-ness
suffix of action, quality or state, attached to an adj. or pp. to form a noun, from O.E. -nes(s), general W.Gmc., cf. M.Du. -nisse, O.H.G. -nissa, Ger. -nis, Goth. -inassus.
-nik
as in beatnik, etc., suffix used in word formation from c.1945, from Yiddish -nik (cf. nudnik "a bore"), from Rus. -nik, common personal suffix meaning "person or thing associated with or involved in" (cf. kolkhoznik "member of a kolkhoz"). Rocketed to popularity with sputnik (q.v.).
N
in nickname, newt, and Brit. dial. naunt, the -n- belongs to a preceding indefinite article an or possessive pronoun mine. Other examples of this from M.E. manuscripts include a neilond ("an island," c.1220), a narawe ("an arrow," c.1400), a noke ("an oak," c.1420), a nappyle ("an apple," c.1420). The process also worked in surnames, from oblique cases of O.E. at "by, near," e.g. Nock/Nokes/Noaks from atten Oke "by the oak;" Nye from atten ye "near the lowland." The loss of it to a preceding a is more common: apron, auger, adder, umpire, humble pie, etc. The mathematical use of n for "an indefinite number" is first recorded 1852, in to the nth power.
N.B.
1673, L. abbreviation of nota bene "note well."
n.g.
abbreviation of no good, attested from 1838; variant n.b.g. for no bloody good is first recorded 1903.
NAACP
abbreviation of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, first attested 1910. Organization founded Feb. 12, 1909, as National Negro Committee.
Naaman
masc. proper name, biblical name of Aramean general cured of leprosy by Elisha, from Heb. Na'aman, lit. "pleasantness," from stem of na'em "was pleasant or lovely."
nab (v.)
"to catch (someone), 1686, probably a variant of dial. nap "to seize, catch, lay hold of" (1673, now surviving only in kidnap), which is possibly from Scand. (cf. Norw. nappe "to catch, snatch;" Swed. nappa; Dan. nappe "to pinch, pull"), reinforced by M.E. napand "grasping, greedy."
nabob
1612, "deputy governor in Mogul Empire," Anglo-Indian, from Hindi nabab, from Arabic nuwwab, honorific pl. of na'ib "viceroy, deputy," from base n-w-b "to take someone's place." Also used of Europeans who came home from India having made a fortune there, hence "very rich man" (1764).
nacho
according to "The Dallas Morning News" [Oct. 22, 1995], named for restaurant cook Ignacio Anaya, who invented the dish in the Mexican border town of Piedras Negras in 1943.
nacre (n.)
1598, "type of shellfish that yields mother-of-pearl," from M.Fr., from It. naccaro (now nacchera), possibly ult. from Arabic nakara "to hollow out," in ref. to the shape of the mollusk shell. Meaning "mother-of-pearl" is from 1718.
nada
slang, "nothing," 1933, introduced by Hemingway, from Sp., "nothing," from L. (res) nata "small, insignificant thing," lit. "(thing) born."
nadir
c.1391, in astronomical sense, from M.L. nadir, from Arabic nazir "opposite to," in nazir as-samt, lit. "opposite of the zenith," from nazir "opposite" + as-samt "zenith" (see zenith). Transf. sense of "lowest point (of anything)" is first recorded 1793.
nag (v.)
"annoy by scolding," 1828, originally a dialectal word, probably ultimately from a Scand. source (cf. O.N. gnaga "to complain," lit. "to bite, gnaw," dial. Swed. and Norw. nagga "to gnaw") related to O.E. gnagan "to gnaw" (see gnaw).
nag (n.)
"old horse," c.1400, nagge "small riding horse," of unknown origin, perhaps related to Du. negge, neg (but these are more recent than the Eng. word). Term of abuse is a transferred sense, first recorded 1598.
naiad
"water nymph," 1610, from L. naias (gen. naiadis), from Gk. Naias (pl. Naiades) "river nymph," from naiein "to flow," from PIE *sna- (cf. L. nare "to swim," Skt. snauti "drips;" see natatorium).
naif (adj.)
