Chapter LI: Bella (39)

Defn: Of or pertaining to Sir Isaac Newton, or his discoveries. Newtonian philosophy, the philosophy of Sir Isaac Newton; -- applied to the doctrine of the universe as expounded in Newton's "Principia," to the modern or experimental philosophy (as opposed to the theories of Descartes and others), and, most frequently, to the mathematical theory of universal gravitation. -- Newtonian telescope (Astron.), a reflecting telescope, in which rays from the large speculum are received by a plane mirror placed diagonally in the axis, and near the open end of the tube, and thrown at right angles toward one side of the tube, where the image is formed and viewed through the eyeplace. -- Newtonian theory of light. See Note under Light.

NEWTONIAN New*to"ni*an, n.

Defn: A follower of Newton.

NEW-YEAR New"-year`, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to, or suitable for, the commencement of the year; as, New-year gifts or odes.

NEW YEAR'S DAY New" Year's` Day".

Defn: the first day of a calendar year; the first day of January. Often colloquially abbreviated to New year's or new year.

NEW ZEALAND New` Zea"land.

Defn: A group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean. New Zealand flax. (a) (Bot.) A tall, liliaceous herb (Phormium tenax), having very long, sword-shaped, distichous leaves which furnish a fine, strong fiber very valuable for cordage and the like. (b) The fiber itself. -- New Zealand tea (Bot.), a myrtaceous shrub (Leptospermum scoparium) of New Zealand and Australia, the leaves of which are used as a substitute for tea.

NEXIBLE Nex"i*ble, a. Etym: [L. nexibilis, from nectere, nexum, to bind.]

Defn: That may be knit together. [R.]

NEXT Next, a., superl. of Nigh. Etym: [AS. n, niéhst, n, superl. of neáh nigh. See Nigh.]

1. Nearest in place; having no similar object intervening. Chaucer. Her princely guest Was next her side; in order sat the rest. Dryden. Fear followed me so hard, that I fled the next way. Bunyan.

2. Nearest in time; as, the next day or hour.

3. Adjoining in a series; immediately preceding or following in order. None could tell whose turn should be the next. Gay.

4. Nearest in degree, quality, rank, right, or relation; as, the next heir was an infant. The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen. Ruth ii. 20.

Note: Next is usually followed by to before an object, but to is sometimes omitted. In such cases next in considered by many grammarians as a preposition. Next friend (Law), one who represents an infant, a married woman, or any person who can not appear sui juris, in a suit at law.

NEXT Next, adv.

Defn: In the time, place, or order nearest or immediately suceeding; as, this man follows next.

NEXUS Nex"us, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: Connection; tie. Man is doubtless one by some subtile nexus ... extending from the new-born infant to the superannuated dotard. De Quincey.

NEZ PERCES Nez" Per`cés", pl.; sing. Nez PercÉ (. Etym: [F., pierced noses.] (Ethnol.)

Defn: A tribe of Indians, mostly inhabiting Idaho.

NGINA Ngi"na, n. Etym: [Native name.]

Defn: The gorilla.

NIAGARA PERIOD Ni*ag"a*ra pe"ri*od. (Geol.)

Defn: A subdivision or the American Upper Silurian system, embracing the Medina, Clinton, and Niagara epoch. The rocks of the Niagara epoch, mostly limestones, are extensively distributed, and at Niagara Falls consist of about eighty feet of shale supporting a greater thickness of limestone, which is gradually undermined by the removal of the shale. See Chart of Geology.

NIAS Ni"as, n. Etym: [F. niais. See Eyas.]

Defn: A young hawk; an eyas; hence, an unsophisticated person. [Obs.]

NIB Nib, n. Etym: [A variabt of neb.]

1. A small and pointed thing or part; a point; a prong. "The little nib or fructifying principle." Sir T. Browne.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The bill or beak of a bird; the neb.

3. The points of a pen; also, the pointed part of a pen; a short pen adapted for insertion in a holder.

4. One of the handles which project from a scythe snath; also, [Prov. Eng.], the shaft of a wagon.

NIB Nib, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nebbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Nibbing.]

Defn: To furnish with a nib; to point; to mend the point of; as, to nib a pen.

NIBBED Nibbed, a.

Defn: Having a nib or point.

NIBBLE Nib"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nibbled; p. pr. & vb. n. Nibbling.] Etym: [Cf. Nip.]

Defn: To bite by little at a time; to seize gently with the mouth; to eat slowly or in small bits. Thy turfy mountains, where live nibbling sheep. Shak.

NIBBLE Nib"ble, v. t.

Defn: To bite upon something gently or cautiously; to eat a little of a thing, as by taking small bits cautiously; as, fishes nibble at the bait. Instead of returning a full answer to my book, he manifestly falls a- nibbling at one single passage. Tillotson.

NIBBLE Nib"ble, n.

Defn: A small or cautious bite.

NIBBLER Nib"bler, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, nibbles.

NIBBLINGLY Nib"bling*ly, adv.

Defn: In a nibbling manner; cautiously.

NIBELUNGENLIED Ni"be*lung`en*lied`, n. [G. See Nibelungs; Lied.]

Defn: A great medieval German epic of unknown authorship containing traditions which refer to the Burgundians at the time of Attila (called Etzel in the poem) and mythological elements pointing to heathen times.

NIBELUNGS Ni"be*lungs, n. pl.; sing. Nibelung .

Defn: In German mythology, the children of the mist, a race of dwarfs or demonic beings, the original possessors of the famous hoard and ring won by Siegfrid; also, the Burgundian kings in the Nibelungenlied.

NIBLICK Nib"lick, n.

Defn: A kind of golf stick used to lift the ball out of holes, ruts, etc.

NICAGUA Ni*ca"gua, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The laughing falcon. See under laughing.

NICARAGUA WOOD Nic`a*ra"gua wood`.

Defn: Brazil wood.

NICCOLITE Nic"co*lite, n. Etym: [from NL. niccolum nickel.] (Min.)

Defn: A mineral of a copper-red color and metallic luster; an arsenide of nickel; -- called also coppernickel, kupfernickel.

NICE Nice, a. [Compar. Nicer; superl. Nicest.] Etym: [OE., foolish, fr. OF. nice ignorant, fool, fr. L. nescius ignorant; ne not + scius knowing, scire to know. perhaps influenced by E. nesh delicate, soft. See No, and Science.]

1. Foolish; silly; simple; ignorant; also, weak; effeminate. [Obs.] Gower. But say that we ben wise and nothing nice. Chaucer.

2. Of trifling moment; nimportant; trivial. [Obs.] The letter was not nice, but full of charge Of dear import. Shak.

3. Overscrupulous or exacting; hard to please or satisfy; fastidious in small matters. Curious not knowing, not exact but nice. Pope. And to taste Think not I shall be nice. Milton.

4. Delicate; refined; dainty; pure. Dear love, continue nice and chaste. Donne. A nice and subtile happiness. Milton.

5. Apprehending slight diffferences or delicate distinctions; distinguishing accurately or minutely; carefully discriminating; as, a nice taste or judgment. "Our author happy in a judge so nice." Pope. "Nice verbal criticism." Coleridge.

