niceadj.adv.

Brit.

/nʌɪs/, U.S.

/naɪs/

Forms: Middle English necy, Middle English nesy, Middle English nyci, Middle English nys, Middle English nysse, Middle English 1600s nece, Middle English–1500s nycy, Middle English–1500s nyse, Middle English–1600s nise, Middle English–1600s nyce, Middle English– nice, 1500s niece, 1500s nyche (probably transmission error), 1600s nize; English regional (northern and midlands) 1700s–1800s nise, 1800s noist, 1800s nyste, 1800s– neist, 1800s– neyce, 1800s– nic'd, 1800s– niced, 1800s– nicet, 1800s– nist, 1800s– niste, 1800s– nyst; Scottish pre-1700 naice, pre-1700 nies, pre-1700 nyce, pre-1700 nyice, pre-1700 nyis, pre-1700 nys, pre-1700 nyse, pre-1700 nyss, pre-1700 1700s– nice. N.E.D. (1906) also records a form Middle English neys.

Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French nice.

Etymology: < Anglo-Norman nice, nis, nise and Old French nice (c1160; c1250 as niche ; now French regional) < classical Latin nescius (see nescious adj.). Compare Old Occitan nesci (c1150; also attested as neci, nesi, nessi; Occitan neci), Spanish necio (1220–50), Catalan neci, nici (both 14th cent.), Portuguese necio (14th cent.; 15th cent. as néscio), Italian nescio (1321), all in sense ‘foolish, simple, ignorant’.The semantic development of this word from ‘foolish, silly’ to ‘pleasing’ is not paralleled in Latin or in the Romance languages. The precise sense development in English is unclear. N.E.D. (1906) s.v. notes that ‘in many examples from the 16th and 17th cent. it is difficult to say in what particular sense the writer intended it to be taken’.

A. adj.

†1.

a. Of a person: foolish, silly, simple; ignorant. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > [adjective]

dizzyc825

unwisec825

redelessOE

unwittyc1000

daftlikec1175

witlessc1175

canga1225

adoted?c1225

cangun?c1225

egedec1225

cangeda1250

foola1250

snepea1250

aerwittec1275

sotlyc1275

unslyc1275

unwitterc1275

unwilya1300

nicec1300

goosishc1374

unskilfulc1374

follyc1380

lewdc1380

mis-feelinga1382

dottlec1390

foltedc1390

peevishc1400

fona1425

fonnishc1425

foliousa1450

foolisha1450

daft?c1450

doitedc1450

dotyc1450

daffish1470

insapientc1470

gucked?a1500

wanwittya1500

furious1526

insipient1528

seelya1529

dawish?1529

foolage1545

momish1546

base-wittedc1547

stultitiousa1549

follifulc1550

senseless1565

mopish1568

fondish1579

unsensiblea1586

fondly1587

dizzardly1594

follial1596

featlessc1598

fopperly1599

gowkeda1605

inept1604

simple1604

anserine1607

foppish1608

silly ass1608

unsage1608

wisdomless1608

fool-beggeda1616

Gotham1621

noddy1645

badot1653

dosser-headed1655

infrunite1657

nonsensicalc1661

slight1663

sappy1670

datelessa1686

noddy-peaked1694

nizy1709

dottled1772

gypit1804

shay-brained1806

folly-stricken1807

fool-like1811

goosy1811

spoony1813

niddle-noddle1821

gumptionless1823

daftish1825

anserous1826

as crazy as a loon1830

spoonish1833

cheese-headed1836

dotty1860

fool-fool1868

noodly1870

dilly1873

gormless1883

daffy1884

monkey-doodle1886

mosy1887

jay1891

pithecanthropic1897

peanut-headed1906

dinlo1907

boob1911

goofy1921

ding-a-ling1935

jerky1944

jerk1947

jerkish1948

pointy-headed1950

doofus1967

twitty1967

twittish1969

nerkish1975

numpty1992

c1300 St. Mary Magdalen (Laud) 493 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 476 (MED) Bote ich þe [seide] hou heo heold mi lif, for-soþe ich were nice.

a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 491 (MED) Ich am vn-wis & wonderliche nyce.

c1400 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Laud) (1952) 652 (MED) He dude þe childe habbe noryce, Gentil leuedyes and nouȝth nyce.

a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xlii. 73 They seiden he was a fool..and that they sien neuere so Nise A man.

a1500 (c1477) T. Norton Ordinal of Alchemy (BL Add.) (1975) 50 (MED) He that is not a grete clerke Is nyse & lewde to medle with that werke.

a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 78 Quha that dois deidis of petie..Is haldin a fule, and that full nyce.

?1567 M. Parker Whole Psalter xlix. 141 As well the wyse: as mad and nyse, to others leave theyr port.

1617 in W. B. Armstrong Bruces of Airth (1892) 51 Many a nyse wyfe and a back doore Oft maketh a riche man poore.

b. Of an action, utterance, etc.: displaying foolishness or silliness; absurd, senseless. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > [adjective] > of things, actions, etc.

unwittyc1200

nicea1393

foolisha1413

kimeta1450

peevish1519

silly1566

senseless1579

untoward1658

bright1830

spoony1834

fool-fool1868

noodly1870

twitty1967

twittish1969

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. 2801 So is it bot a nyce Sinne Of gold to ben to covoitous.

c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) 323 (MED) Þyn askyng is nys..þou foly hatz frayst.

c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Reeve's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 362 Hys wyf..wiste no thyng of this nyce [v.rr. nyse, nesy] stryf.

a1475 J. Russell Bk. Nurture (Harl. 4011) in Babees Bk. (2002) i. 149 Cookes with þeire newe conceytes, choppynge..new curies..provokethe þe peple to perelles of passage..þrouȝ nice excesse of suche receytes.

a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. ccxvi. f. cxxxvi A nyce folysshe Couenaunte ought nat to be holden.

1575 J. Rolland Treat. Court Venus i. f. 14 [Quha did] reheirs ane certane nyse Sermonis, [With argu]mentis, and diuers questionis.

a1657 G. Daniel Poems (1878) II. iii. 222 Prye not into his secrets; 'tis a nice And foolish Itch, to Curiosities, To dispute Misteries.

†2.

a. Of conduct, behaviour, etc.: characterized by or encouraging wantonness or lasciviousness. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > [adjective]

golec888

canga1225

light?c1225

wooinga1382

nicea1387

riota1400

wantonc1400

wrenec1400

lachesc1450

loose?a1500

licentious1555

libertine1560

prostitute1569

riggish1569

wide1574

slipper1581

slippery1586

sportive1595

gay1597

Cyprian1598

suburb1598

waggish1600

smicker1606

suburbian1606

loose-living1607

wantona1627

free-living1632

libertinous1632

loose-lived1641

Corinthian1642

akolastic1656

slight1685

fast1699

freea1731

brisk1740

shy1787

slang1818

randomc1825

fastish1832

loosish1846

slummya1860

velocious1872

fly1880

slack1951

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 67 (MED) It was i-doo wiþ foule songes and gestes and iapes and nyse menstralcie.

?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 236 (MED) We salle..telle ȝow oþer tales of..Madok þe Morgan, of þer nyce ribaudie.

a1450 (?a1390) J. Mirk Instr. Parish Priests (Claud.) (1974) 61 (MED) From nyse iapes and rybawdye, Thow moste turne a-way þyn ye.

c1500 (?a1437) Kingis Quair (1939) cxxix Gif thy lufe [be] sett alluterly Of nyce lust, thy trauail is in veyne.

1529 T. More Supplyc. Soulys i. f. xvi^v These nyce and wanton wordis do not very well with vs.

1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay Trewnesse Christian Relig. Ep. Ded. sig. *3^v Ouercome with nyce pleasures and fond vanities.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) iii. xiii. 182 When mine houres Were nice and lucky, men did ransome liues Of me for iests.

1665 G. Wither Seasonable Memorandum in Misc. Wks. (1872–7) iv. 7 A nice and wanton Appetite, Longs after Kickshaws, and takes more delight In dishes made up of they know not what.

b. Of a person: wanton, dissolute, lascivious. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > lasciviousness or lust > [adjective]

golelichc1000

luxuriousc1330

jollyc1384

lustyc1386

Venerienc1386

nicea1393

gayc1405

lasciviousc1425

libidinous1447

Venerian1448

coltishc1450

gigly1482

lubric1490

ranka1500

venereous1509

lubricous1535

venerious1547

boarish?1550

goatish?1552

cadye1554

lusting1559

coy1570

rage1573

rammish1577

venerial1577

lustful1579

rageous1579

proud1590

lust-breathed1594

rampant1596

venerous1597

sharp-seta1600

fulsome1600

lubrical1602

hot-backed1607

ruttish1607

stoned1607

muskish-minded1610

Venerean1612

saucya1616

veneral1623

lascive1647

venereal1652

lascivient1653

hircine1656

hot-tempered1673

ramp1678

randy1771

concupiscenta1834

aphrodisiac1862

lubricious1884

radgie1894

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. 4578 (MED) Anthonie..was so nyce, Wherof nature hire hath compleigned Unto the god.

c1400 Simonie (Peterhouse) (1991) l. 118 Þese nyse [c1330 Auch. wantoune] prestes..playeth here nyse game By nyȝt.

a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) 1285 Nyce she was, but she ne mente Noon harme ne slight in hir entente, But oonly lust & jolyte.

a1450 (c1412) T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum (Harl. 4866) (1897) 1473 (MED) Þou woldest han as wantonly þe gyed As doþ þe nycest of hem.

c1450 in F. J. Furnivall Hymns to Virgin & Christ (1867) 53 (MED) Dampned soulis..wolen not do weel, but euere be nyce.

?1530 J. Rastell Pastyme of People sig. *Aiv He put out of his court all nyce and wanton people.

1565 T. Peend Pleasant Fable Hermaphroditus & Salmacis f. A7^v And yet some women say, that they be innocentes, god wot. This nycy Nymphe doth dysplay whether it be true or not.

1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost iii. i. 21 These are complementes, these are humours, these betraie nice wenches that would be betraied without these.

1605 G. Chapman et al. Eastward Hoe ii. sig. B4^v The nice fondling, my Lady sir-reuerence.

c. Of dress: extravagant, showy, ostentatious. Also in extended use. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > [adjective] > fine, elegant, or smart

quaintc1330

nice1395

merryc1400

featc1430

elegant?c1500

mannerly1523

fine1526

neat1566

trim1675

smart1704

dressy1785

natty1794

good1809

dossy1889

dicty1932

whip-smart1937

zooty1943

sharp1944

preppy1963

Remonstr. against Romish Corruptions (Titus) (1851) 7 (MED) Prelatis..that..wasten the godis of the chirche..in pride, glotonie, and lecherie, and nice arai of the world..ben theuis and sleeris of pore men.

c1450 W. Lichefeld Complaint of God (Lamb. 853) 205 in F. J. Furnivall Polit., Relig., & Love Poems (1903) 205 (MED) Þou studiest aftir nyce aray, And makist greet cost in cloþing.

c1475 tr. C. de Pisan Livre du Corps de Policie (Cambr.) (1977) 189 (MED) The ladies lefte their nyce arrayes, and the men lefte their glotonyes.

1563 2nd Tome Homelyes sig. Yy.ii An Image with a nyce and wanton apparell and countenaunce.

1568 (?a1513) W. Dunbar in W. T. Ritchie Bannatyne MS (1928) II. 148 So nyce array, So strange to thair abbay W^tin this land was nevir hard nor sene.

1607 J. Harington tr. L. Ariosto Orlando Furioso (new ed.) vi. 46 No vertuous labour doth this people please, But nice apparrell, belly-cheare and ease.

a1771 C. Shaw Poems (1776) 175 He flutters forth Borne on light wing, in nice array, To shew himself in open day.

d. Of a person: finely dressed, elegant. Cf. Phrases 3a. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [adjective] > neat or trim

netc1330

pertc1330

cleanc1386

nicec1400

picked?c1425

dapperc1440

feata1471

gim1513

trig1513

well-trimmedc1513

trick1533

smirk1534

tricksy1552

neat1559

netty1573

deft1579

primpc1590

briska1593

smug1598

spruce1598

sprink1602

terse1602

compt1632

nitle1673

sprig1675

snod1691

tight1697

smugged1706

snug1714

pensy1718

fitty1746

jemmy1751

sprucy1774

smartc1778

natty1785

spry1806

perjink1808

soigné1821

nutty1823

toiletted1823

taut1829

spick and span1846

spicy1846

groomed1853

spiffy1853

well-groomed1865

bandboxy1870

perjinkity1880

spick-span1888

bandbox1916

tiddly1925

whip-smart1937

spit and polish1950

spit-and-polished1977

c1400 Bk. to Mother (Bodl.) 48 (MED) Þou schalt fynde..none nyce dameselis wiþ garlondis of gold ne perlis.

1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 128 b/1 She chastysed them that were nyce and queynte, sayeng that suche nycete was fylthe of the sowle.

?1529 R. Hyrde tr. J. L. Vives Instr. Christen Woman i. xii. sig. O.iiij^v She shal not..vse her voyce to be feate and nyce.

c1580 Merye Hist. Mylner Abyngton (new ed.) sig. C.i The wenche she was full proper and nyce Amonge all other she bare great price.

a. Precise or particular in matters of reputation or conduct; scrupulous, punctilious. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > [adjective] > seemly or proper > strictly proper

nicec1387

formal?1518

point-devicea1529

ceremonious1553

ceremonial1579

squarec1590

square-toeda1797

wiggy1817

nicey1859

uptight1969

c1387–95 G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. 398 Ful many a draughte of wyn hadde he drawe Fro Burdeuxward whil that the chapman sleep; Of nyce conscience took he no keep.

c1450 ( J. Walton tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Linc. Cathedral 103) 98 (MED) Nyce men..Ye seken..To enbelesch youre excellent nature!

1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes sig. M He the sole of conscience was so nice: That he no gaine would haue for all his payne.

?1573 H. Cheke tr. F. Negri Freewyl ii. iii. 81 He vnaduisedly strooke the young man, and because he is altogeather scrupulous and nice, he imagineth that he can not be free from irregularitie.

1693 T. Southerne Maids Last Prayer iv. i. 35 You shall promise me, for you are so nice in points of Honour.

1703 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion II. vii. 187 So difficult a thing it is to play an after-Game of Reputation, in that nice and jealous profession.

1709 J. Swift Project Advancem. Relig. 11 Women of tainted Reputations find the same Countenance..with those of the nicest Virtue.

1785 W. Cowper Task iii. 85 Men too were nice in honor in those days, And judg'd offenders well.

1826 B. Disraeli Vivian Grey I. ii. v. 117 I am not very nice myself about these matters.

1843 E. Miall in Nonconformist 3 227 The Duke of Wellington said..‘Men who have nice notions about religion have no business to be soldiers.’

1887 S. Baring-Gould Red Spider I. xvii. 288 I should get it back again.., and not be too nice about the means.

1938 P. G. Wodehouse Code of Woosters xii. 261 Bertram Wooster in his dealings with the opposite sex invariably shows himself a man of the nicest chivalry.

1948 P. G. Wodehouse Spring Fever xiii. 127 Obtain possession of it by strong-arm tactics. Up against this dark and subtle butler, we cannot afford to be too nice in our methods.

b. Fastidious, fussy, difficult to please, esp. with regard to food or cleanliness; of refined or dainty tastes.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > fastidiousness > [adjective]

chisa700

estfula1000

esquaymous1303

squeamousc1325

overnicec1350

curiousc1380

dangerousc1386

delicatea1393

preciousc1395

nicec1400

skigc1400

over-delicatea1425

daintethc1430

ticklec1456

quaint1483

dauncha1500

pickinga1500

feat?1529

elegant?1533

queasy1545

fine1546

fine-fingered1549

fastidious?1555

fine-mouthed1559

chary1567

weamish1571

saucy1573

dainty1576

superfine1576

niced1577

overcurious1579

nicing1581

fineish1582

prick-me-dainty1583

daint1590

finical1592

tiptoe-nice1593

nice1594

nicking1598

choice1601

squeamish1608

marchpane1609

hypercritical1611

particular1616

finicking1661

overcritical1667

just so1696

penurious1703

fal-lal1747

ogertful1754

nackety1756

quiddling1789

pernickety1808

pershittie1808

taffety1814

hypercritic1820

faddy1824

finicky1825

meticulous1827

daintified1834

squeamy1838

picksome1855

choosey1862

picky1867

hyperaesthetic1879

persnickety1885

précieux1891

perskeet1897

tasty1905

Nice Nelly1922

perfectionist1942

snicketya1960

perfectionistic1968

c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) 824 (MED) Þis vnfavere [read vnsavere] hyne Lovez no salt in her sauce, ȝet hit no skyl were Þat oþer burne be boute, þaȝ boþe be nyse.

a1425 St. Anthony 15 in Anglia (1881) 4 116 (MED) He wold neuer desyre oþer dayntys þan hys moder sett befor hym, os oþer nyse chylder done.

c1530 A. Barclay Egloges ii. sig. Ki Make hunger thy sawse, be thou neuer so nyse For there shalt thou fynde none other sawse ne spyce.

1551 R. Robinson tr. T. More Vtopia sig. Iiii Anothere ys of so nyce and soo delycate a mynde that he settethe nothynge by yt.

1570 T. Tusser Hundreth Good Pointes Husbandry (new ed.) f. 40 The slouen and the carelesse man, the roynish nothing nice.

1600 T. Dekker Old Fortunatus sig. A2^v Your nice soules, cloyd with dilicious sounds, Will loath her lowly notes.

a1656 Bp. J. Hall Shaking of Olive-tree (1660) ii. 3 Nice ears are all for variety of Doctrines, as palates of meats.

1702 W. Penn More Fruits of Solitude §136. 50 'Tis a Happiness to be delivered from a Curious Mind, as well as from a Dainty Palate. For it is not only a Troublesome but Slavish Thing to be Nice.

1707 E. Ward Wooden World Dissected 99 He is not so nice as his Superiors, whom nothing will go down with, under right Nantz or Rum.

1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 104. ⁋9 The mind..becomes..nice and fastidious, and like a vitiated palate.

1789 Shepherd's Wedding 10 Nae doubt ye wad be owr nice for to spin.

1808 Specimens Yorks. Dial. 18 She's seea nice, She weant heeat puddin' meead o' rice.

1836 C. Shaw Let. 15 June in Personal Mem. & Corr. (1837) II. 593 I can eat anything, and am not very nice about the cleanliness.

1857 N. Hawthorne Jrnl. 13 Sept. in Eng. Notebks. (1997) II. vi. 378 Neither is it [sc. ivy] at all nice as to what it clutches, in its necessity for support.

1947 R. Pitter On Cats 15 To eat rats and such he was too nice.

1952 M. Kennedy Troy Chimneys 60 Nobody, seeing her then, could have been so nice as to complain of such blemishes.

†c. Particular, strict, or careful with regard to a specific point or thing. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > [adjective] > scrupulously careful or attentive to detail > in regard to some special thing

nice1584

tendera1641

1584 R. Scot Discouerie Witchcraft ix. i. 167 Some are so nise, that they condemne generallie all sorts of diuinations.

1625 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 175 The Spartans were a nice People in Point of Naturalization.

1661 A. Marvell Let. 18 May in Poems & Lett. (1971) II. 24 The Parlament is always very nice & curious in this point.

1724 R. Wodrow Corr. (1843) III. 141 I find them very nice that no other..be admitted to this correspondence.

1777 R. Hitchcock Coquette ii. 24 I think this complexion is the most agreeable to black—One can't be too nice in suiting the complexion to the dress.

a1817 J. Austen Persuasion (1818) IV. iv. 69 Good company requires only birth, education and manners, and with regard to education is not very nice. Birth and good manners are essential.

1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 107 He is extremely nice in selecting his malt and hops.

1861 Ld. Brougham Brit. Constit. (ed. 2) viii. 99 Like the old Romans, never very nice in weighing how large a proportion of the people influenced the government.

d. Refined, cultured; associated with polite society.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > [adjective]

polisheda1382

dainteousc1386

polite?a1500

delicatea1533

courtly1535

civil1551

court-like1552

well-refined1575

nice1588

perpolite1592

politic1596

soft1599

terse1628

refine1646

refined1650

elegant1652

genteel1678

chastea1797

spirituala1806

aesthetic1844

nicey1859

raffiné1865

nuttish1869

too-tooa1884

sophisticated1895

lavender1928

the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > [adjective] > well-mannered > polished or refined > of conduct

urbane1659

nice1818

polished1894

1588 T. Hariot Briefe Rep. Virginia sig. A4^v Some also were of a nice bringing vp, only in cities or townes, or such as neuer (as I may say) had seene the world before.

1603 S. Daniel Panegyrike sig. H2^v Eloquence and gay wordes are..but the garnish of a nice time, the Ornaments that doe but decke the house of a State.

1697 J. Vanbrugh Relapse i. 15 The Lards I commonly eat with, are People of a nice Conversation.

1792 R. Burns in J. Johnson Scots Musical Museum IV. 341 O' nice education but sma' is her share.

1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho I. i. 14 As conversation awakened the nicer emotions of her mind, that threw such a captivating grace around her.

1818 P. B. Shelley Julian & Maddalo 536 As we could guess From his nice habits and his gentleness.

1874 ‘G. Eliot’ in Macmillan's Mag. July 162 ‘Truce, I beg!’ Said Osric, with nice accent.

1918 W. Cather My Ántonia i. xvii. 143 Heavy field work'll spoil that girl. She'll lose all her nice ways and get rough ones.

1981 Cook's Mag. Nov. 46/1 ‘Trash’ fish. (A nicer phrase is ‘underutilized species’—the fish that fishermen toss back into the sea).

†e. Fastidious in matters of literary taste or style. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > fastidiousness > [adjective]

chisa700

estfula1000

esquaymous1303

squeamousc1325

overnicec1350

curiousc1380

dangerousc1386

delicatea1393

preciousc1395

nicec1400

skigc1400

over-delicatea1425

daintethc1430

ticklec1456

quaint1483

dauncha1500

pickinga1500

feat?1529

elegant?1533

queasy1545

fine1546

fine-fingered1549

fastidious?1555

fine-mouthed1559

chary1567

weamish1571

saucy1573

dainty1576

superfine1576

niced1577

overcurious1579

nicing1581

fineish1582

prick-me-dainty1583

daint1590

finical1592

tiptoe-nice1593

nice1594

nicking1598

choice1601

squeamish1608

marchpane1609

hypercritical1611

particular1616

finicking1661

overcritical1667

just so1696

penurious1703

fal-lal1747

ogertful1754

nackety1756

quiddling1789

pernickety1808

pershittie1808

taffety1814

hypercritic1820

faddy1824

finicky1825

meticulous1827

daintified1834

squeamy1838

picksome1855

choosey1862

picky1867

hyperaesthetic1879

persnickety1885

précieux1891

perskeet1897

tasty1905

Nice Nelly1922

perfectionist1942

snicketya1960

perfectionistic1968

1594 Zepheria xviii. sig. D1^v If more nice wits censure my lines crooked, Thus I excuse, I writ my light remoued.

1628 G. Wither Britain's Remembrancer Premonit. 5 I had rather twenty nice Criticks should censure mee.

c1665 L. Hutchinson Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1973) To Children 4 His judgment was so nice that he could never frame any speech beforehand to please himselfe.

1711 A. Pope Ess. Crit. 18 Thus Criticks, of less Judgement than Caprice, Curious, not Knowing, not exact but nice, Form short Ideas.

1770 J. Langhorne & W. Langhorne tr. Plutarch Lives (1879) II. 735/2 Such digressions as these the nicest readers may endure, provided they are not too long.

1841 W. Allston Monaldi ii. 35 To do him justice, he is a very nice critic, and not unskilled in poetry.

f. Respectable, virtuous, decent.Now sometimes hard to distinguish from sense A. 14c (of a person).

ΘΚΠ

society > morality > virtue > [adjective]

goodeOE

dowingc1175

well-theweda1200

thewful?c1225

goodfulc1275

flourisheda1375

virtuousc1390

honesta1393

fine?a1400

theweda1400

well-manneredc1400

well-conditioneda1425

moralc1443

mannerlya1500

virtuala1500

graceful1611

well-moralized1624

well-principled1635

morate1652

unlicentious1737

respectable1750

nice1799

the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > [adjective] > seemly or proper

seemly?c1225

comelya1350

seemc1400

ablea1500

setting1535

decent1545

civil1582

proper1738

gradely1763

decorous1792

nice1799

correctc1800

proprietous1815

the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > good repute > reputability or honourableness > [adjective] > respectable

substantious1490

proper1600

creditable1624

decent1712

respectable1750

gradely1763

pukka1776

nice1799

salonfähig1905

quite1907

resp1922

1799 J. Austen Let. 11 June (1995) 45 The Biggs would call her a nice Woman.

1876 C. M. Yonge Womankind xvi. 126 Though a well managed, innocent and select rink is quite possible, ‘nice’ girls would do well to abstain from those where a chance public shares the sport.

1881 H. James Portrait of Lady III. v. 69 ‘Do you consider it nice to make love to married women?’.. ‘It's certain that all the nice men do it.’

1905 E. Wharton House of Mirth i. xiv. 245 He had never wanted to marry a ‘nice’ girl: the adjective connoting..certain utilitarian qualities..apt to preclude the luxury of charm.

