neuroma (nu: rou´mэ, nyu:-) pl. -mas or -ma·ta (-mэ tэ) •n. a tumor derived from nervous tissue, consisting of nerve cells and fibers [ModL: see NEURO- & -OMA]

neuromast (nu:´rou mæst', nyu:´-) •n. any of the sense organs found in the lateral line system and the skin of fishes [NEURO- + Gr mastos, breast: see MAST²]

neuromuscular (nu:'rou mûs´kyu: lэr, nyu:'-) •adj. of or involving both nerves and muscles

neuron (nu:´rän', nyu:´-; -rэn; nur´än', nyur´-; -эn) •n. the structural and functional unit of the nervous system, consisting of the nerve cell body and all its processes, including an axon and one or more dendrites: also neu´rone' (-roun') neu´ro·nal (-rэ nэl) or neu·ron·ic (nu: rän´ik, nyu:-) •adj. [ModL < Gr neuron, NERVE]

neuropath (nu:´rou pæθ', nyu:-) •n. early term for NEUROTIC [< NEUROPATHIC]

neuropathology (nu:'rou pэ θäl´э ji:, nyu:'-) •n. the branch of pathology dealing with diseases of the nervous system neu'ro·pa·thol´o·gist •n.

neuropathy (nu: räp´э θi:, nyu:-) •n. any disease of the nervous system neu·ro·path·ic (nu:'rou pæθ´ik, nyu:'-) •adj. [NEURO- + -PATHY]

neurophysiology (nu:'rou fiz'i: äl´э ji:, nyu:'-) •n. the physiology of the nervous system neu'ro·phys'i·o·log´i·cal or neu'ro·phys'i·o·log´ic •adj. neu'ro·phys'i·o·log´i·cal·ly •adv. neu'ro·phys'i·ol´o·gist •n.

neuropsychiatry (-sai kai´э tri:, -si-) •n. a branch of medicine dealing with disorders of both the mind and the nervous system neu'ro·psy'chi·at´ric (-sai'ki: æ´trik) •adj.

neuropteran (nu: räp´tэr эn, nyu:-) •n. any of an order (Neuroptera) of carnivorous insects, including the lacewings and ant lions, with four transparent wings and biting mouthparts neu·rop´ter·ous •adj. [< ModL Neuroptera (< NEURO- + PTERO-) + -AN]

neuroscience (nu:'rou sai´эns, nyu:'-) •n. any science dealing with the functions, abnormalities, etc. of the nervous system

neurosis (nu: rou´sis, nyu:-) pl. -ses' (-si:z') •n. any of various mental functional disorders characterized by anxiety, compulsions, phobias, depression, dissociations, etc. [ModL: see NEUR- & -OSIS]

neurosurgery (nu:'rou sør´jэr i:, nyu:'-) •n. the branch of surgery involving some part of the nervous system, including the brain and the spinal cord neu'ro·sur´geon •n. neu'ro·sur´gi·cal •adj.

neurotic (nu: rät´ik, nyu:-) •adj. of, characteristic of, or having a neurosis •n. a neurotic person neu·rot´i·cal·ly •adv. neu·rot´i·cism' (-э siz'эm) •n.

neurotomy (-э mi:) pl. -mies •n. the surgical severing of a nerve, as for relieving pain [NEURO- + -TOMY]

neurotoxin (nu:´rou täk'sin, nyu:´-) •n. a toxin that destroys nerves or nervous tissue neu'ro·tox´ic •adj.

neurotransmitter (nu:'rou træns´mit'эr, nyu:'-; -trænz´-) •n. a biochemical substance, as acetylcholine or norepinephrine, that transmits or inhibits nerve impulses at a synapse

neurotropic (nu:'rou träp´ik, nyu:'-) •adj. having an affinity for nervous tissue, as certain viruses and poisons [NEURO- + -TROPIC]

Neuss (nois) city in W Germany, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia: pop. 145,000

neuston (nu:´stän', nyu:´-) •n. minute organisms, as mosquito larvae, existing in or dependent upon the surface film of a body of water [Gr, neut. of neustos, swimming (verbal of nein, to swim < IE *(s)neu-, var. of *(s)na-, > NATANT)]

Neustria (nu:s´tri: э, nyu:s´-) W part of the kingdom of the Merovingian Franks in what is now N & NW France Neus´tri·an (-эn) •adj., n.

neut neuter

neuter (nu:t´эr, nyu:t´-) •adj. 1 [Archaic] taking neither side; neutral 2 Biol. a) having no sexual organ; asexual b) having undeveloped or imperfect sexual organs in the adult, as the worker bee 3 Gram. a) designating, of, or belonging to a third gender, existing in many highly inflected languages, consisting of words that have neither masculine nor feminine grammatical gender b) neither active nor passive; intransitive (said of verbs) •n. 1 a castrated or spayed animal 2 [Archaic] a neutral person or group 3 Biol. a plant or animal lacking, or having undeveloped, sexual organs 4 Gram. a) the neuter gender b) a word or form in this gender c) an intransitive verb •vt. to castrate or spay (an animal) [ME neutre < MFr or L: MFr neutre < L neuter, neither < ne-, not (see NO¹) + uter, either]

neutral (nu:´trэl, nyu:´-) •adj. 1 a) not taking part in either side of a dispute or quarrel b) not taking part in a war; giving no active aid to any belligerent 2 of, belonging to, or characteristic of a nation not taking part in a war or not aligning itself with either side in a power struggle 3 belonging to neither extreme in type, kind, etc.; without strongly marked characteristics; indefinite, indifferent, middling, etc. 4 having little or no decided color; not vivid {beige is a neutral color} 5 Biol. NEUTER 6 Chem. giving neither acid nor alkaline reaction 7 Elec. neither negative nor positive; uncharged 8 Phonet. articulated with the tongue relaxed and in the mid-central position, as the vowel in most unstressed syllables, the (э) •n. 1 a nation not taking part in a war; neutral power 2 a neutral person or a citizen of a neutral country 3 a neutral color 4 Mech. a disengaged position of gears, in which they do not transmit power from the engine to the operating parts neu´tral·ly •adv. [Fr < ML neutralis < L, of neuter gender < neuter: see NEUTER]

neutral spirits ethyl alcohol of 190 proof or over, esp. as used for blending with aged whiskeys, or with flavorings to make liqueurs, cordials, etc.

neutralism (-iz'эm) •n. a policy, or the advocacy of a policy, of remaining neutral, esp. in international power conflicts neu´tral·ist •adj., n. neu'tral·is´tic •adj.

neutrality (nu: træl´э ti:, nyu:-) •n. the quality, state, or character of being neutral; specif., a) the status or policy of a nation not participating directly or indirectly in a war between other nations b) neutral status, as of a seaport in wartime

neutralize (nu:´trэ laiz', nyu:´-) -ized', -iz'ing •vt. 1 to declare (a territory, nation, etc.) neutral in war; declare open to all nations under international law and exempt from attack 2 to make ineffective; destroy or counteract the effectiveness, force, disposition, etc. of 3 Chem. to destroy the distinctive or active properties of {an alkali neutralizes an acid} 4 Elec. to make electrically neutral neu'tral·i·za´tion •n. neu´tral·iz'er •n. [Fr neutraliser]

neutrino (nu: tri:´nou, nyu:-) pl. -nos •n. any of three leptons having a mass approaching zero and no charge: a neutrino has almost no interaction with matter [It, coined by Enrico FERMI < neutrone (< fol.) + dim. suffix -ino]

neutron (nu:´trän', nyu:-) •n. an uncharged elementary particle of an atom with approximately the same mass as a proton: a free neutron, as in nuclear fission, interacts strongly with nuclei, is readily absorbed, and decays into a proton, an electron, and a neutrino with a half-life of c. 12 minutes [NEUTR(AL) + -ON]

neutron bomb a small thermonuclear warhead for battlefield use, that would release large numbers of neutrons intended to disable or kill enemy soldiers without destroying buildings, vehicles, etc.

neutron number the number of neutrons in a given nucleus: it is the difference between the mass number and the atomic number

neutron star a collapsed star of extremely high density composed almost entirely of neutrons: pulsars are generally thought to be rotating neutron stars

neutrophil (nu:´trou fil, nyu:´-; -trэ-) •n. a granular type of phagocytic white blood cell in vertebrate blood, stainable by neutral dyes •adj. easily stained by neutral dyes Also neu´tro·phile' (-fail') [< NEUTRAL + -PHIL]

Nev Nevada

Neva (ni:´vэ) river in NW Russia, flowing from Lake Ladoga through St. Petersburg into the Gulf of Finland: 46 mi. (74 km)

Nevada (nэ væd´э, -väd´э) Mountain State of the W U.S.: admitted, 1864; 110,540 sq. mi. (286,300 sq. km); pop. 1,202,000; cap. Carson City: abbrev. NV or Nev Ne·vad´an •adj., n. [after (SIERRA) NEVADA]

névé (nei vei´, nei´vei') •n. 1 FIRN 2 the area above or at the head of a glacier that accumulates more snow than is dissipated during the summer [Fr (Swiss dial.), glacier, ult. < L nix (gen. nivis), SNOW]

Nevelson (nev´эl sэn), Louise 1900-88; U.S. sculptor, born in Russia

never (nev´эr) •adv. 1 not ever; at no time 2 not at all; by no chance; in no case; under no conditions [ME nevere < OE næfre < ne, not (see NO¹) + æfre, EVER]

nevermind (-maind') •n. [Dial.] 1 attention; heed: chiefly in pay someone (or something) no nevermind 2 concern; affair: chiefly in be no nevermind of someone's

nevermore (nev'эr mör´) •adv. never again

never-never (nev'эr nev´эr) •n. [Brit. Slang] the installment plan •adj. imaginary, fantasized, unrealistic, etc.

never-never land an unreal or unrealistic place or situation [after the fairyland in J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan]

nevertheless (nev'эr ðэ les´) •adv. in spite of that; however; nonetheless: often used as a conjunctive adverb

Nevil or Neville (nev´эl) a masculine name Also Nev´ile or Nev´ill [< Norm surname Nevil, Néville, after Neuville, town in Normandy (lit., new city)]

Nevis (ni:´vis, nev´is) island of St. Kitts and Nevis: 36 sq. mi. (93 sq. km); pop. 9,500

nevus (ni:´vэs) pl. ne´vi' (-vai') •n. a birthmark, mole, or other colored spot on the skin ne´void' (-void') •adj. [ModL < L naevus, birthmark < base of genus, GENUS]

new (nu:, nyu:) •adj. 1 never existing before; appearing, thought of, developed, made, produced, etc. for the first time 2 a) existing before, but known or discovered for the first time {a new planet} b) recently observed, experienced, manifested, etc.; different {a new understanding of the problem} c) strange; unfamiliar; foreign {languages new to him} 3 not yet familiar or accustomed; inexperienced {new to the work} 4 a) designating the more or most recent of two or more things of the same class, though both may be old {New York} b) taking the place of the previous one; recently appointed, acquired, etc. {a new regime} 5 a) recently grown or made; fresh {new wine, new cars} b) harvested early {new potatoes} 6 not previously used or worn 7 modern; recent; fashionable; recently current 8 more; additional {two new inches of snow} 9 beginning again; starting as a repetition of a cycle, series, etc.; making another start {the new moon, the new year} 10 having just reached a position, rank, place, etc. {a new arrival} 11 refreshed in spirits, health, etc. {a new man} 12 [N-] MODERN (sense 3) •n. something new: with the •adv. 1 again 2 newly; recently new´ness •n. SYN.—new is applied to that which has never existed before or which has only just come into being, possession, use, etc. [a new coat, plan, etc.]; fresh implies such newness that the original appearance, quality, vigor, etc. have not been affected by time or use [fresh eggs, a fresh start]; novel implies a newness that is strikingly unusual or strange [a novel idea, combination, etc.]; modern and modernistic apply to that which is of the present time, as distinguished from earlier periods, and connote up-to-dateness, the latter word, sometimes, with derogatory implications; original is used of that which is not only new but is also the first of its kind [an original plan, melody, etc.] —ANT. old [ME newe < OE niwe, akin to Ger neu < IE *newos, new (< base *newo-) > L novus, Gr neos, Welsh newydd, new]

New Age [often n- a-] 1 of or pertaining to a contemporary cultural movement characterized by a concern with spiritual consciousness and variously combining belief in reincarnation and astrology with such practices as meditation, vegetarianism, and holistic medicine 2 designating or of a style of popular instrumental music characterized by simple, repetitive melodies and intended to effect a serene mood

New American Bible an English translation of the Bible for the use of Roman Catholics, made by a group of U.S. scholars and published in 1970

New Amsterdam Dutch colonial town on Manhattan Island: renamed (1664) New York by the British

New Bedford seaport in SE Mass.: pop. 100,000 [after Bedford, England]

new blood new people, regarded as a potential source of fresh ideas, renewed vigor, etc.

