Newtonian, nū-tō′ni-an, adj. relating to, formed, or discovered by Sir Isaac Newton, the celebrated philosopher (1642-1727)—also Newton′ic.—Newtonian telescope, a form of reflecting telescope.
Next, nekst, adj. (superl. of Nigh) nearest in place, time, &c.—adv. nearest or immediately after.—prep. nearest to.—n. Next′ness.—Next door to (see Door); Next to nothing, almost nothing at all. [A.S. néhst, superl. of néh, neáh, near; Ger. nächst.]
Nexus, nek′sus, n. a tie, connecting principle, bond: (Rom. law) a person who had contracted a nexum or obligation of such a kind that, if he failed to pay, his creditor could compel him to serve until the debt was paid. [L.—nectĕre, to bind.]
Nib, nib, n. something small and pointed: a point, esp. of a pen: the bill of a bird: the handle of a scythe-snath.—v.t. to furnish with a nib: to point.—adj. Nibbed, having a nib. [Neb.]
Nibble, nib′l, v.t. to bite by small bits: to eat by little at a time.—v.i. to bite gently: to find fault.—n. act of nibbling: a little bit.—ns. Nibb′ler; Nibb′ling.—adv. Nibb′lingly. [Freq. of nip.]
Nibelungen, nē′bel-ōōng-en, n.pl. a supernatural race in German mythology guarding a treasure wrested from them by Siegfried, the hero of the Nibelungenlied, an epic of c. 1190-1210.
Niblick, nib′lik, n. a golf-club with cup-shaped head.
Nice, nīs, adj. foolishly simple: over-particular: hard to please: fastidious: marking or taking notice of very small differences: done with great care and exactness, accurate: easily injured: delicate: dainty: agreeable: delightful.—adv. Nice′ly.—ns. Nice′ness, quality of being nice: exactness: scrupulousness: pleasantness; Nic′ety, quality of being nice: delicate management: exactness of treatment: fineness of perception: fastidiousness: that which is delicate to the taste: a delicacy.—To a nicety, with great exactness. [O. Fr. nice, foolish, simple—L. nescius, ignorant—ne, not, scīre, to know.]
Nicene, nī′sēn, adj. pertaining to the town of Nice or Nicæa, in Bithynia, Asia Minor, where an ecumenical council was held in 325 for the purpose of defining the questions raised in the Arian controversy—it promulgated the Nicene Creed. A second council, the seventh general council, held here in 787, condemned the Iconoclasts.
