N

Defn: N, the fourteenth letter of English alphabet, is a vocal consonent, and, in allusion to its mode of formation, is called the dentinasal or linguanasal consonent. Its commoner sound is that heard in ran, done; but when immediately followed in the same word by the sound of g hard or k (as in single, sink, conquer), it usually represents the same sound as the digraph ng in sing, bring, etc. This is a simple but related sound, and is called the gutturo-nasal consonent. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 243-246. The letter N came into English through the Latin and Greek from the Phoenician, which probably derived it from the Egyptian as the ultimate origin. It is etymologically most closely related to M. See M.

N N, n. (Print.)

Defn: A measure of space equal to half an M (or em); an en.

NA Na, a. & adv.

Defn: No, not. See No. [Obs.] Chaucer.

NAB Nab, n. Etym: [Cf. Knap, Knop, Knob.]

1. The summit of an eminence. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

2. (Firearms)

Defn: The cock of a gunlock. Knight.

3. (Locksmithing)

Defn: The keeper, or box into which the lock is shot. Knight.

NAB Nab, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nabbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Nabbing.] Etym: [Dan nappe, or Sw. nappa.]

Defn: To catch or seize suddenly or unexpectedly. [Colloq.] Smollett.

NABIT Na"bit, n.

Defn: Pulverized sugar candy. Crabb.

NABK Nabk, n. Etym: [Ar. nabiqa,nibqa.] (Bot.)

Defn: The edible berries of the Zizyphys Lotus, a tree of Northern Africa, and Southwestern Europe. [Written also nubk.] See Lotus (b), and Sadr.

NABOB Na"bob, n. Etym: [Hind. nawab, from Ar. nawab, pl. of na\'8bb a vicegerent, governor. Cf Nawab.]

1. A deputy or viceroy in India; a governor of a province of the ancient Mogul empire.

2. One who returns to Europe from the East with immense riches: hence, any man of great wealth. " A bilious old nabob." Macaulay.

NACARAT Nac"a*rat, n. Etym: [F. nacarat, fr. Sp. or Pg. nacarado, fr. nácar mother-of-pearl. See Nacre.]

1. A pale red color, with a cast of orange. Ure.

2. Fine linen or crape dyed of this color. Ure.

NACELLE Na*celle", n. [F.]

1. A small boat. [Obs.]

2. The basket suspended from a balloon; hence, the framework forming the body of a dirigible balloon, and containing the machinery, passengers, etc.

3. A boatlike, inclosed body of an aëroplane.

NACKER Nack"er, n.

Defn: See Nacre. Johnson.

NACRE Na"cre, n. Etym: [F., cf. Sp. nácara, nácar, It. nacchera, naccaro, LL. nacara, nacrum; of Oriental origin, cf. Ar. nakir hollowed.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A pearly substance which lines the interior of many shells, and is most perfect in the mother-of-pearl. [Written also nacker and naker.] See Pearl, and Mother-of-pearl.

NACREOUS Na"cre*ous, a. Etym: [See Nacre.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Consisting of, or resembling, nacre; pearly.

NAD; NADDE Nad, Nad"de. Etym: [Contr. fr. ne hadde.]

Defn: Had not. [Obs.] Chaucer.

NADDER Nad"der, n. Etym: [AS.nædre. See Adder.]

Defn: An adder. [Obs.] Chaucer.

NADIR Na"dir, n. Etym: [F., Sp., & It. nadir; all fr. Ar. nasiru's samt nadir, prop., the point opposite the zenith (as samt), in which nasir means alike, corresponding to. Cf. Azimuth, Zenith.]

1. That point of the heavens, or lower hemisphere, directly opposite the zenith; the inferior pole of the horizon; the point of the celestial sphere directly under the place where we stand.

2. The lowest point; the time of greatest depression. The seventh century is the nadir of the human mind in Europe. Hallam. Nadir of the sun (Astron.), the axis of the conical shadow projected by the earth. Crabb.

NAENIA Næ"ni*a, n.

Defn: See Nenia.

NAEVE Næve, n. Etym: [L. naevus.]

Defn: A nævus. [Obs.] Dryden.

NAEVOID Næ"void, a. Etym: [Nævus + -oid.]

Defn: Resembling a nævus or nævi; as, nævoid elephantiasis. Dunglison.

NAEVOSE Næ"vose`, a.

Defn: Spotted; frecled.

NAEVUS Næ"vus, n.; pl.Nævi (-vi). Etym: [L.] (Med.)

Defn: A spot or mark on the skin of children when born; a birthmark; — usually applied to vascular tumors, i. e., those consisting mainly of blood vessels, as dilated arteries, veins, or capillaries.

NAG Nag, n. Etym: [OE. nagge, D. negge; akin to E. neigh.]

1. A small horse; a pony; hence, any horse.

2. A paramour; — in contempt. [Obs.] Shak.

NAG Nag, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Nagged; p. pr. & vb. n. Nagging.] Etym: [Cf. Sw. nagga to nibble, peck, Dan. nage to gnaw, Icel. naga, gnaga, G. nagen, & E. gnaw.]

Defn: To tease in a petty way; to scold habitually; to annoy; to fret pertinaciously. [Colloq.] "She never nagged." J. Ingelow.

NAGANA Na*ga"na, n. [Prob. native name.] (Med.)

Defn: The disease caused by the tsetse fly. [South Africa]

NAGGING Nag"ging, a.

Defn: Fault-finding; teasing; persistently annoying; as, a nagging toothache. [Colloq.]

NAGGY Nag"gy a.

Defn: Irritable; touchy. [Colloq.]

NAGOR Na"gor, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A West African gazelle (Gazella redunca).

NAGYAGITE Nag"yag*ite, n. Etym: [So called from Nagyag, in Transylvania.] (Min.)

Defn: A mineral of blackish lead-gray color and metallic luster, generally of a foliated massive structure; foliated tellurium. It is a telluride of lead and gold.

NAIAD Na"iad, n. Etym: [L. naias, -adis, naïs, -idis, a water nymph, Gr naïade. Cf. Naid.]

1. (Myth.)

Defn: A water nymph; one of the lower female divinities, fabled to preside over some body of fresh water, as a lake, river, brook, or fountain.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of a tribe (Naiades) of freshwater bivalves, including Unio, Anodonta, and numerous allied genera; a river mussel.

3. (Zoöl)

Defn: One of a group of butterflies. See Nymph.

4. (Bot.)

Defn: Any plant of the order Naiadaceæ, such as eelgrass, pondweed, etc.

NAIANT Na"iant, a.

Defn: (Her.) See Natant. Crabb.

NAID Na"id, n. Etym: [See Naiad.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of small, fresh-water, chætopod annelids of the tribe Naidina. They belong to the Oligochæta.

NAIF Na"ïf` (formerly , a. Etym: [F. naïf. See Naïve.]

1. Having a true natural luster without being cut; — applied by jewelers to a precious stone.

2. Naïve; as, a naïf remark. London Spectator.

NAIK Na"ik, n. Etym: [Hind. nayak.]

Defn: A chief; a leader; a Sepoy corporal. Balfour (Cyc. of India).

NAIL Nail, n. Etym: [AS. nægel, akin to D. nagel, OS nagal, G. nagel, Icel. nagl, nail (in sense 1), nagli nail (in sense 3), Sw. nagel nail (in senses 1 and 3), Dan. nagle, Goth. ganagljan to nail, Lith. nagas nail (in sense 1), Russ. nogote, L. unguis, Gr. nakha.

1. (Anat.)

Defn: the horny scale of plate of epidermis at the end of the fingers and toes of man and many apes. His nayles like a briddes claws were. Chaucer.

Note: The nails are strictly homologous with hoofs and claws. When compressed, curved, and pointed, they are called talons or claws, and the animal bearing them is said to be unguiculate; when they incase the extremities of the digits they are called hoofs, and the animal is ungulate.

2. (Zoöl.) (a) The basal thickened portion of the anterior wings of certain hemiptera. (b) The terminal horny plate on the beak of ducks, and other allied birds.

3. A slender, pointed piece of metal, usually with a head, used for fastening pieces of wood or other material together, by being driven into or through them.

Note: The different sorts of nails are named either from the use to which they are applied, from their shape, from their size, or from some other characteristic, as shingle, floor, ship-carpenters', and horseshoe nails, roseheads, diamonds, fourpenny, tenpenny (see Penny), chiselpointed, cut, wrought, or wire nails, etc.

4. A measure of length, being two inches and a quarter, or the sixteenth of a yard. Nail ball (Ordnance), a round projectile with an iron bolt protruding to prevent it from turning in the gun. — Nail plate, iron in plates from which cut nails are made. — On the nail, in hand; on the spot; immediately; without delay or time of credit; as, to pay money on the nail. "You shall have ten thousand pounds on the nail." Beaconsfield. — To hit the nail on the head, to hit most effectively; to do or say a thing in the right way.

NAIL Nail, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nailed; p. pr. & vb. n. Nailing.] Etym: [AS. næglian. See Nail, n.]

1. To fasten with a nail or nails; to close up or secure by means of nails; as, to nail boards to the beams. He is now dead, and nailed in his chest. Chaucer.

2. To stud or boss with nails, or as with nails. The rivets of your arms were nailed with gold. Dryden.

3. To fasten, as with a nail; to bind or hold, as to a bargain or to acquiescence in an argument or assertion; hence, to catch; to trap. When they came to talk of places in town, you saw at once how I nailed them. Goldsmith.

4. To spike, as a cannon. [Obs.] Crabb. To nail a lie or an assertion, etc., to detect and expose it, so as to put a stop to its currency; — an expression probably derived from the former practice of shopkeepers, who were accustomed to nail bad or counterfeit pieces of money to the counter.

NAILBRUSH Nail"brush`, n.

Defn: A brush for cleaning the nails.

NAILER Nail"er, n.

1. One whose occupation is to make nails; a nail maker.

2. One who fastens with, or drives, nails.

NAILERESS Nail"er*ess, n.

Defn: A women who makes nailes.

NAILERY Nail"er*y, n.; pl. Naileries (.

Defn: A manufactory where nails are made.

NAIL-HEADED Nail"-head`ed, a.

Defn: Having a head like that of a nail; formed so as to resemble the head of a nail. Nail-headed characters, arrowheaded or cuneiform characters. See under Arrowheaded. — Nail-headed molding (Arch.), an ornament consisting of a series of low four-sided pyramids resembling the heads of large nails; — called also nail-head molding, or nail-head. It is the same as the simplest form of dogtooth. See Dogtooth.

NAILLESS Nail"less, a.

Defn: Without nails; having no nails.

NAINSOOK Nain`sook", n. Etym: [Nainsukh, a valley in Kaghan.]

Defn: A thick sort of jaconet muslin, plain or striped, formerly made in India.

NAIS Na"is, n. Etym: [L., a naiad.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Naiad.

NAISSANT Nais`sant", a. Etym: [F., p. pr. of naître to be born, L. nasci.] (Her.)

Defn: Same as Jessant.

NAIVE Na"ïve`, a. Etym: [F. naïf, fem. naïve, fr. L. nativus innate, natural, native. See Native, and cf. Naïf.]

Defn: Having native or unaffected simplicity; ingenuous; artless; frank; as, naïve manners; a naïve person; naïve and unsophisticated remarks.

NAIVELY Na"ïve`ly, adv.

Defn: In a naïve manner.

NAIVETE Na`ïve`té", n. Etym: [F. See Naïve, and cf. Nativity.]

Defn: Native simplicity; unaffected plainness or ingenuousness; artlessness. A story which pleases me by its naïveté — that is, by its unconscious ingenuousness. De Quincey.

NAIVETY Na"ïve`ty

Defn: , n. Naïveté. Carlyle.

NAKE Nake

Defn: ,v.t. To make naked. [Obs.] Chaucer. Come, be ready, nake your swords. Old Play.

NAKED Na"ked, a. Etym: [AS. nacod; akin to D. naakt, G. nackt, OHG. nacchot, nahhot, Icel. nökvi, nakinn, Sw. naken, Dan. nögen, Goth. naqa, Lith. n, Russ. nagii, L. nudus, Skr. nagna. sq. root266. Cf. Nude.]

1. Having no clothes on; uncovered; nude; bare; as, a naked body; a naked limb; a naked sword.

2. Having no means of defense or protection; open; unarmed; defenseless. Thy power is full naked. Chaucer. Behold my bosom naked to your swords. Addison.

3. Unprovided with needful or desirable accessories, means of sustenance, etc.; destitute; unaided; bare. Patriots who had exposed themselves for the public, and whom they say now left naked. Milton.

