Nimble

Nimble
Nimble Nim"ble (n[i^]m"b'l), a. [Compar. {Nimbler} (n[i^]m"bl[~e]r); superl. {Nimblest} (n[i^]m"bl[e^]st).] [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. [root] 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]

Note: 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]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Nimble — may refer to: HMS Nimble, the name of several Royal Navy vessels RMAS Nimble (A222), a British naval auxiliary ship USS Nimble, the name of two US Navy vessels Castle Nimble, a castle in Wales Nimble (bread), a brand of bread owned by Hovis Camp… …   Wikipedia

  • nimble — [nim′bəl] adj. nimbler, nimblest [with intrusive b < ME nimmel < OE numol < niman, to take (see NIM): basic sense “capable of taking”] 1. mentally quick; quick witted; alert [a nimble mind] 2. Rare showing mental quickness [a nimble… …   English World dictionary

  • nimble — index alert (agile), deft, rapid Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • nimble — (adj.) agile, light footed, c.1300, nemel, from O.E. næmel quick to grasp (attested only once), related to niman to take, from P.Gmc. *nemanan (Cf. O.S., O.Du., Goth. niman, O.N. nema, O.Fris. nima, Ger. nehmen to take ), from PIE root *nem …   Etymology dictionary

  • nimble — *agile, brisk, spry Analogous words: sprightly, *lively, animated: alert, wide awake, vigilant, *watchful: *supple, limber, lithe …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • nimble — [adj] dexterous, smart active, adept, adroit, agile, alert, bright, brisk, clever, deft, handy, light, lissome, lithe, lively, proficient, prompt, quick, quick witted, ready, skillful, sprightly, spry, swift, vigilant, wide awake; concepts… …   New thesaurus

  • nimble — ► ADJECTIVE (nimbler, nimblest) ▪ quick and agile in movement, action, or thought. DERIVATIVES nimbly adverb. ORIGIN Old English …   English terms dictionary

  • nimble — [[t]nɪ̱mb(ə)l[/t]] nimbler, nimblest 1) ADJ GRADED Someone who is nimble is able to move their fingers, hands, or legs quickly and easily. Everything had been stitched by Molly s nimble fingers... Val, who was light and nimble on her feet, learnt …   English dictionary

  • nimble — adjective 1 able to move quickly and easily with light neat movements: a nimble climber | nimble fingers 2 a nimble mind/brain/wit an ability to think quickly or understand things easily: They liked his nimble mind his ability to come up with… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • nimble — adjective (nimbler; nimblest) Etymology: Middle English nimel, from Old English numol holding much, from niman to take; akin to Old High German neman to take, Greek nemein to distribute, manage, nomos pasture, nomos usage, custom, law Date: 14th… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”