英语词源字典 - 在线词源网站

nepenthe (n.)[nepenthe 词源字典]: 1570s, nepenthes, from Greek nepenthes, from ne- "no, not" (see un-) + penthos "pain, grief," from PIE *kwent(h)- "to suffer" (see pathos). A drug of Egypt mentioned in the "Odyssey" as capable of banishing grief or trouble from the mind. The -s is a proper part of the word, but likely was mistaken in English as a plural affix and dropped.[nepenthe etymology, nepenthe origin, 英语词源]
nephew (n.): c. 1300, from Old French neveu (Old North French nevu) "grandson, descendant," from Latin nepotem (nominative nepos) "sister's son, grandson, descendant," in post-Augustan Latin, "nephew," from PIE *nepot- "grandchild," and in a general sense, "male descendant other than son" (cognates: Sanskrit napat "grandson, descendant;" Old Persian napat- "grandson;" Old Lithuanian nepuotis "grandson;" Dutch neef; German Neffe "nephew;" Old Irish nia, genitive niath "son of a sister," Welsh nei). Used in English in all the classical senses until meaning narrowed in 17c., and also as a euphemism for "the illegitimate son of an ecclesiastic" (1580s). The Old English cognate, nefa "nephew, stepson, grandson, second cousin" survived to 16c.
Nephilim: of uncertain etymology; much disputed.
nephrectomy (n.): 1880, from nephro- "kidney" + -ectomy "a cutting out."
nephridium (n.): (plural nephridia), 1877, Modern Latin, from Greek diminutive of nephros "kidney" (see nephron).
nephritis (n.): 1570s, from Late Latin nephritis, from Greek nephritis "disease of the kidneys," from nephros "kidney" (see nephron) + -itis "inflammation." Related: Nephritic.
nephro-: before vowels nephr-, word-forming element meaning "kidney, kidneys," from nephro-, comb. form of Greek nephros "kidney" (see nephron).
nephrolithiasis (n.): 1837, probably from German, from nephro- + lithos "stone" (see litho-) + -iasis "pathological or morbid condition."
nephrology (n.): 1839, from nephro- + -ology. Related: Nephrologist.
nephron (n.): 1932, from German nephron (1924), from Greek nephros "kidney," from PIE *negwhro- "kidney" (cognates: Latin nefrones, Old Norse nyra, Dutch nier, German Niere "kidney").
nepotism (n.): "favoritism shown to relatives, especially in appointment to high office," 1660s, from French népotisme (1650s), from Italian nepotismo, from nepote "nephew," from Latin nepotem (nominative nepos) "grandson, nephew" (see nephew). Originally, practice of granting privileges to a pope's "nephew" which was a euphemism for his natural son.
Neptune: late 14c., "god of the sea," from Latin Neptunus, son of Saturn, brother of Jupiter, the Roman god of the sea (later identified with Greek Poseidon), probably from PIE root *nebh- "cloud" (source of Latin nebula "fog, mist, cloud;" see nebula), via a sense of "moist, wet." The planet so named was discovered by Galle in 1846. Until the identification of Pluto in 1930, it was the most distant planet known.
Neptunian (adj.): 1650s as "pertaining to the god Neptune;" 1794 in the geological sense, referring to actions of water, from Neptune + -ian. Usually opposed to volcanic or plutonic. As a noun meaning "inhabitant of the planet Neptune" it is recorded from 1870.
neptunium (n.): 1941, from Neptune + element ending -ium. Named for its relative position in the periodic table, next after Uranium, as the planet Neptune is one beyond Uranus. See also plutonium.
nerd (n.): 1951, U.S. student slang, probably an alteration of 1940s slang nert "stupid or crazy person," itself an alteration of nut. The word turns up in a Dr. Seuss book from 1950 ("If I Ran the Zoo"), which may have contributed to its rise.
nerdy (adj.): 1978, from nerd + -y (2). Related: Nerdiness.
Nereid: "sea-nymph," 1510s, from Greek Nereis (genitive Nereidos), daughter of the ancient sea-god Nereus, whose name is related to naros "flowing, liquid, I flow" (see naiad).
nerf: 1955, in nerf bars, hot-rodder slang for "custom bumpers;" from slang verb in auto racing (1953) meaning "to nudge something with a bumper in passing and knock it off course;" ultimate origin and signification unknown.

As a trademark name for toys made of foam-like material for indoor play, introduced 1970 (Nerf ball). By 1995 this had yielded a verbal sense of "to make less effective" (as a Nerf basketball is softer and lighter than the real thing).
neritic (adj.): 1891, from German neritisch (Haeckel, 1890), perhaps from Nerita, a genus of molluscs.
nertz (interj.): 1932, originally American English college slang, colloquial or euphemistic pronunciation of nuts as a slang retort of defiance or dismissal (1931).