The Facts on File Dictionary of Foreign Words and Phrases (Writers Reference) (53 page)

nickel (nikal), nickle SWISS GERMAN
[probably from German Kupfernickel
copper demon, from Kupfer copper
and Nickel goblin] noun a hard silverwhite metal commonly used in alloys
and as a catalyst or a five-cent coin.
-verb to coat or cover with nickel.

niente (neeentay) ITALIAN [nothing] adverb (in music) with the
sound gradually fading away, used in
directions.

nihil ad rem (nihil ad rem, nihil ad
rem) LATIN [nothing to the matter]
adjective phrase irrelevant, beside the
point.

nihil obstat (nihil obstat, nihil
obstat) LATIN [nothing hinders] adjective phrase (in the Roman Catholic
Church) approval from an official censor indicating that a book is free of
doctrinal or moral error and, more generally, any statement of official
approval.

-nil( (nik) RUSSIAN [on the pattern
of sputnik, ultimately from Yiddish
-nik, a suffix denoting an agent]
suffix denoting a person associated with
a specified quality, belief or activity,
e.g., beatnik, no-goodnik.

nil desperandum (nil desparandam)
LATIN [nothing to be despaired, quoting the Odes of Horace (65-8 B.C.)]
interjection do not despair, never
despair.

nimbus (nimbas) LATIN [cloud, rainstorm] noun (plural nimbuses or
nimbi, nimbee) a cumulus raincloud or more generally any cloud,
vapor, atmosphere, or halo: "In about
a minute and a half I was fringed out with
an electrical nimbus that flamed around
for miles and miles and lit up all space
like broad day" (Mark Twain, Captain
Stormfield, 1909).

ninja (ninja) JAPANESE [preserving
person, from nin preserve, endure
and ja person] noun (plural ninja or
ninjas) a fighter trained in Japanese martial art (originally a class of
mercenaries trained as assassins and
saboteurs in 14th-century Japan).

niqab (nikahb) ARABIC noun a facial
veil worn by some Muslim women,
consisting of a length of fabric wrapped
around the head but not covering the eyes, or else one with a net-covered
area around the eyes.

nirvana (nervahna, nhrvahna) SANSKRIT
[a blowing out, extinguishing] noun a
state of bliss or of spiritual enlightenment (inspired by the liberation of the
soul achieved after death according
to Buddhist philosophy): "That shop is
nirvana for those in search of high fashion
at bargain prices."

nisei (neesay, nees4) JAPANESE [second generation] noun (plural nisei or
niseis) a child of Japanese immigrants to the United States (usually
referring to one who has been born
and educated in the U.S.).

nisi (nlsi) LATIN [unless] adjective not
final (a legal term indicating that a
court order or decree, etc. will take
effect at a stipulated time, all other
conditions having been fulfilled or no
challenges to it having been received):
"`Well; and what is it about?' he said after
kissing her. That the decree nisi in the case
of Phillotson versus Phillotson and Fawley,
pronounced six months ago, has just been
made absolute"' (Thomas Hardy, Jude
the Obscure, 1895).

No (no), Noll JAPANESE [ability, talent] noun a stylized form of classical
Japanese drama incorporating masked
characters, dance, and song.

noblesse (nobles) FRENCH [nobility,
ultimately from Latin nobilis well

known, highborn] noun nobility of
rank or birth, the aristocracy (especially with reference to the nobility
of France).

noblesse oblige (nobles obleezh)
FRENCH [nobility obligates] noun phrase
the belief that nobility of rank or birth
brings with it obligations to maintain
high standards of personal morality
and honor: "It is your name, and you
cannot be rid of it. It is yours of right, as
my name has been mine of right; and not
to assert it, not to live up to it, not to be
proud of it, would argue incredible baseness.
Noblesse oblige" (AnthonyTrollope, Lady
Anna, 1873-4).

nocturne (noktern) FRENCH [nocturnal, from Latin nocturnus] noun a
work of art depicting evening or
night, or (in music) a composition for
the piano that is pensive or dreamlike
in character: `Play me something. Play
me a nocturne, Dorian, and, as you play,
tell me, in a low voice, how you have kept
your youth" (Oscar Wilde, The Picture of
Dorian Gray, 1891).

Noel (noel), Noel FRENCH [from
noel Christmas, carol, ultimately from
Latin natalis birthday] Christmas, or
a Christmas carol.

