Nereocystis 
qucntly forms floating islands upon which the sea-otters 
rest. It is there i-alled Madder-kelp. See kelp'2. 
nerft, A Middle English form of serw. Chau- 
cer. 
Nerine (ne-ri'ne), n. [NL. (Herbert, 1821), < L. 
Ncrinc, a Nereid, < Nereus, Nereus: see Nereid.] 
A genus of ornamental flowering bulbs of the 
monocotyledonous order AmarylKdcai and the 
tribe Amaryllea; known by the versatile an- 
thers, many biseriate ovules in each cell, fila- 
ments dilated at the base, and thong-like leaves. 
There are about 9 species, all South African, producing a 
stout scape with an umbel of large scarlet, pink, or rose- 
colored flowers. N. Sarniensig, the Guernsey lily, has been 
cultivated in Europe two hundred years or more, especially 
on the island of Guernsey, where tradition says it was in- 
troduced accidentally by shipwreck. It was mistakenly 
ascribed to Japan. This and the other species are now 
coming much into notice as autumn bloomers. 
Nerita (ne-ri'ta), n. [NL., < L. nerita = Gr. 
vripirris, vtjpeinK, a sea-mussel, a periwinkle, < 
N^pefcf, a sea-god: see Ne- 
reid.'] A genus of mollusks 
used with widely varying 
limits, (a) By Linneeus it was 
applied to a large and heteroge- 
neous assemblage, (b) By later 
writers it has been restricted to 
a more or less well-defined group 
typical of the family Neritidce. 
Also written Nerites. 
neritacean (ner-i-ta'se- 
an), a. and n. [< nerite + -acean.~\ I. a. Hav- 
ing the characters of a nerite ; of or pertaining 
to the Neritiilai. 
II. n. A member of the Neritidie ; a nerite. 
nerite (ne'rit), n. A gastropod of the genus 
Nerita or the family Neritidce. 
Neritidse (ne-rit'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < Nerita + 
-idee.'] A family of gastropods, typified by the 
genus Nerita. As limited by recent conchologists, it in- 
cludes thysanopod rhipidoglossates, with a radula charac- 
terized by 7 median teeth 
(a small central, 2 wide 
transverse ones, and 4 
small external ones), and 
on each side a wide lat- 
eral tooth and numerous 
narrow marginal ones. 
The shell is generally 
subglobular, but varies 
to a patelliform shape ; 
it has a flattened or sep- 
tiform columella and a 
Nerita ttslulata. 
Nerita /0/iVrc. New Zealand. 
5. palmately nerved brochido- 
drome paryphodrome leaf of Coc- 
culus Haydenianus, from the 
Fort Union group of Montana ; 6, 
3970 
there is only one primary nerve, the midrib, which may 
be regarded as a continuation of the petiole, and from 
which there are given off secondary nerves which pro- 
ceed at various angles through the blade toward or to its 
margin. These secondaries may or may not give off other 
nerves called tertiaries, and even these may produce qua- 
ternary nerves. In palmate- 
ly nerved leaves there arise, 
usually from the summit of 
the petiole, two or more 
(sometimes numerous) more 
or less divergent primary 
nerves, which may have 
nearly equal strength, but 
more commonly the central 
one is thickest and may still 
be denominated the midrib. 
In the latter case the others 
are called lateral prijnaries. 
Any or all of the primaries palmatel - rve - d ,, of Haiirll 
of a palmately nerved leaf v Br ,, nrr i, from the Cretaceous 
may give off secondaries as (Laramie) of Wyoming, 
in pinnately nerved leaves, 
but these more commonly proceed from the outer pair. 