6. Done or made with careful labor; suited to excite admiration on account of exactness; evidencing great skill; exact; fine; finished; as, nice proportions, nice workmanship, a nice application; exactly or fastidiously discriminated; requiring close discrimination; as, a nice point of law, a nice distinction in philosophy. The difference is too nice Where ends the virtue, or begins the vice. Pope.

7. Pleasing; agreeable; gratifying; delightful; good; as, a nice party; a nice excursion; a nice person; a nice day; a nice sauce, etc. [Loosely & Colloquially] To make nice of, to be scrupulous about. [Obs.] Shak.

Syn. -- Dainty; delicate; exquisite; fine; accurate; exact; correct; precise; particular; scrupulous; punctilious; fastidious; squeamish; finical; effeminate; silly.

NICELY Nice"ly adv.

Defn: In a nice manner.

NICENE Ni"cene, a. Etym: [L. Nicaenus, fr. Nicaea Nice, Gr.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Nice, a town of Asia Minor, or to the ecumenial council held there A. D. 325. Nicene Creed (, a summary of Christian faith, composed and adopted by the Council of Nice, against Arianism, A. D. 325, altered and confirmed by the Council of Constantinople, A. D. 381, and by subsequent councils.

NICENESS Nice"ness, n.

Defn: Quality or state of being nice.

NICERY Ni"cer*y, n.

Defn: Nicety. [Colloq.] Chapman.

NICETY Ni"ce*ty, n.; pl. Niceties. Etym: [OE. niceté foolishness.]

1. The quality or state of being nice (in any of the senses of that word.). The miller smiled of her nicety. Chaucer.

2. Delicacy or exactness of perception; minuteness of observation or of discrimination; precision.

3. A delicate expression, act, mode of treatment, distinction, or the like; a minute distinction. The fineness and niceties of words. Locke. To a nicety, with great exactness or accuracy.

NICHE Niche, n. Etym: [F., fr. It. nicchia, prop., a shell-like recess in a wall, fr. nicchio a shellfish, mussel, fr. L. mytilus.]

Defn: A cavity, hollow, or recess, generally within the thickness of a wall, for a statue, bust, or other erect ornament. hence, any similar position, literal or figurative. Images defended from the injuries of the weather by niches of stone wherein they are placed. Evelun.

NICHED Niched. (, a.

Defn: Placed in a niche. "Those niched shapes of noble mold." Tennyson.

NICK Nick (, n. Etym: [AS. nicor a marine monster; akin to D. nikker a water spite, Icel. nykr, ONG. nihhus a crocodile, G. nix a water sprite; cf. Gr. nij. Cf. Nix.] (Northern Myth.)

Defn: An evil spirit of the waters. Old Nick, the evil one; the devil. [Colloq.]

NICK Nick, n. Etym: [Akin to Nock.]

1. A notch cut into something; as: (a) A score for keeping an account; a reckoning. [Obs.] (b) (Print.) A notch cut crosswise in the shank of a type, to assist a compositor in placing it properly in the stick, and in distribution. W. Savage. (c) A broken or indented place in any edge or surface; nicks in china.

2. A particular point or place considered as marked by a nick; the exact point or critical moment. To cut it off in the very nick. Howell. This nick of time is the critical occasion for the gainger of a point. L'Estrange.

NICK Nick, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nicked; p. pr. & vb. n. Nicking.]

1. To make a nick or nicks in; to notch; to keep count of or upon by nicks; as, to nick a stick, tally, etc.

2. To mar; to deface; to make ragged, as by cutting nicks or notches in. And thence proceed to nicking sashes. Prior. The itch of his affection should not then Have nicked his captainship. Shak.

3. To suit or fit into, as by a correspondence of nicks; to tally with. Words nicking and resembling one another are applicable to different significations. Camden.

4. To hit at, or in, the nick; to touch rightly; to strike at the precise point or time. The just season of doing things must be nicked, and all accidents improved. L'Estrange.

5. To make a cross cut or cuts on the under side of (the tail of a horse, in order to make him carry ir higher).

NICK Nick, v. t.

Defn: To nickname; to style. [Obs.] For Warbeck, as you nick him, came to me. Ford.

NICKAR NUT; NICKAR TREE Nick"ar nut`, Nick"ar tree`. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Nicker nut, Nicker tree.

NICKEL Nick"el, n. Etym: [G., fr. Sw. nickel, abbrev. from Sw. kopparnickel copper-nickel, a name given in derision, as it was thought to be a base ore of copper. The origin of the second part of the word is uncertain. Cf. Kupfer-nickel, Copper-nickel.]

1. (Chem.)

Defn: A bright silver-white metallic element. It is of the iron group, and is hard, malleable, and ductile. It occurs combined with sulphur in millerite, with arsenic in the mineral niccolite, and with arsenic and sulphur in nickel glance. Symbol Ni. Atomic weight 58.6.

Note: On account of its permanence in air and inertness to oxidation, it is used in the smaller coins, for plating iron, brass, etc., for chemical apparatus, and in certain alloys, as german silver. It is magnetic, and is very frequently accompanied by cobalt, both being found in meteoric iron.

2. A small coin made of or containing nickel; esp., a five-cent piece. [Colloq. U.S.] Nickel silver, an alloy of nickel, copper, and zinc; -- usually called german silver; called also argentan.

NICKELIC Nick*el"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or containing, nickel; specifically, designating compounds in which, as contrasted with the nickelous compounds, the metal has a higher valence; as nickelic oxide.

NICKELIFEROUS Nick`el*if"er*ous, a. Etym: [Nickel + -ferous.]

Defn: Containing nickel; as, nickelferous iron.

NICKELINE Nick"el*ine ( or ), n.

1. (Chem.)

Defn: An alloy of nickel, a variety of German silver.

2. (Min.)

Defn: Niccolite.

NICKELODEON Nick`el*o"de*on, n. [Nickel + odeon.]

Defn: A place of entertainment, as for moving picture exhibition, charging a fee or admission price of five cents. [U. S.]

NICKELOUS Nick"el*ous, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, those compounds of nickel in which, as contrasted with the nickelic compounds, the metal has a lower valence; as, nickelous oxide. Frankland.

NICKEL STEEL Nickel steel.

Defn: A kind of cast steel containing nickel, which greatly increases its strength. It is used for armor plate, bicycle tubing, propeller shafts, etc.

NICKER Nick"er, n. Etym: [From Nick, v.t.]

1. One of the night brawlers of London formerly noted for breaking windows with half-pence. [Cant] Arbuthnot.

2. The cutting lip which projects downward at the edge of a boring bit and cuts a circular groove in the wood to limit the size of the hole that is bored.

NICKER NUT Nick"er nut`.

Defn: A rounded seed, rather smaller than a nutmeg, having a hard smooth shell, and a yellowish or bluish color. The seeds grow in the prickly pods of tropical, woody climbers of the genus Cæsalpinia. C. Bonduc has yellowish seeds; C.Bonducella, bluish gray. [Spelt also neckar nut, nickar nut.]

NICKER TREE Nick"er tree`. (Bot.)

Defn: The plant producing nicker nuts. [Written also neckar tree and nickar tree.]

NICKING Nick"ing, n. Etym: [From Nick, v. t.] (Coal Mining) (a) The cutting made by the hewer at the side of the face. (b) pl.

Defn: Small coal produced in making the nicking.

NICKLE Nic"kle, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The European woodpecker, or yaffle; -- called also nicker pecker.

NICKNACK Nick"nack`, n.