Noh See NO.

noir (nwahr) FRENCH [black] adjective black (often with reference to
black humor).

noisette (nwazet, nw5zet) FRENCH
[diminutive of nois choice cut of meat,
ultimately from noix nut] noun a
small cut of lean meat; also a hazelnut
chocolate.

nol. con. See NOLO CONTENDERE.

nolens volens (nolenz volenz) LATIN
[unwilling willing] adverb phrase
whether willing or not, willy-nilly.

soli me tangere (nolee mee tanjaree)
LATIN [do not touch me] noun phrase
(plural noli me tangeres) a warning
against touching or interfering with
something or someone; may also refer
to an object or person that should not
be touched or, alternatively, to a pictorial representation of Jesus Christ
appearing to Mary Magdalene after
the resurrection.

nolle prosequi (nolee prosekwee)
LATIN [to be unwilling to pursue] noun
phrase a legal term indicating that no
further action is to be taken in regard
to a particular case or suit.abbreviatedform nolle pros. or nol. pros.

nolo contendere (nolo kontendaree)
LATIN [I do not wish to contend] noun
phrase (plural nolo contenderes) a
legal term indicating that a defendant
in a case has decided neither to admit
nor to deny the charges. 'abbreviated
form nol. con.

nol. pros. See NOLLE PROSEQUI.

nom de guerre (nom dS) FRENCH
[war name] noun phrase (plural noms
de guerre) a pseudonym or assumed
name under which a person takes part
in some enterprise: "How odd and unfair
it is: wicked impostors go around lecturing
under my nom de guerre and nobody suspects
them; but when an honest man attempts an
imposture, he is exposed at once" (Mark
Twain, Life on the Mississippi, 1883).

nom de plume (nom dS
ploom) FRENCH [pen name] noun phrase (plural
noms de plume) a pseudonym or
assumed name under which a person
publishes a piece of writing: "She
decided to release her second novel under a
nom de plume."

nom de theatre (nom dS tayahtr5)
FRENCH [theatrical name] noun phrase
(plural noms de theatre) a pseudonym or stage name under which a
person performs in the theater.

Women (Women) LATIN [name] noun
(plural nomina, nomin5) name (usually referring to a person's surname).

nomen dubium (nomen doobeeam)
LATIN [doubtful name] noun phrase
(plural nomina dubia, nomin5 doobeeS) in taxonomy, a doubtful or
uncertain identification of a specimen,
recognizing the possibility that the
identification may be incorrect.

nomen nudum (nomennoodSm,nomen
nvoodSm) LATIN [naked name] noun phrase (plural nomina nuda, nomina
nooda) in taxonomy, a proposed
name for a group of species details
of which have yet to be officially
published.

nonchalance (nonshalons, nonshaIons) FRENCH [carelessness, heedlessness, from nonchaloir to disregard]
noun unconcern, indifference, coolness: "The family greeted the news with
nonchalance"

nonchalant (nonshalon(g), nonshalon(g)) FRENCH [careless, heedless,
from nonchaloir to disregard] adjective unconcerned, indifferent, cool,
casual, unexcited: "His nonchalant manner infuriated her."

non compos mentis (non kompas mentis) LATIN [not having mastery of one's
mind] adjective phrase not of sound
mind, not in one's right mind, mentally disturbed: "Several of the younger
partners began to speculate that the old
man was non compos mentis."^abbreviated
form non compos.

nondescript (nondaskn1t) LATIN [from
non not and descriptus described] adjective without distinguishing features,
dull, drab: "They agreed that the office
should be decorated throughout in fairly
nondescript colors."

non licet (non liset) LATIN [it is not
lawful] adjective phrase not permitted, unlawful.

nonpareil (nonparel) FRENCH [not
alike] noun someone or something
that is considered unique or without
equal; also a tiny ball of white or
colored sugar used in confectionery
decoration, or a flat round piece of
chocolate covered in these. -adjective
of or relating to someone or something without equal, unique, unrivaled:
"`Then she is as honest and genuine as
she looks; rejoined my guardian, `and it
is impossible to say more for her.' `She's
Colour-Sergeant of the Nonpareil battalion,'
said Mr. Bagnet..." (Charles Dickens,
Bleak House, 1852-53).

non placet (non pi sct, non
playset) LATIN [it does not please]
noun phrase a negative vote against a
proposal, an expression of dissent.

nonplus (none) LATIN [from non
plus not more] verb to perplex,
baffle, puzzle, put at a loss: "..Rose
was one of the children who observe and
meditate much, and now and then nonplus
their friends by a wise or curious remark"
(Louisa May Alcott, Eight Cousins,
1875).

non sequitur (non sekw•iter, non
sekwitoor) LATIN [it does not follow]
noun phrase (plural non sequiturs) a
statement or conclusion that does follow logically on from what preceded
it: "The professor is well known for his non
sequiturs and illogicalities." 'abbreviated
form non seq.