4. Without addition, exaggeration, or excuses; not concealed or disguised; open to view; manifest; plain. The truth appears so naked on my side, That any purblind eye may find it out. Shak. All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we to do. Heb. iv. 13.

5. Mere; simple; plain. The very naked name of love. Shak.

6. (Bot.)

Defn: Without pubescence; as, a naked leaf or stem; bare, or not covered by the customary parts, as a flower without a perianth, a stem without leaves, seeds without a pericarp, buds without bud scales.

7. (Mus.)

Defn: Not having the full complement of tones; — said of a chord of only two tones, which requires a third tone to be sounded with them to make the combination pleasing to the ear; as, a naked fourth or fifth. Naked bed, a bed the occupant of which is naked, no night linen being worn in ancient times. Shak. — Naked eye, the eye alone, unaided by glasses, or by telescope, microscope, or the like. — Naked-eyed medusa. (Zoöl.) See Hydromedusa. — Naked flooring (Carp.), the timberwork which supports a floor. Gwilt. — Naked mollusk (Zoöl.), a nudibranch. — Naked wood (Bot.), a large rhamnaceous tree (Colibrina reclinata) of Southern Florida and the West Indies, having a hard and heavy heartwood, which takes a fine polish. C. S. Sargent.

Syn. — Nude; bare; denuded; uncovered; unclothed; exposed; unarmed; plain; defenseless.

NAKEDLY Na"ked*ly, adv.

Defn: In a naked manner; without covering or disguise; manifestly; simply; barely.

NAKEDNESS Na"ked*ness, n.

1. The condition of being naked.

2. (Script.)

Defn: The privy parts; the genitals. Ham … saw the nakedness of his father. Gen. ix. 22.

NAKER Na"ker, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Nacre.

NAKER Na"ker, n. Etym: [OE. nakere, F. nakaire, LL. nacara, Per. naqaret.]

Defn: A kind of kettledrum. [Obs.] Chaucer.

NAKOO Na"koo, n. Etym: [From the native name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The gavial. [Written also nako.]

NALE Nale, n. Etym: [A corrupt form arising from the older "at þen ale" at the nale.]

Defn: Ale; also, an alehouse. [Obs.] Great feasts at the nale. Chaucer.

NALL Nall, n. Etym: [Either fr. Icel. nal (see Needle); or fr. awl, like newt fr. ewt.]

Defn: An awl. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Tusser.

NAM Nam. Etym: [Contr. fr. ne am.]

Defn: Am not. [Obs.]

NAM Nam, obs. imp.

Defn: of Nim. Chaucer.

NAMABLE Nam"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being named.

NAMATION Na*ma"tion, n. Etym: [LL. namare to take; cf. AS. niman to take.] (O. Eng. & Scots Law)

Defn: A distraining or levying of a distress; an impounding. Burrill.

NAMAYCUSH Nam"ay*cush, n. Etym: [Indian name.] (Zool.)

Defn: A large North American lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush). It is usually spotted with red, and sometimes weighs over forty pounds. Called also Mackinaw trout, lake trout, lake salmon, salmon trout, togue, and tuladi.

NAMBY-PAMBY Nam"by-pam`by, n. Etym: [From Ambrose Phillips, in ridicule of the extreme simplicity of some of his verses.]

Defn: Talk or writing which is weakly sentimental or affectedly pretty. Macaulay.

NAMBY-PAMBY Nam"by-pam`by, a.

Defn: Affectedly pretty; weakly sentimental; finical; insipid. Thackeray. Namby-pamby madrigals of love. W. Gifford.

NAME Name, n. Etym: [AS. nama; akin to D. naam, OS. & OHG. namo, G. name, Icel. nafn, for namn, Dan. navn, Sw. namn, Goth. namo, L. nomen (perh. influenced by noscere, gnoscere, to learn to know), Gr. 'o`mona, Scr. naman. sq. root267. Cf. Anonymous, Ignominy, Misnomer, Nominal, Noun.]

1. The title by which any person or thing is known or designated; a distinctive specific appellation, whether of an individual or a class. Whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. Gen. ii. 19. What's in a name That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet. Shak.

2. A descriptive or qualifying appellation given to a person or thing, on account of a character or acts. His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Is. ix. 6.

3. Reputed character; reputation, good or bad; estimation; fame; especially, illustrious character or fame; honorable estimation; distinction. What men of name resort to him Shak. Far above … every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. Eph. i. 21. I will get me a name and honor in the kingdom. 1 Macc. iii. 14. He hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin. Deut. xxii. 19. The king's army …had left no good name behind. Clarendon.

4. Those of a certain name; a race; a family. The ministers of the republic, mortal enemies of his name, came every day to pay their feigned civilities. Motley.

5. A person, an individual. [Poetic] They list with women each degenerate name. Dryden. Christian name. (a) The name a person receives at baptism, as distinguished from surname; baptismal name. (b) A given name, whether received at baptism or not. — Given name. See under Given. — In name, in profession, or by title only; not in reality; as, a friend in name. — In the name of. (a) In behalf of; by the authority of. " I charge you in the duke's name to obey me." Shak. (b) In the represented or assumed character of. " I'll to him again in name of Brook." Shak. — Name plate, a plate as of metal, glass, etc., having a name upon it, as a sign; a doorplate. — Pen name, a name assumed by an author; a pseudonym or nom de plume. Bayard Taylor. — Proper name (Gram.), a name applied to a particular person, place, or thing. — To call names, to apply opprobrious epithets to; to call by reproachful appellations. — To take a name in vain, to use a name lightly or profanely; to use a name in making flippant or dishonest oaths. Ex. xx. 7.

Syn. — Appellation; title; designation; cognomen; denomination; epithet. — Name, Appellation, Title, Denomination. Name is generic, denoting that combination of sounds or letters by which a person or thing is known and distinguished. Appellation, although sometimes put for name simply, denotes, more properly, a descriptive term, used by way of marking some individual peculiarity or characteristic; as, Charles the Bold, Philip the Stammerer. A title is a term employed to point out one's rank, office, etc.; as, the Duke of Bedford, Paul the Apostle, etc. Denomination is to particular bodies what appellation is to individuals; thus, the church of Christ is divided into different denominations, as Congregationalists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, etc.

NAME Name, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Named; p. pr. & vb. n. Naming.] Etym: [AS. namian. See Name, n.]

1. To give a distinctive name or appellation to; to entitle; to denominate; to style; to call. She named the child Ichabod. 1 Sam. iv. 21. Thus was the building left Ridiculous, and the work Confusion named. Milton.

2. To mention by name; to utter or publish the name of; to refer to by distinctive title; to mention. None named thee but to praise. Halleck. Old Yew, which graspest at the stones That name the underlying dead. Tennyson.

3. To designate by name or specifically for any purpose; to nominate; to specify; to appoint; as, to name a day for the wedding. Whom late you have named for consul. Shak.

4. (House of Commons)

Defn: To designate (a member) by name, as the Speaker does by way of reprimand.

Syn. — To denominate; style; term; call; mention; specify; designate; nominate.

NAMELESS Name"less, a.

1. Without a name; not having been given a name; as, a nameless star. Waller.

2. Undistinguished; not noted or famous. A nameless dwelling and an unknown name. Harte.

3. Not known or mentioned by name; anonymous; as, a nameless writer."Nameless pens." Atterbury.

4. Unnamable; indescribable; inexpressible. But what it is, that is not yet known; what I can not name; nameless woe,I wot. Shak. I have a nameless horror of the man. Hawthorne.

NAMELESSLY Name"less*ly, adv.

Defn: In a nameless manner.

NAMELY Name"ly, adv.

1. By name; by particular mention; specifically; especially; expressly. [Obs.] Chaucer. The solitariness of man …God hath namely and principally ordered to prevent by marriage. Milton.

2. That is to say; to wit; videlicet; — introducing a particular or specific designation. For the excellency of the soul, namely, its power of divining dreams; that several such divinations have been made, none Addison.

NAMER Nam"er, n.

Defn: One who names, or calls by name.

NAMESAKE Name"sake`, n. Etym: [For name's sake; i. e., one named for the sake of another's name.]

Defn: One that has the same name as another; especially, one called after, or named out of regard to, another.

NAMO Na*mo", adv.

Defn: No more. [Obs.] Chaucer.

NAN Nan, inerj. Etym: [For anan.]

Defn: Anan. [Prov. Eng.]

NANDINE Nan"dine, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An African carnivore (Nandinia binotata), allied to the civets. It is spotted with black.

NANDOU; NANDU Nan"dou, Nan"du, n. Etym: [Braz. nhandu or yandu.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of three species of South American ostriches of the genera Rhea and Pterocnemia. See Rhea. [Written also nandow.]

NANISM Na"nism, n. [Gr. + -ism: cf. F. nanisme.]

Defn: The condition of being abnormally small in stature; dwarfishness; — opposed to gigantism.

NANKEEN Nan*keen", n. Etym: [So called from its being originally manufactured at Nankin, in China.] [Written also nankin.]

1. A species of cloth, of a firm texture, originally brought from China, made of a species of cotton (Gossypium religiosum) that is naturally of a brownish yellow color quite indestructible and permanent.

2. An imitation of this cloth by artificial coloring.

3. pl.

Defn: Trousers made of nankeen. Ld. Lytton. Nankeen bird (Zoöl.), the Australian night heron (Nycticorax Caledonicus); — called also quaker.

NANNY Nan"ny, n.

Defn: A diminutive of Ann or Anne, the proper name. Nanny goat, a female goat. [Colloq.]

NANNYBERRY Nan"ny*ber`ry, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Sheepberry.

NANPIE Nan"pie, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The magpie.

NAOS Na"os, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Arch.)

Defn: A term used by modern archæologists instead of cella. See Cella.

NAP Nap, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Napped; p. pr. & vb. n. Napping.] Etym: [OE. nappen, AS. hn&ppian to take a nap, to slumber; cf. AS. hnipian to bend one's self, Icel. hnipna, hnipa, to droop.]

1. To have a short sleep; to be drowsy; to doze. Chaucer.

2. To be in a careless, secure state. Wyclif. I took thee napping, unprepared. Hudibras.

NAP Nap, n.

Defn: A short sleep; a doze; a siesta. Cowper.

NAP Nap, n. Etym: [OE. noppe, AS. hnoppa; akin to D. nop, Dan. noppe, LG. nobbe.]

1. Woolly or villous surface of felt, cloth, plants, etc.; an external covering of down, of short fine hairs or fibers forming part of the substance of anything, and lying smoothly in one direction; the pile; — as, the nap of cotton flannel or of broadcloth.

2. pl.

Defn: The loops which are cut to make the pile, in velvet. Knight.

NAP Nap, v. t.

Defn: To raise, or put, a nap on.

NAPE Nape, n. Etym: [Perh. akin to knap a knop.]

Defn: The back part of the neck. Spenser.

NAPE-CREST Nape"-crest`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An African bird of the genus Schizorhis, related to the plantain eaters.

NAPERY Na"per*y, n.; pl. Naperies. Etym: [OF. naperie, fr. nape a tablecloth, F. nappe, LL. napa, fr. L. mappa. See Map, and cf. Apron, Napkin.]

Defn: Table linen; also, linen clothing, or linen in general. [Obs.] Gayton.

NAPHA WATER Na"pha wa`ter. Etym: [Sp. nafa, from Ar. napha odor.]

Defn: A perfume distilled from orange flowers.

NAPHEW Na"phew, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Navew.

NAPHTHA Naph"tha, n. Etym: [L. naphtha, Gr. nafth, nifth.]

1. (Chem.)

Defn: The complex mixture of volatile, liquid, inflammable hydrocarbons, occurring naturally, and usually called crude petroleum, mineral oil, or rock oil. Specifically: That portion of the distillate obtained in the refinement of petroleum which is intermediate between the lighter gasoline and the heavier benzine, and has a specific gravity of about 0.7, — used as a solvent for varnishes, as a carburetant, illuminant, etc.

2. (Chem.)

Defn: One of several volatile inflammable liquids obtained by the distillation of certain carbonaceous materials and resembling the naphtha from petroleum; as, Boghead naphtha, from Boghead coal (obtained at Boghead, Scotland); crude naphtha, or light oil, from coal tar; wood naphtha, from wood, etc.