Defn: See Knickknack.

NICKNACKERY Nick"nack`er*y, n.

Defn: See Knickknackery.

NICKNAME Nick"name`, n. Etym: [OE. ekename surname, hence, a nickname, an ekename being understood as a nekename, influenced also by E. nick, v. See Eke, and Name.]

Defn: A name given in contempt, derision, or sportive familiarity; a familiar or an opprobrious appellation.

NICKNAME Nick"name`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nicknamed; p. pr. & vb. n. Nicknaming.]

Defn: To give a nickname to; to call by a nickname. You nickname virtue; vice you should have spoke. Shak. I altogether disclaim what has been nicknamed the doctrine of finality. Macaulay.

NICOLAITAN Ni`co*la"i*tan, n. Etym: [So called from Nicolas of Antioch, mentioned in Acts vi. 5.] (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: One of certain corrupt persons in the early church at Ephesus, who are censured in rev. ii. 6, 15.

NICOTIAN Ni*co"tian, n. Etym: [F. nicotiane; -- so called from Nicot, who introduced it into France, a.d. 15

Defn: Tobacco. [R.] B. Jonson.

NICOTIAN Ni*co"tian, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, tobacco. [R.] Bp. Hall.

NICOTIANA Ni*co"ti*an*a, n. Etym: [NL. See Nicotian.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of American and Asiatic solanaceous herbs, with viscid foliage and funnel-shaped blossoms. Several species yield tobacco. See Tobacco.

NICOTIANINE Ni*co"ti*a*nine ( or ), n. Etym: [F. nicotianine. See Nicotian.] (Chem.)

Defn: A white waxy substance having a hot, bitter taste, extracted from tobacco leaves and called also tobacco camphor.

NICOTIC Ni*cot"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Nicotinic.

NICOTIDINE Ni*cot"i*dine ( or ), n. Etym: [Nicotine + pyridine.] (Chem.)

Defn: A complex, oily, nitrogenous base, isomeric with nicotine, and obtained by the reduction of certain derivatives of the pyridine group.

NICOTINE Nic"o*tine ( or ), n. Etym: [F. nicotine. See Nicotian.] (Chem.)

Defn: An alkaloid which is the active principle of tobacco. It is a colorless, transparent, oily liquid, having an acrid odor, and an acrid burning taste. It is intensely poisonous. Ure.

NICOTINIC Nic`o*tin"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, nicotine; nicotic; -- used specifically to designate an acid related to pyridine, obtained by the oxidation of nicotine, and called nicotinic acid.

NICOTINISM Nic"o*tin*ism, n. [Nicotine + -ism.] (Med.)

Defn: The morbid condition produced by the excessive use of tobacco.

NICTATE Nic"tate, v. i. Etym: [L. nictare, nictatum, from nicere to beckon.]

Defn: To wink; to nictitate.

NICTATION Nic*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. nictatio nictation.]

Defn: the act of winking; nictitation.

NICTITATE Nic"ti*tate, v. i. Etym: [See Nictate.]

Defn: To wink; to nictate. Nictitating membrance (Anat.), a thin membrance, found in many animals at the inner angle, or beneath the lower lid, of the eye, and capable of being drawn across the eyeball; the third eyelid; the haw.

NICTITATION Nic`ti*ta"tion, n.

Defn: The act of winking.

NIDAMENTAL Nid`a*men"tal, a. Etym: [L. nidamentum materials for a nest, fr. nidus nest. See Nest.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: of, pertaining to, or baring, eggs or egg capsules; as, the nidament capsules of certain gastropods; nidamental glands. See Illust. of Dibranchiata.

NIDARY Ni"da*ry, n. Etym: [L. nidus a nest.]

Defn: A collection of nests. [R.] velyn.

NIDE Nide, n. Etym: [L. nidus a nest: cf. F. nid.]

Defn: A nestful; a brood; as, a nide of pheasants. [Obs.]

NIDERING Ni"der*ing, a. Etym: [See Niding.]

Defn: Infamous; dastardly. [Obs.] Sir W. Scott.

NIDGERY Nidg"er*y, n. Etym: [See Nidget.]

Defn: A trifle; a piece of foolery. [Obs.] Skinner.

NIDGET Nidg"et, n. [Written also nigget, nigeot.] Etym: [Cf. F. nigaud a boody, fool, OF. niger to play the fool.]

Defn: A fool; an idiot, a coward. [Obs.] Camden.

NIDIFICATE Nid"i*fi*cate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Nidificated; p. pr. & vb. n. Nidificating.] Etym: [L. nidificare, nidificatum; nidus nest + - ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy, and cf. nest.]

Defn: To make a nest. Where are the fishes which nidificated in trees Lowell.

NIDIFICATION Nid`i*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. nidification.]

Defn: The act or process of building a nest.

NIDING Ni"ding (ni"dîng), n. [Written also nithing.] Etym: [AS. niedhing, fr. niedh wickness, malice, hatred.]

Defn: A coward; a dastard; -- a term of utmost opprobrium. [Obs.] He is worthy to be called a niding. Howell.

NIDOR Ni"dor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: Scent or savor of meat or food, cooked or cooking. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

NIDOROSE Ni"dor*ose`, a.

Defn: Nidorous. [R.] Arbuthnot.

NIDOROUS Ni"dor*ous, a. Etym: [L. nidorosus steaming, reeking: cf. F. nidoreux. See Nidor.]

Defn: Resembling the smell or taste of roast meat, or of corrupt animal matter. [R.]

NIDULANT Nid"u*lant, a. Etym: [L. nidulans, p.pr.: cf. F. Nidulant.]

1. Nestling, as a bird in itss nest.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Lying loose in pulp or cotton within a berry or pericarp, as in a nest.

NIDULATE Nid"u*late, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Nidulated; p. pr. & vb. n. Nidulating.] Etym: [L. nidulari, fr. nidulus, dim. of nidus a nest.]

Defn: To make a nest, as a bird. [R.] Cockeram.

NIDULATION Nid`u*la"tion, n.

Defn: The time of remaining in the nest. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

NIDULITE Nid"u*lite, n. Etym: [L. nidulus a little nest.] (Paleon.)

Defn: A Silurian fossil, formerly supposed to consist of eggs.

NIDUS Ni"dus, n.; pl. nidi. Etym: [L. See Nidi, Nest.]

Defn: A nest: a repository for the eggs of birds, insects, etc.; a breeding place; esp., the place or substance where parasites or the germs of a disease effect lodgment or are developed.

NIECE Niece, n. Etym: [OE. nece, F. nièce, LL. neptia, for L. neptis a granddaughter, niece, akin to nepos. See Nephew.]

1. A relative, in general; especially, a descendant, whether male or female; a granddaughter or a grandson. [Obs.] B. Jonson. Wyclif. Shak.

2. A daughter of one's brother or sister, or of one's brother-in-law or sister-in-law.

NIEF Nief, n.

Defn: See Neif, the fist.

NIELLIST Ni*el"list, n.

Defn: One who practices the style of ornamentation called niello.

NIELLO Ni*el"lo, n. Etym: [It. niello, LL. nigellum a black of blackish enamel, fr. L. nigellus, dim. of niger black. See Negro, and cf. Anneal.]