New Britain 1 largest island of the Bismarck Archipelago, east of New Guinea: (with small nearby islands) 14,100 sq. mi. (36,519 sq. km); pop. 227,000 2 city in central Conn.: pop. 75,000

New Brunswick 1 province of SE Canada, on the Gulf of St. Lawrence: 27,834 sq. mi. (72,090 sq. km); pop. 709,000; cap. Fredericton: abbrev. NB [named to honor George III, who was also elector of Brunswick-Lüneburg] 2 city in NC N.J.: pop. 42,000 [in honor of George I, elector of Brunswick-Lüneburg]

New Caledonia French island in the SW Pacific, east of Australia: with nearby islands an overseas territory of France: 7,172 sq. mi. (18,576 sq. km); pop. 145,000; cap. Nouméa

new candle CANDELA

New Castile see CASTILE

New Criticism Æ a method of literary analysis, in vogue in the mid-20th cent., stressing close examination of the text itself, its tone, imagery, structure, etc.

New Deal 1 the economic and political principles and policies adopted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930's to advance economic recovery and social welfare 2 the Roosevelt administration New Dealer

New Delhi capital of India, in Delhi territory, adjacent to the old city of Delhi: pop. 302,000

new economics [sometimes N- E-] an economic doctrine based on Keynesian theories and stressing the importance of governmental taxing and spending in promoting and maintaining a sound economy

New Egyptian the Egyptian language from c. 1600-c. 700 B.C.

New England Æ the six NE States of the U.S.: Me., Vt., N.H., Mass., R.I., & Conn.: abbrev. New Eng New Englander [so named by Captain John SMITH]

New England boiled dinner a dish consisting of meat, often corned beef, and whole potatoes, onions, carrots, cabbage, etc. cooked by boiling

New England clam chowder a thick soup made with clams, onions, potatoes, salt pork, milk, and various seasonings

New English the English language since about 1750: cf. EARLY MODERN ENGLISH [term popularized by Henry SWEET after Ger neuhochdeutsch, New High German]

New English Bible a British translation of the Bible, from the Greek, published in 1970 (New Testament in 1961)

New Forest partially wooded rural district in SW Hampshire, England: 144 sq. mi. (373 sq. km)

New France French possessions in North America, from the end of the 16th cent. to 1763, including E Canada, the Great Lakes region, & the Mississippi valley

New Georgia 1 group of islands in central Solomon Islands, in the SW Pacific: c. 2,170 sq. mi. (5,621 sq. km) 2 largest island of this group: c. 1,300 sq. mi. (3,365 sq. km)

New Granada 1 former Spanish possessions, mostly in NW South America, including what is now Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, & Panama 2 former country consisting of present-day Colombia & Panama

New Guinea 1 large island in the East Indies, north of Australia: divided between West Irian (in Indonesia) and Papua New Guinea: c. 330,000 sq. mi. (854,700 sq. km): Indonesian name IRIAN 2 Trust Territory of former Australian trust territory including NE New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, Bougainville, Buka, & smaller adjacent islands of the Solomons: see PAPUA NEW GUINEA

New Hampshire New England State of the U.S.: one of the 13 original States: 9,304 sq. mi. (24,190 sq. km); pop. 1,109,000; cap. Concord: abbrev. NH or N.H. New Hamp´shir·ite' [after HAMPSHIRE]

New Haven city in S Conn., on Long Island Sound: pop. 130,000 (met. area with Meriden 530,000)

New Hebrides old name of VANUATU

New High German See GERMAN, HIGH GERMAN

New Ireland island in the Bismarck Archipelago, north of New Britain: 3,340 sq. mi. (8,650 sq. km); pop. (with small nearby islands) 77,000

New Jersey Eastern State of the U.S. on the Atlantic: one of the 13 original States; 7,836 sq. mi. (20,296 sq. km); pop. 7,730,000; cap. Trenton: abbrev. NJ or N.J. New Jer´sey·ite' [after JERSEY (the Channel Island)]

New Jerusalem Bible the holy city of heaven: Rev. 21:2

New Jerusalem, Church of the the church of the Swedenborgians Also New Church

new journalism [sometimes N-J-] writing in which conversations, characters' thoughts, and specific details of an earlier event or period, sometimes historical, are imagined by the author

New Left a political movement that developed in the 1960's in Europe and the U.S. as a loose coalition of organizations, mainly of young people, seeking radical social and economic change

New London city in SE Conn., on Long Island Sound: site of U.S. Coast Guard Academy: pop. 29,000

new math an ordered system for teaching fundamental concepts of mathematics by the use of set theory

New Mexico Mountain State of the SW U.S.: admitted, 1912; 121,666 sq. mi. (316,410 sq. km); pop. 1,515,000; cap. Santa Fe: abbrev. NM, N.M., or N Mex New Mexican [transl. of Sp Nuevo Méjico]

new moon 1 the first phase of the moon when it is between the earth and the sun, with its dark side toward the earth: it is followed by the waxing crescent phase: see MOON, illus. 2 the time of the new moon

New Netherland Dutch colony (1613-64) on Manhattan Island & along the Hudson River: taken by England & divided into the colonies of New York & New Jersey

New Orleans (ör´li: эnz, -lэnz; ör li:nz´) city & port in SE La., on the Mississippi: pop. 497,000 (met. area 1,289,000) [< Fr Nouvelle Orléans, in honor of Philippe II, Duc d'Orléans (1674-1723), and of Orléans, France]

New Providence island of the NC Bahamas: 58 sq. mi. (151 sq. km): see NASSAU

New Rochelle (rou shel´) city in SE N.Y., on Long Island Sound, north of New York City: pop. 67,000 [after La Rochelle, in France]

New Siberian Islands group of islands of Russia, in the Arctic Ocean, between the Laptev & East Siberian seas: c. 11,000 sq. mi. (28,490 sq. km)

New South Wales state of SE Australia, on the Pacific: 309,433 sq. mi. (801,429 sq. km); pop. 5,378,000; cap. Sydney

New Spain former Spanish viceroyalty (1535-1821) including, at its greatest extent, Mexico, SW U.S., Central America north of Panama, the West Indies, & the Philippines

New Stone Age THE NEOLITHIC

New Style the method of reckoning time according to the Gregorian calendar

New Testament 1 Christian Theol. the promises of God to man that are embodied in the life and teachings of Jesus 2 the part of the Christian Bible that tells of the life and teachings of Jesus and his followers, including the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the Letters, and the Revelation of John: cf. BIBLE

New Thought a modern religious philosophy emphasizing the power of the mind in achieving health and happiness

new town [often N- T-] any of a number of comprehensively planned, often self-contained, towns and cities built since World War II, often under government direction

new wave any of various new or experimental trends or movements, as in the arts or popular culture [calque of Fr nouvelle vague; see WAVE, n. 4]

New World the Western Hemisphere

new year 1 the year just about to begin or just begun: usually with the 2 [N- Y-] the first day or days of the new year

New Year's (Day) Jan. 1, the first day of a calendar year, usually celebrated as a legal holiday

New Year's Eve the evening before New Year's Day

New York 1 State of the NE U.S.: one of the 13 original States: 49,576 sq. mi. (128,402 sq. km); pop. 17,990,000; cap. Albany: abbrev. NY or N.Y. 2 city & port in SE N.Y., at the mouth of the Hudson: divided into five boroughs (the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island) 365 sq. mi. (946 sq. km); pop. 7,323,000 (met. area 8,547,000; urban area with Long Island, N New Jersey, & parts of SE Conn., 18,087,000): often New York City New York´er [after the Duke of York and Albany]

New York Bay inlet of the Atlantic, south of Manhattan, divided by the Narrows into a N section (Upper Bay) & a S section (Lower Bay)

New York State Barge Canal system of waterways connecting Lake Erie & the Hudson River, with branches to Lakes Ontario, Champlain, Cayuga, & Seneca: c. 525 mi. (845 km): cf. ERIE CANAL

New Zealand (zi:´lэnd) country made up of two large & several small islands in the S Pacific, southeast of Australia: discovered in 1642, became a British colony (1841), & achieved complete independence (1931): a member of the Commonwealth: 103,736 sq. mi. (268,676 sq. km); pop. 3,305,000; cap. Wellington New Zea´land·er

Newark (nu:´эrk, nyu:-) 1 city in NE N.J.: pop. 275,000 (met. area 1,824,000) [after Newark, England] 2 city in central Ohio: pop. 44,000 [after Newark, N.J.]

newborn (nu:´börn', nyu:´-) •adj. 1 recently born 2 reborn •n. a recently born infant [ME]

Newburg (nu:´børg', nyu:´-) •adj. Æ served in a rich, creamy sauce made with butter, egg yolks, and sherry [< (lobster) Newburgh, prob. after Newburgh, N.Y.]

Newcastle (nu:´kæs'эl, nyu:´-; -käs'-) 1 seaport in N England, north of Leeds: pop. 277,000: in full New´cas'tle-up·on'-Tyne´ (-tain´) 2 city in Staffordshire, WC England: pop. 120,000: in full New´cas'tle-un'der-Lyme´ (-laim´) 3 seaport in E New South Wales, Australia, on the Pacific: pop. 146,000

Newcastle disease an acute viral disease of poultry and other birds, characterized by pneumonia and encephalomyelitis [after NEWCASTLE(-UPON-TYNE)]

Newcomb (nu:´kэm, nyu:´-), Simon 1835-1909; U.S. astronomer, born in Canada

newcomer (nu:´kûm'эr, nyu:´-) •n. a recent arrival

newel (nu:´эl, nyu:´-) •n. 1 the central upright pillar around which the steps of a winding staircase turn 2 the post at the top or bottom of a flight of stairs, supporting the handrail: see STAIRCASE, illus.: also newel post [ME nowelle < OFr nuel, a nut, fruit pit < LL nucalis, like a nut < L nux (gen. nucis), NUT]

Newf Newfoundland

newfangled (nu:´fæŋ´gэld, nyu:-) •adj. 1 newly done, made, etc.; new; novel: a humorously derogatory term 2 [Now Rare] tending toward or fond of novelty or new things [ME < newefangel < newe, NEW + -fangel < base of OE fon, to take: see FANG]

new-fashioned (-fæsh´эnd) •adj. 1 recently come into fashion 2 made in a new and different form or style

newfound (-faund') •adj. newly gained or acquired {newfound wealth}

Newfoundland (nu:´fэnd lэnd, -lænd'; nyu:´-; nu: faund´lэnd, -lænd'; nyu:-) •n. any of a breed of large, muscular dog with a long, straight, often black coat, formerly much used in water rescue work and now usually a guard dog or a watchdog [after fol.] Newfoundland (nu:´fэnd lэnd, -lænd'; -fund-; nyu:´-; nu:'faund lænd´, -fэnd-, -fund-; nyu:'-; nu: faund´lэnd, -lænd'; nyu:-) 1 island of Canada, off the E coast: 42,734 sq. mi. (110,680 sq. km) 2 province of Canada, including this island & Labrador: 156,185 sq. mi. (406,000 sq. km); pop. 568,000; cap. St. John's: abbrev. NF, Nfld, Newf, or Nfd New´found·land'er •n. [descriptive] Newfoundland (nu:´fэnd lэnd, -lænd'; -fund-; nyu:´-; nu:'faund lænd´, -fэnd-, -fund-; nyu:'-; nu: faund´lэnd, -lænd'; nyu:-) 1 island of Canada, off the E coast: 42,734 sq. mi. (110,680 sq. km) 2 province of Canada, including this island & Labrador: 156,185 sq. mi. (406,000 sq. km); pop. 568,000; cap. St. John's: abbrev. NF, Nfld, Newf, or Nfd New´found·land'er •n. [descriptive]

