Chapter 1033

Nic"co*lite (?) , n. [from NL. niccolum nickel.] (Min.) A mineral of a copper-red color and metallic luster; an arsenide of nickel; -- called also coppernickel , kupfernickel .

Nice <Xpage=974>

Nice (?) , a. [ Compar. Nicer (?) ; superl. Nicest .] [OE., foolish, fr. OF. nice ignorant, fool, fr. L. nescius ignorant; ne not + scius knowing, scire to know. perhaps influenced by E. nesh delicate, soft. See No , and Science .] 1. Foolish; silly; simple; ignorant; also, weak; effeminate. [Obs.]

Gower.

But say that we ben wise and nothing nice . Chaucer.

2. Of trifling moment; nimportant; trivial. [Obs.]

The letter was not nice , but full of charge Of dear import. Shak.

3. Overscrupulous or exacting; hard to please or satisfy; fastidious in small matters.

Curious not knowing, not exact but nice . Pope.

And to taste Think not I shall be nice . Milton.

4. Delicate; refined; dainty; pure.

Dear love, continue nice and chaste. Donne.

A nice and subtile happiness. Milton.

5. Apprehending slight diffferences or delicate distinctions; distinguishing accurately or minutely; carefully discriminating; as, a nice taste or judgment . "Our author happy in a judge so nice ." Pope. " Nice verbal criticism." Coleridge.

6. Done or made with careful labor; suited to excite admiration on account of exactness; evidencing great skill; exact; fine; finished; as, nice proportions, nice workmanship, a nice application ; exactly or fastidiously discriminated; requiring close discrimination; as, a nice point of law, a nice distinction in philosophy .

The difference is too nice Where ends the virtue, or begins the vice. Pope.

7. Pleasing; agreeable; gratifying; delightful; good; as, a nice party; a nice excursion; a nice person; a nice day; a nice sauce, etc. [Loosely & Colloquially]

To make nice of , to be scrupulous about. [Obs.]

Shak.

Syn. -- Dainty; delicate; exquisite; fine; accurate; exact; correct; precise; particular; scrupulous; punctilious; fastidious; squeamish; finical; effeminate; silly.

Nicely <Xpage=974>

Nice"ly adv. In a nice manner.

Nicene <Xpage=974>

Ni"cene (?) , a. [L. Nicaenus , fr. Nicaea Nice, Gr. <?/.] Of or pertaining to Nice, a town of Asia Minor, or to the ecumenial council held there A. D. 325.

Nicene Creed (<?/) , a summary of Christian faith, composed and adopted by the Council of Nice, against Arianism, A. D. 325, altered and confirmed by the Council of Constantinople, A. D. 381, and by subsequent councils.

Niceness <Xpage=974>

Nice"ness (?) , n. Quality or state of being nice.

Nicery <Xpage=974>

Ni"cer*y (?) , n. Nicety. [Colloq.]

Chapman.

Nicety <Xpage=974>

Ni"ce*ty (?) , n. ; pl. Niceties (#) . [OE. nicet\'82 foolishness.] 1. The quality or state of being nice (in any of the senses of that word.).

The miller smiled of her nicety . Chaucer.

2. Delicacy or exactness of perception; minuteness of observation or of discrimination; precision.

3. A delicate expression, act, mode of treatment, distinction, or the like; a minute distinction.

The fineness and niceties of words. Locke.

To a nicety , with great exactness or accuracy.

Niche <Xpage=974>

Niche (?) , n. [F., fr. It. nicchia , prop., a shell-like recess in a wall, fr. nicchio a shellfish, mussel, fr. L. mytilus .] A cavity, hollow, or recess, generally within the thickness of a wall, for a statue, bust, or other erect ornament. hence, any similar position, literal or figurative.

Images defended from the injuries of the weather by niches of stone wherein they are placed. Evelun.

Niched <Xpage=974>

Niched . (<?/) , a. Placed in a niche. "Those niched shapes of noble mold."

Tennyson.

Nick <Xpage=974>

Nick (<?/) , n. [AS. nicor a marine monster; akin to D. nikker a water spite, Icel. nykr , ONG. nihhus a crocodile, G. nix a water sprite; cf. Gr. <?/ to wash, Skr. nij . Cf. Nix .] (Northern Myth.) An evil spirit of the waters.

Old Nick , the evil one; the devil. [Colloq.]

Nick <Xpage=974>

Nick , n. [Akin to Nock .] 1. A notch cut into something ; as: (a) A score for keeping an account; a reckoning . [Obs.] (b) (Print.) A notch cut crosswise in the shank of a type, to assist a compositor in placing it properly in the stick, and in distribution.