Note: This term was applied by the earlier chemical writers to a number of volatile, strong smelling, inflammable liquids, chiefly belonging to the ethers, as the sulphate, nitrate, or acetate of ethyl. Watts. Naphtha vitrioli Etym: [NL., naphtha of vitriol] (Old Chem.), common ethyl ether; — formerly called sulphuric ether. See Ether.

NAPHTHALATE Naph"tha*late, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of naphthalic acid; a phthalate. [Obs.]

NAPHTHALENE Naph"tha*lene, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A white crystalline aromatic hydrocarbon, C10H8, analogous to benzene, and obtained by the distillation of certain bituminous materials, such as the heavy oil of coal tar. It is the type and basis of a large number of derivatives among organic compounds. Formerly called also naphthaline. Naphthalene red (Chem.), a dyestuff obtained from certain diazo derivatives of naphthylamine, and called also magdala red. — Naphthalene yellow (Chem.), a yellow dyestuff obtained from certain nitro derivatives of naphthol.

NAPHTHALENIC Naph`tha*len"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to , or derived from, naphthalene; — used specifically to designate a yellow crystalline substance, called naphthalenic acid and also hydroxy quinone, and obtained from certain derivatives of naphthol.

NAPHTHALIC Naph*tha"lic, a. (Chem.) (a) Pertaining to, derived from, or related to, naphthalene; — used specifically to denote any one of a series of acids derived from naphthalene, and called naphthalene acids. (b) Formerly, designating an acid probably identical with phthalic acid.

NAPHTHALIDINE Naph*thal"i*dine, n. Etym: [Naphthalene + toluidine.] (Chem.)

Defn: Same as Naphthylamine.

NAPHTHALIN; NAPHTHALINE Naph"tha*lin, Naph"tha*line, n. Etym: [F. naphthaline.] (Chem.)

Defn: See Naphthalene.

NAPHTHALIZE Naph"tha*lize, v. t. (Chem.)

Defn: To mingle, saturate, or impregnate, with naphtha.

NAPHTHAZARIN Naph*thaz"a*rin, n. Etym: [Naphthalene + alizarin.] (Chem.)

Defn: A dyestuff, resembling alizarin, obtained from naphthoquinone as a red crystalline substance with a bright green, metallic luster; — called also naphthalizarin.

NAPHTHENE Naph"thene, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A peculiar hydrocarbon occuring as an ingredient of Caucasian petroleum.

NAPHTHIDE Naph"thide, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A compound of naphthalene or its radical with a metallic element; as, mercuric naphthide.

NAPHTHOIC Naph*tho"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or related to, naphthalene; — used specifically to designate any one of a series of carboxyl derivatives, called naphthoic acids.

NAPHTHOL Naph"thol, n. Etym: [Naphthalene + -ol.] (Chem.)

Defn: Any one of a series of hydroxyl derivatives of naphthalene, analogous to phenol. In general they are crystalline substances with a phenol (carbolic) odor. Naphthol blue, Naphthol orange, Naphthol yellow (Chem.), brilliant dyestuffs produced from certain complex nitrogenous derivatives of naphthol or naphthoquinone.

NAPHTHOQUINONE Naph`tho*qui"none, n. Etym: [Naphthalene + quinone.] (Chem.)

Defn: A yellow crystalline substance, C10H6O2, analogous to quinone, obtained by oxidizing naphthalene with chromic acid.

NAPHTHYL Naph"thyl, n. Etym: [Naphthalene + -yl.] (Chem.)

Defn: A hydrocarbon radical regarded as the essential residue of naphthalene.

NAPHTHYLAMINE Naph`thyl*am"ine, n. (Chem.)

Defn: One of two basic amido derivatives of naphthalene, C10H7.NH2, forming crystalline solids.

NAPIERIAN; NAPERIAN Na*pie"ri*an, Na*pe"ri*an ,, a.

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or discovered by, Napier, or Naper. Naperian logarithms. See under Logarithms.

NAPIER'S BONES; NAPIER'S RODS Na"pi*er's bones`, Na"pi*er's rods`.

Defn: A set of rods, made of bone or other material, each divided into nine spaces, and containing the numbers of a column of the multiplication table; — a contrivance of Baron Napier, the inventor of logarithms, for facilitating the operations of multiplication and division.

NAPIFORM Na"pi*form, a. Etym: [L. napus turnip + -form: cf. F. napiforme. Cf. Navew.] (Bot.)

Defn: Turnip-shaped; large and round in the upper part, and very slender below.

NAPKIN Nap"kin, n. Etym: [Dim. of OF. nape a tablecloth, cloth, F. nappe, L. mappa. See Napery.]

1. A little towel, or small cloth, esp. one for wiping the fingers and mouth at table.

2. A handkerchief. [Obs.] Shak. Napkin pattern. See Linen scroll, under Linen. — Napkin ring, a ring of metal, ivory, or other material, used to inclose a table napkin.

NAPLESS Nap"less, a.

Defn: Without nap; threadbare. Shak.

NAPLES YELLOW Na"ples yel"low.

Defn: See under Yellow.

NAPOLEON Na*po"le*on, n. Etym: [From the Emperor Napoleon 1.]

Defn: A French gold coin of twenty francs, or about $3.86.

NAPOLEONIC Na*po`le*on"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Napoleon I., or his family; resembling, or having the qualities of, Napoleon I. Lowell.

NAPOLEONIST Na*po"le*on*ist, n.

Defn: A supporter of the dynasty of the Napoleons.

NAPPE Nappe, n. Etym: [F. nappe cloth, sheet. See Napery.] (Geom.)

Defn: Sheet; surface; all that portion of a surface that is continuous in such a way that it is possible to pass from any one point of the portion to any other point of the portion without leaving the surface. Thus, some hyperboloids have one nappe, and some have two.

NAPPINESS Nap"pi*ness, n. Etym: [From 2d Nappy.]

Defn: The quality of having a nap; abundance of nap, as on cloth.

NAPPING Nap"ping, n.

1. The act or process of raising a nap, as on cloth.

2. (Hat Making)

Defn: A sheet of partially felted fur before it is united to the hat body. Knight.

NAPPY Nap"py, a. Etym: [From 1st Nap.]

1. Inclined to sleep; sleepy; as, to feel nappy.

2. Tending to cause sleepiness; serving to make sleepy; strong; heady; as, nappy ale. [Obs.] Wyatt.

NAPPY Nap"py, a. Etym: [From 3d Nap.]

Defn: Having a nap or pile; downy; shaggy. Holland.

NAPPY Nap"py, n.; pl. Nappies. Etym: [OE. nap, AS. hnæp cup, bowl. See Hanaper.]

Defn: A round earthen dish, with a flat bottom and sloping sides. [Written also nappie.]

NAP-TAKING Nap"-tak`ing, n.

Defn: A taking by surprise; an unexpected onset or attack. Carew.

NAPU Na*pu", n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A very small chevrotain (Tragulus Javanicus), native of Java. It is about the size of a hare, and is noted for its agility in leaping. Called also Java musk deer, pygmy musk deer, and deerlet.

NAPUS Na"pus, n. Etym: [L.] (Bot.)

Defn: A kind of turnip. See Navew.

NARCEINE Nar"ce*ine, n. Etym: [L. narce numbness, torpor, Gr. narcé\'8bne.] (Chem.)

Defn: An alkaloid found in small quantities in opium, and extracted as a white crystalline substance of a bitter astringent taste. It is a narcotic. Called also narceia.

NARCISSINE Nar*cis"sine, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Narcissus.

NARCISSUS Nar*cis"sus, n.; pl. Narcissuses. Etym: [L. narcissus, and (personified) Narcissus, Gr. na`rkissos, Na`rkissos, fr. na`rkh torpor, in allusion to the narcotic properties of the flower. Cf. Narcotic.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of endogenous bulbous plants with handsome flowers, having a cup-shaped crown within the six-lobed perianth, and comprising the daffodils and jonquils of several kinds.

2. (Classical Myth.)

Defn: A beautiful youth fabled to have been enamored of his own image as seen in a fountain, and to have been changed into the flower called Narcissus.

NARCOSIS Nar*co"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. na`rkwsis. See Narcotic.] (Med.)

Defn: Privation of sense or consciousness, due to a narcotic.

NARCOTIC Nar*cot"ic, a. Etym: [F. narcotique, Gr. na`rkh numbness, torpor.] (Med.)

Defn: Having the properties of a narcotic; operating as a narcotic. — Nar*cot"ic*ness, n.

NARCOTIC Nar*cot"ic, n. (Med.)

Defn: A drug which, in medicinal doses, generally allays morbid susceptibility, relieves pain, and produces sleep; but which, in poisonous doses, produces stupor, coma, or convulsions, and, when given in sufficient quantity, causes death. The best examples are opium (with morphine), belladonna (with atropine), and conium. Nercotykes and opye (opium) of Thebes. Chaucer.

NARCOTICAL Nar*cot"ic*al, a.

Defn: Narcotic. — Nar*cot"ic*al*ly, adv.

NARCOTINE Nar"co*tine, n. Etym: [Cf. F. narcotine. Cf. Cotarnine.] (Chem.)

Defn: An alkaloid found in opium, and extracted as a white crystalline substance, tasteless and less poisonous than morphine; — called also narcotia.

NARCOTINIC Nar`co*tin"ic, a.

Defn: Pertaining to narcotine.

NARCOTISM Nar"co*tism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. narcotisme.]

Defn: Narcosis; the state of being narcotized. G. Eliot.

NARCOTIZE Nar"co*tize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Narcotized; p. pr. & vb. n. Narcotizing.]

Defn: To imbue with, or subject to the influence of, a narcotic; to put into a state of narcosis.

NARD Nard, n. Etym: [AS., fr. L. nardus, Gr. nêrd, Per. nard, Scr. nalada.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: An East Indian plant (Nardostachys Jatamansi) of the Valerian family, used from remote ages in Oriental perfumery.

2. An ointment prepared partly from this plant. See Spikenard.

3. (Bot.)

Defn: A kind of grass (Nardus stricta) of little value, found in Europe and Asia.

NARDINE Nard"ine, a. Etym: [L. nardinus, Gr.

Defn: Of or pertaining to nard; having the qualities of nard.

NARDOO Nar*doo", n. (Bot.)

Defn: An Australian name for Marsilea Drummondii, a four-leaved cryptogamous plant, sometimes used for food.

NARE Nare, n. Etym: [L. naris.]

Defn: A nostril. [R.] B. Jonson.

NARES Na"res, n. pl. Etym: [L., pl. of naris nostril.] (Anat.)

Defn: The nostrils or nasal openings, — the anterior nares being the external or proper nostrils, and the posterior nares, the openings of the nasal cavities into the mouth or pharynx.

NARGILE; NARGILEH Nar"gile, Nar"gi*leh, n. Etym: [Per. narghil, prop., a cocoanut; prob. so called because first made of a cocoanut.]

Defn: An apparatus for smoking tobacco. It has a long flexible tube, and the smoke is drawn through water.

NARICA Nar"i*ca, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The brown coati. See Coati.

NARIFORM Nar"i*form, a. Etym: [L. naris nostril + -form. See Nose.]

Defn: Formed like the nose.

NARINE Nar"ine, a.

Defn: Of or belonging to the nostrils.

NARRABLE Nar"ra*ble, a. Etym: [L. narrabilis, fr. narrare to narrate.]

Defn: Capable of being narrated or told. [Obs.]

NARRAGANSETTS Nar`ra*gan"setts, n. pl.; sing. Narragansett (. (Ethnol.)

Defn: A tribe of Indians who formerly inhabited the shores of Narragansett Bay.

NARRATE Nar*rate", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Narrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Narrating.] Etym: [L. narratus, p. p. of narrare to narrate, prob. for gnarigare, fr. gnarus knowing. See Ignore, Know.]

Defn: To tell, rehearse, or recite, as a story; to relate the particulars of; to go through with in detail, as an incident or transaction; to give an account of.

Syn. — To relate; recount; detail; describe.

NARRATION Nar*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. narratio: cf. F. narration.]

1. The act of telling or relating the particulars of an event; rehearsal; recital.

2. That which is related; the relation in words or writing of the particulars of any transaction or event, or of any series of transactions or events; story; history.

3. (Rhet.)

Defn: That part of a discourse which recites the time, manner, or consequences of an action, or simply states the facts connected with the subject.

Syn. — Account; recital; rehearsal; relation; description; explanation; detail; narrative; story; tale; history. See Account.

NARRATIVE Nar"ra*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. narratif.]

1. Of or pertaining to narration; relating to the particulars of an event or transaction.

2. Apt or inclined to relate stories, or to tell particulars of events; story-telling; garrulous. But wise through time, and narrative with age. Pope.

