Nobility

Nobility
Nobility No*bil"i*ty, n. [L. nobilitas: cf. OF. nobilit['e]. See {Noble}.] 1. The quality or state of being noble; superiority of mind or of character; commanding excellence; eminence. [1913 Webster]

Though she hated Amphialus, yet the nobility of her courage prevailed over it. --Sir P. Sidney. [1913 Webster]

They thought it great their sovereign to control, And named their pride nobility of soul. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

2. The state of being of high rank or noble birth; patrician dignity; antiquity of family; distinction by rank, station, or title, whether inherited or conferred. [1913 Webster]

I fell on the same argument of preferring virtue to nobility of blood and titles, in the story of Sigismunda. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

3. Those who are noble; the collective body of nobles or titled persons in a state; the aristocratic and patrician class; the peerage; as, the English nobility. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Nobility — (engl., spr. nŏbillitĭ), der englische und schottische hohe Adel, d.h. Dukes (Herzoge), Marquesses (Marquis), Earls (Grafen), Viscounts (Vikoniten) und Lords im engern Sinne (Barone). Der N. (den Noblemen) schließt sich die Gentry an, welche die… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Nobility — Nobilĭty, Noblemen (spr. nohblmĕn), engl. Bezeichnung des hohen Geburtsadels; fünf Stufen: Dukes (Herzöge), Marquesses, Earls (Grafen), Viscounts, Barons …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • nobility — index character (reputation), distinction (reputation), elite, eminence, prestige Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. B …   Law dictionary

  • nobility — (n.) mid 14c., quality of being excellent or rare, from O.Fr. nobilite high rank; dignity, grace; great deed (12c., Mod.Fr. nobilité), and directly from L. nobilitatem (nom. nobilitas) celebrity, fame; high birth; excellence, superiority; the… …   Etymology dictionary

  • nobility — *aristocracy, gentry, county, elite, society …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • nobility — [n] aristocracy; eminence dignity, elevation, elite, ennoblement, exaltation, excellence, generosity, gentry, glorification, grandeur, greatness, high society, honor, illustriousness, incorruptibility, integrity, loftiness, magnanimity,… …   New thesaurus

  • nobility — ► NOUN 1) the quality of being noble. 2) the aristocracy …   English terms dictionary

  • nobility — [nō bil′ə tē] n. pl. nobilities [ME nobilite < OFr nobilité < L nobilitas] 1. the quality or state of being noble 2. high station or rank in society, esp. when accompanied by a title 3. the class of people of noble rank or having hereditary …   English World dictionary

  • Nobility — Nobles redirects here. For other uses, see Nobles (disambiguation). For other uses, see Noble (disambiguation). Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society,… …   Wikipedia

  • Nobility — (Roget s Thesaurus) < N PARAG:Nobility >N GRP: N 1 Sgm: N 1 nobility nobility rank condition distinction optimacy blood pur sang birth high descent order Sgm: N 1 quality quality gentility …   English dictionary for students

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