W. Savage.

(c) A broken or indented place in any edge or surface; nicks in china.

2. A particular point or place considered as marked by a nick; the exact point or critical moment.

To cut it off in the very nick . Howell.

This nick of time is the critical occasion for the gainger of a point. L'Estrange.

Nick <Xpage=974>

Nick , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Nicked (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Nicking .] 1. To make a nick or nicks in; to notch; to keep count of or upon by nicks; as, to nick a stick, tally, etc.

2. To mar; to deface; to make ragged, as by cutting nicks or notches in.

And thence proceed to nicking sashes. Prior.

The itch of his affection should not then Have nicked his captainship. Shak.

3. To suit or fit into, as by a correspondence of nicks; to tally with.

Words nicking and resembling one another are applicable to different significations. Camden.

4. To hit at, or in, the nick; to touch rightly; to strike at the precise point or time.

The just season of doing things must be nicked , and all accidents improved. L'Estrange.

5. To make a cross cut or cuts on the under side of (the tail of a horse, in order to make him carry ir higher).

Nick <Xpage=974>

Nick , v. t. To nickname; to style. [Obs.]

For Warbeck, as you nick him, came to me. Ford.

Nickar nut, Nickar tree <Xpage=974>

Nick"ar nut` (?) , Nick"ar tree` (?) . (Bot.) Same as Nicker nut , Nicker tree .

Nickel <Xpage=974>

Nick"el (?) , n. [G., fr. Sw. nickel , abbrev. from Sw. kopparnickel copper-nickel, a name given in derision, as it was thought to be a base ore of copper. The origin of the second part of the word is uncertain. Cf. Kupfer-nickel , Copper-nickel .] 1. (Chem.) A bright silver-white metallic element. It is of the iron group, and is hard, malleable, and ductile. It occurs combined with sulphur in millerite, with arsenic in the mineral niccolite, and with arsenic and sulphur in nickel glance. Symbol Ni. Atomic weight 58.6.

&hand; On account of its permanence in air and inertness to oxidation, it is used in the smaller coins, for plating iron, brass, etc., for chemical apparatus, and in certain alloys, as german silver. It is magnetic, and is very frequently accompanied by cobalt, both being found in meteoric iron.

2. A small coin made of or containing nickel; esp., a five-cent piece. [Colloq. U.S.]

Nickel silver , an alloy of nickel, copper, and zinc; -- usually called german silver ; called also argentan .

Nickelic <Xpage=974>

Nick*el"ic (?) , a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or containing, nickel; specifically, designating compounds in which, as contrasted with the nickelous compounds, the metal has a higher valence; as nickelic oxide .

Nickeliferous <Xpage=974>

Nick`el*if"er*ous (?) , a. [ Nickel + -ferous .] Containing nickel; as, nickelferous iron .

Nickeline <Xpage=974>

Nick"el*ine (? &or; ?) , n. 1. (Chem.) An alloy of nickel, a variety of German silver.

2. (Min.) Niccolite.

Nickelous <Xpage=974>

Nick"el*ous (?) , a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, those compounds of nickel in which, as contrasted with the nickelic compounds, the metal has a lower valence; as, nickelous oxide .

Frankland.

Nicker <Xpage=974>

Nick"er (?) , n. [From Nick , v . t .] 1. One of the night brawlers of London formerly noted for breaking windows with half-pence. [Cant]

Arbuthnot.

2. The cutting lip which projects downward at the edge of a boring bit and cuts a circular groove in the wood to limit the size of the hole that is bored.

Nicker nut <Xpage=974>

Nick"er nut` (?) . A rounded seed, rather smaller than a nutmeg, having a hard smooth shell, and a yellowish or bluish color. The seeds grow in the prickly pods of tropical, woody climbers of the genus C\'91salpinia . C. Bonduc has yellowish seeds; C.Bonducella , bluish gray. [Spelt also neckar nut , nickar nut .]

Nicker tree <Xpage=974>

Nick"er tree` (?) . (Bot.) The plant producing nicker nuts. [Written also neckar tree and nickar tree .]

Nicking <Xpage=974>

Nick"ing , n. [From Nick , v. t. ] (Coal Mining) (a) The cutting made by the hewer at the side of the face. (b) pl. Small coal produced in making the nicking.

Nickle <Xpage=974>

Nic"kle (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The European woodpecker, or yaffle; -- called also nicker pecker .

Nicknack <Xpage=974>

Nick"nack` (?) , n. See Knickknack .

