| Nimble | a. [ Compar. Nimbler superl. Nimblest ] [ OE. nimel, prob. orig., quick at seizing, fr. nimen to take, AS. niman; akin to D. nemen, G. nehmen, OHG. neman, Icel. nema, Goth. nima, and prob. to Gr. ne`mein to distribute. √ 7. Cf. Nomand, Numb. ] Light and quick in motion; moving with ease and celerity; lively; swift. [ 1913 Webster ] Through the mid seas the nimble pinnace sails. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ Nimble is sometimes used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, nimble-footed, nimble-pinioned, nimble-winged, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]
Nimble Will (Bot.), a slender, branching, American grass (Muhlenbergia diffusa), of some repute for grazing purposes in the Mississippi valley. [ 1913 Webster ]
Syn. -- Agile; quick; active; brisk; lively; prompt. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Nimbus | n.; pl. L. Nimbi E. Nimbuses [ L., a rain storm, a rain cloud, the cloudshaped which enveloped the gods when they appeared on earth. ] 1. (Fine Arts) A circle, or disk, or any indication of radiant light around the heads of divinities, saints, and sovereigns, upon medals, pictures, etc.; a halo. See Aureola, and Glory, n., 5. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ “The nimbus is of pagan origin.” “As an attribute of power, the nimbus is often seen attached to the heads of evil spirits.” Fairholl. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. (Meteor.) A rain cloud; one of the four principal varieties of clouds. See Cloud. [ 1913 Webster ] |
