Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Nū'gi-fy, v. t. p. 896To render trifling or futile; to make silly. [Rare.] “The stultifying, nugifying effect of a blind and uncritical study of the Fathers.” Coleridge.Nŭg'get, n. p. 896A lump; a mass, especially of a precious metal; as, a nugget of gold. ☞ This word is probably a revival of the old word nigot, which was simply an inversion of ingot. Trench.Nūi'sance, n. p. 896That which annoys or gives trouble and vexation; that which is offensive or noxious. 2. (Law.) That which incommodes or annoys; something that produces inconvenience or damage. ☞ Nuisances are public…Nūi′san-cer, n. p. 896(Law.) One who makes or causes a nuisance.Nūl, a. p. 896(Law.) No; not any; as, nul disseizin; nul tiel record; nul tort.Nŭll, v. t. p. 896To annul; to deprive of validity; to destroy. See ANNUL. [Rare.] Milton.Nūll, a. p. 896Of no legal or binding force or validity; of no efficacy; invalid; void; nugatory; useless; of no account or significance. Faultily faultless, icily regular, splendidly null, Dead perfection; no…Nūll, n. p. 896Something that has no force or meaning. 2. That which has no value; a cipher. Bacon.Nūl'lah, n. p. 896An arm of the sea; also, a stream or water-course. [India.] Malcom.Nŭl'li-bī'e-ty, n. p. 896The state or condition of being nowhere. [Obs.]Nŭl'li-fi-cā'tion, n. p. 896The act of nullifying; a rendering void and of no effect, or of no legal effect. Right of nullification (U. S. Hist.), the right claimed in behalf of a state to nullify or make void, by its sovereign…Nŭl'li-fĭd'i-an, a. p. 896Of no faith; of no religion; also, not dependent upon, or trusting to, faith for salvation;—opposed to solifidian. [Obs.] Feltham.Nŭl'li-fĭd'i-an, n. p. 896An unbeliever. [Obs.] I am a nullifidian, if there be not three thirds of a scruple more of sampsuchinum in this confection than ever I put in any. B. Jonson.Nŭl'li-fī'er, n. p. 896One who makes void; one who maintains the right to nullify a contract by one of the parties. 2. An advocate of the political doctrine of nullification. [U. S.]Nūl'li-fȳ, v. t. p. 896To make void; to render invalid; to deprive of legal force or efficacy. Such correspondence would at once nullify the conditions of the probationary system. I. Taylor. Syn.—To abolish; abrogate…Nūl'li-pōre, n. p. 896(Bot.) A kind of marine plant, secreting lime on its surface, and hence resembling coral. It was formerly considered a kind of zoöphyte. Dana.Nŭl'li-ty, n. p. 896The condition or quality of being null or void; nothingness; want of existence or force. 2. That which is null or void in law; any thing void, invalid, or of no efficacy. Was it not absurd to say…Nŭmb, a. p. 896Enfeebled in, or destitute of, the power of sensation and motion; torpid; as, the fingers or limbs are numb with cold. 2. Producing numbness; benumbing; as, the numb, cold night. [Obs.] Shak. Syn.—…Nŭmb, v. t. p. 896To make torpid; to deprive of, or weaken, the power of sensation or motion; to deaden; to benumb; to stupefy. “Like dull narcotics, numbing pain.” Tennyson. For lazy winter numbs the laboring hand.…Nŭmb'ed-ness, n. p. 896The state of being numbed; numbness. [Obs.] If the nerve be quite divided, the pain is little—only a kind of stupor or numbness. Wiseman.Nūm'ber, n. p. 896That which admits of being counted or reckoned; a single unit, considered as part of a series, or two or more of such units; an enumerable aggregate or collection of individuals; an assemblage made…Nŭm'ber, v. t. p. 896To count; to reckon; to ascertain the units of; to enumerate. If a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Gen. xiii. 16. 2. To give the number of; to assign the…Nūm'ber-er, n. p. 896One who numbers.Nŭm'ber-ful, a. p. 896Many in number; numerous. [Obs.]Nŭm'ber-less, a. p. 896Not admitting of being counted; innumerable.Nūm'ber-oŭs, a. p. 896Numerous. [Obs.]Nŭm'bers, n. p. 896The fourth book of the Pentateuch; — so called as containing the census of the Hebrews.Nūmb'-fish, n. p. 896(Ichth.) The torpedo; — so called from the numbness produced by the electric shocks which it gives.Nŭm'blēs, n. pl. p. 896The entrails of a deer. See NOMBLES.Nūmb'ness, n. p. 896The condition of being numb; that state of a living body in which it loses, wholly or in part, the power of feeling or motion.Nū'mer-a-ble, a. p. 896Capable of being numbered or counted.Nū'mer-al, a. p. 896Pertaining to number; consisting of number. The dependence of a long train of numeral progressions. Locke. 