Nervous fever (Med.), a low form of fever characterized by great
disturbance of the nervous system, as evinced by delirium, or stupor,
disordered sensibility, etc. -- Nervous system (Anat.), the specialized
coördinating apparatus which endows animals with sensation and
volition. In vertebrates it is often divided into three systems: the
central, brain and spinal cord; the peripheral, cranial and spinal
nerves; and the sympathetic. See Brain, Nerve, Spinal cord, under
Spinal, and Sympathetic system, under Sympathetic, and Illust. in
Appendix. -- Nervous temperament, a condition of body characterized by
a general predominance of mental manifestations. Mayne.
Nerv"ous*ly, adv. In a nervous manner.
Nerv"ous*ness, n. State or quality of being nervous.
Nerv"ure (?), n. [F. See Nerve.] 1. (Bot.) One of the nerves of leaves.
2. (Zoöl.) One of the chitinous supports, or veins, in the wings of
incests.
Nerv"y (?), a. [Compar. Nervier (?); superl. - iest.] Strong; sinewy.
"His nervy knees." Keats.
Nes"cience (?), n. [L. nescientia, fr. nesciens, p. pr. of nescire not
to know; ne not + scire to know.] Want of knowledge; ignorance;
agnosticism.
God fetched it about for me, in that absence and nescience of mine.
Bp. Hall.
Nese (?), n. Nose. [Obs.] Piers plowman.
Nesh (?), a. [AS. hnesc, hnæsc, akin to Goth. hnasqus.] Soft; tender;
delicate. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
Ness (?), n. [AS. næs, ns; akin to Icel. nes, Sw. näs, Dan. næs, and E.
nose. √ 261. See Nose.] A promontory; a cape; a headland.
Hakluyt.
Ness is frequently used as a suffix in the names of places and
promontories; as, Sheerness.
-ness (&?;). [AS. -ness, -nyss, - nys; akin to OS. -nissi, nussi, D.
-nis, OHG. -nissa, -nass, -nuss, G. - nis, -niss, Goth. -inasus.] A
suffix used to form abstract nouns expressive of quality or state; as,
goodness, greatness.
Ness"ler*ize (?), v. t. [From Nessler, the chemist.] (Chem.) To treat
or test, as a liquid, with a solution of mercuric iodide in potassium
iodide and potassium hydroxide, which is called Nessler's solution or
Nessler's test, and is used to detect the presence of ammonia.
<! p. 972 !>
Nest (?), n. [AS. nest; akin to D. & G. nest, Sw. näste, L. nidus, for
nisdus, Skr. n&?;a resting place, nest; cf. Lith. lizdas, Arm. neiz,
Gael. & Ir. nead. Prob. from the particle ni down, Skr. ni + the root
of E. sit, and thus orig., a place to sit down in. √ 264. See
Nether, and Sit, and cf. Eyas, Nidification, Nye.] 1. The bed or
receptacle prepared by a fowl for holding her eggs and for hatching and
rearing her young.
The birds of the air have nests.
Matt. viii. 20.
2. Hence: the place in which the eggs of other animals, as insects,
turtles, etc., are laid and hatched; a snug place in which young
animals are reared. Bentley.
3. A snug, comfortable, or cozy residence or situation; a retreat, or
place of habitual resort; hence, those who occupy a nest, frequent a
haunt, or are associated in the same pursuit; as, a nest of traitors; a
nest of bugs.
A little cottage, like some poor man's nest.
Spenser.
4. (Geol.) An aggregated mass of any ore or mineral, in an isolated
state, within a rock.
5. A collection of boxes, cases, or the like, of graduated size, each
put within the one next larger.
6. (Mech.) A compact group of pulleys, gears, springs, etc., working
together or collectively.
Nest egg, an egg left in the nest to prevent the hen from forsaking it,
and to induce her to lay more in the same place; hence, figuratively,
something laid up as the beginning of a fund or collection. Hudibras.
Nest (?), v. i. To build and occupy a nest.
The king of birds nested within his leaves.
Howell.
Nest, v. t. To put into a nest; to form a nest for.
From him who nested himself into the chief power.
South.
Nest"ful (?), n.; pl. Nestfuls (&?;). As much or many as will fill a
nest.
Nes"tle (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Nestled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Nestling
(?).] [AS. nestlian.] 1. To make and occupy a nest; to nest. [Obs.]
The kingfisher . . . nestles in hollow banks.
L'Estrange.
2. To lie close and snug, as a bird in her nest; to cuddle up; to
settle, as in a nest; to harbor; to take shelter.
Their purpose was to fortify in some strong place of the wild
country, and there nestle till succors came.
Bacon.
3. To move about in one's place, like a bird when shaping the interior
of her nest or a young bird getting close to the parent; as, a child
nestles.
Nes"tle, v. t. To house, as in a nest.