Etymology dictionary

noctuary (n.) — non-fiction (adj.)

noctuary (n.)

"account of what passes in the night," the converse of a diary, 1714; as though from Latin *noctuarius; see noct- "night." A word in use 18c.-19c.

also nocturne, name of a division of the office of matins said just before daybreak (in the early Church a service recited after midnight), c. 1200, from Old French nocturne "evening service; curfew," from Medieval Latin nocturna, "group of Psalms used in the nocturns," from Latin nocturnus "pertaining or belonging to the night" (see nocturnal).

nocturnal (adj.)

"of or pertaining to the night, used or done at night," late 15c. (Caxton), from Old French nocturnal "nightly, nocturnal," or directly from Late Latin nocturnalis, from Latin nocturnus "belonging to the night," from nox (genitive noctis) "night," cognate with Old English neaht (see night) + -urnus, suffix forming adjectives of time. Related: Nocturnally. Nocturnal emission "involuntary ejaculation during sleep" is recorded by 1813.

nocturne (n.)

1851, "musical composition of a dreamy character," properly instrumental, from French nocturne, literally "composition appropriate to the evening or night," noun use of Old French nocturne "nocturnal," from Latin nocturnus (see nocturnal). The style and the name are said to have originated c. 1814 with Irish-born composer John Field, who wrote many of them, in a style that Chopin mastered in his own works, which popularized the term. But Field's work seems to have been appreciated in German and French publications before it came to attention in England in 1851.

nocuous (adj.)

1630s, "noxious, harmful," from Latin nocuus "harmful," from stem of nocere "to hurt, injure, harm" (from PIE root *nek- (1) "death"). Especially of venomous serpents.

nod (n.)

"short, quick, forward and downward motion of the head," voluntary or not, 1530s, from nod (v.).

nod (v.)

late 14c., "to quickly bow the head; to assent, beckon, or salute quickly by an inclination of the head," late 14c., nodden, a word of unknown origin, probably an Old English word, but not recorded, or perhaps from a Low German word related to Old High German hnoton "to shake," from Proto-Germanic *hnudan (OED considers this "doubtful"). Apparently unrelated to Latin nuere "to nod." Related: Nodded; nodding.

Meaning "droop the head forward with a short, involuntary motion," as when drowsy, is by 1560s. Figurative sense of "be guilty of a lapse, be momentarily inattentive" is by 1670s, echoing Horace's dormitat Homerus. Of flowers, etc., "to droop or bend downward," c. 1600. Meaning "to drift in and out of consciousness while on drugs" is attested by 1968 (as a noun in this sense by 1942).

A nodding acquaintance (by 1821) is one you know just well enough to recognize with a nod. Land of Nod "state of sleep" (1731) is a pun on the biblical place name east of Eden (Genesis iv.16).

nodal (adj.)

"pertaining to a node or nodes," 1811, from node + -al (1). Nodical "of or pertaining to the nodes" is by 1839. Related: Nodality.

node (n.)

early 15c., "a knot or lump," from Latin nodus "knot" (from PIE root *ned- "to bind, tie"). Originally borrowed c. 1400 in Latin form, meaning "lump in the flesh." Meaning "point of intersection" (originally in astronomy, of planetary orbits with the ecliptic) is recorded from 1660s.

nodule (n.)

"a little lump or knot," c. 1400, from Latin nodulus "small knot," diminutive of nodus "knot" (from PIE root *ned- "to bind, tie"). Related: Nodulated; nodulous; nodulation.

nodular (adj.)

"pertaining to or in the form of a nodule or knot," 1794, from nodule + -ar. Related: Nodularity.

Noel (n.)

late 14c., nowel, nouel "Christmas, the Feast of the Nativity," from Old French noel "the Christmas season," variant of nael, from Latin natalis (dies) "birth (day)," used in Church Latin in reference to the birthday of Christ, from natus, past participle of nasci "be born" (Old Latin gnasci), from PIE root *gene- "give birth, beget." The modern word in English, with the sense "a Christmas carol" (1811) probably is a separate borrowing from French. As a masc. proper name, it is from Old French, probably literally "of or born on Christmas."

noematic (adj.)

