nun 
2. A female recluse. [Hare.] 
lluil. Hi. -II liiuldcHH, mige and holy, 
Mail, dlvim-st Melancholy ! . . . 
Come, pensive A'"*;, devmlt ami pure, 
Sober, steadfast, mid .!. re. 
MiU(nt, II Penseroso, 1. 31. 
3. A Maine of several different birds, (a) The 
smew, I/. *--/i7/'/v altiellus, more fully culled white nun. (b) 
The Mm; titmouse, I'trrun comdeux: so called from the 
wlllh: Hllt-t on (lie head, (c) A nun-bird, (d) A variety of 
the domestic pigeon, of a white color with a veiled head. 
4f. A child's top. 
nun (nun), v. t. ; pret. and pp. vanned, ppr. nun- 
ning. [< HUH, .] To cloister up as a nun ; con- 
fine in or as if in a nunnery. 
If you are so very heavenly-minded, ... I will have 
you to town, and nun yon tip with Aunt Nell. 
Richardson, Sir Charles Grandison, V. 50. 
nunatak, n. [Kskimo.] A crest or ridge of rock 
appearing above the surface of the inland ice 
in Greenland. 
Here camp was made at an elevation of 4,030 feet, and 
at the foot of a nunatak, the summit of which was 4,900 
feet above the sea-level. 
J. D. Whitney, Climatic Changes, p. 303. 
nunation, n. See nunnation. 
nun-bird (nun'berd), n. A South American 
barbet or puff-bird of the family Bucconida and 
4041 
drink,' < none, noon, + schenche, a cup (hence 
'drink'), < niln iiflu n, f/n in-lit n, sin nl.-i n. xl,inl:i n. 
give to drink: see noon 1 and skink. The reduc- 
tion of MK. '1111111: vrlinnche to nuncheon is irregu- 
lar, but is possible, the form "noneschenche be- 
ing awkward and unstable. Cf. uoonmeat and 
berer 3 .] A light meal taken in the middle of 
the day; a luncheon. 
A repast between dinner and supper, a nunchin, a beuer 
and andersmeate. Flario. 
Breakfast, dinner, ntnichinnt, supper, and bever. 
Middletm, Inner-Temple Masque. 
Harvest folke* . , . 
On tiheafes of corne were at their noonthun't close, 
\\ liilst by them merrily the bag-pipe goes. 
W. Browne, Britannia's Pastorals, ii. 1. 
I left London this morning at eight o'clock, and the only 
ten minutes I have spent out of my chaise since that time 
procured me a nunchivn at Marlborough. 
Jane Aviten, Sense and Sensibility, xllv. (Dai-iet.) 
Oh rats, rejoice ! 
The world is grown to one vast drysaltery ! 
So munch on, crunch on, take your nuntheun, 
Itreakfast, supper, dinner, luncheon ! 
Browning, Fled Piper of Uamelin. 
nunciate (nun'shi-at), n. [< L. nuntiatus, pp. 
of a n n i in n; announce, declare, make known : 
see nuncio.] One who announces; a messen- 
ger; a nuncio. 
All the nunciate* of th* ethereal reign, 
Who testified the glorious death to man. 
limit, tr. of Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered, il. 
nunciature (nun'shi-a-tur), n. [= F. nonciature 
= Sp. Pg. n n Hi-Hi /, i i;i ' = It. nunziatura, < L. HMH- 
//(///-. pp. nuntiatus, announce: see nunciate.'] 
The office or term of service of a nuncio. 
The princes of Germany, who had known him [Pope 
Alexander] during his nunciature, were exceedingly pleased 
with his promotion. Clarendon, Papal Usurpation, Ix. 
nuncio (nun'shi-6), n. [< It. 
