ness (nes)

[ME. ne e, to nosel.] A point of land running into the sea; a promontory; a headland; a cape. We weyed anker, and bare cleere of the ne e . Hakluyt's Voyages, I. 310. 3973 such words are originally abstract, but some have come to be used also as concrete, as witne , a person who gives testimony, wilderne , a wild region. The suffix is applicable to any adjective; but in adjectives of Latin origin the equivalent suffix -ity, of Latin origin, is also used (and is often preferable): as in torpidne , crediblene , equivalent to torpidity, credibility. Ne lerization (nes"lèr-i-zā'shon), n. [ Ne lerize (nes'lér-iz), v. t.; pret. and pp. Ne lerized, ppr. Ne lerizing. [ Ne ler (see def.) + -ize.] To treat with Ne ler's reagent; determine (ammonia) with the help of Ne ler's reagent. nestling 3. To search for nests: as, to go nesting or bird nesting. II. trans. 1. To lodge or house in or as in a nest; provide with a place of shelter or resort; build habitations for; house: often used reflexively. The gallies happily comming to their accustomed harborow,. and all the Masters and mariners of them being then nested in their owne homes. Hakluyt's Voyages , II. 132. Him who nested himself into the chief power of Geneva after the expulsion of the lawful Prince. South, Sermons, V. v. The feathery throng, Nested in the vernal realms Of the poplars and the elms. T. B. Read, Wagoner of the Alleghanies. 2. To place (articles of graduated size belonging to a set) one within another. See nest1, n., 6. Ne ler's reagent. See reagent. nest1 (nest), n. [Early mod. E. also neast; It. Sp. nido = F. nid ), a nest, = Skt. nid a, a lair, den, for * nisda, perhaps a nest, = E. settlel, a seat; settlel, seat, sit, etc., being thus related to nest. Cf. Icel. hith, a nest, akin to Gr. κοίτη, a couch ( L. word ( nidus ) are derived E. nide, nidus, nidi fication, nye2, nias, eyas, etc.] 1. A structure formed or used by a bird for incubation and the rearing of its young. Such nesting-places are of the most diverse character, some birds making a slight nest or none at all, while others construct for their eggs recep- tacles requiring remarkable skill and industry. The ma- terials used are also extremely various, as twigs, leaves, gra , mo , wool, feathers, mud or clay, etc. Some birds, for the sake of safety, excavate burrows for their nests in banks or sandy cliffs, or holes in trees. See cuts under hive-nest. Briddes ich by-helde in bo hes maden nestes. Piers Plowman (C), xiv. 156. The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests ; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. Mat. viii. 20. 2. A place where the eggs of insects, turtles, etc., are laid; a place in which the young of cer- tain small animals are reared, or a number of such animals dwelling together: as, a nest of rabbits. Seek not a scorpion's nest , Nor set no footing on this unkind shore. Shak ., 2 Hen. VI., iii. 2. 86. 3. A snug place of residence; habitation; abode. Not farre away, not meet for any guest, They spide a little cottage, like some poore mans nest. Spenser, F. Q., IV. v. 32. 4. Any abode, especially of evil things: as, a nest of vice. Lady, come from that nest Of death, contagion, and unnatural sleep. Shak ., R. and J., v. 3. 151. 5. A number of persons dwelling or consorting together or resorting to the same haunt, or the haunt itself: generally in a bad sense. The imbecile government, incapable of defending itself, implored Gonsalvo's aid in dislodging this nest of form i dable freebooters. Pre scott, Ferd. and Isa., ii. 3. In almost all of the poorer districts of London are to be found " nests of Irish" as they are called - or courts inhabited solely by the Irish costermongers. Mayhew, London Labour and London Poor, I. 115. We seem a nest of traitors - none to trust, Since our arms fail'd. Tennyson, Prince , v. 6. A series or set, as of boxes, baskets, trays, These shells are nested , the smaller inside the larger, sometimes six or seven in aset. Stand . Nat . Hist ., III. 269. nest2t, adv., prep., and a. A Middle English But so as I can declare it I thenke, And nemone no name; but tho that nest were. Richard the Redele , i. 51. [Also nescock, nestle A fondling; a delicate IMG:content-1319.jpg:[graphic]