1935 ‘A. Bridge’ Illyrian Spring xi. 139 He came of nice people, in the peculiar sense in which the English use the word nice—meaning thereby, not that a family is necessarily either amiable or amusing, but merely that it possesses a certain degree of good breeding.

1979 R. Jaffe Class Reunion (1980) i. i. 23 They took her to resort hotels..where she could meet nice Jewish boys.

g. Of a topic of conversation, mode of conduct, etc.: in good taste, appropriate, proper. Usually in negative contexts.

ΚΠ

1863 A. Trollope Rachel Ray II. x. 205 ‘But didn't he mean that he intended to marry a Baslehurst lady?’ ‘He meant it in that sort of way in which men do mean such things... But don't let us talk any more about it, mamma. It isn't nice.’

1896 A. R. White Youth's Educator iii. 31 Many children form habits which are not nice, such as spitting on the floor, scratching the head, stretching themselves out upon a chair, yawning, etc.

1928 Observer 22 July 7 Camberley..was rather like a shocked maiden aunt, who had been forced to look on at something not quite ‘nice’.

1967 S. Terkel Division Street vii. 162 To shoot people in the dark..it sounds trite to say, it's not nice.

1993 N.Y. Times Bk. Rev. 27 June 14/2 We readers begin to suspect that there is something not altogether nice about the beautiful, sorrowful Eugenia's relationship with her half brother, Edgar.

†4.

a. In early use: faint-hearted, timorous, cowardly, unmanly. Later also: effeminate. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > sex and gender > female > effeminacy > [adjective]

womanly?c1225

ferbleta1300

effeminatea1393

nicea1393

softc1450

manlessa1529

unmanly1534

cockney1573

effeminated1580

unmanlikea1586

milky1602

enervate1603

womanizing1615

emasculate1622

womanized1624

softly1643

womanlish1647

unmasculine1649

emollid1656

ladylike1656

enervated1660

emasculated1701

petticoated1708

tea-faced1728

effeminized1789

invirile1870

epicene1881

sissyish1889

sissified1898

devirilized1901

cockless1902

camp1909

pansy1929

campy1932

queenly1933

poncy1937

pansyish1941

swishy1941

moffie1954

poofy1956

femme1963

poofed-up1964

minty1965

ponced-up1970

lavender1979

a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iv. 610 Whi hast thou drede?.. Ha, nyce herte, fy for schame! Ha, couard herte of love unlered!

c1450 ( J. Walton tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Linc. Cathedral 103) 282 (MED) Þe [read ye] nyce men ond mased in ȝoure mende, Why nyll ye fighte aȝeyn aduersite?

a1500 Lancelot of Laik (1870) 1944 The..wice Wich makith o king within hyme self so nyce hyme with-drowith Them to repref.

1574 J. Baret Aluearie N 98 Men thinke they wax [printed way] nice & effeminate.

1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes An effeminate, nice, milkesop, puling fellow.

1607 R. Niccols Cuckow 10 Their womans manhood by their cloaths perfum'd..Whose nice, effeminate and base behauiour Was counted comely.

1681 R. L'Estrange tr. Cicero Offices (ed. 2) 64 Any thing that is Loose, Nice, and Effeminate.

1691 A. D'Anvers Poem upon his Majesty 7 You Britannia have been found of late, Soft to a Scorn, Nice, and Effeminate, From your Brave Ancestors degenerate.

1703 T. Baker Tunbridge-walks sig. A8^v Maiden, A Nice-Fellow, that values himself upon all Effeminacies.

b. Slothful, lazy, sluggish. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > sloth or laziness > [adjective]

sweerc725

foridledc1230

idlea1300

faintc1325

recrayed1340

slewful1340

nicea1398

sleuthya1400

delicate?c1400

sleuthfulc1400

slothfulc1400

sloth1412

lurdanc1480

luskinga1500

luskish15..

droning1509

bumbard?a1513

slottery1513

desidiousa1540

lazy1549

slovening1549

truanta1550

sleuth1567

litherly1573

truantly1579

dronish1580

lubberly1580

truant-like1583

shiftless1584

sluggard1594

fat1598

lusky1604

sweatless1606

clumse1611

easeful1611

loselly1611

do-littlea1613

sluggardisha1627

pigritious1638

drony1653

murcid1656

thokisha1682

shammockinga1704

indolent1710

huddroun1721

nothing-doing1724

desidiose1727

lusk1775

slack-twisted1794

sweert1817

bone-lazya1825

lurgy1828

straight-backed1830

do-nothing1832

slobbish1833

bone idle1836

slouch1837

lotophagous1841

shammocky1841

bein1847

thoky1847

lotus-eating1852

fainéant1855

sluggardly1865

lazy-boned1875

do-naught1879

easy-going1879

lazyish1892

slobbed1962

a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 179 Catotephas..ben litil of bodye and nyse [L. iners] of membres and slowe.

?a1430 T. Hoccleve Mother of God l. 5 in Minor Poems (1970) i. 52 Thogh þat I be nyce, And negligent in keepyng of his lawe.

Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 355 Nyce, Iners.

1604 R. Cawdrey Table Alphabet. Nice, slow, laysie.

c. Not able to endure much; tender, delicate, fragile. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > ill health > [adjective] > in state of ill health or diseased > weak > of constitution

neshOE

tender?c1225

softa1387

delicatea1398

nicec1450

slendera1500

weak?1523

dainty1562

fine1562

cockney1573

weakly1577

dough-baked1592

lax1732

flimsy1742

lax-fibred1762

doughy1763

dauncy1846

fragile1858

slim1877

chétif1908

the world > plants > by habitat or distribution > [adjective] > hardy or not hardy

tender1614

hardy1629

sturdy1695

nicec1710

tenderish1798

half-hardy1818

ironclad1871

c1450 C. d'Orleans Poems (1941) 140 (MED) Be nyse myn hert as purse is of an ay.

1562 W. Bullein Bk. Use Sicke Men f. lvi, in Bulwarke of Defence Soche be the weake, feble, nise stomackes of many.

1617 W. Lawson Countrie Housewifes Garden x. 24 in New Orchard & Garden (1618) The bee is tender and nice, and onely liues in warm weather.

a1674 Earl of Clarendon Life (1842) i. 927/2 He..was of so nice and tender a composition, that a little rain or wind would disorder him.

c1710 C. Fiennes Diary (1888) 26 But these are nice plants and are kept mostly under Glass's, ye aire being too rough for them.

1798 J. Boaden Cambro-Britons iii. 59 I take blame..That I..longer to embrace that tender form, Trust its nice sense to the chill breeze of night.

1813 M. R. Mitford Rival Sisters i. 271 The flowery mound, Where many a cherish'd tender blossom sprung, Where nice exotics wintery shelter found.

d. Pampered, luxurious. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > sensuous pleasure > luxury or luxurious living > [adjective] > luxurious (of things)

delicatec1400

delicious?c1450

fleshpot1535

lascivious1589

nice1621

mollitious1629

luxurious1650

luxuriant1671

voluptuous1816

de luxe1819

plushy1884

plush1890

1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy i. ii. iv. ii. 194 We..spoile our childrens manners, by our overmuch cockering and nice education.

1720 J. Ozell et al. tr. R. A. de Vertot Hist. Revol. Rom. Republic II. xii. 221 All the Roman Youth that had..grown effeminate with nice Living, joined and favoured Catiline.

†5. Strange, rare, extraordinary. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > expectation > feeling of wonder, astonishment > quality of inspiring wonder > [adjective] > with quality of strangeness

selcouthc888

uncouthc900

sellya1000

ferly?c1225

strangec1374

nicec1395

ferlifula1400

monsterfulc1460

portentous1553

miraculous1569

vengible1594

strangefula1618

phenomenous1743

phenomenala1850

very like a whale1859

weird and wonderful1859

fourth-dimensional1902

out of this world1941

unreal1965

c1395 G. Chaucer Canon's Yeoman's Tale 842 Thogh he sitte at his book bothe day and nyght In lernyng of this eluyssh nyce [v.r. wise] loore, Al is in veyn..To lerne a lewed man this subtiltee.

a1500 ( Pilgrimage of Soul (Egerton) (1953) iv. xxvi. f. 69^v (MED) I merveyled noght..so muche of no thing þat I sawe..as I do now of this nyce sight.

a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 115 Quhone I awoyk, my dreme it wes so nyce, Fra everie wicht I hid it as a vyce.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Ecclus. xliii. 27 For there by straunge wonderous workes, dyuerse maner of nyce beestes and whall fishes.

1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde iii. ii. f. 95 Frome hensforth we shal neyther enuye nor reuerence the nyse frutefulnes of Stoidum, or Taprobana, or the redde sea.

a1573 W. Lauder Minor Poems (1870) 38 I think this change is wonderus strange & nyce!

1603 Philotus cxlix. sig. F^v This purpois gosse, appeirs to me Sa wonder nyce and strange to be.

1703 R. Thoresby Let. 27 Apr. in J. Ray Philos. Lett. (1718) 333 Nise, strange, nise Work, strang.

†6.

a. Shy, coy, (affectedly) modest; reserved. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > humility > modesty > shyness or bashfulness > [adjective] > coy

coyc1386

nicea1400

coylya1542

skeighc1560

coyish1566

skittish1648

maidenish1749

maidish1822

a1400 (?c1300) Bevis of Hampton (Egerton) l. 3199 + 7 Maydens at her first weddyng, Wel nyse al þe first nyȝt.

1568 Christis Kirk on Grene in W. T. Ritchie Bannatyne MS (1928) II. 262 Thay wer so nyss quhen men thame nicht Thay squeilit lyk ony gaitis.

?1592 Trag. Solyman & Perseda sig. A3 Then be not nice Perseda as women woont, To hasty louers.

1599 in W. Fraser Mem. Maxwells of Pollok (1863) II. 9 I ame sorie that ye vas so nyce uith the Lorde Murley, for he is my olde freinde.

1637 J. Milton Comus 6 Ere..The nice Morne on th'Indian steepe From her cabin'd loop hole peepe.

1693 R. Ames Folly of Love (ed. 2) 20 Now nice, then free, now grave, and then more common, There is no other Riddle but a Woman.

1739 D. Bellamy Innocence Betray'd ii. iii. 112 'Tisn't a Virtue, Lucia, but a Vice, To be so very coy! so very nice.

a1763 W. Shenstone Wks. (1773) I. ii. 282 She nor nice nor coy Accepts the tribute of a joyless day.

1823 C. K. Sharpe Ballad Bk. 9 The lasses o' the Cannogate, O, they are wond'rous nice,—They winna gie a single kiss, But for a double price.

b. Shy, reluctant, or unwilling in regard of or to. Also with in or infinitive. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > wish or inclination > unwillingness > [adjective]

argha1000

slowOE

unwillyc1200

sweera1300

unfain1338

loathc1374

dangerousc1386

eschewc1386

squeamous1387

obstinate?a1439

unpresta1500

ill-willing?1520

evil-willing1525

untowards1525

untowarda1530

unwilling1533

strange1548

ill-willed1549

dainty1553

relucting1553

squeamish?1553

nicea1560

loathful1561

coyish1566

coy1576

unhearty1583

costive1594

unready1595

tarrowinga1598

undisposed1597

involuntary1598

backward1600

retrograde1602

unpregnant1604

scrupulous1608

unprone1611

refractory1614

behindhanda1616

nilling1620

backwards1627

shya1628

retractable1632

reluctant1638

loughta1641

tendera1641

unapt1640

uninclinable1640

unbeteaming1642

boggling1645

averse1646

indisposed1646

aversant1657

incomposed1660

disinclined1703

unobliging1707

unconsenting1713

uninclined1729

tenacious1766

disinclinable1769

ill-disposed1771

unaffectioned1788

scruplesomec1800

back-handed1817

sweert1817

tharf1828

backward in coming forward1830

unvoluntary1834

misinclined1837

squeamy1838

balky1847

retractive1869

grudging1874

tharfish1876

unwishful1876

safety first1917

a1560 W. Kennedy Passioun of Christ in J. A. W. Bennett Devotional Pieces (1955) 33 O I vnding, of all helping so naice.

1568 A. Scott Poems (1896) 91 The nycest to ressave Vpoun the nynis will nip it.

1617 F. Moryson Itinerary iii. 40 I found the Italians nothing nice to shew their strong forts to me and to other strangers.

c1665 L. Hutchinson Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1973) 29 She is the nicest creature in the world of suffering her perfections to be knowne.

1668 A. Behn Oroonoko in Wks. (1718) 55 They are extreme modest and bashful, very shy, and nice of being touch'd.

1676 J. Dryden Aureng-Zebe ii. 29 Virtue is nice to take what's not her own.

1699 P. A. Motteux Island Princess ii. 13 Virgins are nice to Love; I wou'd not have her forc'd; give her fair liberty.

a. Not obvious or readily understood; difficult to decide or settle; demanding close consideration; †intricate (obsolete).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [adjective] > difficult or complex

nice?a1500

perplexeda1522

perplex1534

intricablea1540

implicate1555

labyrinthed1641

complexed1646

knotted1649

complicated1656

plicated1666

complicatea1687

complex1715

Byzantine1937

the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > unintelligibility > depth, obscurity > [adjective]

higheOE

dighela1000

deepc1000

darkOE

starkOE

dusk?c1225

subtle1340

dimc1350

subtilea1393

covert1393

mystica1398

murka1400

cloudyc1400

hard?c1400

mistyc1400

unclearc1400

diffuse1430

abstractc1450

diffused?1456

exquisitec1460

obnubilous?a1475

obscure?a1475

covered1484

intricate?a1500

nice?a1500

perplexeda1500

difficilea1513

difficult1530

privy1532

smoky1533

secret1535

abstruse?1549

difficul1552

entangled1561

confounded1572

darksome1574

obnubilate1575

enigmatical1576

confuse1577

mysteriousa1586

Delphic1598

obfuscatea1600

enfumed1601

Delphicala1603

obstruse1604

abstracted1605

confused1611

questionable1611

inevident1614

recondite1619

cryptic1620

obfuscated1620

transcendent1624

Delphian1625

oraculous1625

enigmatic1628

recluse1629

abdite1635

undilucidated1635

clouded1641

benighted1647

oblite1650

researched1653

obnubilated1658

obscurative1664

tenebrose1677

hyperbyssal1691

condite1695

diffusive1709

profound1710

tenebricose1730

oracular1749

opaque1761

unenlightening1768

darkling1795

offuscating1798

unrecognizable1817

tough1820

abstrusive1848

obscurant1878

out-of-focus1891

unplumbable1895

inenubilable1903

non-transparent1939

the world > relative properties > order > disorder > confusion or disorder > entanglement or entangled state > complication or complexity > [adjective]

nice?a1500

plaited1532

intricablea1540

unsimple?1541

entangled1561

intrinsicate1562

Gordian1606

involved1643

complexed1646

contortuplicated1648

complicated1656

puzzled1659

involute1669

complicatea1687

complex1715

woofed1820

snaggled1896

non-transparent1939

complexified1962

a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Wolf & Lamb l. 2722 in Poems (1981) 101 O man of law, let be thy subtelte, With nice gimpis and fraudis intricait.

a1522 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) iii. Prol. 14 Nyce laborynth, quhar Mynotaur the bull Was kepit.

1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. (1586) i. 19 The finer wit a man is of, the more he beateth it..about nice and intricate pointes.

1649 Bp. J. Taylor Great Exemplar iii. § xiv. 51 The way to destruction is broad and plausible, the way to heaven nice and austere.

1689 W. Popple tr. J. Locke Let. conc. Toleration 3 Opinions..about nice and intricate Matters that exceed the Capacity of ordinary Understandings.

1759 W. Robertson Hist. Scotl. I. 175 It was the work but of one day to examine and to resolve this nice problem.

1789 W. Belsham Ess. I. vii. 134 It becomes a very nice and curious question indeed.

1847 A. Helps Friends in Council I. ii. 20 One of the nicest problems for a man to solve.

1885 Manch. Examiner 3 June 5/1 Whether the agreement was actually violated is a question involving several nice points.

1906 J. Galsworthy Man of Prop. 238 Boulter, who had the matter in hand..told him that in his opinion it was rather a nice point; he would like counsel's opinion on it.

1980 D. Lodge How far can you Go? (1981) v. 143 It is a nice question how far you can go in this process without throwing out something vital.

b. Minute, subtle; (of differences) slight, small.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective] > slight

brief1432

ride?a1500

nice1561

remote1625

slim1671

faint1726

slightish1761

1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. i. xii. f. 29 Nowe leauyng nice suttleties, lette us wey the matter it selfe.

1612 T. James Treat. Corruption Script. (new ed.) iv. 6 They seeme to mince and slice the matter into certaine nice and subtile distinctions.

1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ iii. iii. §4 Without perplexing our minds about those more nice and subtile speculations.

1733 A. Pope Ess. Man i. 205 Twixt that, and Reason, what a nice Barrier, For ever sep'rate, yet for ever near.

1784 S. Johnson Let. 2 Sept. (1994) IV. 390 Your critick seems to me to be an exquisite Frenchman; his remarks are nice; they would at least have escaped me.

1855 A. Bain Senses & Intellect i. i. 110 The generality of people can appreciate far nicer differences than these.

1870 J. S. Howson Metaphors St. Paul ii. 41 When we desire to appreciate the nicer shades of meaning.

1948 T. Heggen Mister Roberts x. 123 Everything was planned to the nicest detail.

1974 Current Anthropol. 15 134 There is a nice distinction between suicide, self-sacrifice, and martyrdom.

c. Precise in correspondence; exact, closely judged.

ΚΠ

1710 J. Addison Whig Examiner No. 4. ¶8 A very nice Resemblance.

1746 J. Hervey Medit. (1818) 127 You may observe..in its gently-bending tufts, the nicest symmetry.

1802 W. Paley Nat. Theol. xii. 237 A nicer accommodation to their respective conveniency.

1841 E. Miall in Nonconformist 1 1 No words could describe with nicer accuracy the political movements of English dissenters.

1866 Duke of Argyll Reign of Law ii. 92 The nice and perfect balance which is maintained between these two Forces.

1950 ‘C. S. Forester’ Mr. Midshipman Hornblower i He revelled in the nice calculation of chances.

1981 Shakespeare Q. 32 252 Tovah Feldshuh was darkly beautiful and radiantly youthful... Her Romeo..was a nice match for her.

8. That requires or involves great precision or accuracy. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > exactness, accuracy, precision > [adjective] > strict, rigorous

just1490

nicea1522

point-devicea1529

exact1533

narrow1551

rigorousa1564

point-vice1574

curious1614

rigid?1626

hard1690

strict1749

deadly1909

a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) iii. iv. 138 Our fallowschip exerce palestrale play.., Nakit worsling and strougling at nyse poynt.

1590 ‘Pasquil’ First Pt. Pasquils Apol. sig. D2^v The pearle of the word, must not be weighed in those scales that men commonly vse to weigh their yron, it is a nicer work.

1665 R. Boyle Occas. Refl. ii. viii. sig. P4 The Watch I use to measure the time with in nice Experiments.

1756 A. Butler Lives Saints I. Introd. Disc. p. xv The indagation is often a task both nice and laborious.

1776 A. Smith Inq. Wealth of Nations I. i. x. 127 A house carpenter seems to exercise rather a nicer and more ingenious trade than a mason.

1822 J. Imison Elem. Sci. & Art I. 35 Those who are engaged in making nice philosophical experiments.

1840 Penny Cycl. XVI. 209/2 For nice purposes the metal may be obtained in a state of purity by the following process.

1891 Manufacturer & Builder July 148 Devices employed to determine the amount of electric force in the current..being purely arbitrary and founded upon no law,..could not be accurately depended upon for nice experiments.

1911 Amer. Econ. Rev. 1 468 It is by nice experiment and comparison that the precise point is determined.

†9.

a. Slender, thin, fine; insubstantial. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > space > shape > condition of being long in relation to breadth > slenderness > [adjective]

subtlea1382

subtilea1393

subtilec1392

smiltc1400

fine?a1425

thina1425

exile?1440

slender1444

tenuious1495

jimp?a1513

lenye1513

fine-spuna1555

nice1567

spindled1584

gracile1590

snever1640

tenuous1656

slim1657

gracilious1688

gracilent1727

twittery1819

flitterya1834

attenuate1848

spiry1849

low-profile1906

matchlike1906

slimline1949

1567 J. Maplet Greene Forest (1930) ii. 77 The Fig tree, is of no high growth, neither nice in bodie, but grossely set and thick.

1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. ii. sig. Cc7^v As Ladies wont, in pleasures wanton lap, To finger the fine needle and nyce thread.

1600 E. Fairfax tr. T. Tasso Godfrey of Bulloigne ii. xxxix. 27 Her loftie hand would of it selfe refuse To touch the daintie needle, or nice thred.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) iii. iii. 15 The pollicy may either last so long, Or feede vpon such nice, and watrish diet.

a1631 J. Donne Poems (1633) 7 Glassie bubles, with the gamesome boyes Stretch to so nice a thinnes through a quill That they themselves breake.

1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones IV. x. iv. 32 Let me have the Bacon cut very nice and thin; for I can't endure any Thing that's gross.

b. Unimportant, trivial. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > of little importance or trivial

eathlyc890

lighteOE

littleOE

small?c1225

singlec1449

easy1474

triflous1509

naughty1526

slender1530

slight1548

shrimpish1549

slipper1567

truanta1572

toyous1581

trivious1583

mean1585

silly1587

nicea1594

puny?1594

puisne1598

pusill1599

whindling1601

sapless1602

non-significant1603

poor1603

unsignificant1603

flea-bite1605

perishing1605

lank1607

weightless1610

fonda1616

penny farthing1615

triviala1616

unweighty1621

transitory1637

twattling1651

inconsiderate1655

unserious1655

nugal1656

small drink1656

slighty1662

minute1668

paddling1679

snitling1682

retail1697

Lilliputian1726

vain1731

rattletrap1760

peppercornish1762

peppercorn1791

underling1804

venial1806

lightweight1809

floccinaucical1826

small-bore1833

minified1837

trantlum1838

piffling1848

tea-tabular1855

potty1860

whipping-snapping1861

tea-gardeny1862

quiddling1863

twaddling1863

fidgeting1865

penny ante1865

feather-weighted1870

jerkwater1877

midget1879

mimsy1880

shirttail1881

two-by-four1885

footle1894

skittery1905

footery1929

Mickey Mouse1931

chickenshit1934

minoritized1945

marginal1952

marginalized1961

tea-party1961

little league1962

marginalizing1977

minnowy1991

a1594 Edmond Ironside (1991) ii. i. 73 My lord, you are to scrupulous, To vnadvised, to fearefull with out Cavse To stand vppon such nice excuses.

1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet v. ii. 18 The letters were not nice, but of great weight.

a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) iv. ii. 60 In such a time as this, it is not meet That euery nice offence should beare his Comment.

1684 W. Killigrew Ormasdes v. 89 You have no argument for this command, But your own nice, unnecessary thought, By which your virtue, may become a fault!

10.

†a. That enters minutely into details; meticulous, attentive, sharp. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > [adjective] > scrupulously careful or attentive to detail

curious1570

nice1589

particular1616

scrupulous1638

elaborate1649

morose1695

minutiose1868

minutious1891

meticulous1952

1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie ii. xii. 86 We imputed it to a nice & scholasticall curiositie in such makers.

1617 F. Moryson Itinerary iii. 35 His company is like to be shunned, as of a nice observer of mens actions and manners.

1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics ii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 82 Some Peasants, not t' omit the nicest Care, Of the same Soil their Nursery prepare.

1738 in J. Keill Ess. Animal Oecon. (ed. 4) Pref. p. xx Nicer inquiries into the Structures of the Parts.

1789 G. White Nat. Hist. Selborne 16 Upon a nice examination..I could discover nothing resinous in them.

1839 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 2 328/2 It fluctuates..perceptibly to a nice observer.

1864 F. C. Bowen Treat. Logic xii. 397 The cases may be strictly parallel in every visible respect, as tested by the nicest observations.

b. Of the eye, ear, etc.: able to distinguish or discriminate to a high degree; sensitive, acute.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > discernment, discrimination > [adjective] > with delicacy

delicatea1533

finea1566

fine-headed1574

nice1593

refining1595

choice1601

refined1607

point-device1639

exquisite1643

nice-discerning1745

feelingful1943

1593 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia 22 Such a man was Argalus, as hardly the nicest eye can find a spot in.

1622 G. Wither Faire-virtue sig. I2 If there be present here, Any one, whose nicer eare: Taskes my Measures, as offending.

1659 W. Chamberlayne Pharonnida iii. iv. 231 The nice eye here epitomiz'd might see Rich Persia's wealth.

1721 J. Dart Westminster-Abbey 60 The Numbers harsh appear, And the rough Language grates the nicer Ear.

1755 J. Shebbeare Lydia (1769) II. 142 A nice pallate in good liquor had made my landlord a favourite companion.

1795 J. Wolcot Hair Powder in Wks. (1812) III. 304 Dull though thy tympanum, her nicer ear Catches a thunder-growl from yonder sphere.

1847 H. Miller Test. Rocks (1857) v. 209 Gifted..with a peculiarly nice eye for detecting those analogies.

1873 R. Browning Red Cotton Night-cap Country iv. 273 The nice eye can distinguish grade and grade.

1904 L. Binyon Death of Adam 85 Works divine..suffered only to be scanned (With fond touches of the hand) By the nice appraising eye.