" < = F. no 
Nun-bErd (.Monasa ptruana). 
genus Monasa (or Monacha), so called from the 
somber coloration, relieved by white on the 
head or wings. P. L. Sclnier. 
nun-buoy (nun'boi), . A buoy large in the mid- 
dle and tapering toward each end. See buoy. 
nunc (nungk), n. [Prop, "nunk, unless it is 
an error for nunch: see nunch.] A large lump 
or thick piece of anything, Halliwell. [Prov. 
Eng.] 
Nunc Dimittis (nungk di-mit'is). [So named 
from the first two words in the Latin version, 
mine ilimittis servum tuum, Domine, ... in 
pace, ' now lettest thou thy servant depart in 
peace': L. nunc, now (see now); dimittis, 2d 
pers. sing. pres. ind. of dimittere, send forth, 
send away, dismiss : see dismiss.'] The canti- 
cleof Simeon (Luke ii. 29-32). The Aune Dimittis 
forms part of the private thanksgiving of the priest after 
the liturgy in the Oreek Church, and Is frequently sung 
by the choir after celebration of the eucharist in Anglican 
churches. It forms part of the office of complin as used 
in the Roman Catholic Church or in religious communi- 
ties in the Anglican Church. It Is contained in the ves- 
per office of the Greek Church, and is one of the canticles 
at evening prayer in the Anglican Church. 
nunch (mmch), H. [Prob. a dial. var. of lunch 
or hunch, the form nunc, so spelled in Halliwell, 
being either for "nunk (cf. hunk 1 ) or for nunch. 
The variation of the initial consonant in such 
homely monosyllables is not extraordinary. 
The same or like words vary also terminally : 
cf. hunk 1 , hunch, hump, lunch, lump 1 , bunch, 
bump 2 , etc. But nunch may arise from nun- 
cheon, if that is of ME. origin: see nuncheon.'] 
1. A lump or piece. Compare nunc. 2. A 
slight repast; a lunch or luncheon. Compare 
iiinifheoa. Halliwell. [Prov. Eng.] 
nuncheon (nun'chon), n. [Formerly also //- 
chion, tiunchin, nuncion, nunscion, nuntion; ap- 
par. for "nuncliinij (as luncheon for "luiichiiit/), 
< match, a piece, + -ing 1 . As with the equ'iv. 
luncheon, also orig. dial., the termination lost 
meaning, and the word was altered by popular 
etym. to noonchion, and even in one case to noou- 
ulinn. as if a repast taken when the laborers 
'shun' tho heat of 'noon,' < nool + ghun ; the 
association with noun being either accidental, 
or else due to the origination of nuiiclicnii. as 
Skeat claims, in the rare ME. noufchtnclie for 
'nont'schenchi; a donation for drink, lit. 'noon- 
nuncw, now nn- 
zio = Sp. Pg. nuncio = F. nonce, < L. nuntius, 
improp. nuncius, one who brings intelligence, a 
messenger; perhaps contr. of 'norenttus, < *no- 
vere, ppr. *noven(t-)s, be new, < novus, new: see 
new. Hence nunciate, announce, denounce, etc.] 
1. A messenger; one who brings intelligence. 
It shall become thee well to act my woes ; 
she will attend it better in thy youth 
Than in a nuncio'* of more grave aspect. 
Shot., T. N., i. 4. 28. 
They [awallowsj were honoured antiently as the Xuncios 
of the Spring. Bourne's Pop. Aniiq. (1777), p. 92. 
Specifically 2. A papal messenger; a per- 
manent diplomatic agent of the first rank, rep- 
resenting the Pope at the capital of a country 
entitled to that distinction. A papal ambassador 
of the first rank sent on a special temporary mission is 
styled a legate. (See legate.) Nuncios formerly acted as 
judges of appeal. In Roman Catholic kingdoms and states 
holding themselves independent of the court of Rome in 
matters of discipline, the nuncio has merely a diplomatic 
character, like the minister of any other foreign power. 
A certaine restraint was giuen out, charging his nuncios 
and legates (whom he had sent for the gathering of the 
first fruites of the benefices vacant within the realm), etc. 
