Normal - Notable

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Syn. -- , , . Regular and ordinary are popular terms of well-known signification; normal has now a more specific sense, arising out of its use in science. A thing is normal, or in its normal state, when strictly conformed to those principles of its constitution which mark its species or to the standard of a healthy and natural condition. It is abnormal when it departs from those principles.
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Normal (nôrm�l), n. [Cf. F. normale, ligne normale. See , a.] 1. (Geom.) Any perpendicular.
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2. (Geom.) A straight line or plane drawn from any point of a curve or surface so as to be perpendicular to the curve or surface at that point.
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☞ The term normal is also used to denote the distance along the normal line from the curve to the axis of abscissas or to the center of curvature.
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normalcy (?), n. The quality, state, or fact of being normal; the normal situation or condition; as, the point of normalcy. [R.]
Syn. -- normality.
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normality n. 1. Conformity with the norm; the state of being normal; the normal condition.
Syn. -- normalcy.
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Normalization (?), n. Reduction to a standard or normal state.
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normalize v. 1. To make normal; as, to normalize relations with China.
Syn. -- renormalize.
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2. To make standard; determine the value by comparison to an item of known standard value; as, The test results were normalized for changes in the number of questions before comparison with the previous year's values.
Syn. -- standardize.
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3. To convert to a standard form or measure; adjust the value or values so as to conform to a standard measure or pattern; as, The probabilities were normalized to add up to 1.00.
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normally, adv. In a normal manner. Darwin.
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norman (?), n. [F. normand.] (Naut.) A wooden bar, or iron pin. W. C. Russell.
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Norman, prop. a. [F. normand, of Scand. origin. See , and cf. .] Of or pertaining to Normandy or to the Normans; as, the Norman language; the Norman conquest.
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Coloq. Norman style (Arch.), a style of architecture which arose in the tenth century, characterized by great massiveness, simplicity, and strength, with the use of the semicircular arch, heavy round columns, and a great variety of ornaments, among which the zigzag and spiral or cable-formed ornaments were prominent.
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Norman, prop. n. A native or inhabitant of Normandy; originally, one of the Northmen or Scandinavians who conquered Normandy in the 10th century; afterwards, one of the mixed (Norman-French) race which conquered England, under William the Conqueror.
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Normandy prop. n. A region of France divided into Haute-Normandie and Basse-Normandie.
Syn. -- Normandie.
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Normanism (?), n. A Norman idiom; a custom or expression peculiar to the Normans. M. Arnold.
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normative adj. 1. relating to or dealing with norms; as, normative discipline; normative samples.
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2. (Grammar) giving directives or rules; prescriptive. Opposed to descriptive.
Syn. -- prescriptive.
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3. based on or prescribing a norm or standard; as, normative grammar.
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normotensive adj. (Med., Physiol.) Pertaining to or having normal blood pressure.
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normothermia n. (Med., Physiol.) normal body temperature.
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{ Norn (?), Norna (?) }, n. [Icel. norn, pl. nornir.] 1. (Scandinavian Myth.) Any one of the three Fates, Past, Present, and Future. Their names were Urd, Verdandi, and Skuld. They are identified with the Anglo-Saxon Wyrd, and are similar to the Greek Moirae and Roman Parcae.
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2. A tutelary deity; a genius.
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Noropianic (?), a. [Etymology uncertain.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, an acid of the aromatic series obtained from opianic acid.
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Norroy (?), n. [Lit., north king, fr. F. nord north + roi king.] (Her.) The most northern of the English Kings-at-arms. See King-at-arms, under .
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Norse (nôrs), prop. a. [Dan. Norsk, fr. nord north. See .] Of or pertaining to ancient Scandinavia, or to the language spoken by its inhabitants.
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Norse, prop. n. The Norse language.
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Norseman (?), prop. n.; pl. Norsemen (�). One of the ancient Scandinavians; a Northman.
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Nortelry (?), n. [Cf. .] Nurture; education; culture; bringing up. [Obs.]
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Nortelry . . . learned at the nunnery. Chaucer.
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North (nôrth), n. [AS. norð; akin to D. noord, G., Sw., & Dan. nord, Icel. norðr. Cf. , .]
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1. That one of the four cardinal points of the compass, at any place, which lies in the direction of the true meridian, and to the left hand of a person facing the east; the direction opposite to the south.
