Nicer

1 definition found

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

  Nice \Nice\ (n[imac]s), a. [Compar. {Nicer} (n[imac]"s[~e]r);
     superl. {Nicest}.] [OE., foolish, fr. OF. nice ignorant,
     fool, fr. L. nescius ignorant; ne not + scius knowing, scire
     to know. Perhaps influenced by E. nesh delicate, soft. See
     {No}, and {Science}.]
     1. Foolish; silly; simple; ignorant; also, weak; effeminate.


        [Obs.] --Gower.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              But say that we ben wise and nothing nice.
                                                    --Chaucer.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Of trifling moment; unimportant; trivial. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The letter was not nice, but full of charge
              Of dear import.                       --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Overscrupulous or exacting; hard to please or satisfy;
        fastidious in small matters.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Curious not knowing, not exact but nice. --Pope.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              And to taste
              Think not I shall be nice.            --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. Delicate; refined; dainty; pure.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Dear love, continue nice and chaste.  --Donne.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              A nice and subtile happiness.         --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     5. Apprehending slight differences or delicate distinctions;
        distinguishing accurately or minutely; carefully
        discriminating; as, a nice taste or judgment. "Our author
        happy in a judge so nice." --Pope. "Nice verbal
        criticism." --Coleridge.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     6. Done or made with careful labor; suited to excite
        admiration on account of exactness; evidencing great
        skill; exact; fine; finished; as, nice proportions, nice
        workmanship, a nice application; exactly or fastidiously
        discriminated; requiring close discrimination; as, a nice
        point of law, a nice distinction in philosophy.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The difference is too nice
              Where ends the virtue, or begins the vice. --Pope.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     7. Pleasing; agreeable; gratifying; delightful; good; as, a
        nice party; a nice excursion; a nice day; a nice sauce,
        etc. [Loosely & Colloquially]
        [1913 Webster]
  
     8. Pleasant; kind; as, a nice person.
        [PJC]
  
     9. Hence: Well-mannered; well-behaved; as, nice children.
        [PJC]
  
              He's making a list, checking it twice.
              Gonna find out who's naughty or nice
              Santa Claus is coming to town.        --Song.
  
     {To make nice of}, to be scrupulous about. [Obs.] --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Syn: Dainty; delicate; exquisite; fine; accurate; exact;
          correct; precise; particular; pleasant; kind;
          scrupulous; punctilious; fastidious; squeamish; finical;
          effeminate; silly; well-mannered; well-behaved.
          [1913 Webster]