nomophylaz 
people were about to be curried away into tak- 
irrj unlawful action, ami also watched the ob- 
servance and enforcement of the laws. There 
were magistrates bearing the same name at 
Sparta also, and in oilier ( livck states. 
nomos 1 (iio'mos), . [< Gr. vo/tdf, a district, 
IKIIIIC: IMIlOtW*.] Ill modern Greece, a nome ; 
a nomarchy. 
II llthaca) forms an eparchy of the nonuxof Cephalonla 
in tlic< kingdom of (ireece. Kncyc. Brit., XIII. 617. 
nomos 2 (no'mos), n. [< Gr. v6/ior, usage, custom, 
law. a musical mode or strain: seenome*.] In 
inn'. <:r. miisir, same as name 6 . 
nomothesia (nom-o-the'si-H), . [NL. : see 
iKniiiit/irsi/.] 1. Law-giving; legislation ; a code 
of laws. 2. The institution, functions, author- 
ity, etc., of the nomothetes. 
If the foregoing hypotheses be sound, then tho perma- 
nent institution of the Nntnothena in the archonshfp of 
Eukkides was an innovation of cardinal significance. 
Atner. Jour. Philol., X. 82. 
nomothesy (nom'o-tlies-i), n. [< NL. nomothc- 
sia, Gr. vn/ictieala, lawgiving, legislation (cf. vo- 
fjoBtnif, a lawgiver : see nomothete), < v6/jof, law, 
+ t)er6f, verbal adj. of riOtvai, put : see thesis.] 
Same as nontotheitia. [Bare.] 
nomotheta (uo-moth'e-ta), n. ; pi. nomotheta; 
(-te). [NL. : see nomotliete.] Same as nonio- 
tlll'll. 
If one should choose to suppose that the first and sec- 
ond Hi 1 the measures lust cited were formally ratified by the 
NamotheUe. it would be hard to disprove It, though there 
is nothing in the record to favor the supposition. 
Amtr. Jour. Philat., X. 88. 
npmothete (nom'6-thet), M. [< NL. nomotheta, 
< Gr. vofioSfn/f, a lawgiver, < v6fiof, usage, cus- 
tom, law, + TtBcvai, place, set, cause : see thesis.'] 
In ancient Athens, after the archonship of Eu- 
clides (403-2 B. c.), one of a panel of neliasts 
or jurors intrusted with the decision as to any 
proposed change in legislation. It was provided 
that all motions to repeal or amend an existing law should 
be brought before the ecclesia or general meeting of citi- 
tens, at the beginning of the year. They might be then 
and there rejected ; but if a motion was received favorably, 
the ecclesia appointed a body of nomothetes, sometimes 
as many as a thousand in number, before whom the pro- 
posal was put on trial according to the regular forms of 
Athenian judicial procedure. A majority vote of the 
nomothetes was decisive for acceptance or rejection. See 
quotation under nomotheta. 
nomothetic (nom-o-thet'ik), a. [< Gr. vo/jode- 
TtKof, pertaining to a lawgiver or to legisla- 
tion, ' vo/ioBeTt/c,, a lawgiver: see nomothete.] 
1. Legislative ; enacting laws. 2. Pertaining 
to a nomothete, or to the body of nomothetes. 
3. Founded on a system of la w or by a lawgiver ; 
nomistic : as. nomothetic religions." 
nomothetical (nom-o-thet'i-kal), a. [< nomo- 
thetic + -at.] Same as nomothetic. 
A supreme notnothelical power to make a law. 
lip. Barlow, Remains, p. 126. 
nomperet, n. Same as umpire. 
npnH, a., prow., and adv. A Middle English 
form of none 1 . 
non-t, . A Middle English form of noon 1 . 
non s t, adv. [ME. non, noon, < OF. (and P.) 
nini = Sp. no = Pg. nSo = It. no, < L. nmi, 
OL. in mini, nenu, nocninn, mx-nu, not, orig. ne 
otnom (ne unum), < ne, not, + oinom, futum. 
ace. of oinos, unus = E. one. See none 1 , which 
is cognate with L. non, and with which rare 
ME. non, adv., seems to have merged.] Not. 
