as 'strong-nerved.'—n. ', one of the essential thread-like units of which a nerve is composed.—adj. ', without strength.—n. '.—adj. ', acting on the nerves: quieting nervous excitement.—n. a medicine that soothes nervous excitement.—adjs. ', having nerve: sinewy: strong, vigorous, showing strength and vigour: pertaining to the nerves: having the nerves easily excited or weak; ', ', Nerved (bot.) having parallel fibres or veins.—adv. '.—n. '.—adj. '.—ns. ', a small nerve, a small vein of an insect's wing—also Nervulet, Veinlet, Venule; ', one of the nerves or veins of leaves: one of the horny tubes or divisions which expand the wings of insects: one of the ribs in a groined vault: a projecting moulding.—adj. , strong, vigorous.—Nervous system (anat.), the brain, spinal cord, and nerves collectively: the whole of the nerves and nerve-centres of the body considered as related to each other, and fitted to act together. [Fr.,—L. nervus; Gr. neuron, a sinew.]

Nescience, nesh′ens, n. want of knowledge.—adj. . [L. nescientia—nescīre, to be ignorant—ne, not, scīre, to know.]

Nesh, nesh, adj. (prov.) soft, crumbly: tender.—v.t. , to make tender.

Neshamah, nesh′a-mä, n. the highest degree of the soul in the cabbalistic system.

Nesiote, nē′si-ōt, adj. insular. [Gr. nēsos, an island.]

Neski, nes′ki, n. the cursive hand generally used in Arabic.—Also . [Ar.]

Nesogæan, nē-sō-jē′an, adj. pertaining to Nesogæa—Polynesia or Oceania, New Zealand excepted, with regard to the distribution of its animals. [Gr. nēsos, an island, gaia, the earth.]

Ness, nes, n. a promontory or headland. [A.S. næss; a doublet of naze, prob. conn. with nose.]

Nest, nest, n. the bed formed by a bird for hatching her young: the place in which the eggs of any animal are laid and hatched: a comfortable residence: a number of persons haunting one place for a bad purpose: the place itself: a number of baskets or boxes each fitting inside the next larger.—v.t. to form a nest for.—v.i. to build and occupy a nest.—n. , an egg left in the nest to keep the hen from forsaking it: something laid up as the beginning of an accumulation.—Feather one's nest, to provide for one's self, esp. from other people's property of which one has had charge. [A.S. nest; Ger. nest, L. nīdus.]

Nestle, nes′l, v.i. to lie close or snug as in a nest: to settle comfortably.—v.t. to cherish, as a bird does her young.—adj. ', being in the nest, newly hatched.—n. act of making a nest: a young bird in the nest—also '. [A.S. nestlian—nest.]

Nestor, nes′tor, n. a Greek hero at Troy, remarkable for eloquence and wisdom gained through long life and varied experience: any one who possesses those qualities, a counsellor, adviser.—adj. .

Nestorian, nes-tō′ri-an, adj. pertaining to the Christological doctrine of Nestorius, patriarch of Constantinople from 428 to his condemnation and deposition at the general council of Ephesus in 431; he held the true divinity and humanity of Christ, but denied their union in a single self-conscious personality, that union being merely moral or sympathetic—thus the personality was broken up into a duality.—n. a follower of Nestorius.—n. .

Net, net, n. an open fabric of twine, &c., knotted into meshes for catching birds, fishes, &c.: anything like a net for keeping out insects, &c.: a meshed bag for holding a woman's hair: machine-made lace of various kinds: a snare: a difficulty.—adj. made of netting or resembling it, reticulate: caught in a net.—v.t. to form into network: to take with a net: to protect with a net, to veil.—v.i. to form network:—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p. —ns. , any fish, like the herring, caught in nets—opp. to Trawl-fish and Line-fish; ', a place for net-fishing, the business of such fishing; ', the method or the industry of fishing with nets.—p.adj. ', made into a net, reticulated: caught in a net.—ns. ', act or process of forming network: a piece of network: any network of ropes or wire, esp. for use on shipboard; ', a kind of shuttle used in netting.—adjs. ', like a net; ', in entomology, having a great number of veins or nervures like a network on the surface, as in the wings of many Orthoptera; ', having net-veined wings.—n. , any work showing cross lines or open spaces like the meshes of a net. [A.S. net, nett; Dut. net, Ger. netz.]

Net, Nett, net, adj. clear of all charges or deductions—opp. to Gross: lowest, subject to no further deductions.—v.t. to produce as clear profit:—pr.p. pa.t. and pa.p.  [Neat.]

