Nirvana 
Buddhism does not acknou leiljfe Hit- exUtene.- of a soul 
as a thing dUtlnct I'l Ihe|ru-Isund iNiwiTHiif man lii- li 
are llis^llve*! al lllMlll, illlli tile \iri'i'/Kt of r,llilllhi-lll I- 
ulnjply Kxtinctlon. 9m v Brit., IV. 484. 
nis't. A contraction of nc in, is mil. 
nis 2 (iiis), it. [< Dan. niaxe, a hobgoblin, a 
brownie: see ww 1 .] Same as nix 1 . 
In vain he called on the Kile-maids shy, 
Ami tin; Neck and the tit* gave no reply. 
Whittier, Kallundborg Church. 
An echo of the song of niixxex and water-fay* we seem 
to hear again in this singer of dreams and regreU. 
Westminiter Rev., CXXV. 417. 
Nisaean (ui-se'an), it. and n. [< Or. Nio-oiov 
mAioVj the Nisican Plain ; Nioaiof (or N;/aaiof) 
iirirof, a Nisrean horse : seedef.] I. n. Pertain- 
ing to a plain located in Media or Khorasan, 
formerly noted for its choice breed of horses. 
II. H. A horse reared in the Niswan Plain. 
A charming team of white Xiscram. 
KiniiHlri/, Uypatla, vli. 
Nisaetus (ni-sa'e-tus), n. [NL., < Nisug, q. v., 
+ Gr. neriif, eagle.] A genus of diurnal birds 
of prey of the family FalconuUe, containing such 
as Bonelli's eagle, N.fasciatm. Also Nisaetox, 
IS. R. Hodgson, 1836. 
Nisan (ni'san), n, [LL. Nisan,< Or. Xtoav, ftioav 
= Turk. Ar. Xinan = Pers. Naixan, < Heb. Nt- 
snn, for "Sitni'iti, < ntts, a flower.] The month 
of Abib : so named by the Jews after the Baby- 
lonian captivity. See Abib. 
nisberry (niz'ber'i), n. Same as naseberry. 
niseyt (uiz'i), n. [Also nizey, ni:y, nizzy; appar. 
dim. of nice, foolish : see nice.] A fool; a sim- 
pleton. 
So our zealots who put on most ganctify'd phyzzes, 
That their looks may deceive the more credulous nizie*. 
The Galloper (1710), p. 1. (Sara.) 
nisi (ni'si), coiij. [L., < i, not, + , if.] Un- 
less Decree nisi, in law. See decree. 
nisi prius (ui'si pri'us). [L., unless before: 
nisi, unless (see nisi) ; prius, before, ace. olpriun, 
neut. of prior, before: see prior.] A phrase 
occurring originally in a writ by which the 
sheriff of a county was commanded to bring 
the men impaneled as jurors in a civil action 
to the court at Westminster on a certain day, 
'unless before' that day the justices came to 
the county in question to hold the assizes, 
which they were always sure to do. From this the 
writ, as well as the commission, received the name of Mint 
prim; and the judges of assize were said to sit at iim 
priia, and the courts were called court* of nisi prim, or 
nisi priia court*. Trial at nitti priiut is hence a common 
phrase for a trial before a judge and jury of a civil ac- 
tion in a court of record. Nisi prius record, a docu- 
ment containing the pleadings that have taken place in a 
civil action for the use of the Judge who is to try the case. 
nistet. Contracted from ue wiste, knew not. 
Also neste. Chaucer. 
nistest. A contraction of ne wistest, kne west not. 
nisus 1 (nl'sus), . [NL., < L. nisus, effort, < 
niti, pp. nisus, nixus, strive.] 1. Effort; en- 
deavor; conatus. 
The same phenomenon had manifested Itself, and more 
than once, in the history of Roman intellect: the same 
strong niewt of great wits to gather and crystallize about 
a common nucleus. De Quincey, Style, 111. 
The foliaceous center of Theloschlstes Is Itself condi- 
tioned by the same nunu to ascend which marks the whole 
group. S. Tuckerman, Genera Lichennm, p. (20). 