Leaves of only three primaries are sometimes called tripli- 
nerved ; those of five, guintuplinerved. Peltate leaves usu- 
ally have a peltate nervation, which may be regarded as a 
modification of the palmate nervation. The pedate nerva- 
tion is simply a case of palmate nervation in which there 
are several nearly equal primaries. The terms penninerved, 
palminerved, peltinerved, and pedalinerved were suggested 
by De Candolle for these several kinds of leaves. As re- 
gards the course of the nerves through the blade and their 
ultimate disposition, the following classes are distin- 
guished : (1) craspedodrome [< Gr. KpaaireSov, edge, margin, 
-f -6poMos, < Spaij-elf, run], the nerves passing directly to the 
margin of the blade ; (2) camptodrome Gr. Karros, verbal 
adj. of KdfnrTfiv, bend, curve], the nerves curving (usually 
forward) near the margin, and either losing themselves in 
the parenchyma, or joining, arching, or otherwise anasto- 
mosing within the margin; (3) broehidodrome [<Gr. /Spo^i? 
Opoxio'-), dim. of Ppovos, a noose, loop], the nerves forming 
loops within the blade of the leaf ; (4) aerodrome [< Gr. 
aicpof, at the point], the nerves passing upward and for- 
ward and terminating in the apex or point of the leaf ; (5) 
dictyodrome [< Gr. SI'KTUOI-, a net], the nerves soon dividing 
up and losing themselves in the general network of the leaf 
(see explanation of nervUles, below) ; (6) hyphodrome [< Gr. 
v<Ji, a web], the nerves, of lower rank than primaries, so lost 
in the thick, coriaceous tissues of the leaf as to be nearly 
or quite invisible at the surface ; (7) paryphodrome [< Gr. 
irapu<Jj, a border woven along a robe], a strong nerve pass- 
ing round the entire margin of the leaf, forming a sort of 
hem or border ; (8) marginal, a distinct nerve passing along 
the margin of the leaf, parallel to it, but separated from it 
by a narrow interval ; (9) parallelodrome [< Gr. irt 
semilunar aperture, while the interior is absorbed and 
destitute of whorl-partitions. The species are numerous 
and occur in all tropical seas, and a few are also residents 
of fresh waters. See cut under Navicella. 
neritite (ner'i-tit), n. [< L. nerita, a sea-mus- 
sel (see Nerita), + -jte 2 .] A fossil nerite. 
Nerium (ne'ri-um), n. [NL. (Tournefort, 1700), 
< L. nerium, nerion, < Gr. vr/piov, the oleander.] 
A genus of dicotyledonous gamopetalous shrubs 
of the order Apocynacece and the tribe Ecliitidea;, 
and type of the subtribe Neriece, known by its 
erect follicles. There are 2 or 3 species, native from 
the Mediterranean to Japan. They are smooth erect 
shrubs, with rigid narrow whorled leaves, fragrant and 
showy pink, white, or yellowish flowers, and long straight 
pod-like fruit filled with woolly seeds. See oleander. 
nero-antico (na"ro-an-te'ko), n. [It.: nero, 
black (see negro) ; antico, ancient (see antique).'] 
Amarble of deep and uniform black, which takes 
a high polish. It is found among ruins of ancient 
buildings of the Roman empire, and the pieces have been 
much used by decorators of later times. 
nerret, adv. An obsolete form of near 1 . 
nervai (ner'val), a. [= F. Pg. nerval = It. 
nervate, < LL. nervatis, < L. nervus, sinew, 
nerve : see nerve.] Of or pertaining to a nerve 
or nerves ; neural. 
nervation (ner-va'shon), n. [= F. nervation; 
as nerve + -ation.] the arrangement or dis- 
tribution of nerves. Specifically (a) In hot., the 
disposition of the flbrovascular bundles in the blades of 
leaves, the sepals or petals of flowers, the wing-like ex- 
pansions of samaroid fruits, etc. : a character which has 
assumed special importance in the study of fossil plants, 
since it has been proved to have generic rank, while the 
form and outline of leaves have only specific rank. The 
nervation of leaves, as 
studied and classified 
by A. P. de Candolle 
(1827), Giuseppe Bian- 
coni (1838), Baron von 
Ettingshausen (1854- 
61), Oswald Heer (1856X 
and later authors, is 
based primarily on the 
relative rank of the 
nerves, and secondarily 
on their course through 
the leaf. As regards the 
rank of the nerves, the 
leavesof dicotyledonous 
plants are usually either ,_ . .. 
