non compos mentis 
together, + -potis, powerful); mentis, of the 
mind, gen. of meti(t-)s, mind : see mind 1 .] Not 
capable, mentally, of managing one's own af- 
fairs; not of sound mind; not having the nor- 
mal use of reason. Often abbreviated non cum- 
l>os and non camp. See insane. 
His Son is Non compos inentis, and thereby incapable of 
making any Conveyance in Law ; so that all his Measures 
are disappointed. Congrevc, Love for Love, iv. 12. 
noncompounder (uon-kom-poim'der), n. One 
who does not compound'; specifically [cop.], in 
Eng. hist., a member of that one of the two sec- 
tions into which the Jacobite party divided 
shortly after the Revolution which desired the 
restoration of the king without binding him to 
any conditions as to amnesty, guaranties of civil 
or religious liberty, etc. See Compounder (g). 
non-con (non'kon), n. 1. An abbreviation of 
non-conformist. 
One Rosewell, a Non-Con teacher convict of high trea- 
son. Roger North, Examen, p. 645. (Dames.) 
2. An abbreviation of non-content. 
lion-concur (non-kon-ker'), v. i. To dissent or 
refuse to concur or to agree. 
non-concurrence (non-kon-kur'ens), n. A re- 
fusal to concur. 
non-condensing (non-kon-den'sing), a. Not 
condensing Non-condensing engine, a steam-en- 
gine, usually high-pressure, in whichthe steam on the 
non-effective side of the piston is allowed to escape into 
the atmosphere, in contradistinction to a condensing en- 
gine, in which the steam in advance of the piston is con- 
densed to create a partial vacuum, and thus add to the 
mean effective pressure of the steam which impels it. 
non-conducting (non-kon-duk'ting), a. Not 
conducting; not transmitting: thus, with re- 
spect to electricity, wax is a non-conducting 
substance. 
non-conduction (non-kon-duk'shon), n. The 
quality of not conducting or transmitting ; ab- 
sence of conducting or transmitting qualities ; 
failure to conduct or transmit: as, the non- 
conduction of heat. 
non-conductor (non-kpn-duk'tor), n. A sub- 
stance which does not conduct or transmit a 
particular form of energy (specifically, heat or 
electricity), or which transmits it with diffi- 
culty: thus, wool is a non-conductor of heat; 
glass and dj*y wood are non-conductors of elec- 
tricity. See conductor, 6, electricity, and heat. 
nonconforming (non-kon-f6r'ming), a. [< 
non- + conforming.] Failing orrefusing to con- 
form ; specifically, refusing to comply with the 
requisitions of the Act of Uniformity, or to con- 
form to the forms and regulations of the Church 
of England. See nonconformist. 
The non-conforming ministers were prohibited, upon a 
penalty of forty pounds for every offence, to come, unless 
only in passing upon the road, within five miles of any 
city, corporation, ... or place where they had been min- 
isters, or had preached, after the act of uniformity. 
Locke, Letter from a Person of Quality. 
nonconformist (non-kon-for'mist), n. [< non- 
+ conformist.] 1 . One who does not conform 
to some law or usage, especially to some ec- 
clesiastical law. 
Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist. 
Emerson, Essays, 1st ser., p. 43. 
2. Specifically, in Eng. Mat., one of those cler- 
gymen who refused to subscribe the Act of 
Uniformity passed in 1662, demanding "assent 
and consent" to everything contained in the 
Book of Common Prayer, and by extension any 
one who refuses to conform to the order and 
liturgy of the Church of England. See dis- 
senter, 2. 
On his death-bed he declared himself a Non-conformist, 
and had a fanatic preacher to be his spiritual guide. 
Swift. 
A Nonconformist, from the first, was not an opponent of 
the general system of Uniformity. He was a churchman 
who differed from other churchmen on certain matters 
touching Order, though agreeing with them in the rest of 
the discipline and government of the Church. ... In the 
following generation it took wider ground, and came to in- 
volve the whole of Church government, and the difference 
between prelacy and presbyterianism. 
S. W. Dixon, Hist. Church of Eng., xvii. 
3. In entom. , the noctuid moth Xylina zinckeni : 
an English collectors' name, applied in distinc- 
tion from X. eonformis. =Syn. 2. Dissenter, etc. See 
heretic. 
non-conformitancyt (non-kon-ffir'mi-tan-si), 
. [< non-con formitan(t) + -ey.] Nonconform- 
ity. 
Officei'S ecclesiastical did prosecute presentments, ra- 
ther against non-conformitaticy of ministers and people. 
Bp. Hacket, Abp. Williams, ii. 44. (Domes.) 
non-conformitantt (uon-kon-for'mi-tant), n. 
[< nonconformity) + -ant.] " A nonconformist. 
4012 
They were of the old stock of non-conformitants, and 
among the seniors of his college. 