1980 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 2 June c2 The Quebec native rode for 15 years and has a nice eye for horse flesh.

1993 Amer. Q. 45 314 Silverman also has a nice ear for the overdetermined resonances that sound throughout Poe's life.

c. Delicate or skilful in manipulation; dexterous. Also figurative.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [adjective] > having or characterized by bodily skill > skilled with hands > and delicate

nicea1631

a1631 J. Donne Poems (1633) 150 So devoutly nice Are Priests in handling reverent sacrifice, And nice in searching wounds the Surgeon is As wee, when wee embrace, or touch, or kisse.

1647 H. Bold in Cyprian Acad. p. xiv Thy twisted Plott so nice a hand hath spun, You'd sweare it were not only made, but done.

1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 83. ¶4 One Person at Work, who was exceeding slow in his Motions, and wonderfully nice in his Touches.

1764 T. Reid Inq. Human Mind i. iii. 78 The nicest artist cannot make a feather or the leaf of a tree.

1806 J. Beresford Miseries Human Life I. ii. 40 Jobs that require both a nice hand, and a contriving head.

1838 W. G. Simms Carl Werner 100 She lay buried in the bosom of the solid rock, whence his nice hand and searching instrument of steel, gave her release.

1956 Amer. Q. 8 283 He sketches phases of it..and when his data are ample, he does so with a nice hand.

1992 M. J. Staples Sergeant Joe (BNC) 95 She let him treat her ankle and put liniment on it... ‘It's coming along,’ said Joe. ‘Well, you've got a nice touch, Joe’.

d. Of judgement, etc.: finely discriminative.

ΚΠ

1697 K. Chetwood Pref. to Pastorals in J. Dryden tr. Virgil Wks. sig. ***2^v Virgil..was of too nice a Judgment to introduce a God denying the Power and Providence of the Deity.

1742 W. Shenstone School-mistress xxi With nice Discernment see Ye quench not too the Sparks of nobler Fires!

1785 G. Crabbe News-paper 13 We cannot call their morals pure, Their judgment nice, or their decisions sure.

1833 H. Martineau French Wines & Politics i. 16 No people on earth had so nice a sense of the morally graceful.

1845 S. Austin tr. L. von Ranke Hist. Reformation in Germany (ed. 2) I. 297 His style is not above mediocrity, nor does he evince any nice sense of elegance and form.

1903 H. Keller Story of my Life i. xx. 72 Just at the moment when you need your memory and a nice sense of discrimination, these faculties take to themselves wings and fly away.

1985 Glasgow Herald 5 Oct. 7/3 There is nice judgement needed to decide just when to come to the refinement of adding the infusion of a pint or so of strong black Darjeeling tea.

†11.

a. Critical, doubtful; full of risk or uncertainty. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > unreliability > [adjective]

unsicker?c1225

uncertaina1382

unsadc1384

untristya1387

untrustya1387

unsurec1412

falliblec1425

slipperc1430

ficklea1450

frivol1488

slidder?a1500

casuala1535

slippery1548

slippy1548

failable1561

doubtful1562

lubricious1584

slope1587

queasy1589

unconfirmedc1592

nice1598

catching1603

loose1603

precary1606

ambiguous1612

treacherous1612

unsafe1615

unsureda1616

precarious1626

lubric1631

dubious1635

lubricous1646

unestablished1646

unfixed1654

unsecure?a1685

unreliable1810

unproven1836

untrustworthy1846

shady1848

wobbly1877

Kaffir1899

independable1921

dodgy1961

temperamental1962

1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 iv. i. 48 To set so rich a maine On the nice hazard of one doubtfull houre? It were not good.

1608 D. Tuvill Ess. Politicke, & Morall f. 64^v Vnderstanding on what nice tearms the life of the Blacke-Prince..did stande.

1682 London Gaz. No. 1711/4 We bless Propitious Heaven, which..has directed Your Majesty in these Nice and Critical times.

1710 R. Wodrow Corr. (1842) I. 195 You know my itch after accounts of..the true state of things at this nice juncture.

1775 C. Lennox Old City Manners iii. i. 31 They are impatient to be gone, for their stay is dangerous; mine begins to be somewhat nice, and requires good speed.

1822 T. Creevey Reminiscences 28 July in H. Maxwell Creevey Papers (1904) I. 236 It has been a damned nice thing—the nearest run thing you ever saw in your life.

b. Requiring tact, care, or discrimination in handling. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [adjective] > difficult or delicate

fine-fingered1549

brickle1568

kittle1568

tickle1569

delicate1574

trickle1579

chary1581

ticklesome1585

ticklish1591

jealous1600

tender1625

nicea1630

thorny1653

parlous1657

tricksy1835

niggling1851

tricky1868

catchy1874

pernickety1884

trickish1900

fiddly1926

footery1929

a1630 F. Moryson in Shakespeare's Europe (1903) ii. iii. 184 A Treatise to be written of purpose, and with deliberation vppon that nice Subiect.

1664 J. Wilson Projectors v Things of this nature are so nice, and kickish, the least Error renders them irretriveable.

1689 J. Collier Moral Ess. conc. Pride 51 You are upon a touchy Point, and therefore I hope you will treat so nice a subject..with proportionable caution.

1741 S. Richardson Pamela III. ix. 40 I hope you had Presence of Mind to do this.—For it was a nice Part to act.

1777 R. Watson Hist. Reign Philip II I. iii. 86 For several years in the nicest political negociations.

1842 R. H. Barham Auto-da-fé in Ingoldsby Legends 2nd Ser. 67 On a subject so nice It's a delicate matter to give one's advice.

1858 S. Lover Songs & Ballads (ed. 4) 216 'Twas agreed an appeal to the sky Should be made in a matter so nice.

12.

a. Minutely or carefully accurate.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > exactness, accuracy, precision > [adjective]

rightOE

namely?c1225

lealc1330

very1338

truec1400

justc1425

exquisite1541

precise?a1560

jump1581

accuratea1599

nice1600

refined1607

punctual1608

press?1611

square1632

exact1645

unerring1665

proper1694

correct1705

pointed1724

prig1776

precisivea1805

as right as a trivet1835

spot on1936

1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing v. i. 75 Ile prooue it on his body if he dare, Dispight his nice fence, and his actiue practise.

1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 584 All at once thir Reeds Put forth, and to a narrow vent appli'd With nicest touch.

1699 R. Bentley Diss. Epist. Phalaris (new ed.) Pref. p. xciii The largest and nicest knowledge of the English Language, of any man living.

1769 J. Reynolds Disc. Royal Acad., 2 Jan. 1769 8 That critical period of study, on the nice management of which their future turn of taste depends.

1805 Ld. Collingwood 16 Dec. in Ld. Nelson Disp. & Lett. (1846) VII. 242 To pass them from the leeward..required nice steerage.

1849 H. W. Longfellow Building of Ship in Seaside & Fireside 8 With nicest skill and art,..A little model the Master wrought.

1925 W. Cather Professor's House i. xiii. 146 He never acquired a nice laboratory technic. He would fail repeatedly in some perfectly sound experiment because of careless procedure.

†b. Of an instrument or apparatus: capable of showing minute differences; finely poised or adjusted. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > exactness, accuracy, precision > [adjective] > of tools, materials, etc.: accurate

truec1392

just?1556

precise1561

finea1566

delicate1581

nicea1628

exact1665

sensible1678

sensitive1820

precision1875

pin-sharp1933

a1628 F. Greville Certaine Wks. (1633) i. 54 To pease his deeds, by her nice weights and measure.

1644 in Curious Accts. (Edinb. Laing) f. 19 To Daved Lowgnes vyff after the coumpes wos nies 20 li. 16s.

1666 R. Boyle Origine Formes & Qualities 397 Imploying a nice pair of Gold Scales..I found that this Powder weigh'd somewhat..more than twice so much common Water.

1704 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum I. at Hygroscope You will find this plain and simple Instrument, the nicest Hygrometer of any, for it will show you very small Alterations.

1771 T. Percival Ess. Med. & Exper. (1776) III. 127 A watery dew..which being committed to a nice scale, may probably be found to be equal in gravity to a drop of rain.

a1820 J. Woodhouse Life Crispinus Scriblerus xi. in Life & Poet. Wks. (1896) I. 202/2 Martin's mathematic skill must fail To graduate, and grave, so nice a scale.

1875 E. H. Sears Serm. & Songs 29 Weigh arguments in the nicest intellectual scales.

13. Of food or drink: dainty, choice; (later in weakened sense) tasty, appetizing; refreshing, restorative.

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > savouriness > [adjective]

likingeOE

goodOE

lickerousc1275

deliciousa1325

daintya1382

dainteousc1386

daintiful1393

delicatea1398

merrya1398

savourlyc1400

liciousc1420

savourousa1425

daintethc1430

lustyc1430

feelsomea1450

nuttya1450

seasonablea1475

delicativec1475

unctuous1495

well-tasteda1500

daintive1526

savoury1533

exquisite1561

spicy1562

well-relished?1575

finger-licking1584

toothsome1584

taste-pleasinga1586

daint1590

relishsome1593

lickerish1595

tastesome1598

friand1599

tooth-tempting1603

relishing1605

well-relishing1608

neat1609

hungry1611

palate-pleasing1611

tasteful1611

palatea1617

tastya1617

palatable1619

toothful1622

sipid1623

unsoured1626

famelic1631

tasteablea1641

piquant1645

sapid1646

saporousa1670

slape1671

palativea1682

flavorous1697

nice1709

well-flavoured1717

gusty1721

flavoury1727

fine-palated1735

unrepulsive1787

degustatory1824

zesty1826

peckish1845

mouth-watering1847

flavoursome1853

unreasty1853

unrancida1855

relishy1864

toothy1864

flavoured1867

tasty-looking1867

hungrifying1886

velvety1888

snappy1892

zippy1911

savoursome1922

delish1953

the world > food and drink > food > qualities of food > [adjective] > delicate or dainty

estlichc1200

daintya1382

dainteousc1386

daintiful1393

delicatea1398

daintethc1430

delicativec1475

daintive1526

exquisite1561

daint1590

friand1599

neat1609

nice1709

tid1727

1709 W. King Art of Love (new ed.) iv. 37 Something nice and costly he could eat.

1709 D. Manley Secret Mem. 14 What a profuseness in eating, how his Table abounded, in what was nice as well as necessary.

1712 J. Arbuthnot App. to John Bull Still in Senses i. 9 This was but a pretence to provide some nice Bit for himself.

a1766 F. Sheridan Concl. Mem. Miss Sidney Bidulph (1770) V. 193 We sent her up three or four plates of the nicest things that were at table.

a1825 R. Forby Vocab. E. Anglia (1830) II. 333 Sunkets.., dainty bits; nice feeding.

1853 A. Soyer Pantropheon 284 Some of these pastries would appear very nice to us in the present day.

1899 R. Whiteing No. 5 John St. iv. 38 Her sex's universal restorative... ‘You shall have a nice cup of tea.’

a1911 D. G. Phillips Susan Lenox (1917) II. viii. 210 Would you like a nice drink?

1961 I. Fleming Thunderball iv. 38 The dimity world of the Nice-Cup-of-Tea.

1991 R. Doyle Van (1992) 223 People coming out of the pub after a few jars..just wanted their chips and maybe a bit of cod with a nice crispy batter on it.

14.

a. That one derives pleasure or satisfaction from; agreeable, pleasant, satisfactory; attractive.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > pleasure > quality of being pleasant or pleasurable > [adjective]

winsomea900

sweetc900

likingeOE

i-quemec950

lieflyOE

winlyOE

hereOE

thankfulc1000

merryOE

queemc1175

beina1200

willea1200

leesomec1200

savouryc1225

estea1250

i-wilc1275

winc1275

welcomea1300

doucea1350

well-pleasingc1350

acceptablea1382

pleasablea1382

pleasanta1382

pleaseda1382

acceptedc1384

amiablec1384

well-likinga1387

queemfulc1390

flattering1393

pleasinga1398

well-queeminga1400

comelyc1400

farrandc1400

greable1401

goodlyc1405

amicable?a1425

placablec1429

amene1433

winful1438

listyc1440

dulcet1445

agreeablec1450

favourousc1485

sweetly?a1500

pleasureful?c1502

dulcea1513

grate1523

prettya1529

plausible1541

jolly1549

dulcoratec1550

toothsome1551

pleasurable1557

tickling1558

suavec1560

amenous1567

odoriferous?1575

perfumed1580

glada1586

tickle1593

pleasurous1595

favoursome1601

dulcean1606

gratifying1611

Hyblaean1614

gratulatea1616

arrident1616

solacefula1618

pleasantable1619

placid1628

contentsome1632

sapid1640

canny1643

gustful1647

peramene1657

pergrateful1657

tastefula1659

complacent1660

placentiousa1661

gratifactorya1665

bland1667

suavious1669

palatable1683

placent1683

complaisant1710

nice1747

tasty1796

sweetsome1799

titbit1820

connate1836

cunning1843

mooi1850

gemütlich1852

sympathique1859

congenial1878

sympathetic1900

sipid1908

onkus1910

sympathisch1911

1747 D. Garrick Medley of Lovers i. 14 He speaks like a Lady for all the World, and never swears as Mr. Flash does, but wears nice white Gloves, and tells me what Ribbons become my Complexion.

1769 E. Carter Let. 7 Aug. (1817) II. 34 I intend to dine with Mrs. Borgrave, and in the evening to take a nice walk.

1780 W. Beckford Biogr. Mem. Painters 110 A nice pocket edition.

a1817 J. Austen Northanger Abbey (1818) I. xiv. 254 ‘I am sure,’ cried Catherine, ‘I did not mean to say any thing wrong; but it is a nice book, and why should not I call it so?’ ‘Very true,’ said Henry, ‘and this is a very nice day, and we are taking a very nice walk, and you are two very nice young ladies. Oh! it is a very nice word indeed!—it does for every thing.’

1860 Baroness Bunsen in A. J. C. Hare Life & Lett. Baroness Bunsen (1879) II. v. 270 Lilies of the valley, and I know not what nice things.

1897 M. Kingsley Trav. W. Afr. 654 How nice it must be to be able to get about in cars, omnibuses and railway trains again!

1915 L. Woolf Let. 10 Feb. (1990) 210 We have at last got a rather nice house here.

1928 D. H. Lawrence Lady Chatterley's Lover xvii. 308 The trip was really quite nice. Only Connie kept saying to herself: Why don't I really care! Why am I never really thrilled?

1985 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 28 Nov. a12 He was impeccably dressed in a suit and a very nice tie.

1996 C. McWilliam Shredding Icebergs in H. Ritchie New Sc. Writing 6 It's a mercy she's nice eyes. Her eyes are nice.

b. Used as an intensifier with a predicative adjective or adverb in nice and ——, sometimes ironically.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > suffering > displeasure > [adjective] > unpleasant

loatha700

unsweetc890

grimlyc893

unquemeOE

un-i-quemeOE

evila1131

sourc1175

illc1220

unhightlyc1275

unwelcomec1325

unblithec1330

unnetc1330

unrekena1350

unagreeablec1374

uncouthc1380

unsavouryc1380

displeasantc1386

unlikinga1398

ungaina1400

crabbedc1400

unlovelyc1400

displeasing1401

eschewc1420

unsoot1420

mislikinga1425

unlikelya1425

unlustya1425

fastidiousc1425

unpleasantc1430

displicable1471

unthankfulc1475

displeasant1481

uneasy1483

unpleasinga1500

unfaring1513

badc1530

malpleasant?1533

noisome1542

thanklessa1547

ungrate1548

untoothsome1548

ungreeable1550

contrary1561

disagreeable1570

offensible1575

offensive1576

naughty1578

delightlessa1586

undelightful1585

unwisheda1586

unpleasurable1587

undelightsomec1595

dislikeful1596

disliking1596

ungrateful1596

unsweet?a1600

distastive1600

impleasing1602

distasting1603

distasteful1607

unsightly1608

undelectable1610

disgustful1611

unrelishing1611

waspisha1616

undeliciousa1618

unwished-for1617

disrelishing1631

unenjoyed1643

unjoyous1645

mirya1652

unwelcomed1651

unpleasivea1656

sweet1656

injucund1657

insuave1657

unpalatable1658

unhandsome1660

undesirable1667

disrelishablea1670

uncouthsome1684

shocking1703

nasty1705

embittering1746

indelectable1751

undelightinga1774

nice and ——1796

unenjoyablea1797

ungenial1796

uncomplacent1805

ungracious1807

bitter1810

rotten1813

uncongenial1813

quarrelsome1825

grimy1833

nice1836

unrelished1863

bloody1867

unbewitching1876

ferocious1877

displeasurable1879

rebarbative1892

charming1893

crook1898

naar1900

peppery1901

negative1902

poisonous1906

off-putting1935

unsympathetic1937

piggy1942

funky1946

umpty1948

pooey1967

minging1970

Scrooge-like1976

sucky1984

stank1991

stanky1991

1796 F. Burney Camilla II. iv. vii. 390 Just read this little letter, do, Miss, do—it won't take you much time, you reads so nice and fast.

1800 Infant's Libr. IX. 7 Skipping..is a very healthful play in winter; it will make you nice and warm in frosty weather.

1846 D. Jerrold Mrs. Caudle ii. 6 You'll be nice and ill in the morning.

1939 L. M. Montgomery Anne of Ingleside v S'posin' he et a lot of the little green apples..and got nice and sick?

1959 I. Opie & P. Opie Lore & Lang. Schoolchildren ix. 162 Spread it on the butty nice and thick.

1998 H. M. Malton Down in Dumps viii. 62 I had banked up the fire in the morning, getting it nice and hot.

c. Of a person: pleasant in manner, agreeable, good-natured; attractive.

ΚΠ

1797 M. Robinson Walsingham IV. lxxxi. 152 ‘Marry Miss Hanbury!’ said I, with astonishment... ‘Why not?’ cried his lordship; ‘she's a nice girl.’

1837 J. Richardson Brit. Legion (ed. 2) ix. 220 The Commandant, whom I subsequently found to be a very nice fellow.

1843 C. Dickens Christmas Carol v. 160 ‘Is your master at home, my dear,’ said Scrooge to the girl. Nice girl! Very.

1896 G. Ade Artie v. 41 ‘Who is he—one o' them rah-rah boys with a big bunch o' hair?’.. ‘He's an awfully nice fellow,’ responded young Mr. Hall, stiffly.

1920 ‘K. Mansfield’ Let. 21 Jan. (1993) III. 188 The directress is a very nice french woman.

1972 J. Wilson Hide & Seek ii. 29 Do you know something, Mary? Mr Harris is the nicest man I know, except for my father.

1999 R. T. Davies Queer as Folk: Scripts Episode 2. 43 Marcie: Do you think she's nice? Vince: Yes I do. Marcie: That's brilliant cos she fancies you.

d. Used ironically.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > worse > [adjective] > of inferior quality or value or appearance

poorc1300

vile1526

mangya1529

fine1565

palterlya1637

scrubby1754

nice1798

shabby1805

waff-like1808

neat1824

chronic1861

tacky1862

shamblya1937

tatty1940

low-rent1966

scrungy1974

the mind > emotion > suffering > displeasure > [adjective] > unpleasant

loatha700

unsweetc890

grimlyc893

unquemeOE

un-i-quemeOE

evila1131

sourc1175

illc1220

unhightlyc1275

unwelcomec1325

unblithec1330

unnetc1330

unrekena1350

unagreeablec1374

uncouthc1380

unsavouryc1380

displeasantc1386

unlikinga1398

ungaina1400

crabbedc1400

unlovelyc1400

displeasing1401

eschewc1420

unsoot1420

mislikinga1425

unlikelya1425

unlustya1425

fastidiousc1425

unpleasantc1430

displicable1471

unthankfulc1475

displeasant1481

uneasy1483

unpleasinga1500

unfaring1513

badc1530

malpleasant?1533

noisome1542

thanklessa1547

ungrate1548

untoothsome1548

ungreeable1550

contrary1561

disagreeable1570

offensible1575

offensive1576

naughty1578

delightlessa1586

undelightful1585

unwisheda1586

unpleasurable1587

undelightsomec1595

dislikeful1596

disliking1596

ungrateful1596

unsweet?a1600

distastive1600

impleasing1602

distasting1603

distasteful1607

unsightly1608

undelectable1610

disgustful1611

unrelishing1611

waspisha1616

undeliciousa1618

unwished-for1617

disrelishing1631

unenjoyed1643

unjoyous1645

mirya1652

unwelcomed1651

unpleasivea1656

sweet1656

injucund1657

insuave1657

unpalatable1658

unhandsome1660

undesirable1667

disrelishablea1670

uncouthsome1684

shocking1703

nasty1705

embittering1746

indelectable1751

undelightinga1774

nice and ——1796

unenjoyablea1797

ungenial1796

uncomplacent1805

ungracious1807

bitter1810

rotten1813

uncongenial1813

quarrelsome1825

grimy1833

nice1836

unrelished1863

bloody1867

unbewitching1876

ferocious1877

displeasurable1879

rebarbative1892

charming1893

crook1898

naar1900

peppery1901

negative1902

poisonous1906

off-putting1935

unsympathetic1937

piggy1942

funky1946

umpty1948

pooey1967

minging1970

Scrooge-like1976

sucky1984

stank1991

stanky1991

1798 J. Austen Let. 24 Dec. (1995) 31 We are to have Company to dinner on friday; the three Digweeds & James.—We shall be a nice silent party I suppose.

1836 C. Dickens Let. 29 Dec. (1965) I. 217 I have been clearing off all the rejected articles to-day, and nice work I have had.

1851 D. Jerrold St. Giles & St. James (new ed.) viii, in Writings I. 75 A nice job I've had to nibble him.

1896 E. Turner Little Larrikin xviii. 209 Aren't you going to stop and see Clem off?.. You are a nice one.

1908 L. M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables ix. 95 This is a nice way for you to behave, Anne! Aren't you ashamed of yourself?

1939 P. Cheyney Dangerous Curves ii. 29 I'd have been taken for a nice little car ride and found in the local ash-can.

1978 J. McGahern Getting Through 140 If I found that you didn't want me, I'd be in a nice fix.

e. Kind or considerate in behaviour; friendly (towards others). Frequently in to be nice (to).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > [adjective] > agreeable in manner

sweetc825

soota1250

coutha1375

pleasantc1387

gallant?a1513

plausible1577

plausive1595

placentiousa1661

winsome1677

genial1746

clever1758

nice1830

decent1902

1830 T. Moore Mem. (1854) VI. 152 She has, in the nicest and most delicate way, procured them.

1872 T. Hardy Under Greenwood Tree II. v. i. 202 ‘Not nice of Master Enoch,’ said Dick.

1887 I. Randall Lady's Ranche Life Montana 165 When I say Van was good, I mean he was nice to me.

1920 F. S. Fitzgerald This Side of Paradise i. i. 38 I'm tired of being nice to every poor fish in school.

1983 P. Kurth Anastasia (1985) iii. xiv. 404 In Wollmann's opinion, altogether too much time had been wasted trying to be ‘nice.’

1993 T. Hawkins Pepper iv. 72 The woman standing next to you is pregnant. It might be a nice gesture to offer her your seat.

f. Of a (finished) action, task, etc.: well-executed; commendably performed or accomplished. Now frequently in interjections, as nice going!, nice try!, nice work!. Also used ironically or sarcastically.

ΚΠ

1850 Amer. Whig Rev. May 508 Haven't I made a reg'lar nice job of it? This is Carlo, sure as preachin'!

1897 B. Stoker Dracula viii. 92 The New Woman..will do the proposing herself. And a nice job she will make of it, too!

1914 S. Lewis Our Mr. Wrenn iv. 57 ‘Nice work,’ Satan interjected from time to time, with smooth irony. ‘Sure. Go ahead. Like to hear your plans.’

1938 Sun (Baltimore) 20 June 8/2 Ruth said, ‘Nice going, kid,’ and that simple compliment pleased the young Cincinnati pitcher more than all of the other praises he received.

1971 R. Rendell One Across v. 48 She's made a nice job of my hair, hasn't she? I wouldn't want Ethel to think I'd let myself go.

1992 Economist 2 May 32/2 The employment department has set up a project to provide 61,000 training places. Nice try—except that there are currently 1.3m long-term unemployed.

g. colloquial. nice one: expressing approval or congratulations for something done well. In later use also ironically.Popularized by the song Nice One Cyril, used in a television commercial for bread in the early 1970s, and recorded in 1973 by the Tottenham Hotspur football team (associated with the former Tottenham player Cyril Knowles).

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > [noun] > expression of approval

suffrage1566

vote1608

seal of approval1833

accolade1852

back-pat1894

nod1924

nice one1970

like2009

1970 I. R. Hebditch I do like to be beside Seaside (unpubl. Ph.D. thesis, De Montfort University) (O.E.D. Archive) §5. 8 ‘Action's on tonight down the “Cage”.’ ‘Nice one.’