Nisus formativus, In trial., formative effort; the ten- 
dency of a germ to assume a given form in developing, 
supposed to be a matter of strife, stress, or effort on the 
part of the incipient Individual. 
Nisus 2 (ni'sus), n. [NL., < L. Xisus, < Gr. Nierof, 
father of Scylla, changed into a sparrow-hawk.] 
A genus of small hawks of the family Falco- 
nidre, containing such as are called in Great 
Britain sparrow-hawks. See Accipiter. 
nit 1 (nit), n. [Early mod. E. also neet; < ME. 
nitte, nite, nete, < AS. hnitu = D. neet = MLG. 
nete, nit = OHG. MHG. niz, G. niss = RUBS. 
gnida = Pol. gnida = Bohem. hnida = (prob.) 
Gr. Kovlf (KoviS-), a nit; prob. < AS. linitnn (= 
Icel. hnita), gore, strike. The Icel. gnit, mod. 
nit = Norw. gnit = Sw. gnet = Dan. guid, nit, 
seem to depend rather on the form cognate 
with E. i/jw/ 1 . ] 1. The egg of a louse or some 
similar insect. 
Xeeche lit], neets [var. nite] in the eie lids. Also tikes 
that breed in dogs. f'lorio, 1598 (ed. 1811). 
2. A small spot, speck, or protuberance, 
nit'-, H. In >iiiii/n</. See knit, 3. 
nitcn (nk'h). . Same as kniti-li. 
nitet, r. t. [< ME. ni/eit, nytrn, < Icel. nita, deny; 
<!'. Hfitn. deux : see Hrti'/i.] To refuse; deny. 
A-nother kinge gainc the sal rise, 
thiLt sal make the to grise, 
ami do the sujfer sa inykil shame, 
At thou sal nit,' ihesu n.tme 
ll'.lii /.V.<((l'.. E. T. S.), p. 121. 
3999 
Nitella (ni-tol'ii), n. [NL. (C. A. Agardh, 1824), 
< L. iiilin; shine.] A genus of cellular cryp- 
togamous aquatic plants, of the class Clmrti- 
ceee and type of the order XitelU-ie. They arc deli- 
cate plants, growing, like those of the genus Ctiara, In 
ponds and streams, and are rarely more than a feu 
meters in height. About 80 species are known, of which 
number more than 30 are North American. 
NitelleSB (ni-U-r<;-e), n. I'l. [NL., < Xitrlla + 
-<.] An order 01 cellular eryptogamous plants 
belonging to the class Characea", typified by the 
genus Xitella. They are characterized by having the 
stem and leaves always naked, the leaves In whorls of five 
or six, developing from one to three nodes bearing leaf- 
lets. The sporopnylla arise directly from the node* of the 
leave>, and are often clustered ; the coronula Is ten-celled, 
small, and colorless, and the spore-capsule without inner 
calcareous layer. The order contains 2 genera, Xittlla 
with 80 species, and Tolypella with 13 species. 
nitencyl (m'ten-si), n. [< "nitent (< L. niten(t-)s, 
ppr. of nitere" shine) + -cy.] Brightness; lus- 
ter. [Rare.] 
nitency 2 (ni'ten-si),n. [<*nifc(<L. niten(t-)*, 
ppr. of niti, strive) + -cy.] Endeavor; effort; 
tendency. [Rare.] 
These zones will have a strong nitency to fly wider open. 
Boylt, Works, I. 179. 
niter, nitre (ni'Wr), . [< F. mtre = 8p. Pg. 
It. nitro, < NL. i<r.inter, saltpeter, < L. ni- 
trum, < Gr. virpov, in Herodotus and in Attic 
use UTOOV, native soda, natron : of Eastern ori- 
gin (Heb. nether), but the Ar. nitrun, natrun, 
natron, is from the Gr. virpov : see natron."] A 
salt (KNO 3 ), also called saltpeter, and in the 
nomenclature of chemistry potassium nitrate. 
It Is formed in the soil from nitrogenous organic bodies by 
the action of microbes, and crystallizes upon the surface in 
several parto of the world, and especially in the East Indies. 
