nine, nyne

& s. [A. S. nigon, nigen; cogn. with Dut. negen; Icel. nin; Dan.ni; Sw. nio; Ger, neun; Goth. niun; Wel. naw; Ir. & Gael. naoi; Lat. novem; Gr. ennea; Sansc. nav an.] A. As adj.: Containing or comprising a number, one more than eight or le than ten. B. As subst .: The number composed of eight and one; three times three; a symbol representing nine units. (1) Nine days' wonder : A subject of wonder and go ip for a short time, generally a piece of scandal. (2) The nine: The Muses, so called from their number. (3) To the nines, to the nine, up to the nines: Το perfection; generally applied to dre . ( Eng .) "Bran new, polished to the nine."-Reade: Never Too Late to Mend, ch. lxv. *(4) To look nine ways : To squint. (5) The nine worthies : ( a ) A term applied to nine famous personages: three Jews-Joshua, David, and Judas Maccabæus; three Gentiles-Hector, Alexander, and Julius Charlemagne, and Godfrey of Bouillon.