Chapter 1047

Nup"tial (?) , a. [L. nuptialis , fr. nuptiae marriage, wedding, fr. nubere , nuptum , prop., to cover, to veil, hence, to marry, as the head of the bride was covered with a veil; cf. Gr. <?/ bride, nymph: cf. F. nuptial .] Of or pertaining to marriage; done or used at a wedding; as, nuptial rites and ceremonies .

Then, all in heat, They light the nuptial torch. Milton.

Nuptial <Xpage=987>

Nup"tial , n. ; pl. Nuptials (<?/) . Marriage; wedding; nuptial ceremony; -- now only in the plural.

Celebration of that nuptial , which We two have sworn shall come. Shak.

Preparations . . . for the approaching nuptials . Prescott.

Nur <Xpage=987>

Nur (?) , n. [Cf. Knur .] A hard knot in wood; also, a hard knob of wood used by boys in playing hockey.

I think I'm as hard as a nur , and as tough as whitleather. W. Howitt.

Nurl <Xpage=987>

Nurl (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Nurled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Nurling .] [Cf. Knurl .] To cut with reeding or fluting on the edge of, as coins, the heads of screws, etc.; to knurl.

Nurse <Xpage=987>

Nurse (?) , n. [OE. nourse , nurice , norice , OF. nurrice , norrice , nourrice , F. nourrice , fr. L. nutricia nurse, prop., fem. of nutricius that nourishes; akin to nutrix , -icis , nurse, fr. nutrire to nourish. See Nourish , and cf. Nutritious .] 1. One who nourishes; a person who supplies food, tends, or brings up; as: (a) A woman who has the care of young children; especially, one who suckles an infant not her own. (b) A person, especially a woman, who has the care of the sick or infirm.

2. One who, or that which, brings up, rears, causes to grow, trains, fosters, or the like.

The nurse of manly sentiment and heroic enterprise. Burke.

3. (Naut.) A lieutenant or first officer, who is the real commander when the captain is unfit for his place.

4. (Zo\'94l.) (a) A peculiar larva of certain trematodes which produces cercari\'91 by asexual reproduction. See Cercaria , and Redia . (b) Either one of the nurse sharks.

Nurse shark . (Zo\'94l.) (a) A large arctic shark ( Somniosus microcephalus ), having small teeth and feeble jaws; -- called also sleeper shark , and ground shark . (b) A large shark ( Ginglymostoma cirratum ), native of the West Indies and Gulf of Mexico, having the dorsal fins situated behind the ventral fins. -- To put to nurse , &or; To put out to nurse , to send away to be nursed; to place in the care of a nurse. -- Wet nurse , Dry nurse . See Wet nurse , and Dry nurse , in the Vocabulary.

Nurse <Xpage=987>

Nurse , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Nursed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Nursing .] 1. To nourish; to cherish; to foster ; as: (a) To nourish at the breast; to suckle; to feed and tend, as an infant . (b) To take care of or tend, as a sick person or an invalid; to attend upon.

Sons wont to nurse their parents in old age. Milton.

Him in Egerian groves Aricia bore, And nursed his youth along the marshy shore. Dryden.

2. To bring up; to raise, by care, from a weak or invalid condition; to foster; to cherish; -- applied to plants, animals, and to any object that needs, or thrives by, attention. "To nurse the saplings tall."

Milton.

By what hands [has vice] been nursed into so uncontrolled a dominion? Locke.

3. To manage with care and economy, with a view to increase; as, to nurse our national resources .

4. To caress; to fondle, as a nurse does.

A. Trollope.

To nurse billiard balls , to strike them gently and so as to keep them in good position during a series of caroms.

Nursehound <Xpage=987>

Nurse"hound` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) See Houndfish .

Nursemaid <Xpage=987>

Nurse"maid` (?) , n. A girl employed to attend children.

Nursepond <Xpage=987>

Nurse"pond` , n. A pond where fish are fed.

Walton.

Nurser <Xpage=987>

Nurs"er (?) , n. One who nurses; a nurse; one who cherishes or encourages growth.

Nursery <Xpage=987>

Nurs"er*y (?) , n. ; pl. Nurseries (#) . [Cf. F. nourricerie .] 1. The act of nursing. [Obs.] "Her kind nursery ."

Shak.

2. The place where nursing is carried on ; as: (a) The place, or apartment, in a house, appropriated to the care of children. (b) A place where young trees, shrubs, vines, etc., are propagated for the purpose of transplanting; a plantation of young trees. (c) The place where anything is fostered and growth promoted. "Fair Padua, nursery of arts."