1. A metallic alloy of a deep black color.

2. The art, process, or method of decorating metal with incised designs filled with the black alloy.

3. A piece of metal, or any other object, so decorated.

4. An impression on paper taken from an ancient incised decoration or metal plate.

NIEPCE'S PROCESS Niep"ce's proc"ess. (Photog.)

Defn: A process, now no longer used, invented by J. N. Niepce, a French chemist, in 1829. It depends upon the action of light in rendering a thin layer of bitumen, with which the plate is coated, insoluble.

NIFLE Ni"fle, n. Etym: [OF.]

Defn: A trifle. [Obs.] Chaucer.

NIGGARD Nig"gard, n. Etym: [Icel. hnöggr niggardly, stingy + -ard; cf. Sw. njugg, AS. hneáw.]

Defn: A person meanly close and covetous; one who spends grudgingly; a stingy, parsimonous fellow; a miser. Chaucer. A penurious niggard of his wealth. Milton. Be niggards of advice on no pretense. Pope.

NIGGARD Nig"gard, a.

Defn: Like a niggard; meanly covetous or parsimonious; niggardly; miserly; stingy.

NIGGARD Nig"gard, v. t. & i.

Defn: To act the niggard toward; to be niggardly. [R.] Shak.

NIGGARDISE Nig"gard*ise, n.

Defn: Niggardliness. [Obs.] Spenser.

NIGGARDISH Nig"gard*ish, a.

Defn: Somewhat niggard.

NIGGARDLINESS Nig"gard*li*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being niggard; meanness in giving or spending; parsimony; stinginess. Niggardliness is not good husbandry. Addison.

NIGGARDLY Nig"gard*ly, a.

Defn: Meanly covetous or avarcious in dealing with others; stingy; niggard. Where the owner of the house will be bountiful, it is not for the steward to be niggardly. Bp. Hall.

Syn. -- Avarcious; covetous; parsimonious; sparing; miserly; penurios; sordid; stingy. See Avaricious.

NIGGARDLY Nig"gard*ly, adv.

Defn: In a niggard manner.

NIGGARDNESS Nig"gard*ness, n.

Defn: Niggardliness. Sir P. Sidney.

NIGGARDOUS Nig"gard*ous, a.

Defn: Niggardly. [Obs.] Covetous gathering and niggardous keeping. Sir T. More.

NIGGARDSHIP Nig"gard*ship, n.

Defn: Niggardliness. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.

NIGGARDY Nig"gard*y, n.

Defn: Niggardliness. [Obs.] Chaucer.

NIGGED nigged, n. Etym: [Prov. E. nig to clip money.] (Masonry)

Defn: Hammer-dressed; -- said of building stone.

NIGGER Nig"ger, n.

Defn: A negro; -- in vulgar derision or depreciation.

NIGGERHEAD Nig"ger*head`, n.

Defn: A strong black chewing tobacco, usually in twisted plug form; negro head.

NIGGISH Nig"gish, a. Etym: [See Niggard.]

Defn: Niggardly. [Obs.]

NIGGLE Nig"gle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Niggled; p. pr. & vb. n. Niggling.] Etym: [Dim. of Prov. E. nig to clip money; cf. also Prov. E. nig a small piece.]

Defn: To trifle with; to deceive; to mock. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

NIGGLE Nig"gle, v. t.

1. To trifle or play. Take heed, daughter, You niggle not with your conscience and religion. Massinger.

2. To act or walk mincingly. [Prov. Eng.]

3. To fret and snarl about trifles. [Prov. Eng.]

NIGGLER Nig"gler, n.

Defn: One who niggles.

NIGGLING Nig"gling, n.

Defn: Finicky or pottering work; specif. (Fine Arts),

Defn: minute and very careful workmanship in drawing, painting, or the like, esp. when bestowed on unimportant detail.

NIGH Nigh, a. [Compar. Nigher; superl. Nighest, or Next (.] Etym: [OE. nigh, neigh, neih, AS. neáh, n; akin to D. na, adv., OS. nah, a., OHG. nah, G. nah, a., nach to, after, Icel. na (in comp.) nigh, Goth. n, n, adv., nigh. Cf. Near, Neighbor, Next.]

1. Not distant or remote in place or time; near. The loud tumult shows the battle nigh. Prior.

2. Not remote in degree, kindred, circumstances, etc.; closely allied; intimate. "Nigh kinsmen." Knolles. Ye ... are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Eph. ii. 13.

Syn. -- Near; close; adjacent; contiguous; present; neighboring.

NIGH Nigh, adv. Etym: [AS. neáh, n. See Nigh, a.]

1. In a situation near in place or time, or in the course of events; near. He was sick, nigh unto death. Phil. ii. 27. He drew not nigh unheard; the angel bright, Ere he drew nigh, his radiant visage turned. Milton.

2. Almost; nearly; as, he was nigh dead.

NIGH Nigh, v. t. & i.

Defn: To draw nigh (to); to approach; to come near. [Obs.] Wyclif (Matt. iii. 2).

NIGH Nigh, prep.

Defn: Near to; not remote or distant from. "was not this nigh shore" Shak.

NIGHLY Nigh"ly, adv.

Defn: In a near relation in place, time, degree, etc.; within a little; almost. [Obs.] A cube and a sphere ... nighly of the same bigness. Locke.

NIGHNESS Nigh"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being nigh. [R.] "Nighness of blood." Holished.

NIGHT Night, n. Etym: [OE. night, niht, AS. neaht, niht; akin to D. nacht, OS. & OHG. naht, G. nacht, Icel. n, Sw. natt, Dan. nat, Goth. nachts, Lith. naktis, Russ. noche, W. nos, Ir. nochd, L. nox, noctis, gr. nakta, nakti. sq. root 265. Cf. Equinox, Nocturnal.]

1. That part of the natural day when the sun is beneath the horizon, or the time from sunset to sunrise; esp., the time between dusk and dawn, when there is no light of the sun, but only moonlight, starlight, or artificial light. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. Gen. i. 5.

2. Hence: (a) Darkness; obscurity; concealment. Nature and nature's laws lay hid in night. Pope.

(b) Intellectual and moral darkness; ignorance. (c) A state of affliction; adversity; as, a dreary night of sorrow. (d) The period after the close of life; death. She closed her eyes in everlasting night. Dryden.

(e) A lifeless or unenlivened period, as when nature seems to sleep. "Sad winter's night". Spenser.