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2. Any country or region situated farther to the north than another; the northern section of a country.
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3. Specifically: That part of the United States lying north of Mason and Dixon's line. See under .
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North, a. Lying toward the north; situated at the north, or in a northern direction from the point of observation or reckoning; proceeding toward the north, or coming from the north.
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Coloq. North following . See , a., 2. -- Coloq. North pole , that point in the heavens, or on the earth, ninety degrees from the equator toward the north. -- Coloq. North preceding . See , a., 2. -- Coloq. North star , the star toward which the north pole of the earth very nearly points, and which accordingly seems fixed and immovable in the sky. The star α (alpha) of the Little Bear, is our present north star, being distant from the pole about 1° 25', and from year to year approaching slowly nearer to it. It is called also Cynosura, polestar, and by astronomers, Polaris.
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North, v. i. To turn or move toward the north; to veer from the east or west toward the north.
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North, adv. Northward.
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North-American prop. adj. of or pertaining to or characteristic of the continent or countries of North America and their peoples.
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northbound adj. 1. Moving toward the north; as, northbound traffic.
Syn. -- northward.
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2. intended to be used by vehicles moving toward the north; -- of roads and parts of roads; as, The northbound lane was blocked by an overturned tractor-trailer.
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North-Central adj. Of or pertaining to a region of the U. S. generally including states of the upper Mississippi valley and Great Lakes region lying north of the Ohio River and the southern boundaries of Kansas and Missouri and between the western boundary of Pennsylvania and the eastern boundaries of Montana; Wyoming; and Colorado.
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Northeast (?), n. The point between the north and east, at an equal distance from each; the northeast part or region.
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Northeast, a. Of or pertaining to the northeast; proceeding toward the northeast, or coming from that point; as, a northeast course; a northeast wind.
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Coloq. Northeast passage , a passage or communication by sea between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans along the north coast of Asia.
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Northeast, adv. Toward the northeast.
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Northeaster (?), n. A storm, strong wind, or gale, coming from the northeast.
Syn. -- noreaster, nor'easter.
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Northeasterly, a. Pertaining to the northeast; toward the northeast, or coming from the northeast.
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Northeasterly, adv. Toward the northeast.
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Northeastern (?), a. Of or pertaining to the northeast; northeasterly.
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{ Northeastward (?), Northeastwardly (?) }, adv. Toward the northeast.
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Norther (?), n. A wind from the north; esp., a strong and cold north wind in Texas and the vicinity of the Gulf of Mexico.
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Northerliness (?), n. The quality or state of being northerly; direction toward the north.
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Northerly, a. Of or pertaining to the north; toward the north, or from the north; northern.
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Northerly, adv. Toward the north.
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Northern (?), a. [AS. norðerne.] 1. Of or pertaining to the north; being in the north, or nearer to that point than to the east or west.
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2. In a direction toward the north; as, to steer a northern course; coming from the north; as, a northern wind.
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Coloq. Northern diver . (Zoöl.) See . -- Coloq. Northern lights . See Aurora borealis, under . -- Coloq. Northern spy (Bot.), an excellent American apple, of a yellowish color, marked with red.
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Northerner (?), n. 1. One born or living in the north.
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2. A native or inhabitant of the Northern States; -- contradistinguished from Southerner. [U. S.]
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Northernly, adv. Northerly. [Obs.] Hakewill.
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Northernmost (?), a. [Cf. .] Farthest north.
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Northing, n. 1. (Surv. & Navigation) Distance northward from any point of departure or of reckoning, measured on a meridian; -- opposed to southing.
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2. (Astron.) The distance of any heavenly body from the equator northward; north declination.
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northland n. any region lying in or toward the north.
Syn. -- North, septentrion.
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Northman (nôrthm�n), prop. n.; pl. Northmen (#). [AS. norðman. See , and , and cf. .] One of the inhabitants of the north of Europe; esp., one of the ancient Scandinavians; a Norseman.
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northmost (nôrthmōst), a. [AS. norðmest. Cf. .] Lying farthest north; northernmost.
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Northmost part of the coast of Mozambique. De Foe.
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Northness, n. A tendency in the end of a magnetic needle to point to the north. Faraday.
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north-polar adj. Of or pertaining to the North Pole; at or near the north pole; characteristic of the north pole.