1971 B. Marley Kinky Reggae (song lyrics) Nice one, nice one, that's what they say.

1973 H. Spiro & H. Clarke (title of song) Nice one Cyril.

1974 T. Brooke-Taylor Goodies File 52 How about calling yourselves ‘The Goodies’—Nice one eh?

1985 B. Zephaniah Dread Affair 19 Nice one Handsworth doing fine.

1990 M. Lipman Thank you for having Me (BNC) 115 ‘They're on the top table with Her Royal Highness. We're on Table No 5 with no one we know.’ ‘Nice one,’ I said darkly.

1999 Nouse (Univ. York) Mar. (Muse Suppl.) 4/4 After acknowledging encores as a ludicrous act, Pitchshifter simply stayed on the stage, played three more songs, and then left. Nice one lads.

B. adv.

†1. Foolishly. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > [adverb]

unwiselyc897

dizzilyc1175

folly?c1225

canglichec1230

mazedlya1250

follilyc1330

unskilfully1340

unwittily1362

lewdlyc1380

nicelya1387

fondlya1450

nicea1450

foolishlyc1450

foliously1481

ineptly1523

peevishly?1529

simply1535

insipiently1536

senselessly1561

fonly1579

sillilyc1598

perperously1657

insipidly1699

daftly1724

silly1731

stupid?1757

dawkinly1763

fool-like1800

unsagely1801

spoonily1861

assishly1863

ill-advisedly1879

a1450–1509 (?a1300) Richard Coer de Lyon (A-version) (1913) 3857 (MED) Lytyl wurþ þey are and nyce prowde; Fyȝte þey cunne wiþ wurdes lowde.

a1475 Sidrak & Bokkus (Laud) (1998) I. 3227 The foule crepith in as nyce Into the mouth of þe cokadryce And þe wormes eteth ychone.

2. Satisfactorily, thoroughly; prettily, pleasingly. Now nonstandard.

ΘΚΠ

society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > [adverb]

untowelya1230

jollilyc1400

wantonlyc1405

small?c1450

nice?1544

loosely1548

licentiously1561

liberally1596

naughtily1609

the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > [adverb] > with particular care

choicelya1375

particularly1489

nice?1544

nicely1651

finely1718

?1544 J. Heywood Foure PP sig. B.i^v But prycke them and pynne them as nyche, as ye wyll.

?1567 M. Parker Whole Psalter cxix. 345 Curst be they all: from thy good lore: who wander wyll to nyse.

a1756 E. Haywood New Present (1771) 53 Take a fine piece of sturgeon, wash and clean it very nice.

1879 E. Harrigan Mulligan Guard Ball i. ii. 12 ‘I'll wear me hair pompadour.’..‘Well, get it up nice’.

1946 K. Tennant Lost Haven (1947) vii. 97 You get dressed up nice this afternoon.

1987 N. Hinton Buddy's Song viii. 40 He sings really nice and he's picked up the guitar ever so quick.

Phrases

†P1. In proverbial phrases in sense A. 3b, as nice as a nun's hen, more nice than wise. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

c1450 (c1405) Mum & Sothsegger (BL Add. 41666) (1936) 237 (MED) Þou ne art nycier þan a nunne nyne-folde tyme.

a1500 in R. L. Greene Early Eng. Carols (1935) 268 (MED) Some be nyse as a nonne hene.

1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique iii. f. 117^v I knewe a Priest that was as nice as a Nonnes Henne.

1562 J. Heywood Of Mine Acquayntance Certaine Yong Man ii. i, in Wks. She tooke thenterteinment of the yong men All in daliaunce, as nice as a nuns hen.

1581 B. Rich Farewell Militarie Profession sig. R.ij^v More nice then wise.

1653 H. More Antidote against Atheisme i. ii. 3 Suppose..the other more nice than wise should reply, Nay, it may possibly be otherwise.

1687 A. Behn Amours Philander & Silvia 415 A sort of People of the Reformed Religion, whose pretences were more Nice, than Wise.

1719 R. Pack Misc. in Verse & Prose 73 Some travell'd Fop, more nice than wise, Shall wholesome Luxury despise.

1782 W. Cowper Mutual Forbearance in Poems 20 Some people are more nice than wise.

a1817 J. Austen Northanger Abbey (1818) I. xiv. 254 It ought only to be applied to you, without any commendation at all. You are more nice than wise.

1859 J. C. Swayze Ossawattomie Brown iii. iii. 21 I think you're a great heap more nice than wise. You aint too good lookin', nuther.

1873 C. B. Hartley Gentlemen's Bk. Etiquette 65 There is, we know, such a thing as being ‘too nice’—‘more nice than wise.’ It is quite possible to be fastidious.

†P2. to make (it) nice: to display reserve or reluctance; to entertain a scruple or doubt. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > will > wish or inclination > unwillingness > be unwilling [verb (intransitive)]

nillOE

loathea1200

to make it tough1297

forthinka1300

reckc1300

ruea1400

to make (it) strangec1405

to make strangenessc1407

stick1418

resistc1425

to make (it) strange?1456

steek1478

tarrowc1480

doubt1483

sunyie1488

to make (it) nice1530

stay1533

shentc1540

to make courtesy (at)1542

to make it scrupulous1548

to think (it) much1548

to make dainty of (anything)1555

to lie aback1560

stand1563

steek1573

to hang back1581

erch1584

to make doubt1586

to hang the groin1587

to make scruple (also a, no, etc., scruple)1589

yearn1597

to hang the winga1601

to make squeamish1611

smay1632

bogglea1638

to hang off1641

waver1643

reluct1648

shy1650

reluctate1655

stickle1656

scruple1660

to make boggle1667

revere1689

begrudge1690

to have scruples1719

stopc1738

bitch1777

reprobate1779

crane1823

disincline1885

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 624 I make it coye, or nyce as a daungerouse person doth, je fais lestrange.

1575 J. Rolland Treat. Court Venus iii. f. 50 Raab, and Ruth..War licht Ladeis, thocht ȝe it mak sa nice.

1606 W. Birnie Blame of Kirk-buriall xi. sig. C4^v Althogh they seeme to make nyce in praying for dead.

a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) iii. iv. 138 And he that stands vpon a slipp'ry place, Makes nice of no vilde hold to stay him vp.

1637 S. Rutherford Lett. (1863) I. lxxxi. 205 Christ..cometh in..without ceremonies, or making it nice, to make a poor ransomed one His own.

1677 R. Gilpin Dæmonol. Sacra ii. iii. 215 They make not nice to tell him, That there is no possibility of Salvation, but in their way.

P3.

a. to look nice: to have an attractive or pleasing appearance; to be smartly dressed.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > have pleasing appearance [verb (intransitive)]

becomec1300

smile1594

to look nice1793

1793 Minstrel II. 182 She was desirous of looking as nice as possible.

1836 Going to Service xii. 139 O, you look so nice,..any body would take you for an experienced servant.

1870 M. Bridgman Robert Lynne II. xii. 255 Cuthbert liked her to look nice.

1903 C. A. Taylor From Rags to Riches in America's Lost Plays (1940) VIII. 134 Flos. [Sits down timidly and adjusts skirts; raises her eyes]: Why don't you tell me I look nice?

1952 L. T. Stanley Woman Golfer 61 A ‘pretty-pretty’ swing may look nice, but it doesn't get you very far.

1991 Righting Words 4 14/1 Some magazines have a dislike for justified right margins. I think they look nice.

b. In similative phrases in sense A. 14, esp. in nice as nice.See also as nice as ninepence at ninepence n. 2b, nice as pie at pie n.² 5a.

ΚΠ

1796 M. Robinson Angelina I. 44 The parson's daughters are as nice as my nail and as clean as a penny!

1839 C. Dickens Let. 5 Mar. (1965) I. 521 A capital bed, and all as nice as nice could be.

a1897 T. E. Brown Coll. Poems (1900) 434 Sittin' beside her as nice as nice.

1991 Independent 3 Dec. 19/7 Roy Gleenslade (former Mirror ed) promises not to stich Mr Kinnock up, to be as nice as nice.

P4. nice work if you can get it: expressing envy of what is perceived to be another's more agreeable situation, esp. if it seems to have been attained with little effort.

ΚΠ

1937 G. Gershwin & I. Gershwin Nice Work if you can get It (song) Holding hands at mid-night 'Neath a starry sky, Nice work if you can get it, And you can get it if you try.

1958 Listener 2 Oct. 492/1 The Frenchman..may well reply with impatience: ‘Nice work if you can get it.’

1986 Chicago Tribune (Nexis) 11 Dec. 28 She'll be entertaining on board; nice work if you can get it.

1992 New Musical Express (BNC) 14 Nov. 45 The Farm will no doubt continue doing what they do... Nice work if you can get it, but we really do deserve much better.

P5. North American colloquial. to make nice (also nice-nice): to be pleasant or polite, esp. in an expedient or hypocritical way; to smooth things over.

ΚΠ

1958 A. Laurents & S. Sondheim West Side Story i. i. 14 I'm gonna make nice there! I'm only gonna challenge him.

1975 A. McCaffrey Kilternan Legacy (1976) xvii. 215 Oh, I know he was making nice-nice when he thought he could wheedle the right of way out of me.

1993 Newsweek 25 Jan. 42/2 His aides insisted that he has no intention of making nice-nice with Saddam and every intention of holding Iraq to the last letter of the multiple U.N. resolutions.

2000 Sci. Amer. Oct. 26/3 Microsoft, after making its fortune all these years on proprietary standards like Windows, suddenly wants to make nice, perhaps in the hope that the U.S. Department of Justice is watching.

Compounds

C1.

nicelookingness n.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [noun]

comelinessc1350

seemlinessc1385

comeliheada1393

goodliheada1413

beseemingc1440

goodliness1449

propernessc1478

sightliness1561

handsomeness1622

speciousness1650

presentability1823

nicelookingness1865

eye appeal1916

spiffiness1981

aegyo1997

1865 R. Broughton in Dublin Univ. Mag. Aug. 131/1 Miss Chester was gifted with that sort of nice-lookingness, arising principally from a good nose, and a rather clear, unmixed-looking colour.

1953 J. Cromwell Grain of Sand iii. 67 It is a pity he is not a handsome man. Or an ugly, Socrates-looking one His plainness, his nicelookingness, is a sorrow to him.

2012 D. Share Wishbone 72 She was nice looking, so I looked at the nicelookingness as the wind entered the train.

C2.

† nice-becoming adj. Obsolete rare

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > [adjective] > beautifying

bellifying1545

embellishing1545

beautifying1601

nice-becoming1727

1727 W. Pattison Poet. Wks. I. 135 Full in the midst, with nice-becoming Grace, Stood Youth.

† nice-brained adj. Obsolete rare

ΚΠ

1604 J. Marston & J. Webster Malcontent (new ed.) Prol. sig. I4 She is defild. With too nice-brained cunning.

† nice-conscienced adj. Obsolete

ΘΚΠ

society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > [adjective] > conscientious

faithfulc1400

good-heartedc1425

rigorousa1500

nice-conscienced1530

scrupulous1542

conscionable1549

punctual1609

conscientious1611

tender-conscienceda1617

conscious1628

1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 323/1 Scrupulouse, nyce conscyensed.

1642 J. Vicars God in Mount 21 These squemish and nice-conscienced fellows.

† nice-discerning adj. Obsolete

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > discernment, discrimination > [adjective] > with delicacy

delicatea1533

finea1566

fine-headed1574

nice1593

refining1595

choice1601

refined1607

point-device1639

exquisite1643

nice-discerning1745

feelingful1943

1745 T. Warton Five Pastoral Eclogues 9 A hoard of choicest chesnuts, which I cull'd With nice-discerning care.

1774 ‘J. Collier’ Musical Trav. App. 26 Should his lordship's nice-discerning eye, perceive any Jacobitical expressions in his works.

a1820 J. Woodhouse Life Crispinus Scriblerus v. in Life & Poet. Wks. (1896) I. 98/2 She..Distinguishes, with nice-discerning ear, When accents hesitate, or tones are clear.

† nice-driven adj. Obsolete rare

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > [adjective] > scrupulously careful or attentive to detail > characterized by scrupulous care > worked out in great detail

curious1561

elaborate1621

nice-driven1630

elaborative1845

1630 tr. G. Botero Relations Famous Kingdomes World (rev. ed.) 39 That politike and nice-driven negotiation of the peace betwixt England and Spaine.

† nice-eared adj. Obsolete

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > type or quality of hearing > [adjective] > good hearing > discriminating

quick-eared1609

nice-eareda1843

tender-eared1911

a1843 in R. Southey Common-place Bk. (1849) 2nd Ser. 33/2 The chilling fastidiousness of some nice-eared critics.

1852 R. H. Stoddard Broken Goblet in Poems 67 Nice-eared Echo mocked him till he thought..he heard another Pan Playing.

† nice-fingered adj. Obsolete

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touching with the hand > [adjective] > having a light touch

light-handed1440

light-fingered1736

nice-fingered1785

1785 W. Cowper Task i. 202 One..whose notes Nice-fingr'd Art must emulate in vain.

1857 N. Amer. Rev. July 43 If the nice-fingered myope should play sailor, the pirate would be sure to catch him.

1872 W. C. Smith Olrig Grange iii. 69 Costly lace Nice-fingered maidens knotted in Brabant.

nice-hearted adj.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > love > tenderness > [adjective]

nesheOE

softc1175

mild-hearteda1200

fleshlyc1384

tendera1400

fleshy1526

warm1526

tender-hearted1539

meltingc1565

nice-hearted1571

soft-hearted1571

effeminate1594

tenderful1901

1571 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Psalmes of Dauid with Comm. (xxii. 2) He was not so nyce~harted as to make a cruell yelping out for some comon harme.

1583 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. on Deuteronomie cxxxi. 806 Because y^e people were ouertender and nyceharted, they had need of helpe.

2000 Financial Times (Nexis) 4 May 18 Neither the blocked writer of would-be Broadway musicals..nor the nice-hearted hunk..has a free place.

† nice-judging adj. Obsolete

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > [adjective] > correct in procedure, operation, etc. > in judgement

right1600

nice-judging1735

1735 H. Fielding Universal Gallant Prol. sig. A4 Bold is th' Attempt in this nice-judging Age, To try at Fame.

1744 J. Thomson Spring in Seasons (new ed.) 19 There throw, nice-judging, the delusive Fly.

1874 W. C. Smith Borland Hall iv. 161 The capital force of the country still Is the power of work, the nice-judging eye.

nice-looking adj.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [adjective]

faireOE

comelyOE

winlyOE

goodlyOE

hendya1250

hendc1275

quaintc1300

seemlyc1305

tidya1325

avenant1340

honestc1384

sightya1387

properc1390

well beseena1393

queema1400

speciousa1400

featousc1400

parisantc1400

rekenc1400

well-favoureda1438

wellc1450

spectable?a1475

delicatec1480

jollya1500

bonny?a1513

snog1513

viewlyc1536

goodlikec1550

sightly1555

sightful1565

beholdinga1586

eyesome?1587

decent1600

vage1604

prospicuous1605

eyely1614

fashionable1630

well-looking1638

softa1643

fineish1647

well-looked1660

of a good (also ugly, etc.) look1700

likely-looked1709

sonsy1720

smiling1725

aspectable1731

smirkya1758

likely-looking1771

respectable1776

magnificent-looking1790

producible1792

presentable1800

good-looking1804

nice-looking1807

bonnyish1855

spick1882

eyeable1887

aegyo2007

1807 J. Austen Let. 8 Feb. (1995) 121 She is a nice looking woman.

1838 C. Dickens Oliver Twist I. xiv. 227 He is a nice-looking boy, is he not?

1985 E. Leonard Glitz xiii. 111 He was quite a nice-looking man.

† nice-mouthed adj. Obsolete

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > behaviour > affected behaviour or affectation > [adjective] > affecting delicacy

minikin1545

mincing1560

miniard1584

finical1592

minic1598

nice-mouthed1618

finitive1640

finicking1661

minical1668

precious1712

précieuse1785

niminy-piminy1786

pershittie1808

miminy-piminy1815

finicky1825

nimpy-pimpy1825

niminy1878

too-tooa1884

piminy1890

précieux1891

piss-elegant1941

1618 N. Field Amends for Ladies iii. iii. sig. E2 A pox of these nise mouth'd creatures!

1816 ‘P. Pindar’ Ode XVI in Wks. II. 80 Starve the nice-mouth'd cattle Until they eat the chesnuts up.

† nice-palated adj. Obsolete

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > appetite > [adjective] > having (good) appetite > having dainty appetite or palate

wanton1530

lickerish-lipped1577

lickerous-toothed1579

nice-stomached1604

tender-mouthed1620

nice-palated1683

toothsome1837

pensy1866

1683 T. Tryon Way to Health 225 Foolish Nice-pallated People and Gluttons.

1730 T. Cooke Candidates for Bays 5 A Dance of dumb Devils has ravish'd the City..And goes down with nice palated Ladies at Court.

† nice preserved adj. Obsolete rare

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > [adjective] > preserved or undestroyed > preserved from decay, loss, or destruction

preserved1552

nice preserved1594

seasoned1644

conserved1662

hained1786

1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus ii. iii. 135 We will enioy, That nice preserued honestie of yours.

† nice-scented adj. Obsolete rare

ΘΚΠ

the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > [adjective] > having sense of smell > having acute

tender-noseda1425

nosedc1425

high-nosed1548

quick-nosed1561

well-nosed1568

scented1579

well-scented1579

quick-scented1590

nose-wise1596

sagacious1607

scentful1616

nasute1699

nice-scented1777

osmatic1880

nim-nosed1936

1777 R. Potter tr. Æschylus Tragedies 276 This stranger seems, like the nice-scented hound, Quick in the trace of blood.

nice-sized adj.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > beauty of shape or form > [adjective] > well-proportioned

well-proportioneda1398

handsome1550

proportionable1576

well-thewed1583

well-proportionated1612

well-turned1631

nice-sized1799

1799 J. Austen Let. 17 May (1995) 40 We have two very nice sized rooms.

1879 Littell's Living Age 20 Dec. 734 ‘You've a nice-sized room here,’ observed Eve.

1991 Alpha Feb. 63/3 My bedroom is on the topside with a very nice-sized adjoining bathroom.

nice spoken adj.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > [adjective] > having pleasing speech or eloquent

well-speakingOE

renablec1300

fair-speakinga1398

well-tonguedc1480

honey-mouthed1539

golden-mouthed1542

sweet-mouthed1542

fine-mouthed?1549

silver-tongued1592

silver1594

gold-mouthed1595

honey-tongued1595

nectar-tongued1596

tongue-gilt1608

feather-tongueda1618

chrysostomatical1623

dulciloquent1656

sweet-spoken1716

sweet-lipped1783

chrysostomic1816

smooth-spoken1821

superfluent1822

honey-lipped1833

nice spoken1852

articulate1892

1852 Internat. Mag. Lit., Art & Sci. Apr. 539/2 ‘Pretty, nice spoken thing,’ thought the widow; ‘as nice spoken as Miss Vilante.’

?1853 H. O. Pardey Nature's Nobleman i. 18 He's a nice spoken man. He talk'd about Burgoyne.

1931 L. A. G. Strong Garden 180 A nice spoken, friendly young lady.

† nice-spun adj. (and n.) Obsolete

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of imagination > mental image, idea, or fancy > [adjective] > only in imagination or unreal

imaginary?1510

imaginative1517

rational1530

fantastical1531

fantasied1561

airy1565

fancied1568

legendary1570

dreamed1597

fabled1606

ideal1611

fictive1612

affectual1614

insubstantiala1616

imaginatorya1618

supposititious1620

fictitious1621

utopian1624

utopic1624

notional1629

affective1633

fictiousa1644

notionary1646

figmental1655

suppositious1655

fict1677

visionary1725

metaphysical1728

unrealized1767

fancy1801

nice-spun1801

subjective1815

aerial1829

transcendental1835

cardboardy1863

mythical1870

cardboard1879

fictionary1882

figmentary1887

alternative1939

alternate1944

fantasized1964

ideate1966

fanciful-

fantastic-

1801 G. Dyer Redress in Poems 324 Mistaken bards!.. Tho' pure as heav'n's own beam the nice-spun lay, The sensual town must see for what they pay.

1834 S. Cooper Good's Study Med. (ed. 4) I. 533 Notwithstanding a few nice-spun and chimerical speculations..there is no book on physiology which a student ought to study more assiduously.

† nice-stomached adj. Obsolete

ΘΚΠ

the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > appetite > [adjective] > having (good) appetite > having dainty appetite or palate

