n. [ L. nescientia, fr. nesciens, p. pr. of nescire not to know; ne not + scire to know. ] Want of knowledge; ignorance; agnosticism. [ 1913 Webster ]

God fetched it about for me, in that absence and nescience of mine. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Nose. [ Obs. ] Piers plowman. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ AS. hnesc, hnaesc, akin to Goth. hnasqus. ] Soft; tender; delicate. [ Obs. or Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. naes, ns; akin to Icel. nes, Sw. näs, Dan. naes, and E. nose. √ 261. See Nose. ] A promontory; a cape; a headland. Hakluyt. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Ness is frequently used as a suffix in the names of places and promontories; as, Sheerness. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ From Nessler, the chemist. ] (Chem.) To treat or test, as a liquid, with a solution of mercuric iodide in potassium iodide and potassium hydroxide, which is called Nessler's solution or Nessler's test, and is used to detect the presence of ammonia. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To put into a nest; to form a nest for. [ 1913 Webster ]

From him who nested himself into the chief power. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To build and occupy a nest. [ 1913 Webster ]

The king of birds nested within his leaves. Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. nest; akin to D. & G. nest, Sw. näste, L. nidus, for nisdus, Skr. nī&dsdot_;a resting place, nest; cf. Lith. lizdas, Arm. neiz, Gael. & Ir. nead. Prob. from the particle ni down, Skr. ni + the root of E. sit, and thus orig., a place to sit down in. √ 264. See Nether, and Sit, and cf. Eyas, Nidification, Nye. ] 1. The bed or receptacle prepared by a fowl for holding her eggs and for hatching and rearing her young. [ 1913 Webster ]

The birds of the air have nests. Matt. viii. 20. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: The place in which the eggs of other animals, as insects, turtles, etc., are laid and hatched; a snug place in which young animals are reared. Bentley. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A snug, comfortable, or cozy residence or situation; a retreat, or place of habitual resort; hence, those who occupy a nest, frequent a haunt, or are associated in the same pursuit; as, a nest of traitors; a nest of bugs. [ 1913 Webster ]

A little cottage, like some poor man's nest. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Geol.) An aggregated mass of any ore or mineral, in an isolated state, within a rock. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A collection of boxes, cases, or the like, of graduated size, each put within the one next larger. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Mech.) A compact group of pulleys, gears, springs, etc., working together or collectively. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. An egg left in the nest to prevent the hen from forsaking it, and to induce her to lay more in the same place. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, (figuratively), Money set aside in a special fund to be used for special occasions, or more commonly, for retirement; as, she set aside a large hunk of her salary every month and had a considerable nest egg for her retirement. [ PJC ]

n.; pl. Nestfuls As much or many as will fill a nest. [ 1913 Webster ]