Foxe, Martyrs, p. 417. 
nuncius, nuntius (nun'shi-us), n. ; pi. nuncii, 
nuntii (-i). [L.: see nuncio."] 1. A messenger. 
As early as the middle of the 13th century entries occur 
In the wardrobe accounts of the kings of England of pay- 
ments to royal messengers variously designated "cokl- 
nus," nuncius, or "garcio " for the conveyance of letters 
to various parts of the country. "Eneye. Brit., XIX. 662. 
2. A papal messenger; a nuncio. Nuncius 
apostollcus. Same as nuncio, 2. 
nunclet (nung'kl), H. [A corrupt form (or uncle, 
due to misdiyision of mine uncle, thine uncle, 
etc. Cf. equiv. neam tor earn; also naunt for 
mint.] Uncle. This was the licensed appellation given 
by a fool to his master or superior, the fools themselves 
calling one another cousin. 
How now, nuncle ! Shall. , Lear, I. 4. 117. 
His name Is Don Tomazo Portacareco, nuncle to young 
Don Uortado de Mendonza. 
MiddUton, Spanish Gypsy, 11. 1. 
nuncle (nung'kl), v. [< nuncle, n. Cf . cozen*, 
cousin"*, cheat, cousin'-.] To cheat; deceive. 
llii/liu-ill. [Prov. Eng.] 
nuncupatet (nung'ku-pat), v. t. [< L. nuncupare, 
pp. tiuiicuitatiin, call byname, < nomcn, a name, 
+ capere, take : see nomen and capable.] 1 . To 
vow publicly and solemnly. 
The Gentiles nuncupated vows to them [idols). 
Westfteld, Sermons (146X p. 05. 
2. To dedicate; inscribe. 
If I had ben acquainted with your deslgne, you should 
on my advice have nuncupated this handsome monument 
of your skill and dexterity to some great one. 
Evelyn, To Mr. F. Barlow. 
3. To declare orally (a will or testament). 
But how doth that will [Saint Peter's] appear? in what 
tables was it written ? in what registers is it extant ? in 
nunnery 
whose presence did he nuncupate it? it Is no where to be 
teen or beard of. Barrow, Pope's Supremacy. 
nuncupation! (nung-ku-pa'slioii), n. [ME. nun- 
CHIialillll = F. HHHCHIitlliilH, < ML. " II II llfll/KI- 
tio(n-), < L. iniiii-ii/iiirc, call by name: sec nun 
ni/iiitv.] 1. The act of nuncupating, naming, 
dedicating, or declaring. Chaucer. 2. The 
oral declaration of a will. 
nuncupative (nung'ku-pa-tiv), a. [= OF. niiii- 
f.ujialif, nuiicufnitif, V. uHtu'it/Hitif = Sp. 1'g. It. 
nuncupativo, < LL. nwtcupatimw, nominal, so- 
called, < L. iiitiirn/iitre, pp. nuncupatug, call by 
name: see nuncupate."] It. Pertaining to nam- 
ing, nominating, vowing, or dedicating. 
The same appeareth by that nuncupative title wherewith 
both Heathens and Christians have honoured their oaths, 
in calling their swearing an oath of God. 
Fotherby, Atheomastix, p. 41. (LaOtam.) 
2. In the law of wills, oral; not written; made 
or declared by word of mouth. A nuncupative will 
Is made by the verbal declaration of the testator, and 
usually depends merely on oral testimony for proof. Nun- 
cupative wills are now sanctioned when made by soldiers 
in actual military service, or mariners or seamen at sea. 
In Scots law, a nuncupative legacy is good to the extent 
of 100 Scots, or 8 i'*. Sd. sterling. If it exceed that sum 
it will be effectual to that extent, If the legatee choose so 
to restrict it, but Ineffectual as to the rest. A nuncupa- 
tive, or verbal nomination of an executor Is ineffectual. 
He left me a small legacy in a nunriijmiirr will, as a 
token of his kindness for me. 