Lerneth to sun* re, or elles so moot I goon, 
Ye shut it Irn i c, wherso ye wole or noon. 
Chaucer, Franklin's Tale, 1. 50. 
non-. [L., not: see Mow 3 .] Not ; a prefix free- 
ly used in English to give a negative sense to 
words. It is applicable to any word. It differs from 
n- in that it denotes mere negation or absence of the 
thin? or quality, while un- often denotes the opposite of 
the thing or quality. Examples are non-residence, non- 
performance, non-existence, mxi-payim-nt, non-concur- 
rence, rum-admission, non-contagious, non-emphatic, non- 
fosslltferous. The compounds with this prefix are often 
arbitrary anil ns a rule self-explaining. Only the moat im- 
portant of them are given below. 
non-ability (non-a-bil'i-ti), . A want of abil- 
ity ; in line, an exception taken against a plain- 
till' that he has not legal capacity to commence 
a suit. 
non-acceptance (nou-ak-sep'taus), . Refusal 
to accept. 
non-access (non-ak'ses), n. In lute, impossi- 
bility of access for sexual intercourse, as in 
the case of a husband at sea or in a foreign 
country. A child born under such circum- 
stances is a bastard. Wharton. , 
non-admission (uon-ad-mish'ou), . The' re- 
fusal of admission. 
The reason of tills non-admimon is its great uncertainty. 
Aylife, Parergon. 
4011 
non-adult (non-a-dulf), a. and n. L a. Not 
arrived at adult age; in a state of pupilage; 
immature. 
II. a. One who has not arrived at adult age ; 
a youth. 
nonage 1 (non'aj), . [< ME. "/', //(/<, 
< OF. (AF.) nonage, nonaage, minority, < non. 
not, + iin/jr, age: see HOH" and ;/<.] 1. The 
period of legal infancy, during which a person 
is, in the eyes of the law, unable to manage his 
own affairs; minority. See atji; n., 3. 
A toy of mine own, in my nonage ; the infancy of my 
un,-, - " B. Jonton, Every Man In his Humour, I. 4. 
You were a young sinner, and In your nonage. 
Shirley, Grateful Servant, ill. 4. 
2. The period of immaturity in general. 
Ne the nownaffu that newed him euere. 
Richard the Itedelat, IT. 6. 
It is without Controversy that in the nonage of the 
World Men and BeasU had but one Buttery, which was 
the Fountain and Elver. llmttll, Letters, U. 54. 
We may congratulate ourselves that the period of '.ion- 
age, of follies, of blunders, and of shame, is passed in soli- 
tude. Emertun, Essays, 1st ser., p. 195. 
nonage' 2 (no'naj), n. [< OF. nonage, iionnii/i 
(ML. nonagium), a ninth part, the sum of nine, 
< L. nonus, ninth: see none/A] \ ninth part of 
movables, which in former times was paid to the 
English clergy on the death of persons in their 
parish, and claimed on pretense of being de- 
voted to pious uses. Imp. DM, 
nonaged (non'ajil i, '/. [(nonage* + -ed?.] p er . 
taining to nonage or minority; immature. 
My wtn-ay'd day already points to noon. 
<l<inrl.-*. Emblems, 111. IS. 
nonagenarian (non'a-je-na'ri-an), a. and w. 
[Also nonagenarion; = F. nonagenaire = Sp. Pg. 
It. nonagenario, < L. nonagrnarius, containing 
or consisting of ninety ; as a noun, a comman- 
der of ninety men ; < nonaycni, ninety each. < no- 
naffinta, ninety: see ninety.] I. . Containing 
or pertaining to ninety. 
n. n. A person who is ninety years old. 
nonagesimal (non-a-jes'i-mal), a. and n. [< L. 