NARRATIVE Nar"ra*tive, n.

Defn: That which is narrated; the recital of a story; a continuous account of the particulars of an event or transaction; a story. Cyntio was much taken with my narrative. Tatler.

Syn. — Account; recital; rehearsal; relation; narration; story; tale. See Account.

NARRATIVELY Nar"ra*tive*ly, adv.

Defn: In the style of narration.

NARRATOR Nar*ra"tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: One who narrates; one who relates a series of events or transactions.

NARRATORY Nar"ra*to*ry, a.

Defn: Giving an account of events; narrative; as, narratory letters. Howell.

NARRE Narre, a.

Defn: Nearer. [Obs.] Spenser.

NARROW Nar"row, a. [Compar. Narrower; superl. Narrowest.] Etym: [OE. narwe, naru, AS. nearu; akin to OS. naru, naro.]

1. Of little breadth; not wide or broad; having little distance from side to side; as, a narrow board; a narrow street; a narrow hem. Hath passed in safety through the narrow seas. Shak.

2. Of little extent; very limited; circumscribed. The Jews were but a small nation, and confined to a narrow compass in the world. Bp. Wilkins.

3. Having but a little margin; having barely sufficient space, time, or number, etc.; close; near; — with special reference to some peril or misfortune; as, a narrow shot; a narrow escape; a narrow majority. Dryden.

4. Limited as to means; straitened; pinching; as, narrow circumstances.

5. Contracted; of limited scope; illiberal; bigoted; as, a narrow mind; narrow views. "A narrow understanding." Macaulay.

6. Parsimonious; niggardly; covetous; selfish. A very narrow and stinted charity. Smalridge.

7. Scrutinizing in detail; close; accurate; exact. But first with narrow search I must walk round This garden, and no corner leave unspied. Milton.

8. (Phon.)

Defn: Formed (as a vowel) by a close position of some part of the tongue in relation to the palate; or (according to Bell) by a tense condition of the pharynx; — distinguished from wide; as e (eve) and oo (food), etc., from ì (ìll) and oo (foot), etc. See Guide to Pronunciation, § 13.

Note: Narrow is not unfrequently prefixed to words, especially to participles and adjectives, forming compounds of obvious signification; as, narrow-bordered, narrow-brimmed, narrow-breasted, narrow-edged, narrow-faced, narrow-headed, narrow-leaved, narrow- pointed, narrow-souled, narrow-sphered, etc. Narrow gauge. (Railroad) See Note under Gauge, n., 6.

NARROW Nar"row, n.; pl. Narrows (.

Defn: A narrow passage; esp., a contracted part of a stream, lake, or sea; a strait connecting two bodies of water; — usually in the plural; as, The Narrows of New York harbor. Near the island lay on one side the jaws of a dangerous narrow. Gladstone.

NARROW Nar"row, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Narrowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Narrowing.] Etym: [AS. nearwian.]

1. To lessen the breadth of; to contract; to draw into a smaller compass; to reduce the width or extent of. Sir W. Temple.

2. To contract the reach or sphere of; to make less liberal or more selfish; to limit; to confine; to restrict; as, to narrow one's views or knowledge; to narrow a question in discussion. Our knowledge is much more narrowed if we confine ourselves to our own solitary reasonings. I. Watts.

3. (Knitting)

Defn: To contract the size of, as a stocking, by taking two stitches into one.

NARROW Nar"row, v. i.

1. To become less broad; to contract; to become narrower; as, the sea narrows into a strait.

2. (Man.)

Defn: Not to step out enough to the one hand or the other; as, a horse narrows. Farrier's Dict.

3. (Knitting)

Defn: To contract the size of a stocking or other knit article, by taking two stitches into one.

NARROWER Nar"row*er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, narrows or contracts. Hannah More.

NARROWING Nar"row*ing, n.

1. The act of contracting, or of making or becoming less in breadth or extent.

2. The part of a stocking which is narrowed.

NARROWLY Nar"row*ly, adv. Etym: [AS. nearulice.]

1. With little breadth; in a narrow manner.

2. Without much extent; contractedly.

3. With minute scrutiny; closely; as, to look or watch narrowly; to search narrowly.

4. With a little margin or space; by a small distance; hence, closely; hardly; barely; only just; — often with reference to an avoided danger or misfortune; as, he narrowly escaped.

5. Sparingly; parsimoniously.

NARROW-MINDED Nar"row-mind`ed, a.

Defn: Of narrow mental scope; illiberal; mean. — Nar"row-mind`ed*ness, n.

NARROWNESS Nar"row*ness, n. Etym: [AS. nearunes.]

Defn: The condition or quality of being narrow.

NART Nart. Etym: [For ne art.]

Defn: Art not. [Obs.] Chaucer.

NARTHEX Nar"thex, n. Etym: [L., giant fennel, Gr.

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A tall umbelliferous plant (Ferula communis). See Giant fennel, under Fennel.

2. (Arch.)

Defn: The portico in front of ancient churches; sometimes, the atrium or outer court surrounded by ambulatories; — used, generally, for any vestibule, lobby, or outer porch, leading to the nave of a church.

NARWAL Nar"wal, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Narwhal.

NARWE Nar"we, a.

Defn: Narrow. [Obs.] Chaucer.

NARWHAL Nar"whal, n. Etym: [Sw. or Dan. narvhal; akin to Icel. nahvalr, and E. whale. the first syllable is perh. from Icel. nar corpse, dead body, in allusion to the whitish color its skin. See Whale.] [Written also narwhale.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An arctic cetacean (Monodon monocerous), about twenty feet long. The male usually has one long, twisted, pointed canine tooth, or tusk projecting forward from the upper jaw like a horn, whence it is called also sea unicorn, unicorn fish, and unicorn whale. Sometimes two horns are developed, side by side.

NAS Nas. Etym: [For ne was.]

Defn: Was not. [Obs.] Chaucer.

NAS Nas. Etym: [Contr. fr. ne has.]

Defn: Has not. [Obs.] Spenser.

NASAL Na"sal, a. Etym: [F., from L. nasus the nose. See Nose.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the nose.

2. (Phon.)

Defn: Having a quality imparted by means of the nose; and specifically, made by lowering the soft palate, in some cases with closure of the oral passage, the voice thus issuing (wholly or partially) through the nose, as in the consonants m, n, ng (see Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 20, 208); characterized by resonance in the nasal passage; as, a nasal vowel; a nasal utterance. Nasal bones (Anat.), two bones of the skull, in front of the frontals. — Nasal index (Anat.), in the skull, the ratio of the transverse the base of the aperture to the nasion, which latter distance is taken as the standard, equal to 100.

NASAL Na"sal, n.

1. An elementary sound which is uttered through the nose, or through both the nose and the mouth simultaneously.

2. (Med.)

Defn: A medicine that operates through the nose; an errhine. [Archaic]

3. (Anc. Armor)

Defn: Part of a helmet projecting to protect the nose; a nose guard.

4. (Anat.)

Defn: One of the nasal bones.

5. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A plate, or scale, on the nose of a fish, etc.

NASALITY Na*sal"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. nasalité.]

Defn: The quality or state of being nasal.

NASALIZATION Na`sal*i*za"tion, n.

Defn: The act of nasalizing, or the state of being nasalized.

NASALIZE Na"sal*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nasalized; p. pr. & vb. n. Nasalizing.]

Defn: To render nasal, as sound; to insert a nasal or sound in.

NASALIZE Na"sal*ize, v. t.

Defn: To utter words or letters with a nasal sound; to speak through the nose.

NASALLY Na"sal*ly, adv.

Defn: In a nasal manner; by the nose.

NASCAL Nas"cal, n. Etym: [F. nascale.] (Med.)

Defn: A kind of pessary of medicated wool or cotton, formerly used.

NASCENCY Nas"cen*cy, n. Etym: [L. nascentia. See Nascent.]

Defn: State of being nascent; birth; beginning; origin.

NASCENT Nas"cent, a. Etym: [L. nascens, -entis, p.pr. nasci to be born. See Nation, and cf. Naissant.]

1. Commencing, or in process of development; beginning to exist or to grow; coming into being; as, a nascent germ. Nascent passions and anxieties. Berkley.

2. (Chem.)

Defn: Evolving; being evolved or produced. Nascent state (Chem.), the supposed instantaneous or momentary state of an uncombined atom or radical just separated from one compound acid, and not yet united with another, — a hypothetical condition implying peculiarly active chemical properties; as, hydrogen in the nascent state is a strong reducer.

NASEBERRY Nase"ber`ry, n. Etym: [Sp. nispero medlar and naseberry tree, fr. L. mespilus. See Medlar.] (Bot.)

Defn: A tropical fruit. See Sapodilla. [Written also nisberry.]

NASH Nash, a. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]

Defn: Firm; stiff; hard; also, chilly. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

NASICORNOUS Nas`i*cor"nous, a. Etym: [L. nasus nose + cornu horn: cf. F. nasicorne.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Bearing a horn, or horns, on the nose, as the rhinoceros.

NASIFORM Nas"i*form, a. Etym: [L. nasus nose + -form. See Nose, and cf. Nariform.]

Defn: Having the shape of a nose.

NASION Na*si*on, n. Etym: [Nl., fr. L. nasus nose.] (Anat.)

Defn: The middle point of the nasofrontal suture.

NASO- Na"so- (. Etym: [L. nasus nose.] (Anat.)

Defn: A combining form denoting pertaining to, or connected with, the nose; as, nasofrontal.

NASOBUCCAL Na"so*buc"cal, a. Etym: [Naso + buccal.] (Anat.)

Defn: Connected with both the nose and the mouth; as, the nasobuccal groove in the skate.

NASOFRONTAL Na`so*fron"tal, a. Etym: [Naso- + frontal.] (Anat.)

Defn: of or pertaining to the nose and the front of the head; as, the embryonic nasofrontal process which forms the anterior boundary of the mouth.

NASOLACHRYMAL Na`so*lach"ry*mal, a. Etym: [Naso- + lachrymal.] (Anat.)

Defn: Connected with the lachrymal apparatus and the nose; as, the nasolachrymal, or lachrymal duct.

NASOPALATAL; NASOPALATINE Na`so*pal"a*tal, Na`so*pal"a*tine, a. Etym: [Naso- + palatal.] (Anat.)

Defn: Connected with both the nose and the palate; as, the nasopalatine or incisor, canal connecting the mouth and the nasal chamber in some animals; the nasopalatine nerve.

NASOPHARYNGEAL Na`so*phar`yn*ge"al ( or , a. Etym: [Naso- + pharyngeal.] (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to both throat and nose; as, a nasopharyngeal polypus.

NASOSEPTAL Na`so*sep"tal, a. Etym: [Naso- + septal.] (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the internasal septum.

NASOTURBINAL Na`so*tur"bi*nal, a. Etym: [Naso- + turbinal.] (Anat.)

Defn: Connected with, or near, both the turbinal and the nasal bones; as, the nasalturbinal bone, made up of the uppermost lammelæ of the ethmoturbinal, and sometimes united with the nasal. — n.

Defn: The nasoturbinal bone.

NASSA Nas"sa, n.; pl. E. Nassas, L. NassÆ. Etym: [From L. nassa a kind of basket, in allusion to the reticulation of some species.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of marine gastropods, of the genera Nassa, Tritia, and other allied genera of the family Nassidæ; a dog whelk. See Illust. under Gastropoda. — nas"soid, a.

NASTILY Nas"ti*ly, adv.

Defn: In a nasty manner.

NASTINESS Nas"ti*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being nasty; extreme filthness; dirtiness; also, indecency; obscenity. The nastiness of Plautus and Aristophanes. Dryden.

NASTURTION Nas*tur"tion, n. Etym: [See Nasturtium.] (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Nasturtium.

NASTURTIUM Nas*tur"tium, n. Etym: [L. nasturtium, for nasitortium, fr. nasus nose + torquere, tortum, to twist, torture, in allusion to the causing one to make a wry face by its pungent taste. See Nose of the face, and Torture.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of cruciferous plants, having white or yellowish flowers, including several species of cress. They are found chiefly in wet or damp grounds, and have a pungent biting taste.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Any plant of the genus Tropæolum, geraniaceous herbs, having mostly climbing stems, peltate leaves, and spurred flowers, and including the common Indian cress (Tropæolum majus), the canary-bird flower (T. peregrinum), and about thirty more species, all natives of South America. The whole plant has a warm pungent flavor, and the fleshy fruits are used as a substitute for capers, while the leaves and flowers are sometimes used in salads.

