necromant 
Bmelren [It.], a precious stone much esteemed of the 
Assyrians, and vsed of niyrmnants. Fiona. 
necromantic (nek-ro-man'tik), a. and w. [= 
OF. nujromantiqite = Sp. nigronidntico = Pg. 
necroniantico = It. negromantico, nigromantico, 
< ML. neeromantiCM, negromanticus, < L. necro- 
minitla, necromancy: see necromancy.'] I. a. 
1. Of, pertaining to, or performed by necro- 
mancy. 
These metaphysics of magicians, 
And necromantic books, are heavenly. 
Marlowe, Doctor Faustus, i. 1. 
Think'st thou that Bacon's niaromanticke skill 
Cannot performe his head and wall of hrasse ? 
Greene, Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay, 1. 348. 
2. Witching; enchanting; magical. 
O pow'rf nl Necromantic Eyes ! 
Who in your Circles strictly pries 
Will find that Cupid with his Dart 
In you doth practice the black Art. 
Howell, Letters, I. v. 22. 
3. Conjuring. 
A Ifekromantilte priest did aduertise him that hee should 
not dismay. Guevara, Letters (tr. by Hellowes, 1577), p. S3. 
II. n. 1. A magical or conjuring trick; a 
magical act; conjuring. [Rare.] 
How curious to contemplate two state-rooks, 
Studious their nests to feather in a trice, 
With all the necromantic* of their art, 
Playing the game of faces on each other ! 
Young, Night Thoughts, viii. 346. 
2. A conjurer; a magician. 
Perchaunce thou art a NekromantUce, and hast enchaunt- 
ed him. Guevara, Letters (tr. by Hellowes, 1677), p. 142. 
necromanticalt (nek-ro-man'ti-kal), a. [< nec- 
romantic + -al.] Practising necromancy or 
the black art. 
Most necromantical astrologer ! 
Do this, and take me for your servant ever. 
T. Tomkis (?), Albumazar, 1. 7. 
necromantically (nek-ro-man'ti-kal-i), adv. By 
necromancy or the black art ; by conjuring. 
necronite (nek'ro-nit), n. [Irreg. < Gr. vEKp6c, 
a dead body, + -ite 2 .] Fetid feldspar, a variety 
of orthoclase. When struck or pounded it exhales a 
fetid odor like that of putrid flesh. It is found in small 
nodules in the limestone of Baltimore. 
Necrophaga (nek-rof 'a-ga), n. pi [NL., neut. 
pi. of necrophagns : see necrophagous.] A di- 
vision of pentamerous Coleoptem, proposed by 
Macleay, including various beetles which feed 
upon carrion, as the Dermestida', Silplridcc, Niti- 
dulida;, and Engidiv. See cut under Silpha. 
necrophagan (nek-rof 'a-gan), a. and n. [< 
Necrophaga + -an.] I. a. Of or pertaining to 
the Necrophaga. 
II. n. A member of the Necrophaga, as a 
burying-, sexton-, or carrion-beetle. 
necrophagous (nek-rof'a-gus), a. [< NTj. nc- 
crophagns, < Or. vcKpotya-yor, eating dead bodies 
or carrion, < wicpof, a dead body, + (j>ayelv, eat.] 
Eating or feeding on carrion. 
necrophilism (nek-rof'i-lizm), w. [< Gr. vexpof, 
a dead body, + Qi/Mf, loving, + -ism."] An un- 
natural or morbid state characterized by a re- 
volting attraction toward the dead, it mani- 
fests itself in various ways, those subject to it living 
beside dead bodies, exhuming corpses to see them, kiss 
them, Or mutilate them, etc. Necrophilism sometimes 
develops into a sort of cannibalism. 
necrophllous (nek-rof 'i-lus), a. [< NL. Ifeero- 
philus, < Gr. venp6f, a dead body, + <fi?wf, lov- 
ing.] Fond of carrion; specifically, pertaining 
to the genus Necrophilus. 