In some localities where the conditions are favorable it Is 
prepared artificially from a mixture of common mold, or 
porous calcareous earth containing potash, with animal 
and vegetable remains containing nitrogen. Under proper 
conditions of heat and moisture the nitrogen of the decay- 
ing organic matter is oxidized to nitric acid, which com- 
bines with potash and lime, forming niter and calcium ni- 
trate. This Is afterward dissolved in water and purified. 
At present it is chiefly prepared from sodium nitrate and 
potassium chlorid by double decomposition. It Is a color- 
less salt, with a saline taste, and crystallizes in six-sided 
prisms. It is used somewhat as an antiseptic and as an 
oxidizing agent, but its most common use in the aits is in 
the making of gunpowder ; italsoenters into the composi- 
tion of fluxes, is extensively employed in metallurgy, and 
is used in dyeing. In medicine It is prescribed as dia- 
phoretic and diuretic. The substance called niter by the 
ancienU was not potassium nitrate, but either sodium car- 
bonate, more or less mixed with salt and other Impurities, 
or potassium carbonate, chiefly the former, since niter is 
usually spoken of as having been obtained from the beds 
of salt lakes, where the alkali must have been aoda, this 
being a mode of occurrence peculiar to soda and not to 
potash. But the niter which the ancients speak of as hav- 
ing been obtained by leaching wood-asbes was more or 
less pure potassium carbonate. It was not until the early 
part of the eighteenth century that soda and potash began 
to be clearly recognized as distinct substances ; and it was 
considerably later in the century before the chemical rela- 
tions of the two alkalis were understood. See naltpeter, 
toda, and potash. Cubic niter. Same as ox/turn nitrate. 
Sweet spirit Of niter. See sfririt oj nitrous ether, under 
nitrous. 
niter-bush (ni'ter-bush), . Any shrub of the 
genus Xitraria. 
niter-cake (m'ter-kak), . Crude sodium sul- 
phate, a by-product in the manufacture of nitric 
acid from sodium nitrate, the main feature of 
which is the reaction of sulphuric acid upon 
crude sodium nitrate, wherein nitric acid is set 
free and sodium sulphate is produced. 
nitery, nitry (ni'ter-i, -tri), a. [< niter, nitre, + 
-yl.] Nitrous; producing niter. 
Winter my theme confines -. whose nitry wind 
Shall crust the slabby mire. Uaii, Trivia, U. 319. 
nit-grass (nit'gras), n. An annual grass, Gas- 
triaium australe. 
nithet, n. [ME., < AS. nith = OS. nith, nidh = 
OFries. nith, nid = MD. Hid. D. nijd = MLG. nit 
= OHG. nid. MHG. nit, G. neid = Icel. nidh = 
Sw. Dan. nid = Goth, nfith, hatred, envy.] 
Wickedness. 
In pride and tricchery, 
In nythr and onde and lecchery. 
Cttrtor Mundi. (HaUitreit.) 
nithert, <idr., a., and v. An obsolete form of 
nether 1 . 
nithingt (ni'THing), n. and n. [Also niding; < 
ME. nithing, < AS. nithing (= MHG. nidint, ni- 
dunc, G. neiding = Icel. 'nidhinyr = Sw. Dan. 
niding), a wicked person, a villain,< nith. envy, 
hatred: see nithe. Hence niderliny, nidering."] 
I. n. A wicked man. 
Thanne spak the gode kyng. 
I-wis he has no SUhing. 
King Horn (E. E. T. 8.X 1. 196. 
He Is worthy to be called a tiufi'n;;, the pulse of whose 
soul beats but faintly towards heaven, . . . who will not 
run and reach his hand to bear up his |Go>l's| temple 
HouxU, Forralne Travel!, p. 70. 
Nitraria 
II. n. Wicked; mean; sparing; parsimoni- 
ous. 
The King and the army pnbllely declared the murderer 
to be Xithing. S. A. Freeman, Norman Conquest, II. 67. 
nithsdale (niths'dal), n. [So called in allu- 
sion to the escape of the Earl of Nitlwdule from 
the Tower of London about 1715 in a woman's 
Ntthfdate. 