Nicknackery <Xpage=974>

Nick"nack`er*y (?) , n. See Knickknackery .

Nickname <Xpage=974>

Nick"name` (?) , n. [OE. ekename surname, hence, a nickname, an ekename being understood as a nekename , influenced also by E. nick , v. See Eke , and Name .] A name given in contempt, derision, or sportive familiarity; a familiar or an opprobrious appellation.

Nickname <Xpage=974>

Nick"name` , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Nicknamed (#) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Nicknaming .] To give a nickname to; to call by a nickname.

You nickname virtue; vice you should have spoke. Shak.

I altogether disclaim what has been nicknamed the doctrine of finality. Macaulay.

<page="975"> Page 975

Nicolaitan <Xpage=975>

Ni`co*la"i*tan (?) , n. [So called from Nicolas of Antioch, mentioned in Acts vi. 5.] (Eccl. Hist.) One of certain corrupt persons in the early church at Ephesus, who are censured in rev. ii. 6, 15.

Nicotian <Xpage=975>

Ni*co"tian (?) , n. [F. nicotiane ; -- so called from Nicot , who introduced it into France, a . d . 15<?/0.] Tobacco. [R.]

B. Jonson.

Nicotian <Xpage=975>

Ni*co"tian , a. Pertaining to, or derived from, tobacco. [R.]

Bp. Hall.

Nicotian <Xpage=975>

Ni*co"ti*an (?) , n. [NL. See Nicotian .] (Bot.) A genus of American and Asiatic solanaceous herbs, with viscid foliage and funnel-shaped blossoms. Several species yield tobacco. See Tobacco .

Nicotianine <Xpage=975>

Ni*co"ti*a*nine (? &or; ?) , n. [F. nicotianine . See Nicotian .] (Chem.) A white waxy substance having a hot, bitter taste, extracted from tobacco leaves and called also tobacco camphor .

Nicotic <Xpage=975>

Ni*cot"ic (?) , a. (Chem.) Nicotinic.

Nicotidine <Xpage=975>

Ni*cot"i*dine (? &or; ?) , n. [ Nicot ine + pyr idine .] (Chem.) A complex, oily, nitrogenous base, isomeric with nicotine, and obtained by the reduction of certain derivatives of the pyridine group.

Nicotine <Xpage=975>

Nic"o*tine (? &or; ?) , n. [F. nicotine . See Nicotian .] (Chem.) An alkaloid which is the active principle of tobacco. It is a colorless, transparent, oily liquid, having an acrid odor, and an acrid burning taste. It is intensely poisonous.

Ure.

Nicotinic <Xpage=975>

Nic`o*tin"ic (?) , a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, nicotine; nicotic; -- used specifically to designate an acid related to pyridine, obtained by the oxidation of nicotine, and called nicotinic acid .

Nictate <Xpage=975>

Nic"tate (?) , v. i. [L. nictare , nictatum , from nicere to beckon.] To wink; to nictitate.

Nictation <Xpage=975>

Nic*ta"tion (?) , n. [L. nictatio <?/ cf. F. nictation .] the act of winking; nictitation.

Nictitate <Xpage=975>

Nic"ti*tate (?) , v. i. [See Nictate .] To wink; to nictate.

Nictitating membrance (Anat.) , a thin membrance, found in many animals at the inner angle, or beneath the lower lid, of the eye, and capable of being drawn across the eyeball; the third eyelid; the haw.

Nictitation <Xpage=975>

Nic`ti*ta"tion (?) , n. The act of winking.

Nidamental <Xpage=975>

Nid`a*men"tal (?) , a. [L. nidamentum materials for a nest, fr. nidus nest. See Nest .] (Zo\'94l.) of, pertaining to, or baring, eggs or egg capsules; as, the nidament capsules of certain gastropods; nidamental glands . See Illust . of Dibranchiata .

Nidary <Xpage=975>

Ni"da*ry (?) , n. [L. nidus a nest.] A collection of nests. [R.]

velyn.

Nide <Xpage=975>

Nide (?) , n. [L. nidus a nest: cf. F. nid .] A nestful; a brood; as, a nide of pheasants . [Obs.]

Nidering <Xpage=975>

Ni"der*ing (?) , a. [See Niding .] Infamous; dastardly. [Obs.]

Sir W. Scott.

Nidgery <Xpage=975>

Nidg"er*y (?) , n. [See Nidget .] A trifle; a piece of foolery. [Obs.]

Skinner.

