The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles II. (töredék) [antikvár]

N N (en), the fourteenth letter of the modern, and thirteenth of the ancient Roman alphabet, represents historically, and is in form derived from, the Greek nii and the Semitic nun. It usually denotes a voiced nasal consonant with front closure (the point of the tongue touching the teeth or the fore part of the palate). The sound is in certain positions a sonant or vowel, here denoted by ('n), as in bidde?i (brd'n). It is silent only in a few cases at the end of syllables after I and m, as kiln, damn, hymn, column, etc. Before (g) and (k), n may also represent a nasal with back tongue-closure, here denoted by (q), as in finger (frqgs-i), think (lnqk). When not followed by these sounds this back-nasal is expressed by the digraph 7ig as in hang (hseq), etc. In ME. the n of the indef. article an is often transferred to a following word beginning with a vowel, as in newt, nickname. A similar transference takes place with the n of min, myn my, and pin, tliyn thy: see Nain, Naunt, etc. I. i. The letter used to represent the sound OE. b. In Printing used as a unit of measurement (often en; cf. Em) ; also n.-quadrat i68j. 2. Used to indicate that the name of a person is to be inserted by the speaker or reader OE. 3. Used to denote one of a series of things, a point in a diagram, etc. 1677. 4. In Math, used to indicate an indefinite number. To the nth (power), to any required power; hence Jig, to any extent 1852. 5. n-declension, the 'weak' declension of Teut. nouns and adjs., in which the stem ends in n; so n-stem, n-pltcral 1843. 6. N-rays (orig. n-rays), N-rays (orig. nyrays), forms of radiation having opposite effects; named from the initial letter of Nancy, at which University the N-rays were discovered 1903. II. Abbrevs. a. Miscellaneous. N. = various proper names, as Nicholas, Naomi, etc.; N (Chem.) = nitrogen; n. (Gram.) = noun, neuter, nominative; n.b.= no ball: n.d. = no date; NF. = Norman French; N.O. = Natural Order; n.p. = (rt) new paragraph ; (?) no place: N.S. (Bunking) = not sufficient, b. N. = North; in points of the compass and London postal districts, as N.E., NE. - North-east, etc.; N.B. = North Britain (Scotland), North British ; N.C. = North Carolina. c. N. = New, as in N.B. = New Brunswick; N.E.D. = (A) New English Dictionary (on Historical Principles^; N.J. = New Jersey; N.S. = New Style; N.T. = NewTestament. d. N. = National, as in N.S.P.C.A. = National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; N.U.R. = National Union of Railwaymen; N.U.T. = National Union of Teachers. See also N.B. n-, in OE. and ME., the negative particle ne in combination with a word beginning with a vowel, h, or w, as nam, am not, nis, is not, etc. +Na, adv.1 and conj. [OE. 11a = ne Ne + á ever, A adv.~\ Not; nor -1786. Na (11a), adv.?- Sc. and n. dial. ME. [repr. OE. nd (see prec.), andcorresp. to the midland and southern No.] No, in answer to a question, to express dissent, etc. Na (na), adv.3 Sc. and n. dial. 1714. [Enclitic form of No adv. ' not', often affixed.] Not. Used chiefly with auxiliary verbs, as canna, dinna (= don't), hasna, etc. Naam (nam). [OE. naam, nam, a. ON. n&m, related to niman to take, NlM.] Hist. Law. The act of taking another's goods by way of distraint; the goods thus taken. Nab (nseb), sb.1 Chiefly n. and Sc. late ME. Ta. ON. nabbr and nabbi projecting peak or knoll.] 1. A jutting out part of a hill or rock; a peak or promontory ; a summit, a. A projection or spur on the bolt of a lock 1677. 1-Nab, sb.2 Obs. Cant. 1673. [perh. a use of prec. Cf. the later Nob.] A hat -1754. Nab (nasb), v. slang, or colloq. 1686. [Cf. Nap t/3] 1. trans. To catch and take into custody; to apprehend, arrest. 2. To snatch or seize (a thing); to steal 1814. Nabal (n^-bál). 1604. [See 1 Sam. xxv. 3 A-] A churlish or miserly person. Nabob (nél'b^b). 1613. [ad. Urdu itawwab deputy governor; see Nawab.] i. Title of certain Mohammedan officials, who acted as deputy governors of provinces or districts ii the Mogul Empire; an official thus designated a governor of a town or district in India. a _13_ transf. A person of great wealth ; spec, one who has returned from India with a large fortune 1764. 2. Dawdling, like a bilious old n. at a watering place Macaulay. Hence Na'bobess, a female n. 1767\ Na-bobship, the office or rank of a n.; a district governed by a n. 1753. Nabs (nrebz). 1790. [Obscure; cf. Nibs, and 16th c. my nobs = my darling.] His nabs, he ; my nabs, my friend; myself. || Nacelle (nase'l). 1909. [F. :—late L. navi-cella, dim. of navis ship.] The framework of an aeroplane or dirigible containing the engine, controlling gear, and propellers. fNache. ME. (nage); 1523 (nache). [a. OF. nache :—pop.L. *natica, f. 7/at is buttock. Cf. Aitch-bone.] The point of the rump in an ox or cow ; the rump. Nacre (nei-ksj). 1598. [a. F. nacre, prob. of Oriental origin.] 1. The pinna or sea-pen, or other shell-fish yielding mother-of-pearl. 2. A smooth, shining, iridescent substance forming the inner layer in many shells; mother-of-pearl 1689. Hence Na'cred a. faced with, having the hues of, n. 1755. Na'creous a. consisting of n.; resembling n. in substance or in hues 1819. tNad(de, had not; see Ne and Have v. -1480.