"of or pertaining to the understanding, mental, intellectual," 1860, with -ic + Greek noēma "a perception, a thought," from noein "to see, perceive, have mental perception," from noos "mind, thought," which is of uncertain origin. Related: Noematical (1680s); noematically.

noesis (n.)

"intellect, intelligence," 1820, from Greek noēsis "intelligence, thought," from noein "to see, perceive, have mental perception," from noos "mind, thought" which is of uncertain origin.

noetic (adj.)

"pertaining to, performed by, or originating in the intellect," 1650s, from Greek noētikos "intelligent," from noēsis "a perception, intelligence, thought" (see noesis). Related: Noetical (1640s).

no-fault (adj.)

as a type of U.S. motor vehicle insurance, 1967, from no + fault (n.).

no-frills (adj.)

1957, from no + frills. The expression no thrills meaning "without extra flourishes or ornamentation" is in use from 1870s; the original notion probably is of plain clothing.

nog (n.)

1670s, boull of nogg, as something shared with company; a poem of the same decade describes sweet nog. Attested by 1690s as "old, strong type of beer brewed in Norfolk." The word is of unknown origin; perhaps related to noggin. Also see egg-nog. Related: Noggy "tipsy, intoxicated."

noggin (n.)

1620s, "small cup, mug," later of the contents of such a vessel, "small drink" (1690s), a word of unknown origin, possibly related to Norfolk dialectal nog "strong ale." OED considers that the similar Celtic words are "no doubt" from English. Informal meaning "head" is attested by 1866 in American English.

no-go (adj.)

"where it is forbidden to go," 1971, from no + go (v.). Earlier it was a noun phrase for an impracticable situation (1870) and a type of horse race (by 1860).

no-good (adj.)

"useless, valueless," 1908, from phrase no good "good for nothing." As a noun, recorded by 1924; the variant no-goodnik (see -nik) is attested by 1959.

Noh

traditional Japanese masked drama, 1871, from Japanese, literally "ability, talent, accomplishment, function." A dramatic form also known as nogaku, with gaku "music."

no-hitter (n.)

baseball term for a baseball game in which one side fails to make a hit, 1939, from no + hit (n.).

nohow (adv.)

1775, "not at all, in no manner, not in any way," colloquial, from no + how, on model of nowhere. In old slang also "out of sorts" (1779).

noise (n.)

c. 1200, "sound of a musical instrument;" mid-13c., "loud speech, outcry, clamor, shouting;" c. 1300, "a sound of any kind from any source," especially a loud and disagreeable sound, from Old French noise "din, disturbance, uproar, brawl" (11c., in modern French only in phrase chercher noise "to pick a quarrel"), also "rumor, report, news," a word of uncertain origin, replacing Replaced native gedyn (see din).

According to some, it is from Latin nausea "disgust, annoyance, discomfort," literally "seasickness" (see nausea). According to others, it is from Latin noxia "hurting, injury, damage." OED considers that "the sense of the word is against both suggestions," but nausea could have developed a sense in Vulgar Latin of "unpleasant situation, noise, quarrel" (compare Old Provençal nauza "noise, quarrel"). Confusion with annoy, noisome, and other similar words seems to have occurred.

From c. 1300 as "a disturbance; report, rumor, scandal." In Middle English sometimes also "a pleasant sound." In 16c.-17c. "a band or company of musicians." Noises off, as a stage instruction in theater, "sound effects, usually loud and confused, made off stage but to be heard by the audience as part of the play," is by 1908.

noise (v.)

late 14c., noisen, "to praise; to talk loudly about, spread by rumor or report," from noise (n.) or from Old French noisier, from the noun in French. Related: Noised; noising.

noiseless (adj.)

"making no noise, silent," c. 1600, from noise (n.) + -less. Related: Noiselessly; noiselessness. Noiseful is attested from late 14c.

noise-maker (n.)

1810, "person or thing that makes noise," from noise (n.) + agent noun from make (v.). The verbal phrase make noise is from mid-13c., and noise-making is from early 15c.

noisy (adj.)