Bp. Backet, Abp. Williams, i. 9. (Davies.) 
nonconformity (non-kon-for'mj-ti), H. [< non- 
+ conformity.] 1. Neglect or failure to con- 
form, 'especially to some ecclesiastical law or 
requirement. 
A conformity or no>ieoi\formily to it [the will of our 
Maker] determines their actions to be morally good or 
evil. Watts. 
Wherever there is disagreement with a current belief, 
no matter what its nature, there is nonconformity. 
H. Spencer, Study of Sociol., ix. 
2. Specifically, in eccles. usage: (a) The re- 
fusal to conform to the rites, tenets, or polity 
of an established or state church, and espe- 
cially of the Church of England. 
Happy will be that reader whose mind is disposed by 
his [Watts's] verses or his prose to imitate him in all but 
his non-conformity. Johnson, Watts. 
His scruples have gained for Hooper the title of father 
of Nonconformity. 
R. W. Dixon, Hist. Church of Eng., xvii. 
(6) The doctrines or usages of those English 
Protestants who do not conform to or unite with 
the Church of England. 
The grand pillarand buttress of nonconformity. South. 
To the notions and practice of America, sprung out of 
the loins of Nonconformity, religious establishments are 
unfamiliar. M. Arnold, Nineteenth Century, XIX. 660. 
non constat (non kpn'stat). [L.: non, not; con- 
stat, 3d pers. sing. ind. pres. of constarc, stand 
together, agree : see constant.] It does not ap- 
pear ; it is not clear or plain : a phrase used in 
legal language by way of answer to or comment 
on a statement or an argument. 
non-COntagionist (non-kon-ta'jon-ist), . One 
who holds that a disease is not propagated by 
contagion. 
non-content (non'kqn-tent"), n. In the House 
of Lords, one who gives a negative vote, as not 
being satisfied with the measure. 
non-contradiction (non-kou-tra-dik'shon), n. 
The absence of contradiction. 
The highest of all logical laws is what is called the prin- 
ciple of contradiction, or more correctly the principle of 
non-contradiction. Sir W. Hamilton, Metaph., xxxviii. 
nonda (non'da), ft. [Australian.] A rosaceous 
tree, Parinarlum Nonda, of northeastern Aus- 
tralia, which yields an edible mealy plum-like 
fruit. 
Non-deciduata (non-de-sid-u-a'ta),w.^. [NL., 
< L. non- + Dedduata.] One of the major di- 
visions (the other being Dedduata) into which 
monodelphous mammals have been divided. 
See Dedduata. 
non-deciduate (non-de-sid'u-at), a. Same as 
indeciduate. 
non decimando (non des-i-man'do). [L.: non, 
notj decimando, dat. ger. of decimare, tithe, 
decimate: see decimate.] In law, a custom or 
prescription to be discharged of all tithes, etc. 
non-delivery (non-de-liv'er-i), n. Neglect or 
failure to deliver. 
non demisit (non de-mi'sit). [L.: non, not; 
demisit, 3d pers. sing. perf. ind. of demittere, 
put down, let fall, demise : see demise.] In law : 
(a) A plea formerly resorted to where a plain- 
tiff declared upon a demise without stating the 
indenture in an action of debt for rent. (6) A 
plea in bar, in replevin, to an avowry for ar- 
rears of rent, that the avowant did not demise. 
Wharton. 
nondescript (non'de-skript), a. and n. [< L. 
no,not, + descriptus, pp. oidescribere, describe: 
see describe.] I. a. 1. Not hitherto described 
or classed. 2. Not easily described; abnor- 
mal or amorphous ; of no particular kind ; odd ; 
unclassifiable ; indescribable. 
We were just finishing a nondescript pastry which Fran- 
cois found at a baker's. 
B. Taylor, Lands of the Saracen, p. 197. 
He [the winged lion] presides again over a loggia by the 
seashore, one of those buildings with nondescript columns, 
which may be of any date. E. A. Freeman, Venice, p. 211. 
II. n. 1. Anything that has not been de- 
scribed. 2. A person or thing not easily de- 
scribed or classed: usually applied disparag- 
ingly. 
A few ostlers and stable nondescripts were standing 
round. Dickens, Sketches. 
The convention met a nucleus of intelligent and high- 
minded men, with a fringe of nondescript* and adventurers. 