wanton1530

lickerish-lipped1577

lickerous-toothed1579

nice-stomached1604

tender-mouthed1620

nice-palated1683

toothsome1837

pensy1866

1604 J. Marston Malcontent iv. iii. sig. F3 It was the Duke, Whome straight the nicer stomackt sea Belcht vp.

1815 H. H. Milman Fazio (1821) 17 Death's not nice-stomach'd, to be cramm'd With such unsavoury offal.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	nice
释义	† nicen.¹ Forms: Middle English nyce, Middle English nys, Middle English 1600s–1700s nice. Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: nice adj. Etymology: < nice adj. Middle Eng. Dict. lists Ricardus the Nice (1313) as an earlier instance of this word as a surname, although this could equally show nice adj. Obsolete. 1. A foolish or simple person; a fool. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupid, foolish, or inadequate person > foolish person, fool > fool, simpleton > [noun] boinarda1300 daffc1325 goky1377 nicea1393 unwiseman1400 totc1425 alphinc1440 dawc1500 hoddypeak1500 dawpatea1529 hoddypolla1529 noddy1534 kimec1535 coxcomb1542 sheep1542 sheep's head1542 goose1547 dawcock1556 nodgecock1566 peak-goosea1568 hottie tottie?c1570 Tom Towly1582 wittol1588 goose-cap1589 nodgecomb1592 ninny1593 chicken1600 fopdoodle16.. hoddy-noddy1600 hoddy-doddy1601 peagoose1606 fopster1607 nazold1607 nupson1607 wigeon1607 fondrel1613 simpleton1639 pigwidgeon1640 simpletonian1652 Tony1654 nizy1673 Simple Simon?1673 Tom Farthing1674 totty-head1680 cockcomb1684 cod1699 nikin1699 sap-pate1699 simpkin1699 mackninnya1706 gilly-gaupus?1719 noodle1720 sapskull1735 gobbin?1746 Judy1781 zanya1784 spoony1795 sap-head1798 spoon1799 gomerel1814 sap1815 neddy1818 milestone1819 sunket1823 sunketa1825 gawp1825 gawpy1825 gawpus1826 Tomnoddy1826 Sammy1828 tammie norie1828 Tommy1828 gom1834 noodlehead1835 nowmun1854 gum-sucker1855 flat-head1862 peggy1869 noodledum1883 jay1884 toot1888 peanut head1891 simp1903 sappyhead1922 Arkie1927 putz1928 steamer1932 jerk-off1939 drongo1942 galah1945 Charley1946 nong-nong1959 mouth-breather1979 twonk1981 a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) v. 4725 (MED) Fulofte he faileth of his game That wol with ydel hand reclame His hauk, as many a nyce doth. a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) 5043 If it be ony fool or nyce, In whom that Shame hath no justice. c1450 in F. J. Furnivall Hymns to Virgin & Christ (1867) 42 (MED) Out of þe wey wole him lede And make of him boþe fool and nyce. 2. With the. a. Dissolute or wicked people as a class. Also: fastidious people. In quot. c1400 probably: a wicked person. ΘΚΠ society > morality > moral evil > wickedness > [noun] > wicked person warlockOE shrewc1250 quedea1275 wick1297 felon1340 son of perditionc1384 nicec1400 pucka1450 sorrowc1450 improbe1484 wicked1484 naughtyc1580 stigmatic1597 thornback1599 stigmatist1607 naughta1639 dungeona1728 c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) 1359 (MED) Hit is not innoghe to þe nice al noȝty þink use, Bot if alle þe worlde wyt his wykked dedes. a1450 ( in J. Kail 26 Polit. Poems (1904) 60 God ȝeue ȝow grace..To cherische þe goode, and chastyse þe nys. 1671 J. Milton Paradise Regain'd iv. 157 Nothing will please the difficult and nice, Or nothing more then still to contradict. View more context for this quotation b. That which is nice. rare. ΚΠ 1793 W. Roberts Looker-on No. 72. 569 To imitate our fashionable physicians in mixing up together..the nauseous and the nice. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online December 2020). Nicen.² Brit. /niːs/, /nʌɪs/, U.S. /nis/, /naɪs/ Origin: Apparently from a proper name. Etymon: proper name Nice. Etymology: Apparently < Nice (French Nice), the name of a city on the Côte d'Azur in south-eastern France, although the reason for the name is unclear. More fully Nice biscuit. A thin, sweet biscuit containing coconut and sprinkled with sugar. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > biscuit > [noun] > other biscuits dorcake14.. cracknelc1440 hard breada1500 crackling1598 Naples biscuit1650 gingerbread man1686 chocolate biscuit1702 biscotin1723 sponge biscuit1736 maple biscuita1753 butter biscuit1758 nut1775 Oliver biscuit1786 funeral biscuit1790 rock biscuit?1790 ratafia1801 finger biscuit1812 Savoy drop1816 lady's finger1818 snap1819 Abernethy1830 pretzel1831 wine-biscuit1834 gingersnap1838 captain's biscuit1843 lebkuchen1847 simnel1854 sugar cookie1854 peppernut1862 McClellan pie1863 Savoy ring1866 Brown George1867 beaten biscuit1876 digestive1876 Osborne1876 Bath Oliver1878 marie1878 boer biscuit1882 charcoal biscuit1885 biscotti1886 fairing1888 snickerdoodle1889 pfeffernuss1891 zwieback1894 Nice1895 Garibaldi biscuit1896 Oswegoc1900 squashed fly1900 amaretto1905 boerebeskuit1905 Romary1905 petit beurre1906 Oswego biscuit1907 soetkoekie1910 Oreo1912 custard cream1916 Anzac1923 sweet biscuit1929 langue de chat1931 Bourbon biscuit1932 Afghan1934 flapjack1935 Florentine1936 chocolate chip cookie1938 choc chip cookie1940 Toll House cookie1940 tuile1943 pizzelle1949 black and white1967 Romany Cream1970 papri1978 1895 Army & Navy Co-op. Soc. Price List 5 Biscuits... Nice. 1917 Harrods Gen. Catal. 1211/2 Biscuits... Nice. 1932 J. Fritsch Manuf. Biscuits, Cakes & Wafers iii. xi. 262 (heading) Rose Diamond (or Nice). 1971 P. R. Whiteley Biscuit Manuf. xii. 131 Nice are usually a rectangular coconut biscuit, liberally sprinkled with sugar... Nice are frequently cut in a similar size to a custard cream shell and are sandwiched with a cream filling containing coconut. 1994 Daily Mail 13 July 47/3 What is the origin of ‘Nice’ biscuits? Are they from the town of Nice in France or just nice to eat? This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022). niceadj.adv. Brit. /nʌɪs/, U.S. /naɪs/ Forms: Middle English necy, Middle English nesy, Middle English nyci, Middle English nys, Middle English nysse, Middle English 1600s nece, Middle English–1500s nycy, Middle English–1500s nyse, Middle English–1600s nise, Middle English–1600s nyce, Middle English– nice, 1500s niece, 1500s nyche (probably transmission error), 1600s nize; English regional (northern and midlands) 1700s–1800s nise, 1800s noist, 1800s nyste, 1800s– neist, 1800s– neyce, 1800s– nic'd, 1800s– niced, 1800s– nicet, 1800s– nist, 1800s– niste, 1800s– nyst; Scottish pre-1700 naice, pre-1700 nies, pre-1700 nyce, pre-1700 nyice, pre-1700 nyis, pre-1700 nys, pre-1700 nyse, pre-1700 nyss, pre-1700 1700s– nice. N.E.D. (1906) also records a form Middle English neys. Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French nice. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman nice, nis, nise and Old French nice (c1160; c1250 as niche ; now French regional) < classical Latin nescius (see nescious adj.). Compare Old Occitan nesci (c1150; also attested as neci, nesi, nessi; Occitan neci), Spanish necio (1220–50), Catalan neci, nici (both 14th cent.), Portuguese necio (14th cent.; 15th cent. as néscio), Italian nescio (1321), all in sense ‘foolish, simple, ignorant’.The semantic development of this word from ‘foolish, silly’ to ‘pleasing’ is not paralleled in Latin or in the Romance languages. The precise sense development in English is unclear. N.E.D. (1906) s.v. notes that ‘in many examples from the 16th and 17th cent. it is difficult to say in what particular sense the writer intended it to be taken’. A. adj. †1. a. Of a person: foolish, silly, simple; ignorant. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > [adjective] dizzyc825 unwisec825 redelessOE unwittyc1000 daftlikec1175 witlessc1175 canga1225 adoted?c1225 cangun?c1225 egedec1225 cangeda1250 foola1250 snepea1250 aerwittec1275 sotlyc1275 unslyc1275 unwitterc1275 unwilya1300 nicec1300 goosishc1374 unskilfulc1374 follyc1380 lewdc1380 mis-feelinga1382 dottlec1390 foltedc1390 peevishc1400 fona1425 fonnishc1425 foliousa1450 foolisha1450 daft?c1450 doitedc1450 dotyc1450 daffish1470 insapientc1470 gucked?a1500 wanwittya1500 furious1526 insipient1528 seelya1529 dawish?1529 foolage1545 momish1546 base-wittedc1547 stultitiousa1549 follifulc1550 senseless1565 mopish1568 fondish1579 unsensiblea1586 fondly1587 dizzardly1594 follial1596 featlessc1598 fopperly1599 gowkeda1605 inept1604 simple1604 anserine1607 foppish1608 silly ass1608 unsage1608 wisdomless1608 fool-beggeda1616 Gotham1621 noddy1645 badot1653 dosser-headed1655 infrunite1657 nonsensicalc1661 slight1663 sappy1670 datelessa1686 noddy-peaked1694 nizy1709 dottled1772 gypit1804 shay-brained1806 folly-stricken1807 fool-like1811 goosy1811 spoony1813 niddle-noddle1821 gumptionless1823 daftish1825 anserous1826 as crazy as a loon1830 spoonish1833 cheese-headed1836 dotty1860 fool-fool1868 noodly1870 dilly1873 gormless1883 daffy1884 monkey-doodle1886 mosy1887 jay1891 pithecanthropic1897 peanut-headed1906 dinlo1907 boob1911 goofy1921 ding-a-ling1935 jerky1944 jerk1947 jerkish1948 pointy-headed1950 doofus1967 twitty1967 twittish1969 nerkish1975 numpty1992 c1300 St. Mary Magdalen (Laud) 493 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 476 (MED) Bote ich þe [seide] hou heo heold mi lif, for-soþe ich were nice. a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 491 (MED) Ich am vn-wis & wonderliche nyce. c1400 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Laud) (1952) 652 (MED) He dude þe childe habbe noryce, Gentil leuedyes and nouȝth nyce. a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xlii. 73 They seiden he was a fool..and that they sien neuere so Nise A man. a1500 (c1477) T. Norton Ordinal of Alchemy (BL Add.) (1975) 50 (MED) He that is not a grete clerke Is nyse & lewde to medle with that werke. a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 78 Quha that dois deidis of petie..Is haldin a fule, and that full nyce. ?1567 M. Parker Whole Psalter xlix. 141 As well the wyse: as mad and nyse, to others leave theyr port. 1617 in W. B. Armstrong Bruces of Airth (1892) 51 Many a nyse wyfe and a back doore Oft maketh a riche man poore. b. Of an action, utterance, etc.: displaying foolishness or silliness; absurd, senseless. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > [adjective] > of things, actions, etc. unwittyc1200 nicea1393 foolisha1413 kimeta1450 peevish1519 silly1566 senseless1579 untoward1658 bright1830 spoony1834 fool-fool1868 noodly1870 twitty1967 twittish1969 a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. 2801 So is it bot a nyce Sinne Of gold to ben to covoitous. c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) 323 (MED) Þyn askyng is nys..þou foly hatz frayst. c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Reeve's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 362 Hys wyf..wiste no thyng of this nyce [v.rr. nyse, nesy] stryf. a1475 J. Russell Bk. Nurture (Harl. 4011) in Babees Bk. (2002) i. 149 Cookes with þeire newe conceytes, choppynge..new curies..provokethe þe peple to perelles of passage..þrouȝ nice excesse of suche receytes. a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. ccxvi. f. cxxxvi A nyce folysshe Couenaunte ought nat to be holden. 1575 J. Rolland Treat. Court Venus i. f. 14 [Quha did] reheirs ane certane nyse Sermonis, [With argu]mentis, and diuers questionis. a1657 G. Daniel Poems (1878) II. iii. 222 Prye not into his secrets; 'tis a nice And foolish Itch, to Curiosities, To dispute Misteries. †2. a. Of conduct, behaviour, etc.: characterized by or encouraging wantonness or lasciviousness. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > [adjective] golec888 canga1225 light?c1225 wooinga1382 nicea1387 riota1400 wantonc1400 wrenec1400 lachesc1450 loose?a1500 licentious1555 libertine1560 prostitute1569 riggish1569 wide1574 slipper1581 slippery1586 sportive1595 gay1597 Cyprian1598 suburb1598 waggish1600 smicker1606 suburbian1606 loose-living1607 wantona1627 free-living1632 libertinous1632 loose-lived1641 Corinthian1642 akolastic1656 slight1685 fast1699 freea1731 brisk1740 shy1787 slang1818 randomc1825 fastish1832 loosish1846 slummya1860 velocious1872 fly1880 slack1951 a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 67 (MED) It was i-doo wiþ foule songes and gestes and iapes and nyse menstralcie. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 236 (MED) We salle..telle ȝow oþer tales of..Madok þe Morgan, of þer nyce ribaudie. a1450 (?a1390) J. Mirk Instr. Parish Priests (Claud.) (1974) 61 (MED) From nyse iapes and rybawdye, Thow moste turne a-way þyn ye. c1500 (?a1437) Kingis Quair (1939) cxxix Gif thy lufe [be] sett alluterly Of nyce lust, thy trauail is in veyne. 1529 T. More Supplyc. Soulys i. f. xvi^v These nyce and wanton wordis do not very well with vs. 1587 Sir P. Sidney & A. Golding tr. P. de Mornay Trewnesse Christian Relig. Ep. Ded. sig. 3^v Ouercome with nyce pleasures and fond vanities. a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra* (1623) iii. xiii. 182 When mine houres Were nice and lucky, men did ransome liues Of me for iests. View more context for this quotation 1665 G. Wither Seasonable Memorandum in Misc. Wks. (1872–7) iv. 7 A nice and wanton Appetite, Longs after Kickshaws, and takes more delight In dishes made up of they know not what. b. Of a person: wanton, dissolute, lascivious. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > lasciviousness or lust > [adjective] golelichc1000 luxuriousc1330 jollyc1384 lustyc1386 Venerienc1386 nicea1393 gayc1405 lasciviousc1425 libidinous1447 Venerian1448 coltishc1450 gigly1482 lubric1490 ranka1500 venereous1509 lubricous1535 venerious1547 boarish?1550 goatish?1552 cadye1554 lusting1559 coy1570 rage1573 rammish1577 venerial1577 lustful1579 rageous1579 proud1590 lust-breathed1594 rampant1596 venerous1597 sharp-seta1600 fulsome1600 lubrical1602 hot-backed1607 ruttish1607 stoned1607 muskish-minded1610 Venerean1612 saucya1616 veneral1623 lascive1647 venereal1652 lascivient1653 hircine1656 hot-tempered1673 ramp1678 randy1771 concupiscenta1834 aphrodisiac1862 lubricious1884 radgie1894 a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) vii. 4578 (MED) Anthonie..was so nyce, Wherof nature hire hath compleigned Unto the god. c1400 Simonie (Peterhouse) (1991) l. 118 Þese nyse [c1330 Auch. wantoune] prestes..playeth here nyse game By nyȝt. a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) 1285 Nyce she was, but she ne mente Noon harme ne slight in hir entente, But oonly lust & jolyte. a1450 (c1412) T. Hoccleve De Regimine Principum (Harl. 4866) (1897) 1473 (MED) Þou woldest han as wantonly þe gyed As doþ þe nycest of hem. c1450 in F. J. Furnivall Hymns to Virgin & Christ (1867) 53 (MED) Dampned soulis..wolen not do weel, but euere be nyce. ?1530 J. Rastell Pastyme of People sig. Aiv He put out of his court all nyce and wanton people. 1565 T. Peend Pleasant Fable Hermaphroditus & Salmacis* f. A7^v And yet some women say, that they be innocentes, god wot. This nycy Nymphe doth dysplay whether it be true or not. 1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost iii. i. 21 These are complementes, these are humours, these betraie nice wenches that would be betraied without these. View more context for this quotation 1605 G. Chapman et al. Eastward Hoe ii. sig. B4^v The nice fondling, my Lady sir-reuerence. c. Of dress: extravagant, showy, ostentatious. Also in extended use. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > [adjective] > fine, elegant, or smart quaintc1330 nice1395 merryc1400 featc1430 elegant?c1500 mannerly1523 fine1526 neat1566 trim1675 smart1704 dressy1785 natty1794 good1809 dossy1889 dicty1932 whip-smart1937 zooty1943 sharp1944 preppy1963 Remonstr. against Romish Corruptions (Titus) (1851) 7 (MED) Prelatis..that..wasten the godis of the chirche..in pride, glotonie, and lecherie, and nice arai of the world..ben theuis and sleeris of pore men. c1450 W. Lichefeld Complaint of God (Lamb. 853) 205 in F. J. Furnivall Polit., Relig., & Love Poems (1903) 205 (MED) Þou studiest aftir nyce aray, And makist greet cost in cloþing. c1475 tr. C. de Pisan Livre du Corps de Policie (Cambr.) (1977) 189 (MED) The ladies lefte their nyce arrayes, and the men lefte their glotonyes. 1563 2nd Tome Homelyes sig. Yy.ii An Image with a nyce and wanton apparell and countenaunce. 1568 (?a1513) W. Dunbar in W. T. Ritchie Bannatyne MS (1928) II. 148 So nyce array, So strange to thair abbay W^tin this land was nevir hard nor sene. 1607 J. Harington tr. L. Ariosto Orlando Furioso (new ed.) vi. 46 No vertuous labour doth this people please, But nice apparrell, belly-cheare and ease. a1771 C. Shaw Poems (1776) 175 He flutters forth Borne on light wing, in nice array, To shew himself in open day. d. Of a person: finely dressed, elegant. Cf. Phrases 3a. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [adjective] > neat or trim netc1330 pertc1330 cleanc1386 nicec1400 picked?c1425 dapperc1440 feata1471 gim1513 trig1513 well-trimmedc1513 trick1533 smirk1534 tricksy1552 neat1559 netty1573 deft1579 primpc1590 briska1593 smug1598 spruce1598 sprink1602 terse1602 compt1632 nitle1673 sprig1675 snod1691 tight1697 smugged1706 snug1714 pensy1718 fitty1746 jemmy1751 sprucy1774 smartc1778 natty1785 spry1806 perjink1808 soigné1821 nutty1823 toiletted1823 taut1829 spick and span1846 spicy1846 groomed1853 spiffy1853 well-groomed1865 bandboxy1870 perjinkity1880 spick-span1888 bandbox1916 tiddly1925 whip-smart1937 spit and polish1950 spit-and-polished1977 c1400 Bk. to Mother (Bodl.) 48 (MED) Þou schalt fynde..none nyce dameselis wiþ garlondis of gold ne perlis. 1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende 128 b/1 She chastysed them that were nyce and queynte, sayeng that suche nycete was fylthe of the sowle. ?1529 R. Hyrde tr. J. L. Vives Instr. Christen Woman i. xii. sig. O.iiij^v She shal not..vse her voyce to be feate and nyce. c1580 Merye Hist. Mylner Abyngton (new ed.) sig. C.i The wenche she was full proper and nyce Amonge all other she bare great price. 3. a. Precise or particular in matters of reputation or conduct; scrupulous, punctilious. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > [adjective] > seemly or proper > strictly proper nicec1387 formal?1518 point-devicea1529 ceremonious1553 ceremonial1579 squarec1590 square-toeda1797 wiggy1817 nicey1859 uptight1969 c1387–95 G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. 398 Ful many a draughte of wyn hadde he drawe Fro Burdeuxward whil that the chapman sleep; Of nyce conscience took he no keep. c1450 ( J. Walton tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Linc. Cathedral 103) 98 (MED) Nyce men..Ye seken..To enbelesch youre excellent nature! 1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes sig. M He the sole of conscience was so nice: That he no gaine would haue for all his payne. ?1573 H. Cheke tr. F. Negri Freewyl ii. iii. 81 He vnaduisedly strooke the young man, and because he is altogeather scrupulous and nice, he imagineth that he can not be free from irregularitie. 1693 T. Southerne Maids Last Prayer iv. i. 35 You shall promise me, for you are so nice in points of Honour. 1703 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion II. vii. 187 So difficult a thing it is to play an after-Game of Reputation, in that nice and jealous profession. 1709 J. Swift Project Advancem. Relig. 11 Women of tainted Reputations find the same Countenance..with those of the nicest Virtue. 1785 W. Cowper Task iii. 85 Men too were nice in honor in those days, And judg'd offenders well. 1826 B. Disraeli Vivian Grey I. ii. v. 117 I am not very nice myself about these matters. 1843 E. Miall in Nonconformist 3 227 The Duke of Wellington said..‘Men who have nice notions about religion have no business to be soldiers.’ 1887 S. Baring-Gould Red Spider I. xvii. 288 I should get it back again.., and not be too nice about the means. 1938 P. G. Wodehouse Code of Woosters xii. 261 Bertram Wooster in his dealings with the opposite sex invariably shows himself a man of the nicest chivalry. 1948 P. G. Wodehouse Spring Fever xiii. 127 Obtain possession of it by strong-arm tactics. Up against this dark and subtle butler, we cannot afford to be too nice in our methods. b. Fastidious, fussy, difficult to please, esp. with regard to food or cleanliness; of refined or dainty tastes. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > fastidiousness > [adjective] chisa700 estfula1000 esquaymous1303 squeamousc1325 overnicec1350 curiousc1380 dangerousc1386 delicatea1393 preciousc1395 nicec1400 skigc1400 over-delicatea1425 daintethc1430 ticklec1456 quaint1483 dauncha1500 pickinga1500 feat?1529 elegant?1533 queasy1545 fine1546 fine-fingered1549 fastidious?1555 fine-mouthed1559 chary1567 weamish1571 saucy1573 dainty1576 superfine1576 niced1577 overcurious1579 nicing1581 fineish1582 prick-me-dainty1583 daint1590 finical1592 tiptoe-nice1593 nice1594 nicking1598 choice1601 squeamish1608 marchpane1609 hypercritical1611 particular1616 finicking1661 overcritical1667 just so1696 penurious1703 fal-lal1747 ogertful1754 nackety1756 quiddling1789 pernickety1808 pershittie1808 taffety1814 hypercritic1820 faddy1824 finicky1825 meticulous1827 daintified1834 squeamy1838 picksome1855 choosey1862 picky1867 hyperaesthetic1879 persnickety1885 précieux1891 perskeet1897 tasty1905 Nice Nelly1922 perfectionist1942 snicketya1960 perfectionistic1968 c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) 824 (MED) Þis vnfavere [read vnsavere] hyne Lovez no salt in her sauce, ȝet hit no skyl were Þat oþer burne be boute, þaȝ boþe be nyse. a1425 St. Anthony 15 in Anglia (1881) 4 116 (MED) He wold neuer desyre oþer dayntys þan hys moder sett befor hym, os oþer nyse chylder done. c1530 A. Barclay Egloges ii. sig. Ki Make hunger thy sawse, be thou neuer so nyse For there shalt thou fynde none other sawse ne spyce. 1551 R. Robinson tr. T. More Vtopia sig. Iiii Anothere ys of so nyce and soo delycate a mynde that he settethe nothynge by yt. 1570 T. Tusser Hundreth Good Pointes Husbandry (new ed.) f. 40 The slouen and the carelesse man, the roynish nothing nice. 1600 T. Dekker Old Fortunatus sig. A2^v Your nice soules, cloyd with dilicious sounds, Will loath her lowly notes. a1656 Bp. J. Hall Shaking of Olive-tree (1660) ii. 3 Nice ears are all for variety of Doctrines, as palates of meats. 1702 W. Penn More Fruits of Solitude §136. 50 'Tis a Happiness to be delivered from a Curious Mind, as well as from a Dainty Palate. For it is not only a Troublesome but Slavish Thing to be Nice. 1707 E. Ward Wooden World Dissected 99 He is not so nice as his Superiors, whom nothing will go down with, under right Nantz or Rum. 1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 104. ⁋9 The mind..becomes..nice and fastidious, and like a vitiated palate. 1789 Shepherd's Wedding 10 Nae doubt ye wad be owr nice for to spin. 1808 Specimens Yorks. Dial. 18 She's seea nice, She weant heeat puddin' meead o' rice. 1836 C. Shaw Let. 15 June in Personal Mem. & Corr. (1837) II. 593 I can eat anything, and am not very nice about the cleanliness. 1857 N. Hawthorne Jrnl. 13 Sept. in Eng. Notebks. (1997) II. vi. 378 Neither is it [sc. ivy] at all nice as to what it clutches, in its necessity for support. 1947 R. Pitter On Cats 15 To eat rats and such he was too nice. 1952 M. Kennedy Troy Chimneys 60 Nobody, seeing her then, could have been so nice as to complain of such blemishes. †c. Particular, strict, or careful with regard to a specific point or thing. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > [adjective] > scrupulously careful or attentive to detail > in regard to some special thing nice1584 tendera1641 1584 R. Scot Discouerie Witchcraft ix. i. 167 Some are so nise, that they condemne generallie all sorts of diuinations. 1625 F. Bacon Ess. (new ed.) 175 The Spartans were a nice People in Point of Naturalization. 1661 A. Marvell Let. 18 May in Poems & Lett. (1971) II. 24 The Parlament is always very nice & curious in this point. 1724 R. Wodrow Corr. (1843) III. 141 I find them very nice that no other..be admitted to this correspondence. 1777 R. Hitchcock Coquette ii. 24 I think this complexion is the most agreeable to black—One can't be too nice in suiting the complexion to the dress. a1817 J. Austen Persuasion (1818) IV. iv. 69 Good company requires only birth, education and manners, and with regard to education is not very nice. Birth and good manners are essential. View more context for this quotation 1839 A. Ure Dict. Arts 107 He is extremely nice in selecting his malt and hops. 1861 Ld. Brougham Brit. Constit. (ed. 2) viii. 99 Like the old Romans, never very nice in weighing how large a proportion of the people influenced the government. d. Refined, cultured; associated with polite society. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > [adjective] polisheda1382 dainteousc1386 polite?a1500 delicatea1533 courtly1535 civil1551 court-like1552 well-refined1575 nice1588 perpolite1592 politic1596 soft1599 terse1628 refine1646 refined1650 elegant1652 genteel1678 chastea1797 spirituala1806 aesthetic1844 nicey1859 raffiné1865 nuttish1869 too-tooa1884 sophisticated1895 lavender1928 the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > [adjective] > well-mannered > polished or refined > of conduct urbane1659 nice1818 polished1894 1588 T. Hariot Briefe Rep. Virginia sig. A4^v Some also were of a nice bringing vp, only in cities or townes, or such as neuer (as I may say) had seene the world before. 