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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. Nĭn'ny, n.p. 887A fool; a simpleton; a dolt.
  2. Nin'ny-hăm'mer, n.p. 887A simpleton. Arbuthnot.
  3. Nin’sin, n.p. 887(Med.) A bitter root possessing medicinal qualities similar to those of ginseng. [Written also ninzin.] Dunglison.
  4. Ninth, a.p. 887Following the eighth and preceding the tenth; coming after eight of the same class. 2. Constituting or being one of nine equal parts into which any thing is divided.
  5. Ninth, n.p. 887The quotient of a unit divided by nine; one of nine equal parts. 2. (Mus.) (a.) An interval containing an octave and a second. (b.) A chord consisting of the common chord, with the eighth advanced…
  6. Ninth'ly, adv.p. 887In the ninth place.
  7. Nin'zin, n.p. 887See NINSIN.
  8. Nī'o-be, n.p. 887(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. Upon this Niobe was struck dumb with grief, and remained…
  9. Nī-ō'bi-ŭm, n.p. 887(Min.) The metal previously named columbium. Dana.
  10. Nip, v. t.p. 887To inclose and compress tightly between two surfaces or edges 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…
  11. Nĭp, n.p. 887A seizing or closing in upon; as, in the northern seas, the nip of the 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…
  12. Nip'per, n.p. 887A fore tooth of a horse. The nippers are four in number. 2. A satirist. [Obs.] 3. A pickpocket; a petty thief. 4. A small draught; a sip; a nip. [Vulgar.]
  13. Nip'per-kĭn, n.p. 887A small cup. [Rare.]
  14. Nip′pers, n. pl.p. 887Small pincers for holding, breaking, or cutting. 2. (Naut.) A number of yarns marled together, used to secure a cable to the messenger.
  15. Nip'ping-ly, adv.p. 887In a nipping manner; with bitter sarcasm; bitingly.
  16. Nip'pi-tate, a.p. 887Peculiarly strong and good, as ale or other liquor. [Cant.] [Obs.] 'Twill make a cup of wine taste nippitate. Chapman.
  17. Nĭp-pi-tā'to, n.p. 887Strong liquor.
  18. Nĭp-pi-tā'tump. 887Beau. & Fl.
  19. Nip'ple, n.p. 887The spongy, conical protuberance by which milk is drawn from the breasts of females; a teat; a pap. 2. The orifice at which any animal liquor is separated. [Rare.] Derham. 3. Any small projection in…
  20. Nip'ple-wort, n.p. 887(Bot.) An herb of the genus Lapsana, formerly used as an external application to the breasts of women.
  21. Nip'ter, n.p. 887(Eccl.) The ceremony of washing the feet observed by the members of some Christian sects in imitation of the act of the Savior, especially by those of the Greek church, who perform it on the Thursday…
  22. Nisp. 887Is not. [Obs.] Spenser.
  23. Nī'san, n.p. 887A month of the Jewish calendar, being the first month of the civil year, answering to the month of April. It was originally called Abib, but began to be called Nisan after the captivity. Kitto.
  24. Nī'sey, n.p. 887A simpleton; a fool. “To win applause from gaping niseys.” Hudibras Redivivus, 1707.
  25. Nī'sī, conj.p. 887Unless; if not. ☞ In legal proceedings, this word is used to indicate that any order, &c., shall take effect at a given time, unless before that time the order, &c., is modified, or something else is…
  26. Nisi priusp. 887unless before:—a phrase applied to terms of court, held generally by a single judge, with a jury, for the trial of jury causes. The term originated in a legal fiction. An issue of fact being made up…
  27. Nĭt, n.p. 887The egg of a louse or other small insect.
  28. Ni'ten-cy, n.p. 887Brightness; luster. 2. [From Lat. nitens, p. pr. of niti, to strive.] Endeavor; effort. Boyle.
  29. Ni'ter or Ni'tre, n.p. 887(Chem.) A white, crystalline, semi-transparent salt, nitrate of potassa, having a pungent, saline taste. It occurs in nature as a crust of minute, silky crystals, and often as the result of the…
  30. Nith'ing, n.p. 887A coward; a dastard; a poltroon. [Obs.]
  31. Nĭt'id, a.p. 887Bright; lustrous; shining. Boyle. 2. Gay; spruce; fine; — said of persons. [Rare.] Reeve.
  32. Ni'trate, n.p. 887(Chem.) A salt formed by the union of nitric acid with a base. Nitrate of silver, lunar caustic. See under LUNAR.—Nitrate of soda. See under NITER.