Newfoundland Standard Time a standard time used in Newfoundland, Canada: it is three hours and thirty minutes behind Greenwich time

Newgate (nu:´geit', nyu:´-) former prison in London: torn down in 1902

Newham (nu:´эm, nyu:´-) borough of E Greater London, England, on the Thames: formed by the merger of the former cities of East Ham & West Ham: pop. 227,000

newish (nu:´ish, nyu:´-) •adj. somewhat new

newly (nu:´li:, nyu:´-) •adv. 1 recently; lately 2 anew; afresh 3 in a new way or style

newlywed (-wed') •n. a recently married person

Newman (nu:´mэn, nyu:´-), John Henry Cardinal Newman, 1801-90; Eng. theologian & writer

newmarket (nu:´mär'kit, nyu:´-) •n. a long, closefitting coat worn by men and women in the 19th cent. Also Newmarket coat [after Newmarket: orig. worn for riding at NEWMARKET races] Newmarket (nu:´mär'kit, nyu:´-) rural district in Suffolk, E England: scene of many horse-racing events: pop. 14,000

new-mown (nu:´moun´, nyu:´-) •adj. freshly mown or cut: said of hay or grass

Newport (nu:´pört', nyu:´-) 1 seaport in SE Wales, on the Usk River, near Bristol: pop. 130,000 2 city in SE R.I., on Narragansett Bay: pop. 28,000 [after Eng towns of the same name]

Newport Beach city in SW Calif., on the Pacific, near Long Beach: pop. 67,000 [see NEWPORT]

Newport News seaport in SE Va., on the James River at Hampton Roads: pop. 170,000 [orig. obscure]

news (nu:z, nyu:z) •n.pl. [with sing. v.] 1 new information about anything; information previously unknown 2 a) reports, collectively, of recent happenings, esp. those broadcast over radio or TV, printed in a newspaper, etc. b) any person or thing thought to merit special attention in such reports 3 short for NEWSCAST make news to do something that is apt to be reported as news [ME newes, novelties (pl. of newe, adj.), after OFr noveles or ML nova, pl. of novum, what is new: < L novus: see NEW]

news agency a business organization that supplies news to newspapers, radio and television stations, etc. that subscribe to its services

news agent chiefly Brit. var. of NEWSDEALER

news conference PRESS CONFERENCE

news release a statement or story prepared for release to the news media, as by a government official or an organization

news service 1 NEWS AGENCY 2 WIRE SERVICE 3 SYNDICATE (n. 3)

newsboy (-boi') •n. a boy who sells or delivers newspapers

newscast (-kæst', -käst') •n. a program of news broadcast over radio or television news´cast'er •n. news´cast'ing •n. [NEWS + (BROAD)CAST]

newsdealer (-di:l'эr) •n. a person who sells newspapers, magazines, etc., esp. as a retailer

newshawk (-hök') •n. [Slang] a newspaper reporter

newsie (nu:z´i:, nyu:z´i:) •n. 1 NEWSPERSON 2 NEWSDEALER

newsletter (nu:z´let'эr, nyu:z´-) •n. a bulletin issued regularly to subscribers, employees, or members of an organization or group, containing news, a calendar of upcoming events, etc.

newsmagazine (-mæg э zi:n') •n. 1 a magazine, often a weekly, concerned with current news, usually divided into departments with analyses and interpretations 2 MAGAZINE (sense 6)

newsman (-mæn', -mэn) pl. -men' (-men', -mэn) •n. a newscaster or reporter, esp. a male

newsmonger (-mûŋ'gэr, -mäŋ'gэr) •n. a person who spreads news; esp., a gossip; tattler

newspaper (nu:z´pei'pэr, nyu:z´-; nu:s´-, nyu:s´-) •n. 1 a publication regularly printed and distributed, usually daily or weekly, containing news, opinions, advertisements, and other items of general interest 2 NEWSPRINT

newspapering (-iŋ) •n. news writing; journalism

newspaperman (-mæn') pl. -men' (-men') •n. 1 a person, esp. a man, who works for a newspaper, esp. as a reporter, editor, etc. 2 a person who owns or publishes a newspaper

newspaperwoman (-wum'эn) pl. -wom'en (-wim'in) •n.fem. 1 a woman who works for a newspaper, as a reporter, editor, etc. 2 a woman who owns or publishes a newspaper

newspeak (nu:´spi:k', nyu:´-) •n. [sometimes N-] the deliberate use of ambiguous and deceptive talk, as by government officials, in an attempt to influence or control public opinion [coined (< NEW + SPEAK) by George ORWELL in his novel 1984]

newspeople (nu:z´pi:'pэl, nyu:z´-) •n.pl. newspersons collectively

newsperson (nu:z´pør'sэn, nyu:z´-) •n. a person involved in the gathering, writing, editing, or reporting of news, often specif. for TV or radio

newsprint (nu:z´print', nyu:z´-) •n. a cheap, low-grade paper made mainly from wood pulp and used chiefly for newspapers

newsreel (-ri:l') •n. a short motion picture of recent news events: formerly shown as part of the program in motion picture theaters

newsroom (-ru:m') •n. Æ a room in a newspaper office, or in a radio or television station, where the news is written and edited

newsstand (-stænd') •n. a stand at which newspapers, magazines, etc. are sold: also [Brit.] news stall

newswoman (-wum'эn) pl. -wom'en (-wom'in) •n. a female newscaster or reporter

newsworthy (nu:z´wûr'ði:, nyu:z´-) •adj. having the qualities of news; timely and important or interesting

newsy (nu:z´i:, nyu:z´i:) news´i·er, news´i·est •adj. [Colloq.] containing much news •n. pl. news´ies [Old Colloq.] a newsboy

newt (nu:t, nyu:t) •n. any of various small salamanders (family Salamandridae) that can live both on land and in water [ME neute < (a)n eute < OE efeta, EFT¹]

Newton (nu:t´ªn, nyu:t´ªn) city in E Mass.: suburb of Boston: pop. 83,000 [after New Towne, orig. name of Cambridge, Mass.] newton (nu:t´ªn, nyu:t´-) •n. the unit of force in the mks system; force which imparts to a mass of one kilogram an acceleration of one meter per second per second: abbrev. N [after Sir Isaac NEWTON] Newton (nu:t´ªn, nyu:t´ªn) 1 a masculine name 2 Sir Isaac 1642-1727; Eng. mathematician & natural philosopher: formulated the laws of gravity & motion & the elements of differential calculus New·to·ni·an (nu:´tou´ni: эn, nyu:´-) •adj., n. [after surname Newton < common Eng place name Newton < OE neowa tun, new town]

next (nekst) •adj. just before or after in time, space, degree, or rank; nearest; immediately preceding or following •adv. 1 in the time, place, degree, or rank nearest, or immediately preceding or following 2 on the first subsequent occasion {when next we meet} •prep. [Archaic] beside; nearest to {sit next the tree} •n. 1 the one immediately following 2 [Colloq.] one's turn to be next, as in being served Æ get next to [Slang] to ingratiate oneself with; become friendly or intimate with next door (to) 1 in, at, or to the next house, building, etc. (adjacent to) 2 almost; nearly next to 1 beside; adjacent to 2 [Colloq.] following in order of preference {next to eating, he likes jogging best} [ME nexte < OE neahst, niehst, superl. of neah, NIGH]

next friend Law a person who, though not appointed as a guardian, acts for another legally unable to act for himself

next of kin 1 a person's nearest relative or relatives 2 Law a) those persons who may be entitled by statute to share in the estate of one who dies without a will b) sometimes, the nearest blood relative as defined by statute

next-door (nekst´dör´; often neks´-) •adj. in or at the next house, building, etc.

nexus (neks´эs) pl. nex´us·es or nex´us •n. 1 a connection, tie, or link between individuals of a group, members of a series, etc. 2 the group or series connected [L < pp. of nectere, to tie]

Ney (nei), Mi·chel (mi: shel´) Duc d'Elchingen, Prince de La Moskova, 1769-1815; Fr. military leader under Napoleon I: executed

Nez Percé (nez´ pørs´, -pэr sei´; Fr nei peř sei´) 1 pl. Nez´ Per·cé´ or Nez Per·cés (nez´ pør´siz, -pэr seiz´; Fr nei peřsei´) a member of a North American Indian people living in Idaho, Washington, and Oregon 2 the Sahaptian language of this people [Fr, lit., pierced nose: from early reports of the practice of nose piercing by tribes in the same area]

NF 1 Newfoundland 2 Banking no funds: also N/F, nf, or n/f

Nfd Newfoundland

NFL National Football League

Nfld Newfoundland

NFS not for sale

NG 1 National Guard 2 New Guinea

NGU a venereal urethritis having symptoms similar to gonorrhea but caused by different organisms (esp. Chlamydia trachomatis) [n(on)g(onococcal) u(rethritis)]

ngultrum (эŋ ul´trum; eŋ gul´trэm, эn-) •n. the basic monetary unit of Bhutan: see MONEY, table [Bhutanese]

ngwee (эŋ gwi:´) pl. ngwee •n. a monetary unit of Zambia, equal to ¹/100 of a kwacha [Bantu, lit., bright]

NH or N.H. New Hampshire

NHeb 1 New Hebrew 2 New Hebrides

NHG New High German

NHI [Brit.] National Health Insurance

NHL National Hockey League

Ni Chem. symbol for nickel NI Northern Ireland

niacin (nai´э sin) •n. NICOTINIC ACID [NI(COTINIC) AC(ID) + -IN¹]

Niagara (nai æg´э rэ, -æg´rэ) river between W N.Y. & SE Ontario, Canada, flowing from Lake Erie into Lake Ontario: c. 36 mi. (58 km) •n. a torrent, or flood {a Niagara of junk mail} [< Fr < Iroquoian town name]

Niagara Falls 1 large waterfall on the Niagara River: it is divided by an island into two falls, Horseshoe, or Canadian, Falls, c. 160 ft. (48 m) high, & American Falls, c. 167 ft. (51 m) high 2 city in W N.Y., near Niagara Falls: pop. 62,000 3 city in SE Ontario, Canada, opposite Niagara Falls: pop. 72,000

Niamey (nyä mei´) capital of Niger, in the SW part, on the Niger River: pop. 399,000

nib (nib) •n. 1 the bill or beak of a bird 2 a) orig., the split and sharpened end of a quill pen b) the point of a pen 3 the projecting end of anything; point; sharp prong •vt. nibbed, nib´bing [Obs.] to sharpen and split the end of (a quill) to make a pen [var. of NEB]

nibble (nib´эl) -bled, -bling •vt. 1 to eat (food) with quick bites, taking only a small amount at a time, as a mouse does 2 to bite at with small, gentle bites •vi. 1 to take small, cautious, or gentle bites: usually with at 2 to show little interest in food by taking only small bites intermittently: usually with at •n. 1 a small bite, morsel, or quantity 2 the act or an instance of nibbling nib´bler •n. [LME nebyllen, prob. akin to MLowG nibbelen: for IE base see NIP¹]

Nibelung (ni:´bэ luŋ') •n. 1 Gmc. Legend a) any of a race of dwarfs who owned a magic ring and a hoard of gold, which Siegfried took from them b) any of Siegfried's followers 2 in the Nibelungenlied, any of the Burgundian kings [Ger]

Nibelungenlied (ni:´bэ luŋ'эn li:t') a Middle High German epic poem by an unknown author, written in the first decade of the 13th cent. and based on Germanic legends: see SIEGFRIED [Ger, lit., song of the Nibelungs]

niblick (nib´lik) old term for number 9 iron: see IRON (n. 6) •n. [Scot, dim. of NIB: so named because of the short nose of the original wooden club]

nibs (nibz) •n. [Colloq.] an important, or esp. self-important, person: preceded by his or, occas., her [< ?]

Nica Nicaragua

Nicaea (nai si:´э) ancient city in Bithynia, NW Asia Minor: the Nicene Creed was formulated here in A.D. 325 Ni·cae´an •adj., n.

