N Flashcards
nadir
n. lowest point
Jim’s life reached its nadir when he went bankrupt.
naïve
adj. lacking sophistication and worldliness
The naïve customer believed everything that the salesperson told her.
naiveté
n. lack of sophistication and worldliness
For an adult, Florence displays remarkable naiveté.
narcissistic
adj. having excessive love for oneself
Narcissistic Ray loved to stand in front of the mirror admiring himself.
narrative
n. account, story
The book is largely a narrative of the explorer’s life.
nascent
adj. starting to develop, coming into existence
The government is supporting the nascent industory.
natal
adj. relating to birth
The astrologer calculated his client’s natal chart.
nebulous
adj. vague, cloudy
The argument is nebulous.
necromancy
n. black magic
Necromancy is widely practiced on the island.
necropsy
n. autopsy
The Roman physician Antistius performed one of the earliest necropsies on record when in 44 B.C. he examined Julius Caesar and documented twenty-three wounds, including a final fatal stab to the chest.
nafarious
adj. vicious, evil
The nefarious plot to blow up the building was uncovered.
negate
v. cancel out; nullify
The team’s victory in the second game negated their opponent’s victory in the first game.
negligent
adj. careless, inattentive
There is evidence that the defendant was negligent in performing his duties.
negligible
adj. not worth considering
It is a negligible amount of money for a rich person.
nemesis
n. an unbeatable enemy; a source of injury
The team suffered its sixth straight loss to its nemesis.
neologism
n. new word or expression
The dictionary is updated regularly to include recent neologisms.
neonate
n. newborn child
The parents are caring for the neonate.
neophyte
n. novice, beginner
Despite being a neophyte at tennis, Gail put up a good fight in her first match.
ne plus ultra
n. the perfect or most extreme example of its kind
Many people consider Jimi Hendrix the ne plus ultra of electric guitarists.
nepotism
n. favoritism to a relative
The law makes nepotism in hiring illegal.
nescience
n. absence of knowledge; ignorance
“No student will leave my class in a state of nescience,” the teacher told her class.
Nestorianism
n. a religious belief system holding that with in Jesus are two distinct persons, divine and human, rather than a single divine person
Nestorianism was condemned at the Council of Ephesus in 431.
nether
adj. located under or below
Hell is often pictured as located in the nether regions of the Earth.
nettle
v. to irritate
I was nettled by the continually ringing cell phones.
neurosis
n. a mental disorder arising without evidence of organic disease
In The Future of an Illusion Sigmund Freud describes religion as “the universal neurosis.”
nexus
n. a means of connection; a connected group or series; a center
The enhance security, the army’s communication system does not have a nexus.
nicety
n. elegant or delicate feature; minute distinction
The legal niceties of his case were of little interest to the condemned man.
niche
n. recess in a wall; best position for something
It is important for a person to find his own niche in society.
niggardly
adj. stingy
We received niggardly portions of food.
nihilism
n. belief that existence and all traditional values are meaningless
The book explores the topic of nihilism in Western thought.
nihilistic
adj. relating to the belief that existence and all traditional values are meaningless
Nihilistic thought might increase during times of social stress.
nirvana
n. an ideal condition of rest, harmony, or joy
Deep in meditation, the holy man sought nirvana.
noblesse oblige
n. obligation of persons of high birth or rank to act nobly and benevolently
A strong sense of noblesse oblige motivated the billionaire to donate half of his fortune to charity.
nocturnal
adj. pertaining to night; active at night
The expedition was studying nocturnal animals.
noisome
adj. stinking, putrid
We live by a noisome swamp.
nomadic
adj. moving from place to place
The nomadic tribe moves with the seasons.
nomenclature
n. terms used in a particular science or discipline
Before each physics unit our teacher goes over the important nomenclature in it.
nominal
adj. existing in name only; negligible
I didn’t mind paying the nominal entrance fee.
nonchalant
adj. casual, unconcerned
Tim is nonchalant about his studies.
nondescript
adj. lacking interesting or distinctive qualities; dull
The suspect wore a nondescript coat.
nonpareil
adj. having no match or equal
He is a movie director nonpareil.
nonplussed
adj. bewildered; confused
Harry stood, nonplussed, the letter still in his hand.
non sequitur
n. conclusion not following from apparent evidence
The essay is filled with non sequiturs.
norm
n. standard or model considered typical for a group
The norm for this school is a class size of thirty.
normative
adj. related to or prescribing a norm or standard
The sociologist believes that her job is to describe society and not make normative judgments.
nostalgia
n. a sentimental longing for a pastime
The movie appeals to people who feel nostalgia for the 1960s.
nostrum
n. a medicine or remedy of doubtful effectiveness; supposed cure
The advertisement claims that the nostrum cures a cold.
notoriety
n. disrepute; ill fame
The criminal gained notoriety for stealing more money than anyone in history.
notorious
adj. known widely and unfavorably
The criminal is notorious for stealing more money than anyone else in history.
nouveau riche
n. one who has recently become rich
As so often happens, the long-established families in the town resent the intrusion of the nouveau riche.
novel
adj. new or original
This essay takes a novel approach to the subject.
novice
n. apprentice, beginner
For a novice, he’s doing rather well.
novitiate
n. state of being a beginner or novice
During their novitiate the men kept a vow of silence.
noxious
adj. harmful, unwholesome
The truck spewed out noxious fumes.
nuance
n. shade of meaning; subtle distinction
The teacher explained the nuances of the words.
nugatory
adj. of no value or importance
The lack of funds for the new program will render it nugatory.
nullify
v. to make invalid
The score was nullified by a penalty.
numismatic
n. coin collecting
Sean has learned a lot about history from his hobby, numismatics.
nuptial
adj. relating to marriage
The nuptial arrangements are going well except for the selection of bridesmaids.
nurture
v. to nourish; foster; educate
The school has nurtured young people for over one hundred years.
nutritive
adj. relating to nutrition or health
This snack has little nutritive value.