  33. Ni'trā-ted, a.p. 887Combined with nitric acid. 2. (Photog.) Prepared with nitrate of silver.
  34. Nĭ'tra-tīne, n.p. 887(Min.) A mineral occurring in transparent crystals, usually of a white, sometimes of a reddish, gray, or lemon-yellow color; native nitrate of soda. Dana.
  35. Nĭ'tre, n.p. 887See NITER.
  36. Nĭ'tri-a-ry, n.p. 887An artificial bed of decomposing animal matter for the manufacture of niter.
  37. Nī'tric, a.p. 887(Chem.) Pertaining to, or containing, nitrogen. Nitric acid, a powerful, corrosive acid, containing five equivalents of oxygen and one of nitrogen. — Nitric oxide, an acid composed of oxygen and…
  38. Nī′/tri-fi-cā′/tion, n.p. 887The process of forming niter by the decomposition of animal matter. 2. The process of converting into niter.
  39. Nĭ'tri-fy, v. t.p. 887To convert into niter.
  40. Nī'trite, n.p. 887(Chem.) A salt formed by the combination of nitrous acid with a base.
  41. Nī'tro-ā-ē'ri-al, a.p. 888Containing, or consisting of, niter and air. Ray.
  42. Nī'tro-bēn'zole, n.p. 888(Chem.) A liquid formed by treating benzole with nitric acid, and used as a substitute for the essence of bitter almonds in perfumery.
  43. Nī'tro-gen, n.p. 888(Chem.) A gaseous element, without taste, odor, or color, forming nearly four fifths of common air, and incapable of supporting life; azote. It is almost inert, chemically, but forms, by combination…
  44. Nī'tro-gen-īze, v. t.p. 888To imbue with nitrogen.
  45. Nī-trō'g'e-noŭs, a.p. 888Pertaining to, or containing, nitrogen.
  46. Nī'tro-leū'eate, n.p. 888(Chem.) A salt formed by the combination of nitroleucic acid with a base.
  47. Nī'tro-leū'çic, a.p. 888(Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, nitric acid and leucine; as, nitro-leucic acid.
  48. Nī-trōm'e-ter, n.p. 888(Chem.) An instrument for ascertaining the quality or value of niter.
  49. Nī'tro-mū-ri-āt'ic, a.p. 888(Chem.) Pertaining to, or composed of, nitric acid and muriatic acid; — said of an acid formed by mixing nitric and muriatic (or hydrochloric) acid, and which was formerly called aqua regia, from its…
  50. Nī-trōse', a.p. 888Pertaining to, or containing, niter; nitrous.
  51. Nī'troŭs, a.p. 888Pertaining to, or containing, niter; partaking of the qualities of niter, or resembling it. Nitrous acid (Chem.), an acid composed of nitrogen and oxygen, in which the oxygen is in a lower proportion…
  52. Nī'try, a.p. 888Nitrous; pertaining to niter; producing niter.
  53. Nĭt'er, n.p. 888The horse-louse; an insect that deposits nits on horses.
  54. Nĭt'ti-ly, adv.p. 888Lousily. [Obs.]
  55. Nĭt'ty, a.p. 888Full of nits; abounding with nits.
  56. Nĭt'ty, a.p. 888Shining; elegant; spruce. “O sweet, nitty youth.” Marston.
  57. Nī'val, a.p. 888Abounding with snow; snowy. [Obs.]
  58. Nīv'e-oŭs, a.p. 888Snowy; resembling snow; partaking of the qualities of snow. [Rare.] Broome.
  59. Nī-vōse', n.p. 888The fourth month of the French republican calendar, dating from Sept. 22, 1792. It commenced Dec. 21 or 22, and ended Jan. 19 or 20. See VENDEMIAIRE.
  60. Nī-zām', n.p. 888The title of the native sovereigns of Hyderabad, in India, derived from Nizam-ul-Mulk, who, after the death of Aurungzebe, obtained possession of the Mohammedan conquests in the Deccan, and whose…