1690s, "making a loud sound," also "full of noise," from noise (n.) + -y (2). Earlier was noiseful (late 14c.). Related: Noisily; noisiness.

noisome (adj.)

late 14c., noisom, "harmful, noxious" (senses now obsolete), from noye, noi "harm, misfortune" (c. 1300), shortened form of anoi "annoyance" (from Old French anoier, see annoy) + -some (1). Meaning "bad-smelling, offensive to the sense of smell" is by 1570s. Related: Noisomeness.

nolens volens

Latin, "willing or unwilling," 1590s, from present participles of nolle "be unwilling" (from ne "not" + velle "will") + velle "to wish, will" (see will (v.)).

noli me tangere

late 14c., "type of facial ulcer, lupus," Latin, literally "touch me not," from noli, imperative of nolle "to be unwilling" + me (see me) + tangere "to touch" (from PIE root *tag- "to touch, handle"). Used over the years of various persons or things that must not be touched, especially "picture of Jesus as he appeared to Mary Magdalene" (1670s, see John xx.17) and "plant of the genus Impatiens" (1560s, so called because the ripe seed pods burst when touched).

noll (n.)

"top of the head," Middle English nol "head," especially as the seat of intelligence, from Old English hnol, cognate with Middle Dutch nolle, Old High German hnol "back part of the head."

nolle prosequi

in law, formal notice to a plaintiff that the prosecutor will not continue a suit, Latin, literally "to be unwilling to pursue." The derived verb nolle-pross "to abandon (a prosecution, etc.) by nolle prosequi" is attested from 1880. Latin nolle "be unwilling" is from ne "not" + velle "will."

nolo contendere

Latin, literally "I do not wish to contend." Latin nolo is first person singular present indicative of nolle "be unwilling." In criminal law, a plea by the defendant that admits no guilt but subjects the defendant to judgment. In effect, a guilty plea, but it allows the pleader to deny the truth of the charges in a collateral proceeding.

nom (n.)

French for "name" (9c.), from Latin nomen (see nominal). It is used in various phrases in English, such as nom de guerre (1670s) "fictitious name used by a person engaged in some action," literally "war name" and formerly in France a name taken by a soldier on entering the service, and nom de théâtre "stage name" (1874). Nom de plume (1823) "pseudonym used by a writer," literally "pen name," is a phrase invented in English in imitation of nom de guerre. Fowler suggests it is "ridiculous for English writers to use a French phrase that does not come from France."

nomadic (adj.)

"wandering, roving, leading the life of a nomad," 1800, from nomad + -ic.

nomad (n.)

"a wanderer, one of a tribe of people who have no fixed abode," 1550s (in plural, nomades), from French nomade (16c.), from Latin Nomas (genitive Nomadis) "wandering groups in Arabia," from Greek nomas (genitive nomados, plural nomades) "roaming, roving, wandering" (from place to place to find pasturage for their flocks or herds), related to nomos "pasture, pasturage, grazing," literally "land allotted" (from PIE root *nem- "assign, allot; take").

no-man's-land (n.)

also no man's land, "terrain between front lines of entrenched armies," 1908, popularized in World War I; earlier a tract or district to which no one has an established claim; a region which is the subject of dispute between two parties" (by 1876). Nonemanneslond (early 14c.) was the name given to an unowned waste ground outside the north wall of London, the site of executions. No man (Old English nanne mon) was an old way of saying "nobody."

Nome

city in Alaska, founded in the 1898 gold rush and originally Anvil City after the nearby Anvil Creek, it was later renamed for nearby Cape Nome, which, according to one story is from a misreading of a British cartographer's query, ?Name, written beside the peninsula on an 1849 map, and according to another is from a supposed native no-me meaning "I don't know," a plea of noncomprehension when asked what the name of the place was.

*no-men-

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "name."

It forms all or part of: acronym; allonym; ananym; anonymous; antonomasia; antonym; binomial; caconym; cognomen; denominate; eponym; eponymous; heteronym; homonym; homonymous; hyponymy; ignominious; ignominy; innominable; Jerome; matronymic; metonymy; metronymic; misnomer; moniker; name; nomenclature; nominal; nominate; noun; onomastic; onomatopoeia; paronomasia; paronym; patronym; patronymic; praenomen; pronoun; pseudonym; renown; synonym; synonymy; synonymous; toponym.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit nama; Avestan nama; Greek onoma, onyma; Latin nomen; Old Church Slavonic ime, genitive imene; Russian imya; Old Irish ainm; Old Welsh anu "name;" Old English nama, noma, Old High German namo, Old Norse nafn, Gothic namo "name."

nomenclature (n.)

c. 1600, "a name" (a sense now obsolete), from French nomenclature (16c.), from Latin nomenclatura "calling of names," from nomenclator "namer," from nomen "name" (from PIE root *no-men- "name") + calator "caller, crier," from calare "call out" (from PIE root *kele- (2) "to shout").