Note: Night is sometimes used, esp. with participles, in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, night-blooming, night- born, night-warbling, etc. Night by night, Night after night, nightly; many nights. So help me God, as I have watched the night, Ay, night by night, in studying good for England. Shak. -- Night bird. (Zoöl.) (a) The moor hen (Gallinula chloropus). (b) The Manx shearwater (Puffinus Anglorum). -- Night blindness. (Med.) See Hemeralopia. -- Night cart, a cart used to remove the contents of privies by night. -- Night churr, (Zoöl.), the nightjar. -- Night crow, a bird that cries in the night. -- Night dog, a dog that hunts in the night, -- used by poachers. -- Night fire. (a) Fire burning in the night. (b) Ignis fatuus; Will-o'-the-wisp; Jask-with-a-lantern. -- Night flyer (Zoöl.), any creature that flies in the night, as some birds and insects. -- night glass, a spyglass constructed to concentrate a large amount of light, so as see objects distinctly at night. Totten. -- Night green, iodine green. -- Night hag, a witch supposed to wander in the night. -- Night hawk (Zoöl.), an American bird (Chordeiles Virginianus), allied to the goatsucker. It hunts the insects on which it feeds toward evening, on the wing, and often, diving down perpendicularly, produces a loud whirring sound, like that of a spinning wheel. Also sometimes applied to the European goatsuckers. It is called also bull bat. -- Night heron (Zoöl.), any one of several species of herons of the genus Nycticorax, found in various parts of the world. The best known species is Nycticorax griseus, or N. nycticorax, of Europe, and the American variety (var. nævius). The yellow-crowned night heron (Nycticorax violaceus) inhabits the Southern States. Called also qua- bird, and squawk. -- Night house, a public house, or inn, which is open at night. -- Night key, a key for unfastening a night latch. -- Night latch, a kind of latch for a door, which is operated from the outside by a key. -- Night monkey (Zoöl.), an owl monkey. -- night moth (Zoöl.), any one of the noctuids. -- Night parrot (Zoöl.), the kakapo. -- Night piece, a painting representing some night scene, as a moonlight effect, or the like. -- Night rail, a loose robe, or garment, worn either as a nightgown, or over the dress at night, or in sickness. [Obs.] -- Night raven (Zoöl.), a bird of ill omen that cries in the night; esp., the bittern. -- Night rule. (a) A tumult, or frolic, in the night; -- as if a corruption, of night revel. [Obs.] (b) Such conduct as generally rules, or prevails, at night. What night rule now about this haunted grove Shak. -- Night sight. (Med.) See Nyctolopia. -- Night snap, a night thief. [Cant] Beau. & Fl. -- Night soil, human excrement; -- so called because in cities it is collected by night and carried away for manure. -- Night spell, a charm against accidents at night. -- Night swallow (Zoöl.), the nightjar. -- Night walk, a walk in the evening or night. -- Night walker. (a) One who walks in his sleep; a somnambulist; a noctambulist. (b) One who roves about in the night for evil purposes; specifically, a prostitute who walks the streets. -- Night walking. (a) Walking in one's sleep; somnambulism; noctambulism. (b) Walking the streets at night with evil designs. -- Night warbler (Zoöl.), the sedge warbler (Acrocephalus phragmitis); -- called also night singer. [prov. Eng.] -- Night watch. (a) A period in the night, as distinguished by the change of watch. (b) A watch, or guard, to aford protection in the night. -- Night watcher, one who watches in the night; especially, one who watches with evil designs. -- Night witch. Same as Night hag, above.

NIGHT-BLOOMING Night"-bloom`ing, a.

Defn: Blooming in the night. Night-blooming cereus. (Bot.) See Note under Cereus.

NIGHTCAP Night"cap`, n.

1. A cap worn in bed to protect the head, or in undress.

2. A potion of spirit drank at bedtime. [Cant] Wright.

NIGHTDRESS Night"dress`, n.

Defn: A nightgown.

NIGHTED Night"ed, a.

1. Darkness; clouded. [R.] Shak.

2. Overtaken by night; belated. Beau. & Fl.

NIGHTERTALE Night"er*tale, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. nattarpel.]

Defn: period of night; nighttime. [Obs.] Chaucer.

NIGHT-EYED Night"-eyed`, a.

Defn: Capable of seeing at night; sharp-eyed. "Your night-eyed Tiberius." B. Jonson.

NIGHTFALL Night"fall`, n.

Defn: The close of the day. Swift.

NIGHT-FARING Night"-far`ing, a.

Defn: Going or traveling in the night. Gay.

NIGHTGOWN Night"gown`, n.

Defn: A loose gown used for undress; also, a gown used for a sleeping garnment.

NIGHTINGALE Night"in*gale, n. Etym: [OE. nihtegale,nightingale, AS. nihtegale; niht night + galan to sing, akin to E. yell; cf. D. nachtegaal, OS. nahtigala, OHG. nahtigala, G. nachtigall, Sw. näktergal, Dan. nattergal. See Night, and Yell.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small, plain, brown and gray European song bird (Luscinia luscinia). It sings at night, and is celebrated for the sweetness of its song.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A larger species (Lucinia philomela), of Eastern Europe, having similar habits; the thrush nightingale. The name is also applied to other allied species. Mock nightingale. (Zoöl.) See Blackcap, n., 1 (a).

NIGHTISH Night"ish, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to night.

NIGHTJAR Night"jar`, n.

Defn: A goatsucker, esp. the European species. See Illust. of Goatsucker.

NIGHTLESS Night"less, a.

Defn: Having no night.

NIGHT LETTER; NIGHT LETTERGRAM Night letter, Night lettergram.

Defn: See Letter, above.

NIGHTLONG Night"long`, a.

Defn: Lasting all night.

NIGHTLY Night"ly, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the night, or to every night; happening or done by night, or every night; as, nightly shades; he kept nightly vigils.

NIGHTLY Night"ly, adv.

Defn: At night; every night.

NIGHTMAN Night"man, n.; pl. Nightmen (.

Defn: One whose business is emptying privies by night.

NIGHTMARE Night"mare`, n. Etym: [Night + mare incubus. See Mare incubus.]

1. A fiend or incubus formerly supposed to cause trouble in sleep.

2. A condition in sleep usually caused by improper eating or by digestive or nervous troubles, and characterized by a sense of extreme uneasiness or discomfort (as of weight on the chest or stomach, impossibility of motion or speech, etc.), or by frightful or oppressive dreams, from which one wakes after extreme anxiety, in a troubled state of mind; incubus. Dunglison.

3. Hence, any overwhelming, oppressive, or stupefying influence.

NIGHTSHADE Night"shade`, n. Etym: [AS. nichtscadu.] (Bot.)

Defn: A common name of many species of the genus Solanum, given esp. to the Solanum nigrum, or black nightshade, a low, branching weed with small white flowers and black berries reputed to be poisonous. Deadly nightshade. Same as Belladonna (a). -- Enchanter's nightshade. See under Enchanter. -- Stinking nightshade. See Henbane. -- Three-leaved nightshade. See Trillium.

NIGHTSHIRT Night"shirt`, n.

Defn: A kind of nightgown for men.

NIGHT TERRORS Night terrors. (Med.)

Defn: A sudden awkening associated with a sensation of terror, occurring in children, esp. those of unstable nervous constitution.

NIGHTTIME Night"time`, n.

Defn: The time from dusk to dawn; -- opposed to Ant: daytime.

NIGHTWARD Night"ward, a.

Defn: Approaching toward night.

NIGRANILINE Ni*gran"i*line ( or ), n. Etym: [L. niger black + E. aniline.] (Chem.)

Defn: The complex, nitrogenous, organic base and dyestuff called also aniline black.

NIGRESCENT Ni*gres"cent, a. Etym: [L. nigrescens, p.pr. of nigrescere to grow black, fr. niger black. See Negro.]

Defn: Growing black; changing to a black color; approaching to blackness. Johnson.

NIGRIFICATION Nig`ri*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. nigrificare to blacken; niger black + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy.]

Defn: The act or process of making black. [R.] Johnson.

NIGRINE Ni"grine, n. Etym: [L. niger black: cf. F. nigrine.] (Min.)

Defn: A ferruginous variety of rutile.