1598, from Fr. naïf, lit. "naive" (see naive). As a noun, first attested 1893.
nail
O.E. negel "metal pin," nægl "fingernail (O.E. handnægl), toenail," from P.Gmc. *naglaz (cf. O.H.G. nagel, O.Fris. neil, M.Du. naghel, Ger. Nagel "fingernail, small metal spike"), from PIE base *(o)nogh "nail" (cf. Gk. onyx, L. unguis "nail, claw," O.C.S. noga "foot," Lith. naga "hoof," O.C.S. noguti "nail, claw," Lith. nagutis "fingernail," O.Ir. ingen, O.Welsh eguin "nail, claw"). The "fingernail" sense seems to be the original one. The verb is O.E. næglian, from P.Gmc. *ganaglijanan. Meaning "to catch, seize" is first recorded 1766. To bite one's nails as a sign of anxiety is attested from 1577. To hit the nail on the head "say or do just the right thing" is first recorded 1529.
naive
1654, from Fr. naïve, fem. of naïf, from O.Fr. naif "naive, natural, just born," from L. nativus "not artificial," also "native, rustic," lit. "born, innate, natural" (see native). Naiveté is 1673, from Fr. naïveté, from O.Fr. naiveté "native disposition." Anglicized form naivety is attested from 1708.
naked
O.E. nacod "nude," also "not fully clothed," from P.Gmc. *nakwathaz (cf. O.Fris. nakad, M.Du. naket, Du. naakt, Ger. nackt, O.N. nökkviðr, O.Swed. nakuþer, Goth. naqaþs "naked"), from PIE base *neogw- "naked" (cf. Skt. nagna, Hittite nekumant-, L. nudus, Lith. nuogas, O.C.S. nagu-, O.Ir. nocht, Welsh noeth). Applied to qualities, actions, etc., from 16c. (originally in naked truth, 1585). Phrase naked as a jaybird (1943) was earlier naked as a robin (1879, in a Shropshire context); the earliest comparative was naked as a needle (1377).
Nam
colloquial shortening of Vietnam, 1969, originally among U.S. troops sent there.
namaste
"salutatory gesture," 1948, from Hindi, from Skt. namas "bowing" + te, dat. of tuam "you" (sing.). Used as a word of greeting from 1967.
namby-pamby
1726, satiric nickname of Eng. poet Ambrose Philips (1674-1749) mocking his sentimental pastorals addressed to infant members of the nobility. Used first in a farce credited to Carey; in general sense of "weakly sentimental, insipidly pretty" it is attested from 1745.
name
O.E. nama, from P.Gmc. *namon (cf. O.Fris. nama, O.H.G. namo, Ger. Name, Du. naam, O.N. nafn, Goth. namo "name"), from PIE *nomn- (cf. Skt. nama, Avestan nama, Gk. onoma, onyma, L. nomen, O.C.S. ime, gen. imene, Rus. imya, O.Ir. ainm, O.Welsh anu). Meaning "one's reputation" is from c.1300. As a modifier meaning "well-known," first attested 1938. The verb is from O.E. namian. First record of namely "particularly, especially" is from c.1175. Name-calling is from 1853; name-dropper first recorded 1947. The name of the game "the essential thing or quality" is from 1966; to have one's name in lights "be a famous performer" is from 1929.
namesake
1646, "person named for the sake of someone" is probably originally (for the) name's sake.
nana
child's word for "grandmother" or, sometimes, "nurse" is first recorded c.1844 (see nanny).
nance
"effeminate man, homosexual," 1904, from female name Nancy (q.v.), which was in use as an adj. meaning "effeminate" (applied to men) from 1883, a shortening of earlier Miss Nancy, perhaps from the nickname of vain, fashionable actress Miss Anna Oldfield (d.1730).
Nancy
fem. proper name, probably a pet form of Ancy, dim. of M.E. Annis "Agnes."
nankeen
"kind of cotton cloth," 1755, from Nanking, China, where it originally was made. The city name is lit. "southern capital."
nanny
"children's nurse," 1795, from widespread child's word for "female adult other than mother" (cf. Gk. nanna "aunt"). The word also is a nickname form of the fem. proper name Anne, which probably is the sense in nanny goat (1788, cf. billy goat). The verb meaning "to be unduly protective" is from 1954. Nanny-house "brothel" is slang from c.1700.
nanosecond
1959, coined from Gk. nanos "dwarf" + second (n.), q.v.
