noble


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Related to noble: Noble gases

no·ble

 (nō′bəl)
adj. no·bler, no·blest
1. Possessing hereditary rank in a political system or social class derived from a feudalistic stage of a country's development.
2.
a. Having or showing qualities of high moral character, such as courage, generosity, or honor: a noble spirit.
b. Proceeding from or indicative of such a character; showing magnanimity: "What poor an instrument / May do a noble deed!" (Shakespeare).
3. Grand and stately in appearance; majestic: "a mighty Spanish chestnut, bare now of leaves, but in summer a noble tree" (Richard Jeffries).
4. Chemistry Inactive or inert.
n.
1. A member of the nobility.
2. A gold coin formerly used in England, worth half of a mark.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin nōbilis; see gnō- in Indo-European roots.]

no′ble·ness n.
no′bly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

noble

(ˈnəʊbəl)
adj
1. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) of or relating to a hereditary class with special social or political status, often derived from a feudal period
2. of or characterized by high moral qualities; magnanimous: a noble deed.
3. having dignity or eminence; illustrious
4. grand or imposing; magnificent: a noble avenue of trees.
5. of superior quality or kind; excellent: a noble strain of horses.
6. (Chemistry) chem
a. (of certain elements) chemically unreactive
b. (of certain metals, esp copper, silver, and gold) resisting oxidation
7. (Falconry) falconry
a. designating long-winged falcons that capture their quarry by stooping on it from above. Compare ignoble
b. designating the type of quarry appropriate to a particular species of falcon
n
8. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) a person belonging to a privileged social or political class whose status is usually indicated by a title conferred by sovereign authority or descent
9. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) (in the British Isles) a person holding the title of duke, marquess, earl, viscount, or baron, or a feminine equivalent
10. (Currencies) a former Brit gold coin having the value of one third of a pound
[C13: via Old French from Latin nōbilis, originally, capable of being known, hence well-known, noble, from noscere to know]
ˈnobleness n
ˈnobly adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

no•ble

(ˈnoʊ bəl)

adj. -bler, -blest,
n. adj.
1. distinguished by rank or title.
2. pertaining to persons so distinguished.
3. of, belonging to, or constituting a hereditary class that has special social or political status in a country or state; aristocratic.
4. of an exalted moral character or excellence.
5. imposing; magnificent.
6. of an admirably high quality.
7. inert; chemically inactive.
n.
8. a person of noble birth or rank.
9. a former gold coin of England.
[1175–1225; < Old French < Latin (g)nōbilis notable, of high rank, from (g)nō(scere) to get to know]
no′ble•ness, n.
no′bly, adv.
syn: noble, high-minded, magnanimous suggest moral excellence and high ideals. noble implies superior moral qualities and an exalted mind, character, or spirit that scorns the petty, base, or dishonorable: a noble sacrifice. high-minded suggests exalted moral principles, thoughts, or sentiments: a high-minded speech on social reform. magnanimous adds the idea of generosity, shown by a willingness to forgive injuries or overlook insults: The magnanimous ruler granted amnesty to the rebels.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.noble - a titled peer of the realmnoble - a titled peer of the realm    
armiger - a nobleman entitled to bear heraldic arms
baron - a nobleman (in various countries) of varying rank
burgrave - a nobleman ruling a German castle and surrounding grounds by hereditary right
count - a nobleman (in various countries) having rank equal to a British earl
duke - a nobleman (in various countries) of high rank
grandee - a nobleman of highest rank in Spain or Portugal
male aristocrat - a man who is an aristocrat
margrave - a German nobleman ranking above a count (corresponding in rank to a British marquess)
marquess, marquis - nobleman (in various countries) ranking above a count
mesne lord - a feudal lord who was lord to his own tenants on land held from a superior lord
milord - a term of address for an English lord
palsgrave, palatine - (Middle Ages) the lord of a palatinate who exercised sovereign powers over his lands
peer - a nobleman (duke or marquis or earl or viscount or baron) who is a member of the British peerage
sire - a title of address formerly used for a man of rank and authority
thane - a feudal lord or baron
viscount - (in various countries) a son or younger brother or a count
Adj.1.noble - impressive in appearancenoble - impressive in appearance; "a baronial mansion"; "an imposing residence"; "a noble tree"; "severe-looking policemen sat astride noble horses"; "stately columns"
impressive - making a strong or vivid impression; "an impressive ceremony"
2.noble - of or belonging to or constituting the hereditary aristocracy especially as derived from feudal times; "of noble birth"
lowborn - of humble birth or origins; "a topsy-turvy society of lowborn rich and blue-blooded poor"
3.noble - having or showing or indicative of high or elevated character; "a noble spirit"; "noble deeds"
honourable, honorable - worthy of being honored; entitled to honor and respect; "an honorable man"; "led an honorable life"; "honorable service to his country"
ignoble - completely lacking nobility in character or quality or purpose; "something cowardly and ignoble in his attitude"; "I think it a less evil that some criminals should escape than that the government should play an ignoble part"- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
4.noble - inert especially toward oxygen; "a noble gas such as helium or neon"; "noble metals include gold and silver and platinum"
unreactive - (chemistry) not reacting chemically
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