NASTY Nas"ty, a. [Compar. Nastier (; superl. Nastiest.] Etym: [For older nasky; cf. dial. Sw. naskug, nasket.]

1. Offensively filthy; very dirty, foul, or defiled; disgusting; nauseous.

2. Hence, loosely: Offensive; disagreeable; unpropitious; wet; drizzling; as, a nasty rain, day, sky.

3. Characterized by obcenity; indecent; indelicate; gross; filthy.

Syn. — Nasty, Filthy, Foul, Dirty. Anything nasty is usually wet or damp as well as filthy or dirty, and disgusts by its stickness or odor; but filthy and foul imply that a thing is filled or covered with offensive matter, while dirty describes it as defiled or sullied with dirt of any kind; as, filthy clothing, foul vapors, etc.

NASUTE Na"sute, a. Etym: [L. nasutus, fr. nasus the nose.]

1. Having a nice sense of smell. [Obs.] Evelyn.

2. Critically nice; captious. [Obs.] auden.

NASUTNESS Na"sut*ness, n.

Defn: Quickness of scent; hence, nice discernment; acuteness. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

NAT Nat, adv.

Defn: Not. [Obs.] Chaucer.

NAT Nat Etym: [For ne at.]

Defn: Not at; nor at. [Obs.] haucer.

NATAL Na"tal, a. Etym: [L. natalis, fr. natus, p.p. of nasci to be born: cf. F. natal. See Nation, and cf. Noel.]

1. Of or pertaining to one's birth; accompying or dating from one's birth; native. Princes' children took names from their natal places. Camden. Propitious star, whose sacred power Presided o'er the monarch's natal hour. Prior.

2. (Actrol.)

Defn: Presiding over nativity; as, natal Jove.

Syn. — Native, natural. See Native.

NATAL BOIL Na*tal" boil. (Med.)

Defn: = Aleppo boil.

NATALITIAL; NATALITIOUS Na`ta*li"tial, Na`ta*li"tious, a. Etym: [L. natalitius, from natalis. See Natal.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to one's birth or birthday, or one's nativity. [Obs.] "Natalitial poplar." Evelyn. "Natalitious fire." W. Cartwright.

NATALOIN Na*tal"o*in, n. Etym: [From Natal aloes.] (Chem.)

Defn: A bitter crystalline substance constituting the essential principle of Natal aloes. Cf. Aloon.

NATAL PLUM Na*tal" plum`. (Bot.)

Defn: The drupaceous fruit of two South African shrubs of the genus Arduina (A. bispinosa and A. grandiflora).

NATALS Na"tals, n. pl.

Defn: One's birth, or the circumstances attending it. [Obs.] Fitz- Geffry.

NATANT Na"tant, a. Etym: [L. natans, -antis, from swim, v. intens. fr. nare to swim: cf. F. natant.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: Floating in water, as the leaves of water lilies, or submersed, as those of many aquatic plants.

2. (Her.)

Defn: Placed horizontally across the field, as if swimming toward the dexter side; said of all sorts of fishes except the flying fish.

NATANTLY Na"tant*ly, adv.

Defn: In a floating manner; swimmingly.

NATATION Na*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. natatio, fr. natare to swim: cf. F. natation. See Natant.]

Defn: The act of floating on the water; swimming. Sir T. Browne.

NATATORES Na`ta*to"res, n. pl. Etym: [L. natator a swimmer.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The swimming birds.

Note: They were formerly united into one order, which is now considered an artifical group.

NATATORIAL Na`ta*to"rial, a.

Defn: Inclined or adapted to swim; swimming; as, natatorial birds.

NATATORIOUS Na`ta*to"ri*ous, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Adapted for swimming; — said of the legs of certain insects.

NATATORIUM Na`ta*to"rium, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: A swimming bath.

NATATORY Na"ta*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. natatorius.]

Defn: Adapted for swimming or floating; as, natatory organs.

NATCH Natch, n. Etym: [OF. nache fesse, LL. natica, from L. natis the rump, buttocks. Cf. Aitchbone.]

Defn: The rump of beef; esp., the lower and back part of the rump. Natch bone, the edgebone, or aitchbone, in beef.

NATCHEZ Natch"ez, n. pl. (Ethnol.)

Defn: A tribe of Indians who formerly lived near the site of the city of Natchez, Mississippi. In 1729 they were subdued by the French; the survivors joined the Creek Confederacy.

NATCHNEE Natch"nee, n. (Bot.)

Defn: An annual grass (Eleusine coracona), cultivated in India as a food plant.

NATES Na"tes, n. pl. Etym: [L., the buttocks.]

1. (Anat.) (a) The buttocks. (b) The two anterior of the four lobes on the dorsal side of the midbrain of most mammals; the anterior optic lobes.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The umbones of a bivalve shell.

NATH Nath. Etym: [Contr. fr. ne hath,]

Defn: hath not. [Obs.]

NATHLESS Nath"less, adv. Etym: [OE. natheles, na the les, not the less, AS. na never. See Na, The, conj., and cf. Nevertheless.]

Defn: Nevertheless. [Archaic] Chaucer. Milton. E. Arnold.

NATHMORE Nath"more`, adv. Etym: [OE. na the more.]

Defn: Not the more; never the more. [Obs.] penser.

NATICA Nat"i*ca, n.; pl. Naticas (, L. NaticÆ (. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of marine gastropods belonging to Natica, Lunatia, Neverita, and other allied genera (family Naticidæ.) They burrow beneath the sand, or mud, and drill other shells.

NATICOID Nat"i*coid, a. Etym: [Natica + -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like or belonging to Natica, or the family Naticæ.

NATION Na"tion, n. Etym: [F. nation, L. natio nation, race, orig., a being born, fr. natus, p.p. of nasci, to be born, for gnatus, gnaci, from the same root as E. kin. *44. See Kin kindred, and cf. Cognate, Natal, Native.]

1. (Ethnol.)

Defn: A part, or division, of the people of the earth, distinguished from the rest by common descent, language, or institutions; a race; a stock. All nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues. Rev. vii. 9.

2. The body of inhabitants of a country, united under an independent government of their own. A nation is the unity of a people. Coleridge. Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation. F. S. Key.

3. Family; lineage. [Obs.] Chaucer.

4. (a) One of the divisions of university students in a classification according to nativity, formerly common in Europe. (b) (Scotch Universities) One of the four divisions (named from the parts of Scotland) in which students were classified according to their nativity.

5. A great number; a great deal; — by way of emphasis; as, a nation of herbs. Sterne. Five nations. See under Five. — Law of nations. See International law, under International, and Law.

Syn. — people; race. See People.

NATIONAL Na"tion*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. national.]

1. Of or pertaining to a nation; common to a whole people or race; public; general; as, a national government, language, dress, custom, calamity, etc.

2. Attached to one's own country or nation. National anthem, a popular song or hymn which has become by general acceptance the recognized musical expression of the patriotic sentiment of a nation; as, "God save the King" is called the national anthem of England. — National bank, the official common name of a class of banking corporations established under the laws of the United States. — National flag. See under Flag. — National guard, a body of militia, or a local military organization, as in Paris during the French Revolution, or as certain bodies of militia in other European countries and in the United States. — National salute, a salute consisting of as many guns as there are States in the Union. [U.S.]

NATIONALISM Na"tion*al*ism, n.

1. The state of being national; national attachment; nationality.

2. An idiom, trait, or character peculiar to any nation.

3. National independence; the principles of the Nationalists.

NATIONALIST Na"tion*al*ist, n.

Defn: One who advocates national unity and independence; one of a party favoring Irish independence.

NATIONALITY Na`tion*al"i*ty, n.; pl. Nationalities. Etym: [Cf. F. nationalité.]

1. The quality of being national, or strongly attached to one's own nation; patriotism.

2. The sum of the qualities which distinguish a nation; national character.

3. A race or people, as determined by common language and character, and not by political bias or divisions; a nation. the fulfillment of his mission is to be looked for in the condition of nationalities and the character of peoples. H. W. Beecher.

4. Existence as a distinct or individual nation; national unity and integrity.

5. The state or quality of belonging to or being connected with a nation or government by nativity, character, ownership, allegiance, etc.

NATIONALIZATION Na`tion*al*i*za"tion, n.

Defn: The act of nationalizing, or the state of being nationalized.

NATIONALIZE Na"tion*al*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nationalized; p. pr. & vb. n. Nationalizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. nationaliser.]

Defn: To make national; to make a nation of; to endow with the character and habits of a nation, or the peculiar sentiments and attachment of citizens of a nation.

NATIONALLY Na"tion*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a national manner or way; as a nation. "The jews … being nationally espoused to God by covenant." South.

NATIONALNESS Na"tion*al*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being national; nationality. Johnson.

NATIONALRATH Na`ti*o*nal"rath`, n. [G.] (Switzerland)

Defn: See Legislature.

NATIVE Na"tive, a. Etym: [F. natif, L. nativus, fr. nasci, p.p. natus. See Nation, and cf. Naïve, Nelf a serf.]

1. Arising by birth; having an origin; born. [Obs.] Anaximander's opinion is, that the gods are native, rising and vanishing again in long periods of times. Cudworth.

2. Of or pertaining to one's birth; natal; belonging to the place or the circumstances in which one is born; — opposed to foreign; as, native land, language, color, etc.

3. Born in the region in which one lives; as, a native inhabitant, race; grown or originating in the region where used or sold; not foreign or imported; as, native oysters, or strawberries.

4. Original; constituting the original substance of anything; as, native dust. Milton.

5. Conferred by birth; derived from origin; born with one; inherent; inborn; not acquired; as, native genius, cheerfulness, simplicity, rights, etc. Courage is native to you. Jowett (Thucyd. ).

6. Naturally related; cognate; connected (with). [R.] the head is not more native to the heart, … Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father. Shak.

7. (Min.) (a) Found in nature uncombined with other elements; as, native silver. (b) Found in nature; not artificial; as native sodium chloride. Native American party. See under American, a. — Native bear (Zoöl.), the koala. — Native bread (Bot.), a large underground fungus, of Australia (Mylitta australis), somewhat resembling a truffle, but much larger. — Native devil. (Zoöl.) Same as Tasmanian devil, under Devil. — Native hen (Zoöl.), an Australian rail (Tribonyx Mortierii). — Native pheasant. (Zoöl.) See Leipoa. — Native rabbit (Zoöl.), an Australian marsupial (Perameles lagotis) resembling a rabbit in size and form. — Native sloth (Zoöl.), the koala. — Native thrush (Zoöl.), an Australian singing bird (Pachycephala olivacea); — called also thickhead. — Native turkey (Zoöl.), the Australian bustard (Choriotis australis); — called also bebilya.

Syn. — Natural; natal; original; congential. — Native, Natural, Natal. natural refers to the nature of a thing, or that which springs therefrom; native, to one's birth or origin; as, a native country, language, etc.; natal, to the circumstances of one's birth; as, a natal day, or star. Native talent is that which is inborn; natural talent is that which springs from the structure of the mind. Native eloquence is the result of strong innate emotion; natural eloquence is opposed to that which is studied or artifical.

NATIVE Na"tive, n.

1. One who, or that which, is born in a place or country referred to; a denizen by birth; an animal, a fruit, or vegetable, produced in a certain region; as, a native of France.

2. (Stock Breeding)

Defn: Any of the live stock found in a region, as distinguished from such as belong to pure and distinct imported breeds. [U.S.]

NATIVELY Na"tive*ly, adv.

Defn: By natural or original condition; naturally; originally.

NATIVENESS Na"tive*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being native.

NATIVE STEEL Na"tive steel.

Defn: A sort of steel which has been found where a burning coal seam had reduced and carbonized adjacent iron ore.

NATIVISM Na"tiv*ism, n.

1. The disposition to favor the native inhabitants of a country, in preference to immigrants from foreign countries.

2. (Philos.)

Defn: The doctrine of innate ideas, or that the mind possesses forms of thought independent of sensation.

NATIVIST Na"tiv*ist, n.

Defn: An advocate of nativism.

NATIVISTIC Na`tiv*is"tic, a.

Defn: Relating to nativism.

NATIVITY Na*tiv"i*ty, n.; pl. Nativies. Etym: [F. nativité, L. nativitas. See Native, and cf. NaïvetÉ.]

1. The coming into life or into the world; birth; also, the circumstances attending birth, as time, place, manner, etc. Chaucer. I have served him from the hour of my nativity. Shak. Thou hast left … the land of thy nativity. Ruth ii. 11. These in their dark nativity the deep Shall yield us, pregnant with infernal flame. Milton.

