N to Name
N
(N) the fourteenth letter of English alphabet, is a vocal consonent, and, in allusion to its mode of formation,
is called the dentinasal or linguanasal consonent. Its commoner sound is that heard in ran, done; but
when immediately followed in the same word by the sound of g hard or k (as in single, sink, conquer),
it usually represents the same sound as the digraph ng in sing, bring, etc. This is a simple but related
sound, and is called the gutturo-nasal consonent. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 243-246.
The letter N came into English through the Latin and Greek from the Phœnician, which probably derived it
from the Egyptian as the ultimate origin. It is etymologically most closely related to M. See M.
N
(N), n. (Print.) A measure of space equal to half an M (or em); an en.
Na
(Na) a. & adv. No, not. See No. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Nab
(Nab) n. [Cf. Knap, Knop, Knob.]
1. The summit of an eminence. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
2. (Firearms) The cock of a gunlock. Knight.
3. (Locksmithing) The keeper, or box into which the lock is shot. Knight.
Nab
(Nab), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nabbed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Nabbing.] [Dan nappe, or Sw. nappa.]
To catch or seize suddenly or unexpectedly. [Colloq.] Smollett.
Nabit
(Na"bit) n. Pulverized sugar candy. Crabb.
Nabk
(||Nabk) n. [Ar. nabiqa, nibqa.] (Bot.) The edible berries of the Zizyphys Lotus, a tree of Northern
Africa, and Southwestern Europe. [Written also nubk.] See Lotus (b), and Sadr.
Nabob
(Na"bob) n. [Hind. nawab, from Ar. nawab, pl. of naïb a vicegerent, governor. Cf Nawab.]
1. A deputy or viceroy in India; a governor of a province of the ancient Mogul empire.
2. One who returns to Europe from the East with immense riches: hence, any man of great wealth. " A
bilious old nabob." Macaulay.
Nacarat
(Nac"a*rat) n. [F. nacarat, fr. Sp. or Pg. nacarado, fr. nácar mother-of- pearl. See Nacre.]
1. A pale red color, with a cast of orange. Ure.
2. Fine linen or crape dyed of this color. Ure.
Nacker
(Nack"er) n. See Nacre. Johnson.
Nacre
(Na"cre) n. [F., cf. Sp. nácara, nácar, It. nacchera, naccaro, LL. nacara, nacrum; of Oriental
origin, cf. Ar. nakir hollowed.] (Zoöl.) A pearly substance which lines the interior of many shells, and
is most perfect in the mother-of-pearl. [Written also nacker and naker.] See Pearl, and Mother-of-
pearl.
Nacreous
(Na"cre*ous) a. [See Nacre.] (Zoöl.) Consisting of, or resembling, nacre; pearly.
Nad
(Nad Nad"de) . [Contr. fr. ne hadde.] Had not. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Nadder
(Nad"der) n. [AS. nædre. See Adder.] An adder. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Nadir
(Na"dir) n. [F., Sp., & It. nadir; all fr. Ar. nasiru's samt nadir, prop., the point opposite the zenith
in which nasir means alike, corresponding to. Cf. Azimuth, Zenith.]