G. S. Merriam, S. Bowles, II. 184. 
non detinet (non det'i-net). [L.: won, not; de- 
tinet, 3d pers. sing. pres. ind. of detinere, detain : 
see detain.] In law, a plea, in the action of 
detinue, denying the alleged detainer. 
non-egoistical 
non distringendo (nou dis-trin-jen'do). [L. : 
MOW, not; Mstringendo, dat. ger. of distringere, 
distrain: see distrain.] In law, a writ not to 
distrain. 
nondo (non'do), n. The plant Ligusticum actaii- 
folium. See angelica. 
none 1 (nun), a. and pron. [< ME. non, noon, 
none, earlier nan (> Sc. nane), < AS. nan, not 
one, not a, none, no, in pi. ndne (= OS. nen 
= OFries. nen = t>. neen = MLG. nen, nein, LG. 
nen, neen = OHG. MHG. G. nein = L. non (for 
ne un-um, ne oinom : see non%), ace. neut. as 
adv., not, no) ; < ne, not, + an, one : see ne and 
one, an 1 , a 2 . None is thus the negative of one 
and of an 1 , a2. The final consonant became 
lost (as in the form an, on, reduced to a) before 
a following noun, the reduced form no (o 2 ) be- 
ing now used exclusively in that position: see 
no' 2 .] I. a. Not one; not any; not an; not a; no. 
Yet is thare a way, alle by lande, unto Jerusalem, and 
passe noon See ; that ys from Fraunce or Flaundres. 
KandeaMe, Travels, p. 128. 
Thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none as- 
surance of thy life. Deut. xxviii. 66. 
He thought it would be laid to his charge that he had 
made the crosse of Christ to be of none effect. 
Milton, Church-Government, ii. 1. 
II. pron. 1. Not one; no one; often as a 
plural, no persons or no things. 
I bydde thee awayte hem wele ; let non of hem ascape. 
Piers Plowman (A), ii. 182. 
In al Rom that riche stede, 
Suche ne was ther nan. 
Legend of St. Alexander, MS. (Halliwell. ) 
There is none that doeth good; no, not one. Ps. xiv. 3. 
None of these things move me. Acts xx. 24. 
Thou shall get kings, though thou be none. 
Shak., Macbeth, i. 3. 67. 
That which is a law to-day is none to-morrow. 
Burton, Anat. of Mel., To the Header, p. 55. 
None but the brave deserves the fair. 
Dryden, Alexander's Feast, 1. 15. 
2. Not any; not a part; not the least portion. 
Catalonia is fed with Money from France, but for Por- 
tugal, she hath little or none. Hmeell, Letters, ii. 18. 
He had none of the vulgar pride founded on wealth or 
station. Prescott, Ferd. and Isa., ii. 25. 
Oh come, I say now, none of that ; that won't do ; let 's 
take a glass together. Scribner's Mag., IV. 728. 
3f. Nothing. 
True eloquence I find to be none but the serious and 
hearty love of truth. Milton, Apology for Smectymnuus. 
none 1 (nun), adv. [< ME. non, noon, none, etc. ; 
orig. ace. or instr. of the adj. none: see none 1 , 
a. Cf. no 2 , adv.] In no respect or degree; to 
no extent; not a whit; not; no: as, none the 
better. None the more, none the less, not the more 
or not the less on that account. 
His eager eye scanned Mr. D.'s downcast face none the 
less closely. Dickens, Dombey and Son, xlii. 
none 2 t, A Middle English form of noon 1 . 
non-effective (non-e-fek'tiv), a. and n. I. a. 
1 . Having no power to produce an effect ; caus- 
ing no effect. 2. Unfitted for active service : 
applied to that portion of the personnel of an 
army or a navy that is not in a condition for 
active service, as superannuated and half-pay 
officers, pensioners, and the like. 3. Connect- 
ed with non-effectives, their maintenance, etc. 
The non-effective charge, which is now a heavy part of 
our public burdens, can hardly be said to have existed. 
Macaulay. 
II. n. A member of a military force who is 
not in condition for active service, as through 
age, illness, etc. 
non-efficient (non-e-fish'eut), a. and n. I. a. 
Not efficient, effectual, or competent. 
II. n. One who is not efficient ; specifically, in 
Great Britain, a volunteer who has not attend- 
ed a prescribed number of drills and shown a 
requisite degree of proficiency in shooting. 
non-ego (non-e'go), n. In metaph., all that is 
not the conscious self or ego; the object as op- 
posed to the subject. 
The ego, as the subject of thought and knowledge, is 
now commonly styled by philosophers the subject ; and 
subjective is a familiar expression for what pertains to the 
mind or thinking principle. In contrast and correlation 
to these, the terms object and objective are, in like man- 
ner, now in general use to denote the non-ego, its affections 
and properties, and in general the really existent, as op- 
posed to the ideally known. 
Sir W. Hamilton (in Reid), Supplementary Dissertations, 
[note B, i. 6. 
non-egoistical (non-e-go-is'ti-kal), o. Pertain- 
ing to the non-ego. 
This cruder form of egoistical representationism coin- 
cides with that finer form of the non-egoistical which views 
the vicarious object as spiritual. 
Sir W. Hamilton (in Reid), Supplementary Dissertations, 
[note C, 1. 