Nicar Nicaragua

Nicaragua (nik'э rä´gwэ) 1 country in Central America, on the Caribbean & the Pacific: declared itself independent from Spain (1821); frequent interventions by Great Britain and the U.S. (1821-50); renewed U.S. interventions (1912-25; 1926-33); since 1970's political unrest escalated to a virtual state of civil war: 54,342 sq. mi. (140,750 sq. km); pop. 3,342,000; cap. Managua 2 Lake lake in S Nicaragua: c. 3,100 sq. mi. (8,990 sq. km) Nic'a·ra´guan •adj., n.

niccolite (nik´э lait') •n. a pale-red native arsenide of nickel, NiAs [< ModL niccolum (< Swed nickel: see NICKEL) + -ITE¹]

nice (nais) nic´er, nic´est •adj. 1 difficult to please; fastidious; refined 2 delicate; precise; discriminative; subtle {a nice distinction} 3 calling for great care, accuracy, tact, etc., as in handling or discrimination {a nice problem} 4 a) able to make fine or delicate distinctions; delicately skillful; finely discriminating b) minutely accurate, as an instrument 5 having high standards of conduct; scrupulous 6 a generalized term of approval meaning variously: a) agreeable; pleasant; delightful b) attractive; pretty c) courteous and considerate d) conforming to approved social standards; respectable e) in good taste f) good; excellent 7 [Obs.] a) ignorant; foolish b) wanton c) coy; shy •adv. well, pleasingly, attractively, etc.: variously regarded as substandard, dialectal, or colloquial SYN. DAINTY nice and [Colloq.] altogether, in a pleasing way {likes his tea nice and hot} nice´ly •adv. nice´ness •n. [ME, strange, lazy, foolish < OFr nice, nisce, stupid, foolish < L nescius, ignorant, not knowing < nescire, to be ignorant < ne-, not (see NO¹) + scire, to know: see SCIENCE] Nice (ni:s) seaport & resort in SE France: pop. 338,000 nice (nais) nic´er, nic´est •adj. 1 difficult to please; fastidious; refined 2 delicate; precise; discriminative; subtle {a nice distinction} 3 calling for great care, accuracy, tact, etc., as in handling or discrimination {a nice problem} 4 a) able to make fine or delicate distinctions; delicately skillful; finely discriminating b) minutely accurate, as an instrument 5 having high standards of conduct; scrupulous 6 a generalized term of approval meaning variously: a) agreeable; pleasant; delightful b) attractive; pretty c) courteous and considerate d) conforming to approved social standards; respectable e) in good taste f) good; excellent 7 [Obs.] a) ignorant; foolish b) wanton c) coy; shy •adv. well, pleasingly, attractively, etc.: variously regarded as substandard, dialectal, or colloquial SYN. DAINTY nice and [Colloq.] altogether, in a pleasing way {likes his tea nice and hot} nice´ly •adv. nice´ness •n. [ME, strange, lazy, foolish < OFr nice, nisce, stupid, foolish < L nescius, ignorant, not knowing < nescire, to be ignorant < ne-, not (see NO¹) + scire, to know: see SCIENCE]

nice Nelly a prudish or affectedly modest person, who uses euphemisms Also nice Nellie nice´-Nel´ly •adj.

Nicene (nai´si:n', nai si:n´) •adj. of Nicaea

Nicene Council either of two church councils that met in Nicaea in A.D. 325 and A.D. 787; esp., the first of these, that condemned Arianism and adopted the Nicene Creed

Nicene Creed a confession of faith for Christians, orig. adopted at the first Nicene Council (A.D. 325) and later expanded to forms widely accepted in Christianity

nicety (nai´sэ ti:) pl. -ties •n. 1 the quality or state of being nice; specif., a) scrupulosity b) precision; accuracy; exactness, as of discrimination or perception c) fastidiousness; refinement; delicacy of taste 2 the quality of calling for delicacy, accuracy, or precision in handling, discrimination, or adjustment 3 anything involving or calling for delicacy, accuracy, or precision; subtle or minute detail, distinction, etc. 4 something choice, dainty, or elegant to a nicety to a precise degree; exactly [ME nicete < OFr, folly < nice: see NICE]

niche (nich; Brit also ni:sh) •n. 1 a recess or hollow in a wall, as for a statue, bust, or vase 2 a place or position particularly suitable to the person or thing in it 3 Ecol. a) the particular role of an individual species or organism in its community and its environment, including its position in the food cycle and its behavior b) the specific space occupied by an organism within its habitat •vt. niched, nich´ing to place in or as in a niche [Fr < OFr nichier, to nest < VL *nidicare < L nidus, NEST]

Nicholas (nik´ªl эs) 1 a masculine name: dim. Nick; equiv. L. Nicolaus, Fr. & Sp. Nicolas, Ger. Nikolaus, It. Niccolo, Russ. Nikolai 2 Nich´o·las I 1796-1855; czar of Russia (1825-55) 3 Saint (c. A.D. 800-867); pope (858-867): his day is Nov. 13: called the Great 4 Nicholas II 1868-1918; last czar of Russia (1894-1917): forced to abdicate; executed 5 Saint (4th cent. A.D.); bishop of Myra: patron saint of Russia, of Greece, & of young people, sailors, etc.: his day is Dec 6: cf. SANTA CLAUS [ME < OFr Nicolas < L Nicolaus < Gr Nikolaos < nikē, victory + laos, the people]

Nicholas of Cusa (kyu:´sэ, -zэ) 1401-64; Ger. cardinal, philosopher & mathematician

Nichrome (nai´kroum') trademark for any of several alloys of nickel, chromium, etc. that have a high electrical resistance, used in the heating coils of appliances, in high temperature furnaces, etc.

nicht wahr? (niHt väř´) isn't that so? [Ger, lit., not true?]

nick (nik) •n. 1 a small notch or slit; esp., a small cut, indentation or chip made on the edge or surface of wood, metal, china, etc. 2 a notch in the lower side of the shank of a printing type, for identification 3 [Brit. Slang] prison; jail •vt. 1 to make a nick or nicks in 2 [Now Rare] to score or tally by means of notches 3 a) to wound superficially b) to strike lightly and glancingly 4 to strike or catch at the exact or proper time; hit, guess, grasp, etc. exactly 5 [Slang] a) to fine b) to overcharge or cheat 6 [Brit. Slang] a) to arrest; nab b) to steal in the nick of time exactly when needed; just before it is too late [LME nyke, prob. akin to nocke, notch] Nick (nik) 1 a masculine name: see NICHOLAS

nickel (nik´эl) •n. 1 a hard, silver-white, malleable metallic chemical element, used extensively in alloys, batteries, and for plating because of its resistance to oxidation: symbol, Ni; at. wt., 58.69; at. no., 28; sp. gr., 8.908; melt. pt., 1,453°C; boil. pt., 2,732°C Æ 2 a U.S. or Canadian coin made of an alloy of nickel and copper and equal to 5 cents •vt. -eled or -elled, -el·ing or -el·ling to plate with nickel [Swed: contr. (1754) by A. F. Cronstedt (1722-1765), Swed mineralogist < kopparnickel, niccolite < Ger kupfernickel, false nickel (< kupfer, COPPER + nickel, goblin, devil, pejorative contr. < Nikolaus, NICHOLAS, prob. infl. by nix: see NIX¹): term used by Ger miners because in spite of looking like copper the ore contains none: see COBALT]

nickel plate a thin layer of nickel placed by electrolysis on objects made of other metal, to improve the finish and prevent rust nick´el-plate', -plat'ed, -plat'ing, •vt.

nickel silver a hard, tough, ductile, malleable, silver-white alloy composed essentially of nickel, copper, and zinc: used in making tableware, electric-resistance wire, etc.

nickel steel a steel alloy made harder, stronger, and more resistant to corrosion than ordinary steel by the addition of up to five percent of nickel

nickel-and-dime (nik´эl эn daim´) •adj. [Colloq.] 1 costing or spending little; cheap 2 of little value or importance; minor; petty •vt. nick´el- (or nick´eled-)and-dimed´, nick´el- (or nick´el·ing-)and-dim´ing [Colloq.] 1 to spend very little on 2 to weaken, erode, destroy, etc. as by the repeated expenditure of small sums or repeated niggling actions •vi. [Colloq.] to spend very little nickel-and-dime it (or one's way) to succeed or obtain something gradually by the repeated expenditure of small sums or the slow gathering of votes, power, money, etc. in small increments

nickelic (nik´эl ik, nik el´ik) •adj. of or containing nickel, esp. trivalent nickel

nickeliferous (nik'эl if´эr эs) •adj. containing nickel: said of ore, etc. [see NICKEL & -FEROUS]

nickelodeon (nik'эl ou´di: эn) •n. 1 a motion-picture theater, variety show, etc. where admission was five cents 2 a player piano or type of jukebox operated by the insertion of a nickel in a slot [NICKEL + (MEL)ODEON] [NICKEL + Fr odéon < LL odeum, ODEUM]

nickelous (nik´эl эs) •adj. containing nickel, esp. divalent nickel

nicker¹ (nik´эr) •vi. to utter a low whinnying sound: said of a horse •n. this sound [prob. var. of nicher, neigher, freq. of NEIGH]

nicker² (nik´эr) pl. -er •n. [Brit. Slang] one pound sterling [orig. underworld cant < ?]

nickle (nik´эl) -led, -ling •n., vt. alt. sp. of NICKEL

nicknack (nik´næk') •n. alt. sp. of KNICKKNACK

nickname (nik´neim') •n. 1 an additional or substitute name given to a person, place, or thing: usually descriptive and given in fun, affection, or derision, as Doc, Shorty, etc. 2 a familiar, often shorter, form of a proper name, as Dick for Richard •vt. -named', -nam'ing 1 to give a nickname to 2 [Now Rare] to misname [< (a)n ekename < ME ekename, surname: see EKE¹ & NAME]

Nicobar Islands (nik´ou bär', nik'ou bär´) group of islands in the Bay of Bengal: 635 sq. mi. (1,645 sq. km): see ANDAMAN ISLANDS

Nicol prism (nik´эl) a prism consisting of two crystals of clear calcite cemented together, used for obtaining polarized light [after Wm. Nicol (c. 1768-1851), Brit physicist, who invented it (1828)]

Nicolas (nik´э lэs) a masculine name: see NICHOLAS

Nicole (ni koul´; Fr ni: koul´) a feminine name: dim. Nicky, Nikki; var. Nicola [Fr fem. of Nicolas: see NICHOLAS]

Nicopolis (ni käp´ou lis, nai-) city in ancient Epirus

Nicosia (nik'ou si:´э) capital of Cyprus, in the NC part: pop. 161,000

nicotiana (ni kou'shi: ei´nэ) •n. any of a genus (Nicotiana) of New World plants of the nightshade family, including tobacco and several species with fragrant flowers, grown as ornamentals [< ModL nicotiana (herba): see NICOTINE]

nicotinamide (nik'э tin´э maid, -ti:n´-) •n. a white, crystalline powder, C6H6N20, the amide of nicotinic acid: found in the heart, liver, and muscles and used in treating pellagra

nicotine (nik´э ti:n', nik'э ti:n´) •n. a poisonous, water-soluble alkaloid, C10H14N2, found in tobacco leaves and used, ordinarily in an aqueous solution of its sulfate, as an insecticide nic'o·tin´ic (-tin´ik) •adj. [Fr < nicotiane, the tobacco plant < ModL nicotiana (herba), Nicot's (plant), after Jean Nicot (1530-1600), Fr ambassador at Lisbon, who first introduced tobacco into France (1560)]

nicotinic acid a white, odorless, crystalline substance, C6H5NO, found in protein foods or prepared synthetically: it is member of the vitamin B complex and is used in the treatment of pellagra

nicotinism (nik´э ti:n'iz'эm, -tin'-) •n. a diseased condition caused by the ingestion of nicotine, as from tobacco; nicotine poisoning

nictate (nik´teit') -tat'ed, -tat'ing •vi. NICTITATE nic·ta´tion •n.