Nethelesse, neth′les, adv.=Nathless.

Nether, neth′ėr, adj. beneath another, lower: infernal.—n. ', an inhabitant of Holland.—adj. ', Dutch.—n.pl. ', stockings.—adjs. ', lower; ', lowest.—n.pl. ' (Shak.), short stockings or half-hose for the leg, as distinguished from trunk hose for the thigh.—advs. ', ', downward. [A.S. neothera, a comp. adj. due to adv. nither, downward; Ger. nieder, low.]

Nethinim, neth′in-im, n.pl. (B.) servants of the old Jewish temple, set apart to assist the Levites. [Heb.]

Netsuke, net′su-kā, n. a small toggle or button, carved or inlaid, on Japanese pipe-cases, pouches, &c.

Nettle, net′l, n. a common plant covered with hairs which sting sharply.—v.t. to fret, as a nettle does the skin: to irritate.—ns. ', thick japanned cotton cloth used for leather; ', a jelly-fish, sea-nettle; ', a kind of fever characterised by a rash or eruption on the skin; ', a genus of trees, with simple and generally serrated leaves, the fruit a fleshy, globose, one-celled drupe; , any plant of the nettle family. [A.S. netele; Ger. nessel.]

Nettling, net′ling, n. the joining of two ropes, end to end, without seam: the tying in pairs of yarns in a ropewalk to prevent tangling. [Knittle.]

Neume, nūm, n. a succession of notes to be sung to one syllable, a sequence: an old sign for a tone or a phrase. [O. Fr.,—Gr. pneuma, breath.]

Neural, nū′ral, adj. pertaining to the nerves—also '.—ns. ', nerve-force; , the function of the nervous system—that of conducting stimuli.—Neural arch, the arch of a vertebra protecting the spinal cord. [Gr. neuron, a nerve.]

Neuralgia, nū-ral′ji-a, n. pain of a purely nervous character, occurring in paroxysms, usually unaccompanied by inflammation, fever, or any appreciable change of structure in the affected part—(obs.) '.—adjs. ', . [Gr. neuron, nerve, algos, pain.]

Neurasthenia, nū-ras-the-nī′a, n. nervous debility.—adj. —also n. one suffering from this. [Gr. neuron, a nerve, astheneia, weakness.]

Neuration, nū-rā′shun, n. Same as Nervation.

Neurilemma, nū-ri-lem′a, n. the external sheath of a nerve-fibre.

Neuritis, nū-rī′tis, n. inflammation of a nerve.

Neurohypnology, nū-rō-hip-nol′o-ji, n. the study of hypnotism: the means employed for inducing the hypnotic state.—ns. '; ', hypnotism. [Gr. neuron, nerve, hypnos, sleep, logia, discourse.]

Neurology, nū-rol′o-ji, n. the science of the nerves.—adj. '.—n. ', a writer on neurology. [Gr. neuron, nerve, logia, science.]

Neuron, nū′ron, n. the cerebro-spinal axis in its entirety: a nervure of an insect's wing.

Neuropath, nū′ro-path, n. one who takes nervous conditions solely or mostly into account in his pathology.—adjs. ', '.—adv. '.—ns. ', the sum of knowledge of the diseases of the nervous system; , nervous disease generally. [Gr. neuron, nerve, pathos, suffering.]

Neuroptera, nū-rop′tėr-a, n.pl. an order of insects which have generally four wings marked with a network of many nerves:—sing. '; also ', '.—adjs. ', , nerve-winged. [Gr. neuron, nerve, ptera, pl. of pteron, a wing.]

Neurose, nū′rōs, adj. nerved: having many nervures or veins, of an insect's wing, &c.

Neurotic, nū-rot′ik, adj. relating to, or seated in, the nerves.—n. a disease of the nerves: a medicine useful for diseases of the nerves.—adj. '.—n. ', a nervous disease, esp. without lesion of parts, as epilepsy, &c.

Neurotomy, nū-rot′om-i, n. the cutting or dissection of a nerve.—adj. . [Gr. neuron, a nerve, tomē, cutting.]

Neurotonic, nū-ro-ton′ik, n. a medicine intended to strengthen the nervous system.

Neuter, nū′tėr, adj. neither: taking no part with either side: (gram.) neither masculine nor feminine: neither active nor passive: (bot.) without stamens or pistils: (zool.) without sex.—n. one taking no part in a contest: (bot.) a plant having neither stamens nor pistils: (zool.) a sexless animal, esp. the working bee. [L., 'neither'—ne, not, uter, either.]