non troppo (non tropo) ITALIAN [not
too much] adverb phrase (in music)
not too much, without excess.
'adjective phrase (in music) not too
much.

nori (noree) JAPANESE [Porphyra seaweed] noun an edible seaweed often
used in Japanese cuisine in thin dried
sheets, especially for wrapping sushi or
as a garnish.

nostalgia (nostalja, nastalja, nastahlja)
GREEK [homesickness, from nostos
return home and algeo to be in pain]
noun sentimental yearning for times
past, real or imagined: "Nostalgia is a
pastime best enjoyed by the very old."

nostrum (nostrum) LATIN [from nester
our] noun (plural nostrums) a patent medicine of a secret or dubious
character and hence any unproven
remedy, panacea, or pet scheme:
"..and now all the inheritance is to
pass away, merely because one good worthy gentleman would not be contented to
enjoy his horses, his hounds, and his bottle
of claret, like thirty or forty predecessors,
but must ... try every new nostrum that
has been tabled by the quackish improvers
of the time" (J. G. Lockhart, Life of Sir
Walter Scott, 1837-38).

nota bene (nota benee, nota beenee)
LATIN [mark well] verb phrase note
well, observe particularly. "abbreviated
forms n.b., N.B.

notabilia (notabileea) LATIN [things
worthy of note, plural of notabilis
notable] plural noun notable items,
things worthy of notice: "This website
specializes in theatrical notabilia."

nougat (noogat) FRENCH [from Old
Provencal nogat, ultimately from Latin
nux nut] noun a variety of confection
in which pieces of nut or fruit are
embedded in sugar paste.

noun (nooS) GREEK [mind, intellect] noun mind, reason, intelligence,
common sense: "She does not have sufficient nous to solve the problem for herse!f"

nouveau (noovo, noovo) FRENCH
[from Middle French novel new]
adjective new, recently arrived or
acquired, fresh, up to (late.

nouveau riche (noovo reesh) FRENCH
[new rich] noun phrase (plural nouveaux riches, noovo reesh) a rich
person whose wealth has been relatively recently acquired; a parvenu,
an upstart: "The nouveaux riches have
few real friends, and their greatest enemies
are others among their number."-adjective
phrase of or relating to the newly rich.

nouveau roman (noovo romon )
FRENCH [new novel] noun phrase (plural nouveaux romans) a novel
written in a postmodern prose style
that rejects formalities of plot and
characterization.

nouvelle (noovel) FRENCH [new] noun
a short novel, a novella.

nouvelle cuisine (noovel kwizeen)
FRENCH [new cooking] noun phrase a
style of cookery that emphasizes the
use of light, healthy sauces, fresh
ingredients, and attractive presentation of food: "Lavishly finished photographs of nouvelle cuisine dishes are
an essential ingredient of most bestselling
magazines."

nouvelle vague (noovel vahg) FRENCH
[new wave] noun phrase (plural nouvelles vagues) a cinematic style
originating in France in the late 1950s
and characterized by the use of innovative camera work and relatively
unknown actors; since revived periodically in describing various new
trends and movements in the arts.

nova (nova) LATIN [feminine of novus
new] noun (plural novas or novae,
novee, n6vi7 astronomical term for
a star that suddenly increases massively in brightness and then fades
gradually to its original dim state:
"Astronomers have identfed three new
novas as a result of their latest search in
deep space."

novella (novcla, navela) ITALIAN [feminine of novello new] noun (plural novellas or novelle, novelee) a short
novel: "His novellas were generally better
received than his longer works."

nuance (nooons, nyooons) FRENCH
[shade, hue, from nuer to make shades
of color, ultimately from Latin nubes
cloud] noun a subtle quality or variation, a nicety: "They preserve a social
tradition of which I should be sorry to lose
the least perfume. Of course I don't expect
you, just at first, to feel the difference, to
see the nuance." (Edith Wharton, The
Reef 1912).

nucleus (nookleeas, n~Looklecas) LATIN
[kernel, nut] noun (plural nucleuses
or nuclei, nookleei) a central point
around which everything else gathers
or revolves; can also refer more specifically to the kernel of a cell or to
the core of an atom.

suit blanche (nwee blonzh) FRENCH
[white night] noun phrase (plural units
blanches) a sleepless night: "The
weeks passed half-real, not much pain, not
much of anything, perhaps a little relief,
mostly a nuit blanche. Paul went restless
from place to place." (D. H. Lawrence,
Sons and Lovers, 1913).