Honagesimus, ninetieth, < nonaginta, ninety: see 
nonagenarian.} I. a. Belonging to the num- 
ber 90 ; pertaining to a nonagesimal. 
II. n. inastron., one (generally the upper) of 
the two points on the ecliptic which are 90 de- 
grees from the intersections of that circle by 
the horizon. 
nonagon (non'a-gpn), n. [Irreg. < L. nonus. 
ninth, + Gr. yuvia, a corner, an angle. The 
proper form (Gr.) is enncagon.] A figure hav- 
ing nine sides and nine angles. 
non-alienation (non-al-ye-na'shon), n. 1. 
The state of not being alienated. 2. Failure 
to alienate. Blackstone. 
nonan (no'nan), a. [< L. nonux, ninth, + -aw.] 
Occurring on the ninth day Nonan fever. See 
/wrl. 
non-appearance (non-a-per'ans), w. Failure or 
neglect to make an appearance ; default of ap- 
pearance, as in court, to prosecute or defend. 
non assumpsit (non a-sump'sit). [L., he did 
not undertake: non, not; assumpsit, 3d pers. 
sing, perf . ind. of assumere, accept, undertake : 
see assume.'] In late, a general plea in a per- 
sonal action, by which a man denies that he 
has made any promise. 
non-attendance (non-a-ten'dans), w. A failure 
to attend; omission of attendance; personal 
absence. 
Son-attendance In former parliaments ought to be a bar 
against the choice of men who have been guilty of it. 
Lord Halifax. 
non-attention (non-a-ten'shon), n. Inatten- 
tion. 
The consequence of non-attention so fatal Sw\fl. 
nonce (nons), orfc. [Only in the phrases for 
the nonce, < ME. for the nones, for tin- mini. it, 
prop, for then ones, lit. for the once, i. e. for that 
(time) only; and ME. irith the wones.prop. with 
then ones, lit. with the once, i. e. on tnat condi- 
tion only : for, for; with, with ; then, < AS. tlnini. 
dat. of se, neut. thcet, the, that; ones, once, < AS. 
11111:1, adv. gen. of an, one: see once. The initial 
n in nonce thus arose by misdivision, as in nale, 
naicl, newt, etc.] A word of no independent 
status, used only in the following phrases. 
For the nonce, for once ; for the one time ; fur the occa- 
sion ; for the present or immediate purpose. 
Who now most may bere on his bak at ons 
Off cloth and furrour, hath a fressh renuiin ; 
He is " A lusty man " clepyd/w the nonet. 
Boolre <rf Precedence (E. E. T. S., extra ser.). i. 107. 
I ham 1 intssanKiTs with me. made for the noneit, 
That (for perell or purpos shall pas vs betwene. 
Destruction of Troy (E. E. T. S.), I 62(10. 
non compos mentis 
And that he call* for drink, I'll have prepared him 
A chalice far the nonce. .vAd-., Hamlet, Iv. 7. 161. 
I think that the New KitKland of the seventeenth cen- 
tury can afford l allow uie, for the nonee at least, to ex- 
tend its name to all the Independent Engliah-speaking 
lands on its own side of Ocean. 
B. A. Freeman, Amer. LecU., p. 9. 
With the nones that*, on condition that ; provided that. 
Here 1 wol ensuren the 
Wi/th the nonet that thou wolt do so. 
That I anal never fro the go. 
Chavcer, House of Fame, L 200H. 
non cepit (non se'pit). [L., he took not: now, 
not; cepit, 3d pere. sing. perf. ind. of capere: 
see capable.] At common laic, a plea by way 
of traverse used in the action of replevin. 
nonce-word (nons'werd), n. A word coined and 
used only for the nonce, or for the particular oc- 
casion. Nonce-words, suggested by the context or aris- 
ing out of momentary caprice, are numerous In English. 