noble

adjective
1. worthy, generous, upright, honourable, virtuous, magnanimous He was an upright and noble man.
worthy selfish, dishonest, despicable, contemptible
2. dignified, great, august, imposing, impressive, distinguished, magnificent, splendid, stately She was described by contemporaries as possessing a noble bearing and excellent manners.
dignified mean, modest, humble, insignificant, lowly, ignoble
3. aristocratic, lordly, titled, gentle (archaic), patrician, blue-blooded, highborn Although he was of noble birth he lived as a poor man.
aristocratic base, peasant, humble, vulgar, lowly, ignoble, plebeian, lowborn
noun
1. lord, peer, aristocrat, nobleman, aristo (informal) In those days, many of the nobles and landowners were a law unto themselves.
lord peasant, commoner, serf
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

noble

adjective
1. Of high birth or social position:
Informal: upper-crust.
2. Being on a high intellectual or moral level:
3. Large and impressive in size, scope, or extent:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
كَريم الأصْل، نَبيلنَبيل الشُّعورنَبيل، أحد النُّبَلاء
šlechticušlechtilývznešenývelkomyslnýurozený
adelædelfinfornem
aatelik
jaloylväs
plemenitplemićplemkinja
nemesnemesi származású
ættgöfuguraîalsmaîurgöfuglyndur
pulchrum
didikasdidikėdiduomenėgarbingaikilmingas
augstmaniscēlscildensdižciltīgaisdižciltīgs
šľachetný
plemenit
ädelnobel
aristokratasilasilzadesoylusoylu kimse

noble

[ˈnəʊbl]
A. ADJ (nobler (compar) (noblest (superl)))
1. (by birth) → noble; [title] → de nobleza
2. (= generous, praiseworthy) → magnánimo, generoso
B. Nnoble mf, aristócrata mf (Spanish Hist) → hidalgo m
C. CPD the noble art Nel boxeo
noble rot N [of wine] → podredumbre f noble
noble savage Nbuen salvaje m
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

noble

[ˈnəʊbəl]
adj
(= admirable) [person, character] → noble
(= aristocratic) → noble
young men of noble birth → de jeunes hommes de naissance noble
n (= aristocrat) → noble mf
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

noble

adj (+er)
(= aristocratic) person, rankadlig; to be of noble birthadlig sein, von edler or adliger Geburt sein
(= fine, distinguished) person, deed, thought etcedel, nobel; appearancevornehm; monumentstattlich, prächtig; stag alsokapital; (= brave) resistanceheldenhaft, wacker; the noble art of self-defencedie edle Kunst der Selbstverteidigung; that was a noble attemptdas war ein heldenhafter Versuch; the noble savage (Liter) → der edle Wilde
(inf: = selfless) → edel, großmütig, edelmütig; how noble of you! (iro)zu gütig
metaledel
nAdlige(r) mf, → Edelmann m (Hist); the noblesdie Adligen or Edelleute (Hist)

noble

:
noble gas
nEdelgas nt
nobleman
nAdlige(r) m, → Edelmann m (Hist)
noble-minded
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

noble

[ˈnəʊbl]
1. adj (-r (comp) (-st (superl))) → nobile; (also) (iro) → generoso/a
of noble birth → di nobili natali
2. nnobile m/f
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

noble

(ˈnəubl) adjective
1. honourable; unselfish. a noble mind; a noble deed.
2. of high birth or rank. a noble family; of noble birth.
noun
a person of high birth. The nobles planned to murder the king.
noˈbility (-ˈbi-) noun
1. the state of being noble. the nobility of his mind/birth.
2. nobles ie dukes, earls etc. The nobility supported the king during the revolution.
ˈnobly adverb
He worked nobly for the cause of peace.
ˈnoblemanfeminine ˈnoblewoman noun
a noble. The king was murdered by a nobleman at his court.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
References in classic literature ?
With the flat of my sword I struck down his polluting hand; and grasping Dejah Thoris round the waist, I swung her behind me as, with my back against the draperies of the dais, I faced the tyrant of the north and his roomful of noble warriors.
Noble thou feelest thyself still, and noble others also feel thee still, though they bear thee a grudge and cast evil looks.
The Hart was once drinking from a pool and admiring the noble figure he made there.
How much more, to behold an ancient noble family, which has stood against the waves and weathers of time!
'Welcome, noble captain!' cried a lanky figure, rising as from a nap.
"What," replied he, "do you live in Bagdad, and not know that here lives the noble Sindbad the Sailor, that famous traveller who sailed over every sea upon which the sun shines?"
As the ruler of Ptarth, followed by his courtiers, descended from the landing-stage above the palace, the servants dropped into their places in the rear of their royal or noble masters, and behind the others one lingered to the last.
"In a grim old castle in Essex, only last night, a great lord of England held by force the beautiful daughter of a noble house, and, when she spurned his advances, he struck her with his clenched fist upon her fair face, and with his brute hands choked her.
"I am a noble preserver," said the Modern Swain, thoughtfully moving away; "the life that I have saved is indeed mine."
It was pitiful for a person born in a whole- some free atmosphere to listen to their humble and hearty outpourings of loyalty toward their king and Church and nobility; as if they had any more occasion to love and honor king and Church and noble than a slave has to love and honor the lash, or a dog has to love and honor the stranger that kicks him!
Is it too much that two Saxons, myself and the noble Athelstane, should hold land in the country which was once the patrimony of our race?
I say then that such a principality is obtained either by the favour of the people or by the favour of the nobles. Because in all cities these two distinct parties are found, and from this it arises that the people do not wish to be ruled nor oppressed by the nobles, and the nobles wish to rule and oppress the people; and from these two opposite desires there arises in cities one of three results, either a principality, self- government, or anarchy.