NIGRITIC Ni*grit"ic, a. (Ethnol.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or having the characteristics of, negroes, or of the Negritos, Papuans, and the Melanesian races; negritic.

NIGRITUDE Nig"ri*tude, n. Etym: [L. nigritudo, fr. niger black.]

Defn: Blackness; the state of being black. Lamb.

NIGROMANCIE Nig"ro*man`cie, n.

Defn: Necromancy. [Obs.]

NIGROMANCIEN Nig"ro*man`cien, n.

Defn: A necromancer. [Obs.] These false enchanters or nigromanciens. Chaucer.

NIGROSINE Ni"gro*sine ( or ), n. Etym: [From L. niger black.] (Chem.)

Defn: A dark blue dyestuff, of the induline group; -- called also azodiphenyl blue.

NIGUA Ni"gua, n. Etym: [Sp.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The chigoe.

NIHIL Ni"hil, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: Nothing. Nihil album Etym: [L., white nothing] (Chem.), oxide of zinc. See under Zinc. -- Nihil debet Etym: [L., he owes nothing] (Law), the general issue in certain actions of debt. -- Nihil dicit Etym: [L., he says nothing] (Law), a declinature by the defendant to plead or answer. Tomlins.

NIHILISM Ni"hil*ism, n. Etym: [L. nihil nothing: cf. F. nihilisme. See Annihilate.]

1. Nothingness; nihility.

2. The doctrine that nothing can be known; scepticism as to all knowledge and all reality.

3. (Politics)

Defn: The theories and practices of the Nihilists.

NIHILIST Ni"hil*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. nihiliste. See Nihilism.]

1. One who advocates the doctrine of nihilism; one who believes or teaches that nothing can be known, or asserted to exist.

2. (Politics)

Defn: A member of a secret association (esp. in Russia), which is devoted to the destruction of the present political, religious, and social institutions.

NIHILISTIC Ni`hil*is"tic, a.

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or characterized by, nihilism.

NIHILITY Ni*hil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. nihilité. See Nihilism.]

Defn: Nothingness; a state of being nothing.

NIL Nil. Etym: [See Nill, v. t.]

Defn: Will not. [Obs.] Chaucer.

NIL Nil, n. & a. Etym: [L., a contr. of nihil.]

Defn: Nothing; of no account; worthless; -- a term often used for canceling, in accounts or bookkeeping. A. J. Ellis.

NILE Nile, n. Etym: [L. Nilus, gr.

Defn: The great river of Egypt. Nile bird. (Zoöl.) (a) The wryneck. [Prov. Eng.] (b) The crocodile bird. -- Nile goose (Zoöl.), the Egyptian goose. See Note under Goose, 2.

NILGAU Nil"gau, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: see Nylghau.

NILL Nill, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Nilling.] Etym: [AS. nilan, nyllan; ne not + willan to will. See No, and Will.]

Defn: Not to will; to refuse; to reject. [Obs.] Certes, said he, I nill thine offered grace. Spenser.

NILL Nill, v. i.

Defn: To be unwilling; to refuse to act. The actions of the will are "velle" and "nolle," to will and nill. Burton. Will he, nill he, whether he wills it or not.

NILL Nill, n. Etym: [Cf. Ir. & Gael. neul star, light. Cf. Nebula.]

1. Shining sparks thrown off from melted brass.

2. Scales of hot iron from the forge. Knight.

NILOMETER Ni*lom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. nilomètre.]

Defn: An instrument for measuring the rise of water in the Nile during its periodical flood.

NILOSCOPE Ni"lo*scope, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A Nilometer.

NILOTIC Ni*lot"ic, a. Etym: [L. Niloticus, fr. Nilus th Nile, Gr. nilotique.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to the river Nile; as, the Nilotic crocodile.

NILT Nilt. Etym: [Contr. fr. ne wilt.]

Defn: Wilt not. [Obs.]

NIM Nim, v. t. [imp. Nam or Nimmed (; p. p. Nomen or Nome (.] Etym: [AS. niman. sq. root 7. Cf. Nimble.]

Defn: To take; to steal; to filch. [Obs.] This canon it in his hand nam. Chaucer.

NIMBIFEROUS Nim*bif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. nimbifer; nimbus a cloud + ferre to bear.]

Defn: Serving to bring clouds or stormy weather.

NIMBLE Nim"ble, a. [Compar. Nimbler; superl. Nimblest.] Etym: [OE. nimel, prob. orig., quick at seizing, fr. nimen to take, AS. niman; akin to D. nemen, G. nehmen, OHG. neman, Icel. nema, Goth. nima, and prob. to Gr. Nomand, Numb.]

Defn: Light and quick in motion; moving with ease and celerity; lively; swift. Through the mid seas the nimble pinnace sails. Pope.

Note: Nimble is sometimes used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, nimble-footed, nimble-pinioned, nimble-winged, etc. Nimble Will (Bot.), a slender, branching, American grass (Muhlenbergia diffusa), of some repute for grazing purposes in the Mississippi valley.

Syn. -- Agile; quick; active; brisk; lively; prompt.

NIMBLENESS Nim"ble*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being nimble; lightness and quickness in motion; agility; swiftness.

NIMBLESS Nim"bless, n.

Defn: Nimbleness. [Obs.] Spenser.

NIMBLY Nim"bly, adv.

Defn: In a nimble manner; with agility; with light, quick motion.

NIMBOSE Nim*bose", a. Etym: [L. nimbosus, fr. nimbus cloud.]

Defn: Cloudy; stormy; tempestuous.

NIMBUS Nim"bus, n.; pl. L. Nimbi, E. Nimbuses. Etym: [L., a rain storm, a rain cloud, the cloudshaped which enveloped the gods when they appeared on earth.]

1. (Fine Arts)

Defn: A circle, or disk, or any indication of radiant light around the heads of divinities, saints, and sovereigns, upon medals, pictures, etc.; a halo. See Aureola, and Glory, n., 5.

Note: "The nimbus is of pagan origin." "As an atribute of power, the nimbus is often seen attached to the heads of evil spirits." Fairholl.

2. (Meteor.)

Defn: A rain cloud; one of the four principal varieties of clouds. See Cloud.

NIMIETY Ni*mi"e*ty, n. Etym: [L. nimietas, fr. nimius, a., nimis, adv., too much.]

Defn: State of being in excess. [R.] There is a nimiety, a too-muchess, in all Germans. Coleridge.

NIMIOUS Nim"i*ous, a. Etym: [L. nimius.]

Defn: Excessive; extravagant; inordinate. [Obs.]

NIMMER Nim"mer, n. Etym: [From Nim.]

Defn: A thief. [Obs.]

NIN Nin. Etym: [Fr. ne in.]

Defn: Not in. [Obs.] Chaucer.

NINCOMPOOP Nin"com*poop, n. Etym: [A corruption of non compos.]

Defn: A fool; a silly or stupid person. [Law] An old ninnyhammer, a dotard, a nincompoop, is the best language she can afford me. Addison.

NINE Nine, a. Etym: [OE. nine, nihen, AS. nigon, nigan; akin to D. & LG. negen, OS. & OFries. nigun, OHG. niun, G. neun, Icel. niu, sw. nio, Dan. ni, Goth. niun, Ir. & Gael. naoi, W. naw, L. novem, gr. navan; of unknown origin. Novembeer.]

