• NEMAN
n. 1859 Amer. thieves’ sl. – stealing
• NEMBIE
n. 1950 drug culture sl. – a capsule of Nembutal™
• NEME
n. c1450 obs. – uncle
• NEMEL
vb. c1250 obs. – to name
• NEMEN
vb. c888 obs. – to name; to call by some name; to mention
• NEMESIS
n. 1. 1576 – the goddess of retribution or vengeance; hence, one who avenges or punishes
n. 2. 1597 – retributive justice; an instance of this
• NEMIS
conj. 1790 Eng. dial. – lest, for fear that
• NEMISH
n. 1950 drug culture sl. – a capsule of Nembutal™
• NEMMIE
n. 1950 drug culture sl. – a capsule of Nembutal™
• NEMN
vb. c888 obs. – to name; to call by some name; to mention
• NEMOPHILIST
n. 1860 rare – one who is fond of forests or forest scenery; a lover of the woods
• NEMOPHILOUS
adj. 1860 rare – fond of frequenting woods or groves, or dwelling in them
• NEMOPHILY
n. 1860 rare – love of or fondness for woods
• NEMORAL
adj. 1656 rare – pert. to or living in groves or woods
• NEMORIVAGANT
adj. 1656 rare – wandering in the woods
• NEMORIVAGOUS
adj. 1721 rare – wandering in woods or groves
• NEMOROSE
adj. 1721 rare – full of woods or groves; growing in groves
• NEMOROSITY
n. 1721 rare – fullness of woods; woodiness
• NEMOROUS
adj. 1623 rare – full of woods, groves, or trees; woody
• NEMS
n. M20 US drug culture sl. – Nembutal™ capsules
• NENA
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – simple, foolish
n. 1870 Eng. dial. – a fool, an idiot, a ninny
• NENAIN
n. 1917 Amer. dial. – a godmother; also used as a term of address
• NENAINE
n. 1917 Amer. dial. – a godmother; also used as a term of address
• NENTI
adv. 1893 circus usage – nothing
n. M19 sl. – nothing, none; esp. used as a synonym for “I have none”
• NEODFUL
adj. a1000 obs. rare – earnest, eager
• NEOGAM
n. 1862 nonce word – a newly-married person
• NEOGAMIST
n. 1656 obs. – a newly-married person
• NEOLOGICAL
adj. 1754 rare – dealing with or characterized by new words or phrases
• NEOLOGISM
n. 1. 1800 – the use of or the practice of using new words
n. 2. 1803 – a new word or expression
• NEOLOGIST
n. 1785 – one who invents or uses new words or forms
• NEOLOGISTIC
adj. 1827 – pert. to the use of new words or phrases
• NEOLOGIZATION
n. 1846 rare – the use or formation of new words or phrases
• NEOLOGIZE
vb. 1846 – to use new words or phrases; to make linguistic innovations
• NEOLOGOUS
adj. 1812 rare – pert. to the use of new words or phrases
• NEOLOGY
n. 1. 1797 – the use of new words
n. 2. 1846 – a new word or term
• NEONISM
n. 1846 rare – the use or formation of new words or phrases
• NEONOMIAN
adj. 1693 – pert. to the assertion of a new law
• NEOPHOBIA
n. 1886 – fear or dislike of what is new
• NEOPHYTE
n. 1. a1550 – a new convert; one newly admitted to a church or religious body; also, a newly ordained priest, or a novice of a religious order
n. 2. 1599 – one who is new to a subject; a beginner, a tyro, a novice
• NEOPHYTIC
adj. 1886 – unfamiliar with, inexperienced
• NEOPHYTISH
adj. 1897 – unfamiliar with, inexperienced
• NEOPOLITAN
n. E17 euphemism – syphilis
• NEOTERIC
adj. 1596 – recent, new, modern
n. 1598 – a modern; a modern writer or author
• NEOTERICAL
adj. 1588 – recent, new, modern
• NEOTERICS
n. 1857 – the study of modern things
• NEOTERISM
n. 1873 – the use of new words or phrases; a new word or phrase
• NEOTERIST
n. 1873 – one who uses or introduces new words or phrases
• NEOTERISTIC
adj. 1873 – pert. to the use of new words or phrases
• NEOTERIZE
vb. 1873 – to coin or use new words or phrases
• NEOTSUM
adj. c1205 obs. rare – ? profitable, thriving
• NEP
n. 1. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – a kiss
n. 2. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – the pudendum of a sow
vb. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – to kiss
• NEPALESE; NEPALESE BLUE
n. 1970 Brit. sl. – marijuana cultivated in Nepal
• NEPALESE TEMPLE BALLS
n. 1989 US sl. – hashish from Nepal, orig. prepared for religious use
• NEPALESE TEMPLE HASH
n. 1989 US sl. – hashish from Nepal, orig. prepared for religious use
• NEPHALISM
n. 1861 rare – total abstinence from intoxicating liquors; teetotalism
• NEPHALIST
n. 1861 – one who abstains from intoxicating liquors; a teetotaller
• NEPHELOLATER
n. 1895 – an admirer of clouds
• NEPHELOLOGY
n. 1892 – the study of clouds
• NEPHEW
n. 1. 1297 obs. – a grandson (common in the 17th century)
n. 2. 1387 obs. – a descendant; one of remote or unspecified degree of descent; a successor
n. 3. 1494 obs. – a brother’s or sister’s daughter; a niece
