Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913 + 1828)

Page 976

Nightmare

Night"mare` (?), n. [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. [AS. nichtscadu.] (Bot.) 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. A kind of nightgown for men.

Nighttime

Night"time` (?), n. The time from dusk to dawn; -- opposed to daytime.

Nightward

Night"ward (?), a. Approaching toward night.

Nigraniline

Ni*gran"i*line (? ∨ ?), n. [L. niger black + E. aniline.] (Chem.) The complex, nitrogenous, organic base and dyestuff called also aniline black.

Nigrescent

Ni*gres"cent (?), a. [L. nigrescens, p.pr. of nigrescere to grow black, fr. niger black. See Negro.] Growing black; changing to a black color; approaching to blackness. Johnson.

Nigrification

Nig`ri*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [L. nigrificare to blacken; niger black + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy.] The act or process of making black. [R.] Johnson.

Nigrine

Ni"grine (?), n. [L. niger black: cf. F. nigrine.] (Min.) A ferruginous variety of rutile.

Nigritude

Nig"ri*tude (?), n. [L. nigritudo, fr. niger black.] Blackness; the state of being black. Lamb.

Nigromancie

Nig"ro*man`cie (?), n. Necromancy. [Obs.]

Nigromancien

Nig"ro*man`cien (?), n. A necromancer. [Obs.]

These false enchanters or nigromanciens. Chaucer.

Nigrosine

Ni"gro*sine (? ∨ ?), n. [From L. niger black.] (Chem.) A dark blue dyestuff, of the induline group; -- called also azodiphenyl blue.

Nigua

Ni"gua (?), n. [Sp.] (Zoöl.) The chigoe.

Nihil

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

Nihilism

Ni"hil*ism (?), n. [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) The theories and practices of the Nihilists.

Nihilist

Ni"hil*ist, n. [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) 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. Of, pertaining to, or characterized by, nihilism.

Nihility

Ni*hil"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. nihilité. See Nihilism.] Nothingness; a state of being nothing.

Nil

Nil (?). [See Nill, v. t.] Will not. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Nil

Nil, n. & a. [L., a contr. of nihil.] Nothing; of no account; worthless; -- a term often used for canceling, in accounts or bookkeeping. A. J. Ellis. <-- (computers) A special value used in certain computer languages to mean "no value", to be distinguished from the value zero. -->

Nile

Nile (?), n. [L. Nilus, gr. .] 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.) see Nylghau.

Nill

Nill (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nilled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Nilling.] [AS. nilan, nyllan; ne not + willan to will. See No, and Will.] Not to will; to refuse; to reject. [Obs.]

Certes, said he, I nill thine offered grace. Spenser.

Nill

Nill, v. i. 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.<-- contracted to willy-nilly -->

Nill

Nill, n. [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. [Gr. ; the Nile + measure: cf. F. nilom\'8atre.] An instrument for measuring the rise of water in the Nile during its periodical flood.

Niloscope

Ni"lo*scope (?), n. [Gr. ; the Nile + to observe.] A Nilometer.

Nilotic

Ni*lot"ic (?), a. [L. Niloticus, fr. Nilus th Nile, Gr. : cf. F. nilotique.] Of or pertaining to the river Nile; as, the Nilotic crocodile.

Nilt

Nilt (?). [Contr. fr. ne wilt.] Wilt not. [Obs.]

Nim

Nim (?), v. t. [imp. Nam (?) or Nimmed (); p. p. Nomen (?) or Nome ().] [AS. niman. &root; 7. Cf. Nimble.] To take; to steal; to filch. [Obs.]

This canon it in his hand nam. Chaucer.

Nimbiferous

Nim*bif"er*ous (?), a. [L. nimbifer; nimbus a cloud + ferre to bear.] Serving to bring clouds or stormy weather.

Nimble

Nim"ble (?), a. [Compar. Nimbler (?); superl. Nimblest (?).] [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. to distribute. &root; 7. cf. Nomand, Numb.] Light and quick in motion; moving with ease and celerity; lively; swift.

Through the mid seas the nimble pinnace sails. Pope.

&hand; 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. The quality of being nimble; lightness and quickness in motion; agility; swiftness.

Nimbless

Nim"bless (?), n. Nimbleness. [Obs.] Spenser.

Nimbly

Nim"bly, adv. In a nimble manner; with agility; with light, quick motion.