Defn: Eight and one more; one less than ten; as, nine miles. Nine men's morris. See Morris. -- Nine points circle (Geom.), a circle so related to any given triangle as to pass through the three points in which the perpendiculars from the angles of the triangle upon the opposite sides (or the sides produced) meet the sides. It also passes through the three middle points of the sides of the triangle and through the three middle points of those parts of the perpendiculars that are between their common point of meeting and the angles of the triangle. The circle is hence called the nine points or six points circle.

NINE Nine, n.

1. The number greater than eight by a unit; nine units or objects.

2. A symbol representing nine units, as 9 or ix. The Nine, the nine Muses.

NINE-BARK Nine"-bark`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A white-flowered rosaceous shrub (Neillia, or Spiræa, opulifolia), common in the Northern United States. The bark separates into many thin layers, whence the name.

NINE-EYES Nine"-eyes`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The lamprey.

NINEFOLD Nine"fold`, a.

Defn: Nine times repeated.

NINEHOLES Nine"holes`, n. pl.

Defn: A game in which nine holes are made in the ground, into which a ball is bowled.

NINE-KILLER Nine"-kill`er, n. Etym: [So called because it is believed to kill and impale on thorns nine birds, etc., in succession.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The northern butcher bird.

NINEPENCE Nine"pence, n.; pl. Ninepences (.

1. An old English silver coin, worth nine pence.

2. A New England name for the Spanish real, a coin formerly current in the United States, as valued at twelve and a half cents.

NINEPINS Nine"pins, n. pl.

Defn: A game played with nine pins, or pieces of wood, set on end, at which a wooden ball is bowled to knock them down; bowling.

Note: In the United States, ten pins are used for this game, which is therefore often called tenpins.

NINESCORE Nine"score`, a.

Defn: Nine times twenty, or one hundred and eighty. -- n.

Defn: The product of nine times twenty; ninescore units or objects.

NINETEEN Nine"teen`, a. Etym: [AS. nigont, nigont. See Nine, and Ten.]

Defn: Nine and ten; eighteen and one more; one less than twenty; as, nineteen months.

NINETEEN Nine"teen`, n.

1. The number greater than eighteen by a unit; the sum of ten and nine; nineteen units or objects.

2. A symbol for nineteen units, as 19 or xix.

NINETEENTH Nine"teenth`, a. Etym: [Cf. AS. nigonteó.]

1. Following the eighteenth and preceding the twentieth; coming after eighteen others.

2. Constituting or being one of nineteen equal parts into which anything is divided.

NINETEENTH Nine"teenth`, n.

1. The quotient of a unit divided by nineteen; one of nineteen equal parts of anything.

2. The next in order after the eighteenth.

3. (Mus.)

Defn: An interval of two octaves and a fifth.

NINETIETH Nine"ti*eth, a.

1. Next in order after the eighty-ninth.

2. Constituting or being one of ninety equal parts.

NINETIETH Nine"ti*eth, n.

1. The quotient of a unit divided by ninety; one of ninety equal parts of anything.

2. The next in order after the eighty-ninth.

NINETY Nine"ty, a. Etym: [See Nine, and cf. Forty.]

Defn: Nine times ten; eighty-nine and one more; as, ninety men.

NINETY Nine"ty, n.; pl. Nineties (.

1. The sum of nine times ten; the number greater by a unit than eighty-nine; ninety units or objects.

2. A symbol representing ninety units, as 90 or xc.

NINNY Nin"ny, n.; pl. Ninnies. Etym: [Cf. It. ninno, ninna, a baby, Sp. niño, niña, child, infant, It. ninna, ninna nanna, lullably, prob. fr. ni, na, as used in singing a child to sleep.]

Defn: A fool; a simpleton. Shak.

NINNYHAMMER Nin"ny*ham`mer, n.

Defn: A simpleton; a silly person. [Colloq.] Addison.

NINTH Ninth, a. Etym: [From Nine; cf. AS. nigoedha.]

1. Following the eight and preceding the tenth; coming after eight others.

2. Constituting or being one of nine equal parts into which anything is divided.

NINTH Ninth, n.

1. The quotient of one divided by nine; one of nine equal parts of a thing; the next after the eighth.

2. (Mus.) (a) An interval containing an octave and a second. (b) A chord of the dominant seventh with the ninth added.

NINTHLY Ninth"ly, adv.

Defn: In the ninth place.

NINUT Nin"ut, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The magpie. [Prov. Eng.]

NIOBATE Ni"o*bate, n. Etym: [See Niobium.] (Chem.)

Defn: Same as Columbate.

NIOBE Ni"o*be, n. Etym: [L. Nioba, Niobe, gr. (Class, Myth.)

Defn: The daughter of Tantalus, and wife of Amphion, king of Thebes. Her pride in her children provoked Apollo and Diana, who slew them all. Niobe herself was changed by the gods into stone.

NIOBIC Ni*ob"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Same as Columbic.

NIOBITE Ni"o*bite, n. (Min.)

Defn: Same as Columbite.

NIOBIUM Ni*o"bi*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. & E. Niobe.] (Chem.)

Defn: A later name of columbium. See Columbium.

NIOPO Ni*o"po, n.

Defn: A kind of snuff prepared by the natives of Venezuela from the roasted seeds of a leguminous tree (Piptadenia peregrina), thence called niopo tree.

NIP Nip, n. Etym: [LG. & D. nippen to sip; akin to Dan. nippe, G. nippen.]

Defn: A sip or small draught; esp., a draught of intoxicating liquor; a dram.

NIP Nip, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nipped, less properly Nipt; p. pr. & vb. n. Nipping.] Etym: [OE. nipen; cf. D. niipen to pinch, also knippen to nip, clip, pinch, snap, knijpen to pinch, LG. knipen, G. kneipen, kneifen, to pinch, cut off, nip, Lith. knebti.]

1. To catch and inclose or compress tightly between two surfaces, or points which are brought together or closed; to pinch; to close in upon. May this hard earth cleave to the Nadir hell, Down, down, and close again, and nip me flat, If I be such a traitress. Tennyson.

2. To remove by pinching, biting, or cutting with two meeting edges of anything; to clip. The small shoots ... must be nipped off. Mortimer.

3. Hence: To blast, as by frost; to check the growth or vigor of; to destroy.

4. To vex or pain, as by nipping; hence, to taunt. And sharp remorse his heart did prick and nip. Spenser. To nip in the bud, to cut off at the verycommencement of growth; to kill in the incipient stage.

NIP Nip, n.

1. A seizing or closing in upon; a pinching; as, in the northern seas, the nip of masses of ice.

2. A pinch with the nails or teeth.

3. A small cut, or a cutting off the end.

4. A blast; a killing of the ends of plants by frost.

5. A biting sarcasm; a taunt. Latimer.

6. (Naut.)

Defn: A short turn in a rope. Nip and tuck, a phrase signifying equality in a contest. [Low, U.S.]

NIPPER Nip"per, n.

1. One who, or that which, nips.

2. A fore tooth of a horse. The nippers are four in number.

3. A satirist. [Obs.] Ascham.

4. A pickpocket; a young or petty thief. [Old Cant]

5. (Zoöl.) (a) The cunner. (b) A European crab (Polybius Henslowii).

NIPPERKIN Nip"per*kin, n. Etym: [See 1st Nip.]

Defn: A small cup. [Obs.]