n. 4. 1532 obs. – –a prodigal
n. 5. 1587 euphemism – the illegitimate son of an ecclesiastic
n. 6. 1950 US sl. – a young, passive male homosexual in relation to his older lover
• NEPHEW-IN-LAW
n. 1870 – the husband of a brother’s or sister’s daughter
• NEPHOLOGIST
n. 1894 – one who studies the clouds
• NEPHOLOGY
n. 1890 – the study of the clouds
• NEPHY
n. 1880 Eng. dial. – a nephew
• NEPKIN
n. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – a nectarine
• NEPOS
n. 1. 1535 obs. rare – a grandson
n. 2. 1535 obs. rare – a nephew
• NEPOTAL
adj. 1837 – pert. to a nephew
• NEPOTATION
n. 1656 obs. rare – wasting or riotousness
• NEPOTE
n. 1. 1519 Sc. obs. – a nephew
n. 2. a1525 Sc. obs. – a grandson
• NEPOTIC
adj. 1. 1847 – inclined to nepotism; giving unfair preferment to relatives or friends
adj. 2. 1873 – pert. to a nephew
• NEPOTIOUS
adj. 1834 rare – excessively fond of one’s nephews and other relatives
• NEPOTISM
n. 1. 1662 obs. – the advantages or opportunities for advancement of a pope’s nephew
n. 2. 1670 – unfair preferment of nephews or relatives to other qualified persons
n. 3. 1818 – fondness for one’s nephews
• NEPOTIST
n. 1837 – one who carries out nepotism
• NEPPERED
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – cross, peevish
• NEPPY
adj. 1865 Eng. dial. – crisp, brittle
n. 1996 US sl. – a person from northeast Philadelphia
• NEPS
n. 1865 Eng. dial. – the dried flower buds of lavender
• NEPSHA AND KIAH
n. 1965 Barbados – a random selection of people from the populace
• NEPTUNE
n. c1385 – the sea or ocean
• NEPTUNEAN
adj. 1852 rare – pert. to the sea
• NEPTUNE’S BEARD
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – seaweed
• NEPTUNE’S DAUGHTER
n. 1930s US rhyming sl. – water
• NEPTUNIAN
adj. 1656 rare – pert. to the sea
• NEPTUNIST
n. 1593 obs. – a navigator; a seaman; a sailor; a nautical person
• NEPUSHENCY
n. 1934 Amer. dial. – necessity, push, and urgency
• NEQUIENT
adj. 1656 obs. rare – not being able, unable
• ‘NER
n. 1969 US sl. – dinner
• NERD
n. 1. 1951 chiefly US colloq. – a person lacking in social skills, fashion sense, or both; someone studious but socially inept; an ineffectual or incompetent person; an oaf, a jerk
n. 2. 1950s sl., orig. US – an unpleasant, insignificant, or dull person
n. 3. 1960s sl., orig. US college & teen usage – anyone outside a peer group and who thus fails to fit in with ‘the gang’, esp. a studious individual who eschews drink, drugs, and similar teen pleasures
vb. 1980s US college sl. – to study hard
• NERDBOMBER
n. 1. 1960s sl., orig. US college & teen usage – anyone outside a peer group and who thus fails to fit in with ‘the gang’, esp. a studious individual who eschews drink, drugs, and similar teen pleasures
n. 2. 1990 US sl. – a pest; a nuisance
• NERD BOX
n. 1997 US sl. – a study cubicle
• NERDISTAN
n. 1997 US sl. – a dormitory community for information-and-communication-technology workers
• NERDLY
n. 1965 US sl. – a socially inept outcast
• NERDVANA
n. 1995 Can. sl. – the world of computer enthusiasts who surf the Internet every night
• NERDY
adj. 1978 sl., orig. US – ineffectual, incompetent
• NERE
adj. a1300 obs. rare – black
n. 1483 obs. – an ear
• NERF
vb. 1952 US sl. – in motor racing: to bump a competitor during a race
• NERF BAR
n. 1940s US sl. – a bumper fitted to a customized car
• NERFING BAR
n. 1940s US sl. – a bumper fitted to a customized car
• NERK
n. 1. 1950s sl. – a fool; a generally unacceptable person
n. 2. 1966 Brit. sl. – an ineffectual or incompetent person
n. 3. 1966 Brit. sl. – a contemptible person
• NERKING
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – of the wind: harsh, keen
• NERLED
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – ill-treated, pinched
• NERLINS
adv. 1790 Sc. – nearly, almost
• NERO
n. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – zero
• NERONIAN
adj. 1598 – exhibiting the tyranny, cruelty, or moral depravity of Nero; cruel, savage
• NERONIZE
vb. 1. 1673 – to call by a bad name, to slander
vb. 2. 1675 – to deprave, to corrupt
vb. 3. 1889 – to tyrannize over
• NERRY
n. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – a tea-kettle
• NERTCHARD
n. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – a hedgehog, an ‘urchin’
• NERTEROLOGY
n. 1800 rare – learning relating to the dead; ghost-lore
• THE NERTS
n. 1934 Amer. sl. – something extraordinary
• NERTS
adj. 1910s US sl. – crazy, foolish
int. 1922 US sl. – an exclamation of disbelief, contempt or derision; nuts! nonsense!