Necrophilus (nek-rof M-lus), n. [NL. (La- 
treille, 1829): see necrophilous.] A genus of la- 
mellicorn coleopterous insect^ of the family Sil- 
phidte. It closely resembles Silpha proper, but the inter- 
nal mandibular lobe is unarmed at the end, the palps are 
more filiform, the third antennal joint is almost as long 
as the first, the second and sixth are submoniliform, and 
the seventh to eleventh form a club enlarged and serrate ; 
the middle coxa? are contiguous, and the first joints of the 
front and middle tarsi are in the males a little dilated. 
There is a European species, and several are found in north- 
western America. 
necropnobia (nek-ro-fo'bi-a), 71. [NL., < Gr. 
DtKpof , a dead body, + -0o/?/a, < 0o/3of, fear.] 1 . 
A morbid horror of dead bodies. 2. An ex- 
aggerated fear of death ; thanatophobia. 
necrophore (uek'ro-for), n, A beetle of the ge- 
nus Necrophorus. 
Necrophoridae (nek-ro-for'i-de), n. [NL., < 
Necrophorus + -idee.] A family of beetles, 
founded by Fabricius in 1775, now merged in 
the Silnhidw. 
necrophqrous (nek-rof 'o-rus), a. [< Gr. veKpo<f>v- 
pof, bearing dead bodies, < venp6f, a dead body, 
+ -^opoc, bearing, < fyipeiv = E. bear^.] Convey- 
ing and burying dead bodies ; specifically, per- 
3954 
taining to or characteristic of beetles of the ge- 
nus Necrophorus, or having their habits. 
Necrophorus (nek-rof'o-rus), . [NL.: see 
netropkorous.] The typical genus of Necro/ilio- 
ridm, having ten-jointed antennffi. They are most- 
ly large dark-colored beetles, sometimes ornamented with 
reddish or yellowish bands ; they usually exhale a musky 
odor. They have long been noted for burying the bodies 
of small dead animals, in which they lay then- eggs. The 
larva; resemble those of Silpha, but are longer and attenu- 
ate at both ends, with a short labrum. The genus is wide- 
spread, with numerous species. See cut under burying- 
beetle. 
necropolis (nek-rop'o-lis), n. [NL., < Gr. ve- 
/cpojro/uf, a cemetery, < vtjcpof, a dead body, + 
7ro/Uf, a city.] A cemetery; specifically, one of 
the cemeteries of ancient peoples. Such burying- 
grounds, in the neighborhood of some sites of ancient cities, 
are very extensive and abound in valuable remains. From 
the ancient cemeteries a large part of modern archrco- 
logical knowledge has been derived, owing to the practice 
among the peoples of antiquity of depositing in their 
tombs objects of art and of daily use, and very generally 
of ornamenting them with characteristic monuments of 
architecture, sculpture, painting, or epigraphy. The name 
is sometimes given to modern cemeteries in or near towns. 
necropsy (nek'rop-si), n. [< Gr. veKpof, a dead 
body, + oi/xf , sight : see optic.'] Same as necro- 
scopy. 
necroscopic (nek-ro-skop'ik), a. [< necroscop-y 
+ -ic.] Pertaining to necroscopy or post-mor- 
tem examinations. 
necroscopical (nek-ro-skop'i-kal), a. [< necro- 
scopic + -al.] Same as necrosco/iic. 
necroscopy (nek'ro-sko-pi), n. [< Gr. vrepoc, a 
dead body, + -anoxia, < antmelv, view.] The ex- 
amination of a body after death ; post-mortem 
examination ; autopsy. Also necropsy. 
necrose (nek'ros), v. i. ; pret. and pp. necrosed, 
ppr. necrosing. [< necrosis, n.] To be or be- 
come affected with necrosis. 
He was taught in cases of comminuted fracture to take 
out the spicules of bone, . . . lest they should necrose and 
give rise to trouble. Medical News, LIII. 138. 
necrosis (nek-ro'sis), n. [NL., < L. necrosis, < 
Gr. vcKpaoic., a killing, in passive sense dead- 
ness, < veKpavv, kill, deaden, intr. and pass, mor- 
tify, < wKpof, a dead body.] 1. In pathol., the 
death of a circumscribed piece of tissue. It 
may be produced by stoppage of the blood-supply, as in 
embolism, by mechanical violence, by chemical agency, or 
by excessive heat or cold. It may involve large masses of 
tissue, or small clusters of cells,or scattered individual cells. 