Syn. -- Arctic.
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North Star State. Minnesota; -- a nickname.
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Northumbrian (?), a. Of or pertaining to Northumberland in England. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Northumberland.
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Northward (?), a. [AS. norðweard.] Toward the north; nearer to the north than to the east or west point.
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{ Northward (?), Northwards (?) }, adv. Toward the north, or toward a point nearer to the north than to the east or west point.
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Northwardly, a. Having a northern direction.
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Northwardly, adv. In a northern direction.
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Northwest (?), n. [AS. norðwest.] 1. The point in the horizon between the north and west, and equally distant from each; the northwest part or region.
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2. The northwestern part of the contiguous forty-eight states of the United States, especially the states of Washington and Oregon. [U.S.]
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Northwest, a. 1. Pertaining to, or in the direction of, the point between the north and west; being in the northwest; toward the northwest, or coming from the northwest; as, the northwest coast.
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2. Coming from the northwest; as, a northwest wind.
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Coloq. Northwest passage , a passage or communication by sea between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans along the north coast of America, long sought for by navigators.
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Northwest, adv. Toward the northwest.
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Northwester (?), n. A storm or gale from the northwest; a strong northwest wind.
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Northwesterly, a. Toward the northwest, or from the northwest.
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Northwestern (?), a. Of, pertaining to, or being in, the northwest; in a direction toward the northwest; coming from the northwest; northwesterly; as, a northwestern course.
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{ Northwestward (?), Northwestwardly (?), } adv. Toward the northwest.
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Norwegian (?), prop. a. [Cf. Icel. Noregr, Norvegr, Norway. See , and .] Of or pertaining to Norway, its inhabitants, or its language.
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Norwegian, prop. n. 1. A native of Norway.
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2. That branch of the Scandinavian language spoken in Norway.
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Norwegium (?), n. [NL. See .] (Chem.) A rare metallic element, of doubtful identification, said to occur in the copper-nickel of Norway. Not recognized as an element (1999).
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nor'-west n. Northwest; the compass point midway between north and west; at 315 degrees.
Syn. -- northwest, NW.
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Norweyan (?), a. Norwegian. [Obs.] Shak.
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Nose (nōz), n. [AS. nosu; akin to D. neus, G. nase, OHG. nasa, Icel. nös, Sw. näsa, Dan. näse, Lith. nosis, Russ. nos', L. nasus, nares, Skr. nāsā, nās. √261. Cf. , , , , .]
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1. (Anat.) The prominent part of the face or anterior extremity of the head containing the nostrils and olfactory cavities; the olfactory organ. See , and Olfactory organ under .
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2. The power of smelling; hence, scent.
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We are not offended with a dog for a better nose than his master. Collier.
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3. A projecting end or beak at the front of an object; a snout; a nozzle; a spout; as, the nose of a bellows; the nose of a teakettle.
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Coloq. Nose bit (Carp.), a bit similar to a gouge bit, but having a cutting edge on one side of its boring end. -- Coloq. Nose hammer (Mach.), a frontal hammer. -- Coloq. Nose hole (Glass Making), a small opening in a furnace, before which a globe of crown glass is held and kept soft at the beginning of the flattening process. -- Coloq. Nose key (Carp.), a fox wedge. -- Coloq. Nose leaf (Zoöl.), a thin, broad, membranous fold of skin on the nose of many species of bats. It varies greatly in size and form. -- Coloq. Nose of wax , (fig.), a person who is pliant and easily influenced. “A nose of wax to be turned every way.” Massinger -- Coloq. Nose piece , the nozzle of a pipe, hose, bellows, etc.; the end piece of a microscope body, to which an objective is attached. -- Coloq. To hold one's nose to the grindstone , Coloq. To put one's nose to the grindstone , or Coloq. To bring one's nose to the grindstone . See under . -- Coloq. To lead by the nose , to lead at pleasure, or to cause to follow submissively; to lead blindly, as a person leads a beast. Shak. -- Coloq. To put one's nose out of joint , to humiliate one's pride, esp. by supplanting one in the affections of another. [Slang] -- Coloq. To thrust one's nose into , to meddle officiously in. -- Coloq. To wipe one's nose of , to deprive of; to rob. [Slang] -- Coloq. on the nose , (a) exactly, accurately. (b) (racing) to win, as opposed to to place or to show.