pinnately or palmately Union group of Montana; 3, margin 
nerved. This refers to nervation of a leaf of Eucalyptus, fro 
thp nrimnrv npi-vpa Tn the Cretaceous of Martha's Viiiey;ud 
imary nerves. In 4 aerodrome leaf of Zizyphus, iron 
pmuately nerved leaves the Cretaceous of Montani 
7, transversely parallelodrome nervation of Macrotscttiopteris mag- 
nifalia, from the Trias of Virginia. 
parallel], the nerves running parallel to one another, either 
longitudinally, as in grasses, or horizontally from the mid- 
rib to the margin, as in the banana-tree ; (10) eampylodrome 
Figs. I to 9 show varieties of nervation 
of fossil leaves. 
I, pinnately nerved camptodrome 
leaf of Ficus Crossii. from the Cre- 
taceous (Laramie) of Colorado ; 2, pin- 
nately nerved craspedodrome leaf of 
Ulmus plaHeroities, from the Fort 
l 
8, longitudinally parallelodrome nervation of a fossil palm-leaf, 
from the Fort Union group of Montana ; 9, eampylodrome leaf of 
Ortodexitts plicatus, from the Cretaceous {Laramie) of Colorado. 
[< Or. (ca^n-iiAoc, curved], the nerves passing in a gentle 
curve from base to apex of the leaf, the interval between 
them increasing gradually in width from either end to the 
middle. The last two classes are almost wholly restricted 
to monocotyledonous plants. Besides the above, there is 
the dichotomous or forking nervation of most ferns and 
some other plants. From the various nerves as thus de- 
scribed there usually proceed many much finer ones which 
join and anastomose in various ways, forming a network of 
meshes of different shapes, usually angular, and either rec- 
tangular, trapezoidal, or nearly square, the spaces inclosed 
by which are known as areolae. To such nerves the term 
nervilles has been applied. Physiologically considered, all 
nerves consist of vascular bundles which pass from the 
branch through the petiole, if there is one, into the base 
of the leaf, the primary fascicle of which is subsequently 
divided up to furnish the various nerves of the leaf, the 
primary nerves further dividing to supply the secondaries, 
these to supply the tertiaries, etc., and no nerves or fibers 
originate within the leaf, (b) In zoiil., the arrangement or 
disposition of the nervures, nerves, or veins of an insect's 
wing ; the set or system of nerves as thus arranged ; neura- 
ation ; venation, (c) In anat., the way or mode in which 
nerve 
the nerves are disposed : as, the nervation of a vertebrate 
consists of a cerebrospinal and a sympathetic system. 
nervature (ner'va-tur), H. [< nerve + -alure.~\ 
In hot., zool., and anat., same as nervation. 
nervaura (ner-va'ra), n. [NL., < L. nenms, 
a nerve, + aura, air.] A hypothetical subtle 
essence radiating or emanating from the ner- 
vous system, and enveloping the body in a kind 
of sphere : same as aura^, 1. 
nervauric (ner-va'rik), a. [< nervaura + -ic.] 
Of or pertaining to nervaura. 
nerve (nerv), n. [< ME. * nerve, nerfe, nerf = 
LG. nerf, nerve = G. nerv, nerve = Sw. nerv = 
Dan. nerve, < OF. nerf, F. nerf = Sp. nervio, 
OSp. memo = Pg. It. nervo, < L. nervus, a sinew, 
a tendon, a fiber, a nerve, string of a musical 
instrument or of a bow, etc., also vigor, force, 
strength, energy, = Gr. vevpov, a sinew, tendon, 
nerve, a string; perhaps ult. akin to snare.'] 
