nice, nyce

[O. Fr. nice =lazy, dull, simple, from Lat. nescius =ignorant: ne=not, and scio =to know; Sp. necio. The changes in the sense may have been due to confusion with Eng. nesh, which sometimes meant delicate, as well as soft.] [NESH.] *1. Simple, silly, foolish. "He was nyce and know the no wisdome." 3. Delicately. "Twenty silly ducking observants That stretch their duties nicely." Shakesp.: Lear , ii. 2. 4. Subtlely, minutely. "When articles too nicely urged be stood upon." Shakesp.: Henry V., v. 2. 5. Accurately, exactly; with exact order or proportion. "But human frailty nicely to unfold, Distinguishes a satyr from a scold." Bucking hams hire: E ay on Poetry. 6. Pleasantly, agreeably; so as to please. Ni'-çene, a. [See def.] Of or pertaining to Nicea, or Nice, a town in Asia Minor. Nicene-councils, s. pl . Church Hist.: Two councils held at Nicea; the first in 325 under Pope Silvester I. on account of the Arian heresy. It drew up the Nicene Creed, and settled the controversy as to the keeping of Easter. [QUARTODECIMAN.] The second in 787, under Pope Adrian I., was convened to put an an end to the Icono clastic controversy, Both are considered ecumenical by the Roman Church. The Church of England only admits the authority of the first. Nicene-creed, s . Ritual & Church Hist .: Properly the Constant i no pol it an-Nicene Creed. It was formulated by the first council of Nice, and the "Filioque" clause, to which the Greeks objected, was added at the First Council of Constantinople, A. D. 381, under Pope Damasus I. The Creed is recited daily in the Roman ma -all present genuflecting at the words "Et homo fact us est"-and in the Communion office of the Anglican Church. nīçe'-ne , *nice-ne e, s. [Eng. nice; -ne .] *1. Foolishne , folly, simplicity. 2. Fastidiousne , scrupulousne , extreme delicacy. "Marcus Cato, that never made ceremony or nicene to praise himself openly."- North: Plutarch, p. 295. 3. Effeminacy, luxury, delicacy. 4. Delicacy of perception; as, the nicene of taste. 5. Minute or scrupulous exactne ; punctilious *2. Trivial, unimportant. "Bethink how nice the quarrel was." Shakesp.: Romeo and Juliet, iii. 1. 3. Fastidious; hard to please or satisfy; over-particular; punctilious, squeamish. "Think not I shall be nice." - Milton : P. L., v. 433. 4. Scrupulously cautious or particular; careful. 5. Coy, prudish; delicate or modest to a fault. "She is nice and coy." Shakesp.: Two Gentlemen of Verona, iii. 1. 6. Distinguishing accurately and minutely; discerning minute differences or distinctions; scrupu lous. IMG:content-0038.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-0039.png:[blocks in formation] "The scribes of the law, with much anxiety and nicene , confine themselves to the letter of Moses." - South: Sermons, vol. iv., ser. 1. 6. Coyne , modesty. "Fear and nicene the handmaids of all women." Shakesp.: Cymbeline, iii. 4. 7. Agreeablene , pleasantne ; the quality of affording pleasure. *niç'-er-ỹ, s . [Eng. nie(e); -ery.] Daintine ; affectation of delicacy.