Nomenclator in Rome was the title of a steward whose job was to announce visitors, and also of a prompter who helped a stumping politician recall names and pet causes of his constituents. Meaning "systematic list or catalogue of names" is attested from 1630s; that of "system of naming" is from 1660s; sense of "whole vocabulary or terminology of an art or a science" is from 1789. Related: Nomenclative; nomenclatorial; nomenclatural.

nomenklatura (n.)

in the Soviet Union, "list of influential posts in government and industry to be filled by Communist Party appointees," thus "the people who held key administrative and bureaucratic positions in the USSR and Eastern Europe;" by 1959 in English, from Russian, literally "a listing of positions to be filled," from Latin nomenclatura (see nomenclature).

-nomy

word-forming element, principally in the science, forming names of disciplines describing natural laws or scientific methods; from Greek -nomia "method," -nomos "managing," nomos "law, usage, custom," all from the verb nemein "to manage," from PIE root *nem- "assign, allot; take."

nominate (v.)

1540s, "to call or mention by name" (common in 17c., but now rare or obsolete), a back-formation from nomination or else from Latin nominatus, past participle of nominare "to name, call by name, give a name to," also "name for office," from nomen "name" (from PIE root *no-men- "name"). Later "to appoint or designate by name to some office or duty" (1560s); "to propose or formally enter (someone's name) as a candidate for election" (c. 1600). It also occasionally was used from c. 1600 with a sense "give a name to." Related: Nominated; nominating.

nominator (n.)

one who nominates," in any sense, 1650s, from Late Latin nominator, from Latin nominat-, past-participle stem of nominare "to name, call by name, give a name to," from nomen "name" (see name (n.)).

nominalism (n.)

"the view that treats abstract concepts as names only, not realities; the doctrine that common nouns are mere conveniences in thought or speech, representing nothing in the real things," 1820, from French nominalisme (1752), from nominal, from Latin nominalis "pertaining to a name or names" (see nominal). Related: Nominalist (1650s); nominalistic.

nomination (n.)

early 15c., nominacioun, "act of mentioning by name," from Latin nominationem (nominative nominatio) "a naming, designation," noun of action from past-participle stem of nominare "to name, call by name, give a name to," from nomen "name" (see name (n.)). Meaning "fact of being proposed as a candidate" is attested from late 15c.

nominative (adj.)

late 14c., nominatif, "pertaining to the grammatical case dealing with the subject of a verb," from Old French nominatif, from Latin nominativus "pertaining to naming, serving to name" (in casus nominativus), from nominat-, past-participle stem of nominare "to name, call by name, give a name to," from nomen "name" (see name (n.)). As a noun, "the nominative case" (1610s); "a nominative word" (1660s).

nominal (adj.)

mid-15c., nominalle, "pertaining to nouns," from Latin nominalis "pertaining to a name or names," from nomen (genitive nominis) "name," which is cognate with Old English nama (from PIE root *no-men- "name"). Meaning "of the nature of names" (in distinction to things) is from 1610s. Meaning "being so in name only" is recorded from 1620s.

nominally (adv.)

1660s, "as regards a name," from nominal + -ly (2). Meaning "in name only" (as opposed to really) is attested from 1748.

nominee (n.)

1660s, "person named or designated" for something; see nominate + -ee. Specific sense of "person named as a candidate" is attested from 1680s.

nomology (n.)

1825, "study of what relates to society" (obsolete); 1845, in philosophy, "science of the fundamental laws of thinking;" 1879, "science of law and legislation," from Greek nomos "usage, law, custom" (from PIE root *nem- "to assign, allot; to take") + -logy. Related: Nomologist; nomologistical.

nomothetic (adj.)