Neutral, nū′tral, adj. being neuter, indifferent: taking no part on either side: unbiassed: neither very good nor very bad, of no decided character: having no decided colour, bluish or grayish: (chem.) neither acid nor alkaline.—n. a person or nation that takes no part in a contest.—n. '.—v.t. ', to declare by convention any nation permanently neutral or neutral during certain hostilities: to make inert: to render of no effect.—ns. '; ', state of taking no part on either of two sides: those who are neutral.—adv. .—Neutral tint, a dull grayish colour; Neutral vowel, the vowel-sound heard in but, firm, her, &c., and commonly in unaccented syllables.—Armed neutrality, the condition of a neutral power ready to repel aggression from either belligerent. [L. neutralis—neuter, neither.]

Névé, nā-vā′, n. the same as firn or glacier snow. [Fr.,—L. nix, nivis, snow.]

Nevel, nev′el, v.t. (Scot.) to beat with the fists.

Never, nev′ėr, adv. not ever: at no time: in no degree: not.—adv. ', at no future time.—conj. ', notwithstanding: in spite of that (earlier Natheless).—adv.  (Spens.), none the more. [A.S. nǽfre—ne, not, ǽfre, ever.]

New, nū, adj. lately made: having happened lately: recent, modern: not before seen or known: strange, different: recently commenced: changed for the better: not of an ancient family: as at first: unaccustomed: fresh from anything: uncultivated or only recently cultivated.—adjs. ' (Shak.), recently born; ', recently arrived.—n. ', one who has lately come.—v.t. ' (Shak.), to create for the first time.—adjs. ', made in a new way or fashion: lately come into fashion; ', having just got feathers; ', somewhat new: nearly new.—adv. '.—adj. ' (Shak.), recently made.—v.t. ', to model or form anew.—n. the Parliamentary army as remodelled by Cromwell after the second battle of Newbury, which gained a conclusive victory at Naseby (1645).—n. '.—adj. ' (Shak.), recently made sad.—New birth (see Regeneration); New chum, a new arrival from the old country in Australia; New Church, New Jerusalem Church, the Swedenborgian Church; New Covenant (see Covenant); New departure (see Departure); New Englander, a native or resident in any of the New England states; New Jerusalem, the heavenly city; New Learning (see Renaissance); New Light, a member of a relatively more advanced religious school—applied esp. to the party within the 18th-century Scottish Secession Church which adopted Voluntary views of the relations of Church and State, also sometimes to the Socinianising party in the Church of Scotland in the 18th century, &c.; New Red Sandstone (geol.), the name formerly given to the great series of red sandstones which occur between the Carboniferous and Jurassic systems; New style (see Style); New woman, a name humorously applied to such modern women as rebel against the conventional restrictions of their sex, and ape men in their freedom, education, pursuits, amusements, clothing, manners, and sometimes morals; New World, North and South America; New-year's Day, the first day of the new year. [A.S. níwe, neówe; Ger. neu, Ir. nuadh, L. novus, Gr. neos.]

Newel, nū′el, n. (archit.) the upright column about which the steps of a circular staircase wind. [O. Fr. nual (Fr. noyau), stone of fruit—Low L. nucalis, like a nut—L. nux, nucis, a nut.]

Newel, nū′el, n. (Spens.) a new thing: a novelty.

Newfangled, nū-fang′gld, adj. fond of new things: newly devised, novel.—adv. '.—ns. ', . [Corr. from M. E. newefangel—newe (A.S. níwe), new, fangel (A.S. fangen—fón), ready to catch.]

Newfoundland, nū-fownd′land, n. a large dog of great intelligence, a strong swimmer, black without any white markings, first brought from Newfoundland.

Newgate, nū′gāt, n. a famous prison in London.—Newgate Calendar, a list of Newgate prisoners, with their crimes; Newgate frill, or fringe, a beard under the chin and jaw.

Newmarket, nū′mar-ket, n. a card-game for any number of persons, on a table on which duplicates of certain cards have been placed face up: a close-fitting coat, originally a riding-coat, a long close-fitting coat for women.

News, nūz, n.sing. something heard of that is new: recent account: first information of something that has just happened or of something not formerly known: intelligence.—v.t. to report.—ns. ', one who deals in newspapers; ', ', a boy or man who delivers or sells newspapers; ', a printing-office for newspapers only; ', an occasional letter or printed sheet containing news, the predecessor of the regular newspaper; ', one who deals in news: one who spends much time in hearing and telling news; ', a paper published periodically for circulating news, &c.—the first English newspaper was published in 1622; '; '.—adj. ', superficial.—ns. , a room where newspapers, magazines, &c. lie to be read; ', a seller of newspapers; ', a reporter or writer of news.—adj. , gossipy. [Late M. E., an imit. of Fr. nouvelles.]