FranJriin, Autobiography, p. 88. 
Our ancestors in old times very frequently put off the 
making of their wills until warned by serious sickness 
that their end was near, and such hasty instruments, often 
nuncupative and uncertain, led to frequent disputes in law. 
Record Soc. of Lancashire and Cheshire, XII. 9. 
nuncupatory (nung'ku-pa-to-ri), a. [= Sp. Pg. 
nitncupatorio, < LL. nuncupator, a namer, < L. 
nuncvpare, pp. nuncupatus, call by name : see 
nuncupate.] Nuncupative; oral. 
By his [Griffith Powell's] nuncupatory will he left all his 
estate to that [Jesus] Coll., amounting to 6841. 17s. 2d. 
Wood, Atheun Oxon., I. 4S2. 
Wills . . . nuncupatory and scriptoiy. 
Swift, Tale of a Tub, ii. 
nundinal (nun'di-nal), a. and n. [< L. 'niindi- 
nalis (once, in a doubtful reading), pertaining 
to a fair, < nundinal, pi. of nundina, a ninth day 
(because the market>day fell upon such days), 
hence trade, sale, fern, of nundinus, of the ninth 
day, < novem, nine, + dies, a day: see nine and 
dial.] I. a. Pertaining to a fair or to a mar- 
ket-day. Nundinal letter.amongtheancient Romans, 
one of the first eight letters of the alphabet, which were 
repeated successively from the first to the last day of the 
year. One of these always expressed the market-day, 
which was the ninth day from the market-day preceding 
(both inclusive). 
II. w. A nundinal letter. 
nundinary (nun'di-na-ri), . [< L. nundinarius, 
of or belonging to the market, < nundina; mar- 
ket: see nundinal.] Same as nundinal. 
nundinatet (nun'di-nat), p. i. [< L. nundinatun, 
pp. of nundinari, hold market, trade, < nundi- 
na, market-day, market: see nundinal.] To 
buy and sell at fairs. Cockeram. 
nundinationt (nun-di-na'shon), . [< L. tmn- 
dinatio(n-), the holding of a market or fair, a 
trafficking, < nundinari, hold market: see n- 
dinate.'] Traffic at fairs. 
Witness . . . their common nundinatitm of pardons. 
.1 './.. Bramhatt, Schism Guarded, p. 149. 
nunemetet, nunmetet, n. Sec noonmeat. 
nunnari-root (nun'a-ri-rot), n. [< E. Ind. nwn- 
war + E. root."] A plant, Hemidesnius Indicus. 
See Hemidesmus and sarsaparilla. 
nunnation (nn-na'shon), n. [< Ar. (> Pers. 
Turk. Hind.) nun, the name of the letter n, + 
-ation. Cf. mimmation.] The frequent use of 
the letter ; specifically, the addition of n to a 
final vowel. Also nunation. 
The on in Madabron apparently represents the Arabic 
nunation. Encyc. Brit., XV. 473, note. 
nunnery (nun'er-i), n. ; pi. nunneries (-iz). [< 
ME. nunnerie, nunrye, < OF. nonnerie, a nunnery, 
< nonne, a nun: see nun.] 1. A convent or 
cloister for the exclusive use of nuns. 
Manie there were which sent their daughters ouer to be 
professed nuns within the nunnrne* there. 
lloiinshcd. Hist. Eng., v. St. 
Get thee to a nunnery; why wouldst thou be a breeder 
of sinners? Hhalr., Hamlet, ill. 1. 122. 
2. Nuns collectively, or the institution or sys- 
tem of conventual life for women. 
Nicolas Lyra in locum, with most Roman commentators 
since his time, In hope to found nunnery thereupon. 
Fuller, Pisgah Sight, II. ill. 11. (Daniel.) 
3. A name sometimes given to the triforium 
of a medieval church, since in some churches 
this gallery was set apart for the use of nuns 
attending them. 