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Nose, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nosed (nōzd); p. pr. & vb. n. Nosing.] 1. To smell; to scent; hence, to track, or trace out.
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2. To touch with the nose; to push the nose into or against; hence, to interfere with; to treat insolently.
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Lambs . . . nosing the mother's udder. Tennyson.
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A sort of national convention, dubious in its nature . . . nosed Parliament in the very seat of its authority. Burke.
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3. To utter in a nasal manner; to pronounce with a nasal twang; as, to nose a prayer. [R.] Cowley.
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4. To confront; be closely face to face or opposite to; meet.
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5. To furnish with a nose; as, to nose a stair tread.
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6. To examine with the nose or sense of smell.
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7. To make by advancing the nose or front end; as, the train nosed its way into the station;
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8. (Racing Slang) to beat by (the length of) a nose. Hence, to defeat in a contest by a small margin; also used in the form nose out.
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Nose (?), v. i. To push or move with the nose or front forward.
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A train of cable cars came nosing along. Hamlin Garland.
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Nose (nōz), v. i. 1. To smell; to sniff; to scent. Audubon.
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2. To pry officiously into what does not concern one; to .
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Nose around (?), v. i. to look around or search, especially where one has no authority to do so; to pry; to be nosy. Same as , v. i.
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Nosebag (?), n. A bag in which feed for a horse, ox, or the like, may be fastened under the nose by a string passing over the head.
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Noseband (?), n. That part of the headstall of a bridle which passes over a horse's nose.
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Nosebleed (?), n. 1. A bleeding at the nose.
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2. (Bot.) The yarrow. See .
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nosecount n. A count of the number of persons present or who are to be included in a group; as, get a nosecount of those who are planning to go; also, a periodic count of the population.
Syn. -- census.
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Nosed (?), a. Having a nose, or such a nose; -- chiefly used in composition; as, pug-nosed.
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nosedive, nose-dive v. i. To drop with the nose or front first, as of an airplane.
Syn. -- nosedive.
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no-see-um n. (Zool.) Any of several minute two-winged biting insects of the family Ceratopogonidae that suck the blood of mammals and birds and other insects; also called biting midge and punkie.
Syn. -- punkie, punky, punkey, biting midge.
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nosegay (?), n. [Nose + gay in the sense of a gay or showy thing.] A bunch of odorous and showy flowers; a bouquet; a posy. Pope.
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Nosel (?), v. t. [See .] To nurse; to lead or teach; to foster; to nuzzle. [Obs.]
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If any man use the Scripture . . . to nosel thee in anything save in Christ, he is a false prophet. Tyndale.
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Noseless (?), a. Destitute of a nose.
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Nosesmart (?), n. (Bot.) A kind of cress, a pungent cruciferous plant, including several species of the genus Nasturtium.
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nosey adj. Offensively or intrusively curious; prying; nosy; as, a nosy neighbor.
Syn. -- inquisitorial, nosy, prying, snoopy.
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{ Nosethirl (?), Nosethril (?) }, n. Nostril. [Obs.] [Written also nosethurl, nosthrill.] Chaucer.
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no-show n. 1. someone who shirks a duty.
Syn. -- nonattender, truant.
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2. A person who is expected to attend a gathering but does not come. Specifically, a person who buys a ticket to a game or other entertainment and does not attend.
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Nosing (?), n. (Arch.) That part of the treadboard of a stair which projects over the riser; hence, any like projection, as the projecting edge of a molding.
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Nosle (?), n. [See , .] Nozzle. [Obs.]
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Nosocomial (nŏs�kōmĭ�l), a. [L. nosocomium a hospital, Gr. nosokomei^on; nosos disease + komei^n to attend to.] 1. Of or pertaining to a hospital; as, nosocomial atmosphere. Dunglison.
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2. Acquired in a hospital; as, a nosocomial infection.
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Nosography (?), n. [Gr. nosos disease + -graphy: cf. F. nosographie.] A description or classification of diseases.
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Nosological (?), a. [Cf. F. nosologique.] Of or pertaining to nosology.
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Nosologist (?), n. [Cf. F. nosologiste.] One versed in nosology.
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Nosology (?), n. [Gr. nosos disease + -logy: cf. F. nosologie.] 1. A systematic arrangement, or classification, of diseases.
