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Nyctitropic

Turning or bending at night into special positions.

Nyctitropism

The tendency of certain plant organs, as leaves, to assume special /sleeping/ positions or make curvatures under the influence of darkness. It is well illustrated in the leaflets of clover and other leguminous plants.

Nyctophile

Any Australian bat of the genus Nyctophilus, having a very simple nasal appendage.

Nye

A brood or flock of pheasants.

Nyentek

A carnivorous mammal (Helictis moscatus, or Helictis orientalis), native of Eastern Asia and the Indies. It has a dorsal white stripe, and another one across the shoulders. It has a strong musky odor.

Nylgau Nylghau

A large Asiatic antelope (Boselaphus tragocamelus, syn. Portax tragocamelus), found in Northern India; called also the blue bull. It has short horns, a black mane, and a bunch of long hair on the throat. The general color is grayish brown; the male is blue-grey with white markings, and the female is brownish with no horns.

nylon

Any of several thermoplastic polyamide plastics, comprising a family of high-strength resilient synthetic materials, used mostly in fibers.

Nymphaea

A genus of aquatic plants having showy flowers (white, blue, pink, or yellow, often fragrant), including the white water lily and the Egyptia lotus.

nymphal

Of or pertaining to a nymph or nymphs; nymphean.

Nymphales

Same as Nymphalidae, an extensive family of butterflies including the nymphs, the satyrs, the monarchs, the heliconias, and others; -- called also brush-footed butterflies.

nymphalid

Any butterfly of the family Nymphalidae, consisting of medium to large butterflies found worldwide, typically having brightly colored wings and much-reduced nonfunctional forelegs carried folded on the breast.

Nymphalidae

A natural family of large beautifully colored butterflies, called also the brush-footed butterflies; formerly called Nymphales.

Nymphalis

The type genus of the Nymphalidae, including the mourning cloak butterfly (Nymphalis antiopa).

Nymphean

Of, pertaining to, or appropriate to, nymphs; inhabited by nymphs; as, a nymphean cave.

Nympholepsy

A species of demoniac enthusiasm or possession coming upon one who had accidentally looked upon a nymph; ecstasy.

Nympholeptic

Under the influence of nympholepsy; ecstatic; frenzied.

nymphomania

An uncontrollable excessive sexual desire in women, constituting a true disease.

Nystagmus

A rapid involuntary oscillation of the eyeballs.

nystatin

An antifungal antibiotic, extracted from fermentation broths of the soil actinomycete Streptomyces noursei and other actinomycetes; called also fungicidin. It is a polyene macrolide antibiotic, and consists of several related components. Component nystatin A1 has formula C47H75NO17.

Nyula

A species of ichneumon (Herpestes nyula). Its fur is beautifully variegated by closely set zigzag markings.

O

An exclamation used in calling or directly addressing a person or personified object; also, as an emotional or impassioned exclamation expressing pain, grief, surprise, desire, fear, etc.

O'

A shortened form of of or on.

O'er

A contr. of Over.

Oaf

Originally, an elf's child; a changeling left by fairies or goblins; hence, a deformed or foolish child; a simpleton; an idiot.

Oafish

Like an oaf; simple or clumsy.

Oaken

Made or consisting of oaks or of the wood of oaks.

Oakum

The material obtained by untwisting and picking into loose fiber old hemp ropes; -- used for calking the seams of ships, stopping leaks, etc.

Oaky

Resembling oak; strong.

Oared

Furnished with oars; -- chiefly used in composition; as, a four-oared boat.

Oarfoot

Any crustacean of the genus Remipes.

Oarlock

The notch, fork, or other device on the gunwale of a boat, in which the oar rests, and that holds the oar in place and acts as a fulcrum for rowing. Certain oarlocks are designed for use with oars having attached swivels, which insert into the oarlock and provide a firm pivot. Same as Rowlock{1}.

Oarsman

One who uses, or is skilled in the use of, an oar; a rower.

Oarsweed

Any large seaweed of the genus Laminaria; tangle; kelp. See Kelp.

Oary

Having the form or the use of an oar; as, the swan's oary feet.

OAS

The Organization of American States an international association of countries in the Western hemisphere. It was created in 1948 to promote military and economic and social and cultural cooperation.

Oasis

A fertile or green spot in a waste or desert, esp. in a sandy desert, where the water table approaches the surface.

Oast

A kiln to dry hops or malt; a cockle.

Oat

A well-known cereal grass (Avena sativa), and its edible grain, used as food and fodder; -- commonly used in the plural and in a collective sense.

Oaten

Consisting of an oat straw or stem; as, an oaten pipe.

Oath

A solemn affirmation or declaration, made with a reverent appeal to God for the truth of what is affirmed.

Oathable

Capable of having an oath administered to.

Obcompressed

Compressed or flattened antero-posteriorly, or in a way opposite to the usual one.

Obcordate

Heart-shaped, with the attachment at the pointed end; inversely cordate; as, an obcordate petal or leaf.

Obdiplostemonous

Having twice as many stamens as petals, those of the outer set being opposite the petals; -- said of flowers.

Obduce

To draw over, as a covering.

Obduction

The act of drawing or laying over, as a covering.

Obduracy

The duality or state of being obdurate; invincible hardness of heart; obstinacy.

Obduration

A hardening of the heart; hardness of heart.

Obeah

Same as Obi. Of or pertaining to obi; as, the obeah man.

obechi

A large Western African tree (Triplochiton scleroxcylon) having large palmately lobed leaves and axillary cymose panicles of small white flowers and one-winged seeds; it yields soft white to pale yellow wood.

Obedience

The act of obeying, or the state of being obedient; compliance with that which is required by authority; subjection to rightful restraint or control.

Obedient

Subject in will or act to authority; willing to obey; submissive to restraint, control, or command.

Obeisant

Ready to obey; reverent; deferential; also, servilely submissive.

Obelion

The region of the skull between the two parietal foramina where the closure of the sagittal suture usually begins.

obelisk

An upright, four-sided pillar, gradually tapering as it rises, and terminating in a pyramid called pyramidion. It is ordinarily monolithic. Egyptian obelisks are commonly covered with hieroglyphic writing from top to bottom.

Obelisk

To mark or designate with an obelisk.

Obelize

To designate with an obelus; to mark as doubtful or spirituous.

Obelus

A mark [thus /, or /]; -- so called as resembling a needle. In old MSS. or editions of the classics, it marks suspected passages or readings.

Oberon

The king of the fairies, and husband of Titania or Queen Mab.

Obese

Excessively corpulent; fat; fleshy.

obesity

The state or quality of being obese; excessive body weight; incumbrance of flesh.

Obey

To give obedience.

Obeyer

One who yields obedience.

Obfuscation

The act of darkening or bewildering; the state of being darkened.

Obi

A sash, esp. the long belt-like broad sash of soft material worn by women aound the waist when wearing a traditional kimono, and usually having a large bow at the back.

Obiism

Belief in, or the practice of, the obi superstitions and rites.

Obimbricate

Imbricated, with the overlapping ends directed downward.

Obit

Death; decease; the date of one's death.

Obiter

In passing; incidentally; by the way.

obiter dictum

An incidental and collateral opinion uttered by a judge. See Dictum, n., 2 (a).

Obitual

Of or pertaining to obits, or days when obits are celebrated; as, obitual days.

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