1603 S. Daniel Panegyrike sig. H2^v Eloquence and gay wordes are..but the garnish of a nice time, the Ornaments that doe but decke the house of a State. 1697 J. Vanbrugh Relapse i. 15 The Lards I commonly eat with, are People of a nice Conversation. 1792 R. Burns in J. Johnson Scots Musical Museum IV. 341 O' nice education but sma' is her share. 1794 A. Radcliffe Myst. of Udolpho I. i. 14 As conversation awakened the nicer emotions of her mind, that threw such a captivating grace around her. 1818 P. B. Shelley Julian & Maddalo 536 As we could guess From his nice habits and his gentleness. 1874 ‘G. Eliot’ in Macmillan's Mag. July 162 ‘Truce, I beg!’ Said Osric, with nice accent. 1918 W. Cather My Ántonia i. xvii. 143 Heavy field work'll spoil that girl. She'll lose all her nice ways and get rough ones. 1981 Cook's Mag. Nov. 46/1 ‘Trash’ fish. (A nicer phrase is ‘underutilized species’—the fish that fishermen toss back into the sea). †e. Fastidious in matters of literary taste or style. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > good taste > refinement > fastidiousness > [adjective] chisa700 estfula1000 esquaymous1303 squeamousc1325 overnicec1350 curiousc1380 dangerousc1386 delicatea1393 preciousc1395 nicec1400 skigc1400 over-delicatea1425 daintethc1430 ticklec1456 quaint1483 dauncha1500 pickinga1500 feat?1529 elegant?1533 queasy1545 fine1546 fine-fingered1549 fastidious?1555 fine-mouthed1559 chary1567 weamish1571 saucy1573 dainty1576 superfine1576 niced1577 overcurious1579 nicing1581 fineish1582 prick-me-dainty1583 daint1590 finical1592 tiptoe-nice1593 nice1594 nicking1598 choice1601 squeamish1608 marchpane1609 hypercritical1611 particular1616 finicking1661 overcritical1667 just so1696 penurious1703 fal-lal1747 ogertful1754 nackety1756 quiddling1789 pernickety1808 pershittie1808 taffety1814 hypercritic1820 faddy1824 finicky1825 meticulous1827 daintified1834 squeamy1838 picksome1855 choosey1862 picky1867 hyperaesthetic1879 persnickety1885 précieux1891 perskeet1897 tasty1905 Nice Nelly1922 perfectionist1942 snicketya1960 perfectionistic1968 1594 Zepheria xviii. sig. D1^v If more nice wits censure my lines crooked, Thus I excuse, I writ my light remoued. 1628 G. Wither Britain's Remembrancer Premonit. 5 I had rather twenty nice Criticks should censure mee. c1665 L. Hutchinson Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1973) To Children 4 His judgment was so nice that he could never frame any speech beforehand to please himselfe. 1711 A. Pope Ess. Crit. 18 Thus Criticks, of less Judgement than Caprice, Curious, not Knowing, not exact but nice, Form short Ideas. 1770 J. Langhorne & W. Langhorne tr. Plutarch Lives (1879) II. 735/2 Such digressions as these the nicest readers may endure, provided they are not too long. 1841 W. Allston Monaldi ii. 35 To do him justice, he is a very nice critic, and not unskilled in poetry. f. Respectable, virtuous, decent.Now sometimes hard to distinguish from sense A. 14c (of a person). ΘΚΠ society > morality > virtue > [adjective] goodeOE dowingc1175 well-theweda1200 thewful?c1225 goodfulc1275 flourisheda1375 virtuousc1390 honesta1393 fine?a1400 theweda1400 well-manneredc1400 well-conditioneda1425 moralc1443 mannerlya1500 virtuala1500 graceful1611 well-moralized1624 well-principled1635 morate1652 unlicentious1737 respectable1750 nice1799 the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > [adjective] > seemly or proper seemly?c1225 comelya1350 seemc1400 ablea1500 setting1535 decent1545 civil1582 proper1738 gradely1763 decorous1792 nice1799 correctc1800 proprietous1815 the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > good repute > reputability or honourableness > [adjective] > respectable substantious1490 proper1600 creditable1624 decent1712 respectable1750 gradely1763 pukka1776 nice1799 salonfähig1905 quite1907 resp1922 1799 J. Austen Let. 11 June (1995) 45 The Biggs would call her a nice Woman. 1876 C. M. Yonge Womankind xvi. 126 Though a well managed, innocent and select rink is quite possible, ‘nice’ girls would do well to abstain from those where a chance public shares the sport. 1881 H. James Portrait of Lady III. v. 69 ‘Do you consider it nice to make love to married women?’.. ‘It's certain that all the nice men do it.’ 1905 E. Wharton House of Mirth i. xiv. 245 He had never wanted to marry a ‘nice’ girl: the adjective connoting..certain utilitarian qualities..apt to preclude the luxury of charm. 1935 ‘A. Bridge’ Illyrian Spring xi. 139 He came of nice people, in the peculiar sense in which the English use the word nice—meaning thereby, not that a family is necessarily either amiable or amusing, but merely that it possesses a certain degree of good breeding. 1979 R. Jaffe Class Reunion (1980) i. i. 23 They took her to resort hotels..where she could meet nice Jewish boys. g. Of a topic of conversation, mode of conduct, etc.: in good taste, appropriate, proper. Usually in negative contexts. ΚΠ 1863 A. Trollope Rachel Ray II. x. 205 ‘But didn't he mean that he intended to marry a Baslehurst lady?’ ‘He meant it in that sort of way in which men do mean such things... But don't let us talk any more about it, mamma. It isn't nice.’ 1896 A. R. White Youth's Educator iii. 31 Many children form habits which are not nice, such as spitting on the floor, scratching the head, stretching themselves out upon a chair, yawning, etc. 1928 Observer 22 July 7 Camberley..was rather like a shocked maiden aunt, who had been forced to look on at something not quite ‘nice’. 1967 S. Terkel Division Street vii. 162 To shoot people in the dark..it sounds trite to say, it's not nice. 1993 N.Y. Times Bk. Rev. 27 June 14/2 We readers begin to suspect that there is something not altogether nice about the beautiful, sorrowful Eugenia's relationship with her half brother, Edgar. †4. a. In early use: faint-hearted, timorous, cowardly, unmanly. Later also: effeminate. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > life > sex and gender > female > effeminacy > [adjective] womanly?c1225 ferbleta1300 effeminatea1393 nicea1393 softc1450 manlessa1529 unmanly1534 cockney1573 effeminated1580 unmanlikea1586 milky1602 enervate1603 womanizing1615 emasculate1622 womanized1624 softly1643 womanlish1647 unmasculine1649 emollid1656 ladylike1656 enervated1660 emasculated1701 petticoated1708 tea-faced1728 effeminized1789 invirile1870 epicene1881 sissyish1889 sissified1898 devirilized1901 cockless1902 camp1909 pansy1929 campy1932 queenly1933 poncy1937 pansyish1941 swishy1941 moffie1954 poofy1956 femme1963 poofed-up1964 minty1965 ponced-up1970 lavender1979 a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) iv. 610 Whi hast thou drede?.. Ha, nyce herte, fy for schame! Ha, couard herte of love unlered! c1450 ( J. Walton tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Linc. Cathedral 103) 282 (MED) Þe [read ye] nyce men ond mased in ȝoure mende, Why nyll ye fighte aȝeyn aduersite? a1500 Lancelot of Laik (1870) 1944 The..wice Wich makith o king within hyme self so nyce hyme with-drowith Them to repref. 1574 J. Baret Aluearie N 98 Men thinke they wax [printed way] nice & effeminate. 1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes An effeminate, nice, milkesop, puling fellow. 1607 R. Niccols Cuckow 10 Their womans manhood by their cloaths perfum'd..Whose nice, effeminate and base behauiour Was counted comely. 1681 R. L'Estrange tr. Cicero Offices (ed. 2) 64 Any thing that is Loose, Nice, and Effeminate. 1691 A. D'Anvers Poem upon his Majesty 7 You Britannia have been found of late, Soft to a Scorn, Nice, and Effeminate, From your Brave Ancestors degenerate. 1703 T. Baker Tunbridge-walks sig. A8^v Maiden, A Nice-Fellow, that values himself upon all Effeminacies. b. Slothful, lazy, sluggish. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > sloth or laziness > [adjective] sweerc725 foridledc1230 idlea1300 faintc1325 recrayed1340 slewful1340 nicea1398 sleuthya1400 delicate?c1400 sleuthfulc1400 slothfulc1400 sloth1412 lurdanc1480 luskinga1500 luskish15.. droning1509 bumbard?a1513 slottery1513 desidiousa1540 lazy1549 slovening1549 truanta1550 sleuth1567 litherly1573 truantly1579 dronish1580 lubberly1580 truant-like1583 shiftless1584 sluggard1594 fat1598 lusky1604 sweatless1606 clumse1611 easeful1611 loselly1611 do-littlea1613 sluggardisha1627 pigritious1638 drony1653 murcid1656 thokisha1682 shammockinga1704 indolent1710 huddroun1721 nothing-doing1724 desidiose1727 lusk1775 slack-twisted1794 sweert1817 bone-lazya1825 lurgy1828 straight-backed1830 do-nothing1832 slobbish1833 bone idle1836 slouch1837 lotophagous1841 shammocky1841 bein1847 thoky1847 lotus-eating1852 fainéant1855 sluggardly1865 lazy-boned1875 do-naught1879 easy-going1879 lazyish1892 slobbed1962 a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add.) f. 179 Catotephas..ben litil of bodye and nyse [L. iners] of membres and slowe. ?a1430 T. Hoccleve Mother of God l. 5 in Minor Poems (1970) i. 52 Thogh þat I be nyce, And negligent in keepyng of his lawe. Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 355 Nyce, Iners. 1604 R. Cawdrey Table Alphabet. Nice, slow, laysie. c. Not able to endure much; tender, delicate, fragile. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > ill health > [adjective] > in state of ill health or diseased > weak > of constitution neshOE tender?c1225 softa1387 delicatea1398 nicec1450 slendera1500 weak?1523 dainty1562 fine1562 cockney1573 weakly1577 dough-baked1592 lax1732 flimsy1742 lax-fibred1762 doughy1763 dauncy1846 fragile1858 slim1877 chétif1908 the world > plants > by habitat or distribution > [adjective] > hardy or not hardy tender1614 hardy1629 sturdy1695 nicec1710 tenderish1798 half-hardy1818 ironclad1871 c1450 C. d'Orleans Poems (1941) 140 (MED) Be nyse myn hert as purse is of an ay. 1562 W. Bullein Bk. Use Sicke Men f. lvi, in Bulwarke of Defence Soche be the weake, feble, nise stomackes of many. 1617 W. Lawson Countrie Housewifes Garden x. 24 in New Orchard & Garden (1618) The bee is tender and nice, and onely liues in warm weather. a1674 Earl of Clarendon Life (1842) i. 927/2 He..was of so nice and tender a composition, that a little rain or wind would disorder him. c1710 C. Fiennes Diary (1888) 26 But these are nice plants and are kept mostly under Glass's, ye aire being too rough for them. 1798 J. Boaden Cambro-Britons iii. 59 I take blame..That I..longer to embrace that tender form, Trust its nice sense to the chill breeze of night. 1813 M. R. Mitford Rival Sisters i. 271 The flowery mound, Where many a cherish'd tender blossom sprung, Where nice exotics wintery shelter found. d. Pampered, luxurious. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > physical sensibility > sensuous pleasure > luxury or luxurious living > [adjective] > luxurious (of things) delicatec1400 delicious?c1450 fleshpot1535 lascivious1589 nice1621 mollitious1629 luxurious1650 luxuriant1671 voluptuous1816 de luxe1819 plushy1884 plush1890 1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy i. ii. iv. ii. 194 We..spoile our childrens manners, by our overmuch cockering and nice education. 1720 J. Ozell et al. tr. R. A. de Vertot Hist. Revol. Rom. Republic II. xii. 221 All the Roman Youth that had..grown effeminate with nice Living, joined and favoured Catiline. †5. Strange, rare, extraordinary. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > expectation > feeling of wonder, astonishment > quality of inspiring wonder > [adjective] > with quality of strangeness selcouthc888 uncouthc900 sellya1000 ferly?c1225 strangec1374 nicec1395 ferlifula1400 monsterfulc1460 portentous1553 miraculous1569 vengible1594 strangefula1618 phenomenous1743 phenomenala1850 very like a whale1859 weird and wonderful1859 fourth-dimensional1902 out of this world1941 unreal1965 c1395 G. Chaucer Canon's Yeoman's Tale 842 Thogh he sitte at his book bothe day and nyght In lernyng of this eluyssh nyce [v.r. wise] loore, Al is in veyn..To lerne a lewed man this subtiltee. a1500 ( Pilgrimage of Soul (Egerton) (1953) iv. xxvi. f. 69^v (MED) I merveyled noght..so muche of no thing þat I sawe..as I do now of this nyce sight. a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 115 Quhone I awoyk, my dreme it wes so nyce, Fra everie wicht I hid it as a vyce. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Ecclus. xliii. 27 For there by straunge wonderous workes, dyuerse maner of nyce beestes and whall fishes. 1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde iii. ii. f. 95 Frome hensforth we shal neyther enuye nor reuerence the nyse frutefulnes of Stoidum, or Taprobana, or the redde sea. a1573 W. Lauder Minor Poems (1870) 38 I think this change is wonderus strange & nyce! 1603 Philotus cxlix. sig. F^v This purpois gosse, appeirs to me Sa wonder nyce and strange to be. 1703 R. Thoresby Let. 27 Apr. in J. Ray Philos. Lett. (1718) 333 Nise, strange, nise Work, strang. †6. a. Shy, coy, (affectedly) modest; reserved. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > humility > modesty > shyness or bashfulness > [adjective] > coy coyc1386 nicea1400 coylya1542 skeighc1560 coyish1566 skittish1648 maidenish1749 maidish1822 a1400 (?c1300) Bevis of Hampton (Egerton) l. 3199 + 7 Maydens at her first weddyng, Wel nyse al þe first nyȝt. 1568 Christis Kirk on Grene in W. T. Ritchie Bannatyne MS (1928) II. 262 Thay wer so nyss quhen men thame nicht Thay squeilit lyk ony gaitis. ?1592 Trag. Solyman & Perseda sig. A3 Then be not nice Perseda as women woont, To hasty louers. 1599 in W. Fraser Mem. Maxwells of Pollok (1863) II. 9 I ame sorie that ye vas so nyce uith the Lorde Murley, for he is my olde freinde. 1637 J. Milton Comus 6 Ere..The nice Morne on th'Indian steepe From her cabin'd loop hole peepe. 1693 R. Ames Folly of Love (ed. 2) 20 Now nice, then free, now grave, and then more common, There is no other Riddle but a Woman. 1739 D. Bellamy Innocence Betray'd ii. iii. 112 'Tisn't a Virtue, Lucia, but a Vice, To be so very coy! so very nice. a1763 W. Shenstone Wks. (1773) I. ii. 282 She nor nice nor coy Accepts the tribute of a joyless day. 1823 C. K. Sharpe Ballad Bk. 9 The lasses o' the Cannogate, O, they are wond'rous nice,—They winna gie a single kiss, But for a double price. b. Shy, reluctant, or unwilling in regard of or to. Also with in or infinitive. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > wish or inclination > unwillingness > [adjective] argha1000 slowOE unwillyc1200 sweera1300 unfain1338 loathc1374 dangerousc1386 eschewc1386 squeamous1387 obstinate?a1439 unpresta1500 ill-willing?1520 evil-willing1525 untowards1525 untowarda1530 unwilling1533 strange1548 ill-willed1549 dainty1553 relucting1553 squeamish?1553 nicea1560 loathful1561 coyish1566 coy1576 unhearty1583 costive1594 unready1595 tarrowinga1598 undisposed1597 involuntary1598 backward1600 retrograde1602 unpregnant1604 scrupulous1608 unprone1611 refractory1614 behindhanda1616 nilling1620 backwards1627 shya1628 retractable1632 reluctant1638 loughta1641 tendera1641 unapt1640 uninclinable1640 unbeteaming1642 boggling1645 averse1646 indisposed1646 aversant1657 incomposed1660 disinclined1703 unobliging1707 unconsenting1713 uninclined1729 tenacious1766 disinclinable1769 ill-disposed1771 unaffectioned1788 scruplesomec1800 back-handed1817 sweert1817 tharf1828 backward in coming forward1830 unvoluntary1834 misinclined1837 squeamy1838 balky1847 retractive1869 grudging1874 tharfish1876 unwishful1876 safety first1917 a1560 W. Kennedy Passioun of Christ in J. A. W. Bennett Devotional Pieces (1955) 33 O I vnding, of all helping so naice. 1568 A. Scott Poems (1896) 91 The nycest to ressave Vpoun the nynis will nip it. 1617 F. Moryson Itinerary iii. 40 I found the Italians nothing nice to shew their strong forts to me and to other strangers. c1665 L. Hutchinson Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1973) 29 She is the nicest creature in the world of suffering her perfections to be knowne. 1668 A. Behn Oroonoko in Wks. (1718) 55 They are extreme modest and bashful, very shy, and nice of being touch'd. 1676 J. Dryden Aureng-Zebe ii. 29 Virtue is nice to take what's not her own. 1699 P. A. Motteux Island Princess ii. 13 Virgins are nice to Love; I wou'd not have her forc'd; give her fair liberty. 7. a. Not obvious or readily understood; difficult to decide or settle; demanding close consideration; †intricate (obsolete). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [adjective] > difficult or complex nice?a1500 perplexeda1522 perplex1534 intricablea1540 implicate1555 labyrinthed1641 complexed1646 knotted1649 complicated1656 plicated1666 complicatea1687 complex1715 Byzantine1937 the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > unintelligibility > depth, obscurity > [adjective] higheOE dighela1000 deepc1000 darkOE starkOE dusk?c1225 subtle1340 dimc1350 subtilea1393 covert1393 mystica1398 murka1400 cloudyc1400 hard?c1400 mistyc1400 unclearc1400 diffuse1430 abstractc1450 diffused?1456 exquisitec1460 obnubilous?a1475 obscure?a1475 covered1484 intricate?a1500 nice?a1500 perplexeda1500 difficilea1513 difficult1530 privy1532 smoky1533 secret1535 abstruse?1549 difficul1552 entangled1561 confounded1572 darksome1574 obnubilate1575 enigmatical1576 confuse1577 mysteriousa1586 Delphic1598 obfuscatea1600 enfumed1601 Delphicala1603 obstruse1604 abstracted1605 confused1611 questionable1611 inevident1614 recondite1619 cryptic1620 obfuscated1620 transcendent1624 Delphian1625 oraculous1625 enigmatic1628 recluse1629 abdite1635 undilucidated1635 clouded1641 benighted1647 oblite1650 researched1653 obnubilated1658 obscurative1664 tenebrose1677 hyperbyssal1691 condite1695 diffusive1709 profound1710 tenebricose1730 oracular1749 opaque1761 unenlightening1768 darkling1795 offuscating1798 unrecognizable1817 tough1820 abstrusive1848 obscurant1878 out-of-focus1891 unplumbable1895 inenubilable1903 non-transparent1939 the world > relative properties > order > disorder > confusion or disorder > entanglement or entangled state > complication or complexity > [adjective] nice?a1500 plaited1532 intricablea1540 unsimple?1541 entangled1561 intrinsicate1562 Gordian1606 involved1643 complexed1646 contortuplicated1648 complicated1656 puzzled1659 involute1669 complicatea1687 complex1715 woofed1820 snaggled1896 non-transparent1939 complexified1962 a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Wolf & Lamb l. 2722 in Poems (1981) 101 O man of law, let be thy subtelte, With nice gimpis and fraudis intricait. a1522 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) iii. Prol. 14 Nyce laborynth, quhar Mynotaur the bull Was kepit. 1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. (1586) i. 19 The finer wit a man is of, the more he beateth it..about nice and intricate pointes. 1649 Bp. J. Taylor Great Exemplar iii. § xiv. 51 The way to destruction is broad and plausible, the way to heaven nice and austere. 1689 W. Popple tr. J. Locke Let. conc. Toleration 3 Opinions..about nice and intricate Matters that exceed the Capacity of ordinary Understandings. 1759 W. Robertson Hist. Scotl. I. 175 It was the work but of one day to examine and to resolve this nice problem. 1789 W. Belsham Ess. I. vii. 134 It becomes a very nice and curious question indeed. 1847 A. Helps Friends in Council I. ii. 20 One of the nicest problems for a man to solve. 1885 Manch. Examiner 3 June 5/1 Whether the agreement was actually violated is a question involving several nice points. 1906 J. Galsworthy Man of Prop. 238 Boulter, who had the matter in hand..told him that in his opinion it was rather a nice point; he would like counsel's opinion on it. 1980 D. Lodge How far can you Go? (1981) v. 143 It is a nice question how far you can go in this process without throwing out something vital. b. Minute, subtle; (of differences) slight, small. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective] > slight brief1432 ride?a1500 nice1561 remote1625 slim1671 faint1726 slightish1761 1561 T. Norton tr. J. Calvin Inst. Christian Relig. i. xii. f. 29 Nowe leauyng nice suttleties, lette us wey the matter it selfe. 1612 T. James Treat. Corruption Script. (new ed.) iv. 6 They seeme to mince and slice the matter into certaine nice and subtile distinctions. 1662 E. Stillingfleet Origines Sacræ iii. iii. §4 Without perplexing our minds about those more nice and subtile speculations. 1733 A. Pope Ess. Man i. 205 Twixt that, and Reason, what a nice Barrier, For ever sep'rate, yet for ever near. 1784 S. Johnson Let. 2 Sept. (1994) IV. 390 Your critick seems to me to be an exquisite Frenchman; his remarks are nice; they would at least have escaped me. 1855 A. Bain Senses & Intellect i. i. 110 The generality of people can appreciate far nicer differences than these. 1870 J. S. Howson Metaphors St. Paul ii. 41 When we desire to appreciate the nicer shades of meaning. 1948 T. Heggen Mister Roberts x. 123 Everything was planned to the nicest detail. 1974 Current Anthropol. 15 134 There is a nice distinction between suicide, self-sacrifice, and martyrdom. c. Precise in correspondence; exact, closely judged. ΚΠ 1710 J. Addison Whig Examiner No. 4. ¶8 A very nice Resemblance. 1746 J. Hervey Medit. (1818) 127 You may observe..in its gently-bending tufts, the nicest symmetry. 1802 W. Paley Nat. Theol. xii. 237 A nicer accommodation to their respective conveniency. 1841 E. Miall in Nonconformist 1 1 No words could describe with nicer accuracy the political movements of English dissenters. 1866 Duke of Argyll Reign of Law ii. 92 The nice and perfect balance which is maintained between these two Forces. 1950 ‘C. S. Forester’ Mr. Midshipman Hornblower i He revelled in the nice calculation of chances. 1981 Shakespeare Q. 32 252 Tovah Feldshuh was darkly beautiful and radiantly youthful... Her Romeo..was a nice match for her. 8. That requires or involves great precision or accuracy. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > exactness, accuracy, precision > [adjective] > strict, rigorous just1490 nicea1522 point-devicea1529 exact1533 narrow1551 rigorousa1564 point-vice1574 curious1614 rigid?1626 hard1690 strict1749 deadly1909 a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) iii. iv. 138 Our fallowschip exerce palestrale play.., Nakit worsling and strougling at nyse poynt. 1590 ‘Pasquil’ First Pt. Pasquils Apol. sig. D2^v The pearle of the word, must not be weighed in those scales that men commonly vse to weigh their yron, it is a nicer work. 1665 R. Boyle Occas. Refl. ii. viii. sig. P4 The Watch I use to measure the time with in nice Experiments. 1756 A. Butler Lives Saints I. Introd. Disc. p. xv The indagation is often a task both nice and laborious. 1776 A. Smith Inq. Wealth of Nations I. i. x. 127 A house carpenter seems to exercise rather a nicer and more ingenious trade than a mason. View more context for this quotation 1822 J. Imison Elem. Sci. & Art I. 35 Those who are engaged in making nice philosophical experiments. 1840 Penny Cycl. XVI. 209/2 For nice purposes the metal may be obtained in a state of purity by the following process. 1891 Manufacturer & Builder July 148 Devices employed to determine the amount of electric force in the current..being purely arbitrary and founded upon no law,..could not be accurately depended upon for nice experiments. 1911 Amer. Econ. Rev. 1 468 It is by nice experiment and comparison that the precise point is determined. †9. a. Slender, thin, fine; insubstantial. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > space > shape > condition of being long in relation to breadth > slenderness > [adjective] subtlea1382 subtilea1393 subtilec1392 smiltc1400 fine?a1425 thina1425 exile?1440 slender1444 tenuious1495 jimp?a1513 lenye1513 fine-spuna1555 nice1567 spindled1584 gracile1590 snever1640 tenuous1656 slim1657 gracilious1688 gracilent1727 twittery1819 flitterya1834 attenuate1848 spiry1849 low-profile1906 matchlike1906 slimline1949 1567 J. Maplet Greene Forest (1930) ii. 77 The Fig tree, is of no high growth, neither nice in bodie, but grossely set and thick. 1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene iii. ii. sig. Cc7^v As Ladies wont, in pleasures wanton lap, To finger the fine needle and nyce thread. 1600 E. Fairfax tr. T. Tasso Godfrey of Bulloigne ii. xxxix. 27 Her loftie hand would of it selfe refuse To touch the daintie needle, or nice thred. a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) iii. iii. 15 The pollicy may either last so long, Or feede vpon such nice, and watrish diet. a1631 J. Donne Poems (1633) 7 Glassie bubles, with the gamesome boyes Stretch to so nice a thinnes through a quill That they themselves breake. 1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones IV. x. iv. 32 Let me have the Bacon cut very nice and thin; for I can't endure any Thing that's gross. View more context for this quotation b. Unimportant, trivial. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [adjective] > of little importance or trivial eathlyc890 lighteOE littleOE small?c1225 singlec1449 easy1474 triflous1509 naughty1526 slender1530 slight1548 shrimpish1549 slipper1567 truanta1572 toyous1581 trivious1583 mean1585 silly1587 nicea1594 puny?1594 puisne1598 pusill1599 whindling1601 sapless1602 non-significant1603 poor1603 unsignificant1603 flea-bite1605 perishing1605 lank1607 weightless1610 fonda1616 penny farthing1615 triviala1616 unweighty1621 transitory1637 twattling1651 inconsiderate1655 unserious1655 nugal1656 small drink1656 slighty1662 minute1668 paddling1679 snitling1682 retail1697 Lilliputian1726 vain1731 rattletrap1760 peppercornish1762 peppercorn1791 underling1804 venial1806 lightweight1809 floccinaucical1826 small-bore1833 minified1837 trantlum1838 piffling1848 tea-tabular1855 potty1860 whipping-snapping1861 tea-gardeny1862 quiddling1863 twaddling1863 fidgeting1865 penny ante1865 feather-weighted1870 jerkwater1877 midget1879 mimsy1880 shirttail1881 two-by-four1885 footle1894 skittery1905 footery1929 Mickey Mouse1931 chickenshit1934 minoritized1945 marginal1952 marginalized1961 tea-party1961 little league1962 marginalizing1977 minnowy1991 a1594 Edmond Ironside (1991) ii. i. 73 My lord, you are to scrupulous, To vnadvised, to fearefull with out Cavse To stand vppon such nice excuses. 1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet v. ii. 18 The letters were not nice, but of great weight. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) iv. ii. 60 In such a time as this, it is not meet That euery nice offence should beare his Comment. View more context for this quotation 1684 W. Killigrew Ormasdes v. 89 You have no argument for this command, But your own nice, unnecessary thought, By which your virtue, may become a fault! 10. †a. That enters minutely into details; meticulous, attentive, sharp. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > [adjective] > scrupulously careful or attentive to detail curious1570 nice1589 particular1616 scrupulous1638 elaborate1649 morose1695 minutiose1868 minutious1891 meticulous1952 1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie ii. xii. 86 We imputed it to a nice & scholasticall curiositie in such makers. 1617 F. Moryson Itinerary iii. 35 His company is like to be shunned, as of a nice observer of mens actions and manners. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics ii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 82 Some Peasants, not t' omit the nicest Care, Of the same Soil their Nursery prepare. View more context for this quotation 1738 in J. Keill Ess. Animal Oecon. (ed. 4) Pref. p. xx Nicer inquiries into the Structures of the Parts. 1789 G. White Nat. Hist. Selborne 16 Upon a nice examination..I could discover nothing resinous in them. 1839 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 2 328/2 It fluctuates..perceptibly to a nice observer. 1864 F. C. Bowen Treat. Logic xii. 397 The cases may be strictly parallel in every visible respect, as tested by the nicest observations. b. Of the eye, ear, etc.: able to distinguish or discriminate to a high degree; sensitive, acute. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > discernment, discrimination > [adjective] > with delicacy delicatea1533 finea1566 fine-headed1574 nice1593 refining1595 choice1601 refined1607 point-device1639 exquisite1643 nice-discerning1745 feelingful1943 1593 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia 22 Such a man was Argalus, as hardly the nicest eye can find a spot in. 1622 G. Wither Faire-virtue sig. I2 If there be present here, Any one, whose nicer eare: Taskes my Measures, as offending. 1659 W. Chamberlayne Pharonnida iii. iv. 231 The nice eye here epitomiz'd might see Rich Persia's wealth. 1721 J. Dart Westminster-Abbey 60 The Numbers harsh appear, And the rough Language grates the nicer Ear. 1755 J. Shebbeare Lydia (1769) II. 142 A nice pallate in good liquor had made my landlord a favourite companion. 1795 J. Wolcot Hair Powder in Wks. (1812) III. 304 Dull though thy tympanum, her nicer ear Catches a thunder-growl from yonder sphere. 1847 H. Miller Test. Rocks (1857) v. 209 Gifted..with a peculiarly nice eye for detecting those analogies. 1873 R. Browning Red Cotton Night-cap Country iv. 273 The nice eye can distinguish grade and grade. 1904 L. Binyon Death of Adam 85 Works divine..suffered only to be scanned (With fond touches of the hand) By the nice appraising eye. 1980 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 2 June c2 The Quebec native rode for 15 years and has a nice eye for horse flesh. 1993 Amer. Q. 45 314 Silverman also has a nice ear for the overdetermined resonances that sound throughout Poe's life. c. Delicate or skilful in manipulation; dexterous. Also figurative. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > [adjective] > having or characterized by bodily skill > skilled with hands > and delicate nicea1631 a1631 J. Donne Poems (1633) 150 So devoutly nice Are Priests in handling reverent sacrifice, And nice in searching wounds the Surgeon is As wee, when wee embrace, or touch, or kisse. 1647 H. Bold in Cyprian Acad. p. xiv Thy twisted Plott so nice a hand hath spun, You'd sweare it were not only made, but done. 1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 83. ¶4 One Person at Work, who was exceeding slow in his Motions, and wonderfully nice in his Touches. 1764 T. Reid Inq. Human Mind i. iii. 78 The nicest artist cannot make a feather or the leaf of a tree. 1806 J. Beresford Miseries Human Life I. ii. 40 Jobs that require both a nice hand, and a contriving head. 1838 W. G. Simms Carl Werner 100 She lay buried in the bosom of the solid rock, whence his nice hand and searching instrument of steel, gave her release. 1956 Amer. Q. 8 283 He sketches phases of it..and when his data are ample, he does so with a nice hand. 1992 M. J. Staples Sergeant Joe (BNC) 95 She let him treat her ankle and put liniment on it... ‘It's coming along,’ said Joe. ‘Well, you've got a nice touch, Joe’. d. Of judgement, etc.: finely discriminative. ΚΠ 1697 K. Chetwood Pref. to Pastorals in J. Dryden tr. Virgil Wks. sig. **2^v Virgil..was of too nice a Judgment to introduce a God denying the Power and Providence of the Deity. 1742 W. Shenstone School-mistress* xxi With nice Discernment see Ye quench not too the Sparks of nobler Fires! 1785 G. Crabbe News-paper 13 We cannot call their morals pure, Their judgment nice, or their decisions sure. 1833 H. Martineau French Wines & Politics i. 16 No people on earth had so nice a sense of the morally graceful. 1845 S. Austin tr. L. von Ranke Hist. Reformation in Germany (ed. 2) I. 297 His style is not above mediocrity, nor does he evince any nice sense of elegance and form. 1903 H. Keller Story of my Life i. xx. 72 Just at the moment when you need your memory and a nice sense of discrimination, these faculties take to themselves wings and fly away. 1985 Glasgow Herald 5 Oct. 7/3 There is nice judgement needed to decide just when to come to the refinement of adding the infusion of a pint or so of strong black Darjeeling tea. †11. a. Critical, doubtful; full of risk or uncertainty. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > belief > uncertainty, doubt, hesitation > unreliability > [adjective] unsicker?c1225 uncertaina1382 unsadc1384 untristya1387 untrustya1387 unsurec1412 falliblec1425 slipperc1430 ficklea1450 frivol1488 slidder?a1500 casuala1535 slippery1548 slippy1548 failable1561 doubtful1562 lubricious1584 slope1587 queasy1589 unconfirmedc1592 nice1598 catching1603 loose1603 precary1606 ambiguous1612 treacherous1612 unsafe1615 unsureda1616 precarious1626 lubric1631 dubious1635 lubricous1646 unestablished1646 unfixed1654 unsecure?a1685 unreliable1810 unproven1836 untrustworthy1846 shady1848 wobbly1877 Kaffir1899 independable1921 dodgy1961 temperamental1962 1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 iv. i. 48 To set so rich a maine On the nice hazard of one doubtfull houre? It were not good. View more context for this quotation 1608 D. Tuvill Ess. Politicke, & Morall f. 64^v Vnderstanding on what nice tearms the life of the Blacke-Prince..did stande. 1682 London Gaz. No. 1711/4 We bless Propitious Heaven, which..has directed Your Majesty in these Nice and Critical times. 1710 R. Wodrow Corr. (1842) I. 195 You know my itch after accounts of..the true state of things at this nice juncture. 1775 C. Lennox Old City Manners iii. i. 31 They are impatient to be gone, for their stay is dangerous; mine begins to be somewhat nice, and requires good speed. 1822 T. Creevey Reminiscences 28 July in H. Maxwell Creevey Papers (1904) I. 236 It has been a damned nice thing—the nearest run thing you ever saw in your life. b. Requiring tact, care, or discrimination in handling. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [adjective] > difficult or delicate fine-fingered1549 brickle1568 kittle1568 tickle1569 delicate1574 trickle1579 chary1581 ticklesome1585 ticklish1591 jealous1600 tender1625 nicea1630 thorny1653 parlous1657 tricksy1835 niggling1851 tricky1868 catchy1874 pernickety1884 trickish1900 fiddly1926 footery1929 a1630 F. Moryson in Shakespeare's Europe (1903) ii. iii. 184 A Treatise to be written of purpose, and with deliberation vppon that nice Subiect. 1664 J. Wilson Projectors v Things of this nature are so nice, and kickish, the least Error renders them irretriveable. 1689 J. Collier Moral Ess. conc. Pride 51 You are upon a touchy Point, and therefore I hope you will treat so nice a subject..with proportionable caution. 1741 S. Richardson Pamela III. ix. 40 I hope you had Presence of Mind to do this.—For it was a nice Part to act. 1777 R. Watson Hist. Reign Philip II I. iii. 86 For several years in the nicest political negociations. 1842 R. H. Barham Auto-da-fé in Ingoldsby Legends 2nd Ser. 67 On a subject so nice It's a delicate matter to give one's advice. 1858 S. Lover Songs & Ballads (ed. 4) 216 'Twas agreed an appeal to the sky Should be made in a matter so nice. 12. a. Minutely or carefully accurate. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > exactness, accuracy, precision > [adjective] rightOE namely?c1225 lealc1330 very1338 truec1400 justc1425 exquisite1541 precise?a1560 jump1581 accuratea1599 nice1600 refined1607 punctual1608 press?1611 square1632 exact1645 unerring1665 proper1694 correct1705 pointed1724 prig1776 precisivea1805 as right as a trivet1835 spot on1936 1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing v. i. 75 Ile prooue it on his body if he dare, Dispight his nice fence, and his actiue practise. 1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vi. 584 All at once thir Reeds Put forth, and to a narrow vent appli'd With nicest touch. View more context for this quotation 1699 R. Bentley Diss. Epist. Phalaris (new ed.) Pref. p. xciii The largest and nicest knowledge of the English Language, of any man living. 1769 J. Reynolds Disc. Royal Acad., 2 Jan. 1769 8 That critical period of study, on the nice management of which their future turn of taste depends. 1805 Ld. Collingwood 16 Dec. in Ld. Nelson Disp. & Lett. (1846) VII. 242 To pass them from the leeward..required nice steerage. 1849 H. W. Longfellow Building of Ship in Seaside & Fireside 8 With nicest skill and art,..A little model the Master wrought. 1925 W. Cather Professor's House i. xiii. 146 He never acquired a nice laboratory technic. He would fail repeatedly in some perfectly sound experiment because of careless procedure. †b. Of an instrument or apparatus: capable of showing minute differences; finely poised or adjusted. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > exactness, accuracy, precision > [adjective] > of tools, materials, etc.: accurate truec1392 just?1556 precise1561 finea1566 delicate1581 nicea1628 exact1665 sensible1678 sensitive1820 precision1875 pin-sharp1933 a1628 F. Greville Certaine Wks. (1633) i. 54 To pease his deeds, by her nice weights and measure. 1644 in Curious Accts. (Edinb. Laing) f. 19 To Daved Lowgnes vyff after the coumpes wos nies 20 li. 16s. 1666 R. Boyle Origine Formes & Qualities 397 Imploying a nice pair of Gold Scales..I found that this Powder weigh'd somewhat..more than twice so much common Water. 1704 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum I. at Hygroscope You will find this plain and simple Instrument, the nicest Hygrometer of any, for it will show you very small Alterations. 1771 T. Percival Ess. Med. & Exper. (1776) III. 127 A watery dew..which being committed to a nice scale, may probably be found to be equal in gravity to a drop of rain. a1820 J. Woodhouse Life Crispinus Scriblerus xi. in Life & Poet. Wks. (1896) I. 202/2 Martin's mathematic skill must fail To graduate, and grave, so nice a scale. 1875 E. H. Sears Serm. & Songs 29 Weigh arguments in the nicest intellectual scales. 13. Of food or drink: dainty, choice; (later in weakened sense) tasty, appetizing; refreshing, restorative. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > savouriness > [adjective] likingeOE goodOE lickerousc1275 deliciousa1325 daintya1382 dainteousc1386 daintiful1393 delicatea1398 merrya1398 savourlyc1400 liciousc1420 savourousa1425 daintethc1430 lustyc1430 feelsomea1450 nuttya1450 seasonablea1475 delicativec1475 unctuous1495 well-tasteda1500 daintive1526 savoury1533 exquisite1561 spicy1562 well-relished?1575 finger-licking1584 toothsome1584 taste-pleasinga1586 daint1590 relishsome1593 lickerish1595 tastesome1598 friand1599 tooth-tempting1603 relishing1605 well-relishing1608 neat1609 hungry1611 palate-pleasing1611 tasteful1611 palatea1617 tastya1617 palatable1619 toothful1622 sipid1623 unsoured1626 famelic1631 tasteablea1641 piquant1645 sapid1646 saporousa1670 slape1671 palativea1682 flavorous1697 nice1709 well-flavoured1717 gusty1721 flavoury1727 fine-palated1735 unrepulsive1787 degustatory1824 zesty1826 peckish1845 mouth-watering1847 flavoursome1853 unreasty1853 unrancida1855 relishy1864 toothy1864 flavoured1867 tasty-looking1867 hungrifying1886 velvety1888 snappy1892 zippy1911 savoursome1922 delish1953 the world > food and drink > food > qualities of food > [adjective] > delicate or dainty estlichc1200 daintya1382 dainteousc1386 daintiful1393 delicatea1398 daintethc1430 delicativec1475 daintive1526 exquisite1561 daint1590 friand1599 neat1609 nice1709 tid1727 1709 W. King Art of Love (new ed.) iv. 37 Something nice and costly he could eat. 1709 D. Manley Secret Mem. 14 What a profuseness in eating, how his Table abounded, in what was nice as well as necessary. 1712 J. Arbuthnot App. to John Bull Still in Senses i. 9 This was but a pretence to provide some nice Bit for himself. a1766 F. Sheridan Concl. Mem. Miss Sidney Bidulph (1770) V. 193 We sent her up three or four plates of the nicest things that were at table. a1825 R. Forby Vocab. E. Anglia (1830) II. 333 Sunkets.., dainty bits; nice feeding. 1853 A. Soyer Pantropheon 284 Some of these pastries would appear very nice to us in the present day. 1899 R. Whiteing No. 5 John St. iv. 38 Her sex's universal restorative... ‘You shall have a nice cup of tea.’ a1911 D. G. Phillips Susan Lenox (1917) II. viii. 210 Would you like a nice drink? 1961 I. Fleming Thunderball iv. 38 The dimity world of the Nice-Cup-of-Tea. 1991 R. Doyle Van (1992) 223 People coming out of the pub after a few jars..just wanted their chips and maybe a bit of cod with a nice crispy batter on it. 14. a. That one derives pleasure or satisfaction from; agreeable, pleasant, satisfactory; attractive. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > pleasure > quality of being pleasant or pleasurable > [adjective] winsomea900 sweetc900 likingeOE i-quemec950 lieflyOE winlyOE hereOE thankfulc1000 merryOE queemc1175 beina1200 willea1200 leesomec1200 savouryc1225 estea1250 i-wilc1275 winc1275 welcomea1300 doucea1350 well-pleasingc1350 acceptablea1382 pleasablea1382 pleasanta1382 pleaseda1382 acceptedc1384 amiablec1384 well-likinga1387 queemfulc1390 flattering1393 pleasinga1398 well-queeminga1400 comelyc1400 farrandc1400 greable1401 goodlyc1405 amicable?a1425 placablec1429 amene1433 winful1438 listyc1440 dulcet1445 agreeablec1450 favourousc1485 sweetly?a1500 pleasureful?c1502 dulcea1513 grate1523 prettya1529 plausible1541 jolly1549 dulcoratec1550 toothsome1551 pleasurable1557 tickling1558 suavec1560 amenous1567 odoriferous?1575 perfumed1580 glada1586 tickle1593 pleasurous1595 favoursome1601 dulcean1606 gratifying1611 Hyblaean1614 gratulatea1616 arrident1616 solacefula1618 pleasantable1619 placid1628 contentsome1632 sapid1640 canny1643 gustful1647 peramene1657 pergrateful1657 tastefula1659 complacent1660 placentiousa1661 gratifactorya1665 bland1667 suavious1669 palatable1683 placent1683 complaisant1710 nice1747 tasty1796 sweetsome1799 titbit1820 connate1836 cunning1843 mooi1850 gemütlich1852 sympathique1859 congenial1878 sympathetic1900 sipid1908 onkus1910 sympathisch1911 1747 D. Garrick Medley of Lovers i. 14 He speaks like a Lady for all the World, and never swears as Mr. Flash does, but wears nice white Gloves, and tells me what Ribbons become my Complexion. 1769 E. Carter Let. 7 Aug. (1817) II. 34 I intend to dine with Mrs. Borgrave, and in the evening to take a nice walk. 1780 W. Beckford Biogr. Mem. Painters 110 A nice pocket edition. a1817 J. Austen Northanger Abbey (1818) I. xiv. 254 ‘I am sure,’ cried Catherine, ‘I did not mean to say any thing wrong; but it is a nice book, and why should not I call it so?’ ‘Very true,’ said Henry, ‘and this is a very nice day, and we are taking a very nice walk, and you are two very nice young ladies. Oh! it is a very nice word indeed!—it does for every thing.’ 1860 Baroness Bunsen in A. J. C. Hare Life & Lett. Baroness Bunsen (1879) II. v. 270 Lilies of the valley, and I know not what nice things. 1897 M. Kingsley Trav. W. Afr. 654 How nice it must be to be able to get about in cars, omnibuses and railway trains again! 1915 L. Woolf Let. 10 Feb. (1990) 210 We have at last got a rather nice house here. 1928 D. H. Lawrence Lady Chatterley's Lover xvii. 308 The trip was really quite nice. Only Connie kept saying to herself: Why don't I really care! Why am I never really thrilled? 1985 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 28 Nov. a12 He was impeccably dressed in a suit and a very nice tie. 1996 C. McWilliam Shredding Icebergs in H. Ritchie New Sc. Writing 6 It's a mercy she's nice eyes. Her eyes are nice. b. Used as an intensifier with a predicative adjective or adverb in nice and ——, sometimes ironically. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > suffering > displeasure > [adjective] > unpleasant loatha700 unsweetc890 grimlyc893 unquemeOE un-i-quemeOE evila1131 sourc1175 illc1220 unhightlyc1275 unwelcomec1325 unblithec1330 unnetc1330 unrekena1350 unagreeablec1374 uncouthc1380 unsavouryc1380 displeasantc1386 unlikinga1398 ungaina1400 crabbedc1400 unlovelyc1400 displeasing1401 eschewc1420 unsoot1420 mislikinga1425 unlikelya1425 unlustya1425 fastidiousc1425 unpleasantc1430 displicable1471 unthankfulc1475 displeasant1481 uneasy1483 unpleasinga1500 unfaring1513 badc1530 malpleasant?1533 noisome1542 thanklessa1547 ungrate1548 untoothsome1548 ungreeable1550 contrary1561 disagreeable1570 offensible1575 offensive1576 naughty1578 delightlessa1586 undelightful1585 unwisheda1586 unpleasurable1587 undelightsomec1595 dislikeful1596 disliking1596 ungrateful1596 unsweet?a1600 distastive1600 impleasing1602 distasting1603 distasteful1607 unsightly1608 undelectable1610 disgustful1611 unrelishing1611 waspisha1616 undeliciousa1618 unwished-for1617 disrelishing1631 unenjoyed1643 unjoyous1645 mirya1652 unwelcomed1651 unpleasivea1656 sweet1656 injucund1657 insuave1657 unpalatable1658 unhandsome1660 undesirable1667 disrelishablea1670 uncouthsome1684 shocking1703 nasty1705 embittering1746 indelectable1751 undelightinga1774 nice and ——1796 unenjoyablea1797 ungenial1796 uncomplacent1805 ungracious1807 bitter1810 rotten1813 uncongenial1813 quarrelsome1825 grimy1833 nice1836 unrelished1863 bloody1867 unbewitching1876 ferocious1877 displeasurable1879 rebarbative1892 charming1893 crook1898 naar1900 peppery1901 negative1902 poisonous1906 off-putting1935 unsympathetic1937 piggy1942 funky1946 umpty1948 pooey1967 minging1970 Scrooge-like1976 sucky1984 stank1991 stanky1991 1796 F. Burney Camilla II. iv. vii. 390 Just read this little letter, do, Miss, do—it won't take you much time, you reads so nice and fast. 1800 Infant's Libr. IX. 7 Skipping..is a very healthful play in winter; it will make you nice and warm in frosty weather. 1846 D. Jerrold Mrs. Caudle ii. 6 You'll be nice and ill in the morning. 1939 L. M. Montgomery Anne of Ingleside v S'posin' he et a lot of the little green apples..and got nice and sick? 1959 I. Opie & P. Opie Lore & Lang. Schoolchildren ix. 162 Spread it on the butty nice and thick. 1998 H. M. Malton Down in Dumps viii. 62 I had banked up the fire in the morning, getting it nice and hot. c. Of a person: pleasant in manner, agreeable, good-natured; attractive. ΚΠ 1797 M. Robinson Walsingham IV. lxxxi. 152 ‘Marry Miss Hanbury!’ said I, with astonishment... ‘Why not?’ cried his lordship; ‘she's a nice girl.’ 1837 J. Richardson Brit. Legion (ed. 2) ix. 220 The Commandant, whom I subsequently found to be a very nice fellow. 1843 C. Dickens Christmas Carol v. 160 ‘Is your master at home, my dear,’ said Scrooge to the girl. Nice girl! Very. 1896 G. Ade Artie v. 41 ‘Who is he—one o' them rah-rah boys with a big bunch o' hair?’.. ‘He's an awfully nice fellow,’ responded young Mr. Hall, stiffly. 1920 ‘K. Mansfield’ Let. 21 Jan. (1993) III. 188 The directress is a very nice french woman. 1972 J. Wilson Hide & Seek ii. 29 Do you know something, Mary? Mr Harris is the nicest man I know, except for my father. 1999 R. T. Davies Queer as Folk: Scripts Episode 2. 43 Marcie: Do you think she's nice? Vince: Yes I do. Marcie: That's brilliant cos she fancies you. d. Used ironically. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > worse > [adjective] > of inferior quality or value or appearance poorc1300 vile1526 mangya1529 fine1565 palterlya1637 scrubby1754 nice1798 shabby1805 waff-like1808 neat1824 chronic1861 tacky1862 shamblya1937 tatty1940 low-rent1966 scrungy1974 the mind > emotion > suffering > displeasure > [adjective] > unpleasant loatha700 unsweetc890 grimlyc893 unquemeOE un-i-quemeOE evila1131 sourc1175 illc1220 unhightlyc1275 unwelcomec1325 unblithec1330 unnetc1330 unrekena1350 unagreeablec1374 uncouthc1380 unsavouryc1380 displeasantc1386 unlikinga1398 ungaina1400 crabbedc1400 unlovelyc1400 displeasing1401 eschewc1420 unsoot1420 mislikinga1425 unlikelya1425 unlustya1425 fastidiousc1425 unpleasantc1430 displicable1471 unthankfulc1475 displeasant1481 uneasy1483 unpleasinga1500 unfaring1513 badc1530 malpleasant?1533 noisome1542 thanklessa1547 ungrate1548 untoothsome1548 ungreeable1550 contrary1561 disagreeable1570 offensible1575 offensive1576 naughty1578 delightlessa1586 undelightful1585 unwisheda1586 unpleasurable1587 undelightsomec1595 dislikeful1596 disliking1596 ungrateful1596 unsweet?a1600 distastive1600 impleasing1602 distasting1603 distasteful1607 unsightly1608 undelectable1610 disgustful1611 unrelishing1611 waspisha1616 undeliciousa1618 unwished-for1617 disrelishing1631 unenjoyed1643 unjoyous1645 mirya1652 unwelcomed1651 unpleasivea1656 sweet1656 injucund1657 insuave1657 unpalatable1658 unhandsome1660 undesirable1667 disrelishablea1670 uncouthsome1684 shocking1703 nasty1705 embittering1746 indelectable1751 undelightinga1774 nice and ——1796 unenjoyablea1797 ungenial1796 uncomplacent1805 ungracious1807 bitter1810 rotten1813 uncongenial1813 quarrelsome1825 grimy1833 nice1836 unrelished1863 bloody1867 unbewitching1876 ferocious1877 displeasurable1879 rebarbative1892 charming1893 crook1898 naar1900 peppery1901 negative1902 poisonous1906 off-putting1935 unsympathetic1937 piggy1942 funky1946 umpty1948 pooey1967 minging1970 Scrooge-like1976 sucky1984 stank1991 stanky1991 1798 J. Austen Let. 24 Dec. (1995) 31 We are to have Company to dinner on friday; the three Digweeds & James.—We shall be a nice silent party I suppose. 1836 C. Dickens Let. 29 Dec. (1965) I. 217 I have been clearing off all the rejected articles to-day, and nice work I have had. 1851 D. Jerrold St. Giles & St. James (new ed.) viii, in Writings I. 75 A nice job I've had to nibble him. 1896 E. Turner Little Larrikin xviii. 209 Aren't you going to stop and see Clem off?.. You are a nice one. 1908 L. M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables ix. 95 This is a nice way for you to behave, Anne! Aren't you ashamed of yourself? 1939 P. Cheyney Dangerous Curves ii. 29 I'd have been taken for a nice little car ride and found in the local ash-can. 1978 J. McGahern Getting Through 140 If I found that you didn't want me, I'd be in a nice fix. e. Kind or considerate in behaviour; friendly (towards others). Frequently in to be nice (to). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > [adjective] > agreeable in manner sweetc825 soota1250 coutha1375 pleasantc1387 gallant?a1513 plausible1577 plausive1595 placentiousa1661 winsome1677 genial1746 clever1758 nice1830 decent1902 1830 T. Moore Mem. (1854) VI. 152 She has, in the nicest and most delicate way, procured them. 1872 T. Hardy Under Greenwood Tree II. v. i. 202 ‘Not nice of Master Enoch,’ said Dick. 1887 I. Randall Lady's Ranche Life Montana 165 When I say Van was good, I mean he was nice to me. 1920 F. S. Fitzgerald This Side of Paradise i. i. 38 I'm tired of being nice to every poor fish in school. 