Shak.

Christian families are the nurseries of the church on earth, as she is the nursery of the church in heaven. J. M. Mason.

(d) That which forms and educates; as, commerce is the nursery of seamen .

3. That which is nursed. [R.]

Milton.

Nurseryman <Xpage=987>

Nurs"er*y*man (?) , n. ; pl. Nurserymen (<?/) . One who cultivates or keeps a nursery, or place for rearing trees, etc.

Nursing <Xpage=987>

Nurs"ing , a. Supplying or taking nourishment from, or as from, the breast; as, a nursing mother; a nursing infant.

Nursling <Xpage=987>

Nurs"ling (?) , n. [ Nurse + -ling .] One who, or that which, is nursed; an infant; a fondling.

I was his nursling once, and choice delight. Milton.

Nurstle <Xpage=987>

Nurs"tle (?) , v. t. To nurse. See Noursle . [Obs.]

Nurture <Xpage=987>

Nur"ture (?) , n. [OE. norture , noriture , OF. norriture , norreture , F. nourriture , fr. L. nutritura a nursing, suckling. See Nourish .] 1. The act of nourishing or nursing; thender care; education; training.

A man neither by nature nor by nurture wise. Milton.

2. That which nourishes; food; diet.

Spenser.

Nurture <Xpage=987>

Nur"ture (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Nurtured (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Nurturing .] 1. To feed; to nourish.

2. To educate; to bring or train up.

He was nurtured where he had been born. Sir H. Wotton.

Syn. -- To nourish; nurse; cherish; bring up; educate; tend. -- To Nurture , Nourish , Cherish . Nourish denotes to supply with food, or cause to grow; as, to nourish a plant, to nourish rebellion. To nurture is to train up with a fostering care, like that of a mother; as, to nurture into strength; to nurture in sound principles. To cherish is to hold and treat as dear; as, to cherish hopes or affections.

Nustle <Xpage=987>

Nus"tle (?) , v. t. [Cf. Nuzzle .] To fondle; to cherish. [Obs.]

Nut <Xpage=987>

Nut (?) , n. [OE. nute , note , AS. hnutu ; akin to D. noot , G. nuss , OHG. nuz , Icel. hnot , Sw. n\'94t , Dan. n\'94d .]

1. (Bot.) The fruit of certain trees and shrubs (as of the almond, walnut, hickory, beech, filbert, etc.), consisting of a hard and indehiscent shell inclosing a kernel.

2. A perforated block (usually a small piece of metal), provided with an internal or female screw thread, used on a bolt, or screw, for tightening or holding something, or for transmitting motion. See Illust . of lst Bolt .

3. The tumbler of a gunlock.

Knight.

4. (Naut.) A projection on each side of the shank of an anchor, to secure the stock in place.

Check nut , Jam nut , Lock nut , a nut which is screwed up tightly against another nut on the same bolt or screw, in order to prevent accidental unscrewing of the first nut. -- Nut buoy . See under Buoy . -- Nut coal , screened coal of a size smaller than stove coal and larger than pea coal; -- called also chestnut coal . -- Nut crab (Zo\'94l.) , any leucosoid crab of the genus Ebalia as, Ebalia tuberosa of Europe. -- Nut grass (Bot.) , a plant of the Sedge family ( Cyperus rotundus , var. Hydra ), which has slender rootstocks bearing small, nutlike tubers, by which the plant multiplies exceedingly, especially in cotton fields. -- Nut lock , a device, as a metal plate bent up at the corners, to prevent a nut from becoming unscrewed, as by jarring. <-- = lock nut --> -- Nut pine . (Bot.) See under Pine . -- Nut rush (Bot.) , a genus of cyperaceous plants ( Scleria ) having a hard bony achene. Several species are found in the United States and many more in tropical regions. -- Nut tree , a tree that bears nuts. -- Nut weevil (Zo\'94l.) , any species of weevils of the genus Balaninus and other allied genera, which in the larval state live in nuts.

Nut <Xpage=987>

Nut , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Nutted (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Nutting .] To gather nuts.

Nutant <Xpage=987>

Nu"tant (?) , a. [L. nutans , p. pr. of nutare to nod, v. intens. fr. nuere (in comp.) to nod; cf. Gr. <?/.] Nodding; having the top bent downward.

Nutation <Xpage=987>

Nu*ta"tion (?) , n. [L. nutatio a nodding, fr. nutare to nod: cf. F. nutation .]

1. The act of nodding.

So from the midmost the nutation spreads, Round and more round, o'er all the sea of heads. Pope.

