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.
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.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.Nĭg'gle, v. t. p. 885To trifle with; to deceive; to mock. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.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…Nĭg'gler, n. p. 886One who niggles; a deceiver; a cheat.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…Nigh, adv. p. 886In a situation near in place or time, or in the course of events. 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.…Nigh, v. t. p. 886To draw nigh to; to approach; to near. [Obs.]Nigh, v. i. p. 886To come nigh; to approach; to advance or draw near. [Obs.]Nigh, prep. p. 886Near to; not remote or distant from. [See Note under NEAR, a.] Nigh this recess with terror they survey Where Death maintains his dread tyrannic sway. Garth.Nigh'ly, adv. p. 886In a near relation in place, time, and the like; within a little; almost. [Obs.] A cube and a sphere nighly of the same bigness. Locke.Nigh'ness, n. p. 886The quality or state of being nigh; nearness; proximity in place, time, or degree. [Rare.]Night, n. p. 886That part of the natural day when the sun is beneath the horizon, or the time from sunset to sunrise. God has set Labor and rest, as day and night, to men, Successive. Milton. 2. Hence, in figurative…Night'-cāp, n. p. 886A cap worn in bed or in undress. 2. A glass of warm liquor before going to bed. [Cant.] Wright.