Newt, nūt, n. a genus of amphibious animals like small lizards. [Formed with initial n, borrowed from the article an, from ewt—A.S. efeta.]

Newtonian, nū-tō′ni-an, adj. relating to, formed, or discovered by Sir Isaac Newton, the celebrated philosopher (1642-1727)—also .—Newtonian telescope, a form of reflecting telescope.

Next, nekst, adj. (superl. of Nigh) nearest in place, time, &c.—adv. nearest or immediately after.—prep. nearest to.—n. .—Next door to (see Door); Next to nothing, almost nothing at all. [A.S. néhst, superl. of néh, neáh, near; Ger. nächst.]

Nexus, nek′sus, n. a tie, connecting principle, bond: (Rom. law) a person who had contracted a nexum or obligation of such a kind that, if he failed to pay, his creditor could compel him to serve until the debt was paid. [L.—nectĕre, to bind.]

Nib, nib, n. something small and pointed: a point, esp. of a pen: the bill of a bird: the handle of a scythe-snath.—v.t. to furnish with a nib: to point.—adj. Nibbed, having a nib. [Neb.]

Nibble, nib′l, v.t. to bite by small bits: to eat by little at a time.—v.i. to bite gently: to find fault.—n. act of nibbling: a little bit.—ns. '; '.—adv. . [Freq. of nip.]

Nibelungen, nē′bel-ōōng-en, n.pl. a supernatural race in German mythology guarding a treasure wrested from them by Siegfried, the hero of the Nibelungenlied, an epic of c. 1190-1210.

Niblick, nib′lik, n. a golf-club with cup-shaped head.

Nice, nīs, adj. foolishly simple: over-particular: hard to please: fastidious: marking or taking notice of very small differences: done with great care and exactness, accurate: easily injured: delicate: dainty: agreeable: delightful.—adv. '.—ns. ', quality of being nice: exactness: scrupulousness: pleasantness; , quality of being nice: delicate management: exactness of treatment: fineness of perception: fastidiousness: that which is delicate to the taste: a delicacy.—To a nicety, with great exactness. [O. Fr. nice, foolish, simple—L. nescius, ignorant—ne, not, scīre, to know.]

Nicene, nī′sēn, adj. pertaining to the town of Nice or Nicæa, in Bithynia, Asia Minor, where an ecumenical council was held in 325 for the purpose of defining the questions raised in the Arian controversy—it promulgated the Nicene Creed. A second council, the seventh general council, held here in 787, condemned the Iconoclasts.



Niche, nich, n. a recess in a wall for a statue, vase, &c.: a person's proper place or condition in life or public estimation, one's appointed or appropriate place.—v.t. to place in a niche.—adj. Niched, placed in a niche. [Fr.,—It. nicchia, a niche, nicchio, a shell—L. mytilus, mitulus, a sea-mussel.]

Nick, nik, n. a notch cut into something: a score for keeping an account: the precise moment of time: a lucky throw at hazard.—v.t. to cut in notches: to hit the precise time: to strike as if making a nick: to cheat: catch in the act: to cut short: (Scot.) to cut with a single snip, as of shears: to make a cut with the pick in the face of coal to facilitate blasting or wedging.—adj. ', crop-eared.—n. ', one who, or that which, nicks: a woodpecker: a street-ruffian in the early part of the 18th century.—Nick a horse's tail, to make a cut at the root of the tail, making the horse carry it higher. [Another spelling of nock, old form of notch.]

Nick, nik, n. the devil, esp. Old Nick. [Prob. a corr. of St Nicholas, or from A.S. nicor, a water-spirit; Ice. nykr, Ger. nix, nixe.]

Nickel, nik′el, n. a grayish-white metal related to cobalt, very malleable and ductile.—v.t. to plate with nickel.—ns. ', ', the art of nickel-plating.—adjs. ', '; ', containing nickel.—ns. ', ', native nickel arsenide.—v.t. ', to plate with nickel.—ns. ', the plating of metals with nickel; ', German silver (see German). [Sw. koppar-nickel (Ger. kupfernickel), koppar, copper, nickel, a word corresponding to Ger. nickel, the devil (cf. Cobalt and Kobold), or to Ice. hnikill, a lump.]

Nicker, nik′ėr, v.i. to neigh: to snigger.—n. a neigh: a loud laugh—(obs.) .

Nicknack, nik′nak, n. a trifle—dim. '.—n. '. [Same as Knick-knack.]