2. (Fine Arts)

Defn: A picture representing or symbolizing the early infancy of Christ. The simplest form is the babe in a rude cradle, and the heads of an ox and an ass to express the stable in which he was born.

3. (Astrol.)

Defn: A representation of the positions of the heavenly bodies as the moment of one's birth, supposed to indicate his future destinies; a horoscope. The Nativity, the birth or birthday of Christ; Christmas day. — To cast, or calculate, one's nativity (Astrol.), to find out and represent the position of the heavenly bodies at the time of one's birth.

NATKA Nat"ka, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A species of shrike.

NATRIUM Na"tri*um, n. Etym: [NL. See Natron.] (Chem.)

Defn: The technical name for sodium.

NATROLITE Na"tro*lite, n. Etym: [Natron + -lite: cf. F. natrolithe.] (Min.)

Defn: A zeolite occuring in groups of glassy acicular crystals, and in masses which often have a radiated structure. It is a hydrous silicate of alumina and soda.

NATRON Na"tron, n. Etym: [F., fr. Sp. natron, Ar. natrun, nitrun. Cf. Niter, Anatron.] (Min.)

Defn: Native sodium carbonate. [Written also anatron.]

NATTER Nat"ter, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Icel. knetta to grumble.]

Defn: To find fault; to be peevish. [Prov. Eng. or Scot.]

NATTERJACK Nat"ter*jack`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A European toad (Bufo calamita), having a yellow line along its back.

NATTY Nat"ty, a. Etym: [Cf. Neat clean.]

Defn: Neat; tidy; spruce. [Colloq.] — Nat"ti*ly, adv. — Nat"ti*ness, n.

NATURAL Nat"u*ral, a. Etym: [OE. naturel, F. naturel, fr. L. naturalis, fr. natura. See Nature.]

1. Fixed or determined by nature; pertaining to the constitution of a thing; belonging to native character; according to nature; essential; characteristic; not artifical, foreign, assumed, put on, or acquired; as, the natural growth of animals or plants; the natural motion of a gravitating body; natural strength or disposition; the natural heat of the body; natural color. With strong natural sense, and rare force of will. Macaulay.

2. Conformed to the order, laws, or actual facts, of nature; consonant to the methods of nature; according to the stated course of things, or in accordance with the laws which govern events, feelings, etc.; not exceptional or violent; legitimate; normal; regular; as, the natural consequence of crime; a natural death. What can be more natural than the circumstances in the behavior of those women who had lost their husbands on this fatal day Addison.

3. Having to do with existing system to things; dealing with, or derived from, the creation, or the world of matter and mind, as known by man; within the scope of human reason or experience; not supernatural; as, a natural law; natural science; history, theology. I call that natural religion which men might know … by the mere principles of reason, improved by consideration and experience, without the help of revelation. Bp. Wilkins.

4. Conformed to truth or reality; as: (a) Springing from true sentiment; not artifical or exaggerated; — said of action, delivery, etc.; as, a natural gesture, tone, etc. (b) Resembling the object imitated; true to nature; according to the life; — said of anything copied or imitated; as, a portrait is natural.

5. Having the character or sentiments properly belonging to one's position; not unnatural in feelings. To leave his wife, to leave his babes, … He wants the natural touch. Shak.

6. Connected by the ties of consanguinity. "Natural friends." J. H. Newman.

7. Begotten without the sanction of law; born out of wedlock; illegitimate; bastard; as, a natural child.

8. Of or pertaining to the lower or animal nature, as contrasted with the higher or moral powers, or that which is spiritual; being in a state of nature; unregenerate. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God. 1 Cor. ii. 14.

9. (Math.)

Defn: Belonging to, to be taken in, or referred to, some system, in which the base is 1; — said or certain functions or numbers; as, natural numbers, those commencing at 1; natural sines, cosines, etc., those taken in arcs whose radii are 1.

10. (Mus.) (a) Produced by natural organs, as those of the human throat, in distinction from instrumental music. (b) of or pertaining to a key which has neither a flat nor a sharp for its signature, as the key of C major. (c) Applied to an air or modulation of harmony which moves by easy and smooth transitions, digressing but little from the original key. Moore (Encyc. of Music). Natural day, the space of twenty-four hours. Chaucer. — Natural fats, Natural gas, etc. See under Fat, Gas. etc. — Natural Harmony (Mus.), the harmony of the triad or common chord. — Natural history, in its broadest sense, a history or description of nature as a whole, incuding the sciences of botany, zoölogy, geology, mineralogy, paleontology, chemistry, and physics. In recent usage the term is often restricted to the sciences of botany and zoölogy collectively, and sometimes to the science of zoology alone. — Natural law, that instinctive sense of justice and of right and wrong, which is native in mankind, as distinguished from specifically revealed divine law, and formulated human law. — Natural modulation (Mus.), transition from one key to its relative keys. — Natural order. (Nat. Hist.) See under order. — Natural person. (Law) See under person, n. — Natural philosophy, originally, the study of nature in general; in modern usage, that branch of physical science, commonly called physics, which treats of the phenomena and laws of matter and considers those effects only which are unaccompanied by any change of a chemical nature; — contrasted with mental and moral philosophy. — Natural scale (Mus.), a scale which is written without flats or sharps. Model would be a preferable term, as less likely to mislead, the so-called artificial scales (scales represented by the use of flats and sharps) being equally natural with the so-called natural scale — Natural science, natural history, in its broadest sense; — used especially in contradistinction to mental or moral science. — Natural selection (Biol.), a supposed operation of natural laws analogous, in its operation and results, to designed selection in breeding plants and animals, and resulting in the survival of the fittest. The theory of natural selection supposes that this has been brought about mainly by gradual changes of environment which have led to corresponding changes of structure, and that those forms which have become so modified as to be best adapted to the changed environment have tended to survive and leave similarly adapted descendants, while those less perfectly adapted have tended to die out though lack of fitness for the environment, thus resulting in the survival of the fittest. See Darwinism. — Natural system (Bot. & Zoöl.), a classification based upon real affinities, as shown in the structure of all parts of the organisms, and by their embryology. It should be borne in mind that the natural system of botany is natural only in the constitution of its genera, tribes, orders, etc., and in its grand divisions. Gray. — Natural theology, or Natural religion, that part of theological science which treats of those evidences of the existence and attributes of the Supreme Being which are exhibited in nature; — distinguished from revealed religion. See Quotation under Natural, a., 3. — Natural vowel, the vowel sound heard in urn, furl, sir, her, etc.; — so called as being uttered in the easiest open position of the mouth organs. See Neutral vowel, under Neutral and Guide to Pronunciation, § 17.

Syn. — See Native.

NATURAL Nat"u*ral, n.

1. A native; an aboriginal. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.

2. pl.

Defn: Natural gifts, impulses, etc. [Obs.] Fuller.

3. One born without the usual powers of reason or understanding; an idiot. "The minds of naturals." Locke.

4. (Mus.)

Defn: A character [] used to contradict, or to remove the effect of, a sharp or flat which has preceded it, and to restore the unaltered note.

NATURALISM Nat"u*ral*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. naturalisme.]

1. A state of nature; conformity to nature.

2. (Metaph.)

Defn: The doctrine of those who deny a supernatural agency in the miracles and revelations recorded in the Bible, and in spiritual influences; also, any system of philosophy which refers the phenomena of nature to a blind force or forces acting necessarily or according to fixed laws, excluding origination or direction by one intelligent will.

NATURALIST Nat"u*ral*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. naturaliste.]

1. One versed in natural science; a student of natural history, esp. of the natural history of animals.

2. One who holds or maintains the doctrine of naturalism in religion. H. Bushnell.

NATURALISTIC Nat`u*ral*is"tic, a.

1. Belonging to the doctrines of naturalism.

2. Closely resembling nature; realistic. "Naturalistic bit of pantomime." W. D. Howells.

NATURALITY Nat`u*ral"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. naturalitas: cf. F. naturalité.]

Defn: Nature; naturalness. [R.]

NATURALIZATION Nat`u*ral*i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. naturalisation.]

Defn: The act or process of naturalizing, esp. of investing an alien with the rights and privileges of a native or citizen; also, the state of being naturalized.

NATURALIZE Nat"u*ral*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Naturalized; p. pr. & vb. n. Naturalizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. naturaliser. See Natural.]

1. To make natural; as, custom naturalizes labor or study.

2. To confer the rights and privileges of a native subject or citizen on; to make as if native; to adopt, as a foreigner into a nation or state, and place in the condition of a native subject.

3. To receive or adopt as native, natural, or vernacular; to make one's own; as, to naturalize foreign words.

4. To adapt; to accustom; to habituate; to acclimate; to cause to grow as under natural conditions. Its wearer suggested that pears and peaches might yet be naturalized in the New England climate. Hawthorne.

NATURALIZE Nat"u*ral*ize, v. i.

1. To become as if native.

2. To explain phenomena by natural agencies or laws, to the exclusion of the supernatural. Infected by this naturalizing tendency. H. Bushnell.

NATURALLY Nat"u*ral*ly, adv.

Defn: In a natural manner or way; according to the usual course of things; spontaneously.

NATURALNESS Nat"u*ral*ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being natural; conformity to nature.

NATURAL STEEL Nat"u*ral steel.

Defn: Steel made by the direct refining of cast iron in a finery, or, as wootz, by a direct process from the ore.

NATURE Na"ture, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. natura, fr. natus born, produced, p.p. of nasci to be born. See Nation.]

1. The existing system of things; the world of matter, or of matter and mind; the creation; the universe. But looks through nature up to nature's God. Pope. Nature has caprices which art can not imitate. Macaulay.

2. The personified sum and order of causes and effects; the powers which produce existing phenomena, whether in the total or in detail; the agencies which carry on the processes of creation or of being; — often conceived of as a single and separate entity, embodying the total of all finite agencies and forces as disconnected from a creating or ordering intelligence. I oft admire How Nature, wise and frugal, could commit Such disproportions. Milton.

3. The established or regular course of things; usual order of events; connection of cause and effect.

4. Conformity to that which is natural, as distinguished from that which is artifical, or forced, or remote from actual experience. One touch of nature makes the whole world kin. Shak.

5. The sum of qualities and attributes which make a person or thing what it is, as distinct from others; native character; inherent or essential qualities or attributes; peculiar constitution or quality of being. Thou, therefore, whom thou only canst redeem, Their nature also to thy nature join, And be thyself man among men on earth. Milton.

6. Hence: Kind, sort; character; quality. A dispute of this nature caused mischief. Dryden.

7. Physical constitution or existence; the vital powers; the natural life. "My days of nature." Shak. Oppressed nature sleeps. Shak.

8. Natural affection or reverence. Have we not seen The murdering son ascend his parent's bed, Through violated nature foce his way Pope.

9. Constitution or quality of mind or character. A born devil, on whose nature Nurture can never stick. Shak. That reverence which is due to a superior nature. Addison. Good nature, Ill nature. see under Good and Ill. — In a state of nature. (a) Naked as when born; nude. (b) In a condition of sin; unregenerate. (c) Untamed; uncvilized. — Nature printng, a process of printing from metallic or other plates which have received an impression, as by heavy pressure, of an object such as a leaf, lace, or the like. — Nature worship, the worship of the personified powers of nature. — To pay the debt of nature, to die.

NATURE Na"ture, v. t.

Defn: To endow with natural qualities. [Obs.] He [God] which natureth every kind. Gower.

NATURED Na"tured, a.

Defn: Having (such) a nature, temper, or disposition; disposed; — used in composition; as, good-natured, ill-natured, etc.

NATURELESS Na"ture*less, a.

Defn: Not in accordance with nature; unnatural. [Obs.] Milton.

NATURISM Na"tur*ism, n. (Med.)

Defn: The belief or doctrine that attributes everything to nature as a sanative agent.

NATURIST Na"tur*ist, n.

Defn: One who believes in, or conforms to, the theory of naturism. Boyle.

NATURITY Na*tu"ri*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being produced by nature. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

NATURIZE Na"tur*ize, v. t.

Defn: To endow with a nature or qualities; to refer to nature. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

NAUFRAGE Nau"frage (; 48), n. Etym: [F., fr. L. naufragium; navis + frangere.]

Defn: Shipwreck; ruin. [Obs.] acon.

NAUFRAGOUS Nau"fra*gous, a. Etym: [L. naufragus. See Naufrage.]