Nidget <Xpage=975>

Nidg"et (?) , n. [Written also nigget , nigeot .] [Cf. F. nigaud a boody, fool, OF. niger to play the fool.] A fool; an idiot, a coward. [Obs.]

Camden.

Nidificate <Xpage=975>

Nid"i*fi*cate (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Nidificated (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Nidificating .] [L. nidificare , nidificatum ; nidus nest + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy , and cf. nest .] To make a nest.

Where are the fishes which nidificated in trees? Lowell.

Nidification <Xpage=975>

Nid`i*fi*ca"tion (?) , n. [Cf. F. nidification .] The act or process of building a nest.

Niding <Xpage=975>

Ni"ding (n&imac;"d&icr;ng) , n. [Written also nithing .] [AS. n&imac;&edh;ing , fr. n&imac;&edh; wickness, malice, hatred.] A coward; a dastard; -- a term of utmost opprobrium. [Obs.]

He is worthy to be called a niding . Howell.

Nidor <Xpage=975>

Ni"dor (?) , n. [L.] Scent or savor of meat or food, cooked or cooking. [Obs.]

Jer. Taylor.

Nidorose <Xpage=975>

Ni"dor*ose` (?) , a. Nidorous. [R.]

Arbuthnot.

Nidorous <Xpage=975>

Ni"dor*ous (?) , a. [L. nidorosus steaming, reeking: cf. F. nidoreux . See Nidor .] Resembling the smell or taste of roast meat, or of corrupt animal matter. [R.]

Nidulant <Xpage=975>

Nid"u*lant (?) , a. [L. nidulans , p.pr.: cf. F. Nidulant .] 1. Nestling, as a bird in itss nest.

2. (Bot.) Lying loose in pulp or cotton within a berry or pericarp, as in a nest.

Nidulate <Xpage=975>

Nid"u*late (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Nidulated (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Nidulating .] [L. nidulari , fr. nidulus , dim. of nidus a nest.] To make a nest, as a bird. [R.]

Cockeram.

Nidulation <Xpage=975>

Nid`u*la"tion (?) , n. The time of remaining in the nest. [R.]

Sir T. Browne.

Nidulite <Xpage=975>

Nid"u*lite (?) , n. [L. nidulus a little nest.] (Paleon.) A Silurian fossil, formerly supposed to consist of eggs.

Nidus <Xpage=975>

Ni"dus (?) , n. ; pl. nidi (#) . [L. See Nidi , Nest .] A nest: a repository for the eggs of birds, insects, etc.; a breeding place; esp., the place or substance where parasites or the germs of a disease effect lodgment or are developed.

Niece <Xpage=975>

Niece (?) , n. [OE. nece , F. ni\'8ace , LL. neptia , for L. neptis a granddaughter, niece, akin to nepos . See Nephew .] 1. A relative, in general; especially, a descendant, whether male or female; a granddaughter or a grandson. [Obs.]

B. Jonson. Wyclif. Shak.

2. A daughter of one's brother or sister, or of one's brother-in-law or sister-in-law. <-- primary usage -->

Nief <Xpage=975>

Nief (?) , n. See Neif , the fist.

Niellist <Xpage=975>

Ni*el"list (?) , n. One who practices the style of ornamentation called niello .

Niello <Xpage=975>

Ni*el"lo (?) , n. [It. niello , LL. nigellum a black of blackish enamel, fr. L. nigellus , dim. of niger black. See Negro , and cf. Anneal .] 1. A metallic alloy of a deep black color.

2. The art, process, or method of decorating metal with incised designs filled with the black alloy.

3. A piece of metal, or any other object, so decorated.

4. An impression on paper taken from an ancient incised decoration or metal plate.

Nifle <Xpage=975>

Ni"fle (?) , n. [OF.] A trifle. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Niggard <Xpage=975>

Nig"gard (?) , n. [Icel. hn\'94ggr niggardly, stingy + -ard ; cf. Sw. njugg , AS. hne\'a0w .] A person meanly close and covetous; one who spends grudgingly; a stingy, parsimonous fellow; a miser.

Chaucer.

A penurious niggard of his wealth. Milton.

Be niggards of advice on no pretense. Pope.

Niggard <Xpage=975>

Nig"gard , a. Like a niggard; meanly covetous or parsimonious; niggardly; miserly; stingy.

Niggard <Xpage=975>

Nig"gard , v. t. & i. To act the niggard toward; to be niggardly. [R.]

Shak.

Niggardise <Xpage=975>

Nig"gard*ise (?) , n. Niggardliness. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Niggardish <Xpage=975>