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An American Dictionary of the English Language

by Noah Webster

Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)

Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865

Entries
95,912
Pages
1,538
Illustrations
2,133

Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.

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  1. 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…
  2. 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…
  3. Nick-ĕl'ic, a.p. 885Pertaining to, or containing, nickel.
  4. Nĭck'el-ĭf'er-oŭs, a.p. 885Containing nickel; as, nickeliferous iron.
  5. Nĭck'er, n.p. 885One who watches for opportunities to pilfer, or practice knavery. [Cant.] Arbuthnot.
  6. Nĭck'er-tree, n.p. 885See NICKAR-TREE.
  7. Nĭck'năck, n.p. 885A small thing; a bawble; a trifle;—used chiefly in the plural. See KNICKKNACK.
  8. Nick-năck'er-y, n.p. 885A bawble; a trifle; a nick-nack or knickknack.
  9. Nĭck'nāme, n.p. 885A name given in contempt, derision, or sportive familiarity; an opprobrious or familiar appellation.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. Nĭ-cō'tian, a.p. 885Pertaining to, or denoting, tobacco;—so called from Nicot, who first introduced it into France, A. D. 1560.
  13. Nĭ-cō'tian, n.p. 885Tobacco. [Rare.] B. Jonson.
  14. Nĭ-cō'ti-ā'nȧ, n.p. 885(Bot.) A genus of plants, including tobacco.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.]
  17. Nĭc'tāte, v. i.p. 885To wink.
  18. Nic-tā'tion, n.p. 885The act of winking.
  19. 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…
  20. Nĭc'ti-tā'tion, n.p. 885The act of winking.
  21. 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.
  22. Nī'da-ry, n.p. 885A collection of nests. [Obs. and rare.] In this rupellary nidary, does the female lay eggs and breed. Evelyn.
  23. Nīde, n.p. 885A nestful; a brood; as, a nide of pheasants. [Obs.]
  24. Nī'der-ing, a.p. 885Infamous; dastardly. “On pain of being held faithless, man-sworn, and nidering.” W. Scott.
  25. Nĭdġ'er-y, n.p. 885A trifle; foolery. Skinner.
  26. Nĭdġ'et, n.p. 885A fool; an idiot; a coward; dastard. [Obs.] Camden.
  27. Nĭd'i-fi-cāte, v. i.p. 885To make a nest. [Rare.]
  28. Nĭd'i-fi-cā'tion, n.p. 885The act or operation of building a nest, and the hatching and feeding of young.
  29. Nī'ding, n.p. 885A despicable coward; a dastard. [Obs.]
  30. Nī'dor, n.p. 885Scent; savor. [Obs.]
  31. Nĭ'dor-ōse', a.p. 885The same as NIDOROUS.
  32. Nĭ'dor-ŏs'i-ty, n.p. 885Eructation with the taste of undigested roast meat. [Obs.] Floyer.
  33. Nĭ'dor-oŭs, a.p. 885Resembling the smell or taste of roasted meat. [Obs.] Bacon.
  34. Nid'ū-lant, a.p. 885(Bot.) Nestling; lying loose in pulp or cotton, within a berry or pericarp.
  35. Nid'ū-lāte, v. i.p. 885To make a nest, as a bird; to nidificate. [Rare.]
  36. Nid'ū-lā'tion, n.p. 885The time of remaining in the nest, as of a bird. [Rare.] Browne.
  37. Nī'dus, n.p. 885A repository for the eggs of birds, insects, and the like; a nest.
  38. 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…
  39. Niēf, n.p. 885See NEAF.
  40. 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…
  41. Nĭf'le, n.p. 885A trifle. [Obs.] Chaucer.
  42. Nĭ-ġĕl'lȧ, n.p. 885(Bot.) A genus of plants; fennel-flower;—so called from its black seeds. Gray.
  43. 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…
  44. Nīg'gard, a.p. 885Meanly covetous; sordidly parsimonious; miserly. Nor rude is he, Nor niggard of his cheer. Byron. 2. Sparing; wary; chary.
  45. Nig'gard, v. t.p. 885To stint; to supply sparingly. [Rare.] Shak.
  46. Nĭg'gard-īse, n.p. 885Niggardliness. [Obs.] Spenser.
  47. Nĭg'gard-ĭsh, a.p. 885Somewhat covetous or niggardly.
  48. 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.
  49. 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.…
  50. Nig'gard-ly, adv.p. 885With cautious parsimony; sparingly.
  51. Nig'gard-ness, n.p. 885Niggardliness. [Obs.] Sidney.
  52. Nig'gard-oūs, a.p. 885Niggardly. [Obs.] “Covetous gathering and niggardous keeping.” Sir T. More.
  53. 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.
  54. Nig'gard-y, n.p. 885Niggardliness. [Obs.]
  55. Nig'ger, n.p. 885A negro;— in derision or depreciation.
  56. Nĭg'gish, a.p. 885Niggardly; meanly covetous; sparing. [Obs.] Be not ye niggish and slothful distributors of the doctrine that I give you, but put it forth lavishly. Udal, Mark iv.
  57. Nĭg'gle, v. t.p. 885To trifle with; to deceive; to mock. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
  58. Nĭg'gle, v. i.p. 886To 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 squeeze out with care or difficulty. Nares. 4. To…
  59. Nĭg'gler, n.p. 886One who niggles; a deceiver; a cheat.
  60. Nigh (nī), a.p. 886Not distant or remote in place or time; near. The loud tumult shows the battle nigh. Prior. 2. Not remote in degree, kindred, circumstances, &c.; closely allied; intimate. Ye . . . are made nigh by…