英语词源字典 - 在线词源网站

nympholepsy (n.)[nympholepsy 词源字典]: "frenzy or rapture supposed to take hold of a man upon gazing on a nymph," 1775, coined by Richard Chandler, in "Travels in Greece," from nymph, on model of epilepsy, with second element from stem of Greek lambanein "to take." Especially "an ecstasy or frenzy caused by desire for the unattainable." Ancient Greek had nympholeptos "caught by nymphs." Related: Nympholept; nympholeptic.[nympholepsy etymology, nympholepsy origin, 英语词源]
nymphomania (n.): 1775, in English translation of "Nymphomania, or a Dissertation Concerning the Furor Uterinus," by French doctor M.D.T. Bienville, coined from Greek nymphe "bride" (see nymph) + mania "madness" (see mania). Perhaps influenced by earlier French nymphomanie. Defined as "a female disease characterized by morbid and uncontrollable sexual desire." Compare also nympholepsy.
nymphomaniac: 1861 (adj.), 1867 (n.), from nymphomania.
nystagmus (n.): medical Latin, from Greek nystagmos "nodding, drowsiness," from nystazein "to nod, be sleepy," from PIE *sneud(h)- "to be sleepy."
nictation: "The action or process of blinking", Late 18th century: from Latin nictatio(n-), from the verb nictare 'to blink'.
naivety: "Lack of experience, wisdom, or judgement", Late 17th century: from French naïveté, from naïf, -ive (see naive).
nosy parker: "An overly inquisitive person", Early 20th century: from the postcard caption ‘The Adventures of Nosey Parker’, referring to a peeping Tom in Hyde Park.
nom de plume: "An assumed name used by a writer instead of their real name; a pen-name", Early 19th century: formed in English from French words, to render the sense 'pen name', on the pattern of nom de guerre.
Nissen hut: "A tunnel-shaped hut made of corrugated iron with a cement floor", Early 20th century: named after Peter N. Nissen (1871–1930), the British engineer who invented it.
nonary: "Relating to or based on the number nine", Mid 17th century (as a noun): from Latin nonus 'ninth', on the pattern of words such as denary.
noctambulist: "A sleepwalker", Mid 18th century: from Latin nox, noct- 'night' + ambulare 'to walk' + -ist.
nappa: "A soft leather made by a special process from the skin of sheep or goats", Late 19th century: from Napa, the name of a valley in California.
nappe: "A sheet of rock that has moved sideways over neighbouring strata as a result of an overthrust or folding", Late 19th century: from French nappe 'tablecloth'.
né: "Originally called; born (used before the name by which a man was originally known)", 1930s: French, literally 'born', masculine past participle of naître; compare with née.
Naxalite: "(In South Asia) a member of an armed revolutionary group advocating Maoist communism", 1960s: from Naxal(bari), the name of an area of West Bengal, India, + -ite¹.
neoprene: "A synthetic polymer resembling rubber, resistant to oil, heat, and weathering", 1930s: from neo- 'new' + prene (perhaps from propyl + -ene), on the pattern of words such as chloroprene.
netbook: "A small laptop computer designed primarily for accessing Internet-based applications", Early 21st century: blend of Internet and notebook.
neodymium: "The chemical element of atomic number 60, a silvery-white metal of the lanthanide series. Neodymium is a component of misch metal and some other alloys, and its compounds are used in colouring glass and ceramics", Late 19th century: from neo- 'new' + a shortened form of didymium.
necessitous: "(Of a person) lacking the necessities of life; needy", Early 17th century: from French nécessiteux, or from necessity + -ous.
numpty: "A stupid or ineffectual person", 1980s: from obsolete numps 'a stupid person', of unknown origin.