Nearby Words
Synonyms
adjective
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; of or pertaining to the aristocracy.
4.
of an exalted moral or mental character or excellence; lofty: a noble thought.
5.
EXPANDadmirable in dignity of conception, manner of expression, execution, or composition: a noble poem.
6.
very impressive or imposing in appearance; stately; magnificent: a noble monument.
7.
of an admirably high quality; notably superior; excellent.
8.
famous; illustrious; renowned.
9.
Chemistry. inert; chemically inactive.
10.
COLLAPSEFalconry. (of a hawk) having excellent qualities or abilities.
noun
11.
a person of noble birth or rank; nobleman or noblewoman.
12.
a former gold coin of England, first issued in 1346 by Edward III, equal to half a mark or 6s. 8d., replaced in 1464 under Edward IV by the rose noble.
13.
(in Britain) a peer.
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Noble
is always a great word to know.
So is alkaline. Does it mean:
| a compound capable of changing state or becoming inactive when subjected to heat or radiation |
| like or containing an alkali, which neutralize acids to form salts and turn red litmus paper blue, or having a pH value greater than 7 |
Origin:
1175–1225; Middle English < Old French < Latin (g)nōbilis notable, of high rank, equivalent to (g)nō-, base of (g)nōscere to get to know, find out (see know1) + -bilis -ble
1175–1225; Middle English < Old French < Latin (g)nōbilis notable, of high rank, equivalent to (g)nō-, base of (g)nōscere to get to know, find out (see know1) + -bilis -ble
Related forms
no·ble·ness, noun
non·no·ble, adjective
o·ver·no·ble, adjective
o·ver·no·ble·ness, noun
o·ver·no·b·ly, adverb
EXPANDpseu·do·no·ble, adjective
COLLAPSESynonyms
3. highborn, aristocratic. 4. honorable. Noble, high-minded, magnanimous agree in referring to lofty principles and loftiness of mind or spirit. Noble implies a loftiness of character or spirit that scorns the petty, mean, base, or dishonorable: a noble deed. High-minded implies having elevated principles and consistently adhering to them: a high-minded pursuit of legal reforms. Magnanimous suggests greatness of mind or soul, especially as manifested in generosity or in overlooking injuries: magnanimous toward his former enemies. 6. grand, lordly, splendid. 11. peer, aristocrat.
3. highborn, aristocratic. 4. honorable. Noble, high-minded, magnanimous agree in referring to lofty principles and loftiness of mind or spirit. Noble implies a loftiness of character or spirit that scorns the petty, mean, base, or dishonorable: a noble deed. High-minded implies having elevated principles and consistently adhering to them: a high-minded pursuit of legal reforms. Magnanimous suggests greatness of mind or soul, especially as manifested in generosity or in overlooking injuries: magnanimous toward his former enemies. 6. grand, lordly, splendid. 11. peer, aristocrat.
Antonyms
3. lowborn, base.
3. lowborn, base.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
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Link To Noble
Example Sentences
- There are times when noble intentions actually yield noble results.
- Being noble, I make exceptions to my moral codes from time to time.
- We will continue to fight for our noble cause.
Collins
World English Dictionary
| noble (ˈnəʊbəl) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | 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. | chem |
| a. (of certain elements) chemically unreactive | |
| b. (of certain metals, esp copper, silver, and gold) resisting oxidation | |
| 7. | falconry |
| a. Compare ignoble designating long-winged falcons that capture their quarry by stooping on it from above | |
| b. designating the type of quarry appropriate to a particular species of falcon | |
| —n | |
| 8. | 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. | (in the British Isles) a person holding the title of duke, marquess, earl, viscount, or baron, or a feminine equivalent |
| 10. | 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] | |
| 'nobleness | |
| —n | |
| 'nobly | |
| —adv | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
noble
early 13c., "illustrious, distinguished, worthy of honor or respect," from O.Fr. noble, from L. nobilis "well-known, famous, renowned, of superior birth," earlier gnobilis, lit. "knowable," from gnoscere "to come to know," from PIE base *gno- (see know). The prominent Roman
EXPANDfamilies, which were "well known," provided most of the Republic's public officials. Meaning "distinguished by rank, title, or birth" is first recorded late 13c. Sense of "having lofty character, having high moral qualities" is from c.1600. The noble gases (1902) so called for their inactivity or interness; a use of the word that had been applied in M.E. to precious stones, metals, etc., of similar quality (late 14c.), from the sense of "having admirable properties" (c.1300).
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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