2. (Astron.) A very small libratory motion of the earth's axis, by which its inclination to the plane of the ecliptic is constantly varying by a small amount.

3. (Bot.) (a) The motion of a flower in following the apparent movement of the sun, from the east in the morning to the west in the evening. (b) Circumnutation.

Nutbreaker <Xpage=987>

Nut"break`er (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) (a) The European nuthatch. (b) The nutcracker.

Nut-brown <Xpage=987>

Nut"-brown` (?) , a. Brown as a nut long kept and dried. "The spicy nutbrown ale."

Milton.

Nutcracker <Xpage=987>

Nut"crack`er (?) , n. 1. An instrument for cracking nuts.

2. (Zo\'94l.) (a) A European bird ( Nucifraga caryocatactes ), allied to the magpie and crow. Its color is dark brown, spotted with white. It feeds on nuts, seeds, and insects. (b) The American, or Clarke's, nutcracker ( Picicorvus Columbianus ) of Western North America.

Nutgall <Xpage=987>

Nut"gall` (?) , n. A more or less round gall resembling a nut, esp. one of those produced on the oak and used in the arts. See Gall , Gallnut .

Nuthatch <Xpage=987>

Nut"hatch` (?) , n. [OE. nuthake . See 2d Hack .] (Zo\'94l.) Any one of several species of birds of the genus Sitta , as the European species ( Sitta Europ\'91a ). The white-breasted nuthatch ( S. Carolinensis ), the red-breasted nuthatch ( S. Canadensis ), the pygmy nuthatch ( S. pygm\'91a ), and others, are American.

Nuthook <Xpage=987>

Nut"hook` (?) , n. 1. A hook at the end of a pole to pull down boughs for gathering the nuts.

2. A thief who steals by means of a hook; also, a bailiff who hooks or seizes malefactors.

Shak.

Nutjobber <Xpage=987>

Nut"job`ber (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The nuthatch. [Prov. Eng.]

Nutlet <Xpage=987>

Nut"let (?) , n. (Bot.) A small nut; also, the stone of a drupe.

Nutmeg <Xpage=987>

Nut"meg (?) , n. [OE. notemuge ; note nut + OF. muge musk, of the same origin as E. musk ; cf. OF. noix muguette nutmeg, F. noix muscade . See Nut , and Musk .] (Bot.) The kernel of the fruit of the nutmeg tree ( Myristica fragrans ), a native of the Molucca Islands, but cultivated elsewhere in the tropics.

&hand; This fruit is a nearly spherical drupe, of the size of a pear, of a yellowish color without and almost white within. This opens into two nearly equal longitudinal valves, inclosing the nut surrounded by its aril, which is mace The nutmeg is an aromatic, very grateful to the taste and smell, and much used in cookery. Other species of Myristica yield nutmegs of inferior quality.

American , Calabash , &or; Jamaica , nutmeg , the fruit of a tropical shrub ( Monodora Myristica ). It is about the size of an orange, and contains many aromatic seeds imbedded in pulp. -- Brazilian nutmeg , the fruit of a lauraceous tree, Cryptocarya moschata . -- California nutmeg , tree of the Yew family ( Torreya Californica ), growing in the Western United States, and having a seed which resembles a nutmeg in appearance, but is strongly impregnated with turpentine. -- Clove nutmeg , the Ravensara aromatica , a laura ceous tree of Madagascar. The foliage is used as a spice, but the seed is acrid and caustic. -- Jamaica nutmeg . See American nutmeg (above). -- Nutmeg bird (Zo\'94l.) , an Indian finch ( Munia punctularia ). -- Nutmeg butter , a solid oil extracted from the nutmeg by expression. -- Nutmeg flower (Bot.) , a ranunculaceous herb ( Nigella sativa ) with small black aromatic seeds, which are used medicinally and for excluding moths from furs and clothing. -- Nutmeg liver (Med.) , a name applied to the liver, when, as the result of heart or lung disease, it undergoes congestion and pigmentation about the central veins of its lobules, giving it an appearance resembling that of a nutmeg. -- Nutmeg melon (Bot.) , a small variety of muskmelon of a rich flavor. -- Nutmeg pigeon (Zo\'94l.) , any one of several species of pigeons of the genus Myristicivora , native of the East Indies and Australia. The color is usually white, or cream-white, with black on the wings and tail. -- Nutmeg wood (Bot.) , the wood of the Palmyra palm. -- Peruvian nutmeg , the aromatic seed of a South American tree ( Laurelia sempervirens ). -- Plume nutmeg (Bot.) , a spicy tree of Australia ( Atherosperma moschata ).

