N

7 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  N \N\, n. (Print.)
     A measure of space equal to half an M (or em); an en.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:



  N \N\ ([e^]n),
     the fourteenth letter of English alphabet, is a vocal
     consonent, and, in allusion to its mode of formation, is
     called the dentinasal or linguanasal consonent. Its commoner
     sound is that heard in ran, done; but when immediately
     followed in the same word by the sound of g hard or k (as in
     single, sink, conquer), it usually represents the same sound
     as the digraph ng in sing, bring, etc. This is a simple but
     related sound, and is called the gutturo-nasal consonent. See
     {Guide to Pronunciation}, [sect][sect] 243-246.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The letter N came into English through the Latin and
           Greek from the Phoenician, which probably derived it
           from the Egyptian as the ultimate origin. It is
           etymologically most closely related to M. See {M}.
           [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Valiant \Val"iant\, a. [OE. valiant, F. vaillant, OF. vaillant,
     valant, originally p. pr. of OF. & F. valoir to be worth, L.
     valere to be strong. See {Wield}, and cf. {Avail},
     {Convalesce}, {Equivalent}, {Prevail}, {Valid}.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. Vigorous in body; strong; powerful; as, a valiant fencer.
        [Obs.] --Walton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Intrepid in danger; courageous; brave.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              A valiant and most expert gentleman.  --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              And Saul said to David . . . be thou valiant for me,
              and fight the Lord's battles.         --1 Sam.
                                                    xviii. 17.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Performed with valor or bravery; heroic. "Thou bearest the
        highest name for valiant acts." --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              [The saints] have made such valiant confessions.
                                                    --J. H.
                                                    Newman.
        [1913 Webster] -- {Val"iant*ly}, adv. -- {Val"iant*ness},
        {n}.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  York use \York" use`\ (Eccl.)
     The one of the three printed uses of England which was
     followed in the north. It was based on the Sarum use. See
     {Use}, {n}., 6. --Shipley.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  N
       n 1: (of a solution) concentration expressed in gram equivalents
            of solute per liter [syn: {normality}]
       2: a common nonmetallic element that is normally a colorless
          odorless tasteless inert diatomic gas; constitutes 78
          percent of the atmosphere by volume; a constituent of all
          living tissues [syn: {nitrogen}, {atomic number 7}]
       3: the cardinal compass point that is at 0 or 360 degrees [syn:
           {north}, {due north}]
       4: a unit of force equal to the force that imparts an
          acceleration of 1 m/sec/sec to a mass of 1 kilogram; equal
          to 100,000 dynes [syn: {newton}]
       5: the 14th letter of the Roman alphabet

From Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001) [jargon]:

  N /N/ quant. 1. A large and indeterminate number of objects: "There
     were N bugs in that crock!" Also used in its original sense of a
     variable name: "This crock has N bugs, as N goes to infinity." (The true
     number of bugs is always at least N + 1; see {Lubarsky's Law of
     Cybernetic Entomology}.) 2. A variable whose value is inherited from the
     current context. For example, when a meal is being ordered at a
     restaurant, N may be understood to mean however many people there are at
     the table. From the remark "We'd like to order N wonton soups and a
     family dinner for N - 1" you can deduce that one person at the table
     wants to eat only soup, even though you don't know how many people there
     are (see {great-wall}). 3. `Nth': adj. The ordinal counterpart of N,
     senses 1 and 2. "Now for the Nth and last time..." In the specific
     context "Nth-year grad student", N is generally assumed to be at least
     4, and is usually 5 or more (see {tenured graduate student}). See also
     {{random numbers}}, {two-to-the-N}.
  
  

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:

  N
       
          /N/ quant. 1. A large and indeterminate number of objects:
          "There were N bugs in that crock!"  Also used in its
          original sense of a variable name: "This crock has N bugs,
          as N goes to infinity."  (The true number of bugs is always
          at least N + 1; see {Lubarsky's Law of Cybernetic
          Entomology}.)
       
          2. A variable whose value is inherited from the current
          context.  For example, when a meal is being ordered at a
          restaurant, N may be understood to mean however many people
          there are at the table.  From the remark "We'd like to order N
          wonton soups and a family dinner for N - 1" you can deduce
          that one person at the table wants to eat only soup, even
          though you don't know how many people there are.
       
          3. "Nth": The ordinal counterpart of N, senses 1 and 2.  "Now
          for the Nth and last time..." In the specific context
          "Nth-year grad student", N is generally assumed to be at least
          4, and is usually 5 or more (see {tenured graduate student}).
          See also {random numbers}, {two-to-the-N}.
       
          [{Jargon File}]