||Ni"si (?), conj. [L.] Unless; if not.
In legal proceedings, this word is used to indicate that any order,
etc., shall take effect at a given time, unless before that time the
order, etc., in modified, or something else is done to prevent its
taking effect. Continuance nisi is a conditional continuance of the
case till the next term of the court, unless otherwise disposed of in
the mean time.
Nisi prius (Law), unless before; -- a phrase applied to terms of court,
held generally by a single judge, with a jury, for the trial of civil
causes. The term originated in a legal fiction. An issue of fact being
made up, it is, according to the English practice, appointed by the
entry on the record, or written proceedings, to be tried by a jury from
the county of which the proceedings are dated, at Westminster, unless
before the day appointed (nisi prius) the judges shall have come to the
county in question (which they always do) and there try the cause. See
In banc, under Banc.
Nis"te (?). [Contr. from ne wiste.] Wist not; knew not. [Obs.] Chaucer.
||Ni"sus (?), n. [L., fr. niti, p. p. nisus, to strive.] A striving; an
||effort; a conatus.
A nisus or energizing towards a presented object.
Hickok.
Nit (?), n. [AS. hnitu; akin to D. neet, G. niss, OHG. niz; cf. Gr.
&?;, &?;, Icel. gnit, Sw. gnet, Dan. gnid, Russ. & Pol. gnida, Bohem.
hnida, W. nedd.] (Zoöl.) The egg of a louse or other small insect.
Nit grass (Bot.), a pretty annual European grass (Gastridium
lendigerum), with small spikelets somewhat resembling a nit. It is also
found in California and Chili.
Ni"ten*cy (?), n. [L. nitens, p. pr. of nitere to shine.] Brightness;
luster. [R.]
Ni"ten*cy, n. [From L. nitens, p. pr. of niti to strive.] Endeavor;
effort; tendency. [R.] Boyle.
{ Ni"ter, Ni"tre } (?), n. [F. nitre, L. nitrum native soda, natron,
Gr. &?;; cf. Ar. nitn, natrn natron. Cf. Natron.] 1. (Chem.) A white
crystalline semitransparent salt; potassium nitrate; saltpeter. See
Saltpeter.