Barrons N

n nadir

lowest point; point on the celestial sphere diametrically opposite the zenith

naivety

quality of being unsophisticated; simplicity; artlessness; gullibility; ADJ. naive: ingenuous; lacking worldliness; simple; credulous

narcissist

conceited person; N. narcissism; CF. narcissus

narrative

related to telling a story; N: narrated account; story; V. narrate: tell (a story); CF. narration

n nascent

incipient; coming into being or existence; Ex. nascent ability in music

natation

swimming

n natty

neatly or smartly dressed; dapper; smart; Ex. natty dresser

s smart

intelligent; quick and energetic; fashionable; Ex. smart pace/restaurant; V: cause or feel a sharp pain; N: smarting pain

nauseate

cause to become sick; fill with disgust; fill nausea

s nausea

feeling of sickness and desire to vomit; disgust; CF. seasickness

s nauseous

causing nausea; feeling nausea

nautical

pertaining to ships or navigation

n navigable

(of a body of water) wide and deep enough to allow ships to pass through; (of a ship or aircraft) able to be steered

n nebulous

vague; hazy; cloudy; of a nebula; Ex. nebulous proposal

s nebula

diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas; galaxy

n necromancy

black magic; sorcery; dealings with the dead; art that professes to communicate with the spirits of the dead so as to predict the future; CF. necromancer; CF. necro+divination; CF. necro-: death; Ex. necropolis

n nefarious

very wicked

negate

cancel out; nullify; cause to have no effect; deny; N. negation

negligence

neglect; failure to take reasonable care; ADJ. negligent: neglectful; lax; not taking enough care

negligible

so small

nemesis

someone seeking revenge; source of downfall or ruin; CF. Nemesis

n neologism

new or newly coined word or phrase

n neophyte

recent convert; new member of a religious group; beginner; CF. plant

n nepotism

favoritism (to a relative); CF. nephew

s favoritism

display of partiality toward a favored person

n nether

lower; Ex. nether garments/regions

n nettle

irritate; annoy; vex; ADJ. nettlesome

n nexus

connection

n nib

beak(bill); pen point

n nicety

precision; accuracy; minute distinction or difference; Ex. to a nicety: exactly; precisely; Ex. distinguish between niceties

n niggardly

meanly stingy; parsimonious; N. niggard: stingy person

n niggle

spend too much time on minor points (esp. when finding fault); find fault; Ex. niggle over details; ADJ. niggling

n nihilist

one who considers traditional beliefs to be groundless and existence meaningless; absolute skeptic; revolutionary terrorist; CF. nihilism: belief that nothing has meaning or value; belief that destruction of existing political or social institutions is necessary for future improvement

n nip

snip off; stop something's growth or development; bite; make numb with cold; Ex. nip the plan; Ex. A guard dog nipped the postman; Ex. fingers nipped by the extreme chill

s snip

short quick cut with scissors; V: cut with scissors

s pinch

squeeze between the thumb and a finger

n nirvana

in Buddhist teachings

s impersonal

not being a person; not showing personal feelings; Ex. impersonal force/manner/organization

nocturnal

done or active at night; Ex. nocturnal animals/raids; CF. nocturne

n noisome

foul smelling; very unpleasant; unwholesome

nomadic

wandering; N. nomad: tribe who migrates from place to place

nomenclature

terminology(system of specialized words); system of names or naming things

nominal

in name only; of a name; trifling; (of a sum of money) very small; CF. nominate: propose as a candidate; appoint

n nonchalance

indifference; lack of concern; composure; ADJ. nonchalant: unconcerned; cool; indifferent; Ex. nonchalant attitude to his debts

noncommittal

neutral; refusing commitment to a particular opinion; unpledged; undecided

n nondescript

undistinctive; ordinary; ordinary-looking; Ex. nondescript fellow in a crowd

nonentity

person of no importance; nonexistence

n nonplus

put at a loss; bring to a halt by confusion; perplex; CF. no more

nostalgia

homesickness; longing for the past; Ex. nostalgia for the clothes of 1920s; ADJ. nostalgic

n nostrum

questionable medicine; quack medicine; CF. our (remedy)

notable

conspicuous; worthy of note; remarkable; important; distinguished; noted

notoriety

disrepute; ill fame

s nova

star that suddenly becomes much brighter and then returns to its original brightness

n novelty

something new; newness; ADJ. novel: new; original

novice

beginner

noxious

harmful; CF. obnoxious

n nuance

shade of slight difference in meaning or color; subtle distinction

s shade

slight difference in degree; nuance; degree of color; Ex. shades of meaning/grey

s gradation

series of gradual stages; degree in such a progression

n nubile

marriageable; of marriageable age; CF. connubial

n nugatory

worthless; futile

nullify

make invalid; make null; invalidate

n numismatist

person who collects coins; N. numismatics: study or collection of money

n nuptial

related to marriage or the wedding ceremony; N. nuptials: wedding ceremony

n nurture

nourish; feed; educate; rear; care for while it is growing or developing; foster; cultivate; N: something that nourishes; rearing

n nutrient

nourishing substance; ADJ: providing nourishment

s nutrition

process of nourishing or being nourished; CF. malnutrition

s nutritious

providing nourishment

s nourish

provide with food necessary for life and growth

s nourishment

something that nourishes; food