3. Family; lineage. [Obs.] Chaucer.
4. (a) One of the divisions of university students in a classification according to nativity, formerly common in Europe. (b) (Scotch Universities) One of the four divisions (named from the parts of Scotland) in which students were classified according to their nativity.
5. A great number; a great deal; — by way of emphasis; as, a nation of herbs. Sterne. Five nations. See under Five. — Law of nations. See International law, under International, and Law.
Syn.
— people; race. See People.
NATIONAL
Na"tion*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. national.]
1. Of or pertaining to a nation; common to a whole people or race; public; general; as, a national government, language, dress, custom, calamity, etc.
2. Attached to one's own country or nation. National anthem, a popular song or hymn which has become by general acceptance the recognized musical expression of the patriotic sentiment of a nation; as, "God save the King" is called the national anthem of England. — National bank, the official common name of a class of banking corporations established under the laws of the United States. — National flag. See under Flag. — National guard, a body of militia, or a local military organization, as in Paris during the French Revolution, or as certain bodies of militia in other European countries and in the United States. — National salute, a salute consisting of as many guns as there are States in the Union. [U.S.]
NATIONALISM
Na"tion*al*ism, n.
1. The state of being national; national attachment; nationality.
2. An idiom, trait, or character peculiar to any nation.