Neptunian races (Ethnol.), the Malay and Polynesian races. -- Neptunian
theory (Geol.), the theory of Werner, which referred the formation of
all rocks and strata to the agency of water; -- opposed to the Plutonic
theory.
{ Nep*tu"ni*an (?), Nep"tu*nist (?) }, n. [Cf. F. neptinien,
neptuniste.] (Geol.) One who adopts the Neptunian theory.
Nep*tu`ni*cen"tric (?), a. [Neptune + centric.] (Astron.) As seen from
Neptune, or having Neptune as a center; as, Neptunicentric longitude or
force.
Nep*tu"ni*um (?), n. [NL.] A new metallic element, of doubtful
genuineness and uncertain identification, said to exist in certain
minerals, as columbite. Hermann.
Ner (?), adv. & a. Nearer. [Obs.] See Nerre.
Nere (?). [Contr. fr. ne were.] Were not. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Ne"re*id (?), n.; pl. E. Nereids (#), L. Nereides (#). [L. Nereis,
-idis, Gr. Nhrei:`s Nhrhi:`s, i:`dos, a daughter of Nereus, a nymph of
the sea, fr. Nhrey`s Nereus, an ancient sea god; akin to nhro`s wet,
Skr. nra water, cf. Gr. na`ein to flow.] 1. (Class. Myth.) A sea nymph,
one of the daughters of Nereus, who were attendants upon Neptune, and
were represented as riding on sea horses, sometimes with the human form
entire, and sometimes with the tail of a fish.
2. (Zoöl.) Any species of Nereis. The word is sometimes used for
similar annelids of other families.
Ne`re*id"i*an (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any annelid resembling Nereis, or of the
family Lycoridæ or allied families.
||Ne"re*is (? or ?), n.; pl. Nereides (#). [L.] 1. (Class. Myth.) A
||Nereid. See Nereid.
2. (Zoöl.) A genus, including numerous species, of marine chætopod
annelids, having a well- formed head, with two pairs of eyes, antennæ,
four pairs of tentacles, and a protrusile pharynx, armed with a pair of
hooked jaws.
Ne"re*ites (?), n. pl. (Paleon.) Fossil tracks of annelids.
||Ne`re*o*cys"tis (?), n. [NL. See Nereid, and Cyst.] (Bot.) A genus of
||gigantic seaweeds.
Nereocystis Lutkeana, of the North Pacific, has a stem many fathoms
long, terminating in a great vesicle, which is crowned with a tuft of
long leaves. The stem is used by the Alaskans for fishing lines.
Nerf"ling (?), n. (Zoöl.) The id.
||Ne*ri"ta (?), n. [L., a sort of sea mussel, Gr. &?;, &?;.] (Zoöl.) A
||genus of marine gastropods, mostly natives of warm climates.
Ner"ite (? or ?; 277), n. (Zoöl.) Any mollusk of the genus Nerita.
||Ner`i*ti"na (?), n. (Zoöl.) A genus including numerous species of
||shells resembling Nerita in form. They mostly inhabit brackish water,
||and are often delicately tinted.
Ne"ro (?), n. A Roman emperor notorious for debauchery and barbarous
cruelty; hence, any profligate and cruel ruler or merciless tyrant. --
Ne*ro"ni*an (#), a.
Ner"o*li (?), n. [F. néroli, said to be from the name of an Italian
princess.] (Chem.) An essential oil obtained by distillation from the
flowers of the orange. It has a strong odor, and is used in perfumery,
etc.
Neroli camphor (Chem.), a white crystalline waxy substance, tasteless
and odorless, obtained from beroli oil; -- called also auradin.
Ner"re (?), adv. & a. [See Near.] Nearer. [Obs.] [Written also neer,
ner.] Chaucer.