The necrosed tissue may be absorbed and replaced by nor- 
mal tissue or by cicatricial tissue. It may form a caseous 
mass, or the cavity may fill with lymph, forming a cyst. 
2. In lot., a disease of plants, chiefly found upon 
the leaves and soft parenchymatous parts, it 
consists of small black spots, below which the substance 
of the plant decays. Also called spotting. Coagulation- 
necrosis. See coagulation. 
necrotic (nek-rot'ik), a. [< necrosis (-ot-) + -ic.] 
Characterized by necrosis ; exhibiting necrosis; 
dead, as applied to tissues. 
necrotomic (nek-ro-tom'ik), a. [< necrotom-y 
+ -ic.] Of or pertaining to necrotomy. 
necrotomy (nek-rot'o-mi), n. [< Gr. vmpfy, a 
corpse, + -To/iia, < TKJIVUV, ra/ielv, cut.] Dissec- 
tion of dead bodies. 
necrotype (nek'ro-tip), 11. [< Gr. vrepof, a corpse, 
+ ri'Trof, a type.] A type formerly extant in 
any region, afterward extinct : thus, indigenous 
horses and rhinoceroses are necrotypcsof North 
America. Gill, Smithsonian Report, 1881, p. 
460. 
necrotypic (nek-ro-tip'ik), a. [< necrotype + 
-ic.] Having the character of a necrotype. 
Nectandra (nek-tan'dra), n. [NL. (Rolander, 
1776), irreg. < Gr. vcKrap", nectar, + avt/p (avtip-), 
male (mod. bot. stamen).] A genus of trees of 
the apetalous order Lanrinece and the tribe Per- 
seaccce, known by the anthers with four cells in 
a curving line. There are about 70 species, found 
from Brazil to Mexico and the West Indies. They bear 
alternate rigid feather-veined leaves, loosely panicled 
flowers, and globose or oblong berries. The genus fur- 
nishes important timber-trees and some oils and aro- 
matic products. See greenheart, 1, and bebeeru. 
nectar (nek'tar), 71. [= F. nectar = Sp. nectar = 
Pg. nectar = It. ncttare, < L. nectar = Gr. veK-ap, 
the drink of the gods (see def. 1); usually ex- 
plained, without probability, as < VE- forv?-, not 
(see TIC), + %/ KTO in KTCIVCIV. kill (cf. a^/Jpoo/o, 
ambrosia, the food of the gods, ult. < a- priv. + 
/ /top, die).] 1. In classical myth., the drink or 
wine of the Olympian gods, poured out for them 
by Hebe and Ganymede, the cupbearers of 
Zeus. It was reputed to possess wondrous life-giving 
properties, to impart a divine bloom, beauty, and vigor to 
him so fortunate as to obtain it, and to preserve all that it 
touched from decay and corruption. See ambrosia. 
He esteems the nectar of the goddes, 
Homers Nepenthe, to come short by oddes 
Of this delicious iuice. 
Times' Whistle (E. E. T. S.), p. 2. 
nectarize 
The sweet peace-making draught went round, and lame 
Ephaistus Hid 
Nectar to all the other gods. Chapman, Iliad, i. 578. 
2. Hence, any delicious and salubrious drink. 
Specifically (a) A drink compounded of wine, honey, 
and spices. Also called piment. (b) A sweet wine pro- 
duced in the Greek islands : a name given indeterminate- 
ly to wines of similar quality. 
S. In but., the honey of a flower; the superflu- 
ous saccharine matter remaining after the sta- 
mens and pistils have consumed all that they 
require. 
nectar-bird (nok'tjir-berd), n. A honey-sucker 
or sunbird of the family Xectariniida-. 
nectareal (nek-ta're-al), . [< nectare-ous + 
-al.] 1. Pertaining to nectar ; nectarean. 2. 
Same as nectarial. 
nectarean (nek-ta're-an), a. [< L. nectareux, of 
nectar (see neettircoim), + -fiit.~] Pertaining to 
nectar; resembling nectar; very sweet and 
pleasant. 
Choicest nectarean juice crown'd largest bowls 
And overlook'd the brim, alluring sight, 
Of fragrant scent, attractive, taste divine. 
