noel, nowell

[Fr. noël, from Lat. natal is =natal, from nat us, pa. par. of nascor =to be born.] 1. A word used as a burden to carols at Christmas. Hence, carols are sometimes called noels or nowells. [CAROL.] 2. The feast of Christmas. *no-e-mat-ic, nō-e-mat-ic-al, a. [Gr. noēma (gen it. noëmatos) = the understanding; noeō=to perceive, to understand.] Of or pertaining to the understanding; mental, intellectual. "No active noematical idea inwardly exerted from the mind itself."-Cudworth: Morality, bk. iv., ch. iii. *nō-e-mat-ic-al-ly, adv . [English noematical ; -ly .] In the understanding or mind; mentally, in tellectually. "By common notions I understand whatever is noemat ically true." -H. More: Immortality of the Soul, bk. i. ch. ii.