2. Expressing number; representing number; as, numeral letters or characters, as X or 10 for…Nū'mer-al, n. p. 896A figure or character used to express a number; as, the Arabic numerals, 1, 2, 3, &c.; the Roman numerals, I, V, X, L, &c. 2. (Gram.) A word expressing number.Nū'mer-al-ly, adv. p. 896According to number; in number.Nū'mer-a-ry, a. p. 896Belonging to a certain number; counting as one of a collection or body. A supernumerary canon, when he obtains a prebend, becomes a numerary canon. Ayliffe.Nū'mer-āte, v. t. p. 896(Arith.) To divide off and read according to the rules of numeration; as, to numerate a row of figures.Nū'mer-ā'tion, n. p. 896The act or art of numbering. Numeration is but still the adding of one unit more, and giving to the whole a new name or sign. Locke. 2. (Arith.) The act or art of dividing off a series of figures…Nū'mer-ā'tor, n. p. 896One who numbers. 2. (Arith.) The term in a vulgar fraction which indicates the number of fractional units that are taken; thus, when a unit is divided into 9 parts, and 5 are taken, it is expressed…Nu-mēr'ic or Nu-mēr'ic-al, a. p. 896Belonging to number; denoting number; consisting in numbers; expressed by numbers, and not letters: as, numerical characters; a numerical equation. 2. The same in number; hence, identically the same…Nu-mēr'ie-al-ly, adv. p. 896In a numerical manner; in numbers; with respect to number, or sameness in number; as, a thing is numerically the same, or numerically different.Nū'mer-ist, n. p. 896One who deals in numbers. [Obs.]Nū'me-ro, n. p. 896Number;—often abbreviated to No.Nū'mer-ŏs'i-ty, n. p. 896The state of being numerous; numerousness; harmony; flow. [Obs.] Broome. The numerosity of the sentence pleased the ear, and the vivacity of the image dazzled the fancy. Dr. Parr.Nū'mer-oŭs, a. p. 896Being many; consisting of a great number of individuals; as, a numerous army; a numerous body; a numerous people. Such and so numerous was their chivalry. Milton. 2. Consisting of poetic numbers…Nū'mer-oŭs-ly, adv. p. 897In or with great numbers; as, a meeting numerously attended.Nū'mer-oŭs-ness, n. p. 897The quality of being numerous or many; the quality of consisting of a great number of individuals; as, the numerousness of an army or of an assembly. 2. The quality of consisting of poetic numbers…Nū'mī-dā, n. p. 897(Ornith.) A genus of African birds, including the Guinea-fowl.Nu-mīd'i-an Crāne p. 897A variety of crane (Grus virgo), which is ash-colored, having a black neck, with two beautiful whitish aigrettes formed by the prolongation of the feathers covering the ears. It is a native of many…Nū'mis-măt'ic or Nū'mis-măt'ic-al, a. p. 897Pertaining to coins; relating to the science of coins or medals.Nū'mis-māt'ics, n. sing. p. 897The science of coins and medals. [See Note under MATHEMATICS.]Nu-mīz'ma-tist, n. p. 897One skilled in coins and medals.Nu-mĭs'ma-tŏg'ra-phy or Nu-mĭs'ma-tŏl'o-gy, n. p. 897The science which treats of coins and medals, in their relation to history; numismatics.Nu-mĭs'ma-tŏl'ō-gĭst, n. p. 897One versed in numismatology.Nŭm'ma-ry or Nŭm'mu-lar or Nŭm'mu-la-ry, a. p. 897Pertaining to coin or money; pecuniary. Reading.Nŭm'mu-līte, n. p. 897(Palæon.) A fossil of a flattened form, resembling a small coin, belonging to the tribe of Rhizopoda or Polythalamia, and common in the early tertiary period. Dana.Nūm'mu-lit'ic, a. p. 897Composed of, or containing, nummulites.Nūmp or Nūmps, n. p. 897A dolt; a blockhead. [Obs.] Parker.Nŭm'skŭll, n. p. 897A dunce; a dolt; a stupid fellow. [Colloq.]Nūn'skūlled, a. p. 897Dull in intellect; stupid; doltish. [Colloq.]Nūn, n. p. 897A woman devoted to a religious life, who lives in a cloister or nunnery, secluded from the world, under a vow of perpetual chastity. The holy time is quiet as a nun. Breathless with adoration. —…