NIPPERS Nip"pers, n. pl. Etym: [From 2d Nip.]

1. Small pinchers for holding, breaking, or cutting.

2. (Mach.)

Defn: A device with fingers or jaws for seizing an object and holding or conveying it; as, in a printing press, a clasp for catching a sheet and conveying it to the form.

3. (Naut.)

Defn: A number of rope-yarns wound together, used to secure a cable to the messenger.

NIPPING Nip"ping, a.

Defn: Biting; pinching; painful; destructive; as, a nipping frost; a nipping wind.

NIPPINGLY Nip"ping*ly, adv.

Defn: In a nipping manner.

NIPPITATE Nip"pi*tate, a. Etym: [Cf. 1st Nip.]

Defn: Peculiary strong and good; -- said of ale or liquor. [Old Cant] 'T will make a cup of wine taste nippitate. Chapman.

NIPPITATO Nip`pi*ta"to, n.

Defn: Strong liquor. [Old Cant] Beau. & Fl.

NIPPLE Nip"ple, n. Etym: [Formerly neble, a dim. of neb. See Neb, Nib.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: The protuberance through which milk is drawn from the breast or mamma; the mammilla; a teat; a pap.

2. The orifice at which any animal liquid, as the oil from an oil bag, is discharged. [R.] Derham.

3. Any small projection or article in which there is an orifice for discharging a fluid, or for other purposes; as, the nipple of a nursing bottle; the nipple of a percussion lock, or that part on which the cap is put and through which the fire passes to the charge.

4. (Mech.)

Defn: A pipe fitting, consisting of a short piece of pipe, usually provided with a screw thread at each end, for connecting two other fittings. Solder nipple, a short pipe, usually of brass, one end of which is tapered and adapted for attachment to the end of a lead pipe by soldering.

NIPPLEWORT Nip"ple*wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A yellow-flowered composite herb (Lampsana communis), formerly used as an external application to the nipples of women; -- called also dock-cress.

NIRVANA Nir*va"na, n. Etym: [Skr. nirvansa.]

Defn: In the Buddhist system of religion, the final emancipation of the soul from transmigration, and consequently a beatific enfrachisement from the evils of wordly existence, as by annihilation or absorption into the divine. See Buddhism.

NIS Nis. Etym: [From ne is.]

Defn: Is not. [Obs.] Chaucer.

NISAN Ni"san, n. Etym: [Heb. nisan.]

Defn: The first month of the jewish ecclesiastical year, formerly answering nearly to the month of April, now to March, of the Christian calendar. See Abib.

NISEY Ni"sey, n.; pl. Nyseys.

Defn: A simpleton. [Obs.]

NISI Ni"si, conj. Etym: [L.]

Defn: Unless; if not.

Note: In legal proceedings, this word is used to indicate that any order, etc., shall take effect at a given time, unless before that time the order, etc., in modified, or something else is done to prevent its taking effect. Continuance nisi is a conditional continuance of the case till the next term of the court, unless otherwise disposed of in the mean time. Nisi prius (Law), unless before; -- a phrase applied to terms of court, held generally by a single judge, with a jury, for the trial of civil causes. The term originated in a legal fiction. An issue of fact being made up, it is, according to the English practice, appointed by the entry on the record, or written proceedings, to be tried by a jury from the county of which the proceedings are dated, at Westminster, unless before the day appointed (nisi prius) the judges shall have come to the county in question (which they always do) and there try the cause. See In banc, under Banc.

NISTE Nis"te. Etym: [Contr. from ne wiste.]

Defn: Wist not; knew not. [Obs.] Chaucer.

NISUS Ni"sus, n. Etym: [L., fr. niti, p.p. nisus, to strive.]

Defn: A striving; an effort; a conatus. A nisus or energizing towards a presented object. Hickok.

NIT Nit, n. Etym: [AS. hnitu; akin to D. neet, G. niss, OHG. niz; cf. gr. gnit, Sw. gnet, Dan. gnid, Russ. & Pol. gnida, Bohem. hnida, W. nedd.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The egg of a louse or other small insect. Nit grass (Bot.), a pretty annual European grass (Gastridium lendigerum), with small spikelets somewhat resembling a nit. It is also found in California and Chili.

NITENCY Ni"ten*cy, n. Etym: [L. nitens, p.pr. of nitere to shine.]

Defn: Brightness; luster. [R.]

NITENCY Ni"ten*cy, n. Etym: [From :. nitens, p.pr. pf niti to strive.]

Defn: Endeavor; rffort; tendency. [R.] Boyle.

NITER; NITRE Ni"ter, Ni"tre, n. Etym: [F. nitre, L. nitrum native soda, natron, Gr. nit, natr natron. Cf. Natron.]

1. (Chem.)

Defn: A white crystalline semitransparent salt; potassium nitrate; saltpeter. See Saltpeter.

2. (Chem.)

Defn: Native sodium carbonate; natron. [Obs.] For though thou wash thee with niter, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me. Jer. ii. 22. Cubic niter, a deliquescent salt, sodium nitrate, found as a native incrustation, like niter, in Peru and Chili, whence it is known also as Chili saltpeter. -- Niter bush (Bot.), a genus (Nitraria) of thorny shrubs bearing edible berries, and growing in the saline plains of Asia and Northern Africa.

NITHING Nith"ing, n. [Obs.]

Defn: See Niding.

NITID Nit"id, a. Etym: [L. nitidus, fr. nitere. See 3d Neat.]

1. Bright; lustrous; shining. [R.] Boyle.

2. Gay; spruce; fine; -- said of persons. [R.] T. Reeve.

NITRANILIC Ni`tra*nil"ic, a. Etym: [Nitro- + chloranil + -ic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, a complex organic acid produced as a white crystalline substance by the action of nitrous acid on hydroquinone.

NITRANILINE Ni*tran"i*line ( or ), n. Etym: [Nitro- + aniline.] (Chem.)

Defn: Any one of a series of nitro derivatives of aniline. In general they are yellow crystalline substances.

NITRATE Ni"trate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. nitrate.] (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of nitric acid. Nitrate of silver, a white crystalline salt (AgNO3), used in photography and as a cauterizing agent; -- called also lunar caustic.

NITRATED Ni"tra*ted, a.

1. (Chem.)

Defn: Combined, or impregnated, with nitric acid, or some of its compounds.

2. (Photog.)

Defn: Prepared with nitrate of silver.

NITRATINE Ni"tra*tine, n. (Min.)

Defn: A mineral occurring in transparent crystals, usually of a white, sometimes of a reddish gray, or lemon-yellow, color; native sodium nitrate. It is used in making nitric acid and for manure. Called also soda niter.

NITRE Ni"tre, n. (Chem.)

Defn: See Niter.

NITRIARY Ni"tri*a*ry, n. Etym: [See Niter.]

Defn: An artificial bed of animal matter for the manufacture of niter by nitrification. See Nitrification, 2.

NITRIC Ni"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.

NITRIDE Ni"tride ( or ), n. Etym: [fromNitrogen.] (Chem.)

Defn: A binary compound of nitrogen with a more metallic element or radical; as, boric nitride.

NITRIFEROUS Ni*trif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Niter + -ferous.]

Defn: Bearing niter; yielding, or containing, niter.

NITRIFICATION Ni`tri*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. nitrification. see Nitrify.]