Defn: causing shipwreck. [Obs.] r. Taylor.

NAUGHT Naught, n. Etym: [OE. naught, nought, naht, nawiht, AS. n, n, n; ne not + wiht thing, whit; hence, not ever a whit. See No, adv. Whit, and cf. Aught, Not.]

1. Nothing. [Written also nought.] Doth Job fear God for naught Job i. 9.

2. The arithmetical character 0; a cipher. See Cipher. To set at naught, to treat as of no account; to disregard; to despise; to defy; to treat with ignominy. "Ye have set at naught all my counsel." Prov. i. 25.

NAUGHT Naught, adv.

Defn: In no degree; not at all. Chaucer. To wealth or sovereign power he naught applied. Fairfax.

NAUGHT Naught, a.

1. Of no value or account; worthless; bad; useless. It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer. Prov. xx. 14. Go, get you to your house; begone, away! All will be naught else. Shak. Things naught and things indifferent. Hooker.

2. Hence, vile; base; naughty. [Obs.] No man can be stark naught at once. Fuller.

NAUGHTILY Naugh"ti*ly, adv.

Defn: In a naughty manner; wickedly; perversely. Shak.

NAUGHTINESS Naugh"ti*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being naughty; perverseness; badness; wickedness. I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart. 1 Sam. xvii. 28.

NAUGHTLY Naught"ly, adv.

Defn: Naughtily; wrongly. [Obs.] because my parents naughtly brought me up. Mir. for Mag.

NAUGHTY Naugh"ty, a. [Compar. Naughtier; superl. Naughtiest.]

1. Having little or nothing. [Obs.] [Men] that needy be and naughty, help them with thy goods. Piers Plowman.

2. Worthless; bad; good for nothing. [Obs.] The other basket had very naughty figs. Jer. xxiv. 2.

3. hence, corrupt; wicked. [Archaic] So shines a good deed in a naughty world. Shak.

4. Mischievous; perverse; froward; guilty of disobedient or improper conduct; as, a naughty child.

Note: This word is now seldom used except in the latter sense, as applied to children, or in sportive censure.

NAUHEIM TREATMENT; NAUHEIM BATH Nau"heim treat`ment. (Med.)

Defn: Orig., a method of therapeutic treatment administered, esp. for chronic diseases of the curculatory system, at Bad Nauheim, Germany, by G. Schott, consisting in baths in the natural mineral waters of that place, which are charged with carbonic acid, and the use of a graduated course of rest, physical exercises, massage, etc.; hence, any similar treatment using waters artificially charged with the essential ingredients of the natural mineral waters of Bad Nauheim. Hence, Nauheim bath, etc.

NAUMACHY Nau"ma*chy, n. Etym: [L. naumachia, Gr.

1. A naval battle; esp., a mock sea fight.

2. (Rom. Antiq.)

Defn: A show or spectacle representing a sea fight; also, a place for such exhibitions.

NAUPLIUS Nau"pli*us, n.; pl. Nauplii. Etym: [L., a kind of shellfish, fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A crustacean larva having three pairs of locomotive organs (corresponding to the antennules, antennæ, and mandibles), a median eye, and little or no segmentation of the body.

NAUROPOMETER Nau`ro*pom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.] (Naut.)

Defn: An instrument for measuring the amount which a ship heels at sea.

NAUSCOPY Naus"co*py, n. Etym: [Gr. -scopy: cf. F. nauscopie.] (Naut.)

Defn: The power or act of discovering ships or land at considerable distances.

NAUSEA Nau"se*a ( or , n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Nave of a church, and cf. Noise.]

Defn: Seasickness; hence, any similar sickness of the stomach accompanied with a propensity to vomit; qualm; squeamishness of the stomach; loathing.

NAUSEANT Nau"se*ant, n. Etym: [L. nauseans, p.pr. Of nauseare.] (Med.)

Defn: A substance which produces nausea.

NAUSEATE Nau"se*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Nauseated; p. pr. & vb. n. Nauseating.] Etym: [L. nauseare, nauseatum, fr. nausea. See Nausea.]

Defn: To become squeamish; to feel nausea; to turn away with disgust.

NAUSEATE Nau"se*ate, v. t.

1. To affect with nausea; to sicken; to cause to feel loathing or disgust.

2. To sicken at; to reject with disgust; to loathe. The patient nauseates and loathes wholesome foods. Blackmore.

NAUSEATION Nau`se*a"tion, n.

Defn: The act of nauseating, or the state of being nauseated.

NAUSEATIVE Nau"se*a*tive ( or , a.

Defn: Causing nausea; nauseous.

NAUSEOUS Nau"seous, a. Etym: [L. nauseosus.]

Defn: Causing, or fitted to cause, nausea; sickening; loathsome; disgusting; exciting abhorrence; as, a nauseous drug or medicine. — Nau"seous*ly, adv. — Nau"seous*ness, n. The nauseousness of such company disgusts a reasonable man. Dryden.

NAUTCH Nautch, n. Etym: [Hind. nach, fr. Skr. n dance.]

Defn: An entertainment consisting chiefly of dancing by professional dancing (or Nautch) girls. [India]

NAUTIC Nau"tic, a. Etym: [See Nautical.]

Defn: Nautical.

NAUTICAL Nau"tic*al, a. Etym: [L. nauticus, Gr. nautique. See Nave of a church.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to seamen, to the art of navigation, or to ships; as, nautical skill.

Syn. — Naval; marine; maritime. See Naval. Nautical almanac. See under Almanac. — Nautical distance, the length in nautical miles of the rhumb line joining any two places on the earth's surface. — nautical mile. see under Mile.

NAUTICALLY Nau"tic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a nautical manner; with reference to nautical affais.

NAUTIFORM Nau"ti*form, a. Etym: [Gr. -form.]

Defn: Shaped like the hull of a ship.

NAUTILITE Nau"ti*lite, n. (paleon.)

Defn: A fossil nautilus.

NAUTILOID Nau"ti*loid, a. Etym: [Nautilus + -oid: cf. F. nautiloïde.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like or pertaining to the nautilus; shaped like a nautilus shell. — n.

Defn: A mollusk, or shell, of the genus Nautilus or family Nautilidæ.

NAUTILUS Nau"ti*lus, n.; pl. E. Nautiluses, L. Nautili. Etym: [L., fr. gr. Nave of a church.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The only existing genus of tetrabranchiate cephalopods. About four species are found living in the tropical Pacific, but many other species are found fossil. The shell is spiral, symmetrical, and chambered, or divided into several cavities by simple curved partitions, which are traversed and connected together by a continuous and nearly central tube or siphuncle. See Tetrabranchiata.

Note: The head of the animal bears numerous simple tapered arms, or tentacles, arranged in groups, but not furnished with suckers. The siphon, unlike, that of ordinary cephalopods, is not a closed tube, and is not used as a locomotive organ, but merely serves to conduct water to and from the gill cavity, which contains two pairs of gills. The animal occupies only the outer chamber of the shell; the others are filled with gas. It creeps over the bottom of the sea, not coming to the surface to swim or sail, as was formerly imagined.

2. The argonaut; — also called paper nautilus. See Argonauta, and Paper nautilus, under Paper.

3. A variety of diving bell, the lateral as well as vertical motions of which are controlled, by the occupants.

NAVAJOES Na"va*joes, n. pl.; sing. Navajo (. (Ethnol.)

Defn: A tribe of Indians inhabiting New Mexico and Arizona, allied to the Apaches. They are now largely engaged in agriculture.

NAVAL Na"val, a. Etym: [L. navalis, fr. navis ship: cf. F. naval. See Nave of a church.]

Defn: Having to do with shipping; of or pertaining to ships or a navy; consisting of ships; as, naval forces, successes, stores, etc.

Naval brigade, a body of seamen or marines organized for military service on land. — Naval officer. (a) An officer in the navy. (b) A high officer in some United States customhouses. — Naval tactics, the science of managing or maneuvering vessels sailing in squadrons or fleets.

Syn. — Nautical; marine; maritime. — Naval, Nautical. Naval is applied to vessels, or a navy, or the things which pertain to them or in which they participate; nautical, to seamen and the art of navigation. Hence we speak of a naval, as opposed to a military, engagement; naval equipments or stores, a naval triumph, a naval officer, etc., and of nautical pursuits or instruction, nautical calculations, a nautical almanac, etc.

NAVALS Na"vals, n.pl.

Defn: Naval affairs. [Obs.]

NAVARCH Na"varch, n. Etym: [L. navarchus, gr. (Gr. Antiq.)

Defn: The commander of a fleet. Mitford.

NAVARCHY Na"varch*y, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Nautical skill or experience. [Obs.] ir W. Petty.

NAVARRESE Na`var*rese" ( or , a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Navarre. — n. sing. & pl.

Defn: A native or inhabitant of Navarre; the people of Navarre.

NAVE Nave, n. Etym: [AS. nafu; akin to D. naaf, G. nabe, OHG. naba, Icel. nöf, Dan. nav, Sw. naf, Skr. nabhi nave and navel: cf. L. umbo boss of a shield. *260. Cf. Navel.]

1. The block in the center of a wheel, from which the spokes radiate, and through which the axle passes; — called also hub or hob.

2. The navel. [Obs.] hak.

NAVE Nave, n. Etym: [F. nef, fr. L. navis ship, to which the church was often likened; akin to Gr. naca boat, G. nachen, Icel. nökkvi; cf. L. nare to swim, float. Cf. Nausea, Nautical, Naval.] (Arch.)

Defn: The middle or body of a church, extending from the transepts to the principal entrances, or, if there are no transepts, from the choir to the principal entrance, but not including the aisles.

NAVEL Na"vel, n. Etym: [AS. nafela, fr. nafu nave; akin to D. navel, G. nabel, OHG. nabolo, Icel. nafli, Dan. navle, Sw. nafle, L. umbilicus, Gr. n. *260. See Nave hub, and cf. Omphalic, Nombril, Umbilical.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: A mark or depression in the middle of the abdomen; the umbilicus. See Umbilicus, belly button in humans

2. The central part or point of anything; the middle. Within the navel of this hideous wood, Immured in cypress shades, a sorcerer dwells. Milton.

3. (Gun.)

Defn: An eye on the under side of a carronade for securing it to a carriage. Navel gall, a bruise on the top of the chine of the back of a horse, behind the saddle. Johnson. — Navel point. (Her.) Same as Nombril.

NAVEL ORANGE Na"vel or"ange.

Defn: A type of orange in which the fruit incloses a small secondary fruit, the rind showing on the exterior a navel-like pit or depression at the apex. There are several varieties; they are usually seedless, or nearly so, and are much grown in California.

NAVEL-STRING Na"vel-string`, n.

Defn: The umbilical cord.

NAVELWORT Na"vel*wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A European perennial succulent herb (Cotyledon umbilicus), having round, peltate leaves with a central depression; — also called pennywort, and kidneywort.

NAVEW Na"vew, n. Etym: [OE. navel, naveau, a dim. fr. L. napus navew. Cf. Napiform.] (Bot.)

Defn: A kind of small turnip, a variety of Brassica campestris. See Brassica. [Writen also naphew.]

NAVICULAR Na*vic"u*lar, a. Etym: [L. navicularius, fr. navicula, dim. of navis ship: cf. F. naviculaire.]

1. Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a boat or ship.

2. Shaped like a boat; cymbiform; scaphoid; as, the navicular glumes of most grasses; the navicular bone. Navicular bone. (Anat.) (a) One of the middle bones of the tarsus, corresponding to the centrale; — called also scaphoid. (b) A proximal bone on the radial side of the carpus; the scaphoid. — Navicular disease (Far.), a disease affecting the navicular bone, or the adjacent parts, in a horse's foot.

NAVICULAR Na*vic"u*lar, n. (Anat.)

Defn: The navicular bone.

NAVIGABILITY Nav`i*ga*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. navigabilité.]

Defn: The quality or condition of being navigable; navigableness.

NAVIGABLE Nav"i*ga*ble, a. Etym: [L. navigabilis: cf. F. navigable. See Navigate.]

Defn: Capable of being navigated; deep enough and wide enough to afford passage to vessels; as, a navigable river.

Note: By the comon law, a river is considered as navigable only so far as the tide ebbs and flows in it. This is also the doctrine in several of the United tates. In other States, the doctrine of thje civil law prevails, which is, that a navigable river is a river capable of being navigated, in the common sense of the term. Kent. Burrill. — Nav"i*ga*ble*ness, n. — Nav"i*ga*bly, adv.