nictitate (nik´tэ teit') -tat'ed, -tat'ing •vi. to wink or blink rapidly, as birds and other animals with a nictitating membrane nic'ti·ta´tion •n. [< ML nictitatus, pp. of nictitare, freq. < L nictare, to wink: see connive]

nictitating membrane a transparent third eyelid hinged at the inner side or lower lid of the eye of various animals, serving to keep the eye clean and moist: it is vestigial in humans

niddering or nidering (nid´эr iŋ) •n. [Archaic] coward; wretch •adj. [Archaic] base; cowardly [popularized by Sir Walter SCOTT < error in printed text (1596) by WILLIAM OF MALMESBURY, for ME nithing (< ON nithingr), mean person, coward]

nide (naid) •n. [Chiefly Brit.] a nest or brood, esp. of pheasants [< L nidus, NEST]

nidicolous (nai dik´э lэs) •adj. 1 remaining in the nest for some time after hatching, as some birds 2 living in the nest of another species [< L nidus, NEST + -COLOUS]

nidifugous (nai dif´yu: gэs) •adj. leaving the nest almost immediately after hatching, as chickens [< L nidus, NEST + fugere, to flee (see FUGITIVE) + -OUS]

nidify (nid´э fai') -fied', -fy'ing •vi. to build a nest Also nid´i·fi·cate' (-fi keit'), -cat'ed, -cat'ing nid'i·fi·ca´tion •n. [L nidificare < nidus, NEST + facere, to make, DO¹]

nidus (nai´dэs) pl. -di' (-dai') or -dus·es •n. 1 a nest, esp. one in which insects or spiders deposit their eggs 2 a breeding place; specif., a) a place where spores or seeds germinate b) a focus of infection ni´dal •adj. [L, NEST]

Nidwalden (ni:d´väl'dэn) canton of central Switzerland: 106 sq. mi. (276 sq. km); pop. 28,000

Niebuhr (ni:´bur) 1 Bar·thold Ge·org (bäř´tôlt' gei´ôřk') 1776-1831; Ger. historian, born in Denmark 2 Rein·hold (rain´hould') 1892-1971; U.S. clergyman & Protestant theologian

niece (ni:s) •n. 1 the daughter of one's brother or sister 2 the daughter of one's brother-in-law or sister-in-law 3 an illegitimate daughter, as of a medieval prelate: a euphemism [ME nece < OFr niece < LL neptia < L neptis, granddaughter, niece, akin to nepos, NEPHEW]

Niedersachsen (ni:´dэř zäkh'zэn) Ger. name of LOWER SAXONY

niello (ni: el´ou) pl. -li (-i:) or -los •n. 1 any of a number of alloys of sulfur with silver, lead, copper, etc., characterized by a deep-black color and used to decorate metallic objects by means of inlay 2 the process of decorating with niello 3 something decorated in this way •vt. -loed, -lo·ing to decorate with niello ni·el´list •n. [It < VL *nigellum < L nigellus, somewhat black, dark < niger, black]

Niemeyer (ni:´mai'эr), Oscar (born Oscar Niemeyer Soares Filho); 1907- ; Brazilian architect

Niemöller (ni:´mö lэř), (Friedrich Gustav Emil) Mar·tin (mäř´ti:n) 1892-1984; Ger. Protestant leader

Niersteiner (nir´stain'эr, -shtain-) •n. a white Rhine wine, made usually from the Riesling grape [Ger, after Nierstein, town on the Rhine, in Germany, where made]

Nietzsche (ni:´chэ), Frie·drich Wil·helm (fři:´dřiH' vil´helm') 1844-1900; Ger. philosopher Nie·tzsche·an (ni:´chi: эn) •adj., n. Nie´tzsche·an·ism' •n.

nieve (ni:v) •n. [Scot. or North Eng.] a fist or hand [ME neve < ON hnefi]

niffer (nif´эr) •vt., vi., n. [Scot.] barter; trade [< ?]

Niflheim (niv´ªl heim') Norse Myth. the regions of darkness and cold, or realm of the dead [ON Niflheimr]

nifty (nif´ti:) -ti·er, -ti·est •adj. [Slang] attractive, smart, stylish, enjoyable, etc.: a generalized term of approval •n. pl. -ties [Slang] a nifty person or thing; esp., a clever remark [orig. theatrical slang, prob. < MAGNIFICENT]

Nig Nigeria

Niger (nai´jэr) 1 river in W Africa, flowing from Guinea through Mali, Niger, & Nigeria into the Gulf of Guinea: c. 2,600 mi. (4,185 km) 2 country in WC Africa, north of Nigeria: formerly a French territory, it became independent (1960): 489,191 sq. mi. (1,267,000 sq. km); pop. 6,715,000; cap. Niamey

Niger-Congo (-käŋ´gou) •n. a large family of languages of sub-Saharan Africa, including the Bantu, Kwa, and Voltaic language groups, among others

Nigeria (nai jir´i: э) country in WC Africa, on the Gulf of Guinea: formerly a British colony & protectorate, it became independent & a member of the Commonwealth (1960); a republic since 1963: 356,668 sq. mi. (923,768 sq. km); pop. 105,448,000; cap. Abuja Ni·ger´i·an •adj., n.

niggard (nig´эrd) •n. a stingy person; miser •adj. stingy; miserly [ME negarde, prob. < Scand, as in ON hnøggr, Norw dial. nøgg, afraid, stingy < IE base *kneu- (var. of *ken-, to scrape) > OE hneaw, sparse, stingy]

niggardly (-li:) •adj. 1 like or characteristic of a niggard; stingy; miserly 2 small, few, or scanty, as if given by a niggard {a niggardly sum} •adv. in the manner of a niggard; stingily SYN. STINGY¹ nig´gard·li·ness •n.

nigger (nig´эr) •n. [Dial. or Slang] Negro USAGE—originally simply a dialectal variant of Negro, the term nigger is today acceptable only in black English; in all other contexts it is now generally regarded as virtually taboo because of the legacy of racial hatred that underlies the history of its use among whites, and its continuing use among a minority of speakers as a viciously hostile epithet

niggle (nig¿€l) -gled, -gling •vi. to work fussily; pay too much attention to petty details; be finicky nig´gler •n. nig´gling •adj., n. [North Brit dial., prob. akin to Norw dial. nigla in same sense]

nigh (nai) •adv. [Now Chiefly Dial.] 1 near in time, place, etc. 2 nearly; almost •adj. nigh´er, nigh´est or, older, next [Now Chiefly Dial.] 1 near; close 2 direct or short 3 on the left: said of animals, vehicle, etc. •prep. [Now Chiefly Dial.] near; near to •vi., vt. [Archaic] to draw near; approach [ME neih < OE neah, akin to Ger nahe, Goth nehw]

night (nait) •n. 1 a) the period from sunset to sunrise b) the period of actual darkness after sunset and before sunrise; also, a part of this period before bedtime [a night at the opera] or the part between bedtime and morning [a sleepless night] 2 the evening following a specified day {Christmas night} 3 the darkness of night 4 any period or condition of darkness or gloom; specif., a) a period of intellectual or moral degeneration b) a time of grief c) death •adj. 1 of, for, or at night 2 active, working, or in use at night make a night of it to celebrate all or most of the night night after night every night or for many successive nights night and day continuously or continually [ME niht < OE, akin to Ger nacht < IE base *nekwt-, *nokwt- > Gr nyx (gen. nyktos), L nox (gen. noctis), night]

night blindness imperfect vision in the dark or in dim light: a symptom of vitamin A deficiency

night crawler any large earthworm that comes to the surface at night, commonly used as fish bait

night heron any of several herons most active at night or twilight

night latch a door latch with a bolt opened from the outside by a key, and from the inside by a knob

night letter a telegram sent at night at a reduced rate, to be delivered the next morning

night life 1 attendance at theaters or nightclubs, or similar pleasure-seeking activity, at night 2 theaters, nightclubs, or similar entertainment available at night

night light a small, dim light kept burning all night, as in a hallway, bathroom, sickroom, etc.

night owl 1 an owl active chiefly at night Æ 2 a person who works at night or otherwise stays up late

night prayer [often N- P-] R.C.Ch. the last of the seven canonical hours; compline

night school a school holding classes in the evening, esp. one for those, usually adults, unable to attend by day

night soil excrement removed from a cesspool or privy and used as fertilizer [from being collected at night]

night stand a small table at the bedside

night watch 1 a watching or guarding during the night 2 the person or persons doing such guarding 3 the time of their guarding 4 any of the periods into which the night was formerly divided for such guarding: usually used in pl.

night watchman a watchman hired for duty at night

night-blooming cereus (-blu:'miŋ) any of various cactuses that bloom at night, esp. any of many species (genera Hylocereus, Selenicereus, etc.), often grown as house plants

nightcap (nait´kæp') •n. 1 a cap worn to bed, esp. formerly, to protect the head from cold 2 [Colloq.] an alcoholic drink taken just before going to bed or at the end of an evening of partying, a night on the town, etc. Æ 3 [Colloq.] Baseball the second game of a double-header

nightclothes (-klouðz', -klouz') •n. clothes to be worn in bed, as pajamas Also night clothes

nightclub (-klûb') •n. a place of entertainment open at night for eating, drinking, dancing, etc., and usually having a floor show

nightdress (-dres') •n. 1 NIGHTGOWN 2 NIGHTCLOTHES

nightfall (-föl') •n. the time in the evening when daylight is last visible; dusk

nightgown (-gaun') •n. 1 a loose gown worn in bed by women or girls 2 NIGHTSHIRT 3 [Obs.] a dressing gown

nighthawk (-hök') •n. Æ 1 any of various nightjars that feed on flying insects, esp., the common nighthawk (Chordeiles minor), which is active during the day or night Æ 2 NIGHT OWL (sense 2)

nightie (nait´i:) •n. [Colloq.] short for NIGHTGOWN (sense 1)

nightingale (nait´ªn geil'; also, -iŋ-) •n. any of various small European thrushes (genus Luscinia) with a russet back and buff to white underparts: the male is known for its varied, melodious singing, esp. at night during the breeding season [ME nigtingale, for earlier nihtegale < OE (akin to Ger nachtigall) < niht, NIGHT + base of galan, to sing, akin to giellan, YELL] Nightingale (nait´ªn geil'), Florence 1820-1910; Eng. nurse in the Crimean War: regarded as the founder of modern nursing

nightjar (nait´jär') •n. any of a family (Caprimulgidae) of goatsuckers; esp., the common European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) [NIGHT + JAR¹: from the whirring noise made by the male]

nightlong (-löŋ') •adj., adv. through the entire night; all night

nightly (nait´li:) •adj. 1 [Obs.] of, like, or characteristic of the night 2 done or occurring every night •adv. 1 [Obs.] at night 2 night after night; every night

nightmare (nait´mer') •n. 1 orig., an evil spirit believed to haunt and suffocate sleeping people 2 a frightening dream, often accompanied by a sensation of oppression and helplessness 3 any experience like a nightmare in its frightening or oppressing aspects night´mar'ish •adj. [ME nihtmare: see NIGHT & MARE³]

nightrider (nait´raid'эr) •n. any of a band of masked, mounted men who perform lawless acts of violence and terror at night to intimidate, terrorize, etc.; esp., any of such a band of white men in the S U.S. after the Civil War

nights (naits) •adv. during every night or most nights

nightshade (nait´sheid') •n. 1 any of a large genus (Solanum) of chiefly tropical plants of the nightshade family, with five-lobed leaves and flowers of various colors, including black nightshade 2 BELLADONNA (sense 1) 3 HENBANE •adj. designating a large family (Solanaceae, order Solanales) of poisonous and nonpoisonous dicotyledonous plants chiefly of warm regions, generally having a round stem, rank smell, and watery sap, and including the tobaccos, red peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, petunias, and eggplant [ME nichtheschode < OE nihtscada (see NIGHT & SHADE): ? with reference to narcotic qualities]

nightshirt (nait´shørt') •n. a long, loosefitting, shirtlike garment worn to bed

nightside (-said') •n. the side of a planet, the moon, etc. facing away from the sun

nightspot (nait´spät') •n. colloq. var. of NIGHTCLUB

nightstick (nait´stik') •n. a policeman's club; billy

nighttide (-taid') •n. old poet. var. of NIGHTTIME

nighttime (-taim') •n. the time between dusk and dawn; also, the time between sunset and sunrise

nightwalker (-wök'эr) •n. [Rare] a person who goes about at night, as a thief, prostitute, etc.