Nantucket
early forms include Natocke, Nantican, Nautican; from an obscure southern New England Algonquian word, perhaps meaning "in the middle of waters."
Naomi
fem. proper name, biblical mother-in-law of Ruth, from Heb. Na'omi, lit. "my delight," from no'am "pleasantness, delightfulness," from stem of na'em "was pleasant, was lovely."
nap (n.)
"downy surface of cloth," 1440, from M.Du. or M.L.G. noppe "nap, tuft of wool," probably introduced by Flem. cloth-workers. Cognate with O.E. hnappian "to pluck," ahneopan "pluck off," O.Swed. niupa "to pinch," Goth. dis-hniupan "to tear."
nap (v.)
O.E. hnappian "to doze, sleep lightly," of unknown origin, apparently related to O.H.G. hnaffezan. The noun is first attested c.1300.
Napa
California county, perhaps from a Southern Patwin (Wiuntun) word meaning "homeland."
napalm
1942, from na(phthenic) palm(itic) acids, used in manufacture of the chemical that thickens gasoline. The verb is 1950, from the noun.
nape
"back of the neck," c.1300, of unknown origin, perhaps from O.Fr. hanap "a goblet," in reference to the hollow at the base of the skull.
naphtha
"inflammable liquid distilled from petroleum," 1572, from L., from Gk. naphtha "bitumen," perhaps from Pers. neft "pitch," or Aramaic naphta, nephta, but these could as well be from Gk. Naphthalene was coined 1821 by Eng. chemist John Kidd (1775-1851) from naphtha + chem. suffix -ine + -l- for the sake of euphony.
napkin
1420, from O.Fr. nappe "tablecloth" (from L. mappa, see map) + M.E. -kin "little."
nappy (adj.)
"downy," 1499, from nap (n.). Meaning "fuzzy, kinky," used in colloquial or derogatory ref. to the hair of black people, is from 1950.
narc (n.)
1967, Amer.Eng. slang, shortened form of narcotics agent (earlier narco). Had been used 1955 for narcotics hospital, 1958 for narcotics addict. Sense and spelling tending to merge with older but unrelated nark (q.v.).
narcissism
1905, from Ger. Narzissismus, coined 1899 by Näcke [in "Die sexuellen Perversitäten"], on a comparison first suggested 1898 by Havelock Ellis, from Gk. Narkissos, beautiful youth in mythology (Ovid, "Metamorphosis," iii.370) who fell in love with his own reflection in a spring and was turned to the flower narcissus (q.v.). First record of narcissistic is from 1916; narcissist is from 1930.
But already Krishna, enamoured of himself, had resolved to experience lust for his own self; he manifested his own Nature in the cow-herd girls and enjoyed them." [Karapatri, "Lingopasana-rahasya," Siddhanta, II, 1941-2]
narcissus
"type of bulbous flowering plant," 1548, from L., from Gk. narkissos, probably from a pre-Gk. Aegean word, but associated with Gk. narke "numbness" (see narcotic) because of the plant's sedative effect.
narcolepsy
1880, from Fr. narcolepsie, coined 1880 by Fr. physician Jean-Baptiste-Édouard Gélineau (1859-1928) from comb. form of Gk. narke "numbness, stupor" (see narcotic) + lepsis "an attack, seizure."
narcosis
1693, "state of unconsciousness caused by a narcotic," from Mod.L., from Gk. narkosis, from narkoun "to benumb" (see narcotic).
narcotic (n.)
c.1385, from O.Fr. adj. narcotique (1314), from M.L. narcoticum, from Gk. narkotikon, neut. of narkotikos "making stiff or numb," from narkotos, verbal adj. of narcoun "to benumb, make unconscious," from narke "numbness, stupor, cramp," perhaps from PIE base *(s)nerq- "to turn, twist." Sense of "any illegal drug" first recorded 1926, Amer.Eng. The adj. is first attested 1601.
nares
"nostrils," 1693, from L. nares, pl. of naris "nostril," from PIE base *nas- (see nose).
narghile
"oriental water pipe for smoking," 1839, from Fr. narghileh, from Persian nargileh, from nargil "cocoa-nut," of which the bowl was originally made. The Pers. word is probably from Skt. narikerah, which may be from a Dravidian source.
nark
1859, "to act as a police informer" (v.); 1860, "police informer" (n.), probably from Romany nak "nose," from Hindi nak, from Skt. nakra, which probably is related to Skt. nasa "nose" (see nose). Sense and spelling tending to merge with unrelated narc (q.v.).
