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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



751 words match “ANCIENT”

MUSCULE n.
A long movable shed used by besiegers in ancient times in attacking the walls of a fortified town.
MYRTLE n.
as solitary axillary white or rosy flowers, followed by black several-seeded berries. The ancients considered it sacred to Venus. The flowers, leaves, and berries are used variously in perfumery and as a condiment, and the beautifully mottled wood is used in turning.
MYTH n.
f experience, and in which often the forces of nature and of the soul are personified; an ancient legend of a god, a hero, the origin of a race, etc.; a wonder story of prehistoric origin; a popular fable which is, or has been, received as historical.
NABOB n.
A deputy or viceroy in India; a governor of a province of the ancient Mogul empire.
NAKED a.
h or fifth. Naked bed, a bed the occupant of which is naked, no night linen being worn in ancient times. Shak. -- Naked eye, the eye alone, unaided by glasses, or by telescope, microscope, or the like. -- Naked-eyed medusa. (Zoöl.) See Hydromedusa. -- Naked flooring (Carp.), the timberwork which supports a floor. Gw…
NARTHEX n.
The portico in front of ancient churches; sometimes, the atrium or outer court surrounded by ambulatories; -- used, generally, for any vestibule, lobby, or outer porch, leading to the nave of a church.
NECROPOLIS n.
A city of the dead; a name given by the ancients to their cemeteries, and sometimes applied to modern burial places; a graveyard.
NEMEAN a.
Of or pertaining to Nemea, in Argolis, where the ancient Greeks celebrated games, and Hercules killed a lion.
NEMESIS n.
tion or vengeance; hence, retributive justice personified; divine vengeance. This is that ancient doctrine of nemesis who keeps watch in the universe, and lets no offense go unchastised. Emerson.
NEO-HELLENISM n.
Hellenism as surviving or revival in modern times; the practice or pursuit of ancient Greek ideals in modern life, art, or literature, as in the Renaissance.
NEODAMODE n.
In ancient Sparta, one of those Helots who were freed by the state in reward for military service. Milford.
NEOTERIC; NEOTERICAL a.
Recent in origin; modern; new. "Our neoteric verbs." Fitzed. Hall. Some being ancient, others neoterical. Bacon.
NEPENTHE n.
A drug used by the ancients to give relief from pain and sorrow; -- by some supposed to have been opium or hasheesh. Hence, anything soothing and comforting. Lulled with the sweet nepenthe of a court. Pope. Quaff, O quaff this kind nepenthe. Poe.
NERO-ANTICO n.
black marble found in fragments among Roman ruins, and usually thought to have come from ancient Laconia.
NEW a.
Not of ancient extraction, or of a family of ancient descent; not previously kniwn or famous. Addison.
NIELLO n.
An impression on paper taken from an ancient incised decoration or metal plate.
NOME n.
A province or political division, as of modern Greece or ancient Egypt; a nomarchy.
NORSE a.
Of or pertaining to ancient Scandinavia, or to the language spoken by its inhabitants.
NORSEMAN n.
One of the ancient Scandinavians; a Northman.
NORTHMAN n.
One of the inhabitants of the north of Europe; esp., one of the ancient Scandinavians; a Norseman.
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