nightwear (-wэr') •n. NIGHTCLOTHES

nighty (nait´i:) pl. night´ies •n. alt. sp. of NIGHTIE

nighty-night (-nait´) •interj. colloq. var. of GOOD NIGHT

nigrescent (nai gres´ªnt) •adj. [Now Rare] 1 becoming or tending to become black 2 blackish ni·gres´cence •n. [L nigrescens, prp. of nigrescere, to grow black < niger, black]

nigrify (nig´rэ fai') -fied', -fy'ing •vt. [Rare] to make black nig'ri·fi·ca´tion •n. [L nigrificare < niger, black + facere, to make: see DO¹]

nigritude (nig´rэ tu:d', -tyu:d') •n. blackness or darkness [L nigritudo < niger, black]

nigrosine (nig´rэ si:n', -sin) •n. any of a group of blue-black or black dyes used as pigments in inks, dyes, shoe polish, etc. [< L niger, black + -OS(E)² + -INE³]

NIH National Institutes of Health

nihil (nai´hil', ni:´-) •n. nothing [L, contr. < nihilum < *nehilum < ne-, not (see NO¹) + hilum, little thing, trifle]

nihil obstat (ni:´hil' ôb´stät') 1 R.C.Ch. a printed phrase, followed by the name of an officially appointed censor, indicating that the publication carrying the phrase has been examined and judged free of doctrinal or moral error 2 any official indication of nonopposition [L, nothing obstructs]

nihilism (nai´э liz'эm, ni:´-; -hi-) •n. 1 Philos. a) the denial of the existence of any basis for knowledge or truth b) the general rejection of customary beliefs in morality, religion, etc. (also ethical nihilism) 2 the belief that there is no meaning or purpose in existence 3 Politics a) the doctrine that existing social, political, and economic institutions must be completely destroyed in order to make way for new institutions b) [N-] a movement in Russia (c. 1860-1917) which advocated such revolutionary reform and attempted to carry it out through the use of terrorism and assassination c) loosely, any violent revolutionary movement involving the use of terrorism ni´hil·ist •n. ni'hil·is´tic •adj. [< L nihil (see NIHIL) + -ISM]

nihility (nai hil´э ti:) •n. nothingness [ML nihilitas]

Nihon (ni:´hän´) Jpn. name of JAPAN In full Nihon ko·ku (kou´ku) [short for Nihon koku < Nihon (< Sino-Jpn hi no moto, lit., where the sun rises) + koku, country]

Niigata (ni:´i: gä´tä) seaport in N Honshu, Japan, on the Sea of Japan: pop. 459,000

Niihau (ni:'i: hä´u:, ni:´hau') an island of Hawaii, west of Kauai: 72 sq. mi. (187 sq. km) [Haw]

Nijinsky (ni zhi:n´ski; E nэ jin´ski:), Vas·lav (vås låf´) 1890-1950; Russ. ballet dancer

Nijmegen (nai´mei'gэn; Du nai´mei'khэn) city in the E Netherlands, on the Waal river: pop. 147,000

-nik (nik) suffix one who is or has to do with (the thing specified) {beatnik, refusenik} [< Yidd (or) < Russ -nik, equiv. to -ER]

Nike (nai´ki:) Gr. Myth. the winged goddess of victory [Gr Nikē, prob. < IE base *nēik-, to attack > OE (ga)næstan, to fight]

Nikko (ni:´kou, nik´ou) town in EC Honshu, Japan: Buddhist religious center: pop. 33,000

Nikolayev (nik'э lä´yev') seaport in S Ukraine, on the Bug River: pop. 486,000

nil (nil) •n. nothing [L, contr. of NIHIL]

nil desperandum (nil´ des'pэ ræn´dэm) nothing should be despaired of; never despair [L]

nil nisi bonum (nil´ nai´sai bou´nэm) short for DE MORTUIS NIL NISI BONUM [L]

Nile (nail) river in NE Africa, formed at Khartoum, Sudan, by the juncture of the Blue Nile, flowing from N Ethiopia, c. 1,000 mi. (1,610 km) & the White Nile, flowing from Lake Victoria, c. 1,650 mi. (2,655 km), & flowing north through Egypt into the Mediterranean: with the White Nile & a headstream south of Lake Victoria, over 4,000 mi. (6,437 km)

Nile green yellowish green Nile´-green´ •adj.

nilgai (nil´gai') pl. -gais' or -gai' a large, gray, Indian antelope (Boselaphus tragocamelus): the male has short, straight horns and a black mane: also nil´gau' (-gö') •n. [Pers nīlgāw, lit., blue cow < nīl, blue + gāw, cow: for IE base see COW¹]

nill (nil) •vt., vi. [Archaic] not to will (something); refuse {will I, nill I}: see also WILLY-NILLY [ME nillen < OE nyllan < ne, not (see NO¹) + willan (see WILL¹)]

Nilo-Saharan (-sэ her´эn) •n. a large family of languages spoken chiefly in N and central Africa and including the Chari-Nile languages

Nilotic (nai lät´ik) •adj. 1 of the Nile or the Nile Valley 2 designating or of the peoples who live in the valley of the White Nile, including the Dinkas •n. a group of Chari-Nile languages spoken in the upper Nile Valley [L Niloticus < Gr Neilōtikos < Neilos, the Nile]

nim (nim) nam (näm) or nimmed, no·men (nou´mэn) or nome (noum), nim´ming [Archaic] to steal or pilfer •vt., vi. [ME nimen < OE niman: see -NOMY]

nimble (nim´bэl) -bler, -blest •adj. 1 mentally quick; quick-witted; alert {a nimble mind} 2 [Rare] showing mental quickness {a nimble reply} 3 moving quickly and lightly SYN. AGILE nim´ble·ness •n. nim´bly •adv. [with intrusive -b- < ME nimmel < OE numol < niman, to take (see NIM): basic sense capable of taking]

nimbostratus (nim´bou streit´эs, -stræt´эs) •n. the type of extensive gray cloud that obscures the sun, found at low altitudes and consisting of dense, dark layers of water droplets, rain, or snow: see CLOUD [ModL: see NIMBUS & STRATUS]

nimbus (nim´bэs) pl. -bi' (-bai') or -bus·es •n. 1 orig., any rain-producing cloud 2 Myth. a bright cloud surrounding gods or goddesses appearing on earth 3 an aura of splendor about any person or thing 4 a halo or bright disk surrounding the head of a divinity, saint, or sovereign on pictures, medals, etc. [L, violent rain, black rain cloud < IE base *nebh-, moist, cloud > L nebula]

NIMBY or Nimby (nim´bi:) •n. 1 opposition by nearby residents to a proposed building project, esp. a public one, as being hazardous, unsightly, etc. 2 a person who opposes such a project [n(ot) i(n) m(y) b(ack)y(ard)]

Nîmes (ni:m) city in S France: pop. 130,000

nimiety (ni mai´э ti:) •n. excess; redundancy [L nimietas < nimis, adv., too much (by litotes) < *ne-miis < ne-, not + IE *miis, compar. of *meio-, little < base *mei- > MINOR]

niminy-piminy (nim´э ni: pim´э ni:) •adj. fussily dainty or refined; mincing [imitative of mincing speech]

Nimitz (nim´its), Chester William 1885-1966; U.S. admiral in World War II

Nimrod (nim´räd') Bible the son of Cush, referred to as a mighty hunter: Gen. 10:8-9 •n. [often n-] a hunter [Heb nimrōdh]

nincompoop (nin´kэm pu:p') •n. a stupid, silly person; fool [< ?]

nine (nain) •adj. totaling one more than eight •n. 1 the cardinal number between eight and ten; 9; IX 2 any group of nine persons or things; esp., a baseball team 3 something numbered nine or having nine units, as a playing card, throw of dice, etc. the Nine the nine Muses to the nines 1 to perfection 2 in the most elaborate or showy manner {dressed to the nines} [ME nyen < OE nigon, akin to Ger neun < IE *enewen (> Gr ennea, L novem, nine), prob. extension of base *newo-, NEW, indicating a new division of the numeral system commencing with 9]

nine days' wonder anything that arouses great excitement and interest, but for only a short time

ninefold (-fould') •adj. 1 having nine parts 2 having nine times as much or as many •adv. nine times as much or as many [NINE + -FOLD]

ninepins (-pinz') •n.pl. 1 [with sing. v.] a British version of the game of tenpins, in which nine wooden pins are used 2 the pins used in this game

nineteen (-ti:n´) •adj. totaling nine more than ten •n. the cardinal number between eighteen and twenty; 19; XIX [ME nynetene < OE nigontyne: see NINE & -TEEN]

nineteenth (-ti:nθ´) •adj. 1 preceded by eighteen others in a series; 19th 2 designating any of the nineteen equal parts of something •n. 1 the one following the eighteenth 2 any of the nineteen equal parts of something; ¹/19 •adv. in the nineteenth place, rank, group, etc. [ME nyntenthe < OE nigonteotha: see NINETEEN & -TH²]

nineteenth hole [Colloq.] any place, as the bar of a clubhouse, where golfers meet for drinks and conviviality after playing a round of golf

ninetieth (nain´ti: iθ) •adj. 1 preceded by eighty-nine others in a series; 90th 2 designating any of the ninety equal parts of something •n. 1 the one following the eighty-ninth 2 any of the ninety equal parts of something; ¹/90 •adv. in the ninetieth place, rank, group, etc. [ME nyntithe < OE nigenteothan: see NINETY & -TH²]

ninety (naint´i:) •adj. nine times ten •n. pl. -ties the cardinal number between eighty-nine and ninety-one; 90; XC (or LXXXX) the nineties the numbers or years, as of a century, from ninety through ninety-nine [ME nigenty < OE nigontig: see NINE & -TY²]

Nineveh (nin´э vэ) capital of ancient Assyria, on the Tigris: ruins opposite modern Mosul in N Iraq

Ningbo (niŋ´bou´) city in Zhejiang province, E China: pop. 350,000: also sp. Ning·po

Ningxia-Hui (niŋ´shyä´wi:´) autonomous region in NW China, on the border of Inner Mongolia: c. 65,638 sq. mi. (170,000 sq. km); pop. 3,896,000; cap. Yinchuan: old form Ning´sia´ Hui´ (-shyä´-)

ninja (nin´jэ) pl. -ja •n.or -jas any of a class of feudal Japanese warriors highly trained in stealth and employed as spies and assassins [Jpn]

ninny (nin´i:) pl. -nies •n. a fool; dolt [< (a)n inn(ocent) + -Y²]

ninon (ni: nän'; Fr ni: nouñ´) •n. a thin, sheer fabric like voile, made sometimes of synthetic material, used chiefly for curtains [Fr < ?]

ninth (nainθ) •adj. 1 preceded by eight others in a series; 9th 2 designating any of the nine equal parts of something •n. 1 the one following the eighth 2 any of the nine equal parts of something; ¹/9 3 Music a) an interval in pitch of an octave and a second b) a tone separated from another by such an interval c) the combination of two such tones •adv. in the ninth place, rank, group, etc. ninth´ly •adv. [ME ninthe < OE nigonthe: see NINE & -TH²]

ninth chord Music a chord consisting of the third, fifth, seventh, and ninth above the root

Ninus (nai´nэs) Latin name of NINEVEH

Niobe (nai´ou bэ') Gr. Myth. a queen of Thebes, daughter of Tantalus, who, weeping for her slain children, is turned into a stone from which tears continue to flow [L < Gr Niobē ÿ]

niobic (nai ou´bik) •adj. Chem. of or containing pentavalent niobium

niobium (nai ou´bi: эm) •n. a gray or white metallic chemical element, somewhat ductile and malleable, used in alloy steels, superconducting alloys, in jet engines and rockets, etc.: symbol, Nb; at. wt., 92.906; at. no., 41; sp. gr., 8.66; melt. pt., 2,468°C; boil. pt., 5,127°C [ModL: so named (1844) by H. Rose (1795-1864), Ger chemist (for earlier COLUMBIUM) < Gr Niobē (because of its close relationship to tantalum) + -IUM: see NIOBE & TANTALUM]

niobous (nai ou´bэs) •adj. Chem. of or containing trivalent niobium

Niobrara (nai'э brer´э) river flowing from E Wyo. east through N Nebr. into the Missouri: 431 mi. (694 km) [< Siouan (Omaha), lit., broad, flat river]

nip¹ (nip) nipped, nip´ping •vt. 1 to catch or squeeze between two surfaces, points, or edges; pinch or bite 2 to sever (shoots, buds, etc.) by pinching or clipping 3 to check the growth or development of 4 to have a painful or injurious effect on because of cold {frost nipped the plants} 5 [Slang] a) to snatch b) to steal •vi. 1 to give a nip or nips 2 [Brit. Colloq.] to move quickly or nimbly: with off, away, along, etc. •n. 1 the act of nipping; pinch; bite 2 a piece nipped off; small bit 3 a stinging quality, as in cold or frosty air 4 stinging cold; frost 5 a stinging remark 6 a strong flavor; tang Æ nip and tuck so close, even, or critical as to leave the outcome in doubt; neck and neck [ME nippen, prob. < MLowG nippen or ON hnippa < IE *kneib- (< base *ken-, to scrape) > Gr kniptos, stingy]

nip² (nip) •n. a small drink of liquor; dram; sip •vt., vi. nipped, nip´ping to drink (liquor) in nips [prob. contr. < nipperkin < Du nippertje, small measure for liquors < base of nippen, to sip, prob. akin to prec.]