Nutmegged <Xpage=987>

Nut"megged (?) , a. Seasoned with nutmeg.

Nutpecker <Xpage=987>

Nut"peck`er (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The nuthatch.

Nutria <Xpage=987>

Nu"tri*a (?) , n. [Sp. nutria an otter, fr. L. lutra , lytra .] The fur of the coypu. See Coypu .

Nutrication <Xpage=987>

Nu`tri*ca"tion (?) , n. [L. nutricatio , fr. nutricare , nutricari , to suckle, nourish, fr. nutrix a nurse.] The act or manner of feeding. [Obs.]

Sir T. Browne.

Nutrient <Xpage=987>

Nu"tri*ent (?) , a. [L. nutriens , p. pr. of nutrire . See Nourish .] Nutritious; nourishing; promoting growth. -- n. Any substance which has nutritious qualities, i. e. , which nourishes or promotes growth.

Nutriment <Xpage=987>

Nu"tri*ment (?) , n. [L. nutrimentum , fr. nutrire to nourish. See Nourish .]

1. That which nourishes; anything which promotes growth and repairs the natural waste of animal or vegetable life; food; aliment.

The stomach returns what it has received, in strength and nutriment diffused into all parts of the body. South.

2. That which promotes development or growth.

Is not virtue in mankind The nutriment that feeds the mind ? Swift.

Nutrimental <Xpage=987>

Nu`tri*men"tal (?) , a. Nutritious.

Nutritial <Xpage=987>

Nu*tri"tial (?) , a. Pertaining to, or connected with, nutrition; nutritious. [Obs.]

Chapman.

Nutrition <Xpage=987>

Nu*tri"tion (?) , n. [Cf. F. nutrition . See Nutritious .]

1. (Physiol.) In the broadest sense, a process or series of processes by which the living organism as a whole (or its component parts or organs) is maintained in its normal condition of life and growth.

&hand; In this wide sense it comprehends digestion , absorption , circulation , assimilation , etc., in fact all of the steps by which the nutritive matter of the food is fitted for incorporation with the different tissues, and the changes which it undergoes after its assimilation, prior to its excretion. See Metabolism .

2. (Physiol.) In a more limited sense, the process by which the living tissues take up, from the blood, matters necessary either for their repair or for the performance of their healthy functions.

3. That which nourishes; nutriment.

Fixed like a plant, on his peculiar spot, To draw nutrition , propagate, and rot. Pope.

Nutritional <Xpage=987>

Nu*tri"tion*al (?) , a. Of or pertaining to nutrition; as, nutritional changes .

Nutritious <Xpage=987>

Nu*tri"tious (?) , a. [L. nutricius , nutritius , from nutrix , -icis , a nurse, nutrire to nourish. See Nurse , Nourish .] Nourishing; promoting growth, or preventing decay; alimental. -- Nu*tri"tious*ly , adv. -- Nu*tri"tious*ness , n.

Nutritive <Xpage=987>

Nu"tri*tive (?) , a. [Cf. F. nutritif .] Of or pertaining to nutrition; as, the nutritive functions ; having the quality of nourishing; nutritious; nutrimental; alimental; as, nutritive food or berries .

Nutritive plasma . (Biol.) See Idioplasma . -- Nutritive polyp (Zo\'94l.) , any one of the zooids of a compound hydroid, or coral, which has a mouth and digestive cavity.

-- Nu"tri*tive*ly , adv. -- Nu"tri*tive*ness , n.

Nutriture <Xpage=987>

Nu"tri*ture (?) , n. [L. nutritura , fr. nutrir<?/ to nourish.] Nutrition; nourishment. [Obs.]

Harvey.

Nutshell <Xpage=987>

Nut"shell` (?) , n. 1. The shell or hard external covering in which the kernel of a nut is inclosed.

2. Hence, a thing of little compass, or of little value.

3. (Zo\'94l.) A shell of the genus Nucula.

To be, &or; lie , in a nutshell , to be within a small compass; to admit of very brief or simple determination or statement. "The remedy lay in a nutshell ."

Macaulay.

Nutter <Xpage=987>

Nut"ter (?) , n. A gatherer of nuts.

Nutting <Xpage=987>

Nut"ting (?) , n. The act of gathering nuts.

Nutty <Xpage=987>

Nut"ty (?) , a. 1. Abounding in nuts.

2. Having a flavor like that of nuts; as, nutty wine .

Nux vomica <Xpage=987>