n. 1. 1930s sl. – the testicles
n. 2. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – nonsense
n. 3. 1989 sl. – nothing
• NERTY
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – irascible, short-tempered
• NERTZ
adj. 1910s US sl. – crazy, foolish
int. 1920s US sl. – nonsense!
n. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – nonsense
• NERVATE
vb. 1682 obs. – to nerve, to support, to strengthen
• NERVE
n. 1. 1662 obs. rare – the penis
n. 2. M18 sl. – a dashing man about town
n. 3. 1822 Sc. – power, capacity
n. 4. 1887 – audacity, effrontery, impudence, cheek
vb. 1801 obs. – to show signs of nervousness
• NERVED UP
adj. 1890 Amer. dial. – anxious; confused; agitated
• NERVER
n. 1. L19 sl. – a bracing drink’ a ‘pick-me-up’
n. 2. 1900s US sl. – a gate-crasher
• NERVE-SHAKE
n. 1966 Amer. dial. – delirium tremens
• NERVES OF IRON
n. very strong nerves
• NERVES OF STEEL
n. very strong nerves
• NERVE UP TO
vb. 1979 Amer. dial. – to gather the courage to try something
• NERVID
adj. 1813 rare – physically strong
• NERVISH
adj. 1843 Sc. & Eng. & Amer. dial. – nervous
• NERVISHNESS
n. Bk1905 N. Ireland – nervousness
• NERVO AND KNOX
n. 1. 1940s Brit. rhyming sl. – socks
n. 2. 1940s Brit. rhyming sl. for ‘pox’ – venereal disease, esp. syphilis
n. 3. 1971 Brit. rhyming sl. for ‘box’ – television; a television
• NERVOSE
adj. 1667 obs. rare – vigorous, energetic
• NERVOSELY
adv. 1678 obs. – strongly, vigorously
• NERVOSITY
n. 1. 1611 obs. rare – strength
n. 2. 1787 – the state of being nervous; nervousness
• NERVOUS
adj. 1. 1413 rare – sinewy, muscular; vigorous, strong
adj. 2. 1920s US sl., orig. jazz usage – great, thrilling
adj. 3. 1936 Amer. dial. jocular usage – of a dessert or salad: having a jelly-like consistency
n. 1940 Amer. dial. – nervousness; an attack of mental distress
• NERVOUS AS A WITCH
adj. 1880 – said of a very restless person
• NERVOUS-CANE
n. M17 sl. – the penis
• NERVOUSED UP
adj. 1931 Amer. dial. – nervous, anxious; confused; agitated
• NERVOUS FINGER
n. 1940s US criminals’ sl. – one given to small-time criminality
• NERVOUS-JERVIS
adj. 1970s US college sl. – extremely nervous
• NERVOUS NELLIE • NERVOUS NELLY
n. 1920s US sl. – a fearful, foolish, and timid person
• NERVOUS PUDDING
n. 1930s US sl. – a dish made with gelatine or aspic
• NERVOUS SALAD
n. 1930s US sl. – a dish made with gelatine or aspic
• NERVOUS-UPPED
adj. 1954 Amer. dial. – nervous, anxious; confused; agitated
• NERVOUS WRECK
n. 1. L19 – one who is suffering from disorder of the nerves
n. 2. 1940s rhyming sl. – a cheque
• NERVY
adj. 1. 1607 – vigorous, sinewy, full of strength
adj. 2. 1882 – courageous, full of nerve; daring, audacious, pushing one’s luck
adj. 3. 1884 – jerky, sudden
adj. 4. 1891 sl. – nervous; ill at ease; scared, cowardly, tense
adj. 5. 1897 – cool, confident, impudent
adj. 6. 1897 – requiring nerve or daring, risky
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Updated: February 27, 2023
Lexicophilia 