Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Nep-tū'ni-an, a. p. 882Pertaining to the ocean or sea. 2. Formed by water or aqueous solution; as, Neptunian rocks. Neptunian theory (Geol.), the theory of Werner, which refers the formation of all rocks and strata to the…Nep-tū'ni-an or Népt'ū-nist, n. p. 882One who adopts the theory that the whole earth was once covered with water, or rather that the substances of the globe were formed from aqueous solution.Nē're-id, n. p. 882(Myth.) A sea-nymph, one of the daughters of Nereus, who were attendants upon Neptune, and represented as riding on sea-horses, sometimes with the human form entire, and sometimes with the tail of a…Nē're-id'ī-an, n. p. 882(Zoöl.) One of a family of annelids, of which the nereis is the type. Brande.Nē-rē'īs, n. p. 882A Nereid. See NĒREID.Nē-rī'tō, n. p. 882(Conch.) A genus of marine mollusks, including many species, which are mostly distributed through the seas of warm climates. Baird.Nēr'ite, n. p. 882(Zoöl.) A mollusk of the genus Nerita, having a univalvular shell.Nĕr'ĭ-tīte, n. p. 882(Paleon.) A petrified shell of the genus Nerita.Nē'ri-ŭm, n. p. 882(Bot.) A genus of plants, including the oleander. Baird.Nĕr'o-lĭ, n. p. 882The essential oil obtained from the flowers of the bitter orange. It has a strong odor, and is used in perfumery. Ure.Ner-vā'tion, n. p. 882The arrangement of nerves, especially those of leaves. The outlines of the fronds of ferns, and their nervation, are frail characters if employed alone for the determination of existing genera. J. D.…Nērve, n. p. 882A sinew; a tendon. [Rare.] Pope. 2. Hence, physical force or steadiness; muscular power and control; also, steadiness and firmness of mind; self-command in personal danger, or under suffering…Nērve, v. t. p. 882To give strength or vigor to; to supply with force; as, fear nerved his arm.Nērved, a. p. 882(Bot.) Having nerves, or simple and parallel ribs or veins. Gray.Nerve'less, a. p. 882Destitute of strength; wanting vigor; weak. “A kingless people for a nerveless state.” Byron.Nērve'-shāk'en, a. p. 882Affected by a shaking. 2. Overcome or oppressed by some violent influence, impression, or sensation; shocked.Nērv'īne, a. p. 882(Med.) Having the quality of acting upon the nerves; quieting nervous excitement.Nērv'īne, n. p. 882(Med.) A medicine that acts upon the nerves, or soothes nervous excitement.Ner-vōse', a. p. 882(Bot.) The same as NERVED.Ner-vōs'i-ty, n. p. 882The quality of being nervous; nervousness. 2. The state or quality of being nervous.Nĕrv'ous, a. p. 882Possessing nerve; sinewy; strong; vigorous; forcible; spirited. “Nervous arms.” Pope. 2. Hence, possessing or manifesting vigor of mind; characterized by strength in sentiment or style; as, a nervous…Ner'vous p. 882system, the entire specialized apparatus in animals for receiving irritation, originating action, and transmitting both. In the vertebrates it is usually considered in two groups; the cerebro-spinal…Nĕrv'ōus-ly, adv. p. 882In a nervous manner; with strength or vigor. 2. In a nervous manner; with weakness or agitation of the nerves. “Rendered nervously cautious and anxious by so many successive losses.” W. Scott.Nĕrv'ōŭs-ness, n. p. 882The state or quality of being nervous; vigor; strength; forcefulness; as, the nervousness of an arm. “The nervousness of the sentence.” Harton. 2. Weakness or agitation of the nerves.Nĕrv'ûre, n. p. 882(Bot.) One of the veins of leaves. 2. (Entom.) One of the horny nettings in the wings of insects.Nérv'y, a. p. 882Strong; vigorous; nervous.Nēs'cience, n. p. 882Want of knowledge; ignorance. Bp. Hall.Nĕsh, a. p. 882Soft; tender; nice. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Chaucer.Nĕss p. 882A termination of names, signifying a promontory.Nĕss p. 882A termination of abstract names, denoting state or quality, as in goodness, greatness.Nĕst, n. p. 882[A.