no´ble|ness

no´ble|ness
no|ble «NOH buhl», adjective, -bler, -blest, noun.
–adj.
1. high and great by birth, rank, or title: »

a noble family, noble blood.

 SYNONYM(S): aristocratic, high-born, patrician.
2. high and great in character; showing greatness of mind; good: »

a noble knight, a noble deed.

 SYNONYM(S): honorable, worthy.
3. excellent; fine; splendid; magnificent: »

a noble poem, a noble animal; a cruciform hall of noble dimensions (Nicholas P. S. Wiseman). Niagara Falls is a noble sight.

 SYNONYM(S): imposing, stately. See syn. under grand. (Cf. ↑grand)
4. not easily rusted or deteriorated; precious; valuable: »

Gold and silver are noble metals.

5. (in falconry) of the long-winged hawks, such as the falcons, that swoop down on the quarry: »

The hawks have been classified as "noble' or "ignoble' according to the length and sharpness of their wings (G. D. Campbell).

–n.
1. a person high and great by birth, rank, or title: »

[The Hittites] evolved a pioneering constitutional monarchy; their kings had to answer to a council of nobles (Newsweek).

2. an English gold coin of the late Middle Ages, worth 6 shillings and 8 pence.
3. Slang. the leader of a group of strikebreakers.
╂[< Old French noble, learned borrowing from Latin nōbilis, gnōbilis noble, renowned, well known < gnōscere to know]
–no´ble|ness, noun.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • fee´ble|ness — fee|ble «FEE buhl», adjective, bler, blest. 1. lacking strength; weak; frail: »a feeble barrier. An old or sick person is often feeble. This way and that the feeble stem is driven, weak to sustain the storms and injuries of heaven (John Dryden).… …   Useful english dictionary

  • hum´ble|ness — hum|ble «HUHM buhl, UHM », adjective, bler, blest, verb, bled, bling. –adj. 1. low in position or condition; not important; not grand: »He has a humble job with very low wages. Lincoln was born in a humble log cabin; he was of humble origin.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • nim´ble|ness — nim|ble «NIHM buhl», adjective, bler, blest. 1. quick moving; active and sure footed; light and quick; agile: »Goats are nimble in climbing among the rocks. SYNONYM(S): lively, spry, brisk. 2. quick to understand and to reply; clever: »The boy… …   Useful english dictionary

  • un|blame´a|ble|ness — un|blam|a|ble or un|blame|a|ble «uhn BLAY muh buhl», adjective. not blamable; blameless. –un|blam´a|ble|ness, –un|blame´a|ble|ness, noun. –un|blam´a|bly, –un|blame´a|bly, adverb …   Useful english dictionary

  • un|blam´a|ble|ness — un|blam|a|ble or un|blame|a|ble «uhn BLAY muh buhl», adjective. not blamable; blameless. –un|blam´a|ble|ness, –un|blame´a|ble|ness, noun. –un|blam´a|bly, –un|blame´a|bly, adverb …   Useful english dictionary

  • un|sale´a|ble|ness — un|sal|a|ble or un|sale|a|ble «uhn SAY luh buhl», adjective. not salable; not meeting a ready sale. –un|sal´a|ble|ness, –un|sale´a|ble|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • un|sal´a|ble|ness — un|sal|a|ble or un|sale|a|ble «uhn SAY luh buhl», adjective. not salable; not meeting a ready sale. –un|sal´a|ble|ness, –un|sale´a|ble|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • un|tame´a|ble|ness — un|tam|a|ble or un|tame|a|ble «uhn TAY muh buhl», adjective. not tamable; tameless: »Figurative. an untamable tongue. –un|tam´a|ble|ness, –un|tame´a|ble|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • un|tam´a|ble|ness — un|tam|a|ble or un|tame|a|ble «uhn TAY muh buhl», adjective. not tamable; tameless: »Figurative. an untamable tongue. –un|tam´a|ble|ness, –un|tame´a|ble|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • hon´or|a|ble|ness — hon|or|a|ble «ON uhr uh buhl», adjective, noun. –adj. 1. having or showing a sense of what is right and proper; honest; upright: »It is not honorable to cheat. 2. causing honor; bringing honor or honors to somebody: »honorable wounds. 3.… …   Useful english dictionary

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