If. A sinew, tendon, or other hard white cord 
of the body: the original meaning of the word, 
at the time when nervous tissue was not dis- 
tinguished from some forms of connective tis- 
sue. See aponeurosig. 
Men myghte many an arwe fynde 
That thyrled hadde horn and nerf and rynd. 
Chaucer, Troilus, 11. 642. 
Thy nerves are in their infancy again, 
And have no vigour in them. 
Shak., Tempest, ii. 1. 484. 
2. In anat., a nerve-fiber, or usually a bundle of 
nerve-fibers, running from a central ganglionic 
organ to peripheral mechanisms, either active 
(as glands and muscles) or receptive (sense-or- 
gans). The nerve-fibers are bound together into a primi- 
tive bundle called a funiculus. The connective tissue be- 
tween the fibers within the funiculus is the endoneurium, 
and the connective tissue sheathing the funiculus is the 
perineuriwn. In the larger nerves several funiculi may 
be bound together into one trunk by connective tissue 
which forms the epineurium. See cut under median. 
But to nobler sights 
Michael from Adam's eyes the film removed, 
. . . then purged with euphrasy and rue 
The visual nerve, for he had much to see. 
Milton, P. L., xi. 415. 
In its essential nature, a nerve is a definite tract of liv- 
ing substance through which the molecular changes which 
occur in any one part of the organism are conveyed to and 
affect some other part. Huxley, Anat. Invert., p. 61. 
3. Something resembling a nerve (either a 
sinew, as in the earlier figurative uses, or a 
nerve in the present sense, 2) in form or func- 
tion. 
We do learn 
By those that know the very nerves of state, 
His givings-out were of an infinite distance 
From his true-meant design. 
Shak., M. forM., i. 4. 53. 
But the spachies and Janizaries . . . are the nerves and 
supporters of the Turkish Monarchy. 
Sandyi, Travailes, p. 38. 
Chromatic tortures soon shall drive them hence, 
Break all their nerves, and fritter all their sense. 
Pope, Dunciad, iv. 56. 
"My dear Ren^e," he said, taking hold of the stole and 
thereby establishing a nerve of communication, " let me 
present my beautiful wife ! " The Century, XXXVII. 271. 
4. Strength of sinew; bodily strength; firm- 
ness or vigor of body ; muscular power ; brawn. 
More specifically (a) Strength, power, or might in gen- 
eral ; fortitude or endurance under trying or critical cir- 
cumstances; courage. 
The infantry ... is the nerve of an army. 
Bacon, Kingdoms and F.states (ed. 1887). 
Having herin the scripture so copious and so plane, we 
have all that can be properly calld true strength and nerve ; 
the rest would be but pomp and incumbrance. 
Milton, Civil Power. 
O iron nene to true occasion true, 
O fall'n at length that tower of strength 
Which stood four-square to all the winds that blew ! 
Tennyson, Death of Wellington, iv. 
(b) Force ; energy ; spirit ; dash. 
The nerve and emphasis of the verb will lie in the prepo- 
sition. Abp. Sancroft, Sermons, p. 20. (Latham.) 
He . . . [Governor Stuyvesant] spoke forth like a man 
of nerve and vigor, who scorned to shrink in words from 
those dangers which he stood ready to encounter in very 
deed. Irving, Knickerbocker, p. 339. 
The Normans, so far as they became English, added nerve 
and force to the system with which they identified them- 
selves. Stubbs, Const. Hist, 91. 
(c) Assurance; boldness; cheek. [Slang.] 
5. pi. Hysterical nervousness. See nf-rro-ug- 
ncss (c). [Colloq.] 6. In entom., a nervure; 
a vein; a costa; one of the tubular ridges or 
thickenings which ramify in the wings. See 
nervure, 3. 7. In bot., one of a system of ribs 
or principal veins in a leaf. See nervation. 8. 
In arch., same as nervure, 1. 9. A technical 
name applied to the non-porous quality ac- 
quired by cork when, in its preparation for 
use in the arts, its surface is slightly charred 