"lawgiving, legislative; based on law," 1650s, from Latinized form of Greek nomothetikos "relating to legislation, legislative," from nomothetes "lawgiving," from nomos "usage, custom, law" (from PIE root *nem- "assign, allot; take") + thetes "one who puts, places, or establishes." Related: Nomothetical (1610s). Greek had nomothetēs "law-giver."

non-

a prefix used freely in English and meaning "not, lack of," or "sham," giving a negative sense to any word, 14c., from Anglo-French noun-, from Old French non-, from Latin non "not, by no means, not at all, not a," from Old Latin noenum "not one" (*ne oinom, from PIE root *ne- "not" + PIE root *oi-no- "one, unique"). In some cases perhaps from Middle English non "not" (adj.), from Old English nan (see not). "It differs from un- in that it denotes mere negation or absence of the thing or quality, while un- often denotes the opposite of the thing or quality" [Century Dictionary].

nona-

before vowels non-, word-forming element indicating "nine," from combining form of Latin nonus "ninth," contracted from *novenos, from novem "nine" (see nine).

non-access (n.)

"lack of access," 1745, from non- + access (n.). Especially in law, "impossibility of access for sexual intercourse," as when a husband is out of the country in military service or at sea longer than the time of gestation of a child. "[W]hen a husband could not, in the course of nature, by reason of his absence, have been the father of his wife's child, the child is a bastard" ["Wharton's Law Lexicon," London, 1883].

non-admission (n.)

also nonadmission, "the refusal of admission," 1680s, from non- + admission.

nonage (n.)

late 14c., "childhood, minority, state of not being of age, period of legal infancy," from Anglo-French nounage (early 14c.), Old French nonaage, from non- (see non-) + age (see age (n.)). Figurative use from 1580s.

nonagenarian (n.)

"person who has reached 90 years old; person between 90 and 100 years old;" 1776, coined in English with -an + Latin nonagenarius "containing ninety" (in Late Latin "someone 90 years old"), from nonagen "ninety each," related to nonaginta "the number ninety," from nonus "ninth" (from novem "nine;" see nine) + -genaria "ten times," from PIE *dkm-ta-, from root *dekm- "ten." As an adjective, "of age 90 to 100," by 1867.

non-aggression (n.)

also nonaggression, "absence of aggression," especially "absence of warlike intentions among nations," 1833, from non- + aggression.

nonagon (n.)

"plane figure with nine sides and nine angles," 1680s, a hybrid from Latin nonus "ninth" (from novem "nine;" see nine) + ending from pentagon, etc.

non-aligned (adj.)

also nonaligned, by 1960 in geopolitical sense, from non- + past participle of align. Non-alignment (also nonalignment) in this sense is attested from 1934.

no-name (adj.)

1978, "not having made a name in one's profession," originally American English sporting jargon, from no + name (n.). As a noun, by 1984.

non-appearance (n.)

also nonappearance, "failure to appear as summoned," mid-15c., non-apparaunce, from non- + appearance.

non-attendance (n.)

also nonattendance, "failure to attend, omission of attendance," 1680s, from non- + attendance.

nonce (n.)

in phrase for the nonce (Middle English for þe naness, c. 1200) "for a special occasion, for a particular purpose," a misdivision (see N for other examples) of for þan anes "for the once," in reference to a particular occasion or purpose, the þan being an altered form of the Middle English dative definite article þam (see the). The phrase was used from early 14c. as an empty filler in metrical composition.

nonce-word (n.)

"word coined for a special occasion," and not likely to be wanted again, 1884, from nonce "for a particular purpose" + word (n.). Said to be a translation of Littré's term mot d'occasion.

nonchalant (adj.)

also non-chalant, "indifferent, unconcerned, careless, cool," 1734, from French nonchalant "careless, indifferent," present participle of nonchaloir "be indifferent to, have no concern for" (13c.), from non- "not" (see non-) + chaloir "have concern for," ultimately from Latin calere "be hot" (from PIE root *kele- (1) "warm"). French chaland "customer, client" is of the same origin. Related: Nonchalantly.

nonchalance (n.)