NAVIGATE Nav"i*gate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Navigated; p. pr. & vb. n. Navigating.] Etym: [L. navigatus, p.p. of navigare, v.t. & i.; navis ship + agere to move, direct. See Nave, and Agent.]

Defn: To joirney by water; to go in a vessel or ship; to perform the duties of a navigator; to use the waters as a highway or channel for commerce or communication; to sail. The Phenicians navigated to the extremities of the Western Ocean. Arbuthnot.

NAVIGATE Nav"i*gate, v. t.

1. To pass over in ships; to sail over or on; as, to navigate the Atlantic.

2. To steer, direct, or manage in sailing; to conduct (ships) upon the water by the art or skill of seamen; as, to navigate a ship.

NAVIGATION Nav`i*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. navigatio: cf. F. navigation.]

1. The act of navigating; the act of passing on water in ships or other vessels; the state of being navigable.

2. (a) the science or art of conducting ships or vessels from one place to another, including, more especially, the method of determining a ship's position, course, distance passed over, etc., on the surface of the globe, by the principles of geometry and astronomy. (b) The management of sails, rudder, etc.; the mechanics of traveling by water; seamanship.

3. Ships in general. [Poetic] Shak. Aërial navigation, the act or art of sailing or floating in the air, as by means of ballons; aëronautic. — Inland navigation, Internal navigation, navigation on rivers, inland lakes, etc.

NAVIGATOR Nav"i*ga`tor, n.

Defn: One who navigates or sails; esp., one who direct the course of a ship, or one who is skillful in the art of navigation; also, a book which teaches the art of navigation; as, Bowditch's Navigator.

NAVIGEROUS Na*vig"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. naviger; navis ship + gerere to bear.]

Defn: Bearing ships; capable of floating vessels. [R.] Blount.

NAVVY Nav"vy, n.; pl. Navies. Etym: [Abbreviated fr. navigator.]

Defn: Originally, a laborer on canals for internal navigation; hence, a laborer on other public works, as in building railroads, embankments, etc. [Eng.]

NAVY Na"vy; n.; pl. Navies. Etym: [ OF. navie, fr. L. navis ship. See Nave of a church.]

1. A fleet of ships; an assemblage of merchantmen, or so many as sail in company. "The navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir." 1 kings x. 11.

2. The whole of the war vessels belonging to a nation or ruler, considered collectively; as, the navy of Italy.

3. The officers and men attached to the war vessels of a nation; as, he belongs to the navy. Navy bean. see Bean. — Navy yard, a place set apart as a shore station for the use of the navy. It often contains all the mechanical and other appliences for building and equipping war vessels and training their crews.

NAVY BLUE Na"vy blue`.

Defn: Prussian blue.

NAWAB Na*wab", n. Etym: [See Nabob.]

Defn: A deputy ruler or viceroy in India; also, a title given by courtesy to other persons of high rank in the East.

NAWL Nawl, n. Etym: [See Nall.]

Defn: An awl. [Obs.] usser.

NAY Nay, adv. Etym: [Icel. nei; akin to E. no. See No, adv.]

1. No; — a negative answer to a question asked, or a request made, now superseded by no. See Yes. And eke when I say "ye," ne say not "nay." Chaucer. I tell you nay; but except ye repent, ye shall all likewisr perish. Luke xiii. 3. And now do they thrust us out privily nay, verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. Acts xvi. 37. He that will not when he may, When he would he shall have nay. Old Prov.

Note: Before the time of Henry VIII. nay was used to answer simple questions, and no was used when the form of the question involved a negative expression; nay was the simple form, no the emphatic. Skeat.

2. Not this merely, but also; not only so, but; — used to mark the addition or substitution of a more explicit or more emphatic phrase.

Note: Nay in this sense may be interchanged with yea. "Were he my brother, nay, my kingdom's heir." Shak.

NAY Nay, n.; pl. Nays (.

1. Denial; refusal.

2. a negative vote; one who votes in the negative. It is no nay, there is no denying it. [Obs.] haucer.

NAY Nay, v. t. & i.

Defn: To refuse. [Obs.] Holinshed.

NAYAUR Na*yaur", n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A specied of wild sheep (Ovis Hodgsonii), native of Nepaul and Thibet. It has a dorsal mane and a white ruff beneath the neck.

NAYT Nayt, v. t. Etym: [Icel. neita.]

Defn: To refuse; to deny. [Obs.] "He shall not nayt ne deny his sin." Chaucer.

NAYWARD Nay"ward, n.

Defn: The negative side. [R.] Howe'er you lean to the nayward. Shak.

NAYWORD Nay"word`, n.

Defn: A byword; a proverb; also, a watchword. [Obs.] hak.

NAZARENE Naz`a*rene", n. Etym: [L. Nazarenus, Gr.

1. A native or inhabitant of Nazareth; — a term of contempt applied to Christ and the early Christians.

2. (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: One of a sect of Judaizing Christians in the first and second centuries, who observed the laws of Moses, and held to certain heresies.

NAZARITE Naz"a*rite, n.

Defn: A Jew bound by a vow to lave the hair uncut, to abstain from wine and strong drink, and to practice extraordinary purity of life and devotion, the obligation being for life, or for a certain time. The word is also used adjectively.

NAZARITESHIP Naz"a*rite*ship, n.

Defn: The state of a Nazarite.

NAZARITIC Naz`a*rit"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a Nazarite, or to Nazarites.

NAZARITISM Naz"a*ri*tism, n.

Defn: The vow and practice of a Nazarite.

NAZE Naze, n. Etym: [See Ness.]

Defn: A promotory or headland.

NAZIRITE Naz"i*rite, n.

Defn: A Nazarite.

NE Ne, adv. Etym: [AS. ne. See No.]

Defn: Not; never. [Obs.] He never yet no villany ne said. Chaucer.

Note: Ne was formerly used as the universal adverb of negation, and survives in certain compounds, as never (= ne ever) and none (= ne one). Other combinations, now obsolete, will be found in the Vocabulary, as nad, nam, nil. See Negative, 2.

NE Ne, conj. Etym: [See Ne, adv.]

Defn: Nor. [Obs.] Shak. No niggard ne no fool. Chaucer. Ne . . . ne, neither . . . nor. [Obs.] Chaucer.

NEAF Neaf, n.

Defn: See 2d Neif. Shak.

NEAL Neal, v. t.

Defn: To anneal. [R.] Chaucer.

NEAL Neal, v. i.

Defn: To be tempered by heat. [R.] Bacon.

NEANDERTHAL; NEANDERTHAL RACE; NEANDERTHAL MAN Ne*an"der*thal`, a. (Anthropol.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or named from, the Neanderthal, a valley in the Rhine Province, in which were found parts of a skeleton of an early type of man. The skull is characterized by extreme dolichocephaly, flat, retreating forehead, with closed frontal sutures, and enormous superciliary ridges. The cranial capacity is estimated at about 1,220 cubic centimeters, being about midway between that of the Pithecanthropus and modern man. Hence, designating the Neanderthal race, or man, a species supposed to have been widespread in paleolithic Europe.

NEANDERTHALOID Ne*an`der*thal"oid, a. [Neanderthal + -oid.] (Anthropol.)

Defn: Like, or pertaining to, the Neanderthal skull, or the type of man it represents.

NEAP Neap, n. Etym: [Cf. Neb, Nape.]

Defn: The tongue or pole of a cart or other vehicle drawn by two animals. [U.S.]

NEAP Neap, a. Etym: [As. nepflod neap flood; cf. hnipian to bend, incline.]

Defn: Low. Neap tides, the lowest tides of the lunar month, which occur in the second and fourth quarters of the moon; — opposed to spring tides.

NEAP Neap, n.

Defn: A neap tide. High springs and dead neaps. Harkwill.

NEAPED Neaped, a. (Naut.)

Defn: Left aground on the height of a spring tide, so that it will not float till the next spring tide; — called also beneaped.

NEAPOLITAN Ne`a*pol"i*tan, a. Etym: [L. Neapolitanus, fr. Neapolis Naples, Gr.

Defn: Of of pertaining to Maples in Italy. — n.

Defn: A native or citizen of Naples.

NEAPOLITAN ICE; NEAPOLITAN ICE CREAM Ne`a*pol"i*tan ice, Neapolitan ice cream. (a) An ice or ice cream containing eggs as well as cream. (b) An ice or ice cream prepared in layers, as vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate ice cream, and orange or lemon water ice.

NEAR Near, adv. Etym: [AS. neár, compar. of neáh nigh. See Nigh.]

1. At a little distance, in place, time, manner, or degree; not remote; nigh. My wife! my traitress! let her not come near me. Milton.

2. Nearly; almost; well-nigh. "Near twenty years ago." Shak. "Near a fortnight ago." Addison. Near about the yearly value of the land. Locke.

3. Closely; intimately. Shak. Far and near, at a distance and close by; throughout a whole region. — To come near to, to want but little of; to approximate to. "Such a sum he found would go near to ruin him." Addison. — Near the wind (Naut.), close to the wind; closehauled.

NEAR Near, a. [Compar. Nearer; superl. Nearest.] Etym: [See Near, adv.]

1. Not far distant in time, place, or degree; not remote; close at hand; adjacent; neighboring; nigh. "As one near death." Shak. He served great Hector, and was ever near, Not with his trumpet only, but his spear. Dryden.

2. Closely connected or related. She is thy father's near kinswoman. Lev. xviii. 12.

3. Close to one's interests, affection, etc.; touching, or affecting intimately; intimate; dear; as, a near friend.

4. Close to anything followed or imitated; not free, loose, or rambling; as, a version near to the original.

5. So as barely to avoid or pass injury or loss; close; narrow; as, a near escape.

6. Next to the driver, when he is on foot; in the Unted States, on the left of an animal or a team; as, the near ox; the near leg. See Off side, under Off, a.

7. Immediate; direct; close; short. "The nearest way." Milton.

8. Close-fisted; parsimonious. [Obs. or Low, Eng.]

Note: Near may properly be followed by to before the thing approached'; but more frequently to is omitted, and the adjective or the adverb is regarded as a preposition. The same is also true of the word nigh.

Syn. — Nigh; close; adjacent; proximate; contiguous; present; ready; intimate; dear.

NEAR Near, prep.

Defn: Adjacent to; close by; not far from; nigh; as, the ship sailed near the land. See the Note under near, a.

NEAR Near, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Neared; p. pr. & vb. n Nearing.] Etym: [See Near, adv.]

Defn: To approach; to come nearer; as, the ship neared the land.

NEAR Near, v. i.

Defn: To draw near; to approach. A speck, a mist, a shape, I wist! And still it neared, and neared. Coleridge.

NEAR BEER Near beer.

Defn: Any of various malt liquors (see Citation).

Near beer is a term of common currency used to designate all that class of malt liquors which contain so little alcohol that they will not produce intoxication, though drunk to excess, and includes in its meaning all malt liquors which are not within the purview of the general prohibition law. Cambell v. City of Thomasville, Georgia Appeal Records, 6 212.

NEARCTIC Ne*arc"tic, a. Etym: [Neo + arctic.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a region of the earth's surface including all of temperate and arctic North America and Greenland. In the geographical distribution of animals, this region is marked off as the habitat certain species.

NEARHAND Near"hand`, a. & adv.

Defn: Near; near at hand; closely. [Obs. or Scot.] Bacon.

NEAR-LEGGED Near"-legged`, a.

Defn: Having the feet so near together that they interfere in traveling. Shak.

NEARLY Near"ly, adv.

Defn: In a near manner; not remotely; closely; intimately; almost.

NEARNESS Near"ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being near; — used in the various senses of the adjective.

NEARSIGHTED; NEARSIGHTEDNESS Near"sight`ed, a.

Defn: Seeing distinctly at short distances only; shortsighted. — Near"sight`ed*ness, n.

Defn: See Myopic, and Myopia.

NEAT Neat, n. sing. & pl. Etym: [AS. neát; akin to OHG. n, Icel. naut, Sw. nöt, Dan. nöd, and to AS. neótan to make use of, G. geniessen, Goth. niutan to have a share in, have joy of, Lith. nauda use, profit.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Cattle of the genus Bos, as distinguished from horses, sheep, and goats; an animal of the genus Bos; as, a neat's tongue; a neat's foot. Chaucer. Wherein the herds[men] were keeping of their neat. Spenser. The steer, the heifer, and the calf Are all called neat. Shak. A neat and a sheep of his own. Tusser. Neat's-foot, an oil obtained by boiling the feet of neat cattle. It is used to render leather soft and pliable.