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.
Nîck, n. p. 885(Northern Myth.) An evil spirit of the waters; hence, the modern vulgar phrase, Old Nick, the evil one; the devil.Nick, n. p. 885A notch cut into something; hence, a score for keeping an account; a reckoning. 2. (Print.) A notch cut crosswise in the shank of a type, to assist a compositor in distributing the different sizes in…Nĭck, v. t. p. 885To cut in nicks or notches; to make a nick or nicks in; to notch; as, to nick a stick, tally, &c. Scarce lacked that thunderbolt of the falling beam, Which nicked me on the forehead as I passed. E.…Nĭck, n. p. 885A hit; a fortunate conjuncture; the exact point or time; a winning throw. “To cut it off in the very nick.” Howell. This nick of time is the critical occasion for the gaining of a point. L’Estrange.Nĭck, v. t. p. 885To hit; to touch luckily; to strike at the precise point or time. The just season of doing things must be nicked, and all accidents improved. L’Estrange. 2. Hence, to make a hit at; to gain an…Nĭck'ar-tree, n. p. 885(Bot.) A tree of the genus Guilandina, which grows in the East and West Indies, and bears a small, hard nut, of the size of a small nutmeg;—called also bonduc. [Written also nicker-tree and…Nĭck'el, n. p. 885(Min.) A grayish-white metal of considerable luster, very malleable and ductile, occurring very generally in combination with arsenic, and found also in meteoric stones. It is used in coloring glass…Nick-ĕl'ic, a. p. 885Pertaining to, or containing, nickel.Nĭck'el-ĭf'er-oŭs, a. p. 885Containing nickel; as, nickeliferous iron.Nĭck'er, n. p. 885One who watches for opportunities to pilfer, or practice knavery. [Cant.] Arbuthnot.Nĭck'er-tree, n. p. 885See NICKAR-TREE.Nĭck'năck, n. p. 885A small thing; a bawble; a trifle;—used chiefly in the plural. See KNICKKNACK.Nick-năck'er-y, n. p. 885A bawble; a trifle; a nick-nack or knickknack.Nĭck'nāme, n. p. 885A name given in contempt, derision, or sportive familiarity; an opprobrious or familiar appellation.Nĭck'nāme, v. t. p. 885To give a name of reproach or familiarity to; to call by an opprobrious or familiar appellation. You nickname virtue vice. Shak.Nĭc'o-lā'i-tan, n. p. 885(Eccl. Hist.) One of certain corrupt persons in the early church at Ephesus, who are censured in Rev. ii., but of whom little can be ascertained with certainty.Nĭ-cō'tian, a. p. 885Pertaining to, or denoting, tobacco;—so called from Nicot, who first introduced it into France, A. D. 1560.Nĭ-cō'tian, n. p. 885Tobacco. [Rare.] B. Jonson.Nĭ-cō'ti-ā'nȧ, n. p. 885(Bot.) A genus of plants, including tobacco.Nĭ-cō'ti-a-nīne, n. p. 885(Chem.) A concrete or solid oil obtained from tobacco. It smells like tobacco smoke, tastes bitterish and slightly aromatic, and is eminently poisonous. Tully.Nĭc'o-tīne, n. p. 885(Chem.) An oily, limpid, colorless liquid, obtained from nicotianine, having a weak taste of tobacco, and eminently poisonous. [Written also nicotin.]Nĭc'tāte, v. i. p. 885To wink.Nic-tā'tion, n. p. 885The act of winking.Nĭc'ti-tāte, v. i. p. 885To wink; to nictate. Nictitating membrane, a thin membrane at the inner angle of the eye, capable of being drawn across the ball beneath the lid, as in birds and some ruminant animals; the third…Nĭc'ti-tā'tion, n. p. 885The act of winking.Nĭd'a-mĕn'tal, a. p. 885Bearing or