"coolness, indifference, unconcern," 1670s, from French nonchalance (13c.), from nonchalant "careless" (see nonchalant).

non-com

also noncom, by 1817, short for non-commissioned (officer).

non-combatant (n.)

also noncombatant, "one connected with a military or naval force other than as a fighter" (surgeons, surgeons mates, pursers, secretaries, chaplains, etc.), 1799, from non- + combatant. A word from the Napoleonic wars. Gradually extended by 1820s to "a civilian in time of war."

non-combustible (adj.)

also noncombustible, "incapable, of catching fire," 1804, from non- + combustible.

non-commissioned (adj.)

of officers in the army, "not having a commission," 1703; see non- + commission (v.).

non-committal (adj.)

also noncommittal, "characterized by refusal to commit oneself, disinclined to express an opinion one way or another, free from pledge or entanglement of any kind," 1829, from non- + committal (adj.). Related: Non-committally.

non-communicant (n.)

"one who does not receive the holy communion," c. 1600, from non- + communicant.

non-compliance (n.)

also noncompliance, "failure or refusal to comply," 1680s, from non- + compliance. Related: Noncompliant.

non compos mentis

c. 1600, in law, "not capable, mentally, of managing one's own affairs," Latin, "not master of one's mind," from non "not" + compos "having power" (from com- "together" + potis "powerful") + mentis "of the mind," genitive of mens "mind."

nonconforming (adj.)

also non-conforming, "failing or refusing to conform," 1640s, from non- + conforming (see conform). Originally in religion, "refusing to follow the forms and regulations of the Church of England;" see nonconformist.

nonconformity (n.)

also non-conformity, "neglect or failure to conform," especially to some ecclesiastical law or requirement, 1610s, coined in English from non- + conformity. Originally of Church of England clergymen who refused to conform on certain ceremonies (see non-conformist).

nonconformist (n.)

also non-conformist, "one who does not conform to some law or usage," 1610s, originally and especially of clergymen who adhered to Church of England doctrine but not its practice, from non- + conformist. After their ejection under the Act of Uniformity (1662) the name passed to the separate churches they joined or formed. In general use from 1670s as "one who does not participate in a practice or course of action." As an adjective from 1640s. Shortened form non-con is attested from 1680s.

non-consensual (adj.)

also nonconsensual, "done without consent," by 1945 in legalese, from non- + consensual (q.v.). Used since 1960s by sociologists and in political science; used by 1977 in legal discussions and definitions of rape and other sex crimes and popularized in this sense from c. 1995. An earlier adjective was non-consenting (1670s), which was used of persons, not acts.

non-cooperation (n.)

also noncooperation, "failure or refusal to cooperate," 1795, from non- + cooperation.

non-denominational (adj.)

also nondenominational, "of no denomination," 1893, from non- + denominational.

nondescript (adj.)

also non-descript, 1680s, in scientific use, "not hitherto described" (a sense now obsolete), coined from non- "not" + Latin descriptus, past participle of describere "to write down, copy; sketch, represent" (see describe). The general sense of "not easily described or classified," hence "of no particular kind," is from 1806.

non-disjunction (n.)

also nondisjunction, 1913, in cytology, from non- + disjunction. Related: Non-disjunctional.

nones (n.)

late 14c. in reference to the Roman calendar, "ninth day (by inclusive reckoning) before the ides of each month" (7th of March, May, July, October, 5th of other months), from Old French nones and directly from Latin nonæ (accusative nonas), fem. plural of nonus "ninth," contracted from *novenos, from novem "nine" (see nine).

The ecclesiastical sense of "daily office said originally at the ninth hour of the day" is from 1709; originally fixed at ninth hour from sunrise, hence about 3 p.m. (now usually somewhat earlier), from Latin nona (hora) "ninth (hour)," from fem. plural of nonus "ninth." It was also used from c. 1300 in a general sense of "midday" (see noon). For for the nones, see nonce.

none (pron.)

Middle English non, none, from Old English nan "not one, not any, no person; not the least part," from ne "not" (see no) + an "one" (see one). Cognate with Old Saxon, Middle Low German nen, Old Norse neinn, Middle Dutch, Dutch neen, Old High German, German nein "no," and analogous to Latin non- (see non-). It is thus the negative of one, an, and a (1).

As an adverb, "1650s, "by no means;" 1799 as "in no respect or degree, to no extent." As an adjective from late Old English; since c. 1600 reduced to no except in a few archaic phrases, especially before vowels, such as none other, none the worse.