-S. nest, nist, D. & Ger. nest, Sw. nïste, allied to Lat. nidus, for nidus, Skr. nîda, Russ. gniesdō, Lith. lizdas, for nizdas, W. nyth, Arm. neiz, Ir. nead, Gr. νεοσσιά, νεοττιά. 1. The bed or…Nĕst, v. i. p. 882To build and occupy a nest. The king of birds nested with its leaves. Howell.Nèst, v. t. p. 882To put into a nest; to form a nest for. They like a nested pair reposed. Wordsworth.Nĕst'-ĕgg, n. p. 882An egg left in the nest to prevent the hen from forsaking it, and to induce her to lay more in the same place; hence, something laid up as the beginning of a fund or collection. Hudibras.Nĕst'le, v. i. p. 882To lie close and snug, as a bird in her nest; to settle; to harbor. The king-fisher nestles in hollow banks. L'Estrange. Their purpose was to fortify in some strong place of the wild country, and…Nĕst'le, v. t. p. 882To house, as in a nest. 2. To cherish, as a bird her young.Nĕst'ling, n. p. 882A young bird in the nest, or just taken from the nest. 2. A nest. [Obs. and rare.] Bacon.Nēst'ling, a. p. 883Newly hatched; being yet in the nest.Nes-tō'ri-an, n. p. 883(Eccl. Hist.) An adherent of Nestorius, patriarch of Constantinople in the fifth century, who was deposed and condemned as a heretic for maintaining that the divine and human natures in Christ were…Nes-tō'ri-an, a. p. 883Pertaining to the Nestorians. 2. Relating to, or resembling, Nestor, the aged warrior and counselor mentioned by Homer; hence, wise; experienced; aged; as, Nestorian caution.Nes-tō'ri-an-ism, n. p. 883The principles of the Nestorians.Nĕt, n. p. 883An instrument for catching fish and birds, or wild beasts, formed with twine or thread wrought or woven in meshes; hence, any thing wrought or woven in net-work. 2. Any thing designed or fitted to…Nēt, v. t. p. 883To make into a net, or net-work. 2. To take in a net; to capture by stratagem or wile. And now I am here, netted and in the toils. W. Scott.Nĕt, v. i. p. 883To form net-work; to knit.Nēt, a. p. 883Being without flaw or spot. [Obs.] “Her breast all naked as net ivory.” Spenser. 2. (Com.) Pure; unadulterated; neat; as, net wine, &c.; also, clear of all charges and deductions; as, net profit; net…Nēt, v. t. p. 883To produce as clear profit.Nēth'er, a. p. 883Situated down or below; lying or being beneath, or in the lower part; having a lower position; belonging to the region below; lower;— opposed to upper. “’Twist upper, nether, and surrounding fires.”…Nēth'er-mōre, a. p. 883Nether; lower. [Obs.] Holland.Neth'er-mōst, a. p. 883Lowest; as, the nethermost hell; the nethermost abyss.Nēt'i-fy, v. t. p. 883To render neat; to clean; to put in order. [Obs.] Chapman.Nĕth'i-nim, n. pl. p. 883(Among the Jews.) Servants of the priests and Levites in the ministry of the tabernacle and temple.Nēt'ting, n. p. 883A piece of net-work. 2. (Naut.) A net-work of ropes used for various purposes, as for holding the hammocks when not in use, also for stowing sails, and for hoisting from the gunwale to the rigging to…Nēt'ting, n. p. 883Urine. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Nĕt'tle, n. p. 883(Bot.) A plant of the genus Urtica, covered with minute sharp hairs containing a poison that produces a very painful sensation. U. gracilis is common in the Northern United States, and U.…Nēt'tle, v. t. p. 883To fret or sting; to irritate or vex; to cause to experience sensations of displeasure or uneasiness not amounting to wrath or violent anger. The princes were nettled at the scandal of this affront.…Nĕt'tle, n. p. 883(Naut.) The same as KNITTLE. See KNITTLE.Nēt'tle-clōth, n. p. 883A kind of thick cotton stuff, japanned, and prepared to be employed as a substitute for leather, for which it is often used.Nēt'tler, n. p. 883One who provokes, stings, or irritates.Nĕt'tle-rāsh, n. p. 883(Med.) An eruptive disease resembling the effects of the sting of a nettle.Nĕt'tle-tree, n. p. 883The same as the LOTE. See LOTE.