1983 P. Kurth Anastasia (1985) iii. xiv. 404 In Wollmann's opinion, altogether too much time had been wasted trying to be ‘nice.’ 1993 T. Hawkins Pepper iv. 72 The woman standing next to you is pregnant. It might be a nice gesture to offer her your seat. f. Of a (finished) action, task, etc.: well-executed; commendably performed or accomplished. Now frequently in interjections, as nice going!, nice try!, nice work!. Also used ironically or sarcastically. ΚΠ 1850 Amer. Whig Rev. May 508 Haven't I made a reg'lar nice job of it? This is Carlo, sure as preachin'! 1897 B. Stoker Dracula viii. 92 The New Woman..will do the proposing herself. And a nice job she will make of it, too! 1914 S. Lewis Our Mr. Wrenn iv. 57 ‘Nice work,’ Satan interjected from time to time, with smooth irony. ‘Sure. Go ahead. Like to hear your plans.’ 1938 Sun (Baltimore) 20 June 8/2 Ruth said, ‘Nice going, kid,’ and that simple compliment pleased the young Cincinnati pitcher more than all of the other praises he received. 1971 R. Rendell One Across v. 48 She's made a nice job of my hair, hasn't she? I wouldn't want Ethel to think I'd let myself go. 1992 Economist 2 May 32/2 The employment department has set up a project to provide 61,000 training places. Nice try—except that there are currently 1.3m long-term unemployed. g. colloquial. nice one: expressing approval or congratulations for something done well. In later use also ironically.Popularized by the song Nice One Cyril, used in a television commercial for bread in the early 1970s, and recorded in 1973 by the Tottenham Hotspur football team (associated with the former Tottenham player Cyril Knowles). ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > [noun] > expression of approval suffrage1566 vote1608 seal of approval1833 accolade1852 back-pat1894 nod1924 nice one1970 like2009 1970 I. R. Hebditch I do like to be beside Seaside (unpubl. Ph.D. thesis, De Montfort University) (O.E.D. Archive) §5. 8 ‘Action's on tonight down the “Cage”.’ ‘Nice one.’ 1971 B. Marley Kinky Reggae (song lyrics) Nice one, nice one, that's what they say. 1973 H. Spiro & H. Clarke (title of song) Nice one Cyril. 1974 T. Brooke-Taylor Goodies File 52 How about calling yourselves ‘The Goodies’—Nice one eh? 1985 B. Zephaniah Dread Affair 19 Nice one Handsworth doing fine. 1990 M. Lipman Thank you for having Me (BNC) 115 ‘They're on the top table with Her Royal Highness. We're on Table No 5 with no one we know.’ ‘Nice one,’ I said darkly. 1999 Nouse (Univ. York) Mar. (Muse Suppl.) 4/4 After acknowledging encores as a ludicrous act, Pitchshifter simply stayed on the stage, played three more songs, and then left. Nice one lads. B. adv. †1. Foolishly. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > [adverb] unwiselyc897 dizzilyc1175 folly?c1225 canglichec1230 mazedlya1250 follilyc1330 unskilfully1340 unwittily1362 lewdlyc1380 nicelya1387 fondlya1450 nicea1450 foolishlyc1450 foliously1481 ineptly1523 peevishly?1529 simply1535 insipiently1536 senselessly1561 fonly1579 sillilyc1598 perperously1657 insipidly1699 daftly1724 silly1731 stupid?1757 dawkinly1763 fool-like1800 unsagely1801 spoonily1861 assishly1863 ill-advisedly1879 a1450–1509 (?a1300) Richard Coer de Lyon (A-version) (1913) 3857 (MED) Lytyl wurþ þey are and nyce prowde; Fyȝte þey cunne wiþ wurdes lowde. a1475 Sidrak & Bokkus (Laud) (1998) I. 3227 The foule crepith in as nyce Into the mouth of þe cokadryce And þe wormes eteth ychone. 2. Satisfactorily, thoroughly; prettily, pleasingly. Now nonstandard. ΘΚΠ society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > [adverb] untowelya1230 jollilyc1400 wantonlyc1405 small?c1450 nice?1544 loosely1548 licentiously1561 liberally1596 naughtily1609 the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > [adverb] > with particular care choicelya1375 particularly1489 nice?1544 nicely1651 finely1718 ?1544 J. Heywood Foure PP sig. B.i^v But prycke them and pynne them as nyche, as ye wyll. ?1567 M. Parker Whole Psalter cxix. 345 Curst be they all: from thy good lore: who wander wyll to nyse. a1756 E. Haywood New Present (1771) 53 Take a fine piece of sturgeon, wash and clean it very nice. 1879 E. Harrigan Mulligan Guard Ball i. ii. 12 ‘I'll wear me hair pompadour.’..‘Well, get it up nice’. 1946 K. Tennant Lost Haven (1947) vii. 97 You get dressed up nice this afternoon. 1987 N. Hinton Buddy's Song viii. 40 He sings really nice and he's picked up the guitar ever so quick. Phrases †P1. In proverbial phrases in sense A. 3b, as nice as a nun's hen, more nice than wise. Obsolete. ΚΠ c1450 (c1405) Mum & Sothsegger (BL Add. 41666) (1936) 237 (MED) Þou ne art nycier þan a nunne nyne-folde tyme. a1500 in R. L. Greene Early Eng. Carols (1935) 268 (MED) Some be nyse as a nonne hene. 1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique iii. f. 117^v I knewe a Priest that was as nice as a Nonnes Henne. 1562 J. Heywood Of Mine Acquayntance Certaine Yong Man ii. i, in Wks. She tooke thenterteinment of the yong men All in daliaunce, as nice as a nuns hen. 1581 B. Rich Farewell Militarie Profession sig. R.ij^v More nice then wise. 1653 H. More Antidote against Atheisme i. ii. 3 Suppose..the other more nice than wise should reply, Nay, it may possibly be otherwise. 1687 A. Behn Amours Philander & Silvia 415 A sort of People of the Reformed Religion, whose pretences were more Nice, than Wise. 1719 R. Pack Misc. in Verse & Prose 73 Some travell'd Fop, more nice than wise, Shall wholesome Luxury despise. 1782 W. Cowper Mutual Forbearance in Poems 20 Some people are more nice than wise. a1817 J. Austen Northanger Abbey (1818) I. xiv. 254 It ought only to be applied to you, without any commendation at all. You are more nice than wise. View more context for this quotation 1859 J. C. Swayze Ossawattomie Brown iii. iii. 21 I think you're a great heap more nice than wise. You aint too good lookin', nuther. 1873 C. B. Hartley Gentlemen's Bk. Etiquette 65 There is, we know, such a thing as being ‘too nice’—‘more nice than wise.’ It is quite possible to be fastidious. †P2. to make (it) nice: to display reserve or reluctance; to entertain a scruple or doubt. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > will > wish or inclination > unwillingness > be unwilling [verb (intransitive)] nillOE loathea1200 to make it tough1297 forthinka1300 reckc1300 ruea1400 to make (it) strangec1405 to make strangenessc1407 stick1418 resistc1425 to make (it) strange?1456 steek1478 tarrowc1480 doubt1483 sunyie1488 to make (it) nice1530 stay1533 shentc1540 to make courtesy (at)1542 to make it scrupulous1548 to think (it) much1548 to make dainty of (anything)1555 to lie aback1560 stand1563 steek1573 to hang back1581 erch1584 to make doubt1586 to hang the groin1587 to make scruple (also a, no, etc., scruple)1589 yearn1597 to hang the winga1601 to make squeamish1611 smay1632 bogglea1638 to hang off1641 waver1643 reluct1648 shy1650 reluctate1655 stickle1656 scruple1660 to make boggle1667 revere1689 begrudge1690 to have scruples1719 stopc1738 bitch1777 reprobate1779 crane1823 disincline1885 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 624 I make it coye, or nyce as a daungerouse person doth, je fais lestrange. 1575 J. Rolland Treat. Court Venus iii. f. 50 Raab, and Ruth..War licht Ladeis, thocht ȝe it mak sa nice. 1606 W. Birnie Blame of Kirk-buriall xi. sig. C4^v Althogh they seeme to make nyce in praying for dead. a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) iii. iv. 138 And he that stands vpon a slipp'ry place, Makes nice of no vilde hold to stay him vp. View more context for this quotation 1637 S. Rutherford Lett. (1863) I. lxxxi. 205 Christ..cometh in..without ceremonies, or making it nice, to make a poor ransomed one His own. 1677 R. Gilpin Dæmonol. Sacra ii. iii. 215 They make not nice to tell him, That there is no possibility of Salvation, but in their way. P3. a. to look nice: to have an attractive or pleasing appearance; to be smartly dressed. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > have pleasing appearance [verb (intransitive)] becomec1300 smile1594 to look nice1793 1793 Minstrel II. 182 She was desirous of looking as nice as possible. 1836 Going to Service xii. 139 O, you look so nice,..any body would take you for an experienced servant. 1870 M. Bridgman Robert Lynne II. xii. 255 Cuthbert liked her to look nice. 1903 C. A. Taylor From Rags to Riches in America's Lost Plays (1940) VIII. 134 Flos. [Sits down timidly and adjusts skirts; raises her eyes]: Why don't you tell me I look nice? 1952 L. T. Stanley Woman Golfer 61 A ‘pretty-pretty’ swing may look nice, but it doesn't get you very far. 1991 Righting Words 4 14/1 Some magazines have a dislike for justified right margins. I think they look nice. b. In similative phrases in sense A. 14, esp. in nice as nice.See also as nice as ninepence at ninepence n. 2b, nice as pie at pie n.² 5a. ΚΠ 1796 M. Robinson Angelina I. 44 The parson's daughters are as nice as my nail and as clean as a penny! 1839 C. Dickens Let. 5 Mar. (1965) I. 521 A capital bed, and all as nice as nice could be. a1897 T. E. Brown Coll. Poems (1900) 434 Sittin' beside her as nice as nice. 1991 Independent 3 Dec. 19/7 Roy Gleenslade (former Mirror ed) promises not to stich Mr Kinnock up, to be as nice as nice. P4. nice work if you can get it: expressing envy of what is perceived to be another's more agreeable situation, esp. if it seems to have been attained with little effort. ΚΠ 1937 G. Gershwin & I. Gershwin Nice Work if you can get It (song) Holding hands at mid-night 'Neath a starry sky, Nice work if you can get it, And you can get it if you try. 1958 Listener 2 Oct. 492/1 The Frenchman..may well reply with impatience: ‘Nice work if you can get it.’ 1986 Chicago Tribune (Nexis) 11 Dec. 28 She'll be entertaining on board; nice work if you can get it. 1992 New Musical Express (BNC) 14 Nov. 45 The Farm will no doubt continue doing what they do... Nice work if you can get it, but we really do deserve much better. P5. North American colloquial. to make nice (also nice-nice): to be pleasant or polite, esp. in an expedient or hypocritical way; to smooth things over. ΚΠ 1958 A. Laurents & S. Sondheim West Side Story i. i. 14 I'm gonna make nice there! I'm only gonna challenge him. 1975 A. McCaffrey Kilternan Legacy (1976) xvii. 215 Oh, I know he was making nice-nice when he thought he could wheedle the right of way out of me. 1993 Newsweek 25 Jan. 42/2 His aides insisted that he has no intention of making nice-nice with Saddam and every intention of holding Iraq to the last letter of the multiple U.N. resolutions. 2000 Sci. Amer. Oct. 26/3 Microsoft, after making its fortune all these years on proprietary standards like Windows, suddenly wants to make nice, perhaps in the hope that the U.S. Department of Justice is watching. Compounds C1. nicelookingness n. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [noun] comelinessc1350 seemlinessc1385 comeliheada1393 goodliheada1413 beseemingc1440 goodliness1449 propernessc1478 sightliness1561 handsomeness1622 speciousness1650 presentability1823 nicelookingness1865 eye appeal1916 spiffiness1981 aegyo1997 1865 R. Broughton in Dublin Univ. Mag. Aug. 131/1 Miss Chester was gifted with that sort of nice-lookingness, arising principally from a good nose, and a rather clear, unmixed-looking colour. 1953 J. Cromwell Grain of Sand iii. 67 It is a pity he is not a handsome man. Or an ugly, Socrates-looking one His plainness, his nicelookingness, is a sorrow to him. 2012 D. Share Wishbone 72 She was nice looking, so I looked at the nicelookingness as the wind entered the train. C2. † nice-becoming adj. Obsolete rare ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > [adjective] > beautifying bellifying1545 embellishing1545 beautifying1601 nice-becoming1727 1727 W. Pattison Poet. Wks. I. 135 Full in the midst, with nice-becoming Grace, Stood Youth. † nice-brained adj. Obsolete rare ΚΠ 1604 J. Marston & J. Webster Malcontent (new ed.) Prol. sig. I4 She is defild. With too nice-brained cunning. † nice-conscienced adj. Obsolete ΘΚΠ society > morality > duty or obligation > recognition of duty > [adjective] > conscientious faithfulc1400 good-heartedc1425 rigorousa1500 nice-conscienced1530 scrupulous1542 conscionable1549 punctual1609 conscientious1611 tender-conscienceda1617 conscious1628 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 323/1 Scrupulouse, nyce conscyensed. 1642 J. Vicars God in Mount 21 These squemish and nice-conscienced fellows. † nice-discerning adj. Obsolete ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > discernment, discrimination > [adjective] > with delicacy delicatea1533 finea1566 fine-headed1574 nice1593 refining1595 choice1601 refined1607 point-device1639 exquisite1643 nice-discerning1745 feelingful1943 1745 T. Warton Five Pastoral Eclogues 9 A hoard of choicest chesnuts, which I cull'd With nice-discerning care. 1774 ‘J. Collier’ Musical Trav. App. 26 Should his lordship's nice-discerning eye, perceive any Jacobitical expressions in his works. a1820 J. Woodhouse Life Crispinus Scriblerus v. in Life & Poet. Wks. (1896) I. 98/2 She..Distinguishes, with nice-discerning ear, When accents hesitate, or tones are clear. † nice-driven adj. Obsolete rare ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > [adjective] > scrupulously careful or attentive to detail > characterized by scrupulous care > worked out in great detail curious1561 elaborate1621 nice-driven1630 elaborative1845 1630 tr. G. Botero Relations Famous Kingdomes World (rev. ed.) 39 That politike and nice-driven negotiation of the peace betwixt England and Spaine. † nice-eared adj. Obsolete ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > type or quality of hearing > [adjective] > good hearing > discriminating quick-eared1609 nice-eareda1843 tender-eared1911 a1843 in R. Southey Common-place Bk. (1849) 2nd Ser. 33/2 The chilling fastidiousness of some nice-eared critics. 1852 R. H. Stoddard Broken Goblet in Poems 67 Nice-eared Echo mocked him till he thought..he heard another Pan Playing. † nice-fingered adj. Obsolete ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touching with the hand > [adjective] > having a light touch light-handed1440 light-fingered1736 nice-fingered1785 1785 W. Cowper Task i. 202 One..whose notes Nice-fingr'd Art must emulate in vain. 1857 N. Amer. Rev. July 43 If the nice-fingered myope should play sailor, the pirate would be sure to catch him. 1872 W. C. Smith Olrig Grange iii. 69 Costly lace Nice-fingered maidens knotted in Brabant. nice-hearted adj. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > love > tenderness > [adjective] nesheOE softc1175 mild-hearteda1200 fleshlyc1384 tendera1400 fleshy1526 warm1526 tender-hearted1539 meltingc1565 nice-hearted1571 soft-hearted1571 effeminate1594 tenderful1901 1571 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Psalmes of Dauid with Comm. (xxii. 2) He was not so nyce~harted as to make a cruell yelping out for some comon harme. 1583 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. on Deuteronomie cxxxi. 806 Because y^e people were ouertender and nyceharted, they had need of helpe. 2000 Financial Times (Nexis) 4 May 18 Neither the blocked writer of would-be Broadway musicals..nor the nice-hearted hunk..has a free place. † nice-judging adj. Obsolete ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > freedom from error, correctness > [adjective] > correct in procedure, operation, etc. > in judgement right1600 nice-judging1735 1735 H. Fielding Universal Gallant Prol. sig. A4 Bold is th' Attempt in this nice-judging Age, To try at Fame. 1744 J. Thomson Spring in Seasons (new ed.) 19 There throw, nice-judging, the delusive Fly. 1874 W. C. Smith Borland Hall iv. 161 The capital force of the country still Is the power of work, the nice-judging eye. nice-looking adj. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [adjective] faireOE comelyOE winlyOE goodlyOE hendya1250 hendc1275 quaintc1300 seemlyc1305 tidya1325 avenant1340 honestc1384 sightya1387 properc1390 well beseena1393 queema1400 speciousa1400 featousc1400 parisantc1400 rekenc1400 well-favoureda1438 wellc1450 spectable?a1475 delicatec1480 jollya1500 bonny?a1513 snog1513 viewlyc1536 goodlikec1550 sightly1555 sightful1565 beholdinga1586 eyesome?1587 decent1600 vage1604 prospicuous1605 eyely1614 fashionable1630 well-looking1638 softa1643 fineish1647 well-looked1660 of a good (also ugly, etc.) look1700 likely-looked1709 sonsy1720 smiling1725 aspectable1731 smirkya1758 likely-looking1771 respectable1776 magnificent-looking1790 producible1792 presentable1800 good-looking1804 nice-looking1807 bonnyish1855 spick1882 eyeable1887 aegyo2007 1807 J. Austen Let. 8 Feb. (1995) 121 She is a nice looking woman. 1838 C. Dickens Oliver Twist I. xiv. 227 He is a nice-looking boy, is he not? 1985 E. Leonard Glitz xiii. 111 He was quite a nice-looking man. † nice-mouthed adj. Obsolete ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > behaviour > affected behaviour or affectation > [adjective] > affecting delicacy minikin1545 mincing1560 miniard1584 finical1592 minic1598 nice-mouthed1618 finitive1640 finicking1661 minical1668 precious1712 précieuse1785 niminy-piminy1786 pershittie1808 miminy-piminy1815 finicky1825 nimpy-pimpy1825 niminy1878 too-tooa1884 piminy1890 précieux1891 piss-elegant1941 1618 N. Field Amends for Ladies iii. iii. sig. E2 A pox of these nise mouth'd creatures! 1816 ‘P. Pindar’ Ode XVI in Wks. II. 80 Starve the nice-mouth'd cattle Until they eat the chesnuts up. † nice-palated adj. Obsolete ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > appetite > [adjective] > having (good) appetite > having dainty appetite or palate wanton1530 lickerish-lipped1577 lickerous-toothed1579 nice-stomached1604 tender-mouthed1620 nice-palated1683 toothsome1837 pensy1866 1683 T. Tryon Way to Health 225 Foolish Nice-pallated People and Gluttons. 1730 T. Cooke Candidates for Bays 5 A Dance of dumb Devils has ravish'd the City..And goes down with nice palated Ladies at Court. † nice preserved adj. Obsolete rare ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > preservation from injury or destruction > [adjective] > preserved or undestroyed > preserved from decay, loss, or destruction preserved1552 nice preserved1594 seasoned1644 conserved1662 hained1786 1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus ii. iii. 135 We will enioy, That nice preserued honestie of yours. View more context for this quotation † nice-scented adj. Obsolete rare ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > [adjective] > having sense of smell > having acute tender-noseda1425 nosedc1425 high-nosed1548 quick-nosed1561 well-nosed1568 scented1579 well-scented1579 quick-scented1590 nose-wise1596 sagacious1607 scentful1616 nasute1699 nice-scented1777 osmatic1880 nim-nosed1936 1777 R. Potter tr. Æschylus Tragedies 276 This stranger seems, like the nice-scented hound, Quick in the trace of blood. nice-sized adj. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > beauty of shape or form > [adjective] > well-proportioned well-proportioneda1398 handsome1550 proportionable1576 well-thewed1583 well-proportionated1612 well-turned1631 nice-sized1799 1799 J. Austen Let. 17 May (1995) 40 We have two very nice sized rooms. 1879 Littell's Living Age 20 Dec. 734 ‘You've a nice-sized room here,’ observed Eve. 1991 Alpha Feb. 63/3 My bedroom is on the topside with a very nice-sized adjoining bathroom. nice spoken adj. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > [adjective] > having pleasing speech or eloquent well-speakingOE renablec1300 fair-speakinga1398 well-tonguedc1480 honey-mouthed1539 golden-mouthed1542 sweet-mouthed1542 fine-mouthed?1549 silver-tongued1592 silver1594 gold-mouthed1595 honey-tongued1595 nectar-tongued1596 tongue-gilt1608 feather-tongueda1618 chrysostomatical1623 dulciloquent1656 sweet-spoken1716 sweet-lipped1783 chrysostomic1816 smooth-spoken1821 superfluent1822 honey-lipped1833 nice spoken1852 articulate1892 1852 Internat. Mag. Lit., Art & Sci. Apr. 539/2 ‘Pretty, nice spoken thing,’ thought the widow; ‘as nice spoken as Miss Vilante.’ ?1853 H. O. Pardey Nature's Nobleman i. 18 He's a nice spoken man. He talk'd about Burgoyne. 1931 L. A. G. Strong Garden 180 A nice spoken, friendly young lady. † nice-spun adj. (and n.) Obsolete ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of imagination > mental image, idea, or fancy > [adjective] > only in imagination or unreal imaginary?1510 imaginative1517 rational1530 fantastical1531 fantasied1561 airy1565 fancied1568 legendary1570 dreamed1597 fabled1606 ideal1611 fictive1612 affectual1614 insubstantiala1616 imaginatorya1618 supposititious1620 fictitious1621 utopian1624 utopic1624 notional1629 affective1633 fictiousa1644 notionary1646 figmental1655 suppositious1655 fict1677 visionary1725 metaphysical1728 unrealized1767 fancy1801 nice-spun1801 subjective1815 aerial1829 transcendental1835 cardboardy1863 mythical1870 cardboard1879 fictionary1882 figmentary1887 alternative1939 alternate1944 fantasized1964 ideate1966 fanciful- fantastic- 1801 G. Dyer Redress in Poems 324 Mistaken bards!.. Tho' pure as heav'n's own beam the nice-spun lay, The sensual town must see for what they pay. 1834 S. Cooper Good's Study Med. (ed. 4) I. 533 Notwithstanding a few nice-spun and chimerical speculations..there is no book on physiology which a student ought to study more assiduously. † nice-stomached adj. Obsolete ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > consumption of food or drink > appetite > [adjective] > having (good) appetite > having dainty appetite or palate wanton1530 lickerish-lipped1577 lickerous-toothed1579 nice-stomached1604 tender-mouthed1620 nice-palated1683 toothsome1837 pensy1866 1604 J. Marston Malcontent iv. iii. sig. F3 It was the Duke, Whome straight the nicer stomackt sea Belcht vp. 1815 H. H. Milman Fazio (1821) 17 Death's not nice-stomach'd, to be cramm'd With such unsavoury offal. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online June 2022). nicev. Brit. /nʌɪs/, U.S. /naɪs/, Caribbean English /nais/ Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: nice adj. Etymology: < nice adj. regional and colloquial. 1. intransitive. With up. Chiefly Caribbean and in British Afro-Caribbean usage. a. To be pleasant, esp. for one's own gain; to behave in or adopt a pleasant, ingratiating, or amorous manner. Also transitive. ΚΠ 1952 in F. G. Cassidy & R. B. LePage Dict. Jamaican Eng. (1967) (at cited word) [Phonetic transcription] /mi trai tu nais ar op/.] 1986 O. Senior Summer Lightning & Other Stories ii. 104 I see you with that boy that play the music so sweet the two of you nice-up past here eveningtime yu think I don't see you. 1989 C. S. Murray Crosstown Traffic iv. 102 When The Kid is being a shit..he is being his father's son; when he nices up, his mother's. b. To do or perform well; to make (more) desirable, to improve. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > improvement > [verb (transitive)] beetc975 betterOE goodOE sharpa1100 amendc1300 enhance1526 meliorate1542 embetter1568 endeara1586 enrich1598 meliorize1598 mend1603 sweeten1607 improve1617 to work up1641 ameliorate1653 solace1667 fine1683 ragout1749 to make something of1778 richen1795 transcendentalize1846 to tone up1847 to do something (also things) for (also to)1880 rich1912 to step up1920 uprate1965 up1968 nice1993 1993 Echoes 25 Dec. 6/1 Joe..rips it up vocally, but always in the company of my man, who nices up the lyrics like only an experienced sound system MC could. 1994 Generator Dec. 62/1 He frequently nices up the airwaves on Transmission One FM. 1997 P. Melville Ventriloquist's Tale (1998) 340 I only just got this job lately. I want to nice up the place, you know. 2001 (title of record) Nice up the dance. 2. transitive. To be (excessively) nice or polite to (someone); to persuade by being nice.Frequently with suggestion of insincerity. ΚΠ 1988 Associated Press Newswire (Nexis) 28 June The 26-year-old entertainer is ambivalent about her debut as a centerfold... She said the magazine ‘niced’ her into doing the pictures. 1994 Women in Higher Educ. (Nexis) 3 16 What a burden would be removed if women stopped ‘nicing’ one another to death at work and they could laugh or smile only when they really felt like it. 1998 Daily News (N.Y.) (Nexis) 22 Oct. a3 One drunken man accosted me in the stands and threatened to kill me, which was very refreshing after being niced to death for the past week. This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.¹a1393n.²1895adj.adv.c1300v.1986
随便看	tumbu disease tumbu fly tumbu sickness tumbuka tumefacient tumefacted tumefaction tumefactions tumefied tumefies tumefy tumefying tumesce tumesced tumescence tumescences tumescent tumescently tumesces tumescing tumid tumidder tumiddest tumider tumidest

† nicen.1

Nicen.2

niceadj.adv.

Phrases

Compounds

nicev.

† nicen.¹

Nicen.²