(From " A Harlot's Progress Morning," by Willi.im Hogarth.) 
cloak and hood brought by his wife.] A hood 
made so that it can cover and conceal the face. 
Fairholt. 
nitid (nit'id), a. [= 8p. nitido = Pg. It. nitido, 
< L. n i ti<l us, shining, bright, < nitere, shine. Cf . 
neat* and net*, ult. < L. nitidus.] 1. Bright; 
lustrous; shining. [Rare.] 
We restore old pieces of dirty gold to a clean and in'iiil 
yellow. Boyle, Works, I. 885. 
2. Gay; spruce; fine: applied to persons. 
[Rare.] 3. In Sot., having a smooth, shining, 
polished surface, as many leaves and seeds. 
nitidiflorous (nit'i-di-flo'rus), a. [< L. nitidun, 
shining, + flos (flor-), flower.] Having bril- 
liant flowers; characterized by the luster or 
]>olished appearance of its flowers, as a plant. 
nitidifolious (nit'i-di-fo'li-us), n. [< L. nitidus, 
shining, + folium, leaf: see/o/iwa*.] Having 
shining leaves; characterized by lustrous or 
polished leaves. 
nitidous (nit'i-dus), a. [< L. nitiduts, shining, 
bright: see iiiliil.] In ziiol. and Imt.. having a 
smooth and polished surface ; nitid. 
Nitidula (ni-tid'u-lft), H. [NL., < LL. nitidulus, 
somewhat spruce, rather trim, dim. of L. niti- 
dus, bright, spruce, trim: see nitid."] 1. In en- 
tom., the typical genus of the family yttidvlidtr, 
established by Fabricius in 1775. The species 
are wide-spread, but not numerous, and are 
found chiefly on carrion. 2. In ornith., a ge- 
nus of Indian flycatchers, containing .V. hodg- 
Koni. E. Blytli, 1861. 
Nitidulidte (uit-i-du'li-de), n.pl. [NL.,<JSV- 
t n I a In + -idif.~] A family of claviconi Coleop- 
tera. typified by the genus yitidula. The family 
was founded by Leach in 1817. These beetles and their 
larvse feed on decomposing animal and vegetable sub- 
stances, and are found in rotten wood, on fungi, and in 
various other situations, as on pollen, and an Australian 
species eats wax in bees nests. The family Is a large and 
wide-spread one. More than 30 genera and upward of 100 
species are North American. They are popularly known 
as gap-beetles, and sometimes as bvne-beeuet 
Nititelae (nit-i-te'le), n. pi. [NL., contr. < L. 
nitidus, bright, + tela, a web. J A group of spi- 
ders, so called from the glistening silken webs 
they throw out from their nests to entangle 
their prey. Also Xitelarice. 
nititelous (nit-i-te'lua), a. Of or pertaining to 
the Xititela. 
nitort (ni'tor), n. [Formerly nitour; < L. nitor. 
< nitere, shine: see nitid.] Brightness. 
That nitour and shining beauty which we find to be in 
It (amber]. TapteU't Becutt (1607), p. 681. (Ualliirrll. ) 
nitr-. See nitro-. 
nitramidin (ni-tram'i-din), n. [< nitr(ic) + 
uniidiii.] An explosive substance produced by 
the action of strong nitric acid upon starch. 
nitran(ni'tran),n. [< nitr(ic) + -aw.] Graham's 
name for the radical NO, which must be sup- 
posed to exist in the nitrates, when they are 
regarded as formed on the type of the chlorids, 
as nitric acid (NO S H). Watts. 
Nitraria (ni-tra'ri-ft), n. [NL. (LinnKns, 1741), 
< L. nitraria. a place where natron was found : 
see nitriary."] A genus of dicotyledonous shrubs 
of the polypetalous order Zygophylle<e, known 
by the single ovules : the niter-bush. There are 5 
or 6 species, of northern Africa, western Asia, and Austra- 
lia. They are rigid, sometimes thorny bushes, with alter- 
nate or clustered somewhat fleshy leaves, white flowers In 
