Chapter Nolo Episcopari to Norrisian Professor of N by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Nolo Episcopari to Norrisian Professor

Nolo Episcopari [I am unwilling to accept the office of bishop. ] A very general notion prevails that every bishop at consecration uses these words. Mr. Christian, in his notes to Blackstone, says, “The origin of these words and of this vulgar notion I have not been able to discover; the bishops certainly give no such refusal at present, and I am inclined to think they never did at any time in this country.” When the see of Bath and Wells was offered to Beveridge, he certainly exclaimed, “Nolo episcopari, ” but it was the private expression of his own heart, and not a form of words, in his case. Chamberlayne says in former times the person about to be elected bishop modestly refused the office twice, and if he did so a third time his refusal was accepted. (Present State of England.)

Nom “Nom de guerre ” is French for a “war name,” but really means an assumed name. It was customary at one time for everyone who entered the French army to assume a name, this was especially the case in the times of chivalry, when knights went by the device of their shields or some other distinctive character in their armour, as the “Red-cross Knight.”
“Nom de plume. ” English-French for the “pen name,” and meaning the name assumed by a writer who does not choose to give his own name to the public, as Peter Pindar, the nom de plume of Dr. John Wolcot; Peter Parley, of Mr. Goodrich, Currer Bell, of Charlotte Brontë; Cuthbert Bede, of the Rev. Edward Bradley, etc.

Nomads Wanderers who live in tents, pastoral tribes without fixed residence. (Greek, nomades: from nomos, a pasture.)

Nominalists A sect founded by Roscelin, Canon of Compiègne (1040-1120). He maintained that if the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one God, they cannot be three distinct persons, but must be simply three names of the same being; just as father, son, and husband are three distinct names of one and the same man under different conditions. Abélard, William Occam, Buridan, Hobbes, Locke, Bishop Berkeley, Condillac, and Dugald Stewart are the most celebrated disciples of Roscelin.

Non Angli sed Angeli, si forent Christiani Words attributed to Gregory (the Great) in 573 when some British children reduced to slavery were shown him at Rome. Gregory was at the time about thirty-five years of age, and was both abbot and cardinal-deacon.

Non Bis in Idem (Latin). Not twice for the same thing- i.e. no man can be tried a second time on the same charge.

Non-Com (A). A non-commissioned officer in the army.

Non Compos Mentis or Non Com. Not of sound mind; a lunatic, idiot, drunkard, or one who has lost memory and understanding by accident or disease.

Non Con (See Nonconformist .)

Non Est A contraction of Non est inventus (not to be found). They are the words which the sheriff writes on a writ when the defendant is not to be found in his bailiwick.

Non mi Recordo a shuffling way of saying “I don't choose to answer that question.” It was the usual answer of the Italian courier and other Italian witnesses when on examination at the trial of Queen Caroline, wife of George IV., in 1820.

“The Italian witnesses often created amusement, when under examination, by the frequent answer, `Non mi recordo. ' ”- Cassell's History of England, vol. vii. iv 16.

Non Plus (“no more” can be said on the subject). When a man is come to a non-plus in an argument, it means that he is unable to deny or controvert what is advanced against him. “To non-plus” a person is to put him into such a fix.

Non Pros for Non prosequi (not to prosecute). The judgment of Non pros. is one for costs, when the plaintiff stays a suit.