pertaining to eggs or young; as, the nidamental bags or aggregated capsules produced by some mollusks. R. Owen.Nī'da-ry, n. p. 885A collection of nests. [Obs. and rare.] In this rupellary nidary, does the female lay eggs and breed. Evelyn.Nīde, n. p. 885A nestful; a brood; as, a nide of pheasants. [Obs.]Nī'der-ing, a. p. 885Infamous; dastardly. “On pain of being held faithless, man-sworn, and nidering.” W. Scott.Nĭdġ'er-y, n. p. 885A trifle; foolery. Skinner.Nĭdġ'et, n. p. 885A fool; an idiot; a coward; dastard. [Obs.] Camden.Nĭd'i-fi-cāte, v. i. p. 885To make a nest. [Rare.]Nĭd'i-fi-cā'tion, n. p. 885The act or operation of building a nest, and the hatching and feeding of young.Nī'ding, n. p. 885A despicable coward; a dastard. [Obs.]Nī'dor, n. p. 885Scent; savor. [Obs.]Nĭ'dor-ōse', a. p. 885The same as NIDOROUS.Nĭ'dor-ŏs'i-ty, n. p. 885Eructation with the taste of undigested roast meat. [Obs.] Floyer.Nĭ'dor-oŭs, a. p. 885Resembling the smell or taste of roasted meat. [Obs.] Bacon.Nid'ū-lant, a. p. 885(Bot.) Nestling; lying loose in pulp or cotton, within a berry or pericarp.Nid'ū-lāte, v. i. p. 885To make a nest, as a bird; to nidificate. [Rare.]Nid'ū-lā'tion, n. p. 885The time of remaining in the nest, as of a bird. [Rare.] Browne.Nī'dus, n. p. 885A repository for the eggs of birds, insects, and the like; a nest.Niēce, n. p. 885Formerly, a relative in general, as an aunt; but especially a descendant, whether male or female. [Obs.] B. Jonson. Wycliffe. Shak. 2. The daughter of a brother or sister. ☞ “This word . . . is now…Niēf, n. p. 885See NEAF.Nĭ-ĕl'lo, n. p. 885A style of ornamentation applied to metal before the invention of engraving. The process consisted in drawing upon gold, silver, &c., a design, which was then cut out with a pointed instrument, and…Nĭf'le, n. p. 885A trifle. [Obs.] Chaucer.Nĭ-ġĕl'lȧ, n. p. 885(Bot.) A genus of plants; fennel-flower;—so called from its black seeds. Gray.Nĭg'gard, n. p. 885A person meanly close and covetous; a sordid wretch who saves every cent, or spends grudgingly; a miser. Serve him as a grudging master, As a penurious niggard of his wealth. Milton. Be niggards of…Nīg'gard, a. p. 885Meanly covetous; sordidly parsimonious; miserly. Nor rude is he, Nor niggard of his cheer. Byron. 2. Sparing; wary; chary.Nig'gard, v. t. p. 885To stint; to supply sparingly. [Rare.] Shak.Nĭg'gard-īse, n. p. 885Niggardliness. [Obs.] Spenser.Nĭg'gard-ĭsh, a. p. 885Somewhat covetous or niggardly.Nĭg'gard-li-ness, n. p. 885The state of being niggardly; mean covetousness; sordid parsimony; extreme avarice manifested in sparing expense. Niggardliness is not good husbandry. Addison.Nĭg'gard-ly, a. p. 885Meanly covetous or avaricious in dealing with others; sordidly parsimonious; extremely sparing of expense. Where the owner of the house will be bountiful, it is not for the steward to be niggardly.…Nig'gard-ly, adv. p. 885With cautious parsimony; sparingly.Nig'gard-ness, n. p. 885Niggardliness. [Obs.] Sidney.Nig'gard-oūs, a. p. 885Niggardly. [Obs.] “Covetous gathering and niggardous keeping.” Sir T. More.Nig'gard-ship, n. p. 885Niggardliness; stinginess. [Obs.] In a noble man, much pinching and niggardship of meat and drink is to be discommended. Sir T. Elyot.Nig'gard-y, n. p. 885Niggardliness. [Obs.]Nig'ger, n. p. 885A negro;— in derision or depreciation.