Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary
NIBBLING — NIMBLE
NIBBLING, ppr. Biting in small bits; carping.
NICE, a. [G. To eat dainties or sweetmeats]
1. Properly, soft; whence, delicate; tender; dainty; sweet or very pleasant to the taste; as a nice bit; nice food.
2. Delicate; fine; applied to texture, composition or color; as cloth of a nice texture; nice tints of color.
3. Accurate; exact; precise; as nice proportions; nice symmetry; nice workmanship; nice rules.
4. Requiring scrupulous exactness; as a nice point.
5. Perceiving the smallest difference; distinguishing accurately and minutely by perception; as a person of nice taste; hence,
6. Perceiving accurately the smallest faults, errors or irregularities; distinguishing and judging with exactness; as a nice judge of a subject; nice discernment.
Our author happy in a judge so nice.
7. Over scrupulous or exact.
Curious, not knowing; not exact, but nice.
8. Delicate; scrupulously and minutely cautious.
The letter was not nice, but full of charge of dear import.
Dear love, continue nice and chaste.
9. Fastidious; squeamish.
And to taste, think not I shall be nice.
10. Delicate; easily injured.
How nice the reputation of the maid!
11. Refined; as nice and subtle happiness.
12. Having lucky hits. [Not used.]
13. Weak; foolish; effeminate.
14. Trivial; unimportant.
To make nice, to be scrupulous.
NICELY, adv.
1. With delicate perception; as, to be nicely sensible.
2. Accurately; exactly; with exact order or proportion; as the parts of a machine or building nicely adjusted; a shape nicely proportioned; a dress nicely fitted tot he body; the ingredients of a medicine nicely proportioned and mixed.
3. In colloquial language, well; cleverly; dextrously; handsomely; in the best manner; as, a feat is nicely done.
NICENE, a. Pertaining to Nice, a town of Asia Minor. The Nicene creed, was a summary of Christian faith composed by the council of Nice against Arianism, A.D. 325, altered and confirmed by the council of Constantinople, A.D. 381.
NICENESS, n.
1. Delicacy of perception; the quality of perceiving small differences; as niceness of taste.
2. Extreme delicacy; excess of scrupulousness or exactness.
Unlike the niceness of our modern dames.
3. Accuracy; minute exactness; as niceness of work; niceness of texture or proportion.
Wheres now the labored niceness in thy dress?
NICETY, n.
1. Niceness; delicacy of perception.
2. Excess of delicacy; fastidiousness; squeamishness.
So love doth lothe disdainful nicety.
3. Minute difference; as the niceties of words.
4. Minuteness of observation or discrimination; precision. The connoisseur judges of the beauties of a painting with great nicety.
5. Delicate management; exactness in treatment.
Love such nicety requires. One blast will put out all his fires.
6. Niceties, in the plural, delicacies for food; dainties.
NICH, n. A cavity, hollow, or recess within the thickness of a wall, for a statue or bust.
NICHE, n. A cavity, hollow, or recess within the thickness of a wall, for a statue or bust.
NICK, n. In the northern mythology, an evil spirit of the saters; hence the modern vulgar phrase, Old Nick, the evil one.
NICK, n. [G. The nape; a continual nodding. The word seems to signify a point, from shooting forward.]
1. The exact point of time required by necessity or convenience; the critical time.
2. [G. knick, a flaw.] A notch or score for keeping an account; a reckoning.
3. A winning throw.
NICK, v.t.
1. To hit; to touch luckily; to perform by a slight artifice used at the lucky time.
The just reason of doing things must be nicked, and all accidents improved.
2. To cut in nicks or notches. [See Notch.]
3. To suit, as lattices cut in nicks.
4. To defeat or cozen, as at dice; to disappoint by some trick or unexpected turn.
NICK, v.t. [G. knicken, to flaw.] To notch or make an incision in a horses tail, to make him carry it higher.
NICKAR-TREE, n. A tree of the genus Guilandina, which grows in the western parts of the United States, and bears a nut of the size of a pignut.
NICKEL, n. A metal of a white or reddish white color, of great hardness, very difficult to be purified, always magnetic, and when perfectly pure, malleable. It is generally obtained from its sulphuret.
NICKELIC, a. The nickelic acid is a saturated combination of nickel and oxygen.
NICKER, n. One who watches for opportunities to pilfer or practice knavery.
NICKNAME, n. [G. To banter. Signifies to surname, to call by a name of reproach.] A name given in contempt, derision or reproach; an opprobrious appellation.
NICKNAME, v.t. To give a name of reproach; to call by an opprobrious appellation.
You nickname virtue vice.
NICKNAMED, pp. Named in derision.
NICKNAMING, ppr. Calling by a name in contempt or derision.
NICOLAITAN, n. One of a sect in the ancient Christian church, so named from Nicolas, a deacon of the church of Jerusalem. They held that all married women should be common to prevent jealousy. They are not charged with erroneous opinions respecting God, but with licentious practices. Revelation 2:6, 15.