nipa (ni:´pэ, nai´-) •n. 1 an Asiatic palm tree (Nipa fruticans) with feathery leaves used in thatching and large bunches of edible fruit 2 thatch or fruit from the nipa 3 a liquor made from its sap [Sp < Malay nipah]

Nipigon (nip´i gän'), Lake lake in WC Ontario, Canada, north of Lake Superior: 1,870 sq. mi. (4,844 sq. km) [< 18th-c. Fr (Lac) Alimipigon < Ojibwa (unattested); lit. meaning ? where the water begins]

Nipissing (nip´э siŋ'), Lake lake in SE Ontario, Canada, between Georgian Bay & the Ottawa River: 350 sq. mi. (906 sq. km) [< Fr < Ojibwa; lit. meaning prob. at the lake]

nipper (nip´эr) •n. 1 anything that nips, or pinches 2 [pl.] any of various tools for grasping or severing wire, etc. as pliers, pincers, or forceps 3 any of certain organs of animals, used in biting, grasping, holding, etc.; specif., a) an incisor tooth of a horse b) the pincerlike claw of a crab or lobster; chela 4 [Colloq., Chiefly Brit] a small boy; lad 5 [pl.] [Slang] handcuffs or leg irons

nipping (nip´iŋ) •adj. 1 that nips, or pinches 2 sharp; biting; nippy 3 sarcastic nip´ping·ly •adv.

nipple (nip´эl) •n. 1 the small protuberance on a breast or udder through which, in the female, the milk passes in suckling the young; teat 2 an artificial teatlike part, as of rubber, in the cap of a baby's nursing bottle 3 any projection, part, or thing resembling the nipple of a breast in shape or function; specif., a) a short piece of pipe with both ends threaded b) a projection with a small opening through which a liquid or grease can be forced [earlier neble, prob. dim. of NEB]

Nippon (ni:p´pôn´; E nip´än', ni pän´) var. of NIHON

Nipponese (nip'э ni:z´, -ni:s´) pl. -ese´ •adj., n. JAPANESE [< prec.]

Nippur (ni pur´) ancient city of Sumer, southeast of Babylon on the Euphrates, in what is now SE Iraq

nippy (nip´i:) -pi·er, -pi·est •adj. 1 nipping or tending to nip, or pinch 2 cold in a stinging way 3 [Brit. Colloq.] quick or nimble nip´pi·ness •n.

nip-up (nip´ûp') •n. the acrobatic feat of springing to one's feet from a position flat on one's back

nirvana (nir vä´nэ, nэr-; -væn´э) •n. [also N-] 1 Hinduism a blowing out, or extinction, of the flame of life through reunion with Brahma 2 Buddhism the state of perfect blessedness achieved by the extinction of individual existence and by the absorption of the soul into the supreme spirit, or by the extinction of all desires and passions 3 any place or condition of great peace or bliss [Sans nirvāna < nirvā, to blow out < nis-, out + vā, to blow: see WIND¹]

Nisan (ni: sän´, nis´эn) •n. the seventh month of the Jewish calendar: see JEWISH CALENDAR [Heb nīsān]

nisei (ni:´sei') pl. ni´sei' •n.or ni´seis' [also N-] a native U.S. or Canadian citizen born of immigrant Japanese parents and educated in America: distinguished from ISSEI, KIBEI [Jpn, lit., second generation]

Nishinomiya (ni:´shi: nou´mi: yä´) city in S Honshu, Japan, west of Osaka: pop. 404,000

nisi (nai´sai') conj. unless: used in law after decree, order, etc. to indicate that it shall take permanent effect at a specified time unless cause is shown why it should not, or unless it is changed by further proceedings [L < ne-, not (see NO¹) + si, if (see SO¹)]

nisi prius (prai´эs) any of various courts in which a cause of action may be originally tried before a jury [L, unless before: used orig. in a writ directing a sheriff to summon a jury to Westminster on a certain date unless before that date the trial had been held in his own county]

Nissen hut (nis´эn) a prefabricated shelter of corrugated metal shaped like a cylinder cut vertically in two and resting on its flat surface: first used by the British Army in World War I [after P. N. Nissen (1871-1930), engineer in the Canadian army]

nisus (nai´sэs) pl. ni´sus •n. effort; endeavor; impulse; specif., a) a seasonal desire to mate b) the muscular contractions used to expel waste, eggs, or a fetus from the body [L < nisus, pp. of niti, to strive: for IE base see CONNIVE]

nit¹ (nit) •n. 1 the egg of a louse or similar insect 2 a young louse, etc. [ME nite < OE hnitu, akin to Ger niss < IE base *knid-, louse, nit, prob. < *ken-, to scratch]

nit² (nit) •n. [Chiefly Brit.] short for NITWIT

niter (nait´эr) •n. 1 POTASSIUM NITRATE 2 SODIUM NITRATE Also [Chiefly Brit.] ni´tre [ME nitre < MFr < L nitrum < Gr nitron, native soda, natron < Heb or Egypt: Heb netr < Egypt ntr]

Niterói (ni:'tэ roi´) seaport in SE Brazil, opposite Rio de Janeiro: pop. 383,000

nitinol (nit´э nöl', -noul') •n. any of several paramagnetic alloys of nickel and titanium that can be heated and shaped: when cooled and deformed, they resume their previous shapes upon being reheated [NI(CKEL) + TI(TANIUM) + N(aval) O(rdnance) L(aboratory) where discovered]

niton (nai´tän') •n. old term for RADON [ModL < L nitere, to shine + -on as in ARGON: so named (1912) by Sir William RAMSAY because it glows in the dark]

nit-picking (nit´pik'iŋ) •adj., n. paying too much attention to petty details; niggling nit´-pick'er •n. [NIT¹ + PICK²]

nitr- combining form NITRO-: used before a vowel

nitrate (nai´treit') •n. 1 a) a salt of nitric acid containing the monovalent, negative radical NO3 b) an uncharged ester of this acid 2 potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate, used as a fertilizer •vt. -trat'ed, -trat'ing to treat or combine with nitric acid or a nitrate; esp., to make into a nitrate [Fr < MFr nitre, NITER]

nitration (nai´trei´shэn) •n. the process of nitrating; esp., the introduction of the NO2 group into an organic compound

nitric (nai´trik) •adj. 1 of or containing nitrogen 2 designating or of compounds in which nitrogen has a higher valence than in the corresponding nitrous compounds [Fr nitrique: see NITER & -IC]

nitric acid a colorless, fuming acid, HNO3, that is highly corrosive: prepared by the action of sulfuric acid on nitrates and by the oxidation of ammonia

nitric bacteria soil and water bacteria (genus Nitrobacter, etc.) that convert nitrites into nitrates

nitric oxide a colorless gas, NO, prepared by the action of nitric acid on copper or directly from the air by various processes

nitride (nai´traid') •n. a compound of nitrogen with a more electropositive element, as boron [NITR- + -IDE]

nitrify (nai´trэ fai') -fied', -fy'ing •vt. 1 to combine with nitrogen or nitrogen compounds 2 to impregnate (soil, etc.) with nitrates 3 to cause the oxidation of (ammonium salts, atmospheric nitrogen, etc.) to nitrites and nitrates, as by the action of soil bacteria, etc. ni'tri·fi·ca´tion •n. ni´tri·fi'er •n. [Fr nitrifier: see NITER & -FY]

nitrile (nai´tril, -trail') •n. an organic cyanide of the general formula R·C:N, yielding the corresponding acid and ammonia on hydrolysis [NITR- + -ILE]

nitrite (nai´trait') •n. 1 a salt of nitrous acid containing the monovalent, negative radical NO2 2 an uncharged ester of this acid [NITR- + -ITE¹]

nitro (nai´trou) •adj. 1 designating certain compounds containing nitrogen and produced by the action of nitric or nitrous acid 2 designating the NO2 radical or compounds in which one or more NO2 radicals have replaced atoms of hydrogen [< fol.]

nitro- (nai´trou, nai´trэ) combining form 1 containing nitrogen compounds made by the action of nitric or nitrous acid and other substances {nitrocellulose} 2 containing the NO2 radical {nitrobenzene, nitroparaffin} 3 niter {nitrobacteria} [see NITER]

nitrobacteria (nai'trou bæk tir´i: э) sing. -ri·um (-эm) •n.pl. bacteria in the soil that oxidize ammonia compounds into nitrites, or nitrites into nitrates See NITRIC BACTERIA, NITROUS BACTERIA [ModL: see NITRO- & BACTERIA]

nitrobenzene (-ben´zi:n') •n. a poisonous yellow liquid, C6H5NO2, prepared by treating benzene with nitric acid, used in making aniline, as a solvent, etc.

nitrocellulose (-sel´yu: lous') •n. any ester of nitric acid and cellulose; esp., a pulplike substance produced by the action of nitric acid upon wood, cotton, etc. in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid: used in making smokeless explosives, plastics, lacquers, etc. ni'tro·cel'lu·los´ic (-lous´ik) •adj.

nitrofuran (-fyur´æn', -fyu: ræn´) •n. a furan derivative, C4H3O·NO2, used to treat bacterial infections [NITRO- + FURAN]

nitrogen (nai´trэ jэn) •n. a colorless, tasteless, odorless gaseous chemical element forming nearly four fifths of the atmosphere: it is a component of all proteins and nucleic acids: symbol, N; at. wt., 14.0067; at. no., 7; density, 1.2506 g/l (0°C); melt. pt., -209.9°C; boil. pt., -195.8°C [Fr nitrogène: so named (1790) by J. A. Chaptal (1756-1832), Fr chemist < Gr nitron (see NITER) + Fr -gène, -GEN, because niter resulted when it was sparked with oxygen in the presence of caustic potash]

nitrogen cycle the cycle of natural processes through which atmospheric nitrogen is converted by nitrogen fixation and nitrification into compounds used by plants and animals in the formation of proteins and is eventually returned by decay and denitrification to its original state

nitrogen dioxide a poisonous, reddish-brown gas, NO2, used in making nitric acid, as a rocket-fuel oxidizer, etc.: it is also an air pollutant formed from automobile exhausts

nitrogen fixation 1 the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogenous compounds by bacteria (nitrogen fixers) found in the root nodules of legumes and certain other plants, and in the soil 2 the conversion of free nitrogen into nitrogenous compounds of commercial value by any of various processes ni´tro·gen-fix´ing •adj.

nitrogen mustard any of a class of compounds similar to mustard gas, but having an amino nitrogen in place of a sulfur atom: used in the treatment of cancers, etc.

