Nephew, nev′ū, or nef′ū, n. the son of a brother or sister: (orig.) a grandson (so in New Test.):—fem. Niece. [O. Fr. neveu—L. nepos, nepotis, grandson, nephew; A.S. nefa, Ger. neffe, nephew.]
Nephralgia, ne-fral′ji-a, n. pain or disease of the kidneys—also Nephral′gy.—ns. Neph′rite, a mineral usually called Jade, an old charm against kidney disease; Nephrit′ic, a medicine for the cure of diseases of the kidneys.—adjs. Nephrit′ic, -al, pertaining to the kidneys: affected with a disease of the kidneys: relieving diseases of the kidneys.—ns. Nephrī′tis, inflammation of the kidneys; Neph′rocele, hernia of the kidney; Nephrog′raphy, a description of the kidneys.—adj. Neph′roid, kidney-shaped.—ns. Nephrol′ogy, scientific knowledge of the kidneys; Nephrot′omy, the operation of excising the kidneys. [Gr. nephros, a kidney, algos, pain.]
Nepotism, nep′o-tizm, n. undue favouritism to one's relations, as in the bestowal of patronage.—adjs. Nepot′ic, Nepō′tious.—n. Nep′otist, one who practises nepotism. [L. nepos, nepotis, a grandson.]
Neptune, nep′tūn, n. (Rom. myth.) the god of the sea, identified with the Greek Poseidon, represented with a trident in his hand: (astron.) the outermost planet of the solar system, discovered in 1846.—adj. Neptū′nian, pertaining to the sea: (geol.) formed by water: applied to stratified rocks or to those due mainly to the agency of water, as opposed to Plutonic or Igneous.—n. Nep′tūnist, one who holds the Neptunian theory in geology—also adj. [L. Neptunus.]
Nereid, nē′rē-id, n. (Gr. myth.) a sea-nymph, one of the daughters of the sea-god Nereus, who attended Neptune riding on sea-horses: (zool.) a genus of marine worms like long myriapods.—ns. Nē′rēis, a nereid; Nē′rēite, a fossil annelid related to the nereids. [L.,—Gr.]
Nerine, nē-rī′nē, n. a genus of ornamental South African plants of the Amaryllis family, with scarlet or rose-coloured flowers.—The Guernsey Lily is the Nerine Sarniensis.
Nerite, nē′rīt, n. a gasteropod of the genus Nerita or the family Neritidæ.—adj. Neritā′cean.
Nerium, nē′ri-um, n. a genus of Mediterranean shrubs, with fragrant and showy pink, white, or yellowish flowers, the oleander.
Nero, nē′ro, n. the last emperor of the family of the Cæsars, at Rome (54-68 A.D.): any cruel and wicked tyrant.—adj. Nerō′nian.
Nero-antico, nā-rō-an-tē′ko, n. a deep-black marble found in Roman ruins. [It.]