Gay, Wine. 
nectared (nek'tard), a. [< nectar + -frf 2 .] Im- 
bued with nectar; mingled with nectar; abound- 
ing in nectar. 
And a perpetual feast of nectar'd sweets, 
Where no crude surfeit reigns. 
Milton, Comus, 1. 479. 
nectarellt, a. [In the quoted passage for 
"nectarall, < nectar + -oJ.] Like nectar; nec- 
tareous. 
For your breaths too, let them smell 
Ambrosia-like, or nectarell. 
Herrick, To his Mistresses. 
nectareous (nek-ta're-us), a. [= Sp. nectdreo 
= Pg. nectareo = It. nettarco, < L.7ieetam/s,< Gr. 
venrdpenf, nectareous, < venrap, nectar: see nec- 
tar.] Same as nectarean. 
Annual for me the grape, the rose, renew 
The juice nectareous and the balmy dew. 
J'ope, Essay on Man, i. 136. 
nectareously (nek-ta're-us-li), adv. In a nec- 
tareous manner. 
nectareousness (nek-ta're-us-nes), . The 
quality of being nectareous. 
nectar-gland (nek'tar-gland), 71. A gland se- 
creting nectar or honey. 
nectarial (nek-ta'ri-al), a. [< nectary + -al.] 
Of or pertaining to tte nectary of a plant. 
nectaried (nek'ta-rid), a. [< nectary + -ed?.] 
Provided with nectaries or honey-producing 
organs : said of flowers or plants. 
nectarilyma (nek"ta-ri-li'ma), n. [NL., < nec- 
tarinm, nectary, + Gr. \vfia, what is washed 
or wiped off, < 'Aovttv, L. luere, wash : see lute?, 
larfZ.] In hot., a collection of long hairs found 
on the inner surface of some flowers, as Meny- 
nnthes. 
nectarine (nek'ta-rin), a. and n. [< OF. nec- 
tarin = Sp. nectarine, < NL. "nectarintis, < L. 
nectar, nectar: see nectar.] I. a. Sweet or deli- 
cious as nectar. 
To their supper fruits they fell 
Nectarine fruits, which the compliant boughs 
Yielded them. Milton, P. L., iv. 332. 
II. i.. A variety of the common peach, from 
which its fruit differs only in having a rind de- 
void of down and a firmer pulp. Both fruits 
are sometimes found growing on the same tree. 
See peach. 
Nectarinia (nek-ta-rin'i-a), n. [NL., < "nccta- 
rinus, of nectar: "see nectarine.] The repre- 
sentative genus of the family Xeelariniidce, in 
which the middle tail-feathers of the male are 
long-exserted. The species are African. JV./- 
mosa is an example. Cinnyris is a synonym. 
Nectariniidse (nek''ta-ri-nl'i-de), 71. pi. [NL., < 
Nectarinia + -Ida;.] A family of oscine passer- 
ine birds, represented by the genus Nectarinia; 
the nectar-birds, honey-suckers, or sunbirds. 
They have an acute, often very long and arcuate bill, no 
vibrissae, and a naked nasal scale. The tongue is long, 
protrusile, and at the end bifid in such a way as to form a 
kind of tube or haustellum for sucking the juices of flow- 
ers. There are 10 primaries, 12 rectrices, and the tarsi 
are scutellate. The plumage as a rule is gorgeous or 
exquisite in its iridescence or sheen, greens and yellows 
being the principal colors. These beautiful birds are 
confined to the Ethiopian, Indian, and Australian regions. 
They are non-migratory, and generally lay two white eggs 
in a woven pensile nest. The nectar-birds represent or 
replace humming-birds in the Old World, though the 
two families belong to different orders. Nearer New 
World relatives are the Qeenbtdv or guitguits. The Nec- 
tiiriiiiiilti' air fimrtimes divided into NectarinnncK, Prn- 
merapince, and Arachnotheriiwe. Also Cinnyridfe, Nec- 
tariniadce, Nectarinia ce. 
nectarize (nek'tiir-Iz), v. t.; pret. and pp. >iec- 
tarizfil, ppr. ncciarizing. [< nectar + -ize.] To 
rrmigle with nectar; sweeten. Cockeram. 