nitrogen narcosis reduction in the ability to think clearly and react quickly, caused by increased air pressure which increases the concentration of nitrogen in the body tissue and brain: a special concern of deep-sea divers

nitrogenase (nai träj´э neis', -neiz'; nai´trэ jэ-) •n. an enzyme in certain soil bacteria and algae involved in the capture of nitrogen from the air to form ammonia

nitrogenize (nai träj´э naiz', nai´trэ jэ naiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. to combine or impregnate with nitrogen or its compounds

nitrogenous (nai träj´э nэs) •adj. of or containing nitrogen or nitrogen compounds

nitroglycerin or nitroglycerine (nai'trou glis´эr in, -trэ-) •n. a thick, pale-yellow, flammable, explosive oil, C3H5(ONO2)3, prepared by treating glycerin with a mixture of nitric and sulfuric acids: used in medicine and in making dynamites and propellants

nitrolic acid (nai träl´ik) any of a series of acids with the general formula RC(:NOH)NO2, formed by the action of nitrous acid on nitroparaffin [NITR- + -OL¹ + -IC]

nitrometer (nai träm´эt эr) •n. an apparatus for measuring the amount of nitrogen, or certain of its gaseous compounds, emitted during a chemical reaction [NITRO- + -METER]

nitroparaffin (nai'trou pær´э fin, -trэ-) •n. a nitrogen compound derived from an alkane and containing an NO2 group in place of one or more of the hydrogen atoms

nitrosamine (nai'trous æm´i:n', -in; nai trous´э mi:n') •n. any of a series of organic compounds derived from amines and containing the N·NO group: they are found in foods, herbicides, and industrial products and are formed in the body from nitrates and nitrites: some are thought to be carcinogenic [< fol. + AMINE]

nitroso- (nai trou´sou, -sэ) combining form of or containing nitrosyl {nitrosamine} Also, before a vowel, nitros- [< L nitrosus, full of natron < nitrum: see NITER]

nitrosyl (nai´trou sil, -si:l; nai trou´sil) •n. the monovalent radical, or group, NO [< prec. + -YL]

nitrous (nai´trэs) •adj. 1 of, like, or containing niter 2 designating or of compounds in which nitrogen has a lower valence than in the corresponding nitric compounds [L nitrosus: see NITROSO-]

nitrous acid an acid, HNO2, known only in solution or in the form of its salts (nitrites)

nitrous bacteria soil and water bacteria (genus Nitrosomonas, etc.) that convert ammonia into nitrites

nitrous oxide a colorless, nonflammable gas, N2O, used as an anesthetic and in aerosols

nitty (nit´i:) -ti·er, -ti·est •adj. full of nits

nitty-gritty (nit´i: grit´i:) •n. [Slang] the actual, basic facts, elements, issues, etc. [orig. black scatological slang: rhyming euphemism]

nitwit (nit´wit') •n. a stupid or silly person [nit (< Ger dial. for nicht, not) or ? NIT¹ + WIT¹]

Niue (ni: u:´ei) island in the SC Pacific, east of Tonga, a territory of New Zealand: 100 sq. mi. (259 sq. km); pop. 5,000

nival (nai´vэl) •adj. of, or growing in or under, snow [L nivalis < nix (gen. nivis), SNOW)]

niveous (niv´i: эs) •adj. snowy; snowlike [L niveus, snowy: see NIVAL]

Nivernais (ni: veř ne´) historical region of central France, southeast of Paris

nix¹ (niks) pl. nix´es or nix·e (nik´sэ) •n. Gmc. Folklore a water sprite, usually small and of human or partly human form [Ger nix, masc., nixe, fem. < OHG nihhus, sea beast, nicchussa, water sprite, akin to OE nicor, ON nykr, water sprite < Gmc *nik-, *nikwus-, water spirit < IE base *neigw-, to wash > Sans nĕnēkti, (he) washes]

nix² (niks) •adv. [Slang] 1 no 2 not at all •interj. [Slang] an exclamation meaning: 1 stop! 2 I forbid, refuse, disagree, etc. •n. [Slang] 1 nothing 2 refusal or rejection •vt. [Slang] to disapprove of or put a stop to [Ger nichts]

nixie¹ (niks´i:) •n. Gmc. Folklore a female nix

nixie² (niks´i:) •n. a piece of mail with an incorrect, incomplete, or illegible address, usually not deliverable

Nixon (nik´sэn), Richard M(ilhous) 1913- ; 37th president of the U.S. (1969-74): resigned under threat of impeachment Nix·o·ni·an (niks ou´ni: эn) •adj.

Nizam (ni zäm´, nai zæm´) •n. 1 the title of the native rulers of Hyderabad, India that reigned from 1713 to 1950 2 pl. ni·zam´ a soldier in the Turkish regular army ni·zam´ate •n. [Hindi & Pers nizām < Ar nizām, to order < nazama, to govern]

Nizhniy Tagil (ni:zh´ni: tä gi:l´) city in W Russia, in the EC Urals: pop. 419,000

Nizhny Novgorod (ni:zh´ni: nôv´gû řэt) city in central European Russia, at the Volga & Oka rivers: pop. 1,400,000

NJ or N.J. New Jersey

Njorth (nyörθ) Norse Myth. one of the Vanir, father of Frey and Freya Also Njord (nyörd) [ON Njörthr]

Nkrumah (эn kru:´mэ), Kwa·me (kwä´mi:) 1909-72; president of Ghana (1960-66)

NLRB National Labor Relations Board

Nm Bible Numbers

NM or N.M. New Mexico Also N Mex

NMI no middle initial

NMR nuclear magnetic resonance

NMSQT National Merit Scholarships Qualifying Test

NNE north-northeast

NNW north-northwest

no abbrev. 1 north 2 northern 3 number [L numero] No Chem. symbol for nobelium

no man's land 1 a piece of land, usually wasteland, to which no one has a recognized title 2 the unoccupied region separating opposing armies 3 an indefinite area of operation, involvement, jurisdiction, etc. Also no´-man's-land'

no one no person; not anybody; nobody

no¹ (nou) •adv. 1 not {whether or no} 2 not in any degree; not at all {no worse} 3 nay; not so: the opposite of YES, used to deny, refuse, or disagree No is also used to give force to a negative that follows, to precede a fuller or more specific statement, or, interjectionally, to express surprise, disbelief, dismay, etc. •adj. not any; not a; not one {no errors} [ME, form of non, none (see NONE¹) used only before a consonant < OE nan < ne an, lit., not one (see ONE)] •n. pl. noes or nos 1 an utterance of no; refusal or denial 2 a negative vote, or a person voting in the negative [ME < OE na < ne a, lit., not ever < IE base *ne, nē, negative particle > Sans ná, Gr ne-, L ne-, Goth & OHG ni, OIr no]

no² (nou) pl. no •n. [also N-] a classic form of Japanese drama with choral music and dancing, using set themes, simple scenery, masked and costumed performers, and stylized acting [Jpn nō]

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (a U.S. agency incorporating the National Weather Service)

no-account (nou´э kaunt') •adj. [Colloq.] of no account; worthless; good-for-nothing •n. a shiftless person

Noachian (nou ei´ki: эn) •adj. 1 of Noah or his time 2 ancient; antique: also No·ach´ic (-æk´ik)

Noah (nou´э) 1 a masculine name 2 Bible the patriarch commanded by God to build the ark on which he, his family, and two of every kind of creature survived the Flood: Gen. 5:28-10:32 [Heb nōah, lit., rest, comfort]

nob¹ (näb) •n. 1 [Slang] the head 2 Cribbage the jack of the same suit as the card cut from the pack: it counts one point for the holder: now called his nobs [later form of KNOB]

nob² (näb) •n. [Slang, Chiefly Brit.] a person of wealth and high social status [< ? prec.]

nobble (näb´эl) -bled, -bling •vt. [Brit. Slang] 1 to disable (a horse), as by drugging to keep it from winning a race 2 to win over by bribery or other underhanded methods 3 to cheat or swindle nob´bler •n. [? freq. of NAB]

nobby (näb´i:) -bi·er, -bi·est •adj. [Slang, Chiefly Brit.] of or for nobs; stylish nob´bi·ly •adv. [< NOB²]

Nobel (nou bel´), Al·fred Bern·hard (ål´fřed beř´nåřd) 1833-96; Swed. industrialist, philanthropist, & inventor of dynamite: established the Nobel prizes

Nobel prizes annual international prizes given by the Nobel Foundation for distinction in physics, chemistry, economics, medicine or physiology, and literature, and for promoting peace

Nobelist (nou bel´ist) •n. a person who has been awarded a Nobel prize

nobelium (nou bel´i: эm) •n. a radioactive chemical element of the actinide series produced by the nuclear bombardment of curium: symbol, No; at. wt., 259; at. no., 102 [ModL: so named (1957) after Nobel Institute in Stockholm, where discovered]

nobility (nou bil´э ti:) pl. -ties •n. 1 the quality or state of being noble 2 high station or rank in society, esp. when accompanied by a title 3 the class of people of noble rank or having hereditary titles: usually limited in Great Britain to the peerage: usually with the [ME nobilite < OFr nobilité < L nobilitas]

noble (nou´bэl) -bler, -blest •adj. 1 having eminence, renown, fame, etc.; illustrious 2 having or showing high moral qualities or ideals, or greatness of character; lofty 3 having excellent qualities; superior 4 grand; stately; splendid; magnificent {a noble view} 5 of high hereditary rank or title; aristocratic 6 chemically nonreactive, esp. with acids and air; precious; pure: said of metals, esp. gold, platinum, etc.; also said of rare gases such as helium, neon, radon, etc., several of which were at one time considered to be completely inert •n. 1 a person having hereditary rank or title; nobleman; peer 2 a former gold coin of England no´ble·ness •n. [OFr < L nobilis, lit., well-known < base of (g)noscere, to KNOW]

noble fir a very large fir (Abies procera) of the W U.S.

nobleman (-mэn) pl. -men (-mэn) •n. a member of the nobility; peer

noblesse (nou bles´) •n. NOBILITY [ME noblesce < OFr < ML nobilitia]

noblesse oblige (nou bles´ ou bli:zh´; Fr nô bles ô bli:zh´) the inferred obligation of people of high rank or social position to behave nobly or kindly toward others [Fr, lit., nobility obliges]

noblewoman (nou´bэl wum'эn) pl. -wom'en (-wim'in) •n. a woman who is a member of the nobility; peeress

nobly (nou´bli:) •adv. 1 with noble courage or spirit; gallantly 2 a) idealistically; loftily b) excellently; splendidly 3 with noble heritage

nobody (nou´bäd'i:; -bûd'i:, -bэd i:) pron. not any person; not anybody; no one •n. pl. -bod'ies a person of no influence, authority, or importance

no-brainer (nou´brein´эr) •n. something so obvious, simple, etc. as to require little thought

nocent (nou´sэnt) •adj. [Now Rare] 1 causing harm or injury; hurtful 2 guilty or criminal [LME < L nocens, prp. of nocere, to harm: see NECRO-]

nociceptive (nou'sэ sep´tiv) •adj. of, causing, or reacting to pain [< L nocere (see NOCENT) + (RE)CEPTIVE]

nock (näk) •n. 1 a notch for holding the string at either end of a bow 2 a notch in the end of an arrow, for the insertion of the bowstring •vt. 1 to make a notch in (a bow or arrow) 2 to set (an arrow) into the bowstring [ME nocke < Scand, as in Swed dial. nokke, notch < IE *kneug- < base *ken-, to pinch > NOOK, NUT]

noctambulism (näk tæm´byu: liz'эm) •n. walking in one's sleep; somnambulism Also noc·tam'bu·la´tion noc·tam´bu·list •n. [Fr noctambulisme < L nox (gen. noctis), NIGHT + ambulare, to walk (see AMBLE) + -isme, -ISM]

nocti- (näk´ti, -tэ) combining form night {noctilucent} Also, before a vowel, noct- [< L nox (gen. noctis), NIGHT]

noctiluca (näk'tэ lu:´kэ) •n. any of a genus (Noctiluca) of large, spherical, reddish, luminescent dinoflagellates that often occur in vast numbers in the sea, causing the water to glow at night [ModL < L, something that shines at night < nox (gen. noctis), NIGHT + lucere, to shine < lux, LIGHT¹]

noctilucent (näk'tэ lu:´sэnt) •adj. shining in the night: said esp. of high-altitude clouds (75 to 90 km or 46 to 56 mi. above the earth) that reflect twilight to the earth long after sunset or long before sunrise [NOCTI- + LUCENT]

noctuid (näk´tu: id, -tyu:-) •n. any of a large family (Noctuidae) of mostly dull-colored moths which fly at night and are attracted to lights, including underwing moths and others with very destructive larvae, as cutworms or army worms [< ModL Noctuidae < L noctua, night owl < nox (gen. noctis), NIGHT]

noctule (näk´tu:l', -tyu:l') •n. any of a genus (Nyctalus) of bats; esp., a large brown species (N. noctula) of Europe and the British Isles [Fr < VL *noctula, owl, bat, dim. < L noctua: see NOCTUID]