Nimbose

Nim*bose" (?), a. [L. nimbosus, fr. nimbus cloud.] Cloudy; stormy; tempestuous.

Nimbus

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

1. (Fine Arts) 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. &hand; 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.) A rain cloud; one of the four principal varieties of clouds. See Cloud.

Nimiety

Ni*mi"e*ty (?), n. [L. nimietas, fr. nimius, a., nimis, adv., too much.] State of being in excess. [R.]

There is a nimiety, a too-muchess, in all Germans. Coleridge.

Nimious

Nim"i*ous (?), a. [L. nimius.] Excessive; extravagant; inordinate. [Obs.]

Nimmer

Nim"mer (?), n. [From Nim.] A thief. [Obs.]

Nin

Nin (?). [Fr. ne in.] Not in. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Nincompoop

Nin"com*poop (?), n. [A corruption of non compos.] 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. [OE. nine, nihen, AS. nigon, nigan; akin to D. & LG. negen, OS. & OFries. nigun, OHG. niun, G. neun, Icel. nīu, sw. nio, Dan. ni, Goth. niun, Ir. & Gael. naoi, W. naw, L. novem, gr. , Skr. navan; of unknown origin. 307. Cf. Novembeer.] 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 ∨ 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.) A white-flowered rosaceous shrub (Neillia, ∨ Spiræa, opulifolia), common in the Northern United States. The bark separates into many thin layers, whence the name.

Nine-eyes

Nine"-eyes` (?), n. (Zoöl.) The lamprey.

Ninefold

Nine"fold` (?), a. Nine times repeated.

Nineholes

Nine"holes` (?), n. pl. A game in which nine holes are made in the ground, into which a ball is bowled.

Nine-killer

Nine"-kill`er (?), n. [So called because it is believed to kill and impale on thorns nine birds, etc., in succession.] (Zoöl.) 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. 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. &hand; In the United States, ten pins are used for this game, which is therefore often called tenpins.

Ninescore

Nine"score` (?), a. Nine times twenty, or one hundred and eighty. -- n. The product of nine times twenty; ninescore units or objects.

Nineteen

Nine"teen` (?), a. [AS. nigontne, nigontne. See Nine, and Ten.] 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. [Cf. AS. nigonteóa.]

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.) 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. [See Nine, and cf. Forty.] 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 (#). [Cf. It. ninno, ninna, a baby, Sp. ni\'a4o, ni\'a4a, child, infant, It. ninna, ninna nanna, lullably, prob. fr. ni, na, as used in singing a child to sleep.] A fool; a simpleton. Shak.

Ninnyhammer

Nin"ny*ham`mer (?), n. A simpleton; a silly person. [Colloq.] Addison.

Ninth

Ninth (?), a. [From Nine; cf. AS. nigo&edh;a.]

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. In the ninth place.

Ninut

Nin"ut (?), n. (Zoöl.) The magpie. [Prov. Eng.]

Niobate

Ni"o*bate (?), n. [See Niobium.] (Chem.) Same as Columbate.

Niobe

Ni"o*be (?), n. [L. Nioba, Niobe, gr. .] (Class, Myth.) 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.) Same as Columbic.

Niobite

Ni"o*bite (?), n. (Min.) Same as Columbite.

Niobium

Ni*o"bi*um (?), n. [NL., fr. L. & E. Niobe.] (Chem.) A later name of columbium. See Columbium.

Niopo

Ni*o"po (?), n. 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. [LG. & D. nippen to sip; akin to Dan. nippe, G. nippen.] 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 (?).] [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.) 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. [See 1st Nip.] A small cup. [Obs.]

Nippers

Nip"pers (?), n. pl. [From 2d Nip.]

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

2. (Mach.) 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.) A number of rope-yarns wound together, used to secure a cable to the messenger.

Nipping

Nip"ping (?), a. Biting; pinching; painful; destructive; as, a nipping frost; a nipping wind.

Nippingly

Nip"ping*ly, adv. In a nipping manner.

Nippitate

Nip"pi*tate (?), a. [Cf. 1st Nip.] 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. Strong liquor. [Old Cant] Beau. & Fl.

Nipple

Nip"ple (?), n. [Formerly neble, a dim. of neb. See Neb, Nib.]

1. (Anat.) 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.) 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.