Narragansett
1622, from southern New England Algonquian Naiaganset "(people) of the small point of land," containing nai- "a point or angle." Originally in reference to the native people, later to the place in Rhode Island.
narration
1432, from O.Fr. narration "a relating, recounting, narrating," from L. narrationem (nom. narratio), from narrare "to tell, relate, recount, explain," lit. "to make acquainted with," from gnarus "knowing," from PIE suffixed zero-grade *gne-ro-, from base *gno- "to know" (see know). Narrate is first recorded 1656, but was stigmatized as Scot. and not in general use until 19c.
narrative (adj.)
c.1450, from M.Fr. narratif, from L.L. narrativus "suited to narration," from L. narrare (see narration). The noun meaning "a tale, story" is first recorded 1561, from the adjective. Narrator first attested 1611; in sense of "a commentator in a radio program" it is from 1941.
narrow
O.E. nearu, from W.Gmc. *narwaz (cf. Fris. nar, O.S. naro, M.Du. nare), not found in other Gmc. languages and of unknown origin. The verb is O.E. nearwian, from the adj. Narrowly "only by a little" is attested from 1560. Narrow-minded first recorded 1625. Narrow-gauge railway is 4 feet 8.5 inches or less. The narrow seas (c.1400) were the waters between Great Britain and the continent and Ireland.
narthex
"porch at the end of early churches" (used by penitents not admitted to the body of the church), 1673, from Late Gk. narthex, from Gk. narthex "giant fennel," of unknown origin. The architectural feature so called from fancied resemblance of porch to a hollow stem. The word also was used in Gk. to mean "a small case for unguents, etc."
narwhal
1658, from Dan. and Norw. narhval, probably a metathesis of O.N. nahvalr, lit. "corpse-whale," from na "corpse" + hvalr "whale" (see whale). So called from resemblance of whitish color to that of dead bodies. The first element is cognate with O.E. ne, neo, Goth. naus "corpse," O.Cornish naun, O.C.S. navi, O.Pruss. nowis "corpse," Lett. nawe "death," Lith. novyti "to torture, kill."
nary
1746, alteration of ne'er a, short for never a.
NASA
U.S. space agency, acronym of National Aeronautics and Space Administration, set up in 1958.
nasal
1656, "of the nose," from Fr. nasal, from L. nasus "nose," from PIE *nas- (see nose). Of speech sounds, attested from 1669.
NASCAR
acronym for National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, U.S. auto racing promotion group founded 1948 in Daytona Beach, Fla. NASCAR dad in U.S. political parlance, "small-town, often Southern white men who abandon traditional Democratic leanings to vote Republican at least once every four years" coined 2003 by Democratic pollster Celinda Lake.
nascent
1624, from L. nascentum (nom. nascens), prp. of nasci "to be born" (see genus).
Nashville
type of country & western music, 1963, from Nashville, capital of Tennessee, where it originated. The city is named for Gen. Francis Nash (1742-1777) of North Carolina, U.S. Revolutionary War hero, killed at the Battle of Germantown. The surname is attested from 1296 in Sussex Subsidy Rolls, atten Eysse, atte Nasche (with assimilation of -n- from a preposition; see N), meaning "near an ash tree," or "near a place called Ash."
nasturtium
c.1150, "plant like watercress," from L. nasturtium "cress;" the popular etymology explanation of the name (Pliny) is that it is from L. *nasitortium, lit. "nose-twist," from nasus "nose" + pp. of torquere "to twist" (see thwart); the plant so called for its pungent odor. Modern application to S.Amer. trailing plant with orange flowers first recorded 1704.
nasty
c.1400, "foul, filthy, dirty, unclean," perhaps from O.Fr. nastre "bad, strange," shortened form of villenastre "infamous, bad," from vilein "villain" + -astre, pejorative suffix, from L. -aster. Alternate etymology is from Du. nestig "dirty," lit. "like a bird's nest." Likely reinforced by a Scand. source (cf. Swed. dial. naskug "dirty, nasty"). Of weather, from 1634; of things generally, "unpleasant, offensive," from 1705. Of people, "ill-tempered," from 1825.
natal
c.1374, from L. natalis "pertaining to birth or origin," from natus, pp. of nasci "to be born" (see genus).