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2. That branch of medical science which treats of diseases, or of the classification of diseases.
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Nosophen (?), n. [Nose + phenol; orig. used for affections of the nose.] (Pharm.) An iodine compound obtained as a yellowish gray, odorless, tasteless powder by the action of iodine on phenolphthalein.
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Nosophobia (?), n. [NL.; nosos disease + fobos fear.] (Med.) Morbid dread of disease.
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Nosopoetic (?), a. [Gr. nosos disease + � productive, fr. poiei^n to make.] Producing diseases. [R.] Arbuthnot.
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Nost (?). [Contr. from ne wost.] Wottest not; knowest not. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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nostalgia (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. � a return home + � pain.] 1. (Med.) Homesickness; esp., a severe and sometimes fatal form of melancholia, due to homesickness.
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2. A sentimental yearning to return to an earlier time remembered as happier or more pleasant, or a former place evoking happy memories; a longing to experience again a former happy time; as, a nostalgia for the brotherhood of the Woodstock music festival; a nostalgia for the comradeship of one's college friends.
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Nostalgic (?), a. [Cf. F. nostalgique.] Of or pertaining to nostalgia; affected with nostalgia.
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Nostalgy (?), n. Same as .
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Nostoc (?), prop. n. [F.] (Bot.) A genus of algæ. The plants are composed of moniliform cells imbedded in a gelatinous substance.
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☞ Nostoc commune is found on the ground, and is ordinarily not seen; but after a rain it swells up into a conspicuous jellylike mass, which was formerly supposed to have fallen from the sky, whence the popular names, fallen star and star jelly. Also called witches' butter.
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Nostocaceae prop. n. A natural family of blue-green algae.
Syn. -- family Nostocaceae.
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Nostril (?), n. [OE. nosethril, nosethirl, AS. nosþyrl; nos for nosu nose + þyrel opening, hole, from þyrel pierced, for þyrhel, fr. purh through. √261. See , and , and cf. .]
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1. (Anat.) One of the external openings of the nose, which give passage to the air breathed and to secretions from the nose and eyes; one of the anterior nares.
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☞ In sperm whales, porpoises, and allied animals, there is only one nostril, which is situated on the top of the head and called a spiracle.
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2. Perception; insight; acuteness. [Obs.]
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Methinks a man
Of your sagacity and clear nostril should
Have made another choice. B. Jonson.
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Nostrum (-trŭm), n.; pl. Nostrums (-trŭmz). [Neut. sing. of L. noster ours, fr. nos we. See .]
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1. A medicine, the ingredients of which are kept secret for the purpose of restricting the profits of sale to the inventor or proprietor; a quack medicine.
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2. Any scheme or device proposed by a quack.
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The incentives of agitators, the arts of impostors and the nostrums of quacks. Brougham.
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3. Any scheme asserted to solve a problem, but with no objective basis for belief in its effectiveness; esp., in politics, a scheme or proposal likely to prove popular with voters.
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nosy adj. Offensively or intrusively curious; prying; nosey; as, he flipped through my letters in his nosy way.
Syn. -- inquisitorial, nosey, prying, snoopy.
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Not (?). [Contr. from ne wot. See 2d .] Wot not; know not; knows not. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Not, a. Shorn; shaven. [Obs.] See .
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Not, adv. [OE. not, noht, nought, naught, the same word as E. naught. See .] A word used to express negation, prohibition, denial, or refusal.
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Not one word spake he more than was need. Chaucer.
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Thou shalt not steal. Ex. xx. 15.
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Thine eyes are upon me, and I am not. Job vii. 8.
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The question is, may I do it, or may I not do it? Bp. Sanderson.
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Coloq. Not . . . but , or Coloq. Not but , only. [Obs. or Colloq.] Chaucer.
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Notabilia (?), n. pl. [Neut. pl. of L. notabilis notable.] Things worthy of notice.
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Notability (?), n.; pl. Notabilities (#). [Cf. F. notabilité .] 1. Quality of being notable.
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2. A notable, or remarkable, person or thing; a person of note. “Parisian notabilities” Carlyle.
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3. A notable saying. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Notable (?), a. [F. notable, L. notabilis, fr. notare to mark, nota mark, note. See 5th .]
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1. Capable of being noted; noticeable; plain; evident.
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