They are usually Indicated as such by the context. Some 
are admitted Into this dictionary for historical or literary 
reasons, but most of them require or deserve no serious 
notice. 
Wurds apparently employed only for the nonce are, 
when inserted in the Dictionary, marked nonce-icd. 
J. A. U. Murray, New. Eng. Diet., General 
[Explanations, p. x. 
nonchalance (non'sha-lans; F. pron. non-sha- 
lons'), n. [< F. nonchalance, < nonchalant, care- 
less, nonchalant: see nonchalant.'] Coolness; 
indifference; unconcern: as, he heard of his 
loss with great nonchalance. 
The nnnchalancc of boys who are sure of a dinner, and 
would disdain as much as a lord to do or say aught to 
conciliate one, is the healthy attitude of human nature. 
Kmemm, Essays. 1st ser., p. 42. 
He reviews with as much nonchalance as he whistles. 
Lowell, Fable for Critics. 
nonchalant (non'sha-lant; F. pron. non-sha- 
lon'), a. K F. nonchalant, careless, indifferent, 
ppr. of OF. nonchaloir, nonchaler, care little 
about. neglect,< non, not,+ chaloir, ppr. chalant, 
care for, concern oneself with, < L. calere, be 
warm: see calid.] Indifferent j unconcerned; 
careless; cool: as, he replied with a nonchalant 
air. 
The nonchalant merchants that went with faction, scarce 
knowing why. Roger North, Examcn, p. 463. (Darie*.) 
The old soldiers were as merry, nonchalant, and indif- 
ferent to the coming fight as U It was a dally occupation. 
The Century. XXXVH. 466. 
nonchalantly (non'sha-lant-li), mil-. In a non- 
chalant manner; with apparent coolness or un- 
concern; with indifference: as, to answer an 
accusation nonchalantly. 
non-claim (non'klam). n. A failure to make 
claim within the time limited by law ; omission 
of claim. Wharton. piea of non-claim, in old 
EIUJ. lav, a plea setting up in defense against the levy of 
a flue that the year allowed In which to make it had 
elapsed. Statute of non-claim, an English statute of 
1360-1, which declared that a plea of non-claim should not 
bar fines thereafter levied. 
non-com. An abbreviation of non-commissioned. 
non-combatant (non-kom'ba-tant), . 1. One 
who is connected with a military or naval force 
in some other capacity than that of a fighter, as 
surgeons and their assistants, chaplains, mem- 
bers of the commissariat department, etc. 2. 
A civilian in time of war. 
Yet any act of cruelty to the Innocent, any act, especial- 
ly, by which non-annbatant* are made to feel the stress of 
war, 1s what brave men slirlnk from, although they may 
feel obliged to threaten it. 
Woobey, Introd. to Inter. Law, 1 126. 
Non-combatant officers. See officer, 3. 
non-commissioned (non-ko-mish'ond), . Not 
having a commission. Abbreviated non-com. 
Non-commissioned officer. See officer, 3. 
non-committal (non-ko-mit'al), a. [< non- + 
commit + -a/.] 1. Disinclined to express an 
opinion one way or the other ; unwilling to com- 
mit one's self to any particular view or course : 
as, he was entirely non-committal. 2. That 
does not commit or pledge one to any particu- 
lar view or course ; not involving an expression 
of opinion or preference for any particular 
course of action ; free from pledge or entangle- 
ment of any kind: as. a non-committal answer 
or statement ; non-committal behavior. 
non-communicant (non-ko-mu'ni-kant), . 1. 
One who does not receive the holy commu- 
nion ; one who habitually refrains from commu- 
nicating, or who is present at a celebration of 
the eui-harist without communicating. 2. One 
who has never communicated; one who has 
not made his first communion. 
non-communion (non-ko-mu'nyon), . Fail- 
ure or neglect of communion. 
non compos mentis (non kom'pos men'tis). 
[L.: o, not: compos, having power (< cum-. 