Natalie
fem. proper name, from Fr. Natalie, from Eccles. L. Natalia, from L. (dies) natalis "birthday," in Church L., "Christmas Day," so probably originally a name for one born on Christmas.
natatorium
1890, New Englandish word for "swimming pool," from L. natator "swimmer" (from nare "to swim") + -ium, neut. suffix. Latin nare is from PIE *sna- "to swim, to flow" (cf. Arm. nay "wet, liquid;" Gk. notios "damp, moist," nao "I flow;" Skt. snati "bathes;" M.Ir. snaim "I swim;" and probably also Gk. nesos "island," from *na-sos, lit. "that which swims").
natch
colloquial shortening of naturally, first recorded 1945.
Nathan
masc. proper name, biblical prophet, from Heb. Nathan, lit. "he has given," from verb nathan, related to mattan "gift."
Nathaniel
masc. proper name, from L.L. Nathanael, from Gk. Nathanael, from Heb. Nethan'el, lit. "God has given."
nation
c.1300, from O.Fr. nacion, from L. nationem (nom. natio) "nation, stock, race," lit. "that which has been born," from natus, pp. of nasci "be born" (see native). Political sense has gradually taken over from racial meaning "large group of people with common ancestry." Older sense preserved in application to N.Amer. Indian peoples (1650). Nationality "the fact of belonging to a particular nation" is from 1828. Nation-building first attested 1907 (implied in nation-builder). National is from 1597; national anthem first recorded 1819, in Shelley. Nationalize "bring under state control" is from 1869.
nationalist
"one devoted to his nation," 1715, from national in a now obsolete sense of "patriotic" (1711), from nation (q.v.). Nationalism in this sense first recorded 1844; earlier it was used in a theological sense of "the doctrine of divine election of nations" (1836).
native (adj.)
c.1374, from O.Fr. natif (fem. native), from L. nativus "innate, produced by birth," from natus, pp. of nasci, gnasci "be born," related to gignere "beget," from PIE base *gen-/*gn- "produce" (see genus). The noun is c.1450, originally meaning "person born in bondage," later (1535) "person who has always lived in a place." Applied from 1652 to original inhabitants of non-European nations where Europeans hold political power; hence, used contemptuously of "the locals" from 1800. Nativism as a U.S. anti-immigrant movement is from 1845.
nativity
c.1122, from O.Fr. nativité "birth" (12c.), from L.L. nativitatem (nom. nativitas) "birth," from L. nativus "born, native" (see native). Late O.E. had nativiteð, from earlier O.Fr. nativited.
NATO
acronym of North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which was set up in 1949.
natter
"grumble, fret," 1829, northern England dialect variant of gnatter "to chatter, grumble," earlier (18c.) "to nibble away," probably of echoic origin.
natterjack
1769, rare kind of toad with a yellow stripe on its back; second element probably proper name jack (q.v.); for first element, Weekley suggests connection with attor "poison" (cf. attercop).
natty
1785, "neat, smart," originally slang, perhaps an altered form of 16c. nettie "neat, natty," from M.E. net "pure, fine, elegant" (see neat).
natural
c.1300, naturel, "of one's inborn character, of the world of nature (especially as opposed to man)," from O.Fr. naturel, from L. naturalis "by birth, according to nature," from natura "nature" (see nature). Meaning "easy, free from affectation" is attested from 1607. As a euphemism for "illegitimate, bastard" (of children), it is first recorded 1586, on notion of blood kinship (but not legal status). The noun sense of "person with a natural gift or talent" is first attested 1925, originally in prizefighting. Natural-born first attested 1583. Natural order "apparent order in nature" is from 1697. Natural childbirth first attested 1933. Natural life, u