Origin: 1250–1300; ME: foolish, stupid < OF: silly, simple < L
nescius ignorant, incapable, equiv. to
ne- negative prefix +
sci- (s. of
scīre to know;
see science ) +
-us adj. suffix
Related forms: nicely, adverb
niceness, noun
Synonyms:
2. friendly. 3. delicate, exact, exacting, critical, scrupulous, discriminating, discerning, particular. 7. polite. 10, 12. finical.
Antonyms:
1. unpleasant. 2. unkind. 3. careless. 9. improper.
Usage note:
The semantic history of nice is quite varied, as the etymology and the obsolete senses attest, and any attempt to insist on only one of its present senses as correct will not be in keeping with the facts of actual usage. If any criticism is valid, it might be that the word is used too often and has become a cliché lacking the qualities of precision and intensity that are embodied in many of its synonyms.
[nahys] 