NICOTIAN, a. Pertaining to or denoting tobacco; and as a noun, tobacco; so called from Nicot, who first introduced it into France, A.D. 1560.
NICOTIN, n. The peculiar principle in the leaves of tobacco; a colorless substance of an acrid taste. It is precipitated from its solution by the tincture of nutgalls.
NICTATE, v.i. [L. to wink.] To wink.
NICTATING, ppr. or a. Winking. The nictitating membrane is a thin membrane that covers and protects the eyes of some animals, without entirely obstructing the sight.
NICTITATING, ppr. or a. Winking. The nictitating membrane is a thin membrane that covers and protects the eyes of some animals, without entirely obstructing the sight.
NICTATION, n. The act of winking.
NIDE, n. [L. A nest.] A brood; as a nide of pheasants.
NIDGET, n. A dastard. [Not in use.]
NIDIFICATE, v.i. [L. A nest.] To make a nest.
NIDIFICATION, n. The act or operation of building a nest, and the hatching and feeding of young in the nest.
NIDING, n. A despicable coward; a dastard.
NIDOR, n. Scent, savor.
NIDOROSITY, n. Eructation with the taste of undigested roast meat.
NIDOROUS, a. Resembling the smell or taste of roasted meat.
NIDULANT, a. [L. Nest.] In botany, nestling; lying loose in pulp or cotton, within a berry or pericarp.
NIDULATION, n. The time of remaining in the nest; as of a bird.
NIDUS, n. [L.] A nest; a repository for the eggs of birds, insects, etc.
NIECE, n. The daughter of a brother or sister.
NIFLE, n. A trifle.
NIGGARD, n. [straight, narrow; to haggle, to be sordidly parsimonious; exhibiting analogies similar to those of wretch, wreck and haggle.] A miser; a person meanly close and covetous; a sordid wretch who saves every cent, or spends grudgingly.
Serve him as a grudging master, As a penurious niggard of his wealth.
Be niggards of advice on no pretense.
NIGGARD, a.
1. Miserly; meanly covetous; sordidly parsimonious.
2. Sparing; wary.
Most free of question, but to our demands Niggard in his reply.
NIGGARD, v.t. To stint; to supply sparingly. [Little used.]
NIGGARDISE, n. Niggardliness. [Not in use.]
NIGGARDISH, a. Somewhat covetous or niggardly.
NIGGARDLINESS, n. Mean covetousness; sordid parsimony; extreme avarice manifested in sparing expense.
Niggardliness is not good husbandry.
NIGGARDLY, a.
1. Meanly covetous or avaricious; sordidly parsimonious; extremely sparing of expense.
Where the owner of the house will be bountiful, it is not for the steward to be niggardly.
2. Sparing; wary; cautiously avoiding profusion.
NIGGARDLY, adv. Sparingly; with cautious parsimony.
NIGGARDNESS, n. Niggardliness. [Not used.]
NIGGARDY, n. Niggardliness. [Not used.]
NIGGLE, v.t. and i. To mock; to trifle with. [Not in use.]
NIGH, a. [G. A preposition signifying to, on or after, that is, approaching, pressing on, making towards; strait, narrow.]
1. Near; not distant or remote in place or time.
The loud tumult shows the battle nigh.
When the fig-tree putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh.
2. Closely allied by blood; as a nigh kinsman.
3. Easy to be obtained or learnt; of easy access.
The word is very nigh unto thee. Deuteronomy 30:14.
4. Ready to support, to forgive, or to aid and defend.
The Lord is nigh unto them who are of a broken heart. Psalm 34:18.
5. Close in fellowship; intimate in relation.
Ye are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13.
6. Near in progress or condition. Hebrews 6:8.
NIGH, adv. ni.
1. Near; at a small distance in place or time, or in the course of events.
He was sick, nigh to death. Philippians 2:27, 30.
2. Near to a place.
He drew nigh.
3. Almost; near. He was nigh dead.
Nigh is never a preposition. In the phrase, nigh this recess, with terror they survey, there is an ellipsis of to. They, nigh to this recess, survey, etc.
NIGH, v.i. ni. To approach; to advance or draw near. [Not used.]
NIGHLY, adv. Nearly; within a little.
A cube and a sphere nighly of the same bigness. [Not used.]
NIGHNESS, n. Nearness; proximity in place, time or degree.
NIGHT, n. [The sense may be dark, black, or it may be the decline of the day, from declining, departing.]
1. That part of the natural day when the sun is beneath the horizon, or the time from sunset to sunrise.
2. The time after the close of life; death. John 9:4.
She closed her eyes in everlasting night.
3. A state of ignorance; intellectual and moral darkness; heathenish ignorance. Romans 13:12.
4. Adversity; a state of affliction and distress. Isaiah 21:11-12.
5. Obscurity; a state of concealment from the eye or the mind; unintelligibleness.
Nature and natures works lay hid in night.
In the night, suddenly; unexpectedly. Luke 12:20.
To-night, in this night. To-night the moon will be eclipsed.
NIGHT-ANGLING, n. The angling for or catching fish in the night.
NIGHT-BIRD, n. A bird that flies only in the night.
NIGHT-BORN, a. Produced in darkness.
NIGHT-BRAWLER, n. One who excites brawls or makes a tumult at night.
NIGHT-CAP, n. A cap worn in bed or in undress.
NIGHT-CROW, n. A fowl that cries in the night.
NIGHT-DEW, n. The dew formed in the night.
NIGHT-DOG, n. A dog that hunts in the night; used by deer-stealers.
NIGHT-DRESS, n. A dress worn at night.
NIGHTED, a. Darkened; clouded; black. [Little used.]
NIGHTFALL, n. The close of the day; evening.
NIGHT-FARING, a. Traveling in the night.
NIGHT-FIRE, n.
1. Ignis fatuus; Will with a wisp; Jack with a lantern.
2. Fire burning in the night.
NIGHT-FLY, n. An insect that flies in the night.
NIGHT-FOUNDED, a. Lost or distressed in the night.
NIGHT-GOWN, n. A loose gown used for undress.
NIGHT-HAG, n. A witch supposed to wander in the night.
NIGHTINGALE, n.
1. A small bird that sings at night, of the genus Motacilla; Philomela or Philomel.
2. A word of endearment.
NIGHTISH, a. Pertaining to night, or attached to the night.
NIGHTLY, a.
1. Done by night; happening in the night, or appearing in the night; as nightly sports; nightly dews.
2. Done every night. The watch goes his nightly round.
NIGHTLY, adv.
1. By night.
Thee, Sion, and the flowery brooks beneath, nightly I visit.
2. Every night.
NIGHT-MAN, n. One who removes filth from cities in the night.
NIGHTMAR, n. Incubus; a sensation in sleep resembling the pressure of a weight on the breast or about the praecordia. It is usually the effect of indigestion or of a loaded stomach.
NIGHT-PIECE, n. A piece of painting so colored as to be supposed seen by candle-light.
NIGHT-RAIL, n. A loose robe or garment worn over the dress at night. [Not used.]
NIGHT-RAVEN, n. A fowl of ill omen that cries in the night.
NIGHT-REST, n. Rest or repose at night.
NIGHT-ROBBER, n. One that robs or steals in the night.
NIGHT-RULE, n. A tumult or frolick in the night.
NIGHTSHADE, n. A plant of the genus Solanum. The deadly nightshade is of the genus Atropa; the American nightshade of the genus Phytolacea; the bastard nightshade of the genus Rivina; the enchanter’s nightshade of the genus Circaea; the Malabar nightshade of the genus Basella; and the three-leaved nightshade of the genus Trillium.
NIGHT-SHINING, a. Shining in the night; luminous in darkness.
NIGHT-SHRIEK, n. A shriek or outcry in the night.
NIGHT-SPELL, n. A charm against accidents at night.
NIGHT-TRIPPING, a. Tripping about in the night; as a night-tripping fairy.
NIGHT-VISION, n. A vision at night. Daniel 2:19.
NIGHT-WAKING, a. Watching in the night.
NIGHT-WALK, n. A walk in the evening or night.
NIGHT-WALKER, n.
1. One that walks in his sleep; a somnambulist.
2. One that roves about in the night for evil purposes. Night-walkers are punishable by law.
NIGHT-WALKING, a. Roving in the night.
NIGHT-WALKING, n. A roving in the streets at night with evil designs.
NIGHT-WANDERER, n. One roving at night.
NIGHT-WANDERING, a. Wandering in the night.
NIGHT-WARBLING, a. Warbling or singing in the night.
NIGHTWARD, a. Approaching towards night.
NIGHT-WATCH, n.
1. A period in the night, as distinguished by the change of the watch. Night-watches, however, in the Psalms, seems to mean the night or time of sleep in general.
2. A watch or guard in the night.
NIGHT-WATCHER, n. One that watches in the night with evil designs.
NIGHT-WITCH, n. A night hag; a witch that appears in the night.
NIGRESCENT, a. [L. to grow black.] Growing black; changing to a black color; approaching to blackness.
NIGRIN, n. An ore of titanium, found in black grains or rolled pieces.
NIGRINE, n. An ore of titanium, found in black grains or rolled pieces.
NIHILITY, n. Nothingness; a state of being nothing.
NILL, v.t. Not to will; to refuse; to reject.
NILL, v.i. To be unwilling.
NILL, n. The shining sparks of brass in trying and melting the ore.
NILOMETER, n. An instrument for measuring the rise of water in the Nile during the flood.
NIM, v.t. To take; to steal; to filch.
NIMBLE, a. Light and quick in motion; moving with ease and celerity; lively; swift. It is applied chiefly to motions of the feet and hands, sometimes to other things; as a nimble boy